CAMBRIDGE LIBRARY COLLECTION Books of enduring scholarly value
Cambridge The city of Cambridge received its royal char...
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CAMBRIDGE LIBRARY COLLECTION Books of enduring scholarly value
Cambridge The city of Cambridge received its royal charter in 1201, having already been home to Britons, Romans and AngloSaxons for many centuries. Cambridge University was founded soon afterwards and celebrates its octocentenary in 2009. This series explores the history and influence of Cambridge as a centre of science, learning, and discovery, its contributions to national and global politics and culture, and its inevitable controversies and scandals.
The Cambridge Portfolio The University of Cambridge has always inspired artists and writers, and these sumptuous volumes from 1840 portray some of its most important historic buildings, institutions and people. Each volume includes a collection of essays, anecdotes, poems and reminiscences on the colleges, museums, gardens, streets and character of the town, as well as historical essays on the Boat Race and university teaching. The many illustrations of major sights and important views, such as the Backs, the river Cam and Grantchester meadows, include works by or after several well-known artists, engraver Charles George Lewis and landscape painter John Murray Ince among them. With contributors drawn from the various colleges, the volumes include much interesting material on the history and customs of the University up to 1840. This miscellany is an ideal gift or collector’s item for all those interested in the University of Cambridge.
Cambridge University Press has long been a pioneer in the reissuing of out-of-print titles from its own backlist, producing digital reprints of books that are still sought after by scholars and students but could not be reprinted economically using traditional technology. The Cambridge Library Collection extends this activity to a wider range of books which are still of importance to researchers and professionals, either for the source material they contain, or as landmarks in the history of their academic discipline. Drawing from the world-renowned collections in the Cambridge University Library, and guided by the advice of experts in each subject area, Cambridge University Press is using state-of-the-art scanning machines in its own Printing House to capture the content of each book selected for inclusion. The files are processed to give a consistently clear, crisp image, and the books finished to the high quality standard for which the Press is recognised around the world. The latest print-on-demand technology ensures that the books will remain available indefinitely, and that orders for single or multiple copies can quickly be supplied. The Cambridge Library Collection will bring back to life books of enduring scholarly value across a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences and in science and technology.
The Cambridge Portfolio Volume 2 Edited by J.J. Smith
C A M B R I D G E U N I V E R SI T Y P R E S S Cambridge New York Melbourne Madrid Cape Town Singapore São Paolo Delhi Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108004299 © in this compilation Cambridge University Press 2009 This edition first published 1840 This digitally printed version 2009 ISBN 978-1-108-00429-9 This book reproduces the text of the original edition. The content and language reflect the beliefs, practices and terminology of their time, and have not been updated.
4;^^%^A;;i^gm^
THE
C A M B R I D G E PORTFOLIO
EDITED BY THE REV. J. J. SMITH, M. A., FELLOW AND TUTOB OF GONVILLE AND CAIUS COLLEGE.
BAS. ANTIP.
What have we here ? A trimly-wrought Portfolio, my Lord, Full of rich things and rare devices I Have heard it was his love, his pet, his joy,— To glean by day, and sow for it by night:— Would it might please you !
VOLUME
THE SECOND.
LONDON: J O H N W. P A R K E R , W E S T STRAND. CAMBRIDGE: J. AND J. J. DEIGHTON. M.DCCC.XL.
DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES. VOLUME II. TO FACE PAGK
The Walks. Frontispiece. Hobson's Conduit The Fountain, Trinity College William Harvey The Hall, King's College The Hall-Screen, Trinity College The Hall, Trinity College The Chapel, Jesus College In the Chapel, Jesus College The Ante-Chapel, Jesus College Jesus College The Petty Cury Mantle-piece, in the Cross Keys In Trinity Street Old Wood-work from the White Horse Sidney Sussex College O. Cromwell Egyptian Sarcophagus Christ's College, Fellows' Building The Bath, Christ's College The Chapel, Corpus Christi College The Pepysian Library Fire-place over Old King's Gate Trinity Hall Street The Halcomblen Chantry, King's College View from the New Building, St. John's College Desk of Brass, King's College The Screen, King's College Chapel Wood-carving on the Screen, King's College Chapel Wood-carving on the Screen, King's College Chapel Great St. Mary's Church A Portrait in Jesus College Trumpington Street Pembroke College Archbishop Cranmer The Chapel, St. Peter's College The Entrance, St. John's College East Window, St. Peter's College Chapel East Window, Little St. Mary's The Tomb of the Lady Margaret Carving in Wood, Library of Trinity College
313 318 340 344 345 346 352 353 354 357 359 360 360 364 378 397 409 412 412 415 423 430 430 433 433 434 435 435 435 449 478 479 479 480 485 488 488 489 501 507
311
THOMAS HOBSON.
