Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

KING'S COLLEGE.

FOUNDED 1441, A.D.

"THE Kyng's College of owr Lady and Seynt Nicholas in Cambrige" was founded and munificently endowed by King Henry VI. in the twenty-first year of his reign, the charter of the College bearing that date. Two years before, in 1441, this prince had dedicated a College to St. Nicholas, for a rector and 12 scholars, which was merged in the new foundation.

He also founded and endowed "The Kyng's College of owr Ladye, of Eton besyde Windesore," and decreed that scholars for ever should be supplied from thence, to fill up the vacancies as they should occur in King's College in Cambridge.

The Statutes given by the king himself for the government of his College, declare that it is designed “ad laudem, gloriam, et honorem nominis Domini nostri Jesu Christi, ac gloriosissimæ semper virginis Mariæ Matris ejus, sustentationem et exaltationem Christianæ fidei, ecclesiæ sanctæ profectum, divini cultus liberaliumque artium, scientiarum, et facultatum augmentum." They also declare that there shall be a provost and seventy poor scholars* (pauperes scholares clerici). They also prescribe, "quod de scholaribus prædictis viri vivacis ingenii et in facultatibus artium Magistri duo in jure civili, et quatuor in jure canonico, duoque in scientia Medicine studeant continue: et similiter duo in scientia Astrorum, juxta limitationem Præpositi et Decani Theologiæ studere teneantur. Reli

* "Doubtless, Colleges were eleemosynary foundations, but their sole object was not like that of an almshouse, to relieve indigence. They were intended, no doubt, to maintain scholars who were poor; and in an age when learning was regarded as ignoble by the great, and when nearly all but the great were poor, persons willing to enter the University as students could hardly be found, except among the poor. If, in modern days those who impart or seek education in the Universities are not indigent, it must not be thought, therefore, that the poor have been robbed of their birthright. Rather the Universities, among other agencies, have so raised the condition of society, and mental cultivation is now so differently regarded, that persons intended for the learned professions are at present found only among the comparatively wealthy. Such persons, if elected for their merit to Fellowships and Scholarships, would most faithfully fulfil the main objects of founders, viz. the promotion of religion and learning."-Report of Oxford University Com-. mission, pp. 39-40.

quus vero numerus dictorum septuaginta Scholarium artes seu Philosophiam et Theologiam particulariter ac diligenter audiat et addiscat."

Every scholar is required on oath to declare" that he will not accept, nor consent to, nor obey, nor use any other Statutes &c. than those ordained for the College by King Henry VI." The founder also, with respect to the subject of religion, has thus expressed his will with respect to his scholars: "Item statuimus, ordinamus, et volumus quod quilibet scholaris in admissione sua in Collegium nostrum Regale prædictum, post annos probationis, juret quod non favebit opinionibus, damnatis erroribus, aut hæresibus Joannis Wycklyfe, Reginaldi Peacocke, neque alicujus alterius hæretici quamdiu vixerit in hoc mundo, sub pœna perjurii et expulsionis ipso facto."

Also in the conclusion of the Statutes, "The Royal Founder has expressly forbidden that after his death any of his heirs or successors on the throne of England, or the Bishop of Lincoln, or any archbishop or bishop, shall make any new Statutes for his College, or enact anything contrary to those he left, or under any pretext dispense with any of them; and he again strictly enjoins the members of his College not to accept or procure, or use any other Statutes than those which should be in force at his decease." In the oath of the scholars it is declared that the Statutes are to be interpreted “secundum planum, literalem, et grammaticalem intellectum ipsorum.”

It may be remarked that the Reformation, and the changes brought about by three centuries, render simply impossible such an obedience as the Statutes prescribe. In such cases, the spirit and general design of the founder only is possible to be carried out in practice, and what relaxations from the Statutes are to be allowed, must of necessity be determined by the Visitor of the College, subject however to the law of the land. The Statutes of King's College are virtually those of William of Wykeham, which he had framed for the rule and government of his foundation entitled New College, in Oxford, and presuppose a state of society in which the perpetuity of their observance is possible.

The civil wars of the Houses of York and Lancaster, and

the violent death of the founder himself, and the triumph of the House of York, left the College buildings unfinished. Edward IV. seriously impoverished the College. It is said that this prince applied many estates and rents, originally designed for King's College, to the University of Oxford. One of these in Cambridge, to which Pythagoras' School appertains (now converted into a barn), belongs to Merton College, Oxford. He even went so far as to dissolve the College. Henry VII., in whose reign the College petitioned Parliament on account of its straitened resources, contributed to the completion of the exterior of the chapel. The interior and the stained glass windows were completed by Henry VIII. under the direction of Bishop Foxe.

