CORPUS CHRISTI
In 1516 Bishop Foxe, of Winchester, Keeper of the Privy Seal to Henry VII. and to Henry VIII., founded at Oxford a College which was dedicated "To the Honour of the Most Precious Body of our Lord Jesus Christ [hence its name, 'Corpus Christi '], of His Most Spotless Mother, and of all the Saints- Patrons of the Cathedral Churches of Winchester, Durham, Bath, Wells and Exeter."
It was the earliest institution in Oxford to make any provision for the cultivation of Greek and Latin; and the main idea of the Founder was to leave a place wherein "as in a hive, scholars, like clever bees might, night and day, make wax and sweet honey, to the honour of God and the advantage of themselves and all Christian men." The bees were kept busy, and each shining hour was improved, in the early days of the hive. The
students were permitted to play ball in the garden, now and then, but when they went out for a walk they were to go three together. "Nor had they long vacations" we read; "Scholars were only to be away twenty days in the whole year; Fellows for forty days; unless they went abroad
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