nient. The walks by the river are delightful. If
the Roman Catholics are reasonable they will be satisfied with these."
This absurd avowal would alone have made it impossible for Hough and his
brethren to yield. The negotiation was broken off; and the King hastened
to make the disobedient know, as he had threatened, what it was to incur
his displeasure.

A special commission was directed to Cartwright, Bishop of Chester, to
Wright, Chief justice of the King's Bench, and to Sir Thomas Jenner,
a Baron of the Exchequer, appointing them to exercise visitatorial
jurisdiction over the college. On the twentieth of October they arrived
at Oxford, escorted by three troops of cavalry with drawn swords. On
the following morning the Commissioners took their seats in the hall
of Magdalene. Cartwright pronounced a loyal oration which, a few years
before, would have called forth the acclamations of an Oxonian audience,
but which was now heard with sullen indignation. A long dispute
followed. The President defended his rights with skill, temper, and
resolution. He professed great respect for the royal authority. But
he steadily maintained that he had by the laws of England a freehold
interest in the house and revenues annexed to the presidency. Of
that interest he could not be deprived by an arbitrary mandate of the
Sovereign. "Will you submit", said the Bishop, "to our visitation?"
"I submit to it," said Hough with great dexterity, "so far as it is
consistent with the laws, and no farther." "Will you deliver up the key
of your lodgings?" said Cartwright. Hough remained silent. The question
was repeated; and Hough returned a mild but resolute refusal. The
Commissioners pronounced him an intruder, and charged the Fellows no
longer to recognise his authority, and to assist at the admission of the
Bishop of Oxford. Charneck eagerly promised obedience; Smith returned an
evasive answer: but the great body of the members of the college firmly
declared that they still regarded Hough as their rightful head.

And now Hough himself craved permission to address a few words to the
Commissioners. They consented with much civility, perhaps expecting
from the calmness and suavity of his manner that he would make some
concession. "My Lords," said he, "you have this day deprived me of my
freehold: I hereby protest against all your proceedings as illegal,
unjust, and null; and I appeal from you to our sovereign Lord the King
in his courts of justice."