The Life and Times of Anthony Wood Antiquary of Oxford 1632-1695 vol. V

Diaries of Anthony Wood, a 17th-century English antiquary and historian renowned for his writings on Oxford University. From the king’s messengers arriving in the night requiring translations of the Emperor of Marocco’s letters, to the drunken debauchery of atheist undergraduates, these entries offer a fascinating glimpse into the life of seventeenth century Oxford. “A messenger at 10 at night came from the king to Dr. (Timothy) Halton, vice-chancellor, that he cause the professor of Arabick and others to make a true translation of the emperor of Morocco’s letters sent lately by his ambassador”. “Latter end of this month fighting, occasioned by drunkenness, fell out in St. John's College common chamber. There is a knot of four undergraduates. These are known to be notorious atheists, and they have been known so this year past. They talk atheistically among themselves, but when any are in their company they forbear, for fear of being betrayed. They come drunk into the chapel and vomit in their hats or caps there. They’ll come into an alehouse and ask for a room that is private, where God almighty shall not see them”.