I was in the midst T was much," says an histo

"of so many miseries of civil wars, Waynflete should found his fair "college," and, we may add, be able to complete it. We must agree too with another writer, that probably "bee would have done much more then hee did, had hee not "beene hindred by the warrs be"tweene Yorke and Lancaster." But a faint idea has been here given of the times in which he lived. Ferocity and barbarisu prevailed in no common degree. Faction, intrigue, and discord, were insatiable of human blood. The terrible picture, drawn by the pencil of a master, would inspire dismay and horror at the situation of the public; while pity and respect would be raised by the sufferings of a small group of peaceable individuals, with Waynfete at their head. His intervals of respite from alarm or trouble had been few and disturbed; but, though he was weary of the spectacle, his dismission was retarded until he had beheld another grand catastrophe.

"Dr. Moreton, a firm adherent of king Henry, even in the camp, yielding, like Waynflete, to the torrent, had become a favourite with king Edward; who employed him in a negociation with France in 1474, and made him a privy counsellor and bishop of Ely (1478). He was arrested by king Richard, and committed in custody to the duke of Buckingham; who, disgusted with that usurpation which he so lately, so largely, and so criminally promoted, adopted a plan formed by is prisoner, to unite the Roses, by

families, in a matriage of the eldest blending the pretensions of the two

daughter of Edward the Fourth with Henry earl of Richmond, an exile in Brittany, and the sole remaining .scyon of the stem of Lancaster.

"An insurrection and invasion in 1483, by failing, confirmed Richard in the possession of the crown, and an obsequious parliament passed their usual bill of attainder. But the earl renewed his preparations; and among the students who resorted to him from the university of Paris was Richard Fox, famous for his learning, and attached alike to the party of Waynflete and his college, where he had received his education, per. haps as a demy. He was recommended by Moreton, who had escaped to the earl in disguise, and was intrusted with the equipment of a fleet. King Richard, to defeat the projected union, resolved to espouse his niece. His son opportunely died; and poison, it was believed, removed his wife; but he was pressed by the expedition of his enemy. He applied among others to Waynflete to advance money on the occasion, and he complied, probably because he dared not to refuse. The month after, Bosworth field decided be tween the two rivals.

"The mild virtues, or perhaps the popularity, of Waynflete, had been respected by King Richard. He had also favoured his college, and, besides granting a pardon for lands acquired in mortmain and for any irregularities in their proceedings, had conferred on it a portion of the forfeited estate of the duke of Buckingham, who had been beheaded; but Wayn

flete

flete is said to have derived great satisfaction from the re-accession of the house of Lancaster to the throne; and the new king, not unapprized of bis merit, distinguished him early as a friend of his family. Moreton, who was advanced to the see of Canterbury (June 1487), and Fox, who was niade a bishop and lord privy seal, were also kind to the college, or its members.

"In the first parliament of the new king an act of resumption was passed, with provision that it "should not "be prejudicial to William bishop of Wynchestre, nor to the presi"dent and scolars of Seynt Mary "Magdalen in the University of "Oxford;" to whom it confirmed the letters patent which had been issued by Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fourth in their favour.

"President Mayew attended the coronation on the thirtieth of October, 1485, and, by order of the founder, was allowed his expenses, fifteen shillings and three pence halfpenny, from the college.

"The life of Waynflete, and the miseries arising from civil discord, were now hastening to a conclusion. He had been employed in establishing and watching over his favourite institution at Oxford above thirty-seven years. He had settled his society under a governor whose conduct he approved; and had given it statutes which he knew to be calculated for the advancement of its welfare and reputation, and for the increase of religion and learning, to the praise and glory of God. It had already produced, and it possessed, many men of eminence; besides younger students, whose talents and application promised to sustain, to equal, or exceed, the renown of their predecessors. He had felt complaeency in observing the good effects of his exertions in its favour, and from the conscious rectitude of his

own intentions. He had taken his farewell of it in the true spirit of benevolence; recommending to its members, and to all who abode in the college, to maintain, as disciples of Christ, holy obedience, peaces unity, and perfect charity. He was now far stricken in years, and unwilling or unable to attend to public husiness. As was the custom of the bishops of Winchester, and of other great persons, he had hitherto frequently changed the places of his residence; removing with his numerous retainers, to his various castles or mansions, as suited with the season, their stores of provision, his convenience, or inclination, until December 1485; when he repaired from Southwark to Southwaltham, where he did not survive to the fulfilling the treaty of marriage between the two houses, which diffused joy and consolation over the whole realm.

