any

allusion is made to it1. There was also a treasury (domus thesaurorum), and a chapter-house (domus capitularis).

A building is described at some length in the roll for 1544-5, the very name of which it is difficult to understand. It is called spectaculum or New-work." It was built of freestone, was of some height, as it required a scaffold, and was paved3. It was repaired in 1589-90 and other years, but the use to which it was put is never so much as alluded to. There is a small building with battlemented walls shewn upon Hammond's map (fig. 2) abutting on the west wall of the College, and overlooking the fen. If the conjecture that this is the "spectaculum" be accepted, it would then signify "look-out." In confirmation of this view it may be mentioned that in Loggan's print of Queens' College, reproduced in the History of that College, a similar structure is shewn, built over a doorway' in the garden-wall next to the river, and of such a height that the floor is level with the top of the wall. It has battlements, and is approached by a flight of broad external stairs.]

1 [It was let on lease in 1667, and again in 1677 at a yearly rent of 12d., the College reserving the use of it for the Fellows free of charge, and, "Provided also that the Scholars...shall freely play with their owne Balls and Rackets from eleven of ye clock untill one, paying nothing for the same; and at other times when y° Mr or Deans...shall allow them."]

2 Ibid. 1589--90. 'Et de xiv d. Greene pro iron barres et staples pro domo capitulari, et de xxij d. pro sera et claue pro eadem ut patet in billa præfecti."

3 "Et de ijs. vjd. persone aurige pro vehendis decem bigatis lapidum vocat' ly fre ad reficiendum murum spectaculi vocati ly newwarke. ... Et de vd. pro funiculis ad colligandum ly scafowolde apud ly newarke. Et de iijs. Magistro Sherwood pro bigata lapidum ly fre pavyngestone pro ly newarke. Et de vjŝ. viijd. Magistro collegii pro duobus bigatis et dimidio eiusdem generis lapidum ad sternendum ly newarke."

4 [This was the position of the structure at Peterhouse, from a payment made 1590-91 "ix d. Greene reficienti seram ostii sub le Newarke."]

CHAPTER IV.

BUILDINGS OF THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES. DR PERNE'S LIBRARY. WORKS OF DR MATTHEW WREN.

IN addition to the old chambers and buildings of the great quadrangle, there were others extending to the street, whose position can only be understood by following the history of the present buildings of the entrance court, the earliest of which is the Library on the south side, due to Dr Andrew Perne (Master 1553-1589), as appears from the following singular passage in his last will':

"The Colledge Librairie of Peterhouse...I doe wishe to be newe builded at the east end of the Masters Lodginge longewayes towardes the Streate by some good Benefactor or Benefactors that I have spoken toe and wiche have promised to helpe to the buildinge of the same. That is M' Customer Smithe, Mr Machell of Hackney, and Mr Thomas Sutton of Newyngton principallie, and if noe other man will contribute to the buildinge of the sayed Librairie w'in one yeare after my discease, then I will soe muche of my plate to be solde and other of my goodes and moveables, as will build the same three score foote in length and the breadth and heighthe to be as the rest of the Colledge is, wt loftes and chimnies; and all the foresayed newe librarie to be newe builded as is aforesaide, w'in three or foure yeares at the furthest after my dicease. I will all my bookes bequeathed in this my testament to be layed and chayned in the old Librarie of the Colledge and the foresayed Masters or Presidents to preserve all the Bookes that I have

1 It was signed 25 Feb. 1588, and probate taken May, 1589. [The following extract is taken from a copy in the Diocesan Registry at Peterborough. I have not been able to discover the original. His private library had become famous, for when the French Ambassador visited Cambridge on Aug. 30, 1571, "he went to Peter Howse to see Dr Pearne's Studdie or Librarie, supposed to be the worthiest in all England." MSS. Baker, xxiv. 250, Cooper's Annals, ii. 278.]

2 [The Masters of Peterhouse, S. John's and Queens', or the Presidents thereof, had been mentioned in a previous clause of the will.]

given in this my will to the sayed Librarie as appeareth afterwardes, the which I will to be written in three severall Register Bookes indented, the on to remayene in the Custodie of the Mr of Peterhouse for the time beinge and his Successors, the second in the Colledge comen Chistes, the third in the handes of the keeper of ye Colledge Librarie of Peterhouse, the wch keeper I will to be bound wt twoe Suerties in three hundreth pounds for the safe keepinge of all the sayed bookes and the makinge goode of them at the saied accompt in the said librarie yearelie to bee made before the Vice chauncellor the Master of the said Colledge of Peterhouse and the Master of St Johns or in their absence before their Presidents, after the drinkinge in the Parlor the which shall be imediatlie after the sermon is ended'; and that the sayed keeper suffer none of the sayed bookes to be lent to anie person out of the sayed Librairie; but he to see all my bookes that I shall give to the Librarie to be bound wt chaines at my coaste And the names of the bookes that be sett in euerie stall to be written in the end thereof, wt my name in euerie of ye said Bookes; and that the senior Bursar be bounde at ye takinge of his office for the makinge at that time before the said persons a trewe accompte of all other thinges that I doe give to the Colledge....And I will that the sayed' Scholler and keeper of the said Librarie shall have a chamber under the said Librarie, and he to be in the sayed Librarie dayely two houres at the least, except it be holie daye or except he have licence of the Master of the Colledge being called thither and to goe thither when he shall be required by anie of the Fellowes of Peterhouse aforesayed...."

