 Early in May of the same year Brent spoke for Anthony à Wood's retention of his postmastership in spite of his avowed royalism.Wood wrote that he owed this favour to the intercession of his mother, whom Brent had known from a girl.On 17 May 1649 Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell paid the university a threatening visit, and malcontents were thenceforth proceeded against by the commission with rigour.