CLARE HALL.

VERY early we read of colleges of nuns, and lady abbesses'. And when Benedict, "the father of monks, ascended to heaven," those of his order, whether male, or female, soon learnt to exchange poverty for riches. Kings, for the salvation of their souls, endowed them

* Ασπάζομαι το Σύσημα των παρθένων, as quoted in Asceticôn, p. 140, from Ignatius's Epistle to the Philippians; a spurious book in the judgment of almost all, even of Catholics, who have published editions of th apostolical fathers: it is, however, ancient. But how monastic writers used to conjure up spurious books, see Dr. James's Treatise of the Corruptions of Scripture, Councils, and Fathers, &c. The author of Monasticwv quotes two other spurious books* with the same view. But the word unμa, for a college, does occur very early in Christian writers, who borrowed it from Plutarch (in Numa) and Polybius, lib. 1 nd 2.-This note does not, properly, belong to this place, but may be of service in the course of the work. The author of Asceticav referred to Ignatius, to hold out the idea, that Christian nunneries were as old as what are called the Apostolic age.

b Άμμος, εςιν ούτω γαρ καλούσι τας πνευματικάς μητέρας. Palladii Hist. Lausiacæ, cap. 42. The Latin name was abbissa, abbatissa.

It is said, in the Saxon Chronicle, of Benedict, the founder of the Cistercian order, ealɲa Muneca fædep fapde heovenan, the father of all monks, ascended to heaven, A. 509.

* See the Saxon Chronicle.-The grants used commonly to run in some such form as this, Sciatis, me concessisse Deo et ecclesiæ sanctæ, & pro Dei amore et salute animæ, et parentum meorum, et pro statu regni mei, &c. In the library of University College, Oxford, is a well written and * Cipriani Epist. Chrysostomi Homil. in Matthæum,

with lands; prioresses procured impropriations for their own nunneries; and, princesses becoming foundresses of religious houses, and investing them with their whole dowries and fortunes, undertook their government. It is remarkable, too, that to monasteries, societies of monks, not favourable to the sex, females have been used to shew great partialities, and been most liberal in their benefactions and endowments.

Colleges, as afterwards formed, out of monastic houses, into literary and more liberal institutions, were still guarded against female influence; yet, to these, also, the fair sex generally manifested great regards. Prompted by a generosity of mind, by sentiments of piety, or a desire of perpetuating their names, some ladies have enlarged them by their benefactions, others, as foundresses, have endowed them. And of this number was the lady whose name stands connected with Clare Hall.

This house had, in more ancient times, the name of University Hall. It is supposed by some, to have been that called Solere Hall, in one of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Mr. Robert Smyth, indeed, says, " it is remarked, this hall, called University Hall, is the same as that called by Chaucer, Solere Hall. If so, he himself

valuable Codex, composed by John Abbot, in 1496, containing an account of privileges from popes, and grants from kings and princes, down to that time, made to the monasteries of the Cistercian order.

Thus the famous Etheldreda, daughter of Anna, king of the East Angles, and wife of Egfrid, king of the Northumbrians, becoming the foundress and first abbess of the monastery of Ely, settled on it the whole Isle of Ely, being a principality, and her marriage portion. See Bentham's Hist. and Antiquities of the Conventual and Cathedral Church of Ely, p. 45, first edition.

Smyth's MS,

was a student in it. Archbishop Tennison gives him up, and says, the poem styled, Aula Amoris, was none of his."

What authority they have for giving up "the Court of Love," as not Chaucer's, I know not. Mr. Tyrwhitt, a better critic, I suspect, than either, with respect to Chaucer, gave it him a. But unfortunately for the Archbishop, and my good friend, Robert Smyth, the passage in question, about Solere Hall, is not in the Court of Love, but in the Reve's Tale.

And, namely, there was a great college,

Men clepen it the Solere Hall of Cambridge.

University Hall had its origin from Richard Badew, a cleric, who was, at the time, chancellor of the university. But the foundation was not his single act, nor, indeed, accompanied on his part with any endowment. He, uniting with some other collegiates, bought of Nigellus de Thornton, two messuages and a piece of ground in Milne, or Millar's Lane, which then lay between what are now called Queen's College and Clare Hall, near St. John Zacharie's Church. Over this house he appointed Walter de Thaxted principal, with a few, who were called pensioners: but, though so denominated, they supported themselves at their own expense. Thus continued the state of things at University Hall, for sixteen years, when it was accidentally destroyed by fire.

William Badew was of a family of Great Badew, near Chelmsford, in Essex, that distinguished itself in an age, when knighthood, the last order in rank, but the first in antiquity, was in all its glory; and he added to the lustre

a The Preface to his edition of the Canterbury Tales.

▷ Clare Hall Register.