hope) that wee know what wee haue to do, and do so commend
the aforesaid party vnto you, as one whom wee find (besides one
only man who refuseth to deale therein) by priviledge prin-
cipally preferred by his industry in the study of good learning
very sufficiently qualified according to the rules therein ordeined,
so well affected for his religion, of such honest conversation the
course of his whole life to our knowledge, of such discreet
gouerment in his behauior here amongst vs euen from his
younger yeares, and so well approued as wee* very credibly
heare, in the good gouerment of youth and their due order of
teaching that thoughe wee feare it will bee very hard to match
what hath beene done in that place, yet we neither feare to
value him with greater yeares or doubte of as much presently ag
may be very sufficiently commendable and in time grow to a
greater excellency. More should bee said perhapps in respect
of your worshipps louing countenance and speciall good fauor



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5o6 Notes from the College Records.

now towards him principally in his first admission but hauing
already drawne our selues into a longer discourse then was
purposed our desire is for what remaineth to make himselfe
beholding to you with our hearty well wishing

your louing friendes the
Master and the Seniors of
St John's Coll. in Cambr. the said College.

20 Sep. 1583.



The letters which follow relate to Ralph Gittins
(See Eagle xx, p. 462). He was nominated by the
College to be Third Master in 1594. It will be
observed that the Bailiffs in their letter of January
1610-1 state that the Second Master's place became
vacant in 1607 and that Ralph Gittins had been
displaced by them from his office of Third Master.
As a matter of fact on the vacancy in the Second
Mastership in 1607, Gittins was put into the place by
Meighen the Head Master and maintained in it in
spite of the protests of the Bailiffs. The appointment
gave rise to much dissatisfaction and disturbance at
Shrewsbury, and the matter was referred to Dr Neile,
Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, who decided in
Gittins' favour and he was thereupon in 161 2 installed
by the Bailiffs. Peace however did not last for long,
for in 1 61 3 proceedings were taken against him in the
Court of Chancery and he was by a decree of the
Court dismissed from the Second Master's place on
27 October 1613.

The curious thing is that on 24 March 1 630-1 the
Bailiffs recommended Ralph Gittins to the College
for the post of Second Master, and the College gave
him its nomination on 21 April 1631. Gittins resigned
in 1638 when he must have been fairly advanced in
years.

After our verie hartie commendacions. Whereas by the
forsakinge of William Baylye the Rowme of the third Scole-



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Notes from the College Records, 507

master of this ifree Grammar Scoole of Shrewsburie is presently
become voyde. Whereof we the Bayliifes haue received notice
from John Meighen and John Baker the Principall and Seconde
Scolemasters To thintent we shald thereof give adaertisement
to your worships for the eleccion of a new Scoolemaster in the
place of the said William Ba}lye accordinge to the Ordynaunce
of the Scoole in that behaulf provided whereof a counterpane
in wrytinge remayneth with you. The consideracion whereof
hath moved vs this moche to signifie to you that the said
William Baylye the thirde Scoolmaster of this ffree Grammer
Scoole refused his rowme forsaide the xxx/^ day of this October
in whose place if it please your worships to commende a suffi-
cyent person qualified accordinge to the Ordynaunce, we for
our partes wilbee ready to do that which to our duties apper-
teyneth. And forasmuch as the legittimate Sonne of a Burges
of this Towne qualifyed accordinge to the Ordynaunce is to be
preferred before others one Raphe Gyttins Sonne legittimate of
Richard Gyttins, mercer, a free Burges of this Towne is well
thought of, wherein referryng the Choyse to your considera-
cions accordynge to the Ordynnaunce, we take leave, firom
Salop the last of October 1594

your assured ffrendes

Daniel Lloid \ Bailiffes of
Thomas Lewis j Shrewsbury.

Addressed: To the Right worshipfull the "Master and fellowes
of St John his Colledge in the vniuersitie of Cambridge, dd.



