SCHOOLS 



This seems to be the earliest mention of what was known as Gloucester 

 College till 1540, afterwards as Gloucester Hall, and is now Worcester 

 College. The university no doubt granted the request. 



The Gloucester historian chronicles that, in the year 1283, 



our house at Oxford was founded by the noble man Sir John Gifiard, a convent of monks 

 being solemnly inducted there on St. John the Evangelist's Day (27 December) by the 

 venerable Father Reginald, then abbot of Gloucester, Sir John Giffard being present and 

 agreeing to the same. 



The Worcester chronicle 1 in fuller and more specific terms says : 



A certain nobleman named John Gifiard founded a place at Oxford outside the walls and 

 gave possessions to maintain 13 monks, whom he chose out of the convent at Gloucester, 

 wishing that his soul and the soul of Maud Longsword (de Longespey), formerly his wife, 

 should receive perpetual benediction from the professors of St. Benedict. 



Though no foundation is forthcoming, it is certain that one was actually 

 made, as ' Henry, Prior of Oxford ' is recorded last of the priors of the 

 dependent priories or cells of Gloucester Abbey voting at the election of a 

 new abbot, John of Gamage, on Sunday after Michaelmas, 1284.* But it 

 seems that the Gloucester monks were recalled, for 7 years later, at a Bene- 

 dictine chapter-general on 1 1 July, 1 290,* a committee (dijfinitores) was 

 appointed to provide 



as well for those things which concern the priory at Oxford newly created by the aforesaid 

 religious men for their studies as for the continuation of the building there and the contribu- 

 tions to be made in common to the building. 



At the next general chapter, held in 1291 in Salisbury Cathedral on the day 

 after the burial of Queen Eleanor at Amesbury, the committee presented their 

 report.* By 5 instruments then produced and approved by the chapter, and 

 presumably set out in order of date, the house at Oxford was settled or re- 

 settled as a house for the whole order, and not for Gloucester Abbey only. 



The first was a deed of John abbot and the convent of Gloucester 

 which recited that 



Sir John Gifiard, lord of Brimsfield, intended to establish de nova a house at Oxford 

 for monks of the order of St. Benedict, to be held to be of his foundation, and thought 

 that a place in Stockwell Street, which not sparing money or trouble he had bought from 

 the hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, was specially suited for the purpose, because being in 

 the Hospitallers' name it was exempt from all episcopal and archidiaconal jurisdiction. 



The deed then stated that at the request of Giffard and of the presidents of 

 the general chapter, Gloucester 



had sent monks to occupy this house in the slead of the community of the order, but had 

 afterwards at the chapter's request recalled them, and sent Henry of Helm, one of their 

 monks, to take possession in the name of the order and establish a convent there, without 

 thereby claiming any private or special rights for Gloucester other than is enjoyed by any 

 other member of the order. 



In order to give effect to this and enable Henry of Helm to devote himself 

 to this and fulfil his duties better the abbot thereby released him from all sub- 

 jection to Gloucester Abbey. 



1 Aim. Mm. (Rolls Ser.), iv, 488. * Hist. Man. Ghat. iii. Ibid i. 



4 Reiner, j4post. Benedict, pt. ii, 52. Said to be from Cott. MS. Tib. A xv. The true reference seems 

 to be Tib. A xiti, a Sherbome Abbey book which contains a collection of Benedictine statutes. But the leaf 

 which should contain the passage quoted is missing. 



339 



