Moreouer, in the publike schooles of both the vniuersities, there are
found at the princes charge (and that verie largelie) fiue professors
and readers, that is to saie, of diuinitie, of the ciuill law,
physicke, the Hebrue, and the Gréeke toongs. And for the other
[Sidenote: Studie of the quadriuials and perspectiues neglected.]
lectures, as of philosophie, logike, rhetorike, and the quadriuials,
although the latter (I meane arythmetike, musike, geometrie, and
astronomie, and with them all skill in the perspectiues are now
smallie regarded in either of them) the vniuersities themselues doo
allow competent stipends to such as reade the same, whereby they are
sufficientlie prouided for, touching the maintenance of their estates,
and no lesse incoraged to be diligent in their functions.
These professors in like sort haue all the rule of disputations and
other schoole exercises, which are dailie vsed in common schooles
seuerallie assigned to ech of them, and such of their hearers, as by
their skill shewed in the said disputations, are thought to haue
atteined to anie conuenient ripenesse of knowledge, according to the
custome of other vniuersities, although not in like order, are
permitted solemnlie to take their deserued degrees of schoole in the
same science and facultie wherein they haue spent their trauell. From
that time forward also, they vse such difference in apparell as
becommeth their callings, tendeth vnto grauitie, and maketh them
knowne to be called to some countenance.
[Sidenote: Sophisters.]
The first degree, is that of the generall sophisters, from whence when
they haue learned more sufficientlie the rules of logike, rhetorike,
and obteined thereto competent skill in philosophie, and in the
[Sidenote: Batchelers of Art.]
mathematicals, they ascend higher vnto the estate of batchelers of
art, after foure yeares of their entrance into their sophistrie. From
thence also giuing their minds to more perfect knowledge in some or
all the other liberall sciences, & the toongs, they rise at the last
[Sidenote: Masters of art.]
(to wit, after other thrée or foure yéeres) to be called masters of
art, ech of them being at that time reputed for a doctor in his
facultie, if he professe but one of the said sciences (beside
philosophie) or for his generall skill, if he be exercised in them
all. After this they are permitted to choose what other of the higher
studies them liketh to follow, whether it be diuinitie, law, or,
physike; so that being once masters of art, the next degrée if they
follow physike, is the doctorship belonging to that profession; and
likewise in the studie of the law, if they bend their minds to the
knowledge of the same. But if they meane to go forward with diuinitie,
this is the order vsed in that profession. First, after they haue
necessarilie proceeded masters of art, they preach one sermon to the
people in English, and another to the vniuersitie in Latine. They
answer all commers also in their owne persons vnto two seuerall
questions of diuinitie in the open schooles, at one time, for the
space of two hours; and afterward replie twise against some other man
vpon a like number, and on two seuerall daies in the same place: which
being doone with commendation, he receiueth the fourth degree, that
[Sidenote: Batcheler of diuinitie.]
is, batcheler of diuinitie, but not before he hath beene master of art
by the space of seauen yéeres, according to their statutes.
[Sidenote: Doctor.]
The next and last degrée of all is the doctorship after other three
yeares, for the which he must once againe performe all such exercises
and acts as are afore remembred, and then is he reputed able to
gouerne and teach others, & likewise taken for a doctor. I haue read
that Iohn of Beuerleie was the first doctor that euer was in Oxford,
as Beda was in Cambridge. But I suppose herein that the word doctor is
not so strictlie to be taken in this report as it is now vsed, sith
euerie teacher is in Latine called by that name, as also such in the
primitiue church as kept schooles of catechists, wherein they were
trained vp in the rudiments and principles of religion, either before
they were admitted vnto baptisme, or anie office in the church.
Thus we sée, that from our entrance into the vniuersitie vnto the last
degrée receiued, is commonlie eighteene or peraduenture twentie
yéeres, in which time if a student hath not obteined sufficient
learning, thereby to serue his owne turne, and benefit his common
wealth, let him neuer looke by tarieng longer to come by anie more.
