Notes from the Diary of Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper. 23 



striking the young lord a box on the ear, when the rest of the 

 freshmen simultaneously fell on, and soon cleared the buttery and 

 hall. But a number of bachelors and young masters arriving in 

 aid of the seniors, the freshmen were compelled to retreat to a 

 ground chamber in the quadrangle, whither the enemy closely 

 pursued them and pressed hard upon the door for entrance. Some 

 of the strongest of the freshmen within, whom Cooper describes as 

 " giant-like boys," suffered a few to come in, and kept the rest out. 

 The few thus admitted were now in fact prisoners, and would have 

 been severely handled by the youngsters had not Cooper, exercising 

 his authority as captain, wisely preferred to negotiate with them in 

 order to secure their services in making peace with the authorities. 

 Dr. Prideaux, the old rector of the college, who had been summoned 

 to suppress the mutiny, was by this time on the spot ; and as his 

 sjTQpathies were always in favour of youthful daring, articles of 

 pardon were soon arranged, and the foolish custom of " tucking " 

 was abolished for ever from Oxford, though it continued in force 

 some time longer at Cambridge. 



In the election for the Long Parliament, 1640, Sir Anthony 

 Ashley Cooper stood for Downton, in Wiltshire. There was a 

 double return, viz., of himself and Mr. Gorges, and both parties 

 petitioned. The Committee of Privileges, to whom it was referred, 

 never reported ; and by this manoeuvre (supposed to be intentional) 

 the borough remained open all through the long contest which 

 ensued, till after the death of Cromwell. Sir Anthony successfully 

 reasserted his claim at the sitting of the Rump in 1658, when he 

 used his influence in restoring the King. 



In December, 1646, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper was nominated 

 Sheriff of Wilts in the Parliament's behalf, leave being given him 

 at the same time to reside out of the county. From a brief journal 

 of events kept by him during that and the four succeeding years, 

 the following extracts possess some local as well as personal interest : 



" 1646. 7th August. I went from Farnham to Salisbury. 8th. Went 



with Mr. Thistlethwaite the High Sheriff to meet the Judges, Judge Rolle and 



Sergeant Godbolt, who were the two Judges for this circuit. 10th. Sat 



with Judge Godbolt on the Crown side, being the only Justice there besides the- 

 Judge and clerk of assize in the Commission of oyer and terminer. I was swora\ 



