books had been received, called after the names of the donors, Angerville and Cobham. Arrangements for a library room and for a Chaplain-Librarian were made by the same bequests. But after the University had suffered much from actions at law, entailed by this affair, and from other untoward events, the remnant of the library was added to the collection presented by "the good duke Humphrey," about the middle of the fifteenth century. This old library however, was destroyed or dispersed by the Reformation, though it contained five hundred volumes, and, relatively to the wants of the time, was of considerable value and price. The history of the Cambridge libraries is perfectly similar. § 89 University Public Buildings. With academic buildings for public purposes the scholars were miserably provided until the end of the fifteenth century. St. Mary's Church and its dependencies was made to suffice. There the Congregations and Convocations, there the Assemblies and Councils, the public Scholastic Exercises, (which included Sermons,) were held: there too the archives, the books, the monies of the University were preserved. Only the most important documents, for greater security, were kept in some friendly neighbouring monastery.* * Wood (1248) and (1308). We may form some conception of the shifts which were previously employed, when we hear that even in the fifteenth century, the Masters would assemble their classes in the porches of houses. The Conventual Schools alone had some good Lecture-Rooms. The University did not interfere between Master and scholars, as to the place of teaching; being satisfied to defend them in questions of rent and taxation. By the Theological Faculty as early as in the thirteenth century an arrangement was made with the Augustinian monks, for the use of their Room: and in the fifteenth the Abbey of Osney erected ten large rooms for Schools in Arts, and let them out to the University. The predominance of the ecclesiastical element was testified remarkably, by the erection of a Theological School nearly at the same time, for which the University begged assistance in all quarters. It occupied many years in building, and was opened in 1480; and to this day stands as a splendid memorial of the architecture in the reign of Edward IV. This was the only University building of importance erected before the Reformation, and the expences (as we have seen) were not defrayed from the ordinary sources of emolument. * In general many of these remained empty; either because the rent could not be afforded, or because the demand was so easily satisfied at that time, from the thin attendance of scholars. The rent of each school was thirteen shillings and fourpence. -Wood, ii. 22. § 90. Drawbacks on their Financial Prosperity. It would appear that legal proceedings, and negociations at the King's Court or at Rome generally absorbed a main part of the yearly revenues. The communication of the University with Rome had become much more frequent and direct, (as we have already noticed :) and the great expence of this was a drawback on the advantage gained by emancipation from inferior ecclesiastical authorities. At the same time, other causes prohibited the finances from flourishing. The habits of the age were not yet such as to allow of an orderly and simple management of accounts naturally complicated. They had too many financial officers, and these were too often changed. Every legacy had its separate chest+ and separate trustees: so that costs were much increased and other mismanagement inevitable. Measures of precaution and reciprocal control made the complexity worse; to say nothing of the contests, both between individuals and Orders, for the management of funds. Under such circumstances, what is natural to mortal man, we must infer, happened here also; and without alleging malversation, or pretending to documentary evidence, one may believe that party spirit and * See Note (34) at the end: also Note (35). + Fuller on the Cambr. Visitation of 1401.-See also Wood (1293, 1317, 1336). |