Bpi.stolm Acadenticze Oxonienses. Edited by the Rev. Henry Anstey, M.A.
Part I., 1421-1457 ; Part IL, 1457-1509. (The Oxford Historical Society. 42s.)—These letters cover, it will be seen, something less than a century, the word "letters" including, it should be observed, such documents as testimonials, acquit. tances, and the like. They are, as the editor describes them, "illustrative of academical life and studies." Perhaps the most prominent feature that they present to us is academic poverty. Most of them are begging letters, and letters of thanks, both couched in terms of what might be called gross adulation,—to that, however, Latin seems to lend itself with peculiar readiness. The series 276, 278-282 are a typical specimen. The University begs the help of the Bishop of London (Thomas Kempe) in building the Divinity School (still one of the ornaments of Oxford). We are asking a great thing, they say, but then you are no ordinary man. Your name will be associated with the work as that of King Solomon with the Temple at Jerusalem. The Bishop promises a gift (this letter is not given) and the University effusively thanks him, addressing him as " 711agni- ficentissime praesul et dumine singularissime." The next announces that the University has approved a statute for the commemoration of John Kempe, late Archbishop of Canter- bury, and the Bishop himself, " cum ab hac lute mig,raverit." This is to take place annually between the festivals of St. Luke and All Saints (October 18th and November 1st), "cum major solet ease confluentia magistrorum." In 280 four Masters of Arts are appointed to receive the Bishop's benefaction ; 281 includes their authority, the acquittance of the Bishop (a receipt for .£100;, and the statute for the commemoration aforesaid. The Bishop seems to have been so pleased that he gives an additional bene- faction of a thousand marks, to be paid in five annual instalments. The whole gift must have been equivalent to more than £10,000 of our money. Books are a frequent subject of the letters, the benefactions of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, and of other generous donors, coming into the period. What a lamentable thing that of all these priceless gifts only an insignificant fragment remains ! The University chests are frequently mentioned. Gifts are acknowledged. There are hints of breaches of trust in the keepers. No. 520, though not very clear—it is written in English—suggests that one of the keepers had died seriously in debt. Theological matters occasionally appear. The University assures the King (Edward IV.) that it had burnt some heretical books of Pecock
and Wyclif, that this would have been done before had any intima- tion been received from the Pope or the Archbishop, and that any copies thereafter discovered would be similarly treated. Oxford had been less complaisant a century before. The Oxford Historical Society and the editor deserve well of students for these two volumes.
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