254

WRITERS AND OTHERS.

one time Captain of a Company of Foot. He also fought for Charles II at Worcester. Rector of Kingham (1676) and Daylesford (1680).—WILLIAM NORREYS, afterwards a Cornet in the Lord Hopton's army, was made B.A. in the same creation.-WILLIAM DowdesweLL, perhaps the canon of Chichester of that name, ' accounted a learned man among those of his Society,' was created M.A. at the same time, as one of those who had retired to the King at Oxon to avoid the barbarities of the Presbyterians.' At the Restoration he received a prebend at Worcester.-JOHN WYBERD (entered 1638, aet. 24), a mathematician, who left England when the troubles began, travelled in Germany, and was made Doctor of Physick (being styled 'Trinobans Anglus') at Franaker in West Friesland, whence he incorporated at Oxford in 1654. He wrote 'Tetagmenometria, or the Geometry of Regulars practically proposed,' Lond. 1650.- PHILIP MARINELL, a Channel Island fellow (matr. 1653), translated (1660) from the French The Hinge of Faith and Religion, written by Ludovicus Capel, professor of Divinity at Samur. He was buried in St. Aldate's churchyard, near the south door.-PAUL LATHOM (matr. 1654); created M.A. 1661 at the Clarendonian Creation; prebendary of Sarum and a writer. Dr. ANDREW DOMINICK, 'originally of Trin. Coll. where he had in a manner been drawn off from his Religion to that of Rome but reclaimed by the endeavours of Dr. Christoph. Wren, afterwards Dean of Windsore. Created D.D. in 1661, when Lord Clarendon the Chancellor visited Oxford, being then beneficed in Wilts. He published among other things Dies Nefastus (1662).—In the same Creation SAMUEL COTTON, and LAWRENCE HUNGERFORD Vicar of Hambledon, were made Doctors of Divinity.-Wood does not mention Dr. ELISHA COYSH (matr. 1650), fellow of the College of Physicians 1673 (buried in St. Mary Aldermary 1685). Dean SAMUEL CROSSMAN, author of 'Jerusalem on high' and other 'Sacred Poems,' is assigned by Professor Palgrave in his Treasury to this House, but appears to have been bred at Pembroke Hall in Cambridge.

CHAPTER XIX.

MASTERSHIPS OF WIGHTWICK AND BISHOP HALL.

DISSENSIONS.

CLAYTON'S de jure successor in the mastership, HENRY WIGHTWICK, had in his salad days set the University by the ears. At the end of 16131

'a spirit of sedition possessed certain of the Regent Masters against the Vicechanc. and doctors. The chief and only matter that excited them to it was their sitting like boys bareheaded in the Convocation House, at the usual assemblies there, which was not, as 'twas thought, so fit, that the Professors of the Faculty of Arts (on which the University was founded) should, all things considered, do it. The most forward person among them, named Henry Wightwicke, of Gloucester Hall, having had an intimation of a Statute which enabled them to be covered with their caps, and discovering also something in the large west window of Saint Mary's Church, where pictures of Regents and Non-Regents were sitting covered in assemblies before the Chancellor, clapt on his cap, and spared not to excite his brethren to vindicate that custom, now in a manner forgotten; and having got over one of the Regents to be more zealous in the matter than himself, procured the hands of most, if not all, of them to be set to a Petition (in order to be sent to the Chancellor of the University 2), for the effecting and bringing about the matter. But the Vicechancellor, Dr Singleton, having had timely notice of the design, sends a full relation of the matter to the Chancellor; whereupon answer was returned that he should deal therein as he should think fit. Wightwicke therefore being called into question for endeavouring to subvert the Honour and Government of the University, whereby he ran himself into perjury (he having before taken an Oath to keep and maintain the Rites, Customs, and Privileges of the University) was banished; and his party, who had proved false to him, severely checkt by the Chancellor. 'At length Wightwick's friends laying open to him the danger that he

1 Gutch, Annals, ii. 317.

Thomas, Lord Ellesmere. A little earlier, in 1591, Dr. James the ViceChancellor, an anti-puritan, pronounced John Vicars, a regent-master of Broadgates, deprived for a year of the liberties of the University for brawling in Congregation (Gutch's Wood, ii. 247).

256

HENRY WIGHTWICK.

would run himself into, if he should not seek restauration and submit, did, after his peevish and rash humour had been much courted to it, put up a Petition (subscribed in his behalf by the Bishop of London1 and Sir John Bennett) to the Chancellor of the University, for his restauration, which being with much ado granted, but with this condition, that he make an humble recantation in the Convocation, sent to his Vicechancellor what should be done in the matter, and among other things thus. "For the manner of his submission and recognition which he is to make, I will not take upon me to direct, but leave yt wholy to your wisdomes, as well for manner as for the matter; only thus much generally will I intimate unto you that the affront and offence committed by Whittwicke in the Congregation House by his late insolent carriage there, was verie great and notorious, and that offence afterwards seconded and redoubled by another, as ill or worse than the former, in his seditious practizing and procuring a multitude of handes, thereby thinking to justifie and maintain his former errors, and his proud and insolent disobedience and contempt. I hold yt therefore very requisite that his submission and recognition, both of the one fault and of the other, should be as publique, and as humble, as possible with conveniencye may bee. Which being thus openly done, as I hope yt will bee a good example to others, to deter them from committing the like offences hereafter, so I do also wishe this his punishment may be only ad correctionem et non ad destructionem."'

