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PART I.

Toulmin Smith's account of

of the early Gilds.

CHAP. III. the subject has thrown considerable light upon these ancient institutions, and tends considerably to modify the conception that before prevailed concerning their scope and character'. the character "They were not,' says this writer, 'in any sense superstitious foundations; that is, they were not founded, like monasteries and priories, for men devoted to what were deemed religious exercises. Priests might belong to them, and often did so, in their private capacities. But the Gilds were lay bodies, and existed for lay purposes, and the better to enable those who belonged to them rightly and understandingly to fulfil their neighbourly duties as free men in a free State.......It is quite true that, as the Lord Mayor, and Lincoln's Inn, and many other as well-known personages and public bodies, have to this day a chaplain, so these old Gilds often took measures and made payments to enable the rites of religion to be brought more certainly within the reach of all who belonged to them. This was one of the most natural and becoming of the consequences following from their existence and character. It did not make them into superstitious bodies. Though it was in this way very general,' observes his continuator, 'to provide more or less for religious purposes, these are to be regarded as incidental only; and this Gil Is at Cam is curiously exemplified by the case of three Gilds in Cambridge, one of which, the Gild of the Annunciation, excludes priests altogether; another, that of the Holy Trinity, if they come into the Gild, does not allow them any part in its management; while the third, that of the Blessed Virgin, has a chaplain, whose office however is to cease, in the event of the funds proving inadequate to his support in addition to that of the poorer brethren".' The statement, accordingly, made by the historian of Corpus Christi College, with reference to the two Gilds to whose united action that College refers its

bridge.

Not formed for religious

purposes.

1 English Gilds. Edited by the late Toulmin Smith. With Introduction and Glossary by Lucy Toulmin Smith, and Preliminary Essay on the History and Developement of Gilds by Dr Brentano. 1870. Published by the Early English Text Society.

2 The Old Crown House, by Toulmin Smith, p. 31.

8

English Gilds, Introd. p. xxix. 'The services of a chaplain were deemed quite secondary to the other purposes of the Gilds.' Note, p. 264.

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PART I.

view in foun

pus Christi.

origin, that they seem to have been principally instituted CHAP. III. for religious purposes',' is scarcely accurate; but, though incorrect with respect to the Gilds, it may be applied with perfect accuracy to the college which they founded. It objects in would appear that among the many secondary effects that dation of Corfollowed upon the plague, the great mortality among the clergy had induced the survivors in that profession considerably to augment the fees they demanded for the celebration of masses2; and there is good reason for inferring that the exorbitancy of their demands suggested to the members of the Gilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin the idea of founding a college for the education of the clergy, where it should be obligatory on the scholars to celebrate whatever masses might be desired for the repose of the souls of departed members of the two Gilds. The duke of Lancaster, known as the 'good duke,' had been elected by the two Gilds as their Alderman" or president, and through his offices the royal licence was obtained to found the college now known by the name of Corpus Christi*. When such Its statutes was the prevailing motive, we shall scarcely look for a very from those of enlightened conception of education in the statutes given to Me the new foundation; they present indeed little originality, the greater part appearing to have been taken from those of Michaelhouse, some passages in the latter being reproduced verbatim. The scholars are described as Capellani, though

1 Masters-Lamb, p. 8. The name of Richard of Bury, it is worthy of note, occurs in the list of benefactors of the Gild of the Blessed Virgin. Ibid. p. 16.

2 English Gilds, Essay by Dr. Brentano, p. cxlii.

This explains the title in the preamble to the Statutes,-‘Ad perpetuam rei memoriam cum nos Henricus Dux Lancastria Aldermannus et Confratres Gildæ &c.' Masters remarks Although he is usually deemed the Founder of the college, I meet with no considerable monuments of his bounty bestowed upon it, except a few silver shields enamelled with his arms and the instruments of the Passion upon them, to carry about

in their processions, and some other
presents not particularly specified.'
Ibid. p. 23.

4 About the close of the four-
teenth century, the college began to
be generally known as Benet College
(from its proximity to the church of
S. Benedict), and this adventitious
title was so generally adopted at a
later period, as entirely to supersede
its correct designation of Corpus
Christi, which indeed has only been
generally revived within the last
forty years.' Cooper, Memorials,
I 147.

5 I am indebted to the courtesy of the Master of Corpus Christi College, the Rev. James Pulling, D.D., for access to the Statuta Antiqua of 1350,

apparently

Michael

house.

PART I.

Require

respect to

studies.

CHAP. III. it is intimated that others may be admitted to the foundation: it is required that they shall 'one and all' be in ments with priest's orders, and shall have lectured in arts or philosophy, or at least be bachelors in either the civil or the canon law or in arts, intending to devote themselves to the study of theology or of the canon law, the number of those devoting themselves to the last-named faculty being restricted to four. If however we compare the general tenour of these statutes with that of the ordinances of the Gilds themselves, we shall have no difficulty in discerning that the religious sentiment of those bodies found its chief expression in the foundation of the new college.

Foundation of CLARE

HALL, 1359.

Design of the
Foundress,
Elizabeth de
Burgh.

