CORPUS CHRISTI, Oxford. This college was founded in 1516 by Richard Fox, bishop of 'Winchester, under a license from king Henry VIII. The statutes were issued in 1517. The foundation consisted of 20 fellows and 20 scholars; of whom the fellOws were to he elected from the scholars, while the scholars were to be elected from certain' specified counties. Two peculiarities marked this foundation. First, the usual rules of life and discipline were enforced with peculiar severity; and, second, the object of the college was expressly connected with the studies of the age. Classical literature was for the first time distinctly mentioned. The subjects of the lectures were enjoined to be, not the old routine of divinity and the two philosophies, but divinity, humanity, and Greek. Incessant industry in these pursuits was inculcated by the founder, and the fellows were even forbidden to accept the proctorship, lest the avocations of that office should interfere with their proper duties. The object. and the stringency of these regulations called forth the celebrated encomium of Erasmus, that what Colossus was to Rhodes, what the Mausoleum was to Carla, that C. C. college would be to the kingdom of Great Britain. This prediction has hardly been, fulfilled. The rules of the founder have been gradually set aside by acts of parliament, by custom, and by injunctions of the visitor. Of the three university lectureships contemplated by the
founder, one was never founded at all, and the other two were merged in the college fellowships and tutorships. And, lastly, the college has suffered greatly from the severe restrictions imposed by statute upon. the elections 'to fellowships: In virtue of the powers conferred by 17 and 18 Viet. c. 81, important changes have been effected by the college working in harmony with the commissioners. Both fellow's. and scholars are now elected without any restrictions as to place•of birth. The fellowships are still. 20 in number, value rather more than E300 .a year. The college is now one of con siderable eminence. Two of the fellowships are permanently attached to the two professorships of Latin and Jurisprudence, the professors being admitted honorary fellows of Corpus, and each receiving from its revenues a sum of E600 a year. The scholarships are 24 in number, tenable for five years, and of the annual value of £80, with rooms rent free; besides seven exhibitions recently instituted• to be competed for annually by the commoners of the college. There are 22 benefices in the gift of this college; and in the year 1873, there were about 240 names on the college books.