III. THE FOUNDATION AND EARLY STATUTES OF THE COLLEGE.
The first record of the proposal to found Brasenose is contained in the will of Edmund Croston, dated (four days before his death) on Jan. 23, 1507/8, where are bequeathed £6 13s. 4d. to “the building of Brasynnose in Oxford, if such works as the Bishop of Lyncoln and Master Sotton intended there went on during their life or within twelve years after.” It is probable that the Bishop at one time intended that Lincoln College should enjoy his benefactions, for Robert Parkinson, Sub-rector of Lincoln, wrote about 1566-69, “Proposuerat enim [episcopus], ut ferunt, omnia nostro collegio praestitisse quae postea in Brasinnos egit, si voluissent R[ector] et S[cholares] qui tum fuerunt ab eo propositas conditiones recipere.”
The actual foundation can be best shown in the form of annals, it being understood that the disposition of the halls mentioned was nearly as follows—
1508, Oct. 20, Brazen Nose and Little University Halls are leased by University College to Richard Sutton, Esq., and eight others (four of whom were among the first Fellows) for ninety-two years at an annual rent of £3, on condition that the lessees should spend £40 on the tenements within a year. The College agreed to renew the lease and to give over all their rights, as soon as property of the annual value of £3 should be given them. In 1514 Sutton assigned this lease to trustees to carry out his purposes.
1509, summer. Edward Moseley’s stone quarry at Headington is let to the founders and Roland Messenger for their lives.
1509, June 1. The foundation stone of the College is laid, as recorded on a modern copy of the original inscription, now and probably always placed over the doorway of Staircase No. 1, which used to lead to the first chapel of the College:—
“Anno Christi 1509 et Regis Henrici octavi primo | Nomine diuino lincoln | presul quoque sutton . Hanc posu | ere petram regis ad imperium | primo die Iunii.”
1509/10, Feb. 20. Oriel College lets Salisbury Hall and St. Mary’s Entry (Introitus S. Mariae) to Sutton and others for ever in consideration of an annual rent of 13s. 4d.
1511/2, Jan. 15. A Charter of Foundation granted to Smyth and Sutton.