asters were priests of the Church of
Rome.

[Illustration: THE OLD BRIDGE]

Metcalfe was more of an administrator than a student, and his energies
were chiefly devoted to the material side of the College interests.
Fresh endowments were obtained in place of those which had been lost.
King Henry VIII. was persuaded to hand over to the College the estates
of three decayed religious houses--the Maison Dieu at Ospringe, the
Nunnery of Lillechurch in Higham, both in Kent, and the Nunnery of
Broomhall in Berkshire. As these houses, as well as the Hospital, had
allowed their affairs to fall into disorder, it is probable that the
identification of their lands, and the reduction of these to effective
possession, was a matter of some difficulty. Metcalfe was much absent
from College; the accounts of his private expenditure on these journeys
have survived, and letters to him from the College during his absences
show that his skill and wisdom were much relied on.

Fisher also gave largely to the College, and through his example and
influence others were induced to endow fellowships and scholarships. He
gave three successive codes of statutes for the government of the
College in 1516, 1524, and 1530. These present no novel features, being
for the most part based on existing statutes of Colleges at Oxford or
Cambridge. They are long, and, as the fashion then was, lay down many
rules with regard to minor matters. A few of the leading provisions may
be given. One scholar was to be Chapel clerk, to assist the sacrist at
Mass; another was to ring the great bell at 4 A.M., as was done before
the College was founded, and again at 8 P.M., when the gates were
closed; another was to be clock-keeper. These three scholars were to be
exempt from all other domestic duties, except that of reading the Bible
in time of plague. Seven scholars were told off to serve as waiters in
Hall, to bring in and remove the food and dishes; an eighth was to read
the Bible in Hall while the Society were at dinner. When in honour of
God, or the Saints, a fire was made up in Hall, the Fellows, scholars,
and servants might stay to amuse themselves with singing and repeating
poetry and tales. The Master, Fellows, and scholars were to wear
clerical dress; red, white, green, or parti-coloured boots were
forbidden.

One-fourth part of the Fellows were always to be engaged in preaching to
the people in English; Bachelors of Divinity, preaching at Paul's Cross,
were t