A LETTER Sent from the PROVOST Vicechancellor of Oxford, To the Right Honourable the Earl of Pembroke Lord Chancellor of Oxford.  
Together with his Lordship's ANSWER To the said Letter.  

ORdered by the LORDS and COMMONS in Parliament, That this Letter and Answer be forthwith Printed and published:  
H. Eising, Cler. Parl. D. Com. SEPTEMBER 13. 1642.   
London, Printed by L. N. for E. Husbands and J. Frank and are to be sold at their shops in the Middle-Temple, and next door to the Kings-head in Fleetstreet.   

The Copy of A LETTER Sent from The Provost Vicechancellor of Oxford to the Right Honourable, the Earl of Pembroke and Mountgomery: Lord Chancellor of Oxford, dated September the 12. 1642.  
Right Honourable:  
May it please your Lordship to know, that this University is now in extreme danger of the suffering all Evils and Calamities, that warlike forces may may bring upon it. Such forces we hear for certain are some of them already upon their March, some others in raising to assault, and if they may have their wills (I mean the common sort of them) to spoil & destroy us. My L. you have been solicitous, whom to appoint your Vicechancellor over us for this next year. But if these forces come forward, and do that Execution upon us and this place, that we fear they intent; there will be no use at all of any Vicechancellor. For what will be here for him to do, where there will be no scholars for him to govern? Or what should Scholars do here, having no Libraries left them to study in? no Schools to dispute in? Chapels to serve God in? Colleges or Halls to live or lodge in? but have all these ransacked, defaced, demolished. So that Posterity may have to say, See here was for a long time, and till such a year an University of great Renown and Eminence, in all Manner of Learning and Virtue. But now laid utterly waste and buried in her own Ruins. And then with the question be; What had they then no L. Chancellor over them? Or was He unable to protect them, either by His power, or by his mediation and favour in their behalf! Or were men of place and Governors in the University so sleepy and stupid, as not to implore his protection of them? Or was he fore-acquainted with their danger, and regardless nevertheless of what might befall them? We are all of us very confident, that if your Lordship would vouchsafe to interpose with your entreaties for us to the Honourable Houses of Parliament for our safety and security therein all would be well with us, as now it is, the delinquents that were one while sent for are not one of them here at this time. Sir john Byron with his Regiment of Troopers (who have been 2 few days here without the least damage or grievance that I know of any man) we shall (I doubt not) soon prevail withal to withdraw from us, if he may with his safety return back to His Majesty, who of His own gracious Care of us sent him hither; And if your Lordship shall be secured, that no other forces shall be here imposed upon us, that will take the liberty to exercise that barbarous Insolence with which the illiterate, rude, and ruffianly rabble of the Vulgar threaten us. Against such and against such only, our young men have lately taken in hand the Arms: We have (a very few God knows, and in weak hands enough) to save themselves and us from having our Libraries fired, our Collages pillaged, and our throats cut by them; if they should suddenly break in upon us. And this (my Lord is all the sinful intent we have had in permitting them to train in a voluntary and peaceable manner so as they have done. Good my Lord, and that which I most earnestly beg of your Honour is out of the sense and humble Request of the Univerversitie, vouchsafe to put in action with all speed, what you in your wisdom conceive may be most effectual and prevalent with the Honourable Houses of Parliament, for the peace and security of this place, and for the staying of our Students, a great part of whom, (such stout and hardy men they are) upon Alarms and affrights, such as have been hourly here of late, are fled away from us home to their mothers. The disciples then in danger of drowning clamored our Saviour with Master carest thou not that we perish? But I am bold to assume for your Honour and to assure all of this University under your happy government, that you will not (so fare as in your power is) suffer any one Member of it to perish, no not to receive any the least hurt. And that of the tender and vigilant Care you have of us you will at this time give us a clear & real evidence, having this representation of the peril that we are now in, made unto your Honour by me,  
Your Lordship's humble servant Provost-Vice-Chancellour of Oxford.   

The Answer to the said Letter. Dated September the 13.  
SIR,  
IF you had desired my advice and assistance in time I should willingly have contributed my best endeavours for safety and Protection. But your own unad vised Counsels and Actions have reduced you to the steights you are now in: any discretion might have foreseen: That the admitting of Cavaliers; and taking up Arms, could not but make the University a Notorious mark of oppositions against the Parliament, and therefore to be opposed by it. If you had contained yourselves within the decent modest bounds of an University, you might justly have challenged me, if I had nor performed the duty of a Chancellor. The best Council I can now give you is, that you presently dismiss the Cavaliers, and yield up unto the Parliament such Delinquents as are amongst you, and then the Cause being taken away, the effect will follow: When you have put yourselves into the right posture of an University, I will be a faithful Servant to you, and as ready to do you all the good Offices I can with the Parliament, as I am now sorry you have brought these troubles upon yourselves. So I rest.  
Your Very loving Friend, Pemb. & Mount.   

September 12. 1642.  
Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that this Letter with the Answer be forthwith Printed and Published.  
H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.