Right Worshippfull, Whereas wee are given to vnderstande
by your Letters that the Rowme of the Third Schoolemaster of
your Free Grammar Schoole of Shrcwesburie is nowe presentlie
voyde by reason that William Baylie who latelie enioyed that
place hath voluntarilie forsaken and relinquished the same and
therevpon are putt in minde by you to proceede to the Election
of a newe Schoolmaister accordingly qualified for that place wee
the Mayster and Seniors of St John's Colledge in the Vniversitie
of Cambridge to whom the sayde Election by right belongeth
Doo thankfully acknowledge your good case being verie willing
to accomplish whatsoever vs apperteyneth in that behalfe And
for so much as we perceive by your Letters your good inclination



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5o8 Notes from the College Records.

to Ralphe Gittins a Bachelour of Arts and one of the Schollers
and Students of our House because wee have had Experience
of his good conversation are well perswaded of the sufficiencie
of the said partie for that place as being qualified according to
the ordinances of the said Schoole wee have made choyce of
him att this tyme and thereof have thought good to give you
notice by these our Letters vnder our Hands and Seale being
allways willing and desirous to further and procure the good and
prosperous Success of the sayd Schoole of Shrewsburie by any
good meanes that we can Devise. Thus Commending you and
ourselves to the gratious protection of God wee cease, from
our Colledge of St John's aforesaid November 15th, 1594.

Addressed : To the Right worshippfuU and our verie Loveing
ffrendes Mr David Hold and Mr Thomas Lewis, Baylififs of the
Towne of Shrewsburie.



Whereas by the death of Mr John Baker late Seconde
Schoolemaster of the ffree grammar schoole of and in the towna
of Shrewesbury, the place, roome, office, or function of the
Second Schoolemaster of the same Schoole, the seaven and
twentieth day of November Anno domini 1607 became vacant of
which avoydance our predecessors Mr William Jones and Mr
Andrew Lewys then Bayliffs of the sayde towne gave advertise-
ment and knowledge to the then master and fellowes of your
colledge, according to the ordinances of the sayd Schoole;
which roome or place yet remayneth vacant And whereas as
well by the resignation and remouing of Mr Ralphe Gyttins
late third Schoolemaster of the same Schoole, of the place,
roome office and function of the third Schoolmaster of the same
Schoole, and by displacing of him the sayd Ralphe of and from
the sayd place, roome, office and function of third Schoolmaster,
by vs the now Bayliffes of the sayde towne, for his notorious
negligence and refusall of teaching in the same place, office or
roome for three yeres together now last past, and for other iust
causes to vs appiering, the sayde roome, place, office and function
of the third Schoolmaster of the same Schoole the twentieth sixt
day of January anno domini 1610 became vacant : Theis therefore
are from vs, to ^y^ you advertizement and knowledge of the
same avoydences, earnestly requesting you according to your
gravity, wisdome and integrity, and the trust in you reposed, as



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Notes from the College Records. 509

yow tender the repayre of the ruinated estate of the same Schoole,
for to elect and send vnto us, two able and meete persons for
that purpose, to supply thoos roomes according to the said
ordinances and quallifyed as therein is preseryved, the neglect
whereof in your last choyse was the onely occasion of the tumult
and garvoyle, that ensued within our towne. And our further
request is, that you wilbe pleased to ioyne with vs for a com-
petent encrease to be had of the Saiaryes and Stypendes of the
Schoolmasters there, and for reformation of all other defectyve
ordinances of the sayde Schoole, according to such directions
as this our trusty messenger Mr Rowland Jenckes (one of our
owne house) shall imparte vnto you : and that the charges of
such as you and wee shall imploy thearaboutes, shalbe born of
the Schoole Revenues. And so with our very harty comenda-
cions wee referre you and your actions to the good providence
of almighty god.
At Shrewsbury the your very loving ffryndes

30th day of Thomas Jones \ bayliffes.

January anno Hughe Harries )

domini 1610.

Addressed: To the right worshipfull the Master and fellowes
of the colledge of Saint John the Evangelist in the vniversity of
Cambridge deliver thys.



Righte worshipfull Commendacions vnto you remembred
Pleaseth it the same to bee advertised that in Trynytie Terme
laste past at the hearinge of the cause in his majesties highe
Courte of Chauncery before the Right honorable the lord
Chaunceler of England betwene John Meighen, gentleman,
Cheif Scholemaster of the ffree Grammar Schole in Shrewsburie
Complaynaunte and Thomas Jones and Hughe Harries, gentle-
men, late Bayliffes of the said Towne of Shrewsbury, defendants,
yt was thus Ordered and decreed by his Lordshipp That Raphe
Gyttins nowe teachinge in the Rome of seconde scholemaster
of the said Schole should att or before Michaelmas nowe next
ensuinge voyde from the said place, and that from thenceforth
no further stypend should be allowed vnto him out of the said
Schole Revenewes, and that another suffycyent person should
be placed in his stead. And further that the maister and



