List of founding Fellows, Scholars and Commissioners of Jesus College, Oxford

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Elizabeth I in the hall of Jesus College, attributed to Nicholas Hilliard

William Cecil, Lord Burghley, the Principal Secretary of State
. The charter also gave land and buildings in Oxford to the new college.

Whilst the foundation process of the college started in 1571, it took more than fifty years and a further two charters, one in 1589 from Elizabeth and one in 1622 from her successor,

James I, to complete the process. These further charters were necessary because neither the Commissioners appointed by the 1571 charter nor those appointed by the 1589 charter fulfilled their allotted task of drawing up statutes. During this time, Griffith Powell
(one of the Fellows who was pressing for statutes to be drawn up) concluded that successive Principals were loath to have statutes, since these would limit the Principal's powers. One Principal lost a draft copy of the statutes; the next kept the next draft in his study for several years without taking steps to have them confirmed by the Commissioners. It was not until after the 1622 charter that statutes were approved by the Commissioners and the college was fully constituted. Despite the intention on the foundation of the college, none of the charters made special provision for Welsh students, although the students were predominantly Welsh from the outset.

Background to the foundation of the college

Jesus College was the first

Roman Catholic colleges.[1] The opening phrases of the charter, translated from the original Latin, have been noted as referring to the recent ecclesiastical changes in stating the purposes for which the college was founded:[3][4]

... to the Glory of God Almighty and Omnipotent, and for the spread and maintenance of the Christian religion in its sincere form, for the eradication of errors and heresies, for the increase and perpetuation of true loyalty, for the extension of good literature of every sort, for the knowledge of languages, for the education of youth in loyalty, morality, and methodical learning, for the relief of poverty and distress, and lastly for the benefit and well-being of the Church of Christ in our realms and of our subjects of our especial grace and of our own sure knowledge and spontaneous motion, we have decreed that a College of learning in the sciences, philosophy, humane pursuits, knowledge of the Hebrew, Greek and Latin languages, to the ultimate profession of Sacred Theology, to last for all time to come, be created, founded, built, and established...

Education in

Edward VI: King Henry VIII Grammar School in Abergavenny and Christ College, Brecon were established in the 1540s, and Friars School, Bangor dates from 1557.[5] However, despite the numbers of Welsh students coming to Oxford University as a result, there was no special provision for Welshmen before 1571. A Welsh clergyman, Hugh Price, therefore petitioned Elizabeth to found a college at Oxford "that he might bestow his estate of the maintenance of certain scholars of Wales to be trained up in good letters."[6] Whatever Price's wishes, and despite the links that he and many of the founding Fellows had with Wales, neither the 1571 charter nor any of the later charters limited entry to the college to Welshmen.[7] Nevertheless, the college students were predominantly Welsh from the outset,[8] and the college became "the pinnacle of the academic ambition of the young men of Wales".[9]

The charters

The illuminated letter "E", depicting Elizabeth I, in the 1571 charter

Jesus College came into being when Elizabeth issued a charter dated 27 June 1571.

Attorney General) – three "political heavyweights".[13] The charter also gave to the new college the site and buildings of White Hall, located on Market Street and Ship Street – the college still occupies this site today.[2][4] White Hall, which had closed in 1570, was one of the academic halls associated with the University – these were institutions that offered accommodation for students, but little in the way of teaching, and they were disappearing as the collegiate system at Oxford grew.[2][14]

The charter, written in Latin on the flesh side of a prepared calfskin, is 88 by 61 centimetres (35 by 24 in).[15] It is highly decorated with Tudor designs and motifs, with its style being similar to that of books of hours. Elizabeth is depicted in the opening illuminated letter, seated on a blue throne in robes of scarlet trimmed with ermine, and holding an orb and sceptre. It has been suggested by the art historian Roy Strong that the image is based on the work of Levina Teerlinc, a Flemish miniaturist.[16] The border is decorated with floral and heraldic motifs, including the Tudor rose.[17] The Great Seal of England was used to authenticate the charter, and the remnants of the Seal are still attached to it.[18]

As the Commissioners did not complete their task of drawing up statutes before too many of them had died to permit the remainder to act, a second charter, dated 7 July 1589, was obtained by the then Principal,

Herbert Westphaling, Bishop of Hereford. Westphaling signed the draft in June 1601. With two more signatures still being required, the statutes were sent to John Herbert in 1602. However, Williams took the draft statutes away before Herbert approved them, and kept them in his study until 1609 without making further attempts to have them confirmed.[22][23]

