GUERNSEY AND JERSEY EDUCATION.

289

On Dec. 11, 1678, Charles II addressed the following order to the baillifs, deans, and jurats of the Islands1:

'Trusty & well beloved, we greet you well. Whereas our royal father of happy memory, for the encouragement of learning in our islands of Guernsey & Jersey, did found & endow three fellowships in our University of Oxford to be from time to time supplied by persons born in our said islands, & upon all vacancies to be nominated by you, the bailiffs deans & jurats of the said islands under such rules & limitations as by his charter of foundation it doth more at large appear, & whereas the present Lord BP of Winchester, for the aforesaid end and purpose, hath lately founded and endowed five Scholarships in the said University to be from time to time in like manner supplied by the nomination of you. . . . For the rendering both foundations subservient to his designed end, our will & pleasure is that, on the nomination of fellows into places wh shall be hereafter vacant, such shall be preferred as have been formerly nominated to their respective scholarships & have by their good carriage & improvement in learning fitted themselves for the employments wh belong to fellows in their respective societies.' . . .

...

In 1857 the right of nomination was cheerfully relinquished by the deans, baillifs, and jurats, of the Islands. The King Charles and Morley foundations were henceforth to be open to all natives of the two bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey, and to others, not natives, who should have been educated for two years past at Elizabeth College, Guernsey, or Victoria College, Jersey. These institutions had not previously been recognized. The former, after almost suffering extinction through the disinclination of the natives to a classical education, was re-chartered by George IV, in 1825, at the instance of Sir John Colborne, afterwards Lord Seaton 2, Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey. Victoria College was founded largely through the exertions of Dr. Jeune. The education is modelled on that of English public schools, the sons of English residents form the majority of the pupils, and the masters are of necessity chiefly brought from England. The islands, sundered bits of Normandy, where the old French tongue and customs linger as a pathetic survival, have been Anglicized and Anglicanized more than enough. But the intention of King Charles and Bishop Morley, that Oxford-bred divines should return home to serve the meagre island cures, is now defeated 3. I believe that not

1 Duncan's History of Guernsey, p. 345.

2 Of Waterloo fame. Jeune was tutor to his sons while he was Governor of Canada. Jeune was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Jones, who entered Pembroke in 1824. I have heard from him the authentic account of the famous charge of the 52nd Foot, which Lord Seaton told him on his death-bed.

3 Even before 1857 the Charles I Fellows frequently remained laymen, or accepted English preferments. Falle, the learned historian (whose son Philip

U

290

CHANNEL ISLANDERS.

one of the present clergy in the four Isles has been on either of the foundations. From another point of view it has been doubted by Mr. F. Brock Tupper, in his History of Guernsey, whether they have really benefited these islands, as from their commencement they have been a source of intrigue, partiality, and litigation.' Nevertheless the Channel Island foundations did their work. Among eminent men in recent times who have been educated in the Islands may be named the present Vice-Chancellor (Dr. Magrath), Archdeacon Denison, Mr. Walter Wren, Sir Peter Renouf, Field Marshal Sir Linton Symons, and Bishop Corfe.

Lequesne (History of Jersey, p. 176) observes:

66

'Owing to the vague wording of the grant, there has occasionally been a disagreement between the Islands, as to the right of nomination to [the King Charles] fellowships. To obviate this difficulty, the rule laid down in 1804 by the late Duke of Portland, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, was, that the Island which had simultaneously enjoyed two fellowships should next enjoy but one, without any reference to the number of individuals who might have been elected fellows." It prevented the possibility of one Island enjoying the three fellowships at once. Thus," adds the Rev. Ed. Durell," from 1790 to 1820 Jersey enjoyed two fellowships and had but two fellows elected; whereas Guernsey had but one, the Pembroke College Fellowship, into which about half a dozen Guernsey men were successively elected." In the reign of King Charles II, Bishop Morley, "taking into his serious consideration that the inhabitants of these Islands have not the advantages and encouragement for the education of their children, which on their behalf are desirable, and which others of his Majesty's subjects do enjoy, founded five scholarships in Pembroke College.... They have been productive of the singular advantage of having brought forward many individuals who have done honour to the island by their learning, their virtue, and their talents. Among these are the names of Drs. Brevint, John and David Durell, Dumaresq, Bandinel, and John and Edward Dupré."'

