came." Above such schools he recommends "universities or colleges, for the instructing youth in the knowledge of the liberal arts,...as in Logic, but the mathematics especially,-arithmetic, geometry, geography, and the like, which as they carry no wickedness in them, so are they besides very useful to human society”: also, in a reformed way, physic and law. Then comes the more original suggestion that these Universities or Colleges should not be confined to Cambridge and Oxford, "but one at least in every great town or city, as in London, York, Bristol, Exeter, Norwich, and the like." These were to be supported by the state, with of course "godly and learned men to teach the tongues and arts, under a due Reformation." Another novel suggestion was that these students should whenever possible not employ their whole time in study and in play, but "spend some part of the day in learning or study, and the other part in some lawful calling, or one day in study and another in business." He considers that on such a scheme there would be the saving in respect of the scholarships now needed for supporting students; though how that half, or more, of the youths who came from the small towns and villages would be assisted, is not plain (Works, 1817; 11. 216). The following are his published works.

1.

Power from on High, or the Power of the Holy Ghost dispersed through the whole Body of Christ, and communicated to each member according to its place and use in that body. Two sermons by William Dell, minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at Yelden; 1645. Dedicated to the Countess of Bolingbroke.

2. Christ's Spirit a Christian's strength. Two sermons, published in 1645. Dedicated to Lady Elizabeth, Countess of Bolingbroke, wife of his patron at Yelden.

3. Uniformity examined. A short Essay in favour of the Independent as against the Presbyterian form of Church government. The general drift is that "the variety of forms in the world is the beauty of the world; so that though there be a most admirable unity among all the creatures, yet there is nothing less than external uniformity." (1646.)

4. The Building, Beauty, Teaching and Establishment of the Truly Christian and Spiritual Church. A sermon preached to Sir Thomas Fairfax and the army, "at Marston, being the Headquarter at the Leaguer, before Oxford, June 7, 1646. By William Dell, minister of the Gospel, attending on his excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, in the army." (1646.)

5. Right Reformation: or the Reformation of the Church of the New Testament represented in Gospel Light. A sermon preached before the House of Commons, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 1646. "With a reply to the chief contradictions of Master Love's sermon, preached the same day” (1646). Animadverted on by T. Edwards (1646); Chr. Love (1646); and W. Umfreville (1646).

6. The Way of True Peace and Unity in the True Church of Christ. By William Dell, one of the least and unworthiest of the servants of God in the Gospel of his dear Son. Printed in 1649.

This, and the preceding four, were republished in 1651.

7. The Doctrine of the Sabbath, as it hath been believed and taught by Ancient and Eminent Christians.... Dedicated especially to the Parliament to direct them in their intended Act for the Due and Strict Observation of the Lord's Day. Printed in 1650.

8. The Crucified and Quickened Christian. A Discourse spoken briefly at the Lord General Cromwell's house, and after more largely delivered in Clement's parish in Cambridge. By William Dell, minister of the Gospel, and master of Gonville and Caius College (1652). Dedicated to Cromwell. He says, "when I preached the same things more largely at Cambridge, several people, and some who had been ancient professors, were grievously offended at them. Yea, some gathered several particulars out of my discourses and sent them up to some of the House of Commons for strange heresies, as once some citizens dealt with me at Marston, when the Leaguer was before Oxford, presenting some such like foolish and ridiculous collections of theirs to the then House of Lords." There was an animadversion on it by Humfry Chambers, in 1653.

9. The Stumbling Stone. A Discourse delivered partly to the University Congregation in Cambridge, partly to another in the same town. By William Dell, minister of the Gospel, and master of Gonvil and Caius College (1653). Animadverted on, by J. Sedgwick (1653).

10. The Doctrine of Baptisms. Reduced from its ancient and modern Corruptions, and restored to its primitive soundness and integrity. By William Dell, (1652) (Practically he renounced Baptism. He distinguished between that of Water and that of the Spirit. The former was that of John; Judaic, and transitory. The latter alone is that of true believers.) Owing to the interest in the subject felt by the Quakers, this has been many times republished.

11. The Trial of Spirits, both in Teachers and Hearers. Wherein is held forth the Clear Discovery and Certain Downfall of the Carnal and Antichristian Clergy of these Nations. Testified from the Word of God to the University Congregation in Cambridge. By William Dell. Whereunto is added A Plain and Necessary Confutation of divers Gross Errors delivered by Mr Sydrach Simpson in a sermon preached to the same congregation, 1653.

