forcing the doors, of which they had not the keys, to get the original statute-book; all the copies having been conveyed away by the former fellows. They soon espied a small trunk with three locks, which they employed him to open; when the treasure was discovered. I imagine they returned thanks in a long prayer, and resolved to divide it in the name of the Lord. The president, who is said to have chiefly promoted this pious work, had an hundred pieces for his portion; and the fellows, then only thirty in number, had each thirty; in the whole nine hundred. The demys, and even the servants, were admitted to a share. Each pistolet produced sixteen shillings and sixpence; and it is added, the exchanger got well by the bargain c.

We are told by Dr. Clerke, who partook of the spoil, that none of the fellows at that time knew of this money, which he remarks

• Dr. Clerke's Account-book, 1656. The number distributed to each person, and upon what reason, may be seen, he says, "in my "book covered with vellum, and with green strings, in 4to, as also "what is returned again of it to the college."

b From a paper of Dr. Clerke's.

The papers relating to the view are in a chest in the lower room of the tower.

• Fasti Oxon. ii. p. 67. Heylin, Examen Hist. i.

was very strange, the statute mentioning it so clearly as it does. It is also possible that Dr. Wilkenson, though he had grown old in the college, might never have heard of it. But on what authority was the distribution made? "Though one must charitably be"leeve the matter not so bad as reported," says Fullerd in 1655, "yet the most favour"able relation thereof gave a general dis"tast." In 1662 he acknowledged he had been misguided, with many others, by general tradition, which represented the money as the gift of president Humphry instead of Waynflete. "Would I had been mistaken," continues the honest author, "in the mat"ter as well as the person, that so unworthy "an act had never been performed! But “what said Jacob to his sons? Carry back "the money again, peradventure it was an "oversight. Seasonable restitution will "make reparation."

It is remarkable that as saintship ceased honesty returned. The advice of Fuller had its effect. Several persons spontaneously refunded the pieces they had illicitly pos

sessed, or their value, to be disposed of according to the will of the founder. The vice-president and three of the fellows, with five demys and the principal cook, appear to have set the example in 1659. The gold was again reposited in its chest in 1662. On the 17th of January 1665 there remained in the hands of the bursars on this account, in money, three hundred fifty-two pounds nine shillings and sixpence three farthings. On the 3d of July 1679 two hundred sixty-six double pistolets, or spur-royals, as they are called, and seventy-five single pistolets, had been restored in specie, and replaced in the tower. One hundred pieces were still unpaid by the late president, and three hundred by ten of the fellows 1.

In the same century, the foundation and statutes of Magdalen received as rude a shock from religious bigotry, as they had before experienced from fanatical and republican zeal. The event is conspicuous in the history of England; and I shall conclude

From a parchment-book in the chest in which are the spurroyals.

h Dr. Clerke's Account-book, 1662, p. 131.

He paid 18 pieces in specie, and besides, for his share, £10. 16. Mr. Cracroft paid £26. 5. for his thirty spur-royals.

my

296 LIFE OF WILLIAM WAYNFLETE.

my account of Waynflete, with the sincere wish that an equal resistance and like success may await the authors of any future attack on his college; which has been (and may it continue yet for ages!) eminently useful to the community, in advancing the best concerns of mankind,-Religion, Liberty and Learning.

APPEN