The havoc wrought by the pestilence stimulated the philanthropy of others besides bishop Bateman. Within ten years from its visitation of this country, we find Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Clare, and grand-daughter of Edward I, largely augmenting an already existing foundation'. The following passage from the preamble to the statutes given by the Countess in the year preceding her death sufficiently explains her motives:—

'Experience,' says this august lady, 'doth plainly teach us, that in every degree, ecclesiastical as well as temporal, skill in learning is of no small advantage; which, although sought for in many ways by many persons, is found in most perfection in the university, where general study is known to flourish. Moreover, when it has been found, it sends out its disciples, who have tasted its sweetness, skilful and fit

which do not, I believe, exist in a
printed form. Among the passages
common to the statutes of Michael-
house and those of Corpus Christi,
I may quote the following, which
succeeds the regulations laid down
for the celebration of special Masses:
-Per hoc tamen intentionis nostræ
non existit eorum Scholarium Capel-
lanorum aliquem ultra possibilitatem
suam congruam super harum Missa-
rum celebrationibus faciendis one-
rare quominus lectionibus dispu-
tationibus in Scholis seu studio
vacare valeat competenter super quo

eorum conscientias oneramus.' Cf. p. 235.

1 The death of a brother, Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hereford, who fell at Bannockburn, leaving no issue, had placed the whole of the family estates, which were of a princely character, at the disposal of the Countess and her two sisters. See Cooper, Memorials, 1 25-30. The change in the name of the foundation from University to Clare Hall is said to have been effected under a charter granted by Edward III in 1338-9. Ibid. p. 29.

members of God's church and the state, who shall, as their CHAP. III. merits demand, rise to various ranks.

PART I.

sioned by the

one of her

'Being therefore induced by this consideration, and desiring, as far as God has enabled us, to promote the advancement of divine worship, the welfare of the state, and the extension of these sciences, which, by reason of the Losses occapestilence having swept away a multitude of men, are now pestilence beginning to fail lamentably, and directing our observation motives. to the university of Cambridge in the diocese of Ely, in which there is an assembly of students, and to a hall therein, hitherto generally called University Hall, now existing by our foundation, and which we desire to be called Clare Hall and to bear no other designation; we have caused this to be augmented with resources, out of the property given us by God, and to be placed among the number of places for study.

'We have also had in view the object, that the pearl of science, which they have through study and learning discovered and acquired, may not lie under a bushel, but be extended further and wider, and when extended give light to them that walk in the dark paths of ignorance. It is also our design that the scholars who have been long since dwelling in our house, may, by being protected under a stronger bond of peace and benefit of concord, devote themselves more freely to study. With this view we have, with the advice of experienced persons, drawn up certain statutes and ordinances which follow, to last for ever'.'

sentiment by

statutes are

ised.

The distinguishing characteristic of the design of the Liberality of foundress would appear to be a greater liberality in the which these requirements respecting the professedly clerical element. characterThe scholars or fellows are to be twenty in number, of whom it is required that six shall be in priests' orders at the time of their admission; but comparatively little stress is laid, as at Michaelhouse, on the order or particular character of the religious services, and the provision is made apparently rather with the view of securing the presence of a sufficient number for the performance of such services, than for the 1 Baker, MS. Harleian 7041, ff. 43-62. Documents, 1 121.

CHAP. III purpose of creating a foundation for the church'. The PART I. remaining fellows are to be selected from bachelors or sophConditions to isters in arts, or from 'skilful and well-conducted' civilians in the election and canonists, but only two fellows may be civilians, only

be observed

of fellows.

Sizars.

Foundation of KING'S

one a canonist. Three of the fellows, being masters of arts, are to lecture; and on the inception of any other fellow, one of the three has permission to retire from this function, provided he has lectured for a whole year. This permission does not, however, imply permission to cease from study; he is bound to apply himself to some other service wherein, considering his bent and aptitude, he may be expected to make the most rapid progress. The sizars are represented by ten 'docile, proper, and respectable' youths, to be chosen from the poorest that can be found, especially from the parishes of those churches of which the master and fellows are rectors; every Michaelmas they are entitled to receive clothing and necessaries to the value of half a mark sterling; they are to be educated in singing, grammar, and logic; and their term of residence is to extend to the completion of their twentieth year when, unless elected to fellowships, they are to withdraw from the foundation.

The statutes that next claim our attention are the last HALL, 1826. in the fourteenth century, and offer some noticeable and novel features. So early as 1326, thirty-two scholars, known as the King's scholars, had been maintained at the university by Edward II. It is probable that he had intended thereby to extend the study of the civil and canon law, for we find him presenting books on these subjects, to the value of ten pounds, to Simon de Bury the master, from whom

1 One of the clauses, somewhat ambiguously expressed, and, I suspect, corrupt, seems designed to secure those undertaking the performance of the services against labouring under any disadvantage when compared with the rest, by providing for the retirement of one of the six every time that there is a new election to a fellowship: the expression, in favoribus recipiendis amplius remoti, refers, probably, to opportunities of leaving the college and pushing one's

individual claims to preferment among the disposers of benefices. See Documents, II 130.

Only two civilians and one canonist are however permitted to hold fellowships at the same time. The clauses relating to the studies to be pursued after the year of lectureship are apparently intended to discourage both these branches of the law; possibly as an equipoise to bishop Bateman's enactments.

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