SUNDRY THINGS FROM several HANDS Concerning the University OF OXFORD: VIZ.  

I. A Petition from some Well-affected therein.  
II. A model for a college Reformation.  
III. Queries concerning the said University, and several persons therein.   
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Creake. 1659.   

To the PARLIAMENT of the Commonwealth of England.  
The humble Petition of the remnant of well-affected persons within the University of Oxford.  
SHEWETH,  
THat your Petitioners are infinitely rejoiced at the good providence of God which hath once more restored you to those seats, and that station of which you were by undoubted right possessed, and in which you did so demean yourselves that the Lord blessed you in your counsels extraordinarily, and the hands of the poor people of this nation were much strengthened under you, through a certain hope to see themselves established upon sure foundations; and a Commonwealth erected after such a model as would secure us all in our Liberties, Civill and spiritual, without the hazard of being overthrown by every or any ambitious spirit. We hope that you yourselves are sensible, as we are, upon that late usurpation upon you us, being the basest and unworthlest attempt that hath happened among the sons of men; and that you will neither give daring spirits any encouragement for the future to act the like by permitting their predecessor an Honourable memorial, or providing ample revenues for his posterity( a thing without example in the best Commonwealths) nor omit those things which are essential to our being a wel-framed republic.  
In reference hereunto we humbly pray that you would have a special care of the magistracy of this Nation, that it may be entrusted with such as fear God, hate covetousness, are and have been under the late accursed apostasy promoters & abettors of a Commonwealths interest, and have owned the like principles in others: and that the Armies of our lands may be garbled, and put in such mens hands as are faithful and able for the discharge of so great a work.  
And for so much as the education of persons to serve in Church and State, is a thing necessary to be considered for the subsistence and continuance of a republic, that the youth may be thoroughly acquainted and prepossessed with the principles thereof, as well us instructed in all other useful learning. We humbly beseech you that you would take into your care the two Universities, which are the standing seminaries of a ministry( good or bad, useful or useless, according as they are there educated) and places whither the gentry and others resort for instruction, and whence they return( or may do) well affencted and capable of sundry employments in their generations; or else ignorant, rude, oppressive, debauched, and debauching others, to the great detriment and overthrow of a Commonwealth.  
We also desire that you would enact a freedom for opinions there, and constitute professors and libraries, endowed accordingly; that so all that are members of this Commonwealth, and are ready to sacrifice all that is near and dear to them for the public service that so considerable a part of this Nation, so faithful, so well-affected, may not continue deprived of all advantageous breeding of their posterity: through defect whereof they become incapeable of reaping any profit from that posture of affairs into which they have principally stated us.  
And that degrees may not be conferred, but on such as deserve them, and after a more strict way of exercise suited to the preserving and upholding us as a republic; and not as hath been for many yeers past amongst us practised, when Creations & Dispensations for Time, absence, and exercise have so been granted for the capacitating of favourites to preferments and trusts whereunto they were no way fit; that we must make it our earnest-humble request that all degrees which have been conferred on any person or persons since the surrender of Oxford may be cassated and nulled by some solemn act, as being no longer characters of merit, but cheats wherewith to amuse the ignorant: and that such as are now graduates in Arts unnecessary, and which they ignore( so as entituling them thereto, is a lie) may commence in Philosophy and other useful studies, whereof they cannot be ignorant without prejudice to themselves in their fortunes, and the Common-wealth in its dis service.  
That whatever is monarchical, superstitious, or oppressive in the University to he good people, may be abrogated.  
That none be Heads of Houses but such as are entirely affencted for a republic, and who will be active in seasoning those under their charge with principles resembling: and that in case you find yourselves not provided with a sufficient number of persons for themanaging of so many colleges and Halls, we pray, you would reduce them, rather then suffer any to become Nurseries for such as may hereafter be as thorns in your sides.  
That the power of the university may not be in the hands of any One as Chancellor, nor of any Clergy-men( who have been so notoriously corrupt, negligent, and malignant) as Visitors,( the miscarriage of inferiors being personal, whilst theirs influence the public) no nor as Heads of colleges, governing with Fellows, unless there be a kind of Censor residing amongst them who shall be impowred to punish( with appeal only to the Council of State) all misdemeanours or neglects in exercise or discipline that may be prejudicial to the Commonwealth, and influence all elections for the advantage of such as are actively-obedient and deserving.  