He made his submission on the morrow of St. John Baptist's Day, 1614, in the middle of the chancel of St. Mary's. In it he says, after acknowledging that he had put on his cap,

'Scitote quaeso praeterea, me supradictum Henricum a sententia domini Vicecancellarii ad venerabilem Domum Congregationis provocasse, quod nec licitum nec honestum esse in causa perturbationis pacis facile concedo. Scitote denique me solum manus Academicorum egregie merentium Theologiae Baccalaureorum et in Artibus Magistrorum in hac corona astantium Collegiatim et Aulatim cursitando rescripto apponendas

curasse.'

He writes himself both 'Whitwicke' and 'Wightwicke.' The submission was followed by his restoration. Wood adds :-

'This person could never be convinced when he became Master of Pembroke College, 46 years after this time, that he made any submission at all, but carried the business on and effected it against all the University as to his young acquaintance that came often to visit him and he them (for he delighted in boyish company) he would after a pedantical way boast, supposing perhaps, that having been so many years before acted, no person could remember it: but record will rise up and justify matters, when names and families are quite extirpated and forgotten among men.'

1 Abbott. These names seem a link between Tesdale and the Wightwick family.

EXPULSION FROM THE MASTERSHIP.

257

In 1620, six years after Wightwick's rebuff, Prideaux being ViceChancellor, the Regent Masters, including Gilbert Sheldon, Peter Heylin, Robert Newlyn, and many others, renewed their claim to be covered, and the Chancellor, Lord Pembroke, recommended Convocation to allow it, 'it being no where seen that those that are admitted Judges are required to sit bare-headed.' It was accordingly agreed that all Masters might wear square caps, any one bringing in his hat to lose his suffrage. Before half a century had elapsed however the privilege was disused, the masters finding it troublesome to bring their caps and preferring to sit bare-headed. By an ordinance of June 1, 1621, undergraduates were to stand uncovered before

masters.

Dr. Ingram considers Henry Wightwick's reply to the parliamentary Visitors only equalled by Hough's stand against James II. His career had not a very edifying sequel. He was advanced in life when restored to the Mastership in 1660. On the Epiphany (Sunday) 1661, Mr. Whighwick, Mr. of Pemb. Coll. Oxon, preached at S. Maries on this text, Master, what shall I doe yt I might inherit eternall life? Where he, striving too much yt his voice might be heard, fell in sownn. This I took notice of here, in case the phanaticks may take advantage of it hereafter, to publish it as a special judgment of God, as they did on some occasions last Aug. Mr. Whitwicke, as I was told, eat not a bit from Saturday noon before, neither took rest that night, and besides he is an old man'.' On Dec. 21, 1664, he was removed from his place as Master by an order from the Earl of Clarendon read in the College hall. Mr. Whitwick's place pronounced void by the Chancellour for severall misdeameanours. This man had been absent from the Universitie many yeares and had forgot an Universitie life and the decorum belonging to a governour. Testy, peevish and silly. Drinks with yong Mrs. and Bachelors. Visit... Ewre of C. C. drunken Bachelor, and hath been discovered at his chamber in a morning smoaking and drinking. His preaching at St. Marie's ridiculous. His person ridiculous, like a monkey rather than a Christian. There was a bibbing Rector at Exeter College after the Restoration, for whom Wood makes a similar excuse, that he had in his long exile and 'extreme misery' unlearnt the habits of a scholar and divine; and the restored President of Corpus, Dr. Newlyn, seems

Coll. 2, a fat

258

APPEAL TO THE CHANCELLOR.

also to have been demoralized by adversity. Wightwick was rather high-handed and autocratic, as the following appeal against his enforcement of the Statutes seems to show. The appellant is a different Henry Wyat from the intruded fellow of that name.

'To the Right Honorble Edward Earle of Clarendon Lord high Chancelor of England Chancel of ye University of Oxon & by ye Statute of Pemb. Coll. their peculiar Visitor

'The humble peticon of HENRY WYATT Dr in physick & fellow of Pemb. Coll.1

'Humbly sheweth

'That yo peticon was contiñally persecuted & threatned expulsion in ye time of Dr Langlys Mrship for adhering to ye King but is now actually expeld by Mr Wightwick ye present Mr upon pretence of a certain clause in ye statutes wch obliges those of ye foundation to be ordaind Ministers wthin 4 yeares after they are, mrs of Arts whereas all yt time there was noe episcopall and lawfull ordination to be had & since to be ordained will not fulfill ye statute and therefore upon a full debate it was ordred by ye Visitors appointed by his Maty for regulating the Univ'sity that yor peticon should be restord to his fellowship & yo profitts thereof and had time granted till Michaelmas next to resolve whether he would enter into Orders or not But ye Mr in a peremptory Contempt of ye said Order hath in yor peticonrs absence proceeded notwithstanding to a full expulsion & admitted another into his place & not only done this but many other rash and imprudent Acts against ye Consent of all ye fellows to ye great prejudice & almost ruine of ye whole society

'Yo peticon" therefore most humbly prayeth (forasmuch as he is a kinsman to ye Founder & hath been alwaies faithfull to his Maty & a great sufferer both att home & abroad & hath as yett no other preferment) that yor Hon would be pleasd to restore him to his fellowshippe & ye profits thereof that he may have ye same favour wch others injoy & a longer time granted him before he be compeld to take Orders the statutes allowing a yeare of grace even to those who have other certaine preferment.

'Oxford Sept. 23, 1661

'And yor peticon shall ever pray etc'

'This Petition having been delivered to Me so late before my going out of Town that I have not time to send for the Master of Pembroke Coll: I desire Mr Vicechanceller to examine the Business & to see if He can, by calling both Parties before him, settle it; If not to make a speciall Report of it to Me. 'Clarendon C.'

1 Tanner MSS. 338, fol. 405.

2 Viz. on April 9, 1661.