been pieced together with the skill of an expert and the highest intelligence by Mr. Blakiston. Amongst other things, a list of wardens, which goes back to 'c. 1316,' introduces us to a new set of Heads of Houses, exceeded in antiquity of tenure by Balliol and Merton only. The seals which were found appended to some of these long-buried papers deserve attention, especially that of the 'Parishioners of St. Mary Magdalen, Oxford, 1326.' This is almost unique, and at any rate very rare. Ancient seals of Churches, Corporations, Liberties, Hundreds, &c., are common enough; not so seals of parishioners in towns. The device is also interesting. In this parish was situated Beaumont Palace, where Richard I was born, and he either used or had assigned to him as a badge this same very significant device, a crescent surmounted by a star. It is therefore more than probable that the parish adopted the device out of regard for the memory of their great parishioner.

No research is likely to afford us any similar light as to the history of Hart Hall, which started contemporaneously with Durham College. Nurtured by no such alma mater as the great Benedictine Monastery of Durham, with no Cathedral Dean and Chapter to preserve its documents, we run our eyes down a catalogue of sixty-four Principals before it enters upon the second stage of its existence, a list covering a period of 458 years (1282-1740); and as this is all that remains, we gain no idea whatever of anything in the history of the Hall, either instructive, or distinctive, or interesting. What the Calendar tells us must be enough for us :-'About the year 1282, Elias de Hertford converted into a Hall for students certain premises in Oxford which were thereafter known by the name of Hertford, Hert, or Hart Hall,'-the latter apparently being familiar abbreviations of the first name, and which gradually took its place. It seems to have been 'respectable,' and it must have had some sort of staying power to be one of the six Halls which alone survived some two or three hundred of their brethren, and, defying the

absorbing strength of the Colleges, have come down to nearly our own times. But it and its successors, instituted on the same site, have had one mark in common. They have always, until quite recent times, been afflicted with the wearing disease of impecuniosity. The Hall was in a poor condition when Dr. Newton took it in hand and turned it into Hertford College. His was a sickly plant; it underwent a lingering decline under its new constitution, and died a natural death in 1805. Its site and part of its small endowments were transferred to Magdalen Hall, when that institution broke up from its old quarters by the side of its parent College. That third phase of existence lasted for half a century, and was in many respects a success, but it was always seriously cramped for want of funds. When again the energy of its last Principal, Dr. Michell, was employed in the attempt to turn it once more into a College, the old fate still seemed impending over it, but the munificence of Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P., came to the rescue, and in 1874 it emerged to greatness with a new Charter and a splendid Foundation, under which it has become one of the most distinguished Colleges in Oxford, only wanting in buildings corresponding to its importance.

Fortunately for the second stage of its existence, or rather for the opening of that stage, Dr. Newton, the founder, was a marked character, an ardent reformer, and blessed or cursed with an uncontrollable love of pamphleteering. There is therefore no lack of material, and to the present Principal of Hertford, Dr. Boyd, the Oxford Historical Society is indebted for the production of all the papers still left in the College. He was successful in finding in one of his Fellows, Mr. S. G. Hamilton, a thoroughly capable writer, who has made the way plain through a maze of legal and other difficulties, and has presented to us a truly worthy clergyman, a gentleman and an enthusiast; but if ever there was a University Don Quixote, he was the man. Unfortunately, while the fictitious extravagances of the knight killed a

debased knight errantry, the absurdities of the reformer had a good deal to do with killing the reforms on which he and some others had set their hearts. He was not, however, the only person to blame. We may hardly refrain from a smile at the good founder, but no one can help observing that he suffered no small amount of ill-treatment from his neighbours. Between them the University threw away one of its very few opportunities of escaping in some degree from the bad character which has been fastened upon its career during the eighteenth century.

Besides the history of Durham College, three other mediaeval subjects have been taken in hand by peculiarly well qualified writers. For the first time the volumes of Collectanea have been honoured by the assistance of a lady. Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith, having derived a considerable knowledge of mediaeval antiquities from her father, the well-known antiquary, as well as from her own studies, has spared no pains to bring it to bear on the Ancient Petitions' concerning Oxford which have been so long waiting in the Record Office for some one to interpret them. To call upon a scholar of Mr. Furneaux's eminence to edit the quaint mediaeval poems now first placed within popular reach, may seem to sin against the proverb which forbids one to harness a race-horse to a wagon: but the advantage of placing the work in his hands will be apparent enough to those who examine his notes and emendations. They at least will understand the labour which he has so kindly bestowed on a subject lying quite outside his own field of study. Who again could more properly deal with the list of books presented to New College by its famous founder and other ancient benefactors than a distinguished member of that great institution, who is familiar with these subjects as an Assistant Charity Commissioner, and as one of the Council of the Society of Antiquaries? We have to join him in thanking the venerable Warden of the College for permission to use these lists, and Mr. Leach hints that the treasure is by no means exhausted.

For the two remaining papers the Society is indebted to two meritorious officers of the University Press. Some cynical observers, affecting to despise the University methods of education, have been heard to admit that Oxford does possess two useful institutions, the Bodleian Library and the Clarendon Press. They will appreciate the latter all the more when they read the Controller's interesting account of some important episodes in the progress of the art of printing at that institution. How few of us ever understood the part which the ingenious Lord Stanhope took in the process, or are at all aware of our obligations! The beautiful picture of him which the head of the family has kindly allowed Mr. Horace Hart to insert in this volume will help us to remember this remarkable man. Further, the lapse of two centuries has not enfeebled the interest which our people take in the last battle fought in this island-witness the popularity of Dr. Conan Doyle's fine historical novel, Micah Clarke; and in the correspondence so ably edited by Mr. Doble, we find ourselves behind the scenes, at least as far as the relations between the Court and the University are concerned, and in contact with those who pulled the strings.

The mention of the Bodleian suggests that it would be unpardonable not to mention the work done for this volume, as for its predecessors, by the learned and indefatigable Mr. Falconer Madan, the Secretary of the Committee. Without his initiative and ever-ready help scarcely one of them would have seen the light. Lastly, the illustrations above mentioned do not stand alone in this volume. It is hoped that the subscribers will approve of the innovation, and join the Editor in gratitude to those who have taken so much trouble to add to the general interest of the book.

MONTAGU BURROWS,

CHICHELE PROFESSOR OF MODERN HISTORY, ETC.

December, 1896.