that from early times there was a predisposition to mathematical studies in the academical population of Cambridge; and that this had a direct connexion with the flourishing state of these sciences there in the reign of Elizabeth, and still more decisively in later times. What is the antiquity of the Barnaby Lectures, (so called, because the election falls upon St. Barnabas's day,) cannot be exactly determined. If, on the authority of the Cambridge University Calendar, we were to assign a much earlier origin to them, it would seem to prove decisively such a predisposition to Mathematics. Even if the lecturing was in early times, as now, a sinecure, yet the annual election would prove a stimulus to mathematical study; since some ostensible qualification must have been necessary. But, I must add, I hope that no one will charge me with regarding the Barnaby Lectures as the well-spring of that flood, which Newton poured down upon Cambridge.

What the Lord Chief Justice Reade intended by his lectures in Philosophy and Logic, I cannot pretend to decide: but considering the spirit of those times, we can hardly suppose it was the old speculative philosophy. When now we see Cambridge a little later flourishing as the principal organ of that which the English up to this very day call Philosophy, we cannot refuse to acknowledge a certain relation between this fact and the above-mentioned institutions; or at least with the spirit which determined them.

The academic Professorships instituted about this time at Oxford and Cambridge, together with those founded by the Countess Margaret of Richmond,* became the main organ of instruction in the new Universities, in contradistinction to the voluntary system of the teachers in the ancient Universities, who had to rely upon their own exertions for their maintenance. Yet the new Professorial system was itself in contrast with that now established in the Colleges. Indeed the College Tuition had already reached its zenith, whilst the University Lecturing was just in its infancy. Now as the whole subsequent period was very unfavorable to all extra-collegiate study, we cannot be surprised that the Colleges never permitted the University Professors to assume their right place, and occasioned the Professorial endowments by degrees to sink into mere sinecures. That their possessors belonged almost exclusively to the Colleges, was connected with this whole course of things, alternately as cause and effect.

*To the same Benefactress the University is indebted also for the first examples of endowed academic sermons; for she founded in 1568 a benefice of ten pounds a year, the holder of which was to preach certain [Latin] sermons, called

con

ciones ad clerum. We must not forget also the Professorships of Medicine founded by Lynacre in 1524-two in Oxford, and

one in Cambridge; although they also after much disagreeable opposition at last continued to exist only as mere sinecures. The Oxford ones were given as lectureships to Martin College (v. Wood ii. 58). Of the Cambridge one we find no further mention. The Royal foundation-privilege may be found in Rymer.

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136. Causes of the failure of the Visitation to do good.

Why the exertions of the Visitation in 1535, and the consequent increase of the material means of instruction at the Universities, bore no very profitable or gratifying fruit either within or without the Colleges; may be easily explained by many reasons. As the Schism worked on and on, it of necessity exercised great influence upon the resources and position of the Universities. Not only were their revenues plundered or clipped, but the caprice of the supreme power left it for a time in doubt, whether they should exist at all, as far as their estates and property were concerned. The abolition of the Monasteries and the transfer of an immense mass of ecclesiastical property to the Crown, to private persons or secular Corporations, must have acted directly upon the Universities, first, to diminish their numbers to a minimum ; next, to give over to the greatest misery many of those who remained. The numerous Academic schools of monks, naturally shared the fate of the Monasteries, to which they had belonged. Scholars and teachers were alike driven out and left to their fate. Those who had been supported at the Universities, entirely or in greater part, by benefactions from Ecclesiastical Corporations or individuals, were deprived of them. The greater part of these

poor creatures left the Universities and sought in other ways either by labor, or as vagabonds, to win a livelihood. Others wandered about the Universities in extreme distress, living on casual alms, and lodging in the half ruined chambers of the Monastic buildings or in the long-deserted Academic Halls.* Large claims must of course at this time have been made on the benevolence of the Colleges. Their means, however, were already much lessened by the lessening numbers of the boarders who contributed to their revenues. They very soon, too, saw themselves threatened with the same misery as they were called upon to alleviate. Their existence, as well as that of the Universities themselves, was threatened on many sides, and constantly placed in doubt. It was, in fact, long undecided whether these semimonastic institutions were to have the fate of the Monasteries or not. Great terror was occasioned especially by a measure, perhaps laudable in itself, which took place in 1537; when a Royal Commission drew up an inventory of the possessions of the Universities and their Colleges. The hands of the Courtiers had long ached for this booty: and no

* Evidence of this may be found in Wood in plenty. Whether Learning (in a more elevated sense) really lost much by being deprived of these her servants, is another question—one, certainly, which is generally answered far too lightly by visiting every thing ever so remotely

connected with the Monastic institutions with one unconditional condemnation. People forget, however, that at all events (as we have seen) in England many of the Monasteries took a very lively part in the new Classics.

means were left untried to drown the voices of those who appealed to the magnanimity of the King (as there was no longer any thought of right) entreating that in favor of nobler interests he would preserve these organs of science.

137. The crisis of danger passes, and Henry founds Christ-Church (College) with Wolsey's endowments.

The danger appeared at its acme in the month of May 1545, when the College founded by Wolsey, adopted afterwards by the King, and named after himself, was all on a sudden suspended, its members dismissed with a very moderate stipend, and some of its possessions immediately applied to reward the services which under such a Prince and in such times, were likely to be considered the most meritorious.* The hungry pack of courtiers and flatterers, of high or low degree, seemed to have heard the signal, to fall upon and devour the tempting and bleeding quarry. But unexpectedly, the nobler, not completely corrupted, nature of the Huntsman prevailed over his baser part. The

* I refer any of my readers, who may consider the expression "pack of hounds" too strong for these courtiers, to the account given by the excellent Bishop Parker of his audience with the King for the purpose of soliciting the confirmation of the Privileges of the University.

He says, “We answered, &c. . . whereupon the King sayd to the Lordes, that 'pety it wer these londes schuld be altered to make them worse,' at which wordes some wer grieved, for that they disapoynted certain open mouthed wolves, lupos quosdam hiantes," &c. (Lamb. p. 60.)