That all such Ceremonies & Reverence as tends to enervating the minds of the people, & begetting a pride in the ministry may be put down, since the appointment of so extraordinary respects to men of low extraction renders them insolent, and either averse from going out to preach the Gospel, or scandalous in the performance thereof.  
That there may be sundry Acts in each year, at which a select number( yet varying each year, to prevent collusion) of Patriots or Senators may be present to judge of the abilities, and inclinations of the several Students towards the public good, and accordingly dispose of them into places, so as they may be serviceable to the Nation, and not grow old in their colleges, which thereby become as it were Hospitals or Monasteries.  
These things we thought it a duty incumbent on us to propose unto you, being ready to supply by our activeness whatever prejudice our paucity might create unto the Common-wealth: We have no self ends, nor do we labour to promote particular interests, being ready to comply with any of your commands, and in the mean while  
As your Petitioners, we shall ever pray, &c.   

A slight model of a college to be erected and supplied from Westminster School.  
SInce the Students of Christ Church finding their condition, as to Discipline and other emoluments intolerable under their present Governors, neither the Foundation-men, nor ancestoral Gentry being educated, so as to be serviceable to the public in any trusts or employments; they have drawn up a Petition, that the revenues of the college may be inquired into, and that they may be regulated by statutes( though good Statutes in the hands of remiss and negligent persons become ineffectual) and since the Canons of the said college( the Dean is so dissatisfied with the posture thereof, that he hath professed himself ready to desert his station) do very little, and ought not at all to intermeddle with the government of that house( they should have been sold as Cathedral, and that according to the Covenant, as the University in Convocation declared, but were I know not how preserved, possibly as a support to the then designed Monarchy) nor do they by reason of their frauds, dilapidations, maladministration of discipline, disaffection, and general harmlessness deserve to have any new right conferred on them. It is humbly Queried, whether some such model as the ensuing( which shall be now fully represented, with the reasons of each particular circumstance, when there shall be any appointed to receive proposals) than either they, or the whole University at present is.  
Let the places of the Dean and Canons be abolished, and the incomes thereof sequestered for the carrying on of the intended Model, which may be perfected without any further expense, than what is at present lost amongst thankless, useless, or disaffected persons.  
Let the Honourable the Governours of Westminster School be entrusted with the supreme power of the college, and disposal of revenues.  
Let no person, Professor or Fellow, have any extraordinary allowances, but what shall arise from their care in instructing others, and Donatives to be given from time to time by the Governors accordingly as they shall find men profit in learning, and hopeful to serve the Commonwealth.  
Let the Novices of the foundation be provided for of such books as are prescribed them by the discipline of the house( without permission to red others till they have perfectly laid their foundation) and accommodated in a decent way as to clothes, diet, and chambers, and chamber-furniture, and with physic in case of indisposition, at the college charge.  
Let the foundation be supplied from Westminster School, not only for their better instruction, but for the preserving of unanimity, and that upon their coming to the University, they be not enforced to one study, or general studies, but immediately put unto such a Society and class of Students as are for this or that profession.  
Let there be certain times of the year fixed, in which Commoners and others may be received into the college, and at no other time, to prevent disorders in studies; let that time be such as the Professors shall agree upon, wherein to finish their course of Lectures: and let these be distributed into Classes as the other, and regulated in their diet, habits, and company, as may best svit with their intended course of life, and the being of the Commonwealth, which requires that the youth be bread up to sobriety, frugality, and knowledge.  
Let the students of all sorts, and faculties, be obliged before their departure, to understand the grounds of a Commonwealth, and what is the particular basis of this, that so they may be more active in their persons and relations, it being their reason, and not custom which induces them to subjection.  
Let the Governors make it their care, that when persons shall arise to maturity, and sapable of any employments, to promote them in several ways according to their several professions; and that none be permitted to refuse any such probation employments: as for Physicians, that they go with our Merchants and ambassadors to remote countries, and that though the emolument be not great; and the like for such as study other faculties, and that none decline this. That after their return they give an account of their observations, and deposit them in the college Archimes, and that they be at their return maintained as before( their places in their absence being supplied by others) till the State can find them employment.  
Let there be established in the college one or two Professors in Divinity, who shall finish such a course therein as shall be thought fit, especially instructing all in the several Analysis of faith, and grounds of religion: let him or they uphold Disputations and such like exercise.  
Let there be a Professor of Civil Law and Politiques, who may instruct all in the foundations of common right, and dispose them to prefer a Commonwealth before Monarchy: let him direct them in a method of particular Politiques and History.  
