Heads,] I know of only one decided instance; but it must not, in consequence, be looked upon as an anomaly. The ninth clause of the Arundelian Constitutions of 1408, refers expressly to the co-operation of the Heads of the Colleges, in watching over and rooting out the Lollard heresies. We need no evidence, (yet evidence we have,) that, under these circumstances, the Chancellor could not avoid consulting with the Heads of the more considerable Colleges, on the execution of the Statutes, and, consequently, on proposals and discussions which bore reference to them. Independently of the first traces of the Black Congregation, we find that the Chancellor of Oxford, in the fifteenth century, assembled the Principals and Heads of Places, (the word Places being evidently used for Houses,) and called upon them to admonish their scholars, to observe in the strictest manner the prohibition of intercourse issued against the University's hereditary enemy, Alderman Haynes. We cannot* suppose, that they would have agreed in such measures, if the prohibition had been issued by the Convocation, against their will. Again, in 1512, the Chancellor consulted with the Heads of Colleges and Halls, as to stricter measures against the Chamberdekyns. Of course matters took a similar course in Cambridge. I can find no decided evidence upon this point, prior to the first half of the sixteenth century: but that is of such a nature, as to render the ancient origin of proceedings of the kind undoubted. I refer to various writs addressed upon very different subjects, to the Vice-chancellor and Heads of the Colleges, by the Privy Council,-contained in Lamb's Collection.

NOTE (73) referred to in PAGE 159.

The Visitations of 1555-7.

[There is something in the dates of this Note, which I cannot understand; but I have not the means of verifying them. I add this notice, merely that they may not be taken for misprints.]

The documents relating to the Visitation of 1556, in Cambridge, and its consequences, together with the journal of the Registrar at * [This argument seems to me to lean decidedly the other way.]

the time of the Visitation, were, I believe, first printed by Lamb. The course which, on the same occasion, matters took in Oxford, may be easily comprehended from Wood's account. From all these documents it is very clear, that the expression, Mary's Statutes, (in the same sense as those of Edward, &c.,) is, in strictness, false. The course taken was as follows.

First, a letter was addressed by the Queen, to Gardiner, who was regarded by her as Chancellor, both de facto and de jure, (completely overlooking his deposition, &c.,) and who was also immediately again elected, or rather recognized, as Chancellor, by the University. In this letter, he was called upon to see the restoration of the "auncient Statutes, foundations and ordinaunces of the University, which, without sufficient authority, only upon the sensuall mindes and rashe determinations of a few men had been muche altered and broken, and almoste utterlie subverted." Of course, the Edwardian Statutes were thus set aside, although they had partly revived the very oldest Statutes; as in the election of the Proctors, by which the Cycle of 1514 was suppressed.

In the second place, certain general regulations were issued by the Chancellor, which dwelt more particularly upon the subscription of a Catholic confession of faith, in fifteen articles. In addition to what has been already said about the Test Oaths, I may here remark, that, according to the documents published in Lamb's Collection, (p. 161,) nothing but the death of Edward VI. prevented the compulsory subscription of the forty-two Protestant Articles.

Then succeeded,—from January to May, 1557,—the Visitation made by the Commissioners of Cardinal Pole, the Pope's Legate, who had been elected Chancellor in 1555. The aim, and the result, of this Visitation, was provisionally to restore things as they were before the Reformation. Yet it was not overlooked, that there had even previously been many evils, complications, and contradictions; and immediately after the termination of the Visitation, in May, 1555, the "Ordinances of Reginald Pole, for the government of the University," (v. Lamb, p. 237-254,) were laid before the University for strict observance. The introduction

runs as follows: "Whereas, in the Visitation, &c. it was discovered, that the Statutes of the University, together with the Compact (of 1514) "regarding the election of Proctors, were in need of no small emendation," &c. The Chancellor is then charged as follows: "With the advice as well as the consent of the larger Congregation, [select] two or three persons of any Faculty, remarkable for their piety, &c., having also called in the Heads of the Colleges, &c. Let them diligently revise and examine, and (with the reservation of our good pleasure) reform and correct, &c. Meanwhile, for the regulation and salutary government of the said University, you shall yourself in the first place observe, and shall cause all others to observe, the following Ordinances, (which have almost all been brought in by those whom we deputed to visit, &c.,) and also such Statutes of the same University, as are suited to the present time, and not opposed to these injunctions." I ought to remark, that, according to the journal of the Registrar, he and his colleagues were busied with transcribing the old Statutes. These were then probably forwarded to Pole, and formed the groundwork of his Ordinances. They have but little to do with our subject, and treat chiefly of the studies, scholastic exercises, and church service. Few of them refer to the constitution and government of the University, although we find articles—"on the election of the Chancellor,"—"on the election of ordinary Lecturers,"—" on the Vice-chancellor, and other Officers and Ministers of the University," "on the public chest,”—“on the private chests." Then follow: "Ordinances for the government and salutary regulation of the Colleges," &c. In consequence of this injunction, three delegates of each Faculty were chosen, in February, 1556 or 57, (v. Lamb, xxxviii. :) but, most probably, their legislative powers came to end, before they began to use them, by the Accession of Elizabeth. Neither the contents, nor the introduction of the Ordinances of Cardinal Pole," nor their whole connection, imply that they were intended to introduce any thing essentially new. The necessary innovations were to be made by the University-delegates. All that was done by the "Ordinances," was to establish certain Statutes, out of the existing