For after this time & 40 yéeres of age, the most part of students doo
commonlie giue ouer their woonted diligence, & liue like drone bées on
the fat of colleges, withholding better wits from the possession of
their places, & yet dooing litle good in their own vocation & calling.
I could rehearse a number (if I listed) of this sort, aswell in the
one vniuersitie as the other. But this shall suffice in sted of a
larger report, that long continuance in those places is either a signe
of lacke of friends, or of learning, or of good and vpright life, as
[Sidenote: This Fox builded Corpus Christi college in Oxford.]
bishop Fox sometime noted, who thought it sacrilege for a man to
tarrie anie longer at Oxford than he had a desire to profit.
A man may (if he will) begin his studie with the lawe, or physike (of
which this giueth wealth, the other honor) so soone as he commeth to
the vniuersitie, if his knowledge in the toongs and ripenesse of
iudgement serue therefore: which if he doo, then his first degrée is
bacheler of law, or physicke, and for the same he must performe such
acts in his owne science, as the bachelers or doctors of diuinitie,
doo for their parts, the onelie sermons except, which belong not to
his calling. Finallie, this will I saie, that the professors of either
of those faculties come to such perfection in both vniuersities, as
the best students beyond the sea doo in their owne or else where. One
thing onlie I mislike in them, and that is their vsuall going into
Italie, from whense verie few without speciall grace doo returne good
[Sidenote: So much also may be inferred of lawiers.]
men, whatsoeuer they pretend of conference or practise, chiefelie the
physicians who vnder pretense of séeking of forreine simples doo
oftentimes learne the framing of such compositions as were better
vnknowen than practised, as I haue heard oft alledged, and therefore
it is most true that doctor Turner said; Italie is not to be séene
without a guide, that is, without speciall grace giuen from God,
bicause of the licentious and corrupt behauiour of the people.
There is moreouer in euerie house a maister or prouost, who hath vnder
him a president, & certeine censors or deanes, appointed to looke to
the behauior and maners of the students there, whom they punish verie
seuerelie if they make anie default, according to the quantitie and
qualitie of their trespasses. And these are the vsual names of
gouernours in Cambridge. Howbeit in Oxford the heads of houses are now
and then called presidents in respect of such bishops as are their
visitors & founders. In ech of these also they haue one or moe
thresurers whom they call Bursarios or Bursers beside other officers,
whose charge is to sée vnto the welfare and maintenance of these
houses. Ouer each vniuersitie also there is a seuerall chancelor,
whose offices are perpetuall, howbeit their substitutes, whom we call
vicechancelors, are changed euerie yeare, as are also the proctors,
taskers, maisters of the streates and other officers, for the better
maintenance of their policie and estate.
And thus much at this time of our two vniuersities in each of which I
haue receiued such degree as they haue vouchsafed rather of their
fauour than my desert to yéeld and bestow vpon me, and vnto whose
students I wish one thing, the execution whereof cannot be
preiudiciall to anie that meaneth well, as I am resolutelie persuaded,
and the case now standeth in these our daies. When anie benefice
therefore becommeth void, it were good that the patrone did signifie
the vacation therof to the bishop, and the bishop the act of the
patrone to one of the vniuersities, with request that the
vicechancellor with his assistents might prouide some such able man to
succeed in the place, as should by their iudgement be méet to take the
charge vpon him. Certes if this order were taken then should the
church be prouided of good pastors, by whome God should be glorified,
the vniuersities better stored, the simoniacall practises of a number
of patrons vtterlie abolished and the people better trained to liue in
obedience toward God and their prince, which were an happie estate.
[Sidenote: London.]
