A LETTER SENT BY WILLIAM Lawd Archbishop of Canterbury.  
With divers Manuscripts to the university of OXFORD.  
Which Letter, in respect it hath Relation to this present Parliament, is here inserted.  
TOGETHER, With the Answer which the university sent him, wherein is specified their Integrity, as he is their Chancellor. The Tenor whereof ensues.  
Printed in the year, 1641,   

A LETTER SENT BY WILLIAM Laud Archbishop of Canterbury.  
To my most loving friend Doctor Potter, and the rest of the Doctors, Proctors, and to all the Convocation House in the University of Oxford.  
SO difficult (most flourishing Academians) are the present times, (and the present business so urgent) that we have no leisure for writing. This writing of what Nature soever receive readily, I will transmit a few things to you, as yet (most flourishing university) we have most difficult times and businesses, which every way urge, us. But in what estate ecclesiastical businesses are all men may see, there is more than one fountain of these evils. But there is but one fury of those, who not enduring sound Doctrine, which St. Hilary observed, desire a corrupt Doctrine, among whom, thus stung with the summer-fly, how hard a thing it is to live amongst them: But I am more sensible of it, to whom, I thank God, it is the same to live, and to do my duty, but these things are to be passed by, neither can we know what will be the issue of these things, and we have no milder times nor suffer, than our complaints; But I desire to give you to understand, that I pray you may have all things happy, while here amongst the higher Spheres, the stars of any magnitude, scarce keep their motion, and in regard of the thickness of the clouds, send forth a weak light, while all things are at this pass, I have resolved to lay down in safety (as I hope) with you certain Manuscripts of former times, they are few, but like to the former, if not equal, and such they are which I hope, I have not been wanting to provide for your use, notwithstanding the difficulty of the times, but amongst them there are 6. Hebrew, 11. of Greek, 34. of Arabic 21. of Latin, 2. of Italian, and as many of English, and of Persian 5. one of the which, (being of a large volume) containeth a history from the beginning of the World, to the end of the Saracen Empire, and without doubt, is of great worth, let these be carried by you, into the Library of Bodley, I reverence the name, let me not be superstitious, and I desire, they may be placed by others, which of late were mine, and under the same conditions, I have given the former. There is no need of many words to set forth this too small a gift of ours, neither did I ever desire it, This I daily pray for earnestly at God, that the University may ever flourish, and that Religion and Piety, and whatsoever may set forth true Doctrine, may arise to the height, and that the Tempests (which are high) being once laid, you may enjoy yourselves, your studies, and above all things God, which shall be always my desires.  
Your faithful and loving chancellor, W. Canterbury.   

THE university OF OXFORD: Their answer, unto a Letter sent to WILLIAM Lawd, Archbishop of Canterbury their chancellor.  
To the most Reverend Father in God, WILLIAM Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and chancellor of the university of Oxford.  
We wish all eternity most Reverend chancellor, oh how great are the virtues which arise from the straits, which are pressing, while the stars shine, you think of conforming and strengthening the university, and to make it famous and Illustrious, being careful for all, and as we hope secure for yourself. You have made a new Harvest for us, by adding to the former Manuscripts these latter, yet with great price and labour, and with the like variety of Tongues, and weights of Arguments, and variety of examples, worthy to be perused, so in number, and one volume, which with the like faith, and thankfulness, we will most safely keep and carefully observe. There are divers judgements of those that observe & read these books, but there is but one sense, which is this, That you are the man that desires the Muses, and our Mother the university, to the height of happiness; These were the Monuments of former Ages, but they shall be yours, by giving us the treasury of this History, a deserved History, the tumultuousness of the times do double the gifts, which now, will hardly admit, either the leisure of writing or reading, notwithstanding it leaveth its place, for the incomparable pains of doing good, and space of giving advice, whatsoever you put into the bosom of the university, you may assure yourself in safety, we hope it is beyond fortune's reach, not in that it is given to us, but because the reward of such Works, is treasured with the chief of Mortals, we in the mean time (who are nourished by hope) are under the same fate, The hand that hateth the Orchard, and hateth the Orchard-Keeper, doth not spare what is sown into the ground, or what the tree produceth, only the Orchard-keeper who adventures himself for the safety of the Seminary and unmindful of his own, to increase their prosperity, he stands in a slippery place, he is more to be reverenced, than when there is a most straight rule, certainly without the Church (without the which we cannot hope for safety) we will not hope for comfort, we desire no such safety, no such pleasure, we desire rather to perish, then to depend on those Travels, when that unhappy day shall come, when nothing shall be more displeasing then the faithful mysteries of God, and nothing more dangerous when innocency, and too much integrity shall be counted a fault. These evils God turn far from us, and appease the fury popular, who causeth the waves or winds.  
Our members are ready to be your Champions, but our minds (notwithstanding all interpositions) are more ready, for by this time, we shall muster up our forcible troops of sighs, and shall dispose of all the force of your desires, joyfully and earnestly looking up, and spreading our hands towards Heaven, praying on our knees that (with other gifts given to the House) we may enjoy (this the great Gift) and you the Giver:  
From Oxford 1640. Your most observant, Strode, Orator in the university.  
FINIS.