NORTH DOORWAY, NAVE ([see p. 20]).
THE COLLEGE OF ST. MARY FROM THE S. W.
From an engraving after H. Gastineau.
CHAPTER IV
THE PRECINCTS—THE CLOISTERS AND ST. MARY’S COLLEGE
The College of St. Mary was founded conjointly by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, his wife Blanche, and Bishop Adam Houghton in 1377, but it was endowed solely by the Bishop for the maintenance of a Master and seven Priest-Fellows, who were bound by a solemn oath to live in strict obedience to such regulations as the founder thought fit to ordain. The priests wore the same dress as the vicars-choral, and were under the control of the Precentor or Treasurer of the cathedral. They were bound to say the Hours and Masses of Requiem and perform certain services in the church. Any view from the northern side of the cathedral must include the graceful proportions of St. Mary’s, and it is surprising how well these buildings group with those of the cathedral. The cloisters and the cloister-garth, which separate the two buildings, date from about the same time as St. Mary’s and doubtless were common to the members of both foundations. The Early Perpendicular chapel is built on a large crypt, being quite contiguous to the river Alan, not unlike the chapel and hall of Magdalene College, Oxford. At the south-east angle was a Sacristy, with an upper chamber built over the cloisters, which had alleys to the north, west, and east; the latter running from the college to the north wall of the transept. As at Hereford, therefore, a covered way existed between the cathedral and the college.