: sider yourself, then, as having been already in the garden, Having observed a mistake of the printer's (for not be- SIDNEY SUSSEX COLLEGE. THIS is the least foundation in the University, and before Downing College, the last, being the 16th. It occupies the site on which was formerly a religious house of that numerous body, the Franciscans or Grey Friars. The House was founded by Edward the First, but being dissolved, and its property dispersed at the dissolution of monasteries, the greater part probably, if not all of it, went to Henry's college of Trinity; and, as observed before, Sidney College pays to this day an annual rent to Trinity, for the site on which it is erected, being a feefarm settled by act of parliament. Mr. Parker says of this monastery of the Grey Friarsa," that it was very famous among all the others at Cambridge, because formerly the yearly assemblies of the University, and the public exercises, were kept in it, by reason of its largeness: what authority he had for his remark, I know not; I do not see he is preceded in it by Caius or Archbishop Parker, nor followed by Fuller. The schools, according to Caius, before the erection of the present, were in hired houses, under a condition, a Hist. of Camb. p. 156. that they should not be let for any other purpose within a limited time. However, if Mr. Parker's remark is correct, the House of Grey Friars passed more naturally into a society for literary men; and wanted only a foundress and funds to give it birth. These were found in Lady Frances Sidney. This lady died May 1588, and by her will, dated 6th December, 1588, left 5000l. besides some other property for the building, and endowing of a college on this site, for one master, ten fellows, and twenty scholars: but, on supposition her legacy was not sufficient for that purpose, all the money was to be applied to the enlarging of Clare Hall, with the same number of fellows and scholars as were designed to compose her own institution. Henry Grey, Earl of Kent, Sir John Harrington, her nephew, together with Nicholas Bond, D. D. and Robert Forth, L.D., were left executors, and Archbishop Whitgift, with Dr. Goodman, Dean of Westminster, overseers: and the same will ordered, that Dr. Nowell should preach her funeral sermon. Dr. Fuller mentions a singular piece of address, as making part of this lady's will, which was, that a jewel, like a star, of rubies, and diamonds, with a ruby in the midst, worth 1401. having on the back side a hand delivering up a heart to a crown, should be presented to the queen: this was accordingly done; and at the delivery, a mortmain was humbly requested, to found a college, which her majesty as graciously granted. To be short, the college was founded; (this Benjamin College, as a These two last are added to those mentioned by Dr. Fuller, from an indenture copied into R. Smyth's MS. › Hist, of Cambridge, p. 163. |