and this grant (as far as it concerns Cambridge) was confirmed by the three following kings. The succeeding bishops did not concern themselves much in the affairs of the house, till John Hothum, who was 5 an active prelate and concerned himself in everything that fell within the compass of his jurisdiction. Hugh Balsham had given them a rule, but the manner of electing and confirming their prior had not yet been sufficiently adjusted for though they had the power of electing pretty 10 early, by the bull of Innocent the Fourth, yet the bishops of Ely seem to have interposed, perhaps not without the consent of the brethren, who to shake off their former patrons were willing to give more than was his share to the bishop of the diocese. This bishop adjusted that mat15 ter by his statute or ordinance bearing date' an. 1332, whereby he leaves to the brethren the choice of a fit person, being one of their own body, or in default of such, one out of the hospital of St John's at Ely, the confirmation always to be in him and his successors. This must 20 have been agreeable enough, for there was an entire union and agreement betwixt these two hospitals, which shewed itself in a very solemn compact, wherein by indenture under the common seal of both houses they oblige themselves and their successors for ever, and as far as in them 25 lay, confirm this engagement with a corporal oath, that whenever any brother of either house should depart out of this life, every brother of the other house, then surviving, if a priest, should celebrate three masses, and every other member should repeat thirty paternosters, for the soul of 30 the party deceased, within twenty days after his decease. These amicabiles concordiæ, for maintaining friendship and good understanding betwixt houses of the same order or foundation, are not unusual amongst the religious, but I believe there are few instances of a concord entered into 35 and covenanted in so solemn and lasting a manner as this was: and therefore having a common interest, it could never be improper that they should have a common head. 1 Dat. apud Somersham Jan. 4. an. consecrat. 17. an. Dni. 1332. 2 Ex indentur. original. dat. an. 1343. inter archiva coll. Simon Montacute was yet deeper in their affairs, by perfecting the designs of Hugh Balsham both at Peterhouse and St John's. I have already intimated, that the regular brethren had the worse in the exchange, and had no equal compensation allowed for the loss of St 5 Peter's church near Trumpington gate, which was given from them to the college. This they afterward complained of, and great variance arising thereupon to the continual disquiet and equal prejudice of both those societies, both parties were at last prevailed with to submit themselves to 10 the award and arbitrement of this prelate their common patron. The original submission' of Roger de la Goter master, and fourteen fellows of St Peter's college who are all there named, is yet extant amongst our archives under 15 the common seal of that college, together with an ancient copy of the submission of Alexander de Ixnynge master and five brethren of that house of the same date: and both of them oblige themselves to abide by his determination under the penalty of suspension, excommunication, 20 and of fulminating an interdict, as is there said. Being thus armed as well by his own authority as with consent of parties, he proceeded to a hearing (the whole process whereof is entered upon that bishop's register?) and after very mature deliberation and weighing the reasons and 25 arguments of both sides he at last awarded and decreed", that the church should continue in the possession of the college, but with equitable consideration and as a compensation to the brethren he ordered, that the college should pay them annually for ever 20s. at two equal payments, at 30 the two terms or feasts of the purification of the blessed Virgin and St John the Baptist: and that if this payment should be a retro by the space of twenty days, they should nomine pœnæ pay 20s. more, and in case of failure (without some just impediment) after other twenty days 35 they were ipso facto to incur the sentence of excommunication, and the bishop of Ely is to pronounce and retain them bound under that sentence, till they have effectually 1 Dat. 10 Calend. Maii an. 1339. 2 Regr. Montacut. fol. 17, 18. 3 Jul. 10. an. 1340. 10 paid obedience to this decree, which both parties submit to and again ratify by their consent, under the like penalty of excommunication; and the brethren relax and quit their claim under the same penalty, that the college 5 is bound to make their payment. This I have the rather mentioned, because this payment is yet continued, (though it will never be exacted under such direful penalties) not for the site of their college, as has been imagined, but for the site and endowments of their church. I shall only observe further, that this Roger de la Goter de Sto. Botulpho is the first master of Peterhouse that has yet appeared: I shall add one more ancient to that catalogue, Robert de Mildenhall' sacræ paginæ professor, who as master of Peterhouse is constituted a penitentiary 15 by this bishop an. 1342; and to a master to add a founder, to the eternal honour of this bishop he presented Edmund de Gunvile to the church of Tyryngton in the diocese of Norwich an. 1342; to which church he again presented3 October 15 an. 1351, being then void by the death of 20 Edmund Gunvile, the worthy founder of Gunvile hall. He likewise gave a complete body of statutes to St Peter's college; and whereas before the disposal of fellowships there was solely in the bishops of Ely as founders, by these statutes he left them free and full power of elect25 ing fellows for which particular favour, as well as for privileges granted by him to the university, he was commemorated in the ancient formulary of commemorating and praying for our benefactors. One other thing, because it is remarkable, and so I 30 shall take leave of this excellent bishop. The King's hall at Cambridge was founded about this time by king Edward the Third3, an. reg. 11mo. Octob. 