Deans Brevint and Durell however were not at Pembroke. The former (M.A. at Saumur) was the first King Charles Fellow at Jesus College. His son (?), DANIEL BREVINT, entered Pembroke in 1655. Two Pembroke DUPRÉS, Edward and Michael, like D'Auvergne, were Jersey rectors and military chaplains. Michael and John Dupré went from Pembroke to Exeter fellowships.

entered Pembroke 1709), complains of this 'abuse, and contradiction to the will of the Royal Founder.' For this foundation consult the Rev. C. W. Boase's Exeter College, O. H. S., p. cxiv. n, and p. cxxi.

CHAPTER XXII.

OTHER BENEFACTIONS.

It will be convenient to add here a list of the other benefactors of the College:

The first of those, after the Founders, who gave us wherewith to scholay' was JULIANA, wife of Alexander, STAFFORD, of High Holborn, gentleman, who, by her will, dated Feb. 6, 162, devised lands in the parish of Harlew, Essex, in trust for a yearly payment of £5 to each of four poor Scholars of St. Katherine Hall in Cambridge, and the same to either of two poor Scholars of Pembroke College, in Oxford, all of whom were to study divinity and carry themselves soberly and religiously; to be nominated respectively by the Master of Katherine Hall and the Chief Governor of Pembroke College; the Scholarships to be held during residence and until M.A. This fund is now amalgamated with Mr. Oades' benefaction for poor Scholars of the College.

Three Scholarships were founded by a member of the College, of whom some account must be given-FRANCIS ROus, called in his day 'Lord Rous.' Wood gives the following account of him in the Athenae (ii. 147):—

'Francis Rous, a younger son of Sir Anth. Rous Knight, by Elizab: his first wife daugh: of Tho: Southcote Gent. was born at Halton [otherwise Lanrake] in Cornwall, and at 12 years of age became a Commoner of Broadgates Hall, an. 1591', where continuing under a constant and severe discipline, took the degree of Bach: of Arts; which degree being compleated by Determination, he went afterwards, as it seems, to the Inns of Court, tho some there be that would needs persuade me that he took holy orders, and became Minister of Saltash in his own Country 2. Howsoever it is, sure I am, that he being esteemed a man of parts and to be solely devoted to the puritanical Party, he was elected by the men of Truro in his own Country to serve in Parliaments held in the latter end

1 He entered with his elder brothers, Richard and Robert, July 6, 1593. Noble says, B.A. 1591.

2 This was another Francis Rous, father of the author of Archaeologiae Atticae. Saltash is near Halton.

292

BENEFACTORS: SPEAKER ROUS.

of K. James, and in the Reign of K. Ch: I. In 1640 also he was elected again for that Corporation to serve in that unhappy Parliament which began at Westminster 3 Nov, wherein, seeing how violently the Members thereof proceeded, he put in for one, and shew'd himself with great zeal an Enemy to the Bishops' Prerogative, and what not, to gain the Populacy, a Name, and some hopes of Wealth which was dear unto him. In 1643 he forwarded and took the Covenant, was chosen one of the Assembly of Divines and for the Zeal he had for the holy cause, he was by authority of Parliament made Provost of Eaton Coll: near Windsore the same year [1643-1658] in the place of Dr Rich: Steuart who then followed, and adhered to, his sacred Majesty. In the said Parliament he afterwards shew'd himself so active, that he eagerly helped to change the Government into a Commonwealth, and to destroy the negative voice in the King and Lords. In 1653 he was by the Authority of Ol. Cromwell nominated a Member of the Little Parliament that began to sit at Westm: 4 July, and was thereupon elected the Speaker, but with a collateral Vote that he should continue in the Chair no longer than for a month, and in Decemb. the same year he was nominated one of Olivers Council. But when the good things came to be done, which were solemnly declared for, (for the not doing of which the Long Parliament was dissolved) He as an old bottle, being not fit to leave that new wine, without putting it to the question, he left the Chair, and went with his Fellow old bottles to Whitehall, to surrender their Power to General Cromwell, which he, as Speaker, and they by signing a Parchment or Paper, pretended to do. The colourable foundation for this Apostasie, upon the monarchical foundation, being thus laid, and the General himself (as Protector) seated thereon, he became one of his Council, and trusted with many matters, as being appointed in the latter end of the same year the first and prime Tryer or Approver of publick Preachers' and the year after a Commissioner for the County of Cornwall, for the Ejection of such whom they then called scandalous and ignorant Ministers and Schoolmasters. Afterwards he sate in the following Parliaments under Oliver, and being an aged and venerable man, was accounted worthy to be taken out of the H. of Commons, to have a negative voice in the other house, that is House of Lords, over all that should question him for what he had done, and over all the people of the Land besides, tho he would not suffer it in the King and Lords. This person who was usually stiled by the Loyal Party the old illiterate Jew of Eaton and another Proteus, hath divers things (especially of Divinity) extant, wherein much enthusiastical Canting is used... Our Author Rous gave way to fate at Acton near London on the seventh day of January in sixteen hundred fifty and eight, and was buried in Eaton Coll: Church, near to the entrance of that Chappel joyning thereunto, formerly built by Rog: Lupton, Provost of the said College. Soon

