office to employ priests, and to form chantries to offer prayers for the living, and intercede for the dead: in their philanthropic character each was bound, in some way or other, to assist the society, and, therefore, on becoming members of the guild, all contributed something, according to their rank, or their peculiar views and professions. As to their masonic character, (I am not sure I use a proper word) the members of the guild were all bound never to disclose its deliberations, or secrets, and on the violation of that standing rule were liable to a fine, or to expulsion from the society.

These fraternities were further composed of persons of different sexes, and herein resembled those Benedictine monasteries, that admitted both monks and nuns; except that they were not bound to celibacy. They received people of all descriptions, nobles as well as private persons, clergy as well as laity; and people of the greatest opulence, and of the first consideration in the state, were always forward to be enrolled among the members, that their souls might enjoy the benefit of their prayers *.

a One of the most pleasing lures, by which religious houses and guilds increased their possessions, was by indulgences. Thus the Bishop of * Ely was empowered to grant St. Mary's Guild an indulgence, and it is curiously worded in the Latin of those times, thus: Gratum obsequium totiens altissimo impendere opinamur, quotiens mentes fidelium ad caritativæ devocionis opera indulgentiarum muneribus excitamur; that is, we conceive that we pay an acceptable homage to the Most High, as often as we excite the minds of the faithful to works of charitable devotion by gifts of indulgences." And again, “Qui ad gildam BEATÆ MARIE Cantabrigie nostre diocesis quicquam de bonis sibi a Deo collatis, contulerint inter vivos, vel in sya legaverint ultima voluntate, eive bona aliqua conferri curaverint, Quadraginta dies de injuncta sibi penitentia in Domino misericorditer relaxamus.

and

Nor must we forget to observe, that every guild had its own laws to these they were bound by oath. They had a public fund, out of which they assisted members fallen into decay, and lent sums to assist them in trade. The death of a member, whether male or female, excited a public-feeling. All the fraternity attended the funeral, many masses were said for the souls of the deceased. We have the name still used in several towns in England, as in Bury St. Edmund's, Suffolk. The Guildhall, in London, took its name as being the common hall where the several guilds in London held their assemblies. Each guild had its hall; and the Vintners long preserved in theirs a curious piece of tapestry, relating to the history of their patron saint, now removed to their chapel at Mile End.

Mr. Masters, in his History of Bene't College, has given us the names of several members, with the time of their admission. It is collected, he tells us, from the original entry book of Corpus Christi Guild, which begins in 1349, and which he justly calls a great curiosity. I shall select only a few, as characteristic of this fraternity, and in Mr. Masters's own words:

"Thomas de Heltisle, the first master of the college, was admitted in 1350, with Sir Alan de Eltislee, rector of Lolleworth, his brother, about the same time, as were likewise, John de Eltislee, and Joan his wife, in 1357.

"John Clement de Tamworth, and Alice, his wife, with Henry and Maud, his father and mother, who was of great service to the guild and college, in transacting their affairs in London, and who presented the latter with a cup and vestment.

"Lord Thomas Brotherton, Earl Mareschal, and Alice his wife, with many of their children and relations after

their decease; whose souls were to be prayed for, together with all those who had been friends and benefactors to Sir Walter and Lady Margaret.

"Sir John de Goldynham, knight, and Eleanor, his wife, were likewise admitted, and gave to the guild the advowson of the church of Chekewell, or Chigwell, in Essex, for their souls, and those of their fathers and mothers, and of all their friends.

"Robert de Blaston, and Adam de Newenham, were admitted on promise of faithfully serving the guild in the office of carpenters, before any other, and of giving to some others 14 d. per week, according to the custom of the town: as was likewise William de Stowe, after swearing upon the Gospels, that he would serve the guild, after he was released from the service he was then serving."

This will in some sort shew us the character of the Corpus Christi Guild.

"St. Mary's Guild was in being in the beginning of Edward I.'s reign, but how much earlier we know not; for we meet with a grant to it of a house in St. Mary's parish, from William de Tingeswick, and Felicia his wife, to pray for their souls, and those of all their predecessors and successors; which, although without date, it is conjectured, by the names of the witnesses, must have been about his twelfth and the rolls of their transactions still reyear; maining, begin as early as 1301: at a congregation there held, it was agreed, that all the brethren and sisters should, on the day after the circumcision, meet annually, and say mass in the morning, in a solemn manner, in St. Mary's Church, for those of the fraternity, who were departed out of this life, and that every one who was absent should pay a small mulct.-To this fraternity, also, belonged

people of all descriptions, and different sexes, among whom may be mentioned

"Richard de Bury, formerly Bishop of Durham, tutor to Edward III. when prince, a great reader and writer, and author of Philobiblon, who was made dean of Wells, in 1332, promoted the year following to the bishopric, became lord treasurer in 1344, lord chancellor the same year, and died soon after.

"We find, likewise, Walton Reynolds, formerly the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had been chaplain to Edward I. and was promoted to that see, by his son's great importunity with the Pope; and also John de Cambridge, who was made a member of this guild, and became their alderman in 1311, and afterwards made one of the justices of the King's Bench, and knighted. This gentleman had large possessions, both in lands and houses, in this town and the adjacent villages, and was a most liberal benefactor to this society, as also he was to the college.

Henry, Duke of Lancaster, with Sir Henry de Waltona, his treasurer, and Simekyn Symeon, his esquire, became brethren of Corpus Christi Guild about the time of founding the college.

Thus far the words of Mr. Masters, and they will unfold to us the character of these two guilds, of the body of Christ and the blessed Virgin Mary, as well as the source of the endowment of Bene't College.

a It appears from the Orig. Jes. that Joanna Lancaster, and Eliz. Walton were, both at the same time, veiled nuns of the monastery of St. Radegund, and each, in succession, prioresses; the former in the eighth year of Edward IV. the latter in the twelfth of Edward IV. We may conclude they were of the two great families mentioned above. b Masters's History of Bene't College.

For we have here another instance of the tendency there is of attaching to institutions the names of great men as benefactors, or founders, who were merely the instruments of rendering them service. "Thus the Duke of Lancaster," as Mr. Masters observes, "is usually deemed the founder of this college, although," as he continues to observe, "I meet with no considerable monuments of his bounty bestowed upon it, except a few silver shields enamelled, with his arms and the instruments of the Passion upon them, to carry about with them in their processions, and some other presents, not particularly specified; for as to the manor of Burton, which is still called after his name, that was purchased of him by the brethren; so that he seems to have been little more than a mediator, whom the societies made use of to obtain favours of the crowna." Nor does Archbishop Parker's account of his patronage amount to any thing more, than that he obtained the college the right of mortmain from the king.

The building of the college first began, according to Archbishop Parker, under the patronage of the Guild of Corpus Christi, in 1842, the 16th of Edward III. near that street which he calls Luthborn; now Free-school Lane, The Guild of St. Mary's united with them, for the same purpose, in 1344. They also probably obtained the sanction of a papal bull; though of this I do not know the date: they, however, received a licence from the king. This was had through the medium of the Duke of Lancaster, the alderman of the guild; and it bears the date of 26th Edward III. The same înstru