other two-and-forty score and fifteen, besides two shillings and sixpence in silver. The number, with the names of the persons by whom they had been seen and counted, at different times, was written on loose papers. The earliest date was the 13th of December, 1552, when the president and officers of the college, whose concern it was, probably returned a part, or the whole, which had been borrowed on some statutable emergency, in the coin of the then king, Edward the Sixth. The last view was on the 20th of July 1585, in the reign of queen Elizabeth. The society, it should seem, had no occasion to apply it afterwards to the uses to which it was appropriated; and no notice is supposed to have been taken of it until the eighth of July 1649. Then Dr. Wilkenson, with the officers of the college under him, broke into the tower, a smith

z Number as appears by the form,

"13 Dec. Visi et reconditi in ista bagga, ao Dài 1552, reg. Edv. " VIti 6to, 516 veteres Edvardi per illos qui eo tempore fuerunt offi"ciarii, quorum nomina," &c.

In another bag, at the same time, two-and-forty score and fif

teen.

13 Jan. 2 et 3 Phil. et Mariæ, the same sums in old Edwards, in two bags, and two shillings and sixpence in old silver.

3 Aug. 1576, 18 Eliz. 20 July, 1585, 27 Eliz. the same.

forcing

forcing the doors, of which they had not the keys, to get the original statute-book; all the copies having been conveyed away by the former fellows. They soon espied a small trunk with three locks, which they employed him to open; when the treasure was discovered. I imagine they returned thanks in a long prayer, and resolved to divide it in the name of the Lord. The president, who is said to have chiefly promoted this pious work, had an hundred pieces for his portion; and the fellows, then only thirty in number, had each thirty; in the whole nine hundred. The demys, and even the servants, were admitted to a share. Each pistolet produced sixteen shillings and sixpence; and it is added, the exchanger got well by the bargain.

We are told by Dr. Clerke, who partook of the spoil, that none of the fellows at that time knew of this money, which he remarks

Dr. Clerke's Account-book, 1656. The number distributed to each person, and upon what reason, may be seen, he says, "in my "book covered with vellum, and with green strings, in 4to, as also "what is returned again of it to the college."

From a paper of Dr. Clerke's.

The papers relating to the view are in a chest in the lower room of the tower.

Fasti Oxon. ii. p. 67. Heylin, Examen Hist. i. p. 268.

was

was very strange, the statute mentioning it so clearly as it does. It is also possible that Dr. Wilkenson, though he had grown old in the college, might never have heard of it. But on what authority was the distribution made? "Though one must charitably be"leeve the matter not so bad as reported," says Fuller in 1655, "yet the most favour"able relation thereof gave a general dis"tast." In 1662 he acknowledged he had been misguided, with many others, by general tradition, which represented the money as the gift of president Humphry instead of Waynflete. "Would I had been mistaken," continues the honest author, "in the mat"ter as well as the person, that so unworthy "an act had never been performed! But "what said Jacob to his sons? Carry back "the money again, peradventure it was an oversight. Seasonable restitution will "make reparation."

It is remarkable that as saintship ceased honesty returned. The advice of Fuller had its effect. Several persons spontaneously refunded the pieces they had illicitly pos

ii. p. 234. See Heylin. e Buckinghamshire, p. 136. f Gen. xliii. 13.

sessed,

sessed, or their value, to be disposed of according to the will of the founder. The vice-president and three of the fellows, with five demys and the principal cook, appear to have set the example in 1659. The gold was again reposited in its chest in 1662. On the 17th of January 1665 there remained in the hands of the bursars on this account, in money, three hundred fifty-two pounds nine shillings and sixpence three farthings. On the Sd of July 1679 two hundred sixty-six double pistolets, or spur-royals, as they are called, and seventy-five single pistolets, had been restored in specie, and replaced in the tower. One hundred pieces were still unpaid by the late president, and three hundred by ten of the fellows 1.

In the same century, the foundation and statutes of Magdalen received as rude a shock from religious bigotry, as they had before experienced from fanatical and republican zeal. The event is conspicuous in the history of England; and I shall conclude

From a parchment-book in the chest in which are the spurroyals.

h Dr. Clerke's Account-book, 1662, p. 131.

He paid 18 pieces in specie, and besides, for his share, £10. 16. Mr. Cracroft paid £26. 5. for his thirty spur-royals.

my

296 LIFE OF WILLIAM WAYNFLETE.

my account of Waynflete, with the sincere wish that an equal resistance and like success may await the authors of any future attack on his college; which has been (and may it continue yet for ages!) eminently useful to the community, in advancing the best concerns of mankind,-Religion, Liberty and Learning.

sigillu :cõe prefidichs fcolaruum: anlegen beale marie mandalene unwerfitate:asome

APPEN