In the same volume.

A Testimony from the Word against Divinity Degrees in the University, or any Academical Degrees made use of for the Ministry of the Gospel.

The Testimony of Martin Luther upon the whole matter, to wit, touching Universities, Human Learning, or Philosophy, University Degrees, &c.

These two contain a violent assault against the giving of degrees in Divinity ("for I meddle with none other") by the University. "Thus doth the University, through power received of antichrist, give men, chiefly for money, divinity degrees....A mere invention of antichrist, to put honour and reputation on his ministers.... And thou, University, hast like thy own mother Babylon, mystery written on thy forehead; for thou hast taken to thyself this glorious title, Alma Mater, which only belongs to Jerusalem from above; and though thou hast brought

forth a company of prodigious children, heathenish, foolish, vain, vile and abominable, yet hast thou called them learned, and given them degrees in divinity.....hast sent them forth as sons of the morning, though yet very unbelievers...." This is enforced by long quotations from Luther; "Certain it is that Aristotle who is dead and damned is at this day the great doctor of all the Universities, rather than Christ," &c.

12. The Right Reformation of Learning, Schools, and Universities, according to the State of the Gospel and the True Light that shines therein.

13. The Increase of Popery in England, since the Reformation made by King Henry VIII; shewing the great encouragement that the priests, Jesuits, and other promoters of that bloody religion have had from persons of power and authority.... Intended to be published in the year 1667, but seized at the Press by R. L. S. and others. By the late Rev. William Dell, sometime rector of Yelden.

This appears to have been published by his widow after his death. The advertisement states, "At the earnest request of some friends I have been prevailed with to publish this small treatise....June 18, 1681. M.D."

A long criticism of his generally antinomian views was published by Samuel Rutherfurd, professor of Divinity at St Andrews, in 1647, under the title, "Survey of the spiritual Antichrist, opening the secrets of Familism and Antinomianism in the antichristian doctrines of J. Saltmarsh and W. Dell, the present preachers of the Army in England...."

According to Kennet (Reg. and Chron. p. 402: Wood, Ath. Ox. 11. 377) Dell was one of a number of non-conformists who compiled the "English-Greek Lexicon: containing the derivations and various significations of all the words in the New Testament."

His will (dated Nov. 5, 1669: proved P. C. C. June 8, 1670) is brief, and naturally contains no legacy, or reference, to the college. He is described as of Sampsill, Westoning, Beds., clerk. The following are the principal provisions:My body to the earth, whereof it is made, to be decently buried. To wife Martha, for her life, the manor of Aynells, and freehold of Sampsill: after her death to my son William. To son John, "towards the bringinge of him uppe at Cambridge," £25 per an. for seven years; and all my library of Latin and Greek books. To daughter Elizabeth, some pasture closes in Harlington; to daughter Martha, other lands there, with £5 per an.; to daughter Anna, other lands there, with £150 to be paid by son William. To daughter Mercy, £300. Wife Martha, residuary legatee.

The lease of Aynells was renewed to Mrs Dell, March 15, 1674-5, “provided she gives good security to the college against her sonne who at least pretends a title to the lease." She died about 1681. His eldest son William succeeded to his estate at Sampsill: John graduated at Christ's College in 1672-3.

As regards the burial of Dell a curious legend has long prevailed which it seems a pity to dispel, but which I suspect has arisen from the crystallization of party animosity around the nucleus of a word. As will be seen by his will he desired to be "decently buried" but the following letter to Dr Gray of

Cambridge (Baker MS. x. 116) will show how popular opinion disposed of his body:

Dear Sir I have enquired of Mr Wingate about the obscure grave of old Dell, who was great grandfather of the now Dr Dell. I have this account. At Samsill, in the parish of Westoning, in the parish of Harlington, there is a part of a close hedged in, where the old man was buried, and is now grown over with thorns and briars. But I cannot learn that his wife lies there too. The close goes by the name of Graves, and was part of the Dell estate at that time, then sold by the son of the old man, which son married a great aunt of mine by my mother's side. I have heard Mr Bedford say that old Dell was rector of Yelden in those precious times of iniquity: I suppose presented by the then Earl of Bolingbroke, who was deep in those confusions. I myself have heard the doctor say, pointing to the close as we rode by, There lies my old rogue of a grandfather (sic)! which was no small concern to him. Your very humble servant, John Pomfret.

March 18, 1738-9.

