Chap. IX. The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANs; 305 into cuftody, and fome time ·after, by order of parliament brought to K. Charles I. London; immediately upon which, Dr. Potter prefident of Trinity-col- ~ lege, ordered the beadles with their tl:aves to attend him as pro:vicechancel!or. N ovember zd and 4th the feveral heads of colleges then prefent appeared before the vifitors, but without their jlatute-booiu and papers, and being called in feverally, were afked in their turns, Whether they approved of the judicium univerjitatis; or the reafons if the univer- Suff. Cler~ jity above-mentioned? Whether they ow~ed the power qj' the vifttors? Or P· 130. whether they approved of the anfwer o/ the proClors zn the name if the whole univerjity? And refufing to give a direct: anfwer, were ferved with a citation to appear before the committee for r~formation if the univerfty at Wefl:minfter the r 1th infiant, which they did accordingly; and hav– ing owned their approbation of the anfwer of the proClors in the name of the univerfity, they tendered a paper to the committee in the name of all who had been cited, fetting forth " that what they had done was " not out of obfiinacy, but confcience; and praying that in an affilir " of {o much confequence they might be allowed time to advife with " council." Their requefl: being readily gr,mted, two gentlemen of the long robe of their own nomination, (viz.) Mr. HALE and Mr. CHUTE, rhey/re were appointed their council. The day of hearing was December 9· 1 !,;[, ,:;:ncil: the pofition they offered to maintain was, that it was one if the privileges if the zmiverjity to bejitbject ONLY to a royal vijitation; the council for the univerfity made a learned argument upon this head; but as Mr. Collier obferves, this quefl:ion had been debated before the king in coun- .£eel. Hifi•. cil in the year I 637· when archbifhop Laud claimed a right of vifiting.P· 7 66 • the two univerfities jure metropolitico. It was then admitted, that the king might vifit when he pleafed ; yet after a full hearing, his majeil:y with the advice of his council, declared and adjudged the right of vifiting both univerfities, as univerfities, to belong to the archbilhop and metropolitical church of Canterbury, by themfelves or commiffaries, and that the univerfities fl1ould from time to time be obedient thereunto. Which determination of his majetl:y, the archbifl1op moved might be drawn up by councilltarned in the law, and put under the broad Jeal, to prevent difptltes for the future. And the fame was accordingly done; the univerfity therefore lofl: their quetl:ion in the committee. The council for t~e vifitors were further" of opinion, that tht: king6• power was alwa;•s vtrtua/6• prefent with bis great council if parliament, and that therefore they might vi fit; but fuppofing this to be a mifiake, they affi:med, that the parliament had an undoubted right to reform the umverfity. by the articles if capitulation, in which they had expreOy re- But are cajl, ferved this power to . themfelves. After a full hearing on both fides, Vor.. II. R r the
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