Not that Cambridge was behind Oxford in supporting the unfortunate Charles the First, to whom the several colleges secretly conveyed nearly all their ancient plate; and Cromwell, in consequence, retaliated by confining and depriving numbers of her most distinguished scholars, both laymen and divines, many of whom died in exile: and the commissioners of parliament, with a taste worthy of the worst barbarians, caused many of the buildings to be despoiled of their architectural ornaments and exquisite pieces of sculpture and painted glass. It was at this time appeared the following celebrated poetic trifle, extant in the Oxford Sausage, known as
THE CUSHION PLOT,
Written by Herbert Beaver, Esq., of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, when “Gaby” (as the then President, Dr. Shaw, is called, who had been a zealous Jacobite,) suddenly, on the accession of George the First, became a still more zealous patron of the interests of the House of Hanover.
When Gaby possession had got of the Hall,
He took a survey of the Chapel and all,
Since that, like the rest, was just ready to fall,
Which nobody can deny.
And first he began to examine the chest,
Where he found an old Cushion which gave him distaste;
The first of the kind that e’er troubled his rest,
Which nobody can deny.
Two letters of Gold on this Cushion were rear’d;
Two letters of gold once by Gaby rever’d,
But now what was loyalty, treason appear’d:
Which nobody can deny.
“J. R. (quoth the Don, in soliloquy bass)
“See the works of this damnable Jacobite race!
“We’ll out with the J, and put G in its place:”
Which nobody can deny.
And now to erase these letters so rich,
For scissors and bodkin his fingers did itch,
For Converts in politics go thorough-stich:
Which nobody can deny:
The thing was about as soon done as said,
Poor J was deposed and G reigned in his stead;
Such a quick revolution sure never was read!
Which nobody can deny.
Then hey for preferment—but how did he stare,
When convinced and ashamed of not being aware,
That J stood for Jennet,[11] for Raymond the R,
Which nobody can deny.
Then beware, all ye priests, from hence I advise,
How ye choose Christian names for the babes ye baptize,
For if Gaby don’t like ’em he’ll pick out their I’s,
Which nobody can deny.
[11] The benefactor who gave the college the Cushion.
Terræ Filius relates the following instance of
THE DANGER OF DRINKING THE KING’S HEALTH.
Mr. Carty of University College, and Mr. Meadowcourt of Merton College, Oxford (says this writer,) were suspended from proceeding to their next degree, in 1716, the first for a period of one, the second for a period of two years, the latter further, not to be permitted “to supplicate for his grace, until he confesses his manifold crimes, and asks pardon upon his knees, For breaking out to that degree of impudence (when the Proctor admonished him to go home from the tavern at an unseasonable hour,) as to command all the company, with a loud voice, to drink King George’s health.” And, strange enough, persisting in his refusal to ask pardon, as required, he only ultimately obtained his degree by pleading the act of grace of the said King George, enacted in favour of those who had been guilty of treason, &c. These were, it appears, both Fellows of colleges, and with several others, who were likewise put in the Black-book, were members of a society in Oxford, called