CHAPTER IV.
The appointment on June 29, 1655, of Dr. Godden to the Presidency in succession to Dr. Clayton, marks the commencement of the most glorious period in the history of the College. He was one of the most distinguished members it ever had, and in conjunction with the famous Dr. Sergeant his contemporary, by their brilliant writings in defence of the Church against the attacks of the most learned and redoubtable controversialists ever produced by the Established Church, shed the greatest lustre upon the College which claimed them as its members.
Dr. Godden whose true name was Tylden was a native of London, belonged to a family of good position, and was born of Protestant parents about the year 1622. He commenced his academical career in Queen's College, Oxford, whence he was removed to Cambridge and after five years application to Philosophy, took the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the College of St. John.
During this period he first formed an intimacy with Dr. John Sergeant, who, having himself discovered the path of truth, lost no time in bringing his friend to the same.
To remove the new converts from the danger to which the society of their late friends would have ex posed them, they were sent at their own request to the College at Lisbon, where they arrived on November 4, 1643.
After eight months spent in devotional exercises, they were on June 29, 1664, admitted alumni. Dr. Godden was then in his twenty-third year, Dr. Sergeant in his twenty-second. Even during the time of their preparatory studies, their intellectual exertions greatly added to the reputation
