1645.
Apart from sweeping revolutions in cathedral establishments, the colleges of Westminster, Eton, Christ Church, and Winchester experienced changes peculiar to themselves. It was provided in 1642 that none of the revenues assigned for scholars and almsmen should be interrupted in consequence of the sequestration of the rents and profits of Archbishops and Bishops, Deans and Chapters. In 1645, a special ordinance provided both for the college and the collegiate church of Westminster, the Deanery being virtually extinct. The Dean and prebends had become delinquents, with the exception of Mr. Lambert Osbolston, who, whilst being a canon of the cathedral, was also master of the school. The school, the almsmen, and the offices, having no one to take care of them now that the ecclesiastical corporation of the Abbey had been dissolved, Parliament proceeded to nominate commissioners, consisting of the Earl of Northumberland and others, who were invested with powers similar to those previously possessed by the Dean and Chapter. Mr. Osbolston was exempted from the forfeiture of the prebendal income, which had been inflicted on all his brethren occupying stalls in the Abbey. With the new Commissioner, the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and the Master of Westminster School, were associated in the election of scholars for the latter foundation. The Committee was also directed to make allowances out of the revenues of the collegiate church to the minister who should perform Divine service within its walls.[603]
Universities.
The sequestered estate and profits of the provost of Eton were entrusted to Sir H. Cholmeley, without prejudice either to scholars or fellows. Dr. Richard Stewart was ejected from the provostship, and Francis Rouse appointed in his room.[604] After some discussion, Parliament left new elections in the hands of the provost and fellows.
Great changes came over the Deanery of Windsor and the Chapel of St. George. Spoliation went on without mercy. Precious treasures were seized for military uses. The revenues were sequestered, and out of them the yearly sum of fifty pounds was voted for any such minister as should officiate in the parish church.[605]
As the educational uses of Eton, Westminster, and other public foundations of the kind, preserved their revenues from confiscation, the same also was the case with the two Universities. Their history, which we have hitherto passed over, now demands our attention, and requires us to go back for a few years.
In the battle which the Parliament had to fight with the heads of houses, Cambridge commenced hostilities. In 1642, the Masters and Fellows of the Colleges there sent money and plate to the coffers of the King at York, "many wishing," says Fuller, "that every ounce thereof were a pound for his sake, conceiving it unfitting that they should have superfluities to spare whilst their sovereign wanted necessaries to spend."[606] The University press was employed in printing the King's declarations, and the University pulpit was made to resound with diatribes against the King's enemies. When a demand came for contributions to the Parliament, the University returned a blank refusal. The men who thus took part in the opening strife subjected themselves of course to the fortunes of war. The kingdom being rent in twain, two encampments being pitched face to face, such as threw themselves into the one had no friendship to expect from the other. Hence there followed imprisonments for the plate business, and for like belligerent acts. The Masters of St. John's, Queen's, and Jesus, were lodged in the Tower, where they were joined afterwards by the Vice-Chancellor. Thus far the collision was purely political. University men were treated as malignants.
University of Cambridge.