broken, crossing, and imperfect statutes of the University of Oxford, which had lain in a confused heap some hundreds of years. 7. Blotted out. 8. To settle the statutes of all the Cathedral Churches of the new foundations, whose statutes are imperfect, and not confirmed. 9. To annex for ever some settled commendams, and those, if it may be, sine cura, to all the small bishoprics. 10. To find a way to increase the stipends of poor vicars. 11. To see the tithes of London settled between the clergy and the city. 12. To set up a Greek press in London and Oxford, for printing of the Library MSS. and to get both letters (types) and matrices. 13. To settle 80%. a year, for ever, out of Dr. Fryar's lands, (after the death of Dr. John Fryar, the son,) upon the brick of St. Paul's, to the repair, till that be finished, and to keep it in good condition afterwards. 14. To procure a large charter for Oxford, to confirm the ancient privileges, and obtain new for them, as large as those of Cambridge, which they had gotten since Henry VIII.'s reign, and which Oxford had not. 15. To open the great square at Oxford, between St. Mary's and the schools, Brazen-nose and All Souls. 16. To settle an Hospital of land in Reading, of 1007. per annum, in a new way. 17. To erect an Arabic lecture at Oxford, at least for my life-time, my estate not being sufficent for any longer period. 18. To settle the impropriation of the vicarage of Cudsden on the Bishop of Oxford. 19. To get a book in vellum fairly written, containing the Records which

are in the Tower, and which concern the clergy. 20. To procure a new charter for the College of Dublin from his Majesty, and a body of new statutes made, to rectify that government, and a mortmain. 21. A charter for the town of Reading. 22. If I live to see the repair of St. Paul's near an end, to move his Majesty for the like grant from the High Commission, for the bringing in of impropriations, and then I hope to buy two in a year at least. 23. To procure for St. John's College, in Oxford, the perpetual inheritance and patronage of St. Lawrence, Reading'."

Such were the "things which," says Laud, "I have projected to do, if God bless me in them;" and it will be subsequently shewn how far he was able to carry them into effect. They require no comment, and the very mention of those magnificent plans is conclusive as to his noble integrity, his care for religion, learning, and piety. Much as he regarded his own University, his benefactions were not exclusive, and Ireland equally experienced his generous care. His mind disdained every appearance of self-aggrandizement, and he was resolved to spend his episcopal revenues in benefiting his country. The monuments of his munificence still remain, proofs of his unwearied industry, activity, and perseverance; but what other things his enlarged mind might have projected, it is impos

75.

Diary, p. 68, 69. Rushworth's Collections, vol. ii. p. 74,

sible to say it is enough to know the melancholy fact, that, to adopt the expression of the Church Historian, "one stroke of the cruel axe spoiled the work of many hammers."

CHAPTER XII.

1631-1633.

The Impropriations-Conduct of Laud-Dr. Peter Heylin's Sermon at St. Mary's, Oxford-Laud restrains the Impropriations-His proceedings at Oxford-He enlarges St. John's College-Promotes the repairs of St. Paul's Cathedral-Clamours of the Puritans-His government of the University-Enforces the statutes-Remarkable Enthusiasm of a graduate-Combination of the Puritan faction at Oxford-Cognizance of three of the leaders-Their punishments-Impartiality of Laud-New revival of the Predestinarian Controversy-Archbishop Usher of Ireland-Calumnies against Laud-Lord Wentworth proceeds to Ireland— Ecclesiastical affairs-Prosecution of the King's printersHenry Sherfield-William Prynne-Notice of him and his writings-His seditious libels-His imprisonment-Proceedings relative to chaplains and foreign service-The English congregation at Hamburgh-Salutary regulations by LaudGeneral remarks.

IN

In pursuance of the designs which Laud had formed for the advancement of learning and religion, we find him at this period engaged in the affair of the impropriations which had been purchased by that contrivance of the Puritan faction, the feoffments, for the support of lectureships. The feoffments for purchasing these impropriations had been projected in 1626, by one of the Puritan leaders, Dr. John Preston, of King's and Queen's Colleges, Cambridge, who managed their affairs. It was the design of

the faction to establish lectureships in the market towns, where there was a greater intercourse of people than in the country parts, and where they were always certain of adherents from among the idle and the wavering; and thus, by retaining the patronage in their own hands, they would be enabled to gratify their taste by what they called a preaching ministry. For this purpose they had erected themselves into a body corporate, though they had no sanction from the Government, consisting of twelve persons, viz. four ministers, four lawyers, and four citizens, who with their own and the money of others, were to purchase all the impropriations in the hands of laymen'.

The design being formed under the appearance of piety and zeal for religion, succeeded to the utmost extent. "Here," says Fuller, "were four divines to persuade men's consciences, four lawyers to draw all conveyances, and four citizens, who commanded rich coffers, wanting nothing save some swordsmen to defend all the rest." This specious pretence of religious zeal operated on the people, and the self-elected corporation received immense sums from various parts of the country to support their seemingly pious intentions. Indeed, this contrivance of the Puritan faction was so dexterous and successful, that it was reported, that within half a century, they would not be able to find any more purchases of impropriations.

1

Fuller's Church History, book xi.

P. 136.