To these two also we may in like sort ad the third, which is at London
(seruing onelie for such as studie the lawes of the realme) where
there are sundrie famous houses, of which three are called by the name
of Ins of the court, the rest of the chancerie, and all builded before
time for the furtherance and commoditie of such as applie their minds
to our common lawes. Out of these also come manie scholers of great
fame, whereof the most part haue heretofore béene brought vp in one of
the aforesaid vniuersities, and prooue such commonlie as in processe
of time, rise vp (onelie through their profound skill) to great honor
in the common-wealth of England. They haue also degrées of learning
among themselues, and rules of discipline, vnder which they liue most
ciuilie in their houses, albeit that the yoonger sort of them abroad
in the streats are scarse able to be bridled by anie good order at
all. Certes this errour was woont also greatlie to reigne in Cambridge
and Oxford, betweene the students and the burgesses: but as it is well
left in these two places, so in forreine counteies it cannot yet be
suppressed. Besides these vniuersities, also there are great number of
[Sidenote: Grammar schooles.]
Grammer schooles through out the realme, and those verie liberallie
indued, for the better reliefe of poore scholers, so that there are
not manie corporat townes now vnder the quéenes dominion, that haue
not one Gramar schoole at the least, with a sufficient liuing for a
maister and vsher appointed to the same.
[Sidenote: Windsor, Winchester, Eaton, Westminster.]
There are in like maner diuerse collegiat churches as Windsor,
Wincester, Eaton, Westminster (in which I was sometime an vnprofitable
Grammarian vnder the reuerend father master Nowell now deane of
Paules) and in those a great number of poore scholers dailie
mainteened by the liberalitie of the founders, with meat, bookes, and
apparell, from whence after they haue béene well entered in the
knowledge of the Latine and Gréeke toongs, and rules of versifieng
(the triall whereof is made by certeine apposers yearelie appointed to
examine them) they are sent to certeine especiall houses in each
[Sidenote: * [_and_?]]
vniuersitie, where they are receiued [*] the trained vp, in the points
of higher knowledge in their priuat hals, till they be adiudged meet
to shew their faces in the schooles, as I haue said alreadie. And thus
much haue I thought good to note of our vniuersities, and likewise of
colleges in the same, whose names I will also set downe here, with
those of their founders, to the end the zeale which they bare vnto
learning may appeare, and their remembrance neuer perish from among
the wise and learned.
OF THE COLLEGES IN CAMBRIDGE WITH THEIR FOUNDERS.
_Yeares of the_ _Colleges._ _Founders._
_foundations._
1546 | 1 Trinitie college. } {King Henrie 8.
1441 | 2 The kings college. } {K. Henrie 6. Edward 4.
| } {Henrie 7. and Henrie 8.
1511 | 3 S. Iohns. } {L. Margaret grandmother to
| } {Henrie 8.
1505 | 4 Christes college. } {K. Henrie 6. and the ladie
| } {Margaret aforesaid.
1446 | 5 The queenes college. } {Ladie Margaret wife to king
| } {Henrie 6.
1496 | 6 Iesus college. } {Iohn Alcocke bishop of Elie.
1342 | 7 Bennet college. } {The brethren of a popish guild
| } {called _Corporis Christi_.
1343 | 8 Pembroke hall. } by {Maria de Valentia, countesse
| } {of Pembroke.
1256 | 9 Peter college. } {Hugh Balsham bishop of Elie.
1348 | 10 Gundeuill and } {Edmund Gundeuill parson of
1557 | Caius college. } {Terrington, and Iohn Caius
| } {doctor of physicke.
1354 | 11 Trinitie hall. } {William Bateman bishop of
| } {Norwich.
1326 | 12 Clare hall. } {Richard Badow chancellor of
| } {Cambridge.
1459 | 13 Catharine hall. } {Robert Woodlarke doctor of
| } {diuinitie.
1519 | 14 Magdalen college. } {Edw. duke of Buckingham, &
| } {Thom. lord Awdlie.
1585 | 15 Emanuell college. } {Sir Water Mildmaie, &c.
OF COLLEGES IN OXFORD.
[Sidenote: * He founded also a good part of Eaton college,
and a frée schole at Wainflet where he was borne.]
_Yeares._ _Colleges._ _Founders._
1539 | 1 Christes church. } {King Henrie 8.
1459 | 2 Magdalen college. } {William Wainflet[*] first
| } {fellow of Merton college,
| } {then scholer at Winchester,
| } {and afterward bishop there.
