THE TRUE COPY OF A LETTER,

SENT FROM

The most Reverend William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, to the University of Oxford, when he resigned his Office of Chancellor.

Published, by occasion of a base Libel and Forgery, that runs under this Title. And also the Answer of the University to the said Letter.

Oxford, printed by Leonard Lichfield, Printer to the University, Anno Dom 1641. Quarto, containing twelve Pages.

To my very loving Friends, the Vice-Chancellor, the Doctors, the Proctors, and the rest of the Convocation of the University of Oxford.

AFTER my hearty commendations, &c. these are to remember my

love to that whole body: that love, than which never any chancellor bore greater, or with more ferventness and zeal to the publick good and happiness of that place. And I do heartily pray all, and every of you to believe me, for most true it is, that the unfortunateness of my affliction doth not trouble me for any one thing more, than that I can be no farther useful or beneficial to that place, which I so much love and honour.

I was once resolved not to resign my place of chancellor, till I saw the issue of my troubles one way or other. And this resolution I took, partly because I had no reason to desert myself, and occasion the world to think me guilty: and partly, because I have found so much love from the university, that I could not make myself willing to leave it, till some greater cause should take me off from that which I so resolved on.

That cause, if I be not much mistaken, doth now present itself: for I see the university hath great need of friends, great and daily need. I see my trial not hastened; so that I am neither able to assist your great occasions myself, nor procure friends for them; I see that, if you had another chancellor, you could not want the help which now you do. And I cannot but know that, were your love never so great to me, it must needs cool, when you see me able to give no assistance, and yet fill the place which should afford it to you. And I should hardly satisfy myself, that I love you so well as I do, if I did not further your good and happiness by all the means I can, and even by this my resignation.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY'S LETTER, &c. 283

The serious consideration of these things, and the foresight which I have, that I shall never be able to serve you as I have done, have prevailed with me at this time, to send the resignation of the chancellorship, to your body met in convocation. And I do hereby pray you, that it may be publickly read and accepted, the time being now most fit, that so your honourable succeeding chancellor may presently appoint an able deputy for the government according to his own judgment.

And now I do earnestly desire of you all, either to remember, or to know, that I never sought, or thought of the honour of this place to myself; and yet, that, since it was by the great favour and love of that university laid upon me, I have discharged it, by God's grace and goodness to me, with great pains and care, and, God's blessing, I humbly thank him, hath not been wanting. And I profess singly, and from my heart, if there be any good which I ought to have done to that place, and have not done it, it proceeded from want of understanding or ability, not will or affection. And though I do, for the causes aforesaid, resign this place, yet I shall serve it still with my prayers, so long as God continues my life.

And as I doubt not, but God will bless you with an honourable chancellor, and one able to do more for that place, than I have been ; so I pray God, to give you a peaceable and quiet election, and to direct it to the good of this his church, and the honour and happiness of that famous university: that you may have no miss in the least of me, who, after your prayers heartily desired, now writes himself the last time,

From the Tower, June 25, 1641.

Your very loving poor Friend

and Chancellor,

W. CANT.

Amplissimo et Reverendissimo Domino Gulielmo Archi-Præsuli
Cantuariensi.

Reverendissime Archi-Præsul-Hoc enim solum Tibi (sic voluisti) Nomen relictum est

Novissimæ literæ tuæ, amoris, sed & doloris, plenæ, fecerunt ut dehinc nos plané ære dirutos diruptosque profiteri debeamus. Cum effusissimo amori tuo, verbis (quod unicum nobis suppetit peculium) ut paria faceremus, nunquam sperandum fuit; nedum dolori nostro verba nos reperturos paria; ne si passis quidem eloquentiæ velis vehi, & totâ doloris prærogativâ frui liceret. Hodie verò, ut sunt tempora, ad justissimum dolorem nostrum non levis hic accessit cumulus, quòd eum in sinu premere & quasi strangulare necesse habeamus; quibus ne illud quidem tutò queri licet, in ea nos tempora incidisse, in quibus singulari

284 THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY'S LETTER, &c.

tuæ prudentiæ & erga nos amori consultissimum visum sit, nostraque quàm maximè interesse, ut Res ac Fortunas nostras à tuis segreges habeamus & sejunctas. Quanquam verò supremo Numini sic visum est, ut illud nobis beneficii loco imputandum haberes, quòd maximum beneficiorum tuorum, Teipsum, à nobis segregares, & Cancellarii munus abdicares; affectus tamen tuus erga Academiam nostram propensissimus, tum literis tuis novissimis, tum aliis frequentibus argumentis abundè testatus, dubitare nos non sinit, quin, deposito invidioso Cancellarii titulo, amantissimi Patroni affectum adhuc in sinu tuo retineas. Quamdiu Manuscripta * illa naa tua, Orientis spolia, & verè ¿níu åvadýrara Bibliothecam nostram illustrabunt; quamdiu Lectura Arabica, à Te + dotata, frequentabitur; quamdiu Antiquitatis vindices simul & testes antiqua Numismata visentur; quamdiu castigatior disciplina, mores emendati, morumque Canon Statuta vigebunt; quamdiu pro studio partium bonarum Artium studia colentur; quamdiu literis honos, honori literæ erunt, Cancellarium adhuc esse Te, sentiet præsens tas; fuisse, postera agnoscet. Dehinc, immortalitatis securus, gloriæque tuæ superstes, diu hîc posteritati tuæ intersis; ac demum, ubi mortalitatis numeros omnes impleveris, plenus annis abeas, plenus honoribus, illis etiam quos abdicasti. Ita vovet

Dat. è Domo Convocat.

6. Julii 1641.

Amplitudini Tuæ omni cultús ac ob

servantia nexu devinctissima,

ACADEMIA OXON.

* MSS. Cod. plus quàm MCCC. De quibns plus quám CCCXXX Linguis Oriental. scripti, & poulò minus C. Ling. Gr. +Salarium Professoris Ling. Arab XL. lb. Annuæ. Hebr. Græc. Roman. Famil. & Imper. Britannic.

FINIS.

Plummer and Brewis, Printers, Love-Lane,
Little Eastcheap.

Aneona in Italy, a description of it
Antiquity of Letters discussed and stated
Antoniniana columna, an account of it
Appia, a way so called without Rome.
Arminians, the sentiments of a jesuit of
them
Artillery-house of Venice, a description of

Assyrians, whether the inventors of letters 274 Burton, his avowed hatred to government