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5 lo Notes from the College Records.

flfellowcsof St John's Colledge in Cambridge should bee ac-
quainted therewithal! who should in the meane tyme proceede
to a ncwe eleccion for that purpose accordynge to the letter
and true meanynge of the Ord>'naunces of the said Schoole ;
of which decree we thought good to aduertise you and by this
Bearer our neighbour Mr John Garbett haue sente the said
Order and decree to thend you may bee the more fully instructed
with the premisses wishinge the same maye bee with hym
Redeliuered. Moreouer to avoid any subsequent troubles which
may ensue vpon the eleccion and Consideracion by you of
any other than the sonne of a Burgesse of our Towne as hereto-
fore hath bene wee do Represente vnto your eleccion and
allowance Andrew Studley master of Artes and the sonne of a
Burgesse and qualified in all poyntes answerable to the Ordy-
naunces of the said Schole whose leaminge and sufficiencye for
that funccion wee leave to your tryall. His modest canyadge
and conuersacion together with his care and discreete teachinge
of the Schollers heere in the absence of Mr Meighen this
Corporacion in generall doe iustly commend. In Regard
whereof, wee hope that you wilbe pleased to electe and nomynate
the said Andrew Studley to the seconde Rome of Scholemaster
in the said flfree Grammar schole yf vpon tryall his learnynge
bee found answerable to the reste. And so we commytt you to
God and reste

Salop, your very lovinge frendes

September 4, 1613 Rowland Langlet) ^ ,.«.

Rowland Jenks )

Addressed: To the Right worshipfull the master and Seniors
of St John's Colledge in Cambridge deliver theis.

R. F. S.

(To he continuedj.



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THE SONG OF THE DRAINS.

Dedicated (without permission) to the Mayor and Corporation of the ancient
Borough of Cambridge.

Oh ! Come, let us sing of the Cambridge drain,

How all the small sewers flow into the main,

How all the foul gases these sewers contain,

Rise up through the manholes and come out again ;

Though the whole town of Cambridge is heard to

complain.
Though they write to the papers they do so in vain,
Though some 'Varsity men who are perfectly sane
Insist that these sewers are proving a bane,
Bringing Typhoid and all sorts of germs in their train.
And that Cambridge will soon be a town of the slain.
While others in forcible langfuage maintain
That the 'Varsity Star is itself on the wane ;
Still the Cambridge Town Council looks on in disdain,
They let all the sweet-smelling manholes remain.
While if pressed on the subject they gently explain
That the odours arising in each street and lane
Are perfectly harmless and good for the brain.
And they add a lot more in a similar strain.
And before they have finished they make it quite plain.
You may talk as you like, but there's nothing to gain.
And at last you're convinced you had better refrain.

Cloaca Maxima.



VOL. XX. U U U



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FIFTY YEARS AGO.

jF I attempt to set down a few reminiscences of
St John's and the University in the forties, I
must beg-in by bespeaking indulgence for a
memory which has always been flighty and
capricious, constantly seizing and storing the most
worthless trifles, while allowing valuable information,
and useful facts of all kinds to pass away without
leaving the slightest impression. A great misfortune !
but it was ever thus with me an old song or a tag of
verse would stick when things that might have been of
use in after life were no sooner learnt than they were
forgotten. In spite of this drawback however, I will
endeavour to recall some of the incidents and ex-
periences of my years at the University, in the hope that
they may be of some little interest to the present
generation of Johnians.

I shall never forget the day, in October 1844, when
I first entered Cambridge. We, my father, my tutor,
and I had come from Nottingham by the coach. At
Huntingdon it began to rain heavily, and so continued
till we reached our journey's end, by which time we
were thoroughly wet through, chiefly from water pouring
down our backs from the tarpaulin that covered the
luggage, cold and miserable. Arrived at the Bull, we
had just time to change and get warmed before dinner
time, when, as luck would have it, we came in for a
haunch of venison, in prime condition. Oh ! that
venison. No one will doubt me when I asseverate that
never since that day have I tasted any so good.



