Declaration by Parliament of its design to uphold the Universities

On the second of January 1660, Monck crossed the Tweed on his march for England. Resolute in his designs and inscrutable of purpose as Cromwell himself, men could only speculate whether he came to espouse the royal cause or to maintain the Rump in power; but the universities were reassured when, three weeks later, Parliament published a Declaration which presented, in one respect, a noteworthy point of contrast when compared with that of the preceding May. The word ‘reform’ had disappeared; and throughout the land it was made known that Oxford and Cambridge, together with the public schools, were not only to be confirmed in possession of their actual ‘privileges and advantages,’ but that it was designed to extend to them ‘such further countenance as might encourage them in their studies and promote godliness, learning and good manners among them.’

Pepys' visit to Cambridge

On the 24th of February, Samuel Pepys, now twentyseven years of age, accompanied by his friend Mr Pierce, set out from London on a visit to Cambridge. ‘The day and the way,’ he tells us, were alike ‘very foul,’ and they slept at Foulmire, not arriving at the ‘Falcon’ in Petty Cury (where his father and brother were awaiting them) until eight o'clock the next morning.