1 The 'Inquisitio Anglicana' (as it was called) of the Triers ousted such clergy as were unable to show what work of grace had been wrought in their souls, and declare the day and hour of their call by the Spirit. One poor man was kept thus under examination for seven weeks. One of Rous's coadjutors in this sifting process was the loose-lived mountebank, Hugh Peters.

BENEFACTORS: SPEAKER ROUS.

293 after were hanged up, over his grave, a Standard, Pennon, &c. and other Ensigns relating to Barons, containing in them the arms of the several matches of his Family. All which continuing there till 1661 were then pulled down with scorn by the loyal Provost and Fellows, and thrown aside as tokens and badges of damn'd baseness and rebellion. Those of his Party did declare openly to the World at his death that "he needed no monument besides his own printed works and the memorials of his last will, to convey his name to posterity. And that the other works of his life, were works of charity, wherein he was most exemplary, as the poor in many parts would after the loss of him tell you," &c. The Poet of Broadgates called Ch. Fitz Geffry did celebrate his memory while he was of that house, and after his death Pembroke College did the like for his benefaction to the members thereof.'

'Mr Rous, Esqu. of Essex' is mentioned in John Rous's Diary as answering in 1626 Montagu's Appello Caesarem. Neal also calls him 'Esquire,' and on his picture at Pembroke, which shows him, aged 77, in gown and broad band, he is styled 'armiger.' A certain number of laymen sate with the Westminster Divines1. Soon after obtaining the provosty of Eton, Rous, who appears not to have proceeded beyond B.A., nearly lost it by the operation of the Self-denying Ordinance; but an exception was made by the Commons in his favour. Clement Walker, reckoning the preferment bestowed by the Godly among the Independents, says 'Mr Rouse hath Eaton college worth 800l. per annum, and a lease of that college worth 600l. per. ann.' He substituted the Directory for the Common Prayer for the scholars' use. Mr. Lyte gives his 'Rules for the Schollers.' The old trees in the Playing Fields are said to be of Rous's planting. He enjoyed an opinion, Clarendon says, of some knowledge in the Latin and Greek tongues, but was 'of a very mean understanding.' Chalmers remarks, Lord Clarendon and his contemporaries undervalue his abilities, which certainly did not appear to much advantage in parliament, where his speeches were rude, vulgar and enthusiastic, both in style and sentiment, yet perhaps none the worse adapted to the understanding of his hearers.' Rous represented not only Truro but Tregony, Devonshire, and Cornwall. He certainly played a directing part in the events of that stormy time. In Revolutions it is commonly second-rate men who come to the front. Rous meditated modelling the Commonwealth after the pattern of the Jewish theocracy, and only when he found an assembly of ignorant and vulgar men unequal to this task did he propose to Barebone's Parliament to resign the sovereignty into the hands of Cromwell, whom he regarded as Moses and Joshua in one. It was said that Cromwell 'could not well do less than make that gentleman a Lord who had made him a Prince.' There is a portrait of Rous at Eton in his robes as Speaker.

1 Selden, who had a seat in the Assembly, says: 'There must be some laymen in the Synod to overlook the clergy, lest they spoil the civil work, just as, when the good woman puts a cat into the milkhouse to kill a mouse, she sends her maid to look after the cat, lest the cat should eat up the cream.' Whitelocke and Oliver St. John were of the number.