Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/206

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A L L E S T R V. In O&ober following, he took arms again, and was at thd battle fought betwixt the king and the parliament's forces Un- der the command of the earl of Jlfiex upon Keinton field in Warwickfhire : after which, undemanding that the king de- figned immediately to -march to Oxford, and take up his re- fidence at the deanry of Chrifi-church, he battened thither to make preparations for his majefty's reception, but in his way was taken prifoner by a party of horfe from Boughton- houfe, which was garrifoned by lord Say for the parliament : his confinement, however, was but dorr, for the garrifon furrendered to the king. And now Mr. Alleftry fettled again Faftfoxon t0 h ' S ftudies and the fy rin g following took his degree of vol. ii. c X ol.' ma ^ er f arts - The f ams year he was in extreme danger of 33. his life by a peftilential diftemper, which raged in the garrifon at Oxford. As foon as he recovered, he entered again into his majefty's fervice, and carried a mufquet in a regiment formed out of the Oxford fcholars. Nor did he in the mean time neglect his ftudies, " but frequently (as the author of " the preface to Dr. Al'eftry's Sermons expreffes it) holding " the mufquet in one hand and the book in the other, " and making the vvarchfiilnefs of a foldier the lucubrations " of a ftudent." In this fervice he continued till the end of the war: then went into holy orders, and was chofen cenfor of his college. He had a confiderabls (hare in that teft of loyahy, which the univerfity of Oxford gave in their decree and judgement againft the Solemn League and Covenant. In 1648- the parliament fent vifitors to Oxford, to demand the fubmiffion of that body to their authority : thofe who refufed to comply were immediately profcribed ; which was done by writing their names on a paper, and affixing it on the door of St. Mary's church, fignifying that fuch perfons were, by the authority of the vifitors, banifhed the univerfity, and required to depart the precincts thereof within three days, upon pain of beina taken for fpies of war, and proceeded againft as fuch. t^^MlS- ^ r ' Aileftr y> am rigft many others, was accordingly expelled ty's Sen. t}ie univerfity. He now retired into Shropfhire, and was entertained as chaplain to the honourable Francis Newport, efq ; and upon the death of Richard lord Newport, that gen- tleman's father, in France, whither he had fied to avoid the violence of the prevailing party, was fent over to France, to take care of that nobleman's effects. Having difpatchcd this affair with fuccefs, he returned to his empioymenr, in which he consinued till the defeat of king Charles II. at Worcefier. At this tinr>e the royalifts wanting an intelligent and fakhful perfon to fend over to his majefty, Mr. Alldtry was