Cole, writing 26 years afterwards, rather improves upon this. He says that Dr Gray had just told him how Dell's son Humphrey had once remarked, on passing a spinney in Westoning, "There lays that old rogue and rascal my father"; an obvious blunder of two generations. Cole adds that Dell "was so little curious where his carcase was deposited that he ordered himself to be buried" in the spinney in question (Add. MSS. 5834; p. 267).

It is quite true, as I have said, that the land referred to was bought by Dell, in 1657. But it must be pointed out that it was already known as "Grave's close," -doubtless from the name of some previous owner or occupier, at the time of purchase. In 1892 this land, which had been subsequently acquired by the college, was again sold, for brick-making. The legend being still in some credit. it was thought well to have a careful search around the spot which tradition had assigned, before the sale was effected. No trace could be found of a skeleton, or of there having been any burial there. It must be stated, however, that there is no entry of his burial in the register of either Westoning or Yelden.

So far as available evidence goes, the disturbance in college during the Interregnum was less, I believe, than is commonly supposed. The principal changes were the following. In the first place there was the ejection of the master, and of a number of fellows: certainly of twelve, and probably of one or two more. For some years also there continued to be considerable interference on the part of the Parliamentary Committee for Regulating the Universities. They appointed the fellows in several instances: forbade fellows and scholars to be absent from college without leave augmented the stipends occasionally, &c. The fellows, however, in spite of several of them owing their own appointment to this authority, do not seem to have been any fonder of this kind of interference than their predecessors were at least so I interpret the college order (March, 1650–1) "That the master and Mr Harrington go to London, to reverse if possible the orders of Sir Stockton and Sir Hickhorngill appointed fellows by the Committee." It may be remarked that the class of men thus intruded from outside did not materially differ from the old class, except of course in religious and political views. Several of them were not Cambridge graduates, but they were all men of University training; and

there seems no appreciable difference between the old and the new stock in respect of learning and abilities.

Domestic events within the college seem to have gone on much as they did before. There are indeed more references to legal proceedings for the recovery of rents and other debts than was formerly the case; but this may be due to the disturbed times rather than to any more grasping and litigious spirit on the part of those who managed the college. As regards the chapel service, chaplains continued to be appointed as before; but all the fellows seem to have taken part in the prayers and "problems." Thus we have the order "That all exercises, whether praying, problems, or commonplaces, be performed according to seniority, in turn; and that in problems the next senior do reply" (July 19, 1653). "That Mr Bolt do supply the vacancies of prayer in chapel...; and that every fellow's course be supplied by him when it falls, unless it be otherwise provided for by him whose course it is" (Sep. 27, 1656). But, as already pointed out, most of this was by no means a novelty in our college practice. The college bonfires (in those days the authorities furnished, instead of suppressing these manifestations of opinion) went on much as usual. That on November 5 was kept up unchanged; and that on the Accession day of Charles I was continued as late, actually, as March 27, 1647, after which date the Thanksgiving day, Sep. 7, was substituted.

In some colleges the presence of the army during the years 1643-5 caused disturbance and destruction, the soldiers being quartered in college rooms, and St John's being partly employed as a prison for royalists. But our account books show no trace of anything of this kind; and unless the incident of the dog "shut up in the chapel" (p. 93) has a good deal more read into it than it obviously contains, I can find no proof that academic discipline was appreciably relaxed. The only reference to the presence of the army is in an entry of 1652, "Paid to the officers of the Army for a composition from quartering of soldiers in the College, £1." The detailed incidents below, which have been extracted from our various books, will give the reader a fair indication of the resultant changes of practice.

It may seem surprising that even the number of students was not much reduced, if we take into consideration the whole period in question. We can only suppose that the sons of the royalist squires and parsons had their places supplied by those whose fathers were in sympathy with the dominant opinions. It is quite true that towards the middle of the time there was a serious falling off; and the old statutable course of sending word to the Norwich schools that there were scholarships vacant had to be revived (July 9, 1652). We find also such a notice as this, "that every fellow, scholar, and student, have a chamber de proprio" (May 17, 1652), which implies a good deal more spare room than had been known before. The following order however (Oct. 27, 1659) shows that this state of things was only temporary, "Whereas the butler, for some years past, uppon consideration of the emptinesse of the college, and consequently the diminution of his wages and avayles, had £10 per an. allowed him,...the college being agayne well replenished and multiplyed" the allowance was withdrawn.