[Sidenote: Manie vniuersities somtime in England.]
There haue béene heretofore, and at sundrie times, diuerse famous
vniuersities in this Iland, and those euen in my daies not altogither
forgotten, as one at Bangor, erected by Lucius, and afterward
conuerted into a monasterie, not by Congellus (as some write) but by
Pelagius the monke. The second at Carlheon vpon Vske, neere to the
place where the riuer dooth fall into the Seuerne, founded by king
Arthur. The third at Theodford, wherein were 600 students, in the time
of one Rond sometime king of that region. The fourth at Stanford,
suppressed by Augustine the monke, and likewise other in other places,
as Salisburie, Eridon or Criclade, Lachlade, Reading, and Northampton;
albeit that the two last rehearsed were not authorised, but onelie
arose to that name by the departure of the students from Oxford in
time of ciuill dissention vnto the said townes, where also they
continued but for a little season. When that of Salisburie began, I
can not tell; but that it flourished most vnder Henrie the third, and
Edward the first, I find good testimonie by the writers, as also by
the discord which fell 1278, betwéene the chancellor for the scholers
there on the one part, and William the archdeacon on the other,
whereof you shall sée more in the chronologie here following. In my
[Sidenote: Thrée vniuersities in England.]
time there are thrée noble vniuersities in England, to wit, one at
Oxford, the second at Cambridge, and the third in London; of which,
the first two are the most famous, I meane Cambridge and Oxford, for
that in them the vse of the toongs, philosophie, and the liberall
sciences, besides the profound studies of the ciuill law, physicke,
and theologie, are dailie taught and had: whereas in the later, the
laws of the realme are onelie read and learned, by such as giue their
minds vnto the knowledge of the same. In the first there are not
onelie diuerse goodlie houses builded foure square for the most part
of hard fréestone or bricke, with great numbers of lodgings and
chambers in the same for students, after a sumptuous sort, through the
excéeding liberalitie of kings, quéenes, bishops, noblemen and ladies
of the land: but also large liuings and great reuenues bestowed vpon
them (the like whereof is not to be séene in anie other region, as
Peter Martyr did oft affirme) to the maintenance onelie of such
conuenient numbers of poore mens sonnes as the seuerall stipends
bestowed vpon the said houses are able to support.
[Sidenote: When the vniuersities were builded vncerteine.]
When these two schooles should be first builded, & who were their
originall founders, as yet it is vncerteine: neuerthelesse, as there
is great likelihood that Cambridge was begun by one Cantaber a
Spaniard (as I haue noted in my chronologie) so Alfred is said to be
the first beginner of the vniuersitie at Oxford, albeit that I cannot
warrant the same to be so yong, sith I find by good authoritie, that
Iohn of Beuerleie studied in the vniuersitie hall at Oxford, which was
long before Alfred was either borne or gotten. Some are of the opinion
that Cantabrigia was not so called of Cantaber, but Cair Grant of the
finisher of the worke, or at the leastwise of the riuer that runneth
by the same, and afterward by the Saxons Grantcester. An other sort
affirme that the riuer is better written Canta than Granta, &c: but
whie then is not the towne called Canta, Cantium, or Cantodunum,
according to the same? All this is said onlie (as I thinke) to deface
the memorie of Cantaber, who comming from the Brigants, or out of
Biscaie, called the said towne after his owne and the name of the
region from whence he came. Neither hath it béene a rare thing for the
Spaniards heretofore to come first into Ireland, and from thense ouer
into England, sith the chronologie shall declare that it hath béene
often seene, and that out of Britaine, they haue gotten ouer also into
Scithia, and contrariwise: coasting still through Yorkeshire, which of
them also was called Brigantium, as by good testimonie appeareth.
[Sidenote: Oxford fiftie miles from London.]
Of these two, that of Oxford (which lieth west and by north from
London) standeth most pleasantlie, being inuironed in maner round
about with woods on the hilles aloft, and goodlie riuers in the
bottoms and vallies beneath, whose courses would bréed no small
commoditie to that citie and countrie about, if such impediments were
remooued as greatlie annoie the same, and hinder the cariage which
might be made thither also from London.
[Sidenote: Cambridge six and fortie miles from London.]
That of Cambridge is distant from London about fortie and six miles
north and by east, and standeth verie well, sauing that it is somewhat
néere vnto the fens, whereby the wholesomenesse of the aire there is
not a little corrupted. It is excellentlie well serued with all kinds
of prouision, but especiallie of freshwater fish and wildfoule, by
reason of the riuer that passeth thereby; and thereto the Ile of Elie,
which is so néere at hand. Onlie wood is the chéefe want to such as
studie there, wherefore this kind of prouision is brought them either
from Essex, and other places thereabouts, as is also their cole; or
otherwise the necessitie thereof is supplied with gall (a bastard kind
of Mirtus as I take it) and seacole, whereof they haue great plentie
led thither by the Grant. Moreouer it hath not such store of medow
ground as may suffice for the ordinarie expenses of the towne and
vniuersitie, wherefore the inhabitants are inforced in like sort to
prouide their haie from other villages about, which minister the same
vnto them in verie great aboundance.
