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The most ancient form of the Hood was. that which was sowed or tied to the upper part of the coat or gown, and brought over the head for a covering, in the same manner as a cowls but when caps were introduced, the hoods became only an ornament for the shoulders and back; they were then enlarged and lined with skins.

The Boots were introduced by the Benedictines. The ancient form or fashion of them was but small, and came up to the middle of the leg, with little or no tops to them. They were worn by Masters of Arts at their inception; which custom continued till the introduction of the Degree of Doctor, when they were used by them, and the Masters wore Pantables or Sandals.*

VIII. UNIVERSITY AT STANFORD.

Anthony Wood assigns the date 1291, 20 Edward I. as the commencement of the University at Stanford, "Let us examine,'

* Wood's History of Oxford.

says he," its first original, as far at least as can be discovered by ancient registers; rejecting in the mean while the authority of those writers, who refer its institution to Bladud, 870 years before the birth of our Saviour. And why should we not be of opinion that it was begun by Mr. Robert Lutterel, who studying for a time at Oxford, became afterwards rector of Ensham in this County? For in the 20th of Edward I. he made over the manor which he held in St. Peter's parish in Stanford, to the prior and convent of Sempringham, devoting it equally to the increase of the said convent, and support of such as should here study divinity and philosophy, and also for the maintenance either of a regular, or secular clerk, who should celebrate mass within the chapel of the Blessed Virgin in the said Manor. From this gift therefore of the said Mr. Robert Lutterel (which I find confirmed on the 29th of November, 1303, by John d'Alderby, Bishop of Lincoln) I do not at all doubt began these schools at Stanford, which the Oxonians (frequent

ing the place) finding it become famous, especially as it is probable, the northern men, they removed to it, not at all driven thither by any disturbances in their own University, but chiefly allured by the newness of the place, and other inducements." Peck, however, in his History of Stanford, attributes the foundation of it to Henry de Hanna, early in the reign of Henry III. It appears to have been suppressed by Edward III, in favour of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, from the former of which there happened at that time, in consequence of a riot, to be a great secession.

IX. STATE OF LEARNING IN THE UNIVERSITY AT THE LATTER END OF THE

THIRTEENTH CENTURY.

In the year 1284, John Peckham, Archbishop of Canterbury, came to Oxford to visit Osney Abbey. Which being finished, he called together the Masters of the University, who appearing before him, he made

a grave speech; then told them of divers erroneous opinions, which they, not becoming their wisdom, did maintain, and that neither by reason, nor upon any scholastical ground, but for the cause of commotion did imprudently affirm and defend against the instructions and lessons of the ancient philosophers and other wise men. Among their grammatical errors, it seems, they held "ego currit," "ego legit," to be good latin.*

X. STATE OF LEARNING IN THE UNIVERSITY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE

SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

At this time there were in Oxford some men of real learning, among whom were conspicuous the names of Grocyn, Latymer, Colet, and Linacre; men who in the schools of Italy had studied the Greek language with indefatigable industry, and who were using all their exertions to promote its

* Wood's Annals.

cultivation in our own country, and particularly in this University. They had however to oppose numerous and violent prejudices, few were anxious to acquire the knowledge of what a great majority loaded with contempt; few could be induced to labour in pursuit of an object, by which in the opinion of some, they were liable to incur the odious charge of heresy. The study preparatory to the degrees in Arts, seems to have been confined to the miserable translations and more miserable comments of Ptolemy's astronomy, Aristotle's logical and metaphysical works, something of natural philosophy and ethics, the two first books of Euclid, and a little grammar and rhetoric.

The regular time of conferring degrees, upon the payment of certain variable pecuniary fines, was allowed to be anticipated. For the higher degrees, these fines sometimes amounted to a considerable sum; for a doctor's degree in divinity twenty pounds have been given. On these occasions, at first the ordinary perquisites, were liveries, knives, gloves, and cloth for gowns, to the

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