[Accordingly in the Bursar's Roll for 1590-1 material in wood and stone is bought; and the work must have proceeded rapidly at first, for in the following year the door leading to the Library from the Master's chamber was made, shewing that the ground floor must have been complete or nearly so. During the next year no work is recorded: but in 1593-4 the greatest activity prevailed. The floor was laid, casements were fitted to the windows and glazed, hinges and bolts to the doors, the walls were plastered and the beams coloured. The work must have been finished in this year, for not only do we find a charge for making the "half-pace" or raised stage on which the bookcases were to stand, but "platts" for the shelves are bought; and lastly the books were moved in, for one Crofts was employed to take

1

1 [He had previously directed that this sermon is "to be made for me yearlie in the parish Church of litel St Maries on the Sundaye in the afternoone next ensueinge that daye in the which it shall please God to take mee out of this presente life to his mercie."]

2 [It had been previously directed that the Librarian should be a scholar, and receive 5 marks annually.]

the chains off (probably from those in the old Library), and ten shillings were distributed among the scholars for writing the catalogue'.

In this same year (1593—4) the room over the Library, called in the accounts “le gallery," was built, with windows in its north and south walls, and a triple window at the end (towards the street). Access to this was originally obtained only by the turret stair (G, fig. 2); for that by which it is now approached from the landing close to the Library door at the head of the stair leading up from the cloister (M, fig. 2) is modern, and was doubtless made when it was divided into chambers. This gallery was assigned to the Master before it was built, as the following order shews, which was probably made at the time of the completion of the basement.

"Oct. 25, 1591. It is ordered by me which in the vacancy of the Bishopric of Ely am your Colledge visitor that the whole upper Roome over Dr Pernes new Library and halfe of the Roome under the said Library in Peterhouse shall be part of the Mrs Lodging.

Jo. CANTUAR.

The entire work was not completed until 1594-5, when a quantity of oak board, and casements, both double and single, were bought, at an expense of £50. 8s. 13d.]

The Library was built as directed at the east end of the Master's lodging, stretching from that towards the street, but its south wall next to the garden shews that it consists of two portions built at successive periods. The first part next to the old lodge is exactly sixty feet long, as Dr Perne's will directs (NO, fig. 2), and this is constructed of rubble interspersed with large stones. The point of junction with the Lodge (N) can be easily seen, the rubble of the south wall of the Lodge being composed of much smaller stones. The second part, which elongates it by thirtysix feet, so as to reach the street, is of brick, and has a brick gable with an oriel window in the street bearing the date 1633, above, in brickwork.

1 [The account for this year under the head "Fundatio Doctoris Pearne" is transcribed entire in the appendix, No. III. It is an excellent specimen of the Bursars' Rolls of Peterhouse, shewing the curious mixture of Latin, French and English in the language, and the method of setting down each expense in the order in which it was incurred, without any attempt at classification.]

2 Old Register, 86.

[We now come to a period of great activity in improving and increasing the College buildings, due mainly to the architectural taste of Dr Matthew Wren, of whom we read in the Parentalia:

"In 1625 he was rather call'd than preferr'd to the Mastership of St Peters College in Cambridge; where he exercis'd such Prudence and Moderation in his Government that he reduced all the Fellows to one sacred Bond of Unity and Concord, and excited the Scholars to Constancy and Diligence in their Studies. Moreover, he built great Part of the College from the Ground, rescued their Writings and ancient Records from Dust and Worms, and by indefatigable Industry digested them into a good Method and Order.

But seeing the publick Offices of Religion less decently perform'd, and the Service of God depending upon the Courtesy of others, for want of a convenient Oratory within the Walls of the College; what then he could not do at his own Charge, he compass'd by his Interest in well dispos'd Persons abroad, and procur'd such considerable Sums of Money, that he built and beautified a complete Chapel, which he dedicated March 17, 1632'."]

Passing over for the present the building of the Chapel (16281632) which shall be told at length in a separate chapter, we come to the first change made in the court after the building of the western portion of the present Library in 1590. This work was undertaken in consequence of unexpected legacies bequeathed to the College, as is set forth in a College order, dated April 9, 1632, of which the substance is as follows":

"Whereas Dr John Richardson, formerly Master of this College [1609—15], and afterwards of Trinity College [1615-25], has bequeathed £100 to build a brick wall next the street to the east, and other benefactors enumerated have left money for founding four Scholarships; we, the master and fellows of Peterhouse, after due deliberation, decree that the ancient and ruinous range of chambers extending from Dr Derham's chamber to the gate of the churchyard, and from the latter to a point opposite the Library, be forthwith pulled down, provided however that the materials, as far as possible, be used up again, and fitted to the new building: and that from Dr Derham's chamber a range of chambers in three stories be built for the reception of fellows and students like those in the other parts of the College, and that from these to a point opposite the Library there shall be

[Parentalia: or Memoirs of the Family of the Wrens, fol. London 1750, p. 9. Dr Wren's Catalogue of the College Documents is still in use.]

2 [The original is a verbose composition in Latin.]