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1393), left to the college his house on the opposite side of Trinity Lane; well known afterwards, under the name of Physwick Hostel, as a popular annexe of the college. In our Commemoration Service it is referred to as if it had already been a student's hostel; but the terms of the will do not suggest this. He simply leaves integram habitationem meam' to his wife Joan, and Julian, widow of Richard Bedell and after their death to Gonville Hall. There is no hint that it had been, or was to be, a hostel. The deeds' by which these ladies conveyed it to the college were drawn up in the following year. For more about this building see

under Physwick Hostel.

Another important endowment was that of the advowson of Mattishall (see under Property); for though the deed under which Sir Ralph Hemenhale conveyed it to the college was drawn up in 1370, it was not until the occurrence of a vacancy in the living, in 1393, that the college obtained the benefit of the endow

ment.

An interesting benefaction recorded by Dr Caius (Annals) is that of Thomas Aylwards' "chest" (Vol. 1. 4). This was a common form of endowment in early days, when students were very poor, and often in sore difficulties how to raise a little money to pay their way or to find a pledge for the performance of their necessary "Acts." Aylward gave £20 of which £10 was for loans to the master and fellows, and to be kept in an iron chest. The remainder was to be used from time to time for the purchase of firing, food, &c., when needed; but was to be regularly replaced. The funds having been wasted were replaced in 1493 by the benefactress, Lady Elizabeth Clere". Dr Caius reports that, in his time, the chest was still there, but that, owing to the negligence of former masters, the contents had disappeared. He claims, however, to have recovered some of the money.

The sanitary condition of the neighbourhood of the college about this time is indicated by a curious letter from Richard II. to the chancellor of the University. It is dated June 13, 1393, and states that it has come to the king's knowledge that the masters of Gonville Hall and Michaelhouse allow certain open and noxious gutters in the road by them; that such a stench arises, and the air is so infected, that a "horror abominabilis" strikes the graduates and scholars who pass thereby on their way to the schools. The aforesaid masters are to see that these drains

are cleansed at once. Otherwise 'we shall provide another and more severe remedy for you and for them".'

1 Their deeds are dated Nov. 21, 1394 (i.e. 'Saturday next before the feast of St Katherine, 18th Rich. II.'), and are transcribed in Sheriffe's Evidences. In the same volume there is a transcript of the will of William Physwick or 'Fisshewyk.'

2 So Caius says (Annals); but he is possibly thinking of her gift to one of the public chests, recorded in the University Commemoration Service.

3 Viz. Trinity Lane, or Michaelhouse Lane as it was called. It long had a bad reputation. Dr Brady (MS. 707) calls it outright by the particularly coarse name it then commonly bore. It may be mentioned that the charges for paving and repairs, both of this lane and Trinity Street, were mainly borne by our college (v. Bursar's Book passim, e.g. 1619).

4 Close Roll, 16th Richard II. It is copied in Hare's MS., Univ. Registry, 1. 251. Cambridge residents of recent years may be inclined to think that the prompt and effective methods, occasionally adopted five centuries ago, had certain merits. For the substance of this Roll see Appendix.

The chapel having been now completed, formal licences were obtained for the performance of services there. The first of these was a temporary one from the bishop of Ely in 1389: this was followed, Nov. 13, 1393, by a bull of Boniface IX., which conveyed a permanent licence (see under Chapel).

WILLIAM SOMERSHAM.

William Somersham, fourth master (1412-16), was probably elected fellow shortly before 1376. He was ordained acolyte by the bishop of Ely March 29, 1376, being then described as a fellow of the college; deacon, Sept. 20; and priest, Dec. 20, of the same year. He graduated D.D. on becoming master of the college. He was vicar of Wilton, Norf., 1386 to 1393; and afterwards rector of Hevingham, 1393 to his death in 1416. On his appointment to Wilton he is described as "of Lynn." His resignation of Wilton was formally made in the college chapel, and is preserved in Sheriffe's Evidences.

The examination of his will has corrected a long-standing error as to the date of his death, and consequently of that of Rickinghale's succession to the mastership. He died in October 1416, not, as stated in the Calendar and elsewhere, in 1423.

His will, dated Oct. 6, 1416, proved (P. C. C.) Oct. 27, 1416, describes him as rector of Hevingham. He commits his soul to the Blessed Virgin, to all the saints, and to St Michael the Archangel. Desires to be buried 'in the chapel' of the Annunciation of the Virgin, of the church of St Michael, Cambridge.' Leaves to the master and fellows of the college 40s.; 10s. to the master, and the rest to be divided amongst the fellows. To the fellows of Trinity Hall 20s. To the college of the Annunciation, 'a cup (murra) with a cover, and a silver enamelled tablet, and a powder box of silver.' To his successor as master 'a silver-gilt girdle.' To each fellow of the Hall of the Annunciation VI VIII, and a silver spoon. There are gifts to Mr Henry Fowldon, Henry Osberne, and Peter Neylond; and to the poor of his parish of Hevingham. To the vicars of Foulden, Mattishall, and Mutford, he leaves a cope. Henry Fowldon and Peter Neylond are

executors.

