Fisher and Dr Metcalf, and then under the frowns of the court. This indeed was a false step and might have endangered the society, but it was very just upon those men who had brought it upon themselves and could not be 5 content under an equal government. Dr Wylson was so wise as not to provoke the court, and refused to accept, and so being at liberty they proceeded to a second choice, and Day was elected, when there was none to oppose him, by a majority of votes. For 10 though in their letter to Cromwell they tell him it was done by an unanimous consent, and the same is said in his presentation to the vice-chancellor, yet in the original' instrument of his admission by the vice-chancellor Dr Mallet master of Michael hall, it is only said that he was chose 15 (as they asserted) per majorem et saniorem partem omnium sociorum, undoubtedly meant as a twit to the dissenting party. However this did not satisfy the court, which had been affronted in the election by slurring the king's recom20 mendation; and therefore letters were dispatched to Fox bishop of Hereford (then provost of King's college) in a very melancholy strain, wherein they beg of him to have compassion on the college then in danger of ruin by the king's displeasure conceived against them, unless they 25 could be set right at court by his advice, interest and good offices, in mitigating and appeasing the indignation of the king. Cromwell was likewise addressed to in another letter, wherein they confess their own folly, but lay the blame upon the rude and more unskilful part of the fellows, 30 who being too full of the thoughts of a free election, did not consider and duly attend to the king's intention, and so blundered but this error had the wrong man; upon been corrected by the more skilful members of their society, and hope he will not impute the faults and folly of some 35 rash men to the whole body. And that nothing might be wanting to complete their application and address, Day man, and no less acceptable to the 1 Dat. July 27, 1537. Inter archiva. 2 Ex literis coll. himself was sent up to charm Cromwell and the court with his eloquence. The thing ended well, and it was happy for the society that the election went in this manner, for otherwise it might have given them an irrecoverable blow, and probably nothing less than bishop Fisher's large 5 endowments could have atoned for their rashness. Dr Day's prefecture here that cost him so much trouble was very short, having been removed within the year to King's college, upon the death of Fox bishop of Hereford their provost. They had no inclination to a stranger, and 10 petitioned' Cromwell to use his interest with the king for leave to choose one of their own body, but the king's answer being in favour of his chaplain Dr Deye, a man for his qualities apt and able for that function, and there being no other bar but their statutes, the king did dis- 15 pense therewith by virtue of his supreme authority, and by the same made him able to all intents and purposes; and being thus qualified, he was elected by the society with much readiness and by an unanimous consent. The king's letter to them is dated June 2nd 1538, and the college 20 answer signifying their choice, and that made libenter, libere, concorditer, uno omnium consensu et assensu, is dated the 6th of the same month, from which day, or rather from the date of his admission some days after, the mastership of St John's did again become vacant. 25 'Tis pity he did not continue longer; being fitted for government and very learned, the college might have flourished under him much more than it did under his successor, who had not the art of governing a college; especially divided, as the society then was. In his younger 30 years he had studied physic and was the first that held the Linacre lecture; he is complimented by Dr Caius* in an epistle dedicatory upon his skill in that faculty, as well as in oratory and other liberal arts: it was in these he 1 Ex regro coll. Regal. Cant. MS. D. C. * Ex regro coll. Regal. 3 An. 16, 17, etc. Hen. 81. Galeni Opuscula Latine versa, an. 1555. Quem Cantabrigiæ ex multis annis medicinæ studiosum fuisse, et medicinæ præceptis æque delectari novi atque oratoriæ artis (quam tum profitebaris) aut aliarum scientiarum liberalium, in quibus es egregius. excelled most, for it does not appear that he was any great divine, wherein he was exceeded by Redmain, Madew and others, that were fellows about the same time. He did not appear at court till after he was master; 5 upon his first appearance there he pleased, was presently advanced to be the king's chaplain' and almoner' to the queen; soon after to the see of Chichester, and was the first member of this society that wore a mitre, unless archbishop Holgate* be made an exception. 1Ο By a common mistake he has been generally supposed to have been fellow of King's college, which he never was; he was admitted fellow of St John's Septem. 