a

poems, and the chronicles of the kings of England.

Waynflete has expressed an utter detestation of that licentiousness in dress, which rendered the clergy not distinguishable from the laity. He enjoined the use of vests befitting ecclesiastics, and of gowns closed before from the navel down to the bottom. He prohibited shoes with pikes ; also red boots, swords or long knives, or other weapons; costly furs called sabyllyns or martyns, and all finery and luxury in apparel. He had in view a further regulation in this article, to be carried into execution when the society should be in possession of certain estates, which he had made over in reversion to them. It is announced in a statuteo, of which the omission in its proper place is attributed to forgetfulness. This was read to the fellows by the president, and attested, with some decrees, (two of which the founder had

■ See Warton. Fairy Q. ii. 104.

b Shoes with such beaks or pykes had been usual since 1382. It was proclaimed 5 Edw. IV. in England, that they should not pass two inches. Baker.

See Appendix, N° XXVI. MS. Harl. N° 4240. See Index. The statute is also in Lib. Comp. 1656, p. 133, taken by Dr. Clerke from a statute-book of Dr. Drope's.

One, pro discis conservandis, made by order of the Founder.

The

had commanded his almoner to promulge in the vestry,) by John Wymark master of arts and notary public, on the fourth of November, 1483. It ordains, that the fellows and scholars should be furnished yearly, about Christmas, with a sufficient quantity of cloth of a certain price, for a gown and hood, to be of one fashion; and the other members and the servants with cloth for gowns, conformable

The other, That the demys present in the university should receive weekly viiid. for their commons, the statute to the contrary notwithstanding.

That the president on certain more solemn festivals and days of pittances (pietantiarum) should for the honour of the college dine in the hall, where he should be allowed an augmentation of his commons by the bursars; and regulating his allowance on other feasts and obits, viz. pittance-days not mentioned, when he dined in his own house (hospitio): and providing, that on the obit of Thomas Ingledew, when the sum of 26s. 8d. was to be divided among the fellows for their commons and refreshment, he should receive of it only 12d. MS. Harl. No 6282, p. 140. Ex MS. Dris Drope. MS. Harl. N° 4240, p. 54.

• Mr. Warton, History of English Poetry, vol. i. p. 234, tells us, "that the magnificent knight sir John Fastolf bequeathed estates "to Magdalen college, part of which were appropriated to buy li"veries for some of the senior scholars; but this benefaction in "time yielding no more than a penny a week to the scholars who "received the liveries, they were called by way of contempt, "Falstaff's Buckram-men.”

We have before related, that the seven demies senior in age were to pray for him, and that their recompense was each a penny a week

formable in colour; the founder hoping, thattheir bearing all one outward visible mark or badge, would promote their perseverance in unanimity, and their mutual regard; and that their affection to his college would increase with the benefits they should derive from his bounty.

The commons, salaries, and allowances of each individual of the society, were apportioned by the founder; who not only reached out to them lodging, diet, and instruction, with money to be distributed at certain times, since called the minor dividend; but, from his paternal care and fore

a week in his battels; four shillings and four pence a year each; in the whole, thirty shillings and four pence. The anecdote, as far as it concerns their liveries, is, I apprehend, without foundation. Mr. Warton informed me that he had it either from his father, a fellow of Magdalen, or from the late President; or from both.

"

↑ "Voluit fundator ut socius quilibet recipiat septimanatim pro "communis suis 12d. frumento existente infra 10s. per quarterium, a 10s. ad 13s. recipiat 14d. cum pro 13s. et 4d. vel supra, per "tres continuas septimanas in communi foro Oxonii vendatur, tunc "16d." MS. Henrici Clerke, M. D. olim Præsidentis, p. 135. 6s. 8d. had been previously mentioned in the statute the president refers to, as the mean price of a quarter of wheat. E.

This dividend consists of several small sums of money distributed on certain festivals, which were either the benefactions of individuals, or arise from particular college estates. Thus, e. g. "Pro dividentia Henrici 7mi, primo die Maii, 2 : 13: 4. Pro divi"dentia rectoria de Slimbridge, eodem die, £.10." E.

sight, provided a supply for its current expenses, if by any accident their revenue should prove inadequate, or be intercepted. This was called The Founder's Chest, from which they might borrow as occasion required, repaying when they were able. Moreover, he added a sum (called mutuum placitorum) for the purposes of defending them if attacked by law; of acquiring, if it should be expedient, ampler possessions; and of repairing damage done by sudden fires, if such should unfortunately happen on their premises. In like manner king Henry', perhaps at his suggestion, directed his feoffees, by his will, to deliver a thousand pounds to each of his colleges, which he had "given for a treasure for them, to be "kept within them, for divers great causes" expressed in his statutes.

Uncommon, perhaps unparalleled, was the liberality displayed by Waynflete in the endowment of his college, and in the assignment of necessaries of every kind for his so

• It is mentioned in the Account-book 1484, 2 Ric. 3. In 1498 it contained one hundred marcs. Dr. Clarke's Account-book 1656, p. 83.

Lib. Stat. in c. De Sigillo.

i Nichols's Collection of Wills, p. 308.

P

ciety,

ciety. After enumerating the establishment, Antony Wood proceeds: "all which, besides "other poor scholars that were daily fed "with the broken meat from the tables in "the public refectory, (continuing so until "1667, at which time they were stinted,) as "also the entertainment of strangers, in lieu "of that which was performed while it was "an hospital, receiving daily sustenance, "with other supplies, in such measure, that "I

I think it exceedeth any foundation for se"cular scholars in Europe." Budden1has recorded as current, a tale, that he was so reduced to poverty by his munificence, as in the decline of life to be solicitous to obtain the headship of his own college; but this is too absurd to be refuted, and to have noticed it was more than it deserved.

Gutch, p. 311. A. Wood, p. 189.

1 p. 87.

CHAP