JOHN RICKINGHALE.

John Rickinghale, fifth master (1416-26), does not appear to have been previously a fellow of the college. At his ordination as acolyte by the bishop of Ely, in 1376, he is described as of Little Shelford, Cambs. He was rector of Thorpe Abbots, Norf., 1381-99; rector of Brunstead, in the same county, 1397; and vicar of the mediety of Fressingfield, Suffolk, 1399-1421. He was archdeacon of Northumberland in 1408 and 1411; chancellor of York, 1410-26; and dean of

1 Presumably the north aisle of the church, used as a chapel by the college until the completion of their own chapel, and, until 1500, for the burial of their dead (v. p. 11).

St Mary's College, Norwich, 1405-26. We have no proof of his having had any previous connection with our college; but he must have been a man of note in the University, at the time of his election to the mastership, as he had already held the high office of Chancellor of the University for a year, having been appointed to this in 1415. He retained this office for seven years, being continued in it, as R. Parker says (Skeletos), on account of his services during the serious disputes between the University and Town. He was a strenuous supporter of the privileges of the former. He was confessor to John, Duke of Bedford, by whose interest, it is said, he gained his next advance. He was one of the assessors of Bp Spencer of Norwich in 1399, when William Chatris, or Sautre, renounced, in the church of the Hospital of St John at Lynn, the reformed principles for which he was subsequently burnt (Blomef. VIII. 525). He was consecrated bishop of Chichester in Mortlake church, Surrey, June 3, 1426; and shortly afterwards, viz. July 12, resigned the mastership. His personal history as regards the bishoprick seems to be as entirely a blank as it is in regard to our college. He died in the summer of 1429.

During his mastership commences the first of our contemporaneous records, viz. a Computus, or, as we should now call it, a bursar's book. It starts from the year 1423, but its information is very meagre, containing little more than the names of the fellows, and the amounts due to them.

His will, dated Ap. 2, 1429, proved July 14 following, is at Lambeth. He commits his soul to the Holy and undivided Trinity, to the Blessed Virgin, to the blessed confessor Richard, and to all the saints. Desires to be buried in Chichester Cathedral; and requests that a marble monument, with episcopal effigy and his name inscribed, should be erected as soon as possible. Gives to the cathedral his best girdle and silver-gilt cross with its shaft.' To the parish church of Thorpe Abbots, Norf., 'primum portiforium meum vetus, primum missale, et vestimentum sericum de armis recolendæ memoriæ Henrici Spencer,' late bishop of Norwich. Five marks for completing the roof of Thorpe church, and 208. to be distributed amongst the poor there. To the collegiate church of St Mary in the Fields, Norwich, 'a vestment of red silk, with the image of the crucifixion on the back.' To the dean of that college 208.; to each of the resident canons 138. 4d. To the parish church of Fressingfield 'his red and gold vestment'; and 40s. for the poor there. All his domestic servants to be remunerated at his executors' discretion; who are also to dispose of the residue of his property 'prout eis videtur Deo magis placere, et animæ meæ melius expedire.' Executors; Peter Shelton, treasurer of Chichester Cathedral; Edward Hunt, canon; John Eppe, rector of Anderby, Lincs.; and his nephew John Mannyng. John Durward, supervisor.

Godwin gives (De Presul. Ang. 11. 89) his epitaph, as follows:

Tu modo qualis eris? quid mundi quæris honores?
Crimina deplores, in me nunc te speculeris.

En mors ante fores, quæ clamitat omnibus, Adsum.

Tradition assigns, as his, an episcopal tomb under a niche in the north wall of the aisle of the Cathedral (Dallaway, 1. 133).

The following extracts from our earliest Computus book refer to this period: they are given as translated in Mr Riley's report (1871) to the Hist. MSS. Commission.

1423.

"Expenses for celebrating the obsequies of the Founder, from A.D. 1422. First, for ale, 124. Also, for 3 gallons of red wine, 30d. Also for 2 gallons of sweet wine, 40a. Also for 3 quarters of a pound of wax, 3d. For making wax tapers, 4a. For a pound of dragges (small comfits) 174. For 3 baskets (cophinis) 3d. For 3 bushels of coals 64. Paid to Thomas, the steward, 38 4d. For one wooden stovil (stool) 344. Paid for the making of table-napkins, to wash (lavabilium) 34. For leading out manure for 3 days, 28 11d. For dinner of the carter at that time, 5d. For a cartload of straw, for building a wall, 15a. For a lock to the aumbry in the kitchen, 4. For repairing a barrel for alegre (alegar, or ale turned sour) 7d.

