MAGDALENE COLLEGE.

FOUNDED 1519 A.D.

In the first year of the reign of King Henry VIII. the houses in St Giles's parish known by the name of "the Monks' Hostel,” were purchased by Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, who built part of the existing College, intending to endow it, and give it the appellation of Buckingham College. This design was however never completed, the Duke fell a sacrifice to the enmity of Cardinal Wolsey. In 1521, the Cardinal, aided by a treacherous domestic, brought a charge of high treason against the Duke, and he was beheaded on Tower Hill, on the 17th of May in that year. His possessions were confiscated, and the College thus reverted to the Crown, in which it remained during twenty years. Thomas, Baron Audley of Walden, and Lord High Chancellor of England, obtained a grant of Buckingham College in the 33rd year of Henry VIII. Lord Audley pursued the design which had originated with the Duke of Buckingham, and obtained in the same year a charter of incorporation, and gave to his foundation the name of the College of St Mary Magdalene. The foundation was not finished during the life of Lord Audley. The Statutes were given by his widow and executors at the beginning of the reign of Queen Mary; and it is a somewhat singular exception *, considering the time at which they were compiled, that the Statutes of Magdalene College distinctly state that the Master of the College may be married.

The foundation estate of Lord Audley consists of the impropriate parsonage of St Catherine Cree Church in London, and also a considerable part of the city, anciently called Covent Garden Christ Church. In 1574 the College was induced to alienate, contrary to the Statutes, the latter portion of this property to one Benedict Spinola, an Italian merchant then living in London. In the mastership of Dr Goch, the College in vain

* The statutes were compiled A.D. 1553-4, and this permission is contained in that portion of the printed Statutes which is included in brackets-an addition which was most probably made about 1564, during the mastership of Dr Kelke.

attempted to recover it, as also in the reign of Charles II.; and the whole amount of income which the College now derives from the foundation estates, is the value of St Catherine Cree Church, £150, and the annual payment of £15 from the Covent Garden Estate.

1543. Hugh Dennis, Esq., gave a yearly allowance to the Priory of Sheene, where he was to be buried, for the finding of two priests to pray for ever for his soul: the said priory being legally dissolved, the heir of Hugh Dennis procured an act of Parliament that himself should enjoy all the lands, and that, in lieu of finding two priests, there should be £20 per annum given to Magdalene College out of the Manor of Purleigh, to pay 20 nobles a piece yearly to two Fellows, to be nominated by the King and his successors.

These two bye-fellowships were founded prior to the giving of the statutes to the College, by the widow and executors of the founder, Lord Audley.

During the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I. they were disposed of commonly by mandate; but the College has exercised the right of appointment in modern times. The payment from the Manor of Purleigh is still made, and the fellows receive £6. 13s. 4d. per annum, to which some addition has been generally made from time to time from what is called the Dongworth Augmentation. These fellowships are now worth about £21. 11s. 9d. each per annum.

1543. John Hughes, chancellor of Bangor, gave to the College lands and tenements in Wales, for a scholar, to be called "Mr Hughes' Scholar," who should receive four marks a year by quarterly payments. The scholar was to be nominated by Mr Hughes during his life, and afterwards by the master and fellows, out of Mr Hughes' kindred, if any such there be, or in defect thereof, any one born in the isle of Anglesey, or in default of such, any one born in Caernarvonshire ; or next, Denbighshire, or next, any part of Wales, or lastly, any part of the king's dominions. The master and fellows are to elect a scholar within a quarter of a year after a vacancy, or forfeit 20s. to the dean and chapter of Bangor, toties quoties for every such omission.

1546. The annual revenue of the College, as reported by the Commissioners in the 37th year of the reign of King Henry VIII. was £43. 18s.

1587. Sir Christopher Wray founded by indenture two Fellowships and seven Scholarships. The fellows are required to study divinity within three years after they commence Masters of Arts, or to lose their fellowships. They were to receive £6. 13s. 4d. each, payable out of the parsonage of Garnthorpe, which Sir C. Wray gave to the College, for that and other purposes and to have the use of certain chambers in the College which were built by Sir C. Wray. The fellows on this foundation have ever been looked upon by the College as deserving greater privileges, in gratitude to Sir C. Wray for his great liberality towards it; and under this feeling Dr Peckard admitted them to an equal share with the foundation, in the property bequeathed by him, and a portion of the Dongworth augmentation has frequently been enjoyed by them, so that with a right to rooms rent free, they have received in money from £56. 13s. 4d. to £71. 11s. 7d. a year, with an allowance of 18. per day for commons, during residence.