Robert Johnson and John Higginson) and two Scholars (Lancelot Andrewes and Thomas Dove) were survivors from the 1571 charter. Four of the other six Scholars in the 1622 charter are known to have been undergraduates at Jesus College at the time; the other two appear to have been relatives of the Principal, Sir Eubule Thelwall, but do not appear in the college records.[12] The charter also appointed new commissioners, and little time was taken in drawing up the statutes thereafter.[26]

People named in the 1571 charter

Sir Nicholas Bacon
, one of the Commissioners named in the charter of 1571
William Cecil, Lord Burghley
, one of the Commissioners named in the charters of 1571 and 1589
Details about the people named in the first charter
Name Position Notes Ref
Lancelot Andrewes Scholar Andrewes studied at
King James Bible
. He was also named as a Scholar in the 1622 charter. 		[27]
William Aubrey Fellow and Commissioner A former Regius Professor of Civil Law (1553–1559); reappointed as a Commissioner in the 1589 charter [28][29]
Nicholas Bacon
 		Commissioner Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Elizabeth I [29]
William Cecil, Lord Burghley
 		Commissioner Secretary of State and leading adviser to Elizabeth I; reappointed as a Commissioner in the 1589 charter [29]
The
Vice-Chancellor
of the University 		Commissioner The Chancellor at the time of the 1571 charter was
Herbert Westphaling
, who was named as a Commissioner in the 1589 charter. After Westphaling, there was a new Vice-Chancellor every year until the 1589 charter. 		[29][30][31]
John Cotterell Fellow Clergyman, formerly Principal of White Hall and Laurence Hall, Oxford [28]
Thomas Dove Scholar Dove studied at
Pembroke Hall, Cambridge. He was also named in the 1622 charter, and became Bishop of Peterborough
. 		[27]
Gregory Downhall Scholar Studied at
Pembroke Hall, Cambridge
 [27]
William Garth Scholar Unknown background – no evidence that he matriculated at either Oxford or Cambridge [27]
Gilbert Gerard Commissioner
Attorney-General
under Elizabeth I; reappointed as a Commissioner in the 1589 charter 		[29]
John Higginson Fellow A Leicestershire priest, named as a Fellow of the college in the 1622 charter [27]
Thomas Huet Fellow
St David's Cathedral
(1562–1588) 		[28]
Thomas Huyck Fellow and Commissioner Chancellor of the Diocese of London [28]
Robert Johnson
 		Fellow Later Archdeacon of Leicester and founder of Oakham and Uppingham Schools, and named as a Fellow of the college in the 1622 charter [27]
David Lewis Principal and Commissioner First Principal (resigning 1572); Fellow of
High Court of Admiralty
(appointed in 1558) 		[29]
John Lloyd Fellow Former
High Court of Admiralty
 [27]
Robert Lougher Fellow Principal of New Inn Hall, Oxford (1564–1570 and 1575–1580) and Regius Professor of Civil Law (1566–1577) [28]
John Osmand Scholar Unknown background – no evidence that he matriculated at either Oxford or Cambridge [27]
William Platt Scholar Studied at Merchant Taylors' School and Christ's College, Cambridge [27]
Hugh Price Commissioner Treasurer of
St David's Cathedral
and founder of the college, his name appears twice in the charter (as a benefactor promising a bequest worth £60 per year, and then as the first-named Commissioner) 		[32]
John Wilford Scholar Studied at
Pembroke Hall, Cambridge
 [27]
Francis Yeomans Scholar Unknown background – no evidence that he matriculated at either Oxford or Cambridge [27]

People named in the 1589 charter

Sir Christopher Hatton, Chancellor of the University in 1589

The charter of 1589 appointed 13 Commissioners – whilst Francis Bevans was confirmed as Principal, no Fellows or Scholars were appointed by this charter.[33]

Details about people named in the second charter
Name Notes
William Aubrey Also named as a Fellow of the college and a Commissioner in the 1571 charter
Francis Bevans Principal of the college (1586–1602)
William Cecil, Lord Burghley
 Also named as a Commissioner in the 1571 charter
The
Vice-Chancellor
of the University 		The Chancellor at the time of the 1589 charter was Sir Christopher Hatton (Chancellor 1588–1591), who was also named personally as a Commissioner. His successors were Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset (1591–1608); Richard Bancroft (Archbishop of Canterbury) (1608–1610); Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley (1610–1616); and William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke (1616–1630).[30] There were 16 different Vice-Chancellors between 1589 and 1622.[31]
Gilbert Gerard Also named as a Commissioner in the 1571 charter
Gabriel Goodman Dean of Westminster
Sir Christoper Hatton Lord Chancellor
John Herbert Secretary of State
Henry Jones A Welsh clergyman and lawyer
John Lloyd Also named as a Fellow of the college, but not a Commissioner, in the 1571 charter
Richard Harris Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford (1573–1595)
Herbert Westphaling
 Bishop of Hereford, to whom Principal Francis Bevans was chancellor
John Whitgift Archbishop of Canterbury