WE confess ourselves rather puzzled to know in what manner to deal with the hero of the present chapter, under so many different forms is he represented by his biographers. The greater part of them represent him as uniting the professions of horsedealer and carrier in his own person, and at the same time exhibit him as a benefactor of our town in a way hereafter to be told. One chronicler hails him " Thou friend to man, and the less friended beast."
Another, " A man not learned, yet a man of letters;"
while Milton endeavours to overthrow all these opinions by asserting him to be " Made of sphere iron, never to decay."
But as the last named authority elsewhere informs us that " Death hath broke his girt And here, alas, hath laid him in the dirt,"
we must reject his evidence as contradicting itself, and treat our hero as a man indeed, but of that species of which Proteus was the progenitor. And, first, all dwellers in and visitors of Cambridge are well acquainted with a stream which runs by their side for a quarter of a mile as they come into the town on the London Road, and which, after accompanying them from the Bridge to the end of Downing Terrace, is there separated into two parts, one of which runs down both sides of Trumpington Street as far as Pembroke College, where it disappears like the Arethusa of old and is seen no more until sought for in its ortygia, the conduit in the Market Place: the other branch is carried along Downing Terrace and thence flows down both sides of Regent Street, until like its fellow it disappears opposite Christ's College and flows underground to the same conduit. This stream called " the little
312
THOMAS HOBSON.
new river" rises in " the nine wells" situated on or near the bounds of Shelford and Trumpington, at the foot of the high ground formed by the chalk. The idea of bringing this into the town appears to have first suggested itself to Dr. Perne who communicated it in a letter to Lord Burghley, found in Strype's collection and dated 1574. The object of the proposal was to cleanse the King's Ditch, which, as Fuller describes, having been made to " defend Cambridge by its strength, did in his time offend it with its stenche." It remained however for the next generation to carry the scheme into execution, and contracts1 between the University and the town on one part with Thomas Chapley2, Lord of the Manor of Trumpington, were signed Oct. 26, 1610, by which the stream and "six feet of soyle" on each side were given to the two bodies for 1000 years on the annual payment of 20*., to be appropriated to keeping the banks, &c. in repair; and it was covenanted that he should be made a freeman, which covenant has extended to succeeding Lords. The plan was Edward Wright's, who was M. A. of Caius College, and the best mathematician of his day; and gave also to Sir Hugh Middleton the plan for his New River. The above-mentioned conduit owes its existence to our friend3, who at his death left " his seaven leas lying in Swinescroft, als St. Thomas' leas," the rents whereof were to be applied for its preservation and for raising it a yard higher. The year after his death, 1632, Alderman Potto, of the parish of Great St. Mary, left some houses in Union Street, the profits of which the officers of the above parish were to apply to the same purpose. Soon after the restoration of Monarchy, the King's Arms were affixed on the summit of the conduit. On the 1
Indenture in Public Regist. of Graces, 230.
2
Or Chaplyn, according to Cole.
3
See Harl. MSS. 7044.
The first free stone of the foundation was laid Aug. 9, 1614. Another indenture respecting it is mentioned in the Corporation books, and a letter of James I. addressed to the Vice-Chancellor and Mayor, alludes to subscription having been made; but though it appeared evidently a work tending to the common good and safety of the town, yet " the inhabitants thereof for the most part deny, or have very slenderly contributed" to the work. Subsequently, a general benefactor, Dr. Perse, became a benefactor to this object also, by leaving an annuity of 81. to its support.
THOMAS HOBSON.
313
16th of May, 1661, the Corporation gave an order for that purpose to their Treasurers; this order was however rescinded on the 4th of June, " in regard that it might tend to bring a charge upon the Corporation." On the 6th of March following, £7. were directed to be expended about setting up and beautifying the King's Arms on the Conduit, but it was declared that it was " not to be a precedent for time to come, forasmuch as the Corporation ought not by right to bear the charge4." On occasion of William the Third's visit to Cambridge, on the 4th of October, 1689, the Conduit ran wine; but the quantity was not very considerable, as the expence amounted to no mare than thirty shillings4. In 1667 these two charities were united, and the officers of St. Mary's parish were joint trustees for about 80 years after Alderman Potto's death, after which time it was in the hands of the University officers: at present the Commissioners of Paving and Lighting share with the Trustees5 the management of the work. In the words of one of Hobson's biographers, " All blessings on their heads, who thus we find Extend a general bounty to mankind; Who to themselves some luxuries deny To give to needy thousands a supply."