[Sidenote: Longitude & latitude of both.]
Oxford is supposed to conteine in longitude eightéene degrees and
eight and twentie minuts, and in latitude one and fiftie degrées and
fiftie minuts; whereas that of Cambridge standing more northerlie,
hath twentie degrees and twentie minuts in longitude, and therevnto
fiftie and two degrées and fifteene minuts in latitude, as by exact
supputation is easie to be found.
The colleges of Oxford, for curious workemanship and priuat
commodities, are much more statelie, magnificent, & commodious than
those of Cambridge: and therevnto the stréets of the towne for the
most part more large and comelie. But for vniformitie of building,
[Sidenote: Cambridge burned not long since.]
orderlie compaction, and politike regiment, the towne of Cambridge, as
the newer workmanship, excéedeth that of Oxford (which otherwise is
and hath béene the greater of the two) by manie a fold (as I gesse)
although I know diuerse that are of the contrarie opinion. This also
is certeine, that whatsoeuer the difference be in building of the
towne stréets, the townesmen of both are glad when they may match and
annoie the students, by incroching vpon their liberties, and kéepe
them bare by extreame sale of their wares, whereby manie of them
become rich for a time, but afterward fall againe into pouertie,
bicause that goods euill gotten doo seldome long indure.
Castels also they haue both, and in my iudgement is hard to be said,
whether of them would be the stronger, if ech were accordinglie
repared: howbeit that of Cambridge is the higher, both for maner of
building and situation of ground, sith Oxford castell standeth low and
is not so apparant to our sight. That of Cambridge was builded (as
they saie) by Gurguintus, sometime king of Britaine, but the other by
the lord Robert de Oilie, a noble man which came in with the
conqueror, whose wife Editha, a woman giuen to no lesse superstition
than credulitie, began also the abbeie of Oseneie neere vnto the same,
vpon a fond (but yet a rare) occasion, which we will héere remember,
though it be beside my purpose, to the end that the reader may see how
readie the simple people of that time were to be abused by the
practise of the cleargie. It happened on a time as this ladie walked
about the fields, néere vnto the aforesaid castell, to recreate hir
selfe with certeine of hir maidens, that a number of pies sat
chattering vpon the elmes, which had beene planted in the hedgerowes,
and in fine so troubled hir with their noise, that she wished them all
further off, or else hir selfe at home againe, and this happened
diuerse times. In the end being wearie of hir walke, she demanded of
hir chapleine the cause wherefore these pies did so molest & vexe hir.
Oh madam (saith he) the wiliest pie of all, these are no pies but
soules in purgatorie that craue reléefe. And is it so in déed quoth
she? Now De pardieux, if old Robert will giue me leaue, I will doo
what I can to bring these soules to rest. Herevpon she consulted,
craued, wept, and became so importunate with hir husband, that he
ioined with hir, and they both began that synagog 1120, which
afterward prooued to be a notable den. In that church also lieth this
ladie buried with hir image, hauing an heart in hir hand couched vpon
the same, in the habit of a vowesse, and yet to be séene, except the
weather haue worne out the memoriall. But to procéed with my purpose.
In each of these vniuersities also is likewise a church dedicated to
the virgin Marie, wherein once in the yeare, to wit, in Iulie, the
scholers are holden, and in which such as haue béene called to anie
degrée in the yeare precedent, doo there receiue the accomplishment of
the same, in solemne and sumptuous maner. In Oxford this solemnitie is
called an Act, but in Cambridge they vse the French word Commensement;
and such resort is made yearelie vnto the same from all parts of the
land, by the fréends of those which doo procéed, that all the towne is
hardlie able to receiue and lodge those gests. When and by whome the
churches aforesaid were builded, I haue elsewhere made relation. That
of Oxford also was repared in the time of Edward the fourth, and
Henrie the seuenth, when doctor Fitz Iames a great helper in that
worke was warden of Merton college, but yer long after it was
finished, one tempest in a night so defaced the same, that it left few
pinacles standing about the church and stéeple, which since that time
haue neuer béene repared. There were sometime foure and twentie parish
churches in the towne and suburbes, but now there are scarselie
sixtéene. There haue béene also 1200 burgesses, of which 400 dwelled
in the suburbes, and so manie students were there in the time of
Henrie the third, that he allowed them twentie miles compasse about
the towne, for their prouision of vittels.
