Copy letter concerning King James II's demand to have Alban Francis awarded an MA without taking the statutory oaths Unknown c. 706 words Newton Project Brighton 2008 Newton Project, Sussex University

This text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

 19 February 1686/7, in English, c. 712 words, 2 pp.

In Humphrey Newton's hand. Dated 19 February, evidently of 1687.

Authorship is ascribed to Newton by More and, tentatively, in NC, but this seems extremely unlikely: it is probably a copy used in preparing the defence of Sidney Sussex College.

Printed in More, Newton, 343-4 and NC, 2: 467-9.

Begins 'Sr, Here's a strong report in ye Town yt a Mandamus has been brought to ye Vice-chancellr to admit one F Francis a Benedictine Monck to be a Master of Arts,'

 2 pp.

in English

 Keynes Ms. 119, King's College, Cambridge, UK UKCambridgeKing's College Keynes Mss Keynes Ms. 119 SL185

Bought at the Sotheby sale by Keynes for £5.

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 19 February 1686/7 English Humphrey Newton Political MattersAlban Francis affair Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Transcribed and tagged by John Young Proofed by Robert Iliffe Updated to Newton V3.0 (TEI P5 Schema) by Michael Hawkins Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins
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SrSir,

Here's a strong report in yethe Town ytthat a Mandamus has been brought to yethe Vice-chancellrchancellor to admit one FFather Francis a Benedctine Monck to be a Master of Arts, and ytthat yethe VicechancellrVicechancellor sent to yethe ChancellrChancellor to endeavour to gett yethe same recall'd but could not prevail; wchwhich was an error in him. ffor all honest Men are obliged by yethe Laws of God & Man to obey yethe Kings lawfull Commands, but if his Maj.Majesty be advisd to require a Matter wchwhich cannot be done by Law, no Man can suffer for neglect of it. The VicechancellrVicechancellor cannot by Law admit one to ytthat degree, unless he take yethe Oaths of Suprem:Supremacy & allegiance wchwhich are enjoyn'd by 3 or 4 Statutes; & it is not to be said he disobeys yethe Kings Com̄mmands when he is ready to fulfill ymthem if yethe party be capiable to receive yethe Act com̄mmanded: wchwhich this Monckk cannot be, & 'tis not probable ytthat a Convocation can be induced to give Grace for yethe degree to an unqualified Person. And tho it should be expressed in yethe Mandamus ytthat his Maj.Majesty dispenses wthwith those Oaths, yet ytthat cannot excuse yethe Vicechancellr.Vicechancellor for he is no judg thereof, but he knows ytthat yethe Law of yethe Land enjoyns yethe taking of yethe Oaths; & if he admits any one without doing it he is inditghtable for yethe same, & if he modestly refuse to admit this ꝑperson he can run noe risque in it. & if F.Father Francis be acquainted wthwith yethe Obstacles in his way in a decent man̄nner, & is not satisfied therewthwith let him take his remedy at Law, & to be sure yethe V.Vice chanc.chancellor will hear noe more of him. & by civilly standing his ground he will save yethe Vniversity. Let him peruse Q.Queen Elizabeths Charter for yethe Vniversity of Cambbridge dat.datum yethe 26 of Ap.April in yethe 3d year of her reign & an Act of Parl.Parliament not printed wchwhich is kept wthwith yethe Statutes of yethe Vnivers.Vniversity entituled An Act for yethe Incorporation of both yethe Vniversities. In yethe Statutes you will find ytthat all LettrsLetters patents of yethe Q.Queens Highness or any of her ꝑprogenitrsgenitors or ꝑpredecessors made to either of yethe VnityesVniversityes are confirmed. See of this MattrMatter PCook 4 institutes page 227.

The King was advised to send a M.Mandamus to yethe MrMaster & GovernrsGovernors of yethe Charter house requiring ymthem to admit an old Gent.Gentleman to be a Pensioner. Now every pensionrpensioner is to take yethe Oaths of Suprem.Supremacy & Allegiance by yethe Constitution of their house, but yethe Man being a papist they refused to admitt & ther's no more said of it. The MrsMasters Name is Burnett late of Christ Coll.College & by yethe rule of Elections in yethe giving their votes, he as yethe meanest man speaks first. There were 8 ꝑpresent. yethe MrMaster & 4 were of to Llay yethe Mand.Mandamus aside & there were 3 to retaine it. but yethe Majority being agstagainst yethe M.Mandamus yethe Pens.Pensioner was rejected.

D. Burnett MasterE.Earl RochesterEEarl DanbyEEarl MulgraveBpBishop WinchesterL.Lord Chancellr.ChancellorMarq.Marquis Hollfaxfor itA.Arch B.Bishop of Cant.CanterburyAgainst it

The refusing yethe Man was not sdsaid to be because he is a P.Papist but because he refused yethe Oaths. These ytthat Councell'd his Maj.Majesty to disoblige yethe Vniv.Vniversity cannot be his true friends for tis Notorious ytthat no Body of Men in England have been so Loyall. They gave his FathrFather all their Plate & yethe Infusions wchwhich yethe Gentry of England received there intrusted most of them wthwith their lives & Estates to support yethe Crown agstagainst yethe wealth & strength of London & all yethe Associated Counties & yethe fleet yethe chiefest riches of yethe Land. Be courrageious therefore & steady to yethe Laws & they you cannot faile & in time yethe K.King may thank you for it. If one P.Papist be a MrMaster you may have a hundred & they must chuse Burgesses to ParlmtParliament.

I wonder ytthat yethe Goodmen of Sidney doe not elect their Master. An honest Courage in these mattrsmatters will secure all, having Law on orour sides.

Adieu.

Feb. yethe 19th