THE COPY OF A LETTER SENT BY WILLIAM LAUD Archbishop of Canterbury, to the UNIVERSITY of OXFORD.  
Wherein he relates his present condition, and Resigns the Office of his Chancellourship, with an Advertisement, for the Election of another.   portrait of William Laud 
Printed Anno Dom. 1641.   

A LETTER WRITTEN BY THE Archbishop of Canterbury to the University of Oxford.  
MY present condition is not unknown to the whole world, yet by few pitied, or deplored. The righteous God best knows the justice of my sufferings; on whom both in life and death I will ever depend, the last of which shall be unto me most welcome, in that my life is now burdensome unto me, my mind attended with variety of sad and grievous thoughts, my soul continually vexed with anxieties and troubles, groaning under the burden of a displeased Parliament, my name dispersed, and grossly abused, by the multiplicity of libellous Pamphlets, and myself debarred from my wont access to the best of Princes, and 'tis vox populi that I am popishly affected. How earnest I have been in my disputations, exhortations, and otherwise, to quench such sparks, lest they should become Coals, I hope after my death you will all acknowledge, yet, in the midst of all my afflictions, there is nothing hath so nearly touched me, as the remembrance of your free and joyful acceptance of me to be your Chancellor, and that I am now shut up from being able to do you that service, which you might justly expect from me; When I first received this honour, intended to have carried it with me to my Grave, neither were my hopes any less, since the Parliament by his Majesties command committed me to this Royal Prison; But sigh (by reason of matters of greater consequence yet in hand) the Parliament is pleased to precrastinate my trial, I do hereby as thankfully resign my office of being Chancellor, as ever I received that dignity, entreating you to elect some Honourable person, who upon all occasions may be ready to serve you, and I beseech God send you such a one, as may do all things for his glory, and the furtherance of your most famous University. This is the continual prayer of  
Tower, June 28, 1641. Your dejected Friend and Chancellor, being the last time I shall write so, W. Cant.  
FINIS.