Of the seven scholarships,-four were to be called "Sir Christopher Wray's Scholarships," and the scholars to receive £3. 68. 8d. per annum: two, to be called "the Scholars of Sir Thomas Parkinson," who should receive £3. 6s. 8d. each per annum.

The Dean and Chapter of Lincoln, with the concurrence of the heirs of Sir C. Wray, are empowered to nominate to the six scholarships out of Kyrton School in Lincolnshire, or next, from Lincoln School. If the dean and chapter neglect to nominate after due notice given by the College, then in three months the master and fellows may choose any poor scholars out of the College, or in defect thereof, out of St Peter's.

He also founded a Scholarship for one scholar, to be called 'the Scholar of Edmund Gryndal, late Archbishop of Canterbury," and to receive £4 per annum.

1591. Mr Roberts gave an annuity of £10 for the maintenance of three Scholars, to have £3. 6s. 8d. each; to be chosen

from the town of Beccles in Suffolk, or else out of the Hundred of Wangford in Suffolk, or, in defect, whence the master and fellows think proper.

1591. Lady Anne Wray, wife of Sir Christopher Wray, gave to the College lands lying in Saltfleet haven, to allow two Scholars of her foundation 20 nobles between them.

1592. Sir C. Wray, by Will founded a third Fellowship, allowing a pension of £6. 138. 4d. for ever out of his estate at Newbell. Of late times, this fellowship has been called “the Lady Anne Wray's fellowship."

1594. Mr Spendluffe founded a fellowship, now called "the Spendluffe Fellowship," but which was at first called the "Alford Quinquennial Fellowship." By the express provision of the founder, this fellow is to be constantly chosen out of the Scholars sent from the grammar-school at Alford, and to hold his fellowship for five years with a stipend of £8 per annum. The estate out of which this fixed payment was to be made, is likewise bound to pay £20 a year to the preacher at Alford. The estate is now worth more than £400 per annum.

Mr Spendluffe also founded two Scholarships, tenable for five years, of £4 each per annum, to be paid out of the same estate as the fellowship. The scholars are to be recommended to the College from Alford School by the schoolmaster and the governors of Alford, and if none be recommended, the College is to choose others, the poorest they have in College.

1625. Frances, Countess of Warwick, daughter of Sir Christopher Wray, founded one Bye-fellowship, now called "the Lady Warwick's Fellowship," and two Scholarships. She gave the Manor-House of Aukborough and certain lands, for the increase of the College rents and revenues, and likewise for the payment of £5 per annum to her fellow, and £6 to each of her scholars. The fellowship is now worth £50 a year, and the scholarships have been increased to £25 each.

The scholars are to be nominated by the Countess and her heirs for ever, out of the school of Market Rasen, or in default thereof, out of any other school in Lincolnshire.

1634. In the time of Dr Fuller, the College consisted of a master, eleven fellows, twenty-two scholars, with other stu

dents, besides officers and servants of the foundation, being in all one hundred and forty.

1638. John Smith, fellow and president of the College, by Will founded two Fellowships, and six Scholarships. He directed that the fellows should become "lawful ministers" within three years from their admission, or lose their fellowships, and should proceed to the degree of B.D. at the regular time allowed by the University.

Mr Smith left to the College a small farm at Long Stanton and three public-houses in Cambridge,and directed that each fellow should receive £22. 10s. per annum, and each scholar £4.

The scholars are to be elected by the master and fellows, and the master is to have only one vote in the election, except a casting vote upon an equality; and that students from the free school of Winchester should be preferred, cæteris paribus. The College now pays to each of the fellows a stipend of £40 per annum.

1639. Barnaby Goch, D.D., Master of the College, founded two Fellowships. He left by will £12 a year for each, but the annuity failed, after having been paid for one year; and the fellows of his foundation have been from that time only titular or nominal fellows, although they have been admitted to certain small advantages and privileges by the College from time to time, and promoted to other foundations.

1656. Mr William Holmes, upholsterer in Exeter, gave to the burgesses of Wisbech £400, to be laid out in lands for the yearly maintenance of two poor Scholars, to be chosen from Wisbech School by the capital burgesses, and to be allowed £10 per annum each for their support in Magdalene College. For many years only one scholar has been sent from Wisbech School, and the payment at present made to the only scholar in residence, is more than £100 per annum.

1679. James Duport, D.D., left to the College a small estate at Quy in Cambridgeshire, to found four Scholarships, each of £4 per annum, and for payment of £10 annually to the grammar-school of Peterborough.

1698. Rev. Drue Drury, M.A., of Ridlesworth Hall in Norfolk, gave by will the impropriate parsonage of Steeple