At that time Tho. Wolsey Cardinal of York prepared to build a College in Oxford,1 marvellous sumptuous which had the name & title of Frideswide, but now named Christs Church, not so much (as it is thought) for the love & zeal that he bare unto learning, as for an ambitious desire ⟨p. 1032⟩of glory & renown, & to leave a perpetual name unto the posterity. But that building, he being cut of by the stroke of death (for he was sent for unto the king, accused upon certain crimes, and in the way by immoderate purgations killed him self) least partly begun, partly half ended & unperfect, and nothing else save only the kitchen was fully finished. Whereupon Rodulphus Gualterus a learned man, being then in Oxford, & beholding the College, said these words in Latin.2 Egregium opus Cardinalis iste instituit collegium, et absoluit popinam. Howe large & ample those buildings should have ben, what sumptuous cost should have been bestowed upon the same, may easily be perceived by that that which is already builded, as the kitchen, the hall, and certain chambers, where as there is such curious graving and workmanship of stone cutters, that all things on every side did glitter for the excellency of the workmanship, for the finesse of yt matter, with the gilt antics, & embossings, in so much that if all the rest had been finished to that determinate end as it was begun, it might well have excelled not only all Colleges of students, but also palaces of Princes. This ambitious Cardinal gathered together into that College, what soever excellent thing there was in the whole realm, either vestments, vessels, or other ornaments, beside provision of all kind of precious things. Besides that, he also appointed unto that company all such men as were found to excel in any kind of learning & knowledge. Whose names to recite all in order, would be to long. The chief of them which were called from Cambridge were these.
At that time Tho. Wolsey Cardinall of Yorke prepared to build a Colledge in Oxford,1 maruelous sumptuous which had the name & title of Frideswide, but now named Christes Church, not so much (as it is thought) for ye loue & zeale that he bare vnto learning, as for an ambitious desire ⟨p. 1032⟩of glory & renoume, & to leaue a perpetual name vnto the posteritie. But that building, he being cut of by ye stroke of death (for he was sent for vnto ye king, accused vpon certaine crimes, and in the waye by immoderate purgations killed him self) least partly begun, partly halfe ended & vnperfect, and nothing els saue only the kitchin was fully finished. Wherupon Rodulphus Gualterus a learned mā, being then in Oxford, & beholding the Colledge, sayd these wordes in Latine.2 Egregium opus Cardinalis iste instituit collegium, et absoluit popinam. Howe large & ample those buildings should haue ben, what sumptuous cost should haue bene bestowed vpon the same, may easily be perceiued by yt that which is already buylded, as the kitchin, the hall, and certain chambers, where as there is such curious grauing and workemanship of stone cutters, that all things on euery side did glitter for the excellency of the workmāship, for the finesse of yt matter, with the gilt antikes, & embossings, in so muche that if all the rest had bene finyshed to that determinate end as it was begun, it might well haue excelled not onelye all Colledges of studentes, but also palaces of Princes. This ambitious Cardinal gathered together into that Colledge, what soeuer excellent thing there was in the whole realme, eyther vestments, vessels, or other ornaments, beside prouision of all kind of precious things. Besides that, he also appointed vnto that cōpany all such men as were found to excell in anye kinde of learning & knowledge. Whose names to recite all in order, would be to lōg. The chiefe of them whiche were called from Cambridge were these.
- 1The College in Oxford of Frydeswide, now called Christs College.The College in Oxford of Frydeswide, now called Christes Colledge.
- 2The saying of Rodolphus Cualterus touching the Cardinals College.The saying of Rodolphus Cualterus touching the Cardinals Colledg.