Let there be one Professor in Des Cartes's Philosophy and mathematics.  
Let there be one Professor of Gassenduus's Philosophy, and General Geography, who may also give directions for particular Geography.  
Let these each have assistants out of the Fellows( to be constituted) who inquire into the Magnetical Philosophy; let them have a School of Experiments in Optiques and Mechaniques for the instruction of the Gentry, and such as it shall be found suitable to assist them in their studies: and let this be defrayed by the public, or by levies upon each Commoner that comes to study there, as they now give pieces of Plate.  
Let there be a Professor of physic, and another of Anatomy; let them red, dissect, and keep a chemist for experiments and promoting of Medicines: let this be defrayed partly at the public charge, and partly by levy upon the students in physic, and such as shall desire to be present, and partly by the standing Apothecary of the college Physicians.  
Let there be a Professor of useful logic, and civil rhetoric, for the institution of such as are to be employed in the public: and let them practise not in a declamatory and light, but a masculine and solid way, that is English as well as latin; and that they be instructed in the way of penning Letters and Dispatches.  
Let all or any of these teach such, as are not versed in latin, in English, and let such be distributed into agreeable company, for the bettering themselves: and let the Professors be severely prohibited from teaching any that shall be young and not of their college: as for such as are grown in years, and yet would learn any, or all the studies aforesaid, they may be admitted and disposed of according to discretion, without prejudicing the constant course of studies to be upheld in the college.  
Let there be fixty Fellowes in the college with competent allowance, to supply the quality of standing Tutors, who may carry on the studies of the youth in things of lesser moment, and prepare them for Lectures, examine them after Lectures, see to their manners, &c.  
Let twenty of these study controversial Divinity, Ecclesiastical History, yet so as to be able to manage the practical part for the good and credit of the Nation, either at home, or in employments with ambassadors. Let a third part of these alterately at London, that they may not be strangers to the world, and circumstances thereof, and so be able to direct better in order to the education of their country men.  
Let the other twenty study after a competency of knowledge in the Theory, and other qualifications, dispose themselves for the practic, and altered Tutelage of such as mean to be Divines; for the education of whom, and promoting them in order to the service of the Nation, the said Governors may take care.  
The last twenty may be divided so as one third study physic, and tutor others therein, under their Professor, they having precedaniously learned one or both of the Philosophies specified; and the rest may study general and particular politics, Geography, History, and all other ornaments becoming exact Virtuosi: and accordingly take care for the Tutelage of others, and that part of them be obliged to go abroad at the States employing, then return, and after that reside a while before they engage into any determinate course of life.  
The Governors of Westminster may rule the college by a 'vice = Principal elected out of the Fellows, and the Fellows themselves; the power of gratifying and encouraging being reserved to them. And further, they may constitute a Censour of discipline, who may, in case of neglect, punish any Fellow, Professor, or Student any way related to the college arbitrarily, without being subject to any but the Governors.  
As for particular Orders an account of them may be given in upon demand. Let it suffice that this project, as great as its influence will be upon the residue of the University, if it be thought meat to continue it unaltered, will cost no more then doth the present college of Christ Church, which as it must be new modeled one day, so it may be regulated thus without injury to the Canons or Students in being; they who are most concerned in the charge may be,( if they deserve it, and if the Canons their now Governors will recommend them, which it is certain they will not) disposed of for the service of the Nation( as in the dissolution of Monasteries) and those who are notoriously disaffected, and have shewed themselves such( though they may comply now or hereafter out of interest) or which are rude, ignorant, or debauched, may receive a condign dismission, to be provided for when the Council of State shall have found out some passive protection, and passive preferments for those that will yield, but at most a passive obedience.   

Several queries concerning the university of Oxon.  
I. WHether the proposal of the Army, and resolve of the Parliament for the advancement of Learning, or the several Petitions against tithes do most threaten the university in its present posture.  
II. Whether the Independents or Presbyterians in Oxon be more for their private, and less for the Commonwealth?  
III. Whether the Parliament did well to own the university, before the university owned them?  
IV. Whether it be not eminently true of the University, that in it men of low degree are vanity, men of high degree are as a lie: to be laid in the balance they are altogether lighter than vanity?  
V. Whether the University of Oxon did not well to petition, that Durham might not be made such an University, and give such like degrees? and whether it be not as incumbent upon Parliaments not to multiply Asses, as upon the Kings of Israel not to multiply Horses?  