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Fifty Years Ago. 5 1 3

It may be worth while to mention, in passing, that
at that time a great many coaches, between twenty and
thirty, used to start every day from the Hoop, going
in all directions. The Eastern Counties Railway, as
it was then called had got no nearer to Cambridge
than Bishop's Stortford, so that if you wanted to go to
London you had to coach to that place to take the train.
The project of bringing the railway to Cambridge was
regarded with no friendly eye by the University
authorities, who were afraid, for one thing, that it would
make it too easy for undergraduates to run up to
London. Brought, however, it was, and in my time,
though it was kept as far as possible from the town.

A few days after my arrival I was settled in rooms
on the ground floor, Second Court, where I remained
till turned out of College at the end of my third year.
It was with no small pride that I found myself in pro-
session of a large sitting room, and an exceedingly
small bedroom, in which there was barely room for the
bed, certainly none for a " tub", if there had been any
in those days. They are a luxury of more recent date.
It was rumoured indeed that Lord Burleigh had one,
but no other person in the College was credited with
such a posession.

Dr Tatham was Master, who, though not tall, was of
imposing figure. I cannot remember to have ever
spoken or been spoken to by him. Mr Crick was tutor
of one side, and Johnny Hymers, as he was familiarly
called, of the other. I was on Crick's side. Our
Mathematical lecturer was Mr Brumell. I attended as
few of his and the classical lectures as possible, having
soon discovered that I knew enough to pass for the
ordinary degree, and I say it with shame and regret,
that I wasted my time and opportunities at Cambridge,
thereby incurring a loss which could never be repaired
in the busy years of after life. Dr Atlay, afterwards
Bishop of Hereford, was for some of my time junior
classical tutor. He was extremely popular. I remember



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5 M Fifty Years Ago,

his once pointing out to me a ridiculous mistake in one
of my College examination papers, but he did it in such
a pleasant way that he made me his friend for life. In
later years I saw a great deal of him, when he was Vicar
of Leeds, and we always kept up an occasional exchange
of letters. He was a most kindly man.

When I had been a short time in College I joined
the Lady Margaret Boat Club, with which I was con-
nected till 1 left after taking my degree, steering the
first boat, then second on the river, in 1847. First
Trinity was head and had the stronger crew. We were
faster up to Grassy, and more than once got up to, and
even overlapped, them at this point, but never succeeded
in making our bump. In the Long Reach they always
left us, but we were in no danger from the boat behind
us, Magdalene, so had nothing to fear. How well
I remember the tramping and shouting on the bank!
Some famous oarsmen rowed in the Trinity and Lady
Margaret boats of that year. Foremost among them
was "Billy" Maule, whose death occurred quite recently.
He was Captain of the First Trinity,' and he won almost
everything that was to be won : Colquhoun sculls, the
pair oars twice, his partner in one contest being
Vincent, and in the other Wolstenholme, who still
lives, the well-known Conveyancer. Maule was a com-
pactly built man of medium height, had a splendid
constitution, unflagging good spirits, and was im-
mensely popular. He came up, I think, from West-
minster School, his father being a barrister and Solicitor
to the Treasury. Goldie, of the Lady Margaret, who
rowed, I believe, but am not sure, in the first boat, was
an indifferent oar. His name has, however, become
famous amongst oarsmen all the world over by the
achievements of his son and grandson.

When I first came up outriggers had not been
invented, or, at least, were not in use ; but they were
adopted and became general sometime before I left.
The old eights in which I began to row and steer were
regular tubs.



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Fifty Years Ago. 5 1 5

I may here recall a fact which may surprise some of
the youngsters, viz. that in my day everybody dressed
to go out at two o'clock just as if he was going for a
walk in Bond Street or the Park, frock coat, or overcoat,
silk hat, &c. This fashion has long since gone out, as
I learned when years afterwards I paid my son a visit
at St John's. But, although by that time the silk hat
and frock coat had been discarded, it seemed to me
that undergraduates had become more luxurious and
expensive in their tastes than when I was up. We
used, for the most part, to be contented with wine and
supper parties, and very few indeed felt called upon, or
thought themselves able, to give dinners. But when
I came up to see my son, I was asked to dinner, and
sumptuously feasted by several of his friends.

