ons, upon an ill-grounded Sufpicion that they 1687. were defign'd by the Court for the Maintainance of French Papifts that were invited over to ferve the King's Defigns. Others endeavour'd to leffen King James's Bounty, by faying it was but a Piece of Policy, in order to curry Favour with his own Proteftant Subjects. All that an Hiftorian can fay in this Matter is, that where the Benefit is real, 'tis a kind of Ingratitude too nicely to enquire into the Motive of it. Some of the French Refugees had a better Senfe of the King's Favours. For Monfieur Daillon, one of their Minifters, to compliment the Court upon their beloved Project of Liberty of Confcience, follicited a Patent for the erecting a Nonconforming and Independant French Church in Sohoe-Fields, which was readily granted: And from hence it is that the French call that Meeting-Houfe La Patente, to this very Day. The Minifters of the French Church in the Savoy were not wanting in exprefling their Gratitude to His Majefty; but yet they did it with more Referve and Circumfpection, as appear'd upon the following Occafion: The Jefuits ever fince their Settlement in the Savoy, had a Defign upon the French Chappel there, and Mr. Pulton, their Rector or Principal, tamper'd with Dr. Dubourdieu, in order to engage him to refign that Church, promifing him, as from the King, to build them another on any Ground they fhould think molt convenient between White-Hall and Temple-Bar, with a large Sum of Money into the Bargain. Monfieur Dubourdieu made Anfwer, That being but one, he defir'd Time to communicate his Propofal to the other Minifters, and Church-Wardens of the Savoy. Thefe being met upon this critical Affair, it was agreed, That before they fhould give the Jefuits a positive Anfwer, they fhould confult with fuch Lords who were molt confpicuous for their Wifdom, and their Affection to the Proteftant Intereft. Accordingly Mr. Dubourdieu waited upon the Lords Hallifax, Danby, Nottingham, and fome few o G4 thers, 1687. thers, who all, as it were by Confent, advis'd 'em after this manner: Never hearken to any Terms with the Jefuits; let them pursue their violent Meafures: fuffer your felves to be thrust out of your Church; for by that Means you'll do your own Bufinefs and the Nation's. The Thunderbolts of the Ecclefiaftical ComProceedings miffion fell next on both the Univerfities, and of the E firft of all upon Dr. Peachel, the Vice-Chancellor clefiaftical of Cambridge, for refusing to admit one Alban FranCommiin- cis, a Benedictine Monk, to the Degree of Master of ers against Arts, without taking the Oaths, according to the King's the Vice Mandate, wherein His Majesty difpens'd with FranChancellor cis for not having that neceffary Qualification. of Cambridge. This Mandate being read in the Confittory, it was unanimously agreed, That they could not admit the Monk to a Degree, without taking the ufual Oaths, unless they broke their own; and thereupon appointed Two of their Body to wait upon His Majefty, and acquaint him how ready they were to obey all his Commands, where their Compliance did not clash with their Confciences; humbly hoping His Majefty would not force them to Wilful Perjury; of which, by the Statutes of the Univerfity, they muft be guilty, if they fhould admit Alban Francis thus unqualify'd to that De gree. When the Two Fellows came to London, they firft made their Application to the Duke of Albemarle, their Chancellor, who us'd his Interest to ferve them, tho' to little Purpofe; for at length they receiv'd this Anfwer from the Secretary of State, That His Majefty had feen the Vice-Chancellor's Letter, was offended at the Proceedings of the Univerfity, and would take Order hortly to give them a further Anfwer. What this Anfwer was appear'd in a little time, for Atterbury the Meffenger came to Cambridge, to fummon the Vice-Chancellor to appear before the Ecclefiaftical Commiffioners, and anfwer to fuch things as fhould be objected against him, on His Majefties Behalf. The ViceChancellor, and Eight more of that Body, appear'd, and put in their Answer in writing in the Name of the University; alledging Three Acts of Parlia ment ment in their Juftification, with many unanswera- 1687. dalen Col Ledge in The Storm which foon after broke out upon the Proceedings whole Colledge of St. Mary Magdalen in Oxford, against St. as it was a longer time a-gathering, fo it proved Mary Mag more furious and difmal in its Effects. And because the boldeft Strokes of that Arbitrary Spi- Oxon. rit, by which King James's Councils were animated, were feen in a particular manner through the Course of this Affair, a full Relation of the whole cannot be thought foreign to this Hiftory. St. Mary Magdalen Colledge is one of the noblett Foundations that, perhaps, was ever erected for Learning in the World, and therefore 'twas no wonder the Popish Clergy look'd with an envious and greedy Eye upon this rich Prize, and made their utmoft Efforts to fnatch it from the Hands of those they call'd Hereticks. This illuftrious Society, from repeated Grants of Kings, confirm'd by feveral Acts of Parliament, and from their own Sta tutes, were in an uninterrupted, as well as uncontefted, Poffeffion of a Right to elect their own Prefident. That Place being vacant, by the Death of Dr. Clark, the Vice-Prefident, Dr. Aldworth, gave notice to all the Fellows prefent in the Chap-* March pel, to proceed to the Election of another on the 31. 1687. 13th of April following, to fill up the Vacancy. But before the Day of Election, being inform'd that 1687. that his Majefty had granted his Letters Mandatory, in Behalf of Mr. Anthony Farmer, a Man of an ill Reputation, who had promis'd to declare himfelf a Papift, They most humbly represented to His Majefty in their Petition, That the faid Mr. Farmer was a Perfon in feveral Refpects uncapable of that Character, according to their Founder's Statutes; and did most earnestly befeech His Majelty, either to leave them to the Discharge of their Duty and Confciences, according to His Majesties late moft gracious Toleration, and their Founder's Statutes, or to recommend fuch a Perfon, who might be more ferviceable to His Majefty, and to this Colledge. The Petition was delivered to the Earl of Sd, Prefident of the Council, by Dr. The.Smith, and Capt. Bag† April 9. Shaw † ; and lay Four Days in his Lord hip's Hands. with a Promife of his Favour; but at laft his Antwer was, That the King must be obeyed. On Monday, April 11. His Majefties Mandate was de*Since exe- liver'd by Mr. Robert Charnock, Mafter of Arts, cuted for Fellow of the faid Colledge, a new Convert, and the Plot to a Man wholly devoted to the Court, directed to murder the Vice-Prefident and Fellows, requiring them forthwith to elect the faid Mr. Farmer, and admit him Prefident. This Mandate the Vice-Prefident read, with decent Refpect, in the Chappel of the Colledge, before the Fellows there prefent, and ask'd them whether they, in Obedience to His Majetties Letters, would forthwith elect Mr. Farmer Prefident? They all agreed to defer their * April 13. Answers till Wednesday following. All the Fellows being then met, the Vice-Prefident read the Statute concerning the Choice of a Prefident, and another against corrupt and irregular Elections; then he read the King's Letter in Behalf of Mr. Farmer, and a fecond time demanded their Anfwer, which was to this Effect; That having a Petition lying at that time before His Majelty, they ought not to proceed to Election, till they had receiv'd His Majesty's Answer to the fame. And thereupon they all agreed; except Mr. Charnock, that the Election fhould be deferr'd April 14. till the next Day. On Thursday + in the Morning the Vice-Prefident told them, That the Choice of King Wil liam III. 2 M a Prefident had been put off upon Account of their 1687. lows |