248 THE FOEESTS OF ENGLAND. 



this kingdom, a taste at that time very prevalent, wisely 

 foreseeing that without a perfect knowledge of those 

 requisites, a thorough understanding of the laws of their 

 native country could not be attained. For the better 

 carrying on of this their laudable purpose, they, about the 

 fourteenth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, formed 

 themselves into a college or society, under the protection 

 of that great patron of letters, Matthew Parker, Arch- 

 bishop of Canterbury, and laid down the necessary rules 

 for their conferences and conduct. Their method of pro- 

 cedure appears to have been this : at every meeting, two 

 of the body being appointed propositors and moderators, 

 gave out one or more questions as they thought proper, 

 upon which each member was expected at the subsequent 

 meeting either to deliver in a dissertation in writing, or to 

 speak his opinions ; and in order thereunto a copy of each 

 question was sent to such members as happened to be 

 absent. The opinions spoken were carefully taken down 

 in writing by the secretary, and together with the disser- 

 tations delivered, were carefully deposited in their archives. 

 The society daily increased by an accession of new and 

 learned members, several of whom were persons of high 

 rank and distinguished abilities. They entertained some 

 thoughts of erecting a library, and obtaining for themselves 

 a charter of incorporation under the style of The Academy 

 for the Study of Antiquity and History, founded by Queen 

 Elizabeth. A petition for that purpose, together with 

 reasons for such an establishment, were actually delivered 

 to the Queen ; but this project, for what reasons we are 

 not told, unhappily miscarried. The society, however, 

 continued in a flourishing condition until the year 1604, 

 when, many of their chief supporters dying, particularly 

 their second great patron Archbishop Whitgift, and the 

 jealousy of King James I. suspecting their loyalty and 

 attachment to his government, their meetings were dis- 

 continued. 



" About fourteen years after, some of the old members, 

 together with some of the most eminent lawyers of that 



