free themselves from the Archbishop of Canterbury, from the Convocation and even from the Papal Legates; and to place themselves in direct contact with the Pope himself. Nor was the endeavour unreasonable, when so many and diverse ecclesiastical corporations took part in the academic studies especially the Dominicans, Franciscans and Augustinians. The contests of the Universities with their Ordinaries, and their Archdeacons; with the Archbishops and with the Monastic orders, occupy no small place in their history at this period: but I must reserve an account of these matters for another place. On the whole however, the struggle wrought out a result altogether satisfactory to the Universities.

§ 86. State of the University Finances.

At this period the Universities were undoubtedly poor. As early as the end of the thirteenth century they attained some small property in land and houses, beside money, books and other valuables; chiefly by presents and legacies. This source of income kept increasing after the middle of the fourteenth century: but on the other hand, those revenues kept decreasing, which were drawn from students and from all other matriculated persons, as well as from those who in any way came into the Chancellor's Court.* It is impossible to give

* See Note (33) at the end.

details which would establish any satisfactory computation nor is it easy to explain the items of extant documents on this subject. But it is certain that the Universities were supposed by their contemporaries to be poor in the fifteenth century, and, could we believe their own lamentations, it was a poverty truly pitiable. Testimony, however of greater weight is here accessible to us, that of kings and bishops.*

Indeed as late as the year 1430, the University begged of the Convocation some aid, "were it ever so small," towards the expences of its Orators who went to the Council of Basel.

§ 87. On the Endowment of Professorships.

In such a state of things, even the matters of nearest interest,—the endowment of Professorships and the erecting of academic buildings, was but negligently carried on. The former object had become peculiarly needful, since it was now hard for teachers to gain a decent and independent living, under so great a decrease of students. Indeed it

cannot be proved that there was ever an actually endowed Professorship, until about 1430; although a century and a half earlier, occasional bountiest were offered, to fix teachers in the University. In the year 1311, Clement VII. called upon Oxford * See Note (34) at the end. + Wood (1275).

and other celebrated seats of learning, to establish Professors' Chairs for* the Oriental Languages; but without effect. That indefatigable benefactor of the University, Humphrey duke of Gloucester, founded a Chair for Arts and Philosophy; but from some insolidity in the arrangements, it soon disappeared. At the end of the fifteenth century the countess Margaret of Richmond established at both Universities the well known Margaret-Professorships; to which succeeded the grander institutions of Henry VIII. But even these have never attained the same importance as the Professorships of foreign Universities. It would seem, the English system had already assumed a form, which condemned the University-Professor to be but a very subordinate character, as will be afterwards more fully explained. It moreover is to be noticed that the Professorships were set on foot, not by the University, but by its friends from without.

§ 88. University Libraries.

As regards the materials of erudition, we must not look for museums or antiquarian collections in those days: but books came naturally within their reach. The first attempt to found a University Library, was in the middle of the fourteenth century. Two considerable legacies of

* Wood (1320).

LADY MARGARET.

Countess of Richmond and Derby.

Mother of King Henry VII.

DIED A.D. 1508.