The common schooles of Cambridge also are farre more beautifull than
those of Oxford, onelie the diuinitie schoole at Oxford excepted,
which for fine and excellent workemanship, commeth next the moold of
the kings chappell in Cambridge, than the which two with the chappell
that king Henrie the seauenth did build at Westminster, there are not
(in mine opinion) made of lime & stone thrée more notable piles within
the compasse of Europe.
In all other things there is so great equalitie betwéene these two
vniuersities, as no man can imagin how to set downe any greater; so
that they séeme to be the bodie of one well ordered common wealth,
onlie diuided by distance of place, and not in fréendlie consent and
orders. In speaking therefore of the one, I can not but describe the
other; and in commendation of the first, I can not but extoll the
latter; and so much the rather, for that they are both so déere vnto
me, as that I can not readilie tell vnto whether of them I owe the
most good will. Would to God my knowledge were such, as that neither
of them might haue cause to be ashamed of their pupill; or my power so
great, that I might woorthilie requite them both for those manifold
kindnesses that I haue receiued of them. But to leaue these things,
and procéed with other more conuenient for my purpose. The manner to
liue in these vniuersities, is not as in some other of forren
countries we sée dailie to happen, where the students are inforced for
want of such houses, to dwell in common innes, and tauerns, without
all order or discipline. But in these our colleges we liue in such
exact order, and vnder so precise rules of gouernement, as that the
famous learned man Erasmus of Roterodame being here among vs 50 yeres
passed, did not let to compare the trades in liuing of students in
these two places, euen with the verie rules and orders of the ancient
moonks: affirming moreouer in flat words, our orders to be such as not
onlie came néere vnto, but rather far exceeded all the monastical
instituti[=o]s that euer were deuised.
In most of our colleges there are also great numbers of students, of
which manie are found by the reuenues of the houses, and other by the
purueiances and helpe of their rich fréends; whereby in some one
college you shall haue two hundred scholers, in others an hundred and
fiftie, in diuerse a hundred and fortie, and in the rest lesse
numbers; as the capacitie of the said houses is able to receiue: so
that at this present, of one sort and other, there are about thrée
thousand students nourished in them both (as by a late surueie it
manifestlie appeared.) They were erected by their founders at the
first, onelie for poore mens sons, whose parents were not able to
bring them vp vnto learning: but now they haue the least benefit of
them, by reason the rich doo so incroch vpon them. And so farre hath
this inconuenience spread it selfe, that it is in my time an hard
matter for a poore mans child to come by a felowship (though he be
neuer so good a scholar & woorthie of that roome.) Such packing also
is vsed at elections, that not he which best deserueth, but he that
hath most friends, though he be the woorst scholer, is alwaies surest
to spéed; which will turne in the end to the ouerthrow of learning.
That some gentlemen also, whose friends haue beene in times past
benefactors to certeine of those houses, doo intrude into the
disposition of their estates, without all respect of order or
estatutes deuised by the founders, onelie thereby to place whome they
thinke good (and not without some hope of gaine) the case is too too
euident: and their attempt would soone take place, if their superiors
did not prouide to bridle their indeuors. In some grammar schooles
likewise, which send scholers to these vniuersities, it is lamentable
to see what briberie is vsed; for yer the scholer can be preferred,
such bribage is made, that poore mens children are commonlie shut out,
and the richer sort receiued (who in time past thought it dishonor to
liue as it were vpon almes) and yet being placed, most of them studie
little other than histories, tables, dice, and trifles, as men that
make not the liuing by their studie the end of their purposes, which
is a lamentable hearing. Beside this, being for the most part either
gentlemen, or rich mens sonnes, they oft bring the vniuersities into
much slander. For standing vpon their reputation and libertie, they
ruffle and roist it out, excéeding in apparell, and hanting riotous
companie (which draweth them from their bookes vnto an other trade.)
And for excuse when they are charged with breach of all good order,
thinke it sufficient to saie, that they be gentlemen, which gréeueth
manie not a litle. But to proceed with the rest.
[Sidenote: Readers in priuat houses.]
Euerie one of these colleges haue in like maner their professors or
readers of the toongs and seuerall sciences, as they call them, which
dailie trade vp the youth there abiding priuatlie in their halles, to
the end they may be able afterward (when their turne commeth about,
which is after twelue termes) to shew themselues abroad, by going from
thence into the common schooles and publike disputations (as it were
"In aream") there to trie their skilles, and declare how they haue
profited since their comming thither.
[Sidenote: Publike readers mainteined by the prince.]
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.