1546. The annual revenue of the College as reported by the Commissioners in the 37th year of King Henry VIII., was £1010. 12s. 11d.

1786. Dr James left two annual prizes, each of £5, for the best Latin declamations.

1797. Rev. William Cooke, D.D. formerly provost, left £6 yearly to such scholar or scholars, as shall be adjudged to have deserved well by application to their studies and general orderly behaviour.

1800. Robert Glynn, M.D., formerly fellow of King's College, bequeathed £20 yearly to be equally divided between two scholars, who have in the course of the preceding year been most distinguished for learning and regularity of conduct. Dr Glynn distinguished himself by a poem of considerable merit, "on the Day of Judgment," which obtained the Seatonian Prize in 1757.

1809. Jonathan Davies, D.D., Provost of Eton College, left an exhibition of £42 per annum, for a scholar of King's College, to be tenable for four years. The appointment is in the Provost of Eton.

1833. Sir G. Craufurd, Bart. M.A. formerly fellow, gave £500 to the College, the yearly interest of which is divided unequally into prizes among three scholars who are placed highest in the first class at the examination in Divinity, and who have deserved well in other respects.

1850. George Richards, Esq. M.A., late Fellow, bequeathed to the College the annual sum of £50, "of which sum thirty pounds shall be given annually in his third year to such scholar who shall have most distinguished himself in his own College and University in Divinity and the Classics, and twenty pounds also annually in his third year to such scholar who shall have excelled and passed the best examination in Mathematics, particular respect being had in both cases to moral and religious conduct."

1854. The Society consists of the Provost and seventy Fellows and Scholars; beside a chaplain, clerks, choristers, &c.

When a scholar has completed his three years of probation at the College, he is either elected a fellow, or he must quit the College. The election is made by the provost and the major part of the fellows present at the time of election.

A fellow continues to hold his fellowship during life, unless he marries, or is instituted to a benefice, or voluntarily resigns his fellowship, or is expelled from the College for reasons defined in the Statutes.

The average yearly dividends of the fellows from 1845 to 1851 have been for 1. A Senior Fellow, £270. 8s. 3d.

[blocks in formation]

4. An Undergraduate Fellow, £78. 19s. 5d.

The fellows have their rooms and commons free, besides a weekly allowance from the butteries when in residence. There are other small sums, the average aggregate amount is about £130, which is divided in certain proportions among the fellows present at the College sealings: also a small allowance, averaging from £15 to £20 is distributed to the resident members in lieu of feasts.

The scholars come off to the foundation of King's from the foundation of Eton College, and from none other by Statute. They are elected annually at Eton, after an examination by the Provosts of the two Colleges of King's and Eton, by the ViceProvost and Head Master of Eton, and two fellows of King's of the degree of M.A., who are appointed for the purpose at the annual meeting at King's, for the election of officers.

י

The election of scholars of Eton to supply the vacancies occurring at King's College, takes place at Eton, at a certain time arranged by the two provosts, within a period prescribed by the Statutes. The electors are sworn before they enter upon the duties of examination, and the names of the candidates elected, are placed upon two indentures in the order in which they are nominated, and elected by the electors. As vacancies occur at King's College, they are supplied within a month at the farthest by the scholars of Eton, who come off in the order in which they stand in the indenture, unless by death, or some legitimate cause, the scholar next on the indenture is superseded or withdrawn from Eton.

The average annual dividend of a scholar from 1845 to 1851 was £27. 4s.: in addition to rooms and commons free, and an allowance from the butteries weekly during the time a scholar is in residence. There is no charge made to the scholars for tuition, the lecturers receiving their stipends from the general funds of the College.

There are two examinations of the scholars every year, one at the beginning, and the other at the end of the Easter Term. The College gives £20 annually for prizes of books, bearing the College arms, to the scholars who are most distinguished in Classics and Mathematics at the College examinations.

There are two prizes of £5 each given every year to the two best readers of the lessons in chapel.

The College gives every year a prize of £5 for the best translation of an English subject into Greek Iambics.

The College awards from its funds two annual prizes of £5 each for the two best English Declamations.

The College gives annually from its funds a piece of plate to such commencing Bachelor of Arts, as shall have most distinguished himself in the Mathematical and Classical Tripos, provided he be in the first class of either Tripos.

The Ecclesiastical Patronage of the College consists of the right of presentation to thirty-seven Church livings.

The gross revenue of the College, as returned to the Commissioners in 1851, was £25,703. 8s. 2d.; and the total net revenue, £22,729. 18. 10d.

« AnteriorContinuar »