"An epistle addressed to him in this year, is prefixed to a book entitled "Triumphus Amoris D. N. Jesu "Christi," now among the unprinted manuscripts ih the library at Lambeth. The author was Laurence William de Savona, one of the friars minors in London, and a doctor in divinity, who compiled a new rhetoric at Cambridge in 1478, which was printed at St. Albans in 1480. It contains an eulogy on Waynflete and on his college. The writer expatiates particularly on his bounty, of which he tells us the poor had daily and large experience at divers places, at his splendid mansions and at churches; and affirms, that his prudence and wisdom, generosity, clemency, and compassion, were every where and generally extolled by the people. Mention is made of the venerable gray hair of the bishop.

"Waynflete prepared for his departure out of this life, with the dignity and calm composure of integrity and a good conscience.

Among

college still occupied a principal portion of his care; and Dr. Mayhew was often with him, as he had been before he finally left London. In various matters, which for some reason or other were postponed, he declared his mind and pleasure to him, to be fulfilled by the society after his decease.

"The war between the houses of York and Lancaster had produced twelve pitched battles, in which eighty persons of royal lineage, and ninety thousand men had perished. Many had been the noble sufferers by attainder, confiscation, exile, and the scaffold; many the tragical incidents and vicissitudes of fortune, witnessed during a long life by Waynflete. Even the recent and grateful triumph of 'king Henry, was attended with sorrow for the bloodshed, for the slain, for the captured, or the fugitive acquaintance and friend. We cannot wonder if, worn with affliction and age, he wished for a speedy release from the burthen.

On the 27th of April, 1486, he received, says Budden, something as it were of a divine impression or admonition, not unlike that of the prophet to Hezekiah, 2 Kings xx. 1. Set thine house in order, for thou "shalt die, and not live." His will is dated on that day at Southwaltham. "In the preamble he declares, that he was panting for the life to come, and perceived the day of bis expectation in this valley of tears arrived as it were at its eve, and the time of his dissolution near at hand.

"He bequeaths his soul to Almighty God, the Virgin, Mary Magdalen, and the patron saints of his cathedral; and directs that his body should be buried in the tomb which he had provided for it, in a chapel of the blessed Mary Magdalen, in his church of Winchester.

sepulture, and on the trental of his obit, as follows, the money to be distributed by equal portions, viz.

"To the prior of the convent of Winchester, besides a cup and cover gilded, forty shillings: to each of the monks, if a priest, thirteen shillings and four pence: if not, three shillings and four pence.

"To the abbot of Hyde thirteen shillings and four pence: to each of the monks, if a priest, six shillings and eight pence; if not, three shillings and four pence.

"To the abbess of the monastery of St. Mary Wynton thirteen shillings and four peuce: to each nun, if professed, two shillings; if not, sixteen pence.

"To the warden of the college at Winchester six shillings and eight pence; to each priest two shillings; to each clerk sixteen pence; to each boy four pence; and for two pittances for the fellows and boys, twenty shillings.

"To the master of the hospital of St. Cross six shillings and eight pence: to each priest two shillings; to each clerk of the chapel sixteen pence.

"To the religious of the order of St. Austin at Wynton, of minors, of predicants, and to the Carmelites, to each twenty-six shillings and eight pence.

"To each priest, with or without cure, belonging to the city and soke, two shillings; and to each clerk of a parish twelve pence. The place where these should celebrate his exequies to be appointed by his executors.

"To the president of his college six shillings and eight pence: to each fellow, scholar, and chaplain, two shillings; to each clerk of the chapel sixteen pence; to each chorister twelve pence.

"The same to New college, Ox

He

"Hebequeaths to Joan Welby, widow of Richard Welby, a handsome silver cup and cover, gilded.

"To be distributed among the poor on the day of his burial, and on the trental of his obit, at least one hundred and sixty pounds thirteen shillings and four pence.

His executors to cause five thousand masses in honour of the five wounds of Christ, and the five joys of the Virgin Mary, to be celebrated on the day of his burial, the trental of his obit, and other days, as soon possible, for his soul, and the souls of his parents and friends.

"A distribution of money to be made among his domestics according to the codicil,

"All his manors, lands, and tenements, not belonging to his church, but obtained otherwise, to be given by his feoffees, and applied entirely to the perpetual use of his college; the manor of Sparshold only excepted.

He beseeches his executors, and requires them in the bowels of Christ, to consider favourably the necessity of his college, and to relieve it from bis effects according their ability.

"He appoints John Catesby justice of the King's Bench, master William Gyfford rector of Cheryton, Mychael Cleves doctor of decrees, master John Nele, master Stephen Tyler rector of Alverstoke, master William Holden rector of Drokynfford, and Richard Burton of Tanton, his executors. To the first he bequeaths, in recompense of his trouble, twenty-six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence; to the others, each thirteen pounds six shillings and eight pence.

