university of Oxford blazon ACADEMIA OXONIENSIS SAPIENTIAE ET FELICITATIS  
JAN. 9. 1651.  
By the vicechancellor and Heads of Houses of the University of OXFORD.  
WHereas the Right Honourable the council of State hath been informed by some Inhabitants of this City, concerning a distemper here grown to a very great height, manifesting itself in foul Riots and malicious actions against persons of peaceable and sober deportment, and of godly conversation, at, and for their private meetings, for the Worship of God according to their consciences, directed by his Word; such as are, assaults, Robbings, beatings, cruel whippings, and desperate threatenings; to the so great terror and affrighting of the said persons, and others like affencted, that they dare not adventure themselves forth of their houses, after day light is down, for fear of their lives. And whereas the said council hath expressed a tender sense of such misdemeanours and injuries to the persons aforesaid, with a resolution for their protection, and have thereupon especially recommended it to the care of the vicechancellor and Heads of Houses, as to make a through and particular enquiry after all the Contrivers, Actors and Abettors of the said miscarriages, so to take care to prevent the like violences for the future. These are therefore to warn and strictly require all Scholars, and others under the jurisdiction of the university, that they forbear all such misdemeanours and malicious actions against the persons aforesaid, as they will answer the contrary at their exceeding great perils, by undergoing the most severe punishment that( suitably to their demerits) can be inflicted by us, besides the securing of their persons, and the returning of their names to the council of State, that thereupon they may be liable, further, to undergo the displeasure of the said council. And all Scholars and persons under the Jurisdiction aforesaid, are hereby strictly required to forbear the wearing or carrying about them of any manner of arms or Weapons, offensive or defensive, according to the Statutes of the university in that behalf. 
Tit. 13. §. 11.   
Signed in the name and by the consent of the Heads of Houses, by DAN: GREENWOOD Vice-can: Oxon.   

OXFORD, Printed by LEONARD LICHFIELD Printer to the University. 1651.