refuge for the Roman Catholics, it included a certain proportion of members who, being precluded by religious scruples from matriculating, only remained so long as the University would allow them to dispense with this formality; and the pronounced Catholic reputation of Gloucester Hall would lead one to suppose that the number of such students was large. Secondly, during this early period the Hall probably included a fair number of permanent residents, and we have seen that in 1568 their number was a very large one. Thirdly, an examination of the list leads one to an almost irresistible conclusion that the matriculation system was extremely lax. In no other way can one account for the manner in which the numbers of matricu lations fluctuated from year to year. For instance, in 1574 we find 35 matriculations all in January; in the two succeeding years there were none at all, and in 1577 there were 15, in 1578 there were 33, and again in 1579 and 1580 there were none at all. One would therefore argue that the Hall either saved up its students in order that as many as possible might matriculate at one time, or that they did not matriculate at all till the University insisted on it. If any such irregularity as this existed, it was inevitable that some should slip through the net and pass through Gloucester Hall without having matriculated at all. And it is very noticeable how many of those who were undoubtedly at Gloucester Hall are not to be found in the matriculation lists. In 850 cases the origin of the students at the Hall has been noted. Far the largest proportion, 15 per cent., came from Wales, though I know absolutely no reason for this. All the counties in the West of England were very well represented. Gloucester came second to Wales with 10 per cent. ; then followed Devon, 8 per cent.; Middlesex, 8 per cent., and Cornwall 7 per cent.; Somerset, Wilts, Worcester, Warwickshire, and Oxford, all had between 4 and 5 per cent. No other county was at all liberally represented, but it is noticeable that the representation gets smaller the further east we go, and the percentage for Norfolk and Suffolk is virtually nil. Foreigners number hardly 1 per cent., and in spite of the statement of Wood, Irishmen were only 2 per cent. But that nation always appears to be more numerous than it really is. Altogether Wales, Gloucester, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset were responsible for no less than 45 per cent. of the members of the Hall. As to age, there were more deviations from the average at Gloucester Hall than at other Colleges. Quite a number of those who matriculated were well advanced in years; while in the other direction may be quoted the case of the five members of the Fitz James family, who all matriculated in March, 1581, aged respectively seven, nine, ten, eleven, and twelve, or the four Butlers, who matriculated in August, 1593, aged from ten upwards. The indications as to condition given in the Register of matriculations are extremely uncertain, but one gathers that Gloucester Hall was recruited fairly evenly from all ranks of society, not excluding the highest; perhaps there was a slight predominance of the clergy, but it was not very marked. D. THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION OF THE COLLEGE THE Constitution of the College till the latter half of the present century remained unaltered, save for its enlargement by the incorporation of the Clarke and Eaton Foundations. By the first Universities Commission serious and vital changes were made, which were followed up by the second Commission with others also of an important character. As a result of the first Commission, the original Statutes of the College were superseded by ordinances, contemplating the possibility of statutes based upon them, which were, however, never drawn up. These ordinances were again superseded by the present Statutes, which were the work of the Commission of 1877. The sum of the changes effected at these two stages has been the abolition Founder's Kin claims; the extinction of the succession of scholars to Fellowships; the removal of restrictions in the case of Fellowships, save the retention of one Fellow in Holy Orders, while, under the old constitution, there was only one permanently Lay Fellow, the librarian; the reduction of the number of Fellowships from nineteen to nine, or at the most ten; and the consolidation of the Finney Foundation into a single scholarship. Of the Fellows, two at least must be resident within the College walls; four are to be Tutors or Bursars; one may be a Professor-Fellow; the others may be Prize-Fellows, elected on examination. The tenure is for seven years, with reelection, save in the case of the Prize-Fellows, as such. Of the three officers of the College, two, the ViceProvost and the Dean, are appointed annually; the third, the Bursar, for a period of three years, or at most of five. In the case of the scholarships, the original limitations have been retained, always with the provision that the candidate shall satisfy the examiners. Thus, the Eaton Scholarships are for sons of clergymen ; the Cookes Scholarships for candidates from Bromsgrove. The Clarke, the Barnes, and the Finney Scholarships are subject to no restrictions. The Statutes provide for nineteen scholarships; but through the diminution of the College revenue, their number is for the time reduced to twelve, of which only four are open scholarships. On the other hand, the College has for some years past provided a number of small exhibitions, which are awarded upon examination. The Visitor of the College, who used to be the Bishop of Worcester, the Bishop of Oxford, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University conjointly, is now the Lord High Chancellor on behalf of the Crown. |