"He directs the residue of his goods to be disposed of by his executors, with the consent of the majority, among the poor; in pious and devout uses; and, especially, in aid of the necessities of his college; in masses and in almus-deeds for the salvation

of his soul, and of the souls of his parents and friends.

"The codicil comprises his chap-. lains, officers, and servants of every denomination, in all one hundred and twenty-five persons; and the amount of his bequests to them is considerable.

"This year, (1486,) which was the last of his life, affords an instance of his attention to merit, and of his dispensing with his statutes to reward it. He had noticed, when at his college, the good and virtuous disposition of a chaplain who had been long there, and was of a county and diocese from, which scholars could not be chosen. In obedience to a letter from him, Hewster was admitted at the ensuing election to a year of probation, and on the same day to be perpetual fellow.

"Cardinal Beaufort, with licence from king Henry, and with consent of the master or warden of the hospital of St. Cross, at Sparkford near Winchester, and of the brethren and other persons concerned, had engrafted on the foundation there, not long before his death, a new eleemosynary institution, to the honour of God, and of the glorious Virgin his mother, and for the salvation of his own soul. It was an alms-house of noble poverty, within the precinct of the hospital, designed for two presbyters, thirtyfive brethren, and three sisters, to be for ever under the government of the master. He had provided a suitable endowment for the perpetual maintenance of his charity; and by his statutes had enjoined certain devotions and observances for the health of his soul. He had besides granted to the master and brethren various possessions, rents, and temporal domains, for the support of burthens, and the performance of works of piety, as covenanted for (4th Feb. 1445) by indentares be

tween

tween the two parties. But he had numerous enemies; and the Yorkists, when they prevailed, had been gratified with Lancastrian plunder. Waynflete had seen the revenues of the alms-house of noble poverty curtailed, we may suppose, with regret, but without being able to prevent the robbery. The accession of king Henry the Seventh favoured an examination into its circumstances; and the result is contained in an instrument dated Southwaltham the 2d of August, 1486, in the fortieth year of his consecration; setting forth, that time, and the succeeding malice of men, had entirely stripped the hospital of the secular estates annexed to it by Beaufort, which had been seized on, and were occupied by noble and powerful persons; that it was now impossible his intention could be fulfilled in the whole, and that the bishop, from compassion to his predecessor, whose piety was thus defeated, and from a sense of duty was impelled to uphold his design, so far as it could be fitly supported by the produce of some ecclesiastical benefices which remained. He decreed, therefore, that in future there should be for ever in the said alms-house two brethren, bound to say private prayers, like the old brethren, but differing in habit; and one perpetual chaplain, to be presented by the master, and admitted by the bishop of Winchester, to celebrate mass daily in person, or by deputy, with a special collect for the soul of the cardinal, and with the other prayers enjoined in the statues. To each of the two brethren he assigned yearly seventythree shillings and four pence; to the chaplain ten marks, to be paid by the master from the profits of the parish church of Crondale and of St. Faith near Wynton, and of other benefices, in conformity to the intention of the appropriator; and

to the master, for his trouble, four pounds. The residue of their income he directed to be reserved ahnually for the necessary expenses of the premises; the lodgings of the chaplain and brethren to be repaired' according to the old statutes and ordinances.

"The bishop appears to have possessed a robust constitution, and to have long enjoyed almost uninterrupted health. He now fell suddenly into a grievous disease, which, in the figurative language of Dr. Budden, creeping and stealing through his limbs and marrow, got into the citadel of his heart, and so entirely overcame him as to bring on a speedy dissolution. He died on Friday the 11th of August, 1486, at four in the afternoon. His disorder, of which the account is obscure, seems to have begun in the extremities. Its inroad was gradual, and it seized on his vitals by insensible degrees, as we are told; for he' was able, as is proved by his Register, to give institution to a living on the same day. The body was removed to Winchester with great funeral pomp, and, after the usual' solemnity, deposited in the tomb within the chapel of St. Mary Magdalen in the cathedral, according to the directions in his will.

"In the Account-book of the year a payment is entered, for three carts which conveyed to the college servants belonging to the president, and for the carriage of divers things from Waltham. Among the articles then removed were probably the mitre, crosier, and pontifical habit of the founder; which were reposited as memorials of him in the treasury. At his exequies performed in the college were expended three pounds six shillings and eleven pence halfpenny; and on the trental three pounds eight shillings and seven pence. On his obits, the chapel,

we