Chap. IX. The HISTORY of the PuRITANS. who did fo much honour to their country in the three fucceeding reigns, K. Charles I. owed their education to thefe profeifors, viz. the·. 'Ti!lotfons, Sti!ling- ~ fleets, Patricks, Souths, Caves, Sprats, .Kidders, ~httb.ys, Bulls, [Joyt:s, · Ne-wto?1S, Lockes, and others. The umverfity was m h1gh reputatiOn m foreign parts, and produced as many learned performances as in any former period, fo that admitting the new profelfors were not introduced int? their places in a legal way, according to the !1atutes, becaufe of the necifjity of tbe times, yet 'tis certain, they pi'Oved wife and watchful governors, ftrict obfervers of their fiatutes, and indufl:rious promoters of piety and the liberal arts, and were far from defe rvi ng the brand of ignorant, illite– ,-att, bypocritica! blockheads, enemies to the legal co1zjlitution of their cozm– tty, or of being pronounced unworthy the high preferments they en– joyed. There were no doubt at firfi, very confiderable vacancies in the feve- Vacancin in nl colleges ; many of the fellows and fcholars being dead, or killed in the the univerjity king's fervice, and others having refigncd their places in the univerfity forftilcd up. benefices in the church, befides thofe who were expelled by the vifitors, as already men tioned ; but to fupply the deficiency offellows and tutors, the committee encouraged feveral learned graduates in the univerfity of Cambridge to tranflate themfeves to Oxford, and accept of preferments accOJ·ding to their merits. Many who had deferted the univerfity when it became a garrifon for the king, returned to the.ir colleges, and were promoted according to their feniority. Great numbers of youth who had been kept at home becaufe of the public commotions, were now fent to <Jxford by their parents, to perfect their education; and if it be confidered further, that there had been no admiilions fromWeflminjler, Eaton, St. P aul's, Merchant-'Ta)'lors, and other public fchools, for five or fix: years pafi, it is not to be wondered that there was an unufual flow of youth to the univerfity at this time, fo that the damage occafioned by this revolution of affairs was quickly repaire~, and the mufes returned to their ancient feats. . The long interruption of education in the univerfity,- pmduced a very Cavfer oft~ great fcarcity of orthodox and learned minifl:ers in the countries, fome be- zncreafe of ing filenced for refufing the covenant, and others difperfed, or killed in ~~>;;teathe wars. Many pulpits alfo were vacant by reafon of the fcandal or infufficie ncy of the incumbents, which was one occafion of the increafe of lay-preachers, for the country people would go to hear any body rather than have no fermons ; befides the prefbyterian clergy would authorize Ru!hw. p. none to preach, except {uch as would take the covenant, and confent toP· 854. their difcipline. To remedy thefe evils, the northern counties petitioned the houfes to erect a new univerfity in the city of York, but the confufion <Of the_ times prevented their profecuting the dt;fign. The independents T t 2 who
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