So far our friend and Pope's Man of Ross, " From the dry rock who bade the waters flow,"
have corresponding claims upon the gratitude of their fellow-townsmen, but no farther; for Pope's hero proceeded to the common-place expedients of giving away bread, building alms-houses, " portioning maids", and " apprenticing orphans", while Hobson, with a praiseworthy zeal, mounted upon a carrier's cart 6 , went at regular intervals "betwixt Cam4
Corporation Common Day Book. Respecting this trust, see Report 31, of the Charity Commissioners. 6 He was employed by the University as letter-carrier, and this character of his is commemorated in the title of a book, " Hobson's horse-load of letters of President for epistles of Business," 1613. He used himself to ride, as his portrait shews, but he also had a ' long tilted wayne1 on the road, an establishment such probably as his father had before him, and described in his will as ' the cart and eight horses, and all the harness and other things thereunto belonging, and the nag.' The superintendance of the post was reserved to the University in the Act of Queen Anne. As late as J753, licence was given by the 5
40
314
THOMAS HOBSON.
bridge and the Bull" for many years. His visits appear from the following document to have been weekly: " William I commende me hartely vnto you—you shall receave by hobson theise prcells. I had no more store of Dr. Bridges' bookes bounde one disapointed me of half a dossen in post which I would have sent you but the next weecke you shall have them in the meane tyme shewe theise to the heades of the houses 7 Dr. Styll and Dr. Oopcotes etc the next weecke I will sende Mr. Neville one. I pray you go now againe to Mr. Dr. Whittaker and knowe his answere and see what he will ffare you hartely well your loving freind Thomas Chayre."
Another indirect notice is found in a letter from Mr. Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville, dated Christ's College, July 9, 1625, wherein is the following passage alluding to the plague;—" it grows very dangerous on both sides to continue an intercourse of Letters; not knowing what hands they passe through before they come to those to whom they are sent. Our Hobson and the rest should have been forbidden this week, but that the message came too late. However it is his last." We have yet one more form under which to present our hero, and in so doing, we shall explain the expression " Hobson's choice", which is in common parlance used to denote an alternative, where there is in fact no alternative at all, or no more than a highwayman offers you, when, with a cocked pistol within an inch of your ear and his knee on your breast, he pronounces the words 'your money or your life.' In fact, the English of Hobson's choice8 is "this or none." Now, to his other avocations, Hobson added that of letter of horses to the Cantabs of 1600, a business that originated with him; and although we fear that when we say he was an honest one, we shall appear to be uttering a libel upon the profession, and practising upon the credulity of our University to eleven persons 'to carry letters and small parcels'; five to London and one to each of the following towns, Bury St. Edmund's, Downham, Kettering, Lynn, Northampton and Norwich. See Carter's Cambridgeshire, p. 50. '
same day—one to Mr. Speaker Lenthall, another to his relation Richard Major, Esq. of Harsley [Hursley], Hants (see Harris's Life of Oliver Cromwell, Vol. III. p. 238, and Appx. p. 513), and this third to Lord Wharton. A short extract from each of these letters will shew the corresponding turn of mind under which they were written? 8
And see a fourth, to his wife, post 376. 47—2
372
In the letter to Mr. Major he writes— " Deere Brother—Havinge soe good an occasion as the impartinge soe great a mercie as the Lord hath voutchsafed vnto vs in Scotland, I. would not omitt the impartinge thereof to you, though I bee full of businesse. upon Wedensd. wee fought the Scottish armie: 'They were in number accordinge to all computation above twentie thousand, wee hardly had eleven thousand, havinge great sicknesses upon our armie, after much appealing to God, the fight lasted above an hower, wee killed (as most thinke) three thousand, tooke neare ten thousand prisoners, all theire traine about thirtye gunns, great and smale, besides bullet, match, and powder, very considerable officers, about two hundred colors, above ten thousand armes, lost not * thirtie men. This is the Lord's doeing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Good Sr, give God all the glorie, stirr up all yours and all about you to do soe, pray for your affectionate brother O. Cromwell" Dunbar, Sept. 4th, 1650. Again in his letter to the Speaker*— " The enemy lying in the posture before mentioned having those advantages, wee lay very near Him, being sensible of our disadvantages, having some weaknesse of flesh, but yet consolation and support from the Lord himself to our poor weak fayth, wherein I believe not a few amongst us shared, that because of their numbers, because of their advantages, because of their confidence, because of our weakness, because of our strait, we were in the mount, and in the mount the Lord would be seen, and that he would find out a way of deliverance and salvation for us, fyc. Sfc," Again in the conclusion of his letter to Lord Wharton (vid. infra.)— " How gracious has the Lord been in this great businesse—Lord, hyde not thy mercyes from our eyes, $•