Talking of supper parties, I remember being at a
very large one given by two men in the New Court in
a room overlooking the gardens, and which was made
memorable by a very unpleasant incident. As the
evening wore on the fun became fast and furious, and,
having had enough of it, I left the party to their own
devices. In the morning it was quickly noised about
the College that the wire fencings placed round several
young pine trees on the lawn had been torn up and the
trees destroyed. Dark suspicions were entertained that
this had been the work of one or more of the party, and
several names were even whispered about. But the
culprit was never discovered in my time. Many years
afterwards I learnt from one of the givers of the feast
that an undergardener who considered himself aggrieved
had confessed that he was the offender. It was satis-
factory to know that an act so malicious and so
mischievous had not been committed by a member of
the University.

It was in the year 1847 that an election for the
Chancellorship of the University took place, the candi-
dates being Prince Albert and Lord Powis, who was
first in the field, supported by St John's. It would be



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5 ^ 6 Fifty Years Ago.

out of place to go at any length into the incidents of
this memorable contest, which is a matter of history.
I will merely say therefore that it was fought out with
a good deal of asperity, many, both inside and outside
of the University, stigmatizing the conduct of those
who had brought forward the Prince, then a very young
man, as snobbish and sycophantic. Of course the
contest gave rise to much smart writing from both sides,
and one squib I specially remember which, as it is neat
and not ill-natured, I will give to the best of my recol-
lection, not knowing whether it has ever appeared in
print — at any rate it may be new to some of the present
generation : —

Prince Albert on this side, Earl Powis on that.
Have claims than which none could be slighter;

For the Prince's consist in inventing a hat,*
The Peer's in preserving a mitre.f

Then why do ye rush ye Collegiate Dons

Into all this Senate House pother?
Do you think that the Prince who invented the one

Has a share in dispensing the other?

Since Prince Albert's reluctance may plainly be seen.

Your conduct, O Donsl is unwary:
Do you think that he means what we know you woald
mean,

If you said nolo episcoparit

It is scarcely necessary to add that, on a large poll,
Prince Albert was elected by a considerable majority.

Into the vast changes which have been made in the
courses of University studies since my time I do not
purpose to enter. The subject is outside the scope of

♦ The new army helmet.

t He had successfully combated the proposed union of the Sees of
St Asaph and Bangor.



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True Beaufy. 5 1 7

this paper ; moreover, I have not the necessary know-
ledge. But I may be allowed to state my conviction
that in adopting most, if not all, of those changes, the
University has shown a wise determination in oflFering
to young men of various gifts and talents opportunities
for turning their special faculties to the best account.
I shall even console myself by imagining that if there
had been a Moral Science, or an Historical, or a Law
Tripos in my day, I might have quitted the College
with greater credit than I did. With my best wishes
for its continued prosperity, I bring these random re-
collections to a close.

I. L. H.



TRUE BEAUTY.



Were beauty but the sculptured, marble brow.

And cold perfection of a classic mien.

Then, at the starry court of beauty's queen,
Hath many a maiden more renown than thou.
Then beauty to the tyrant years must bow,

And render tribute to ungallant time.

Despite the pleading of a poet's rhyme,
Despite the passion in a lover's vow.

But, mirror'd in thy clear unerring eyes,

Dwelleth so sweet infinity of faith.

That, peering in those depths, my rapt heart saith —
In love's unsounded soul true beauty lies.

And, dearest, when thine eyes so look in mine,

Beauty, that dieth not with death, is thine.

C. E. Byles.



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SONNET.

Who reads the Eagle^ he eftsoons shall see
A garland of some fifty sonnets here,
Conformable to rules; not one shall veer

From the true type that came from Italy.

'Twas Petrarch first invented them, and he

Passed on the mode to Milton ; which blind seer
Taught me the rules, of either of them peer

For infinitely tame prolixity.

The Editors who sit in council sage
To hatch an Eagle from an addled egg
Are oft in want of some odd scrap to fill

[The dull fag end of some exhausting page] *

(The tail of some obituary page |

And then a sonnet from a bard they beg:
He writes ; the Eagle mopes ; they have their will.



* Note by the Author : Some Editors prefer the second variant, as nearer
tlie archetype in the preciseness of its allusion.

Note by the Editors : The above effusion is from a discontented contributor,
whose proffered MS was declined on the ground, amongst many others, that
it was too long ; would in fact have occupied as much space as fifty sonnets.



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AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS.




MAN must have fine qualities so to write the
history of his own times that his judgments
on his contemporaries shall be sustained on
appeal to the court of History, and posterity,
after fifteen centuries, accept them still. He must be
cool and dispassionate in his survey, and yet sympa-
thetic. He must be alive to every aspect of the