1375 | 3 New college. } {William Wickham bishop
| } {of Winchester.
1276 | 4 Merton college. } {Walter Merton bishop of
| } {Rochester.
1437 | 5 All soules college. } {Henrie Chicheleie
| } {archbishop of Canturburie.
1516 | 6 Corpus Christi college. } {Richard Fox bishop of
| } {Winchester.
1430 | 7 Lincolne college. } {Richard Fleming bishop
| } {of Lincolne.
1323 | 8 Auriell college. } by {Adam Browne almoner to
| } {Edward 2.
1340 | 9 The queenes college. } {R. Eglesfeld chapleine
| } {to Philip queene of
| } {England, wife to Edward 3.
1263 | 10 Balioll college. } {Iohn Balioll king of
| } {Scotland.
1557 | 11 S. Iohns. } {Sir Thomas White knight.
1556 | 12 Trinitie college. } {Sir Thomas Pope knight.
1316 | 13 Excester college. } {Walter Stapleton bishop
| } {of Excester.
1513 | 14 Brasen nose. } {William Smith bishop of
| } {Lincolne.
873 | 15 Vniuersitie college. } {William archdeacon of
| } {Duresme.
| 16 Glocester college. } {Iohn Gifford who made it a
| } {cell for thirteene moonks.
| 17 S. Marie college. } {
| 18 Iesus college now in hand.} {Hugh ap Rice doctor of the
| } {ciuill law.
There are also in Oxford certeine hostels or hals, which may rightwell
be called by the names of colleges, if it were not that there is more
libertie in them, than is to be séen in the other. In mine opinion the
liuers in these are verie like to those that are of Ins in the
chancerie, their names also are these so farre as I now remember.
Brodegates.
Hart hall.
Magdalen hall.
Alburne hall.
Postminster hall.
S. Marie hall.
White hall.
New In.
Edmond hall.
The students also that remaine in them, are called hostelers or
halliers. Hereof it came of late to passe, that the right reuerend
father in God Thomas late archbishop of Canturburie being brought vp
in such an house at Cambridge, was of the ignorant sort of Londoners
called an hosteler, supposing that he had serued with some inholder in
the stable, and therfore in despite diuerse hanged vp bottles of haie
at his gate, when he began to preach the gospell, whereas in déed he
was a gentleman borne of an ancient house & in the end a faithfull
witnesse of Iesus Christ, in whose quarrell he refused not to shed his
bloud and yéeld vp his life vnto the furie of his aduersaries.
Besides these there is mention and record of diuerse other hals or
hostels, that haue béene there in times past, as Beefe hall, Mutton
hall, &c: whose ruines yet appéere: so that if antiquitie be to be
iudged by the shew of ancient buildings, which is verie plentifull in
Oxford to be séene, it should be an easie matter to conclude that
Oxford is the elder vniuersitie. Therin are also manie dwelling houses
[Sidenote: Erection of colleges in Oxford the overthrow of hals.]
of stone yet standing, that haue béene hals for students of verie
antike workemanship, beside the old wals of sundrie other, whose plots
haue béene conuerted into gardens, since colleges were erected.
_In London also the houses of students at the Common law are these_.
Sergeants In.
Graies In.
The Temple.
Lincolnes In.
Dauids In.
Staple In.
Furniuals In.
Cliffords In.
Clements In.
Lions In.
Barnards In.
New In.
And thus much in generall of our noble vniuersities, whose lands some
gréedie gripers doo gape wide for, and of late haue (as I heare)
propounded sundrie reasons, whereby they supposed to haue preuailed in
their purposes. But who are those that haue attempted this sute, other
than such as either hate learning, pietie, and wisedome; or else haue
spent all their owne, and know not otherwise than by incroching vpon
other men how to mainteine themselues? When such a motion was made by
some vnto king Henrie the eight, he could answer them in this maner;
Ah sirha, I perceiue the abbeie lands haue fleshed you and set your
téeth on edge, to aske also those colleges. And whereas we had a
regard onelie to pull downe sinne by defacing the monasteries, you
haue a desire also to ouerthrow all goodnesse by subuersion of
colleges. I tell you sirs that I iudge no land in England better
bestowed than that which is giuen to our vniuersities, for by their
maintenance our realme shall be well gouerned when we be dead and
rotten. As you loue your welfares therfore, follow no more this veine,
but content your selues with that you haue alreadie, or else seeke
[Sidenote: Now abbeies be gone, our dingthrifts prie
after church and college possessions.]
