Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/471

IN BEHALF OF THE ROYALIST CAUSE. 3G9 and the privilcdgcd men tlicarcof, whoe will voluiitarilic list themselves for tliis service, and that you would consider of a waye for the maintaining at youro common charge of soe many of the sayd bowmen and otHcers as shall bee levyed out of our sayd Universitie and priviledgcd men. This un- dertaking and proposition is represented to us as that which may bee of very greate use and availe to us in the expedi- tion wee shall make against the Rebells ; wee have, theare- fore, given Commission to the sayd John i nightly to proceed in the levying of the said Regiment, and the same to command as Colonell. And wee heereby recommend him and the premises to your consideration and furtherance ; and soe wee bid you farewell. " Given at our Court at Oxford, the first daye of Octob. 1643. On Sept. 9th, the University were informed that the fair pretences of the citizens of joining with the University and king's troops in the defence of the city, were good for nothing, that their minds were altered, that they had been commu- nicating with the Parliament, and that it was reported that the Parliament had a purpose to send forces immediately against the king's troopers and the University for receiving them ; in consequence of which information the troops marched to join the king on Sept. 10th, accompanied by a number of scholars as volunteers. On the 12th, a considerable body of the Parliament troopers marched in, and were billeted in the place. Sept. 14th, Lord Say, who had been appointed Lord- Lieutenant of Oxfordshire by the Parliament's authority, entered Oxford, and lodged at the Star Inn. He imme- diately gave orders that the works and trenches which the scholars had made across the highways about the city should be demolished. It was now discussed between Lord Say and the chief officers of the forces in Oxford, whether, in consequence of the nature of the place, the strength of the situation, the plenty of the country, the nearness of London, and the dis- affection of the University to the Parliament cause, it were not probable that the king, who was coming to Shrewsbury (in the direction of Oxford), might not probably make this a principal quarter for his forces, and fortify the city. It was suggested that it should be fortified and garrisoned on