To the Honourable Visitours appointed by both Houses of Parliament for the regulating and reforming of the University of Oxford.  
The Petition of your Friends and Servants in the said University.  
Humbly Sheweth,  
That divers learned and civil men have much importuned, and some of them seduced (under pretence of maintaining the old Prelacy and Liturgy) to enter into a kind of Confederacy with Doctor Fell, and his Delegates, to oppose all Reformers, both the Parliament, and Visitours, and hinder a just and necessary Reformation. We do not deny that some of us are exercised with doubts, but we desire to communicate our special scruples to you in an humble and outrages of other men, who are as yet (to the great dishonour and prejudice of our Common-Mother the University) of the same body with us. We consider that to oppose you our much honoured Visitours, is to rebel against the Houses: to maintain Prelacy is to uphold Tyranny: and to contend for the common-prayer-book is to contend for a false Translation of the Canonical Scriptures, to magnify those books that are not Canonical, and justify the Court of Rome, not only in admiting dangerous Ceremonies to corrupt the purity, but in submitting to the Roman Order, which would overthrow the piety of our Common and public service.  
We are bold therefore to remonstrate that whatever is propounded and delivered by the pretended Delegates aforesaid, as the sense of the whole University contrary to this Petition, is contrary both to our sense and consciences; And our humble request is, that you judge not of this University by the rage and confederacy of some Malignants in it, who would endanger the whole body to save themselves, and have therefore conspired to set up this Delegacy to seduce and corrupt the unsettled, to oppose the Visitation, and hinder the Reformation of this place. Be pleased to command every man to plead his own cause, and speak for himself, only punish the Heads and Ringleaders of this Rebellious conspiracy, and pardon all seduced Scholars, who upon better information, and more mature deliberation, show that they have erred out of mere simplicity, and do not hate to be reform.  
And we shall pray, etc. june 2. 1647.   

Die Veneris. 18. FEB. 1647.  
THe Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled do appoint and establish Joshua Cross Master of Arts, and fellow of Lincoln College in Oxford to be signior Proctor, and Ralph Button Master of Arts and fellow of Merton College junior Proctor of the University of Oxford, with full power and authority to exercise and execute the said places and offices of Proctors according to the Laws of the Land, the Customs and Statutes rightly established of the said University; And to continue in the said places until the usual time of Resignation and Election, which shall be in the year 1649. And then the usual course shall be held for the choice of Proctors as in former times.  
Jo Browne Cler. Parliamentorum. H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.   

At the Committee for the University OXFORD july 2. 1646.  
ORdered that no Masters or Heads of any Colleges or Halls, or Scholars, or other persons be admitted into any Mastership, Governourship, Fellowship, Scholarship, or Office or place of preferment or advantage in the University of Oxford; And that no Leases of any Lands belonging to the said University, or any the Colleges or Halls therein be made or renewed, until the pleasure of the Parliament be made known therein.  
F. Rous.  
Concordat cum Registris Vniversitatis OXON.  
Ita testor johannes French Notarius Publicus & Registarius Vniversitatis OXON.   

Die Jovis 26, Augusti 1647.  
An additional Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the Visitation and Reformation of the University of Oxford, and the several Colleges and Halls therein.  
FOr the more effectual and speedy reformation and regulation of the University of Oxford, and the several Colleges and Halls therein according to a former ordinance of the first of May last, and for the explanation of the same, the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament do declare, that the Cathedral Church and College of Christ-Church in Oxford, with the Dean, Prehendaries, Students, Scholars, and Officers, thereunto belonging, are within the words and intention of the said Ordinance to all intents and purposes: and it is further ordained, that the Visitours thereto appointed, or any five or more of them shall have full power and authority to tender and administer the solemn League and Covenant and negative Oath, to all and every the Governors, Professors, Graduates, Masters, Fellows, Scholars, Students, & Officers of the said University, and of the respective Halls and Colleges therein, and to send for, examine and peruse all and every their Books and Statutes, Registers, Journals, Books of Entries, Accounts, Orders, Writings, which concern the government or affairs of the said University, or respective Colleges and Halls, and to send for in custody and commit to prison all such persons, who after the personal summons shall contemptuously refuse to produce and deliver the same, or any of them to the said Visitours, or not show sufficient cause of their not producing them, or any of them respectively, until they shall be accordingly produced, and delivered, and likewise all such Masters, Professors, Fellows, Scholars, Students, and Officers of the said University. Colleges, Halls, or any of them respectively, who during the said Visitation shall after a second personal summons wilfully neglect or refuse to appear before them, and also to impannell such and so many Members & Officers of the said University, Colleges, Halls, and other persons within the limits and precincts of the said University being of the age of 21 years or upward as they shall think fit to inquire of, and present upon their corporal Oaths all offenders and offences comprised within the said Ordinance upon such articles of enquiry grounded on the said ordinance, as shall be approved of by the standing Committee of Lords and Commons mentioned in the said Ordinance, and likewise to examine witnesses upon oath for proof of an offence or misdemeanour inquirable or punishable by the said Ordinances: and Oliver St. John His Majesty's Solicitor general is hereby required and authorized to draw up and prepare a Commission, and direct the same unto the said Visitours for visiting the said University, Colleges, and Halls, and every of them respectively, and the respective Governors, Masters, Professors, Scholars, Students, Officers and Members in as large and ample manner as in the said Ordinance, and this present Ordinance is prescribed without any further warrant, and that the Commissioners of the great Seal of England, shall have authority hereby to pass the said Commission under the great Seal accordingly, and the said Visitours and every of them shall be protected and saved harmless by authority of this present Parliament against all persons for whatsoever they shall act or execute in pursuance of the said Ordinances, and the said Vistours or any five or more of them shall have power to oppiont a Register, and such other Officers as are necessary to be employed in the said Visitation, who shall receive such recompense and Salary for their pains therein, and out of such money as the standing Committee of Lords and Commons shall think meet, and all Sheriffs, Mayors, and other Officers, are hereby required to be aiding and assisting to the said Visitours, or any five or more of them, and to their Officers in the execution of this and the former Ordinance.  
Jo. Browne Cler. Parliamentorum.   

FEB. 18. 1647.  
WHereas Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, hath recommended Edward Reynolds Master of Arts, to be Vicechancellor of the said University. The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament do appoint and establish the said Master Reynolds to be Vicechancellor of the same University, with full power and authority to exercise and execute the said place and Office of Vicechancellor according to the Laws of the Land, the Customs and Statutes rightly established of the said University, and to continue in the said place until August, 1649. And then the usual Course shall be held for the Choice of Vice-Chancellours as in former times.  
Io. Brown. Cler. Parl.   

MARCH 31. 1648.  
WHereas the Parliament have sent down Commissioners for the regulating of the University of Oxford; and whereas divers ill affected persons do from time to time oppose the putting in execution of the Ordinances of Parliament there, you are on sight hereof, and hereafter as occasion shall serve, to send such parties or Companies of your Regiment to Oxford as you shall find necessary upon the desire of the Commissioners for the assisting of them in the settling of the said University according to Ordinance of Parliament. And for so doing this shall be your Warrant.  
Given under my hand in Queenstreet London the 31 of March, 1648. T. FAIRFAX.  
To Lieut: Coll: Kelsay these.