Chap. VIII. The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANs: 669 from Mr. Wallis to the honourable Rober Boyle Efq *, of the proceedKing h JJ h h' h · d Charles If. ings at the opening of archbilbop S ewon's t eatre ; w IC is cop1e , 668 • verbatim from the original under his own hand. ~. About *A letter from Mr. John Wallis to tbe honourable Robert Boyle Efq; dated from Oxford, July 17, 1669. SIR, A FTER my humble thanks for the honour of yours of July 3• I thought it not unfit to give you fome account of our late proceedings here. Ft·iday 7 uly 9• was the dedication of our new theater. In the morning was held a convocation in it, for entering upon the po/feffion of it; wherein was read, fidl: the archbifbop's inllrument of donation (fealed with his archiepifcopal feal) of the theater, with all its furniture, to the end that St. Mary's church may not be further profaned by holding the act in it. Next, a letter of his, declaring his intention to lay out 2000 I. for a purchafe to endow it. Then a letter of thanks to be fent from the univerfity to him, wherein he is acknow– ledged to be both our creaior and redeemer, for having not only built a cheater for the act, but, which is more, delivered the blejfed virgin from being fo profaned for the future: He cloth (as the words of the letter are) non tantum condere, hoc ljl creare, fed etiam redimere. Thefe words (I confefs) !topped my mouth from giving a placet to that letter, when it was· put to the vote. I have lince defired Mr. vicechancellor to confider, whether they were not liable to a jufi exception. He did at fir(l: excufe it; but upon further thoughts, I fuppofe he will think fit to alter them, before the letter be fent and regifiered. After the voting of this letter, Dr. South (as univerlity orator) made a long oration; the firfl: part· of which conG!l-ed of fatyrical invectives againfi Cromwe/1, famiticks, the royal fociety, . and new philofophy. The next of encomiafiicks; in praife of the archbifbop, the thea– ter, the vicechanccllor, the architect, and the painter. The lafi of execrations; againit fanaticks, convcnticles, comprehenfion, and new philofophy ; damning them ad injeros, ad gehennam. The oration being ended, fame honorary degrees were conferred, and the convocation di/folved. The afternoon was fpent in panegyrick orations, and reciting of poems in feveral forts of verfe, compofed in praife of the archbifbop, the theater, &c. and· crJ ing down fanaticks. The whole action began and ended with a noife of trumpets; and twice was interpofed variety of mu!ick, vocal and infirumental ; purpofely compofed · for this occafion. On Saturday and Monday, thofe exercifes appertaining to the act and · vefpers, which were wont to be performed in St. Mary's church, were had in the theater. In which, befide the number of proceeding doctors, (nine in divinity, four in law, fiv e in phyfick, and one in mufick) there was little extraordinary; but 6nly that the terra: – filius for both days were abominably fcurrilous; and fo fufFered to proceed without the leafi: check or interruption from vicechaneellor, pro·vicechancellor, proctors, curators, or any of thofe who were to govern the exercifes; which gave fo general offence to all hone!l:· fpectators, that I believe the univerfity hath thereby loft more reputation than they have gained by all the refi: All, or mofl: of the heads of houfes, and eminent perfons in the univerfity, with their relations, being reprefented as a company of whore·ma!lers, _ whores, and dunces. And among the refi, the excellent lady, which yo.ur letter men– tions, was, in the broadefi language, rcprefented as guilty of thofe crimes, of which (if there were occafion) you would not !lick to be her compurgator; and (if it had been fo), fbe m1ght (yet) have been called whore, in much more civil language. During this folem· mty (and for fome days before and linceJ, have been confl:antly acted (by the vicechanceJ. !or's allowance), two fiage plays in a day (by thofe of the duke of York's houfe), at a theater ereCted for that purpofe at the town·hall; which (for ought I hear) was much the more : innocent
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