People named in the 1622 charter

Lancelot Andrewes, named as a Scholar in the charters of 1571 and 1622
Chancellor of the University
in 1622 and one of the signatories of the new statutes
Details about people named in the third charter
Name Position Notes Ref
Lancelot Andrewes Scholar Also named as a Scholar in the 1571 charter [27]
Sir John Bennet Commissioner Judge of the
Prerogative Court of Canterbury, elected MP for the University
in 1621 		[26]
William Bird Commissioner
Dean of the Court of Arches (appointed 1618), and a former MP for the University
 [26]
Henry Bould Scholar Later became a Fellow of the college (1623–1638) [12]
The
Vice-Chancellor
of the University 		Commissioner The Chancellor at the time of the 1622 charter was William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, and he was one of the signatories of the statutes. The Vice-Chancellor, William Piers, did not sign. [26][30][31]
William Dolben Fellow Welsh clergyman [12]
Thomas Dove Scholar Also named as a Scholar in the 1571 charter [27]
John Higginson Fellow Also named as a Fellow of the college in the 1571 charter [27]
Robert Johnson
 		Fellow Also named as a Fellow of the college in the 1571 charter [27]
Walter Jones Scholar Matriculated as a member of the college in November 1621, later becoming Sub-Dean of Westminster Abbey and Treasurer of Chichester Cathedral [12][34]
Robert Lloyd Fellow A Fellow of the college (1622–1637), but nothing else is known about him [12][35]
Hugh Madryn Scholar Matriculated as a member of the college in December 1621, later becoming rector of Newtown, Montgomeryshire [12][34]
Maurice Meyricke Fellow Registrar of the University (1600–1608) and a Fellow of New College, Oxford [12][34]
Willam Parry Scholar Matriculated as a member of the college in November 1621 [12]
Theodore Price Fellow and Commissioner Principal of
Hart Hall, Oxford
(1604–1622) 		[12][26]
Thomas Prichard Fellow A Fellow of the college since 1615, appointed Vice-Principal in 1623 [12]
William Prichard
 		Fellow A former student of the college; Rector of Ewelme, Oxfordshire (1606–1629) [12]
Ambrose Thelwall Scholar Not found in the college records, but presumed to be a relative of Sir Eubule Thelwall [12]
Sir Eubule Thelwall Principal and Commissioner Master of the Court of Chancery (appointed 1617), and Principal from 1621 until his death in 1630 [26]
William Thelwall Scholar Not found in the college records, but presumed to be a relative of Sir Eubule Thelwall [12]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b "The University of Oxford". A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 3: The University of Oxford. Institute of Historical Research, University of London. 1954. pp. 1–38. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  2. ^ a b c "Jesus College – The Beginning". Jesus College, Oxford. 8 April 2001. Archived from the original on 3 March 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  3. ^ Hardy, pp. 12–13
  4. ^ a b Baker, p. 1
  5. ^ Hardy, pp. 5–6
  6. ^ Hardy, p. 6, quoting Anthony Wood
  7. ^ "Jesus College – The Welsh College". Jesus College, Oxford. 12 November 2000. Archived from the original on 15 July 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  8. ^ Allen, pp. 117–123
  9. ISBN 978-0-14-028475-1
    .
  10. ^ Hardy, pp. 7–8
  11. ^ a b Hardy, p. 13
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Allen, p. 117
  13. ^ Bell, p. 53
  14. ^ Hardy, p. 4
  15. ^ Bell, p. 54
  16. ^ Bell, p. 57
  17. ^ Bell, p. 58
  18. ^ Bell, pp. 59–60
  19. ^ Hardy, pp. 25–26
  20. ^ Hardy, p. 29
  21. ^ Hardy, p. 28
  22. ^ a b Hardy, p. 30
  23. ^ a b c Hardy, p. 31
  24. ^ Hardy, p. 33
  25. ^ Hardy, p. 32
  26. ^ a b c d e f Hardy, p. 50
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Allen, p. 116
  28. ^ a b c d e Allen, p. 114
  29. ^ a b c d e f Allen, p. 115
  30. ^ a b c "Chancellors of the University of Oxford". University of Oxford. 4 March 2008. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
  31. ^ a b c "Vice-Chancellors of the University of Oxford". University of Oxford. 4 March 2008. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
  32. ^ Allen, p. 113
  33. ^ Allen, pp. 115–116
  34. ^
    ISBN 978-1-85506-843-8
    .
  35. ^ Hardy, Appendix III List of Fellows

Bibliography

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