honest meanes whereby to increase your liuelods, for I loue not
learning so ill, that I will impaire the reuenues of anie one house by
a pennie, whereby it may be vpholden. In king Edwards daies likewise
the same was once againe attempted [as I haue heard] but in vaine, for
saith the duke of Summerset among other spéeches tending to that end,
who also made answer therevnto in the kings presence by his
assignation; If lerning decaie, which of wild men maketh ciuill, of
blockish and rash persons wise and godlie counsellors, of obstinat
rebels obedient subiects, and of euill men good and godlie christians;
what shall we looke for else but barbarisme and tumult? For when the
lands of colleges be gone, it shall be hard to saie, whose staffe
shall stand next the doore, for then I doubt not but the state of
bishops, rich farmers, merchants, and the nobilitie shall be assailed,
by such as liue to spend all, and thinke that what so euer another man
hath is more meet for them, and to be at their commandement, than for
the proper owner that hath sweat and laboured for it. In quéene Maries
daies the weather was too warme for anie such course to be taken in
hand, but in the time of our gratious quéene Elizabeth, I heare that
it was after a sort in talke the third time, but without successe as
mooued also out of season, and so I hope it shall continue for euer.
For what comfort should it be for anie good man to sée his countrie
brought into the estate of the old Gothes & Vandals, who made lawes
against learning, and would not suffer anie skilfull man to come into
their councell house, by meanes whereof those people became sauage,
tyrants, and mercilesse helhounds, till they restored learning againe,
and thereby fell to ciuilitie.
OF THE PARTITION OF ENGLAND INTO SHIRES AND COUNTIES.
CHAP. IV.
In reding of ancient writers, as Cæsar, Tacitus, and others, we find
mention of sundrie regions to haue béene sometime in this Iland, as
the Nouantæ, Selgouæ, Dannonij, Gadeni, Oradeni, Epdij, Cerones,
Carnonacæ, Careni, Cornabij, Caledonij, Decantæ, Logi, Mertæ,
Vacomagi, Venicontes, Texali or Polij, Denani, Elgoui, Brigantes
Parisi, Ordouici aliàs Ordoluci, Cornauij, Coritani, Catieuchlani,
Simeni, Trinouantes, Demetæ, Cangi, Silures, Dobuni, Atterbatij,
Cantij, Regni, Belgæ, Durotriges, Dumnonij, Giruij, Murotriges,
Seueriani, Iceni, Tegenes, Casij, Cænimagni, Segontiaci, Ancalites,
Bibroci, and Kentishmen, and such like. But sith the seuerall places
where most of them laie, are not yet verie perfectlie knowne vnto the
learned of these daies, I doo not meane to pronounce my iudgement vpon
such doubtfull cases, least that in so dooing I should but increase
coniectures, and leading peraduenture the reader from the more
probable, intangle his mind in the end with such as are of lesse
value, and things nothing so likelie to be true, as those which other
men haue remembred and set downe before me. Neither will I speake
oughts of the Romane partitions, & limits of their legions, whose
number and place of abode, except of the Victorian and Augustane, is
to me vtterlie vnknowne.
[Sidenote: Alfred brought England into shires, which the Britons
diuided by cantreds, and the first Saxons by families.] It shall
suffice therfore to begin with such a ground as from whence some
better certeintie of things may be deriued, and that is with the
estate of our Iland in the time of Alfred, who first diuided England
into shires, which before his daies, and since the comming of the
Saxons, was limited out by families and hidelands, as the Britons did
the same in their time, by hundreds of townes, which then were called
cantreds; as old records doo witness.