processioners, L6 13_s._ 4_d._"

"1558, To John Waller and his man for a dayes working pulling down the
hye Altar and carrying it away 20_d._; For pulling down the aulter in Mr
Ashton's Chapel 6_d._; 1563, Received for certain old Albes and other
popishe Trashe, sold out of the Revystry the last yere, 26_s._ 10_d._;
Paid to Mr Baxter for ten Geneva psalters and six service psalters,
bought at Christmas last, 22_s._"

This last entry gives us the key to the troubles at St. John's; the
Marian exiles had returned with strong Calvinistic leanings. The unrest
was, of course, not confined to St. John's, but was general throughout
the University. But for the greater part of the reign of Elizabeth there
was a strong leaning toward Puritanism in the College. There was a rapid
succession of Masters, most of whom were thrust on the College by Court
influence; and about this time the Fellows of St. John's acquired the
reputation of being "cunning practitioners" in the art of getting rid of
unpopular Masters.

Queen Elizabeth visited Cambridge in August 1564, and was received with
all honour. She rode into the Hall of St. John's on her palfrey and
listened to a speech from Mr. Humphrey Bohun, one of the Fellows, in
which for the last time the restitution of the Lady Margaret's estates
was hinted at, without result.

Richard Longworth, a man of Presbyterian sympathies, was at this time
Master. In 1565 he, with the Fellows and scholars, appeared in Chapel
without the surplice. Lord Burghley, as Chancellor of the University,
wrote a sharply worded letter to Longworth, expressing his grief that
such a thing should happen in "my dear College of St. John's"; adding,
"truly no mishap in all my service did ever plunge me more grievously."

Fortunately affairs were in strong and capable hands. With the authority
and in the name of Queen Elizabeth, Whitgift, at this time Master of
Trinity, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, and Cecil provided new
statutes for the University in 1570, and for St. John's in 1580. By
these much more power was put in the hands of the Master, and government
rendered easier to a resolute man.

Matters improved, if not at once, at least gradually, and the Anglican
rule became firmly established. But during the mastership of William
Whitaker (1586-1595) we still hear of troubles with "Papists." Whitaker
was a learned scholar and an acute theologian, but he does not seem to
have been a ruler of men or a judge