Not that Cambridge was behind Oxford in supporting the unfortunate Charles the First, to whom the several colleges secretly conveyed nearly all their ancient plate; and Cromwell, in consequence, retaliated by confining and depriving numbers of her most distinguished scholars, both laymen and divines, many of whom died in exile: and the commissioners of parliament, with a taste worthy of the worst barbarians, caused many of the buildings to be despoiled of their architectural ornaments and exquisite pieces of sculpture and painted glass. It was at this time appeared the following celebrated poetic trifle, extant in the Oxford Sausage, known as THE CUSHION PLOT, Written by Herbert Beaver, Esq., of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, when "Gaby" (as the then President, Dr. Shaw, is called, who had been a zealous Jacobite,) suddenly, on the accession of George the First, became a still more zealous patron of the interests of the House of Hanover. When GABY possession had got of the _Hall_, He took a survey of the Chapel and all, Since that, like the rest, was just ready to fall, _Which nobody can deny_. And first he began to examine the chest, Where he found an old _Cushion_ which gave him distaste; The first of the kind that e'er _troubled his rest,_ _Which nobody can deny_. Two letters of Gold on this Cushion were rear'd; Two letters of gold once by GABY rever'd, But now what was loyalty, treason appear'd: _Which nobody can deny_. "J. R. (quoth the Don, in soliloquy bass) "See the works of this damnable Jacobite race! "We'll out with the J, and put G in its place:" _Which nobody can deny_. And now to erase these letters so rich, For scissors and bodkin his fingers did itch, For Converts in politics go _thorough-stich_: _Which nobody can deny_: The thing was about as soon done as said, Poor _J_ was deposed and _G_ reigned in his stead; Such a quick revolution sure never was read! _Which nobody can deny_. Then hey for preferment--but how did he stare, When convinced and ashamed of not being aware, That _J_ stood for JENNET,[10] for RAYMOND the _R_, _Which nobody can deny_. Then beware, all ye priests, from hence I advise, How ye choose Christian names for the babes ye baptize, For if GABY don't like 'em he'll pick out their I's, _Which nobody can deny_. [10] The benefactor who gave the college the Cushion. * * * * * Terræ Filius relates the following instance of THE DANGER OF DRINKING THE KING'S HEALTH.