Bishop Jewell died Sept. 22. 1571.
In the Account Books of Magdalen College, Oxford, I find the following items:—
"A. D. 1572. Solut. Dno Præsidi equitanti Sarisbur. pro libris per billam, iijli xvis.
"Solut. pro libris Dni, episcopi Sar., cli.
"A. D. 1574. Solut per Dom. Præsidem pro libris Mri Jewell, xxli."
Whether these books were a portion only, or the whole of the library of Bishop Jewell, I am unable to discover; nor am I aware at present whether Bishop Jewell's autograph is in any of the books of Magdalen College Library. The president was Lawrence Humphrey, author of a Life of Jewell.
Magdalenensis.
THE LOW WINDOW.
The low windows in the chancel of so many of our ancient churches have proved a fruitful source of discussion among archæologists, and numerous theories have been advanced respecting their use. Perhaps the words of the chameleon in the fable might be addressed to many who have attempted to account for their existence, "You all are right and all are wrong"—right in your supposition that they were thus used; but wrong in maintaining that this was the exclusive purpose. Some example, in fact, may be adduced irreconcileable with any particular conjecture, and sufficient to overturn every theory which may be set up. One object assigned is, the distribution of alms; and it is surely reasonable to imagine that money collected at the offertory should have been given to paupers from the chancel through this convenient aperture. The following passage from the Ecclesiologist, quoted in page 441. of "Notes and Queries," has induced me to bring this subject forward:—
"In them (churchyards) prayers are not now commonly poured forth to God, nor are doles distributed to his poor."