A

SUCCINCT AND IMPARTIAL ACCOUNT

OF

ST JOHN'S HOUSE AND ST JOHN'S COLLEGE,

WITH

SOME OCCASIONAL AND INCIDENTAL ACCOUNT

OF THE AFFAIRS OF THE UNIVERSITY,

AND OF SUCH PRIVATE COLLEGES AS HELD
COMMUNICATION OR INTERCOURSE

WITH THE OLD HOUSE OR COLLEGE.

COLLECTED PRINCIPALLY

FROM RECORDS AND]1
LETTERS].

BY A MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE.

AN. 1707.

A piece cut off.

5

FUNDATRICI VOTA.

Accipe, fundatrix, grati pia vota nepotis;
Equa tuis meritis sors inimica negat.
O si, quas cupio, vires mihi fata dedissent!
Clarior elogiis fœmina nulla foret.

At tua progenies vivet, nascentur alumni,
Hi tibi plaudentes carmina digna ferent.

April 9, 1511, anno seculari.

10

15

20

Accept this offering from the unenvied store
Of him that wants the power, but wishes more.
Had I improved the hours that thou dost give,
Vain were faint colours, thou in verse shouldst live.
Had thy large bounty been deserv'dly mine,
Thy name should flourish bright in every line.
Ah! how thy seed lies waste in barren soil
That wants true vigour, though it wants not oil.
Ah! how unequal are my best returns,
And yet my breast with zeal and flaming burns.
For if my heart is known, a grateful mind
I bear, with strong desires and unconfined.
To thee I dare appeal, if thou dost know,
Or now concern'st thyself with things below.

1-2

Oft had I sent my fervent vows to heaven,
Were this the time, or aught were now forgiven.
Oft had I pray'd for thee, as thou desires,
Could I believe thee hurt by purging fires.
Thy past desires they were, nor are they so,
'Twas thy mistaken wish, whilst here below.
Thy joys completed, useless prayers may cease,
And end in praise to Him that gives thee peace.

And yet thy bounty may I ever sing,

5

Or may the fountain stop, whence it should spring. 10

Januar. quarto, die fundatori meo sacro eique commemorando destinato.

IN A WINDOW OF THE DISSOLVED HOSPITAL OF ST
LEONARD, YORK, WAS THE FOLLOWING

INSCRIPTION.

Orate pro anima Magistri Hugonis de Asheton, quon- 15 dam Canonici residentiarii Eccl. Cathedralis Ebor. cujus devotione hec Fenestra vitriata fuit A. Dom. millesimo quingentesimo...

My God! and what am I? a thing of naught, Hid from myself, and yet composed of thought. How vain these thoughts, how oft without effect! And yet I please myself that I reflect. 5 Proud of a phantom, that can only shew, That I more surely think, than surely know. Ruffled with passions, with affections blind, Involved in clouds, nor rest, nor light I find, Till he that breathed the spark, does reinspire my mind. Thou that breath'st life into th' unthinking clod, Be Thou my Light, as Thou hast been my God. Thou took'st me from the womb, since me upheld, Be Thou my strength, as Thou hast been my shield. And surely so Thou art; from deaths, from tears, 15 Thou oft preserv'dst me, oft renew'dst my years, Dispelled my sorrows, banished all my fears. To dangers oft exposed, Thy help implored, By follies lost, as oft I've been restored.

10

When duty called me forth to risk my all,
20 Just was my lot, but easy was my fall.
The griefs and sufferings that mean souls annoy,
Thou mak'st them light to me, and turn'st to joy.
So light, that if in aught I bear Thy cross,
It grieves that naught I merit by the loss.

25

My sins more justly scourges might demand,
Should Justice strike, as Mercy holds Thy hand.
In that my refuge, there I place my rest,
Not hurt by frowns, in spite of fortune blest.

}