7, which being a royal foundation and likewise authorised by bulls of the pope, one would have thought nothing more should 35 have been necessary; and yet such then was the episcopal authority, that it was not thought safely or regularly founded, till they had the confirmation of the bishop of the 1 Regrum Montacut. fol. 95. 2 Regr. Montac. an. 1342. 4 Ex missa pro benefactoribus. 5 Ex charta originali inter arch. coll. Trin. Cant. diocese, which was granted by this bishop' an. 1343; and therefore Dr Caius must be widely mistaken, who places this foundation an. 1376. But this shews that the bishop's licence or confirmation was always requisite, and therefore Nigellus must needs have done thus much to- 5 wards the foundation of St John's house, which, having been a poor thing in its beginnings, might be the best ground (for aught I know) to entitle him to the foundation. The affairs of the house being now pretty well settled, there was less occasion for the bishops of Ely to interpose; 10 accordingly the registers of Ely are more silent in their affairs. In Lisle's time, the succeeding bishop, there was a plague at Cambridge an. 1349, so very mortal and raging, especially in St John's in Miln street, and All Saints' parishes, that the parishioners being swept away in heaps, 15 the oblations of the people were not sufficient to maintain and supply the vicars there with necessaries of life, as is there complained of. This mortality in the parish, it seems, reached the house, for in this year, within the compass of three months, I meet with three masters or 20 priors buried out of the house3, Alex. de Ixnynge, Rob. Sprouston, and Roger de Broom, and in the choice of the next prior Will. Beer, who continued not a year, there were only two brothers left to make the election; though to speak the truth, they were not very numerous when 25 they had their complement, nor have I ever observed above five or six brethren at the most when they were a full chapter. Not but their revenues were sufficient for a greater number, but a good part of these was to be allotted for the maintenance of sick and infirm people, who 30 were brought hither, and whom by their rule and order they were obliged to maintain. There having been frequent vacancies about this time, there are several presentations of masters upon the books, from whence will appear the qualifications requisite in a 35 master, which I shall put down, and the rather because the college statutes, especially the first, had some regard to the customs of the old house, where they were found to be good. 2 Regr. Elien. ad an. 1349. 1 Regr. Montacut. fol. 29. 3 Reg. Elien. ibid. The master then was to be' vir providus et honestus, religiosus et discretus, literarum scientia, vita et moribus commendandus, in ætate legitima et ordine sacerdotali constitutus-which are much the same that are required in 5 a master by the present statutes, as any one may see that will take the pains to compare them. This unfortunate prelate, though he might do nothing for the hospital, yet was a benefactor to St Peter's college, and therefore Mr Wharton is mistaken, who 10 corrects bishop Godwin for saying that he was. He was a benefactor, and a very considerable one, to which purpose the ancient formulary before cited is an undeniable evidence, where he stands commemorated next after Hugh Balsham, and before Simon Montacute, though he was 15 after the latter in order of time. In the year 1352, on the Saturday after the feast of All Saints, he dedicated the church extra Trumpington gates to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary; from which period of time, I suppose, St Peter's church, as well as 20 the college, did assume the new name and title of St Mary (which has continued to the church, though not to the college). For in the same register3, in March an. 1352, they are styled St Peter's church and St Peter's house, where the bishop grants licence to his scholars at St Peter's 25 house, that they might celebrate divine service upon a portable altar in the chancel of St Peter's church (which shews it was then their place of worship), but an. 1353 we meet with St Mary's house extra Trumpington gates, and an. 1355 with the hall Beatæ Mariæ de gratia. 30 To conclude his good works, he granted licence or confirmation of the foundation of three colleges in Cambridge, Pembroke, Gunvile hall, and Benet college. The first he confirmed Novembr. 23' an. 1349; the second January 1 an. 1351, under the title of the hall of the Annunciation 35 of the Blessed Virgin, at the desire of William bishop of Norwich. And he granted his licence or faculty to found 1 Regr. Elien. Arch. coll. Regr. Elien. an. 1352, 1353- 5 Ad fundand. et ordinand. domum prædictam concedimus facultatem. |