first charter, with the statutes prescribed in it, continued in force until 1270, when it was confirmed by a second, in which great additions were made to the endowment by estates in Oxford, Oxfordshire, and other counties; the Scholars were increased, and the term fratres became used as a farther step towards the present form. A third charter was granted in 1274*. All these which respect the creation in 1264, the enlargement in 1270, and the completion in 1274, and refer to and confirm one another, are now preserved in the library, and were consulted as precedents in the foundation of Peter-house, the earliest College of the sister University, and probably of others in both Universities. The first officers of Merton were appointed in 1276. It yet remains to be noticed, that Walter de Merton's preference of Oxford is thought to have been owing to his better acquaintance with the place ; there being a tradition, that he studied some time among the Canons regular of Oseney, or in Mauger Hall, in St. Martin's parish, Oxford.

The other benefactors to this College were, Ela Longspee, Countess of Warwick, about the year 1295, whose monument was discovered in Rewly abbey in 1705, and placed by Hearne in the Bodleian: John Willyott, Chancellor of Exeter, in 1880, who provided by certain lands and tenements for a number of ex

The allowance to Scholars, according to the statutes, was fifty shillings per annum for all necessaries. When Archbishop Peckham had, at their importunity, made a small addition for wood, he was obliged to revoke the grant, as not having well considered the Founder's statutes. Transcript of Archbishop Peckham's Register by Twyne, in the Schools' tower, quoted by Smith, in Hist. of University College, p. 25. In the year 1535, when the University was visited by Henry VIII. the average allowance was only 41. 6s. 8d.

hibitioners, afterwards called Portionista, or Postmasters. On the building of the chapel, these Postmasters officiated as choristers, and had a salary of six shillings and four-pence per annum for this service; but there was at that time no regular choir. These exhibitioners resided in a hall opposite to the College, which had been given to it by Peter de Abingdon, or Habendon, the first Warden; and here they remained until the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, when they were taken into College. This hall, or a part of it, became afterwards the property of Anthony Wood's father, and the birth-place of that indefatigable antiquary, Dec. 17, 1632: and here in 1642 John Lord Colepepper, Master of the Rolls, and others of his Majesty's (Charles the First) privy council, took up their residence, during the short period. that Oxford was enabled to maintain its loyalty.

The provision for the Postmasters was augmented by Dr. Thomas Jessop, physician in 1595, and by John Chamber, Fellow of Eton, and Canon of Windsor, in the beginning of King James the First's reign, who increased their number from twelve to fourteen. Dr. Higgins, Sir John Sedley, Bart. Edward Worth, M. D. the Rev. George Vernon, Rector and Patron of Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire, are also among the more recent contributors to the maintenance of these exhibitioners,

William Rede, Bishop of Chichester, and Sir Thomas Bodley, left a fund to be occasionally borrowed by the Fellows, on proper security; and the former built a library, which he furnished with books. James Leche, a Fellow, and Griffin Higgs, Dean of Litchfield, were also contributors in books; and the former, in 1589,

purchased land in Cheshire, to enable the natives of that county to become eligible into the College. Besides Henry Sever and Richard Fitz-James, who were very extensive benefactors, the name of the Rev. Henry Jackson, Minor Canon of St. Paul's, deserves honourable notice. On his foundation four Scholars were added, who are to be natives of Oxford. He died in 1727; but, for whatever reason, his benefaction did not pass into effect until the year 1753.

Among the livings, now the property of this College, by the liberality of its Founder and Benefactors, are the Rectories of Cuxham, Oxfordshire; Farley, Surry; Ipstone, Bucks; Kibworth-Beauchamp, Leicestershire; and Lapworth, Warwickshire: and the Vicarages of Diddington, Huntingdonshire; Elham, Kent; Embleton, Northumberland; Kibworth-Harcourt, Leicestershire; Maldon, Surry; St. Peter in the East, Holiwell, and Wolvercot, Oxford; Ponteland, Northumberland; Stratton St. Margaret, Wilts; and Great Wolford, Warwick. Of these the College has been in the possession of Elham, Farley, Wolford, and Lapworth, from its foundation.

The number of Students in Merton College appears to have been regulated by the variations which occurred in its revenues. At present it consists of a chief by the title of Warden, twenty-four Fellows, two Chaplains, fourteen Postmasters, four Scholars, and two Clerks. In 1592, the rents were estimated at 4001. and in 1612, the Society consisted of ninety-three persons. In the election of a Warden, the Fellows choose three of their number, whom they present to the Visitor, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who appoints one of them.

THE BUILDINGS

of Merton College, which is situated to the east of Corpus Christi, consist of three courts. The outer court to the street was rebuilt in 1589, except the tower and gate, which were constructed in the early part of the fifteenth century by Thomas Rodburne, Warden in 1416, and Bishop of St. David's, one of the ablest mathematicians of his age. This gate was ornamented with the history of St. John the Baptist, and with statues of King Henry III. and the Founder, under rich Gothic canopies; but these were much defaced during the Usurpation. In 1682, Wood informs us, these ancient monuments of art were "repaired and new oyled over in white colours." Some portion of the Warden's lodgings is supposed to be coeval with the foundation of the College; but about the year 1693, in Dr. Lydall's Wardenship, the antique windows were modernized. Some alterations in the same taste had been introduced in 1674, in the Wardenship of Sir Thomas Clayton: of these Wood has given a minute and very angry account*; and it is not improbable that these lodgings had previously suffered considerably in 1647, when the Visitors appointed by the Republican Parliament their residence in them, and here principally

took

a

up

In his Life, edit, 1772. Perhaps the following will be a sufficient specimen. "The Warden, by the motion of his lady, did put the College "to unnecessary charges, and very frivolous expences; among which "were a very large looking-glass, for her to see her ugly face, and body "to the middle, and perhaps lower, which was bought in Hilary terme, "1674, and cost, as the Bursar told me, above 101. A bedsteed and "bedding worth 401, must also be bought, because the former bedstede "and bedding was too short for him, (he being a tall man ;) so perhaps "when a short Warden comés, a short bed must be bought,” &c. p. 173.

carried on their proceedings, ejecting all members of the University who would not submit to their authority. The building over the kitchen, with its Gothic windows, and the gallery over the Warden's apartments, are evidently coeval with the foundation; but it is not so clear to what purposes they were applied. The former was most probably the Founder's private chapel, as it still retains the chapel proportions.

The most ancient part of the College was built by Sever and Fitz-James, two of the Wardens, and men of such liberality and skill, as to divide the honours of foundership with Walter de Merton.

The outer court opens by a noble arch into the larger, inner, or garden court, which is one hundred and ten feet long, and one hundred in breadth, and was completed at the expence of the College in 1610. As a taste for mixed architecture was at this time prevalent, we are not surprised to find the south gate of this quadrangle surmounted by a specimen of the Corinthian, Doric, Ionic, and Tuscan orders. The terrace formed on the city-wall in the garden admits the spectator to the view of very rich scenery along the meadows, &c.

The third or small court brings us again back to ancient times. It was probably built about the same time with the LIBRARY, which forms nearly the south and west sides of it. This Library was founded in 1376, by William Rede, Bishop of Chichester, an architect of great skill. It was built from a plan furnished by him, and is lighted by two series of windows, the upper of the bay-kind, projecting from the outer roof in three compartments: the lower series are oblong and very narrow, and in both are