All the scholars of the early colleges were to be indigent; the one exception was King’s Hall, but the proviso appears again in the statutes for King’s College.
We may note that All Souls’ Oxford retains the characteristic of the ancient college foundations, in being a college of fellows only. The title “students” for the fellows of Christchurch recalls the same intention.
[341] When Gresham went to Gonville in Hen. VIII.’s time the fellow-commoner had just made his appearance. Cambridge was full of them in the reign of Elizabeth.
[342] Jeremy Taylor was a sizar, Newton and Bentley sub-sizars.
[343] Statutes of Christ’s College.
[344] The scholars of Eton were directed to recite the Matins of our Lady while making their beds.
[345] This right was given up in 1856. The legal powers and privileges of the university date from the xiii c. and the reign of Henry III.: Ita tamen quod ad suspensionem vel mutilationem clericorum non procedatis, sed eos alio modo per consilium universitatis Cantabr. castigetis is the clause inserted in 1261 in the matter of a quarrel between students from the north and south parts of the realm. The privileges granted to the university by Edward III. include the power of imprisoning offenders; and even the king’s writ could not be invoked to free them. In the 10th year of Edward’s reign the university chancellor maintained this right both over scholar and townsman. The oath taken by the mayor of Cambridge to maintain the “privileges liberties and customs of the university” dates from the same reign (when the mayor bailiffs and aldermen were obliged to swear to respect the chancellor’s rights). When the riots of 1381 led to a suspension of the town charter its privileges were transferred to the university, till the restoration of the charter in 1832.
[346] The vice-chancellor’s court for persons in statu pupillari is composed of the vice-chancellor and six heads of colleges elected by grace.
[347] It will be observed that the academic dean possesses disciplinary functions like his predecessor and prototype the monastic dean. The academic dean is also the presiding official at the chapel services.
[348] Undergraduates may not give entertainments in taverns or public halls without permission of their tutor: even then more than 5 men in statu pupillari cannot meet together in a public place without a further permit from the proctor.