VI. 
The Case is stated, and sold by Andrew Crook in Pauls Church yard.  Whether the University of Oxon be not several times run into a praemunire? especially by that solemn Act of perjury in making Dr. John Wallas Antiquary? Whether it be not a judgement that hath since befallen Mr. Richard cronwell, Secretary Thurlow, Commissioner Lisle and fins, &c. that they never took notice of such perjury, though they were engaged in honour, and by an appeal to them, so to do?  
VII. Whether the whole course of the University be any thing at present, but a formality of drinking in the most, and of eating in all? and whether he that should pled for it with the Commonwealths men, might not fall before the proposals which Abraham made to God in the behalf of Sodom, and yet the University not be preserved?  
VIII. Since Dr. Wilkinson of Christ Church hath denounced out of the Pulpit by way of prophesy, that a sire out of the Sanctuary, that is, the Sectaries, and not any culmery fire, should destroy the University; whether the public be not concerned, that he that speaks, speaks as the Oracles of God?  
IX. Whether it be an excuse for the principal heads of houses, that their Statutes were bad, since they never observed them?  
X. Whether upon enquiry it would not be found disputable, Committee men, Sequestrators, or the Oxford visitors? and whether the prejudice which the public hath received by the least, be not without dispute greater than what hath sprung from the former?  
XI. Whether the Doctors in Divinity may not take place of Knights as well as Esquires, since their Wives may take place of the Ladies?  
XII. Wheth er the Doctors are not concerned to uphold the formalities of Caps, Gfwns, and Hoods, because there is nothing else to difference them from common fools?  
XIII. Whether the present Parliament be not obliged to uphold the grandeur of the Doctors, since it was resolved by them that an Esqnire, and son to one of the most eminent persons now in Parliament and council of State, ought not in a cloak occasionally to sit in the Church, no not at the lower end of those seats in which they and each paltry acquaintance of theirs do sit?  
XIV. Whether they pull down the Universities who ruin learning or they who ruin college rules?  
XV. Whether the Canons of Christ Church have any thing to do, but to get children and money? whether they are not descendants from the papistical Regulars, and have twice escaped a reformation? whether they were not so called as other things are, by way of contrariety, as not being regular, since they rule without fundamental Statutes, without regard to custom or conscience?  
XVI. Whether the Canons of Christ Church ought not to eat the bread of affliction, and drink the water of affliction, since they refuse to eat the same bread, and drink the same drink with the rest of the college, which indeed is so bad as never was worse eaten or drunk, but by the same Canons before they came to be Canons?  
XVII. Whether K. charles did not serve himself and the public, by putting in two Professors to be Canons of Christ Church, than the Parl. did themselves & the public by putting in eight Pretenders? whether any man can tell when the Nation, or they themselves will render their acknowledgements for the promotion of them; or why the two Kings Professors are not of the number of the anons, since they own more right, and not more malignancy?  
XVIII. Whether the Canons having given O. P. their Organs out of their Cathedral, may not give the Parliament their Cathedra● plate and furniture( if any of it be yet undivided) since they will not give them a good word.  
XIX. Whether Dr. Langley when he took from the Students of Christ Church a part of their small bowling green, to build himself a coach-house; and from the Alms men a part of their ground to enlarge his private Garden, without either of their consents asked or obtained; did well to justify himself by that Scripture, From him that hath not shall be taken even that which he hath?  
XX. Why did Canon Poynter pray for O. P. after he was dead, and yet never blessed God for the Good old cause being revived?  
XXI. Whether Canon upton having been created bachelor, Master, and Canon, and being never made for a Scholar, need not to fear an annihilation?  
XXII. Whether since Canon Vptons wise bargained with her husband that he preach but once a quarter it would not be worth the consideration of the Parliament, to order that he have no occasion to preach so often.  
XXIII. Whether the wives, children, and coach horses of the Canons of Christ Church are not to be taken into their number for to make up any proportion betwixt 8000. l. per an. for eight useless and most of them too ignorant Canons, and 2000. l. for 100. Students, & c?  
XXIV. Whether the Moral Philosophy Reader be not a fit tutor to Col. Phil. Jones his sons? and whether the Tutor to Col. Phil. Jones's sons be fit to be Moral Philosophy Reader?  
XXV. Whether the Boy, Dr. Staughton of Exon college did well to lye in his scarlet Gown that night he was made Doctor, since his Degree was a thing he ought not to have dreamed of?  
FINIS.