WORCESTER COLLEGE, OXFORD, was founded, like Trinity and St. John's, on the site of an old monastic college. The ancient institution was known by the name of Gloucester college, because it belonged to the Benedictine monks of that city. After the dissolution of the monasteries, it passed through various hands; and latterly was a hail attached to St. John's college. In 1701, however, sir Thomas Cookes left £10,000 for the purpose of endowing some existing college or hall. This bequest led to the i erection of Gloucester ball into a college, for a provost, six fellows, and six scholars, by letters-patent of queen Anne, 1714. Various fellowships and scholarships were after ward added, until the number of fellows became 21, of scholars 16, but almost all restricted to certain counties, or to founders' kin. The commissioners under 17 and 18 Viet. c. 81 reduced the number of fellowships to 15, open without restriction, except that candidates for a fellowship on the Eaton foundation must be sons of clergymen of the church of England and Ireland, and must not be possessed of property or income exceeding £150 a year. The scholarships are now 16 in number—six on the foundation
of sir Thomas Cookes, for persons educated at Bromsgrove school; one on the founda Lion of Dr:Finney, for natives of Staffordshire; five on the foundation of Mrs. Sarah .E.Aon, for sons of clergymen of the church of England; and three on the foundation of Dr. Clarke, and one on the foundation of Robert Barnes, esq., which are entirely open. Most of the scholarships are of the value of £75, tenable for five years. There are also six exhibitions—four on the foundation of sir Thomas Cookes, value £42 a year, for persons educated at Bromsgrove school. There are ten benefices in the gift of this college.