First, paid on the exchange of 6 pieces of pevtyr (pewter) 9a. Paid for 3 fossores, in English called 'weggys,' of iron, weighing 16 pounds, 2*. Paid for the redemption of books, to Norgate, 20o. For the dinner of Thomas Norgate and his companion, when they delivered the said books, 4d. For a lock to the door of the storehouse, 4a. Paid to Thomas Weryng for writing the indentures concerning Foulden, 28. For making a coat (tunica) for Little John, 6a. For 2 stalls and 4 standards, and other things remaining (remanentibus) of the Chapel, 34. For repairing the fireplace (ignitorii) in the kitchen, a day and a half, 64.

1424. Paid at the obsequies of the founder. For sweet wine, 3 gallons, 4 4d. For 2 pounds of confectures, 2s 11a. For draggis (called anneys draggis, aniseed comfits, elsewhere) 1 pounds, 124. For 14 gallons of ale, 214. For rushes, 3d. For 14 pounds of wax, 74. For making the wax tapers, 24. For the pay of Thomas, the butler, for Michaelmas term, 68 8d. For little John, 6. For making the well in the road (fontis in via) 68 34. For a pair of shoes, 4d. For the expenses to Wilton and Soham, in carrying five books thither, 184. For the pavement made before the well, 24. For cleaning the latrine, 18. For building a wall towards the Chapel, 28. For straw to cover the wall, 6 84. For pruning the vineyard, 12d.

Paid for the wall near to the bocard (the name given very generally in Cambridge to the latrine in the 14th and 15th centuries), 48 4d."

THOMAS ATWOOD.

Thomas Atwood, sixth master (1426-1454), was a fellow of the college in 1399, when he was ordained by the bishop of Ely: acolyte Sept. 20, sub-deacon Dec. 20, and deacon March 13, 1399-1400. He was vicar of Lopham, Norfolk, 1446-56; vicar of Mutford, Suff., 1452-56; and rector of Elsworth, Cambs., where he seems to have resided latterly, till his death in 1456. He was also chaplain to the Duke

of Norfolk.

The period of his rule is important, as it was during this time and largely through his exertions that there were added to the chapel the other essentials of a college building. As the Annals say, 'The Hall, the master's chamber, the Library, the rest of the west side of the College, and the south side from thence

as far as the Chapel, were built in 1441, at the instigation, expense, and contrivance of that worthy man and liberal benefactor, Thomas Atwood, aided by the contributions of John Warrock, John Preston and other good men.'

It is not unlikely that the following undated building account in our earliest Computus book (p. 6) refers to these additions:

'Expense pro communibus latomorum et aliorum necessariorum in edifica

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The total amounts to £40. 18. 8d., which might fairly represent (v. WillisClark, 1. 167) the cost of such a building at that date. It should be remarked that the last word "furbisho" evidently stands for John Furbishon (Vol. 1. 7), fellow of the college, who doubtless acted as architect or clerk of the works. It is true that he ceases from the list of fellows in 1434, but he may very well have worked for the college after that date; and, in fact, the payment of his commons, in this way, suggests that he was not then on the staff.

Atwood's will is dated at Elsworth, March 7, 1455-6; and was proved (P.C.C.) 1456. It contains no direct reference to the college, though several of the fellows are mentioned as legatees. He desires to be buried in the chancel of Elsworth, where he is to have a fair marble monument erected, with the inscription, Orate pro animabus Mri Thoma Atwoode quondam rectoris hujus ecclesiæ, et Agnete matris suæ. A priest to celebrate for his soul four years. He leaves two antiphonars and a vestment to Elsworth church; and to the neighbouring churches of Boxworth and Lolworth, a graduale and 40s. To Overstrand church, 20s. He leaves books to John Hill (Vol. 1. 7) and John Fenge (Vol. 1. 5); also his best portiforium to Clement Rudde (Vol. 1. 8), who is to celebrate for him (?in the college chapel) for two years, 'si contingat eum exonerari ab onere collegii ad quod promotus fuit.' To St Michael's church, Cambridge, 68. 8d. To the nuns of St Rhadegunde's, Cambridge, 68. 8d.; and the same sum to the churches of Swaffham and Mutford. There are also legacies to the four orders of mendicant friars in Cambridge. The residue of his property to John Fenge, John Hill, Clement Rudd, John Elliott, and Thomas Hardman. "Volo etiam quod si Robertus Heilis

(Vol. I. 9) completo anno suæ regenciæ in artibus voluerit se convertere ad studium Theologiæ, cum proposito continuandi in eadem," he is to have 'my bible,' on paying five nobles to the executors.

C. III.

2

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