This society, complete in itself and so far independent, was linked with another—the sister foundation of New College, Oxford—in such a way as to gain stability and dignity without subordination. Winchester was to be independent of New, but the influence of New was to be a potent factor in determining the policy of Winchester. The Warden of Winchester was to be appointed by New College, and New College was also to have extensive powers of visitation.
In Wykeham’s day any separation of the religious element from other aspects of education would have been deemed impossible, and everything was cast in a religious and even semi-monastic mould. Nevertheless the organisations for the school and chantry were kept quite distinct, and while divine service was celebrated practically continuously by the chantry staff, the scholars were required to attend chapel services only on Sundays, saints’ days, or other festivals. The Warden and Fellows alike were to be in priests’ orders. The Fellows had duties to perform connected with the chantry, but none connected with the school, except that the Warden and Fellows were to elect the headmaster. The headmaster was not necessarily to be in holy orders; he was to teach the scholars, and to maintain discipline, and was to be assisted by the usher or hostiarius. The ‘seventy’ were to be pauperes et indigentes, i.e. poor and in need of assistance, apt to study, and well versed in the rudiments of Latin grammar, reading, and plain-song. They were to be elected by a body of six, known afterwards as ‘the Chamber,’ from the room overlooking Middle or Chamber Court, ‘Election Chamber,’ where elections took place. The ‘Chamber’ was to consist of the Warden and two Fellows from New (known as the senior and junior ‘posers’ respectively), with the Warden, Subwarden, and Headmaster of Winchester. In election preference was to be given to founder’s kin, and then to others in due degrees of priority of claim. They were to remain until the age of eighteen years, unless on the roll for New College; but founder’s kin could remain till the age of twenty-five years.
The scholars were to be lodged, boarded, clothed, and taught entirely free of expense: they were not to keep dogs, ferrets, or hawks: to carry arms or frequent taverns: to empty water, etc., on the heads of their companions from windows in the court—regulations which throw a curious light on the manners of the time. The scholars were to be lodged and fed under the charge of the hostiarius or usher—an arrangement which obtains even now, as the ‘seventy’ still reside in chambers in college, under the charge of the second master.
We must not suppose that Wykeham’s scholars were to be boys either destitute or in actual want. The term pauperes et indigentes was probably a formal expression, designed to exclude the actually wealthy rather than anything else, like the term in need of financial assistance inserted in modern scholarship regulations.
In addition to the above, the statutes contemplated the admission of a limited number of outsiders, known as commensales or commoners, and later on town boys or oppidani were admitted as day boys. The conditions under which the commoners resided varied greatly from time to time. In 1727 Dr. Burton, then headmaster, made extensive additions to the College buildings, practically converting his own house into a boarding-house for them, and this building became known as ‘Old Commoners.’ In 1838 Commoners was rebuilt, under the name of New Commoners, but the result was not very satisfactory, and in 1860 the present plan of boarding in tutors’ houses was commenced, when the Rev. H. J. Wickham opened the first ‘House.’ In 1869, during Dr. Moberly’s tenure as headmaster, the system was extended. ‘Commoners’ was done away with, the commoners themselves lodged in tutors’ houses, and the building in part transformed into ‘Moberly Library’—so termed in memory of Dr. Moberly.
The College buildings and grounds are a charm and a delight. From the outer front in College Street, little indeed can be seen. The headmaster’s house, built on the site of the old Sustern Spital, is a flat-fronted modern building faced with squared flints, and the old Brewery presents little but a blank wall of ancient masonry. The one external feature of interest is the delightful ‘Old Gateway’ surmounted by a statue of the Virgin.
Passing under Old Gateway with College Brew House on the right, and then under Middle Gate into Chamber Court, one is transported back immediately into mediaevalism. There over Middle Gate is the figure of ‘Sainte Marie,’ and scholars, juniors, at least, if not always seniors, as they cross the quad, doff their hats still in reverence to the Virgin as they have done from the beginning. Immediately opposite you are Chapel and Hall. Chapel, with Fromond’s chantry used by Lower-school ‘Men,’—for Winchester is remarkable among schools as having two chapels—and the beautiful cloisters behind it, those cloisters which the Founder himself seems almost to pervade and to spiritualize with his presence, is a place to wander in and dream dreams of the past. Hall, approached, as befits its dignity, up a grand old stairway, is splendidly impressive, with its magnificent open timber roof and carved wainscot, and the Founder’s portrait—a picture of real grace and beauty—dominating the high table or dais at the other end. In the lobby adjoining the kitchen they will show you the ‘Trusty Servant,’ the quaint old painting emblematic of loyal and devoted service. The riddle is explained in a copy of verses attached, and the absence of any reference to expectation of reward on behalf of the ‘Trusty Sweater’ is at least as suggestive as his loyalty and humble demeanour.
Most appealing, perhaps, after Hall, possibly more even than Cloisters, is ‘Seventh Chamber,’ Wykeham’s original schoolroom, or part of it at least, now used as a common study for senior College men, and a veritable museum of interesting reminders of old Wykehamical life mingled confusedly with aggressively incongruous and more modern ‘intrusive deposits,’—here perhaps a framed ‘Vanity Fair’ cartoon of the headmaster; there possibly a couple of Teddy Bears serving as mascots—for in college life the points of contrast between ancient and modern are curious and startling, while not the least alluring of its characteristic features is the rich flavour and vigour of college nomenclature. ‘Moab,’ the boys’ washing-place in earlier and less luxurious days—“Moab is my wash-pot”—is a delicious example of this. College phraseology is a subject almost worthy of separate treatment by itself.
‘Seventh Chamber Passage,’ itself originally part of Seventh Chamber, leads you to ‘School,’ the seventeenth-century schoolroom built by Warden Nicholas. Here you may see the ‘thrones’ or official seats in earlier days of headmaster and usher, and the world-famous Winchester emblem on the walls—
Aut disce
Aut discede
Manet tertia sors—caedi.