THE TRUE COPY OF A LETTER SENT FROM THE MOST REVEREND WILLIAM Lord Archbishop of CANTERBURY to the University of OXFORD, when he resigned his Office of CHANCELLOR. Published BY OCCASION OF A BASE LIBEL AND Forgery that runs under this TITLE. And also the Answer of the UNIVERSITY to the said LETTER.  
יהוה  
ACADEMIA OXONIENSIS  
Veritas in Profundo  
Christus Lucrum.  
〈…〉  
〈…〉   printer's or publisher's device 
OXFORD, Printed by LEONARD LICHFIELD, Printer to the University, Anno Dom. 1641.   

TO MY VERY LOVING FRIENDS, THE VICECHANCELLOR, THE DOCTORS, THE PROCTORS, AND The rest of the Convocation of the University of OXFORD.  
AFter my hearty Commendations etc. These are to remember my love to that whole Body. That love, than which never any Chancellor bore greater, or with more ferventness and zeal to the public good and happiness of that Place. And I do hearty pray all, and every of you to believe me, for most true it is, that the unfortunateness of my great affliction doth not trouble me for any one thing more, then that I can be no farther useful or beneficial to that Place, which I so much love and honour.  
I was once resolved not to resign my Place of Chancellor, till I saw the issue of my troubles one way or other. And this resolution I took, partly because I had no reason to desert myself, and occasion the World to think me guilty: And partly because I have found so much love from the University that I could not make myself willing to leave it, till some greater Cause should take me off from that which I so resolved on.  
That Cause (if I be not much mistaken,) doth now present itself. For I see the University hath great need of Friends, great and daily need. I see my trial not hastened; so that I am neither able to assist your great occasions myself nor procure Friends for them: I see that if you had another Chancellor you could not want the help which now you do. And I cannot but know that were your love never so great to me, it must needs cool, when you see me able to give no Assistance, and yet fill the Place which should afford it to you. And I should hardly satisfy myself, that I love you so well as I do, if I did not further your Good and happiness by all the means I can, and even by this my Resignation.  
The serious consideration of these things, and the foresight which I have, that I shall never be able to serve you as I have done, have prevailed with me at this time, to send the Resignation of the Chancellourship, to your Body met in Convocation. And do hereby pray you that it may be publicly read and accepted, the time being now most fit, that so your Honourable succeeding Chancellor may presently appoint an able Deputy for the Government according to his own judgement.  
And now I do earnestly desire of you all, either to remember, or to know, that I never sought, or thought of the Honour of this Place to myself: And yet that since it was by the great favour and love of that University laid upon me, I have discharged it (by God's grace and goodness to me) with great pains and care, and God's blessing (I humbly thank him,) hath not been wanting. And I profess singly and from my heart, if there be any Good which I ought to have done to that Place, and have not done it, it proceeded from want of understanding or ability, not Will or affection. And though I do for the Causes aforesaid resign this Place, yet I shall serve it still with my Prayers, so long as God continues my life.  
And as I doubt not but God will bless you with an Honourable Chancellor, and one able to do more for that Place than I have been; so I pray God to give you a peaceable and quiet Election, and to direct it to the Good of this his Church, and the honour and happiness of that famous University. That you may have no miss in the least of me, who (after your Prayers hearty desired) now writes himself the last time  
From the TOWER. june 25. 1641. Your very loving poor Friend and CHANCELLOR, W. CANT.   

AMPLISSIMO ET REVERENDISSIMO DOMINO GVILIELMO ARCHI-PRAESULI Cantuariensi.  
Reverendissime ARCHI-PRAESUL— Hoc enim solum Tibi (sic voluisti) Nomen relictum est—  
NOvissimae literae tuae, amoris, sed & doloris, plenae, fecerunt ut dehinc nos planè are dirutos diruptosque profiteri debeamus. Cum effusissimo amori tuo, verbis (quod unicum nobis suppetit peculium) ut paria faceremus, nunquam sperandum fuit; nedum dolori nostro verba nos reperturos paria; Ne si passis quidem eloquentiae velis vehi, & totâ doloris praerogatiuâ frui liceret. Hodie verò, ut sunt tempora, ad justissimum dolorem nostrum non levis hic accessit cumulus, quòd eum in sinu premere & quasi strangulare necesse habeamus; Quibus ne illud quidem tutò queri licet, in ea nos tempora incidisse, in quibus singulari tuae prudentiae & erga nos amori consultissimum visum sit, nostraque quâm maximè interesse, ut Res ac Fortunas nostras à Tuis segreges habeamus & sejunctas. Quanquam verò supremo Numini sic visum est, ut illud nobis beneficij loco imputandum haberes, quòd maximum beneficiorum tuorum, Teipsum, à nobis segregares, & Cancellarij munus abdicares; Affectus tamen tuus erga Academiam nostram propensissimus, tum literis tuis novissimis, tum aliis frequentibus argumentis abundè testatus, dubitare nos non sinit, quin deposito invidioso Cancellarij titulo, amantissimi Patroni affectum adhuc in sinu tuo retineas. Quamdiu Manuscripta 
(a) MSS Cod. plus quàn MCCC. De quibus plus quam CCCXXX Linguis Oriental. scripti. & paulò minus C. Ling. Gr.  illa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tua, Orientis spolia, & verè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bibliothecam nostram illustrabunt; quamdiu Lectura Arabica, á Te 
(b) Salarium Professoris Ling. Arab. XL. lb. Annuae.  dotata, frequentabitur; quamdiu Antiquitatis vindices simul & testes antiqua 
(c) Hebr. Graec. Roman. Famil. & Imper. Britannic.  Numismata visentur; quamdiu castigatior disciplina, mores emendati, morumque Canon Statuta vigebunt; quamdiu pro studio partium bonarum Artium studia colentur; quamdiu literis honos, honori Literae erunt, Cancellarium adhuc esse Te, sentiet praesens Aetas; fuisse, poster a agnoscet. Dehinc, immortalitatis securus, gloriaeque Tuae superstes, diu hîc posteritati tuae intersis; Ac demum, ubi mortalitatis numeros omnes impleveris, plenus annis abeas, plenus honoribus, illis etiam quos abdicasti. Ita vovet  
Dat: è Domo Convocat: 6ᵒ. julij. 1641. Amplitudini Tuae omni cultûs ac observantiae nexu devinctissima, ACADEMIA OXON.