Page:Terræ-filius- or, the Secret History of the University of Oxford.djvu/359

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APPENDIX,

induce you to do a thing so extravagant, so unusual, so unchristian? --- Had the Provost of Oriel, or Mr. Bowles ever given you any such provocation, as might seem to justify your resentment of it in this manner?? Not the least in the work; nor could the justest resentment have been thus expressed with innocence -- -- ? What then could possibly excite you to so extraordinary a procedure? Here is an effect that astonishes ; a proportionable cause is so far from being assign'd that there doth not so much as any appear; matter of the greatest importance (to every good man) has been taken for a?trifle; and that which is death to the reputation of our neighbours, seems to have been sport to you.

I must, in particular, desire to know the reason why the whole load of your satire and resentment should be thrown upon the Provost, and Mr. Bowles, who do not seem, in any manner, to deserve it??and why even the name of Mr. Brooke, who was so deeply concerned in this affair, and is the only person blameable, (if there is indeed any thing blameable, in it) should not be so much as mentioned or alluded to in your whole book?

I call upon you, Sir, in the most solemn manner, as you profess yourself a scholar and a christian, to declare the secret motive which induced you so artfully to conceal his name, who was the chief instrument in this affair ; and to fall so violently upon those, who, at worst, are no farther guilty, than that they could not help it, when it was done. If you fail to satisfy us herein, I will myself examine farther into this matter, and endeavour to give the world the true reasons of such a partial and extraordinary procedure.

?Having thus examined the particular case of Mr. Seaman, with relation to himself, Mr. Bowles and the Provost of Oriel College, and, I think, demonstrated, that you have grosly misrepresented it in every particular; we will now come to the status itself, [and]