semi-ecclesiastical position, and became again more nearly connected with the general life of the nation.. It is true that the individuals who were as it were the fixed kernel of these Corporations, were ecclesiastics; and in this sense the corporations themselves were looked on as at bottom spiritual: but this was interpreted according to the ideas of the times, and consequently was without a trace of ascetic renunciation of the world. About this kernel once more formed itself a fluctuating mass, in which the national blood began to circulate. Yet in comparison with that of the thirteenth century, this had a very aristocratic character.

§ 164. Efforts to assimilate the academic population to the morale of the Court.

Many efforts were made to bring this more abundant stuff into a state of religious, moral and scientific cultivation, corresponding to the prevailing views. The Vandalism of the first period of the Reformation had vanished. Every thing which could adorn life went on prosperously. Academic festivities of every kind, except those which might seem tainted with Popery, had been already restored in deference to the taste of the Queen and all enactments of the Edwardian visitation, not in harmony with these merrier feelings, were set aside. But as a whole, and as a

basis for the studies, degrees, lectures, &c., the Edwardian Statutes were confirmed; nor must they on any account be wholly confounded with the opinions and doings of those who had the execution of them. To confirm them was the easier, as no new Professorships or Lectureships were erected at the time; and, generally speaking, the intellectual culture of the Universities was but little enriched.*

165. Cambridge takes the lead of Oxford in all improvement.

Although it is not our present purpose to consider these regulations in detail; we must here remark on an essential difference in the tendency of the two Universities. Similar indications may be found, it is true, at earlier periods: but at this epoch in particular, Cambridge gained a very perceptible start of her elder sister; partly by her freer movements, partly by her stricter demands both in and out of the Colleges. The intel

lectual distance between the two became still more remarkable after the end of the seventeenth century: and up to the most modern times it has never been completely adjusted. The cause of this, of course is not to be looked for in her organization, but in her spirit and feeling; out of which indeed any differences in her organization * See Note (40) at the end.

must have sprung. Not only in the books and departments of instruction prescribed by her Statutes was there far greater variety than at Oxford; but candidates for her Degrees had to pass a real examination. Until then, disputations had served the purpose: but they had long sunk down into empty and even indecorous form. Oxford on the contrary kept up its old management for near a century afterwards. The improvement however of which I speak, was found only in the studies in Arts, or, in a smaller measure, in Theology. Moreover as Cambridge at that time received a far more decided impulse from the spirit of the age, regulations which had no affinity with it were there formally abolished much sooner and more decidedly than in Oxford. Thus in Cambridge at that time every trace disappeared of the higher Faculties, as corporations. Indeed they had always been in a very tottering state; although they certainly still live on as scholastic studies, at least in name.

* Whether originally real Statutes. This may be inferred, examinations were held, and since in the former they are not whether or when they were named at all, and in the latter changed into these disputations, are alluded to as customary I shall discuss hereafter. So (consueta). This system was much is certain: that in the four- afterwards complicated to a teenth and fifteenth centuries much greater degree by resoluand down to the middle of the tions of the Senate. In 1637, sixteenth, there were no such it was brought forward at Oxexaminations either at Oxford ford as something quite new; or Cambridge; and that they and consequently, if it existed were introduced into Cambridge there before, it must at all events between the periods of the Ed- have fallen into disuse for cenwardian and the Elizabethan turies past.

§ 166. Moral and religious agencies.

Let us now give a glance at the moral and religious life of the Universities. Nothing essentially new in the laws and regulations was intended upon this point. What was actually done, bore entirely upon the Public Divine Service and on the efforts at proselytism on the part of the Catholics. The old weapons of Police and Law were strengthened and sharpened; new ones also were invented: but, in form at least, the higher and nobler way was by no means neglected,- the constant preaching of the purer doctrine. The old institution of [Latin] University-sermons, (conciones ad clerum,) which had long fallen into disuse, was revived and recognized; and was now connected with Catechising and Sermons in the mother tongue. There was no want of special endowments for this purpose; and all the spare capabilities of the University were besides called into use.* In the same spirit was founded at both Universities, in 1586, by Walsingham, Secretary of State, a Professorship for Theological Polemics; that is to say, to expound

* Oxford ordinances to this effect may be found in Wood; of the year 1564, for instance: and Cambridge ordinances of the date of 1578, in Dyer (Dyer's Privil: i. 223). In what follows, I shall not always think it needful to note down any

authorities. The Universitysermons were originally a prerequisite for academic honors, especially in the Theological Faculty. Much also was done towards this object by the TownCorporations, in the way of endowments, &c., &c.

sectarian differences. At the same time, in order to protect the ruling Church from any dangerous arguments on the part of her opponents, every public demonstration which was in any way opposed to her doctrines, was forbidden under the severest penalties.

167. The general Discipline: College-regulations.

In providing for the Discipline of the Universities, some organic changes were unavoidable. Yet to innovate deeply was far less needed, than to sift, arrange, and enforce what was acknowledged; or to carry out and establish what had grown up. Of course any plants of Popish growth, not already extirpated, were unceremoniously destroyed.

With regard to the Colleges, chiefly, fixed regulations were needed. In them, or in the Halls, which were dependent upon them and subject to a like discipline, the entire Universitypopulation was now completely congregated.* After the favorable change in the value of their landed possessions, and by benefactions from individuals, these institutions were provided, if not with luxuries, yet with the means of satisfying the religious, moral, scientific and bodily wants of

* There existed in Oxford in 1612, besides the fifteen Colleges, eight Halls. In Cambridge however, as it would

appear, even at the end of the sixteenth century there were no longer any Halls in the ancient sense of the word.