From an

Uor M

John's, together with his Defence on his Tryal, place him high on our list of authors: his Trial forms one of the folio volumes in Rushworth's Collections. He was beheaded in 1641.

Lord Falkland, who fell in the same cause, was, also, a student of this society, he wrote several treatises against popery: Mr. Smyth mentions, also, General Fairfax, as having been educated here, whom he describes as the noted general for the army, and author of his own memorials, besides poems.

I shall just notice here two or three writers of very different persuasions, 1. Bishop Williams, who wrote a Defence of the Holy Table and Altar, and left behind him Latin Notes on every book of the Bible, except the Revelations. 2. Two popish writers, Mr. Serjeant, who published a Sure Footing in Christianity, and Catholic Letters with Dr. Godden, the author of Dialogues, în Defence of the Catholics. 3. William Whitacre, D. D.." who, though never a bishop," as Baker expresses it," was one of the greatest men this college ever had." Of him, indeed, I should have spoken before. For he was admitted master in 1586; was Regius Professor when about twenty-one, and died Dec. 24, 1595.

In many of his principles Dr. Whitacre was a Puritan. But in one of his Theses he defended a principle, which is the main support of Mr. Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity. He wrote much against Stapleton and other Romanists. His Latin works make two volumes folio: and it is he of whom Bellarmine said, "He was the most learned heretic he ever read."

And as some protestants are apt, over-zealously, to speak of all Catholics as persecutors, I shall copy, verbatim, the following article from Mr. Smyth, for I

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know nothing further of the author: "John Austen, schol. a popish writer of note, author of the Christian Moderator, or Persecution for Religion condemned; Devotions, or the ancient Way of Offices; Treatise in behalf of the Oath of Allegiance; Punctual Answer to Archbishop Tillotson's Rule of Faith, &c. He died 1669."

Baker, our Cambridge collector and antiquary, so frequently introduced, will bear being introduced again, and is, indeed, entitled, in these volumes, to most respectful attention.

Mr. Thomas Baker took his A. B. degree in 1677; was chosen fellow in 1679, and proceeded A. M. in 1681. He was collated by Lord Crew, Bishop of Durham, to the rectory of Long Newton, in that diocese, and it was understood to be the Bishop's intention to have bestowed on him the most valuable prebend in his cathedral, called the Golden Prebend. But having taken the oath of allegiance to James II. he thought himself bound by it. So, on refusing to take the oath to King William, he lost his living, all golden hopes, and even his fellowship. His living he resigned, August 1, 1690. There is so strong a mark of a great and good mind in the following letter, that I feel persuaded it will please every reader: it is copied from Mr. Masters's Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Mr. Baker.

A Letter of Mr. Baker's, addressed to a Friend, on his resigning his Living.

SIR,

I must desire you once more to return my humble thanks to my Lord, (the Bishop of Durham,) as for all

his favors, so particularly, that my living has been reserved to me so long; and that my Lord may not suffer by it, I have nothing further to desire, only this, that my Lord would now dispose of it.

I am very sensible of his Lordship's favour, and with how much goodness I have been treated in this whole. affair, and therefore I do now part with it with as much thankfulness as I did receive it.

I am not desirous to know my successor; whoever my Lord thinks fit to succeed me, shall be acceptable to me, and I shall not only be in charity with him, but shall have a friendship for him; and if any thing further be required of me, to make the living more easy to him, I shall be ready to do it upon the least intimation of his Lordship's pleasure.

I do not know whether I have said enough, if I have not, I must desire you to say it for me.

I am to thank you for your letter, and all your kindness and favours, though they were unnecessary to me; for though you said nothing, yet I could never so much as doubt of it, as being so much already,

Sir,

Your obliged humble Servant,

THOMAS BAKER.

On the 20th of January, 1716, Mr. Baker, with several other (non-jurors) learned, peaceable, and inoffensive men-I am using Mr. Masters's words-were dispossessed of their fellowships.

Still, however, Mr. Baker continued to live in college, on a small annuity, the fortune bequeathed him by his father. How he passed his time I think unnecessary to