19 an. 1522*, there is no mention there of his county, but when he was admitted master", he is said to be of the diocese of Lich15 field and Coventry; he was born in Shropshire, at or near Newport in that county. He did not live to be old, nor did he die so young as Dr Fuller has made him, as will partly appear from the date of his admission, and from the date of his degrees in the University, and from his own 20 depositions an. 1551', when he was aged forty-nine. Whilst bishop Fisher lived (whose capellanus he was in college, and before one of whose books he has two copies of verses that shew him to have been no ill poet), he had opposed the king's proceedings in the case of his 25 divorce. He repaired that fault by striking in warmly with his supremacy, but after the king's death he turned. against it, and died a zealous catholic in queen Mary's reign. In the university he was elected second orator" about 30 the year 1528, when he succeeded Richard Croke, and was a much greater man than he, though the other made the louder noise. In the year 1537 being chose master, he quitted that post to make way for Dr Redmain, then fellow 1 He was preferred by the king to the rectory of Allhallows the Great, London, Sept. 18 an. 1537. 2 And almoner to queen Mary. 3 An. 1543, when he had the king's dispensation to hold the provostship of King's college in commendam for six years. Rymer, Tom. XV. pag. 1. 4 MS. Tenison. 5 Ex archivis coll. 6 Ex instrumento originali. 7 V. Fox's Mart. edit. 1, p. 854. 8 Assert. Luther. confut. Antverp. an. 1523. 9 Ex libro oratoris publici. of the same college, and equally fit to be a master: the same year he and Redmain commenced D.D., and the following year he was elected vice-chancellor. In 15331 he supplied that place, with a non obstante to the statute, in making a speech or sermon at St Mary's on Corpus 5 Christi day, and the same year commencing B.D. he kept the public act. By his will dated July 28, 1556, he leaves the Complutensian bibles in several languages to the college, which, though not the same that are now in the library, yet were 10 undoubtedly received, for in an old register these bibles are put down as his gift to the library, together with a rich cope or vestment to the chapel. To King's college he leaves St Chrysostom and Clemens Alexandrinus in Greek, and to his successors in the see of Chichester his 15 crosier and mitre garnished and set with pearl, with some plate, vestments and moneys to that church. Most of the rest of his estate was disposed of to his relations and servants; only his sapphire ring, the gift of Henry the Eighth, he leaves to the archbishop of York, who had 20 been known to him at Cambridge, having been chaplain to the university' till the year 1531-2, when that office is disposed of to Mr Rydley of Pembroke, as void by the departure of Master Nicholas Hethe late fellow of Clare-hall. When the king had a design of founding some new collegiate churches, Dr Day was designed for the deanery of Dunstable. He died at London Aug. 2nd, and was buried at Chichester in his own cathedral, 1556. De Georgio Daio Epo Cicestr. Daius est musis commendatissimus ipsis, Attamen hic cupio veteris meminisse sodalis, Leland. Encomia. 25 30 35 1 Regr. acad. an. 1533. From Sir R. Raines, judge of the Prerog. 3 Inter archiva. 4 Ex regro acad. an. 1531-2. JOHN TAYLER FIFTH MASTER, ELECTED JULY 4TH AN. 1538. THE king seems to have removed Dr Day with some design to try the college obedience, for whereas they had petitioned him before to have a member of their own, and had signified the large choice they had amongst themselves, 5 and he had gratified them in their desires by recommending a deserving member of their own body, and yet they had been refractory; he now passed them all by, and picked out a man that had been of another house, now absent from the university. This was Dr John Tayler, sometime 10 fellow of Queens' college and proctor of the university, who, however deserving he might otherwise be or fitted for another station, yet being a stranger to the society, where there were so many other men of equal worth, it was a little hard upon them and some trial of their obedience to 15 bring him over them. However they were too much alarmed with the last election to venture to offend the king the second time, and therefore he was unanimously elected and a return made to court of their choice' on the fourth of July this year. 20 But forced elections are seldom happy, as appeared in this; for, bating the two first years which were pretty easy, when Mr Ascham2, having a pupil to prefer, compliments him upon the happiness of his government, in all the succeeding years he had continual uneasiness with his fellows. 25 The divisions and heats, that had been pretty well allayed, 1 An. 1538. Ex regro coll. 2 Lib. 2, epist. 12. |