THE HALL. 687 



no doubt distracted by perpetual jealousies and quarrels. 

 Still in 1639, King's College, where according to tradition 

 these feuds were most persistent, purchased in 1639 a new 

 seat ' in laundress yard ' for the seniors of the college at a cost 

 of 97J. 3</. T 



On gaudies, numerous in the winter season and celebrated 

 on certain saints' days and holy-days throughout the year, the 

 diet was more varied and more generous. Poultry and 

 puddings, spiced meats and game, with abundance of but- 

 tered eggs, and in places caudle, were served on these 

 occasions. It seems from the quantities, whose consumption 

 is recorded in the commons' books, that the inferiors of the 

 society were not invited to share in these banquets. The 

 fellows of Winchester College devoured enormous quantities 

 of oysters, and the college accounts, in recording the purchase 

 of oyster knives by the dozen, seem to imply that the 

 beneficiaries of Wykeham's foundation opened their oysters 

 for themselves. Then some friend of the society would send 

 the corporation a buck, and there was a temporary change 

 from the customary beef and mutton of the college table. 



I have referred already to the large quantities of wild fowl 

 and rabbits which were purchased for Lord Spencer's table. 

 In a less degree, these are bought For occasional feasts by the 

 fellows of Winchester. Then till the Puritan movement 

 proscribed them, there were occasional visits of itinerant 

 players, and those of the best, in college halls and at the 

 country seats of noblemen. It is known that plays were 

 acted, not in the London Inns of Court only, but in New 

 College and Christ Church halls in Oxford, that Shakspere 

 in his journeys to Stratford-on-Avon halted in Oxford, and 

 very likely took part in the entertainments given by the 

 Company to which he belonged. It is true that the Court 

 was the chief patron of the players. In 1604-5 I find, from 

 an account book of James, that Heming's Company, to which 



1 Here ' sell* ' must I conclude, from the price, be a seat. There appears to be 

 no memory at King's College as to the site of Laundress Yard. 



