HE documents printed in what follows are taken from the Baker collections in the British Museum (MSS. Harl. 7039). Baker seems to have copied them from the originals

in the Registry of the Bishop of Ely.

They relate to one Everard Digby, who matriculated in the University as a Sizar of St John's College, 25 October 1567; he was admitted, a Scholar of the College, on Keyton's foundation, 9 November 1570, a Fellow of the College 12 March 1572-3, and became a Senior Fellow 10 July 1585. He took the following degrees: B.A. 1570-1, M.A. 1574, and B.D. 1581.

He was a man of some literary distinction, and was the author of the first treatise on swimming published in England, and also in some other works suggested a classification of the Sciences. His parentage cannot be precisely stated, but he is said to have been a greatgrandson of Everard Digby, Sheriff of Rutlandshire; a Lancastrian killed at Towton in 1461. When admitted a Scholar and Fellow he gave Rutland as his county of

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birth, and it is worth noting that an Everard Digby was Rector of Barrowden in Rutland, compounding for First Fruits 29 April 1546, and holding the living until 1562; it is possible that this was Digby's father. Keyton's scholarships were in the first instance restricted to those who had been choristers of the Collegiate Church at Southwell.

The first document printed, Digby's statement of his own grievances, gives us a very clear statement of his side of the case; with the names of his witnesses and his references to the Statutes it leaves little to be desired. We have a curious picture of the Fellows gathering round the "fire," or brazier, which used to stand under the open lantern in the Hall.

The Mr Knox whose name is mentioned is Eleazar Knox, who was Junior Dean of the College from 14 December 1587 to 20 December 1588. He was the second son of John Knox, the famous Scotch reformer; he died on Whitsun-eve 1591 and was buried in the (old) College Chapel.

William Whitaker had just been appointed Master, 25 February 1586-7. About this time the puritan or presbyterian party were very strong in St John's, thus Digby's views, whether they were actually Roman Catholic, or what we might now call High Church, were probably distasteful to the majority of the Fellows.

In Heywood and Wright's Cambridge University Transactions during the Puritan Controversies, i, 507-519, will be found a very lengthy statement of Dr Whitaker's answers to Digby's case. From this it appears that Digby had a benefice away from Cambridge to which he hardly ever went. An Everard Digby compounded for First Fruits as Rector of Lyndon, Rutland, 18 July 1581, apparently holding the living until 1587, and compounded as Vicar of Glaiston, Rutland, 6 August 1582, holding this till the end of the year 1605. And one of the same names was instituted Rector of Orton Longueville, Hunts, 27 January 1592-3, vacating it in

1599. It is possible that the Parish Registers of these parishes, if they still exist for this period, might contain an entry with regard to Digby.

It will be noticed that Digby threatened to put the President" in the Stocks." Odd as it seems to us now, it would appear that in Queen Elizabeth's day the Stocks in the Hall were a College institution. For Roger Goad, Provost of King's, in 1571 forbad all members of his College to enter any stream, pool, or water within the County of Cambridge for the purpose of swimming or bathing, either by day or by night. The penalty for junior members was to be a flogging in the Hall in the presence of the whole Society, while senior members, who broke this law, were to sit in the Stocks in Hall for a day. Thus Digby's threat may have been accompanied with a wave of the hand towards the Stocks. We gather that the office of Steward, as held by a Fellow, was then of recent origin, replacing the office of Manciple, which seems to have been one of lower status. Some part of the trouble appears to have arisen from the reluctance of the Steward to call on Digby for the payment of his dues. The payment for commons seems to have given some trouble in College about this time. Some Orders relating to the matter, made by Queen Elizabeth's Commissioners were printed in The Eagle, vol. xx, pp. 286-290.

Mr. Digbie's Case.

Casus. I not having discharged my commons for one month ended 22 December 1587, Mr Alvey the Steward not demanding the debt of me, gave my name amongst such as were to be put out of commons. Whereupon Mr Dr Hickman pronounced in the Chappell that certain had not payd their commons, and that they should expect execution according to the Statute. After that, I taking no notice of this Mr Palmer the President in our Master's absence spake to me first at the table, sitting with certain Seniors and others, saying that the Steward had complained of me for sitting down, not having discharged mv commons, and that I did not well to sitt down there, I asked

him whether he spake to me as a friend or as a magistrate. Sayd he, as a friend. And afterwards the said Mr Palmer spake to me another day at the fire to the like effect, in the presence of Seniors and others, whom I then and there required, with the Seniors, to hear and determine the controversy risen betwixt the Steward and me, according to the Statute Dissentiones inter Socios etc. And likewise offered the money to the Steward, if he would go with me for it. But neither did Mr Palmer call the Seniors to this effect, neither the Steward take the money so offered, except I would bring it to his Booke. After this the Master himself, in the presence of certain Seniors, gave me an admonition, for taking my commons in the Hall, and presently was the money offered unto him by another in my behalf, and he, the Master, refusing it, it was presently payd to the Steward, and by the Steward received. Notwithstanding all this, the Master five days after pronounced me non socius before the Seniors,

Quaestio. The controversy is, whether I be justly removed and pronounced non socius or no, I answere not, and for myself I alledge as followith.

A note of Everard Digbie his allegations against Mr Doctor Whitaker, his unjust proceedings against

him for not paying of 8sh. 7d. ob., for his commons. I. First. Whereas they charge me to have taken my parts, contrary to Statute, being out of commons, I deny that I was out of commons for these reasons following:

1. Anno domini 1583, or there abouts, the Stewardship was made a Fellow's office. The Manciple before that time doing all that duty, which the Steward doth now, and going monthly to every Fellow's Chamber for his money. Upon this change, the Steward being a Fellow, it was decreed by the Master and Seniors that the Steward, for thenceforth should go monthly to the Master and the eight Seniors their Chambers for his money, and that all other Fellows should come into the Stewards Chamber to pay that debt, and this decree was pronounced openly in the Chappell by the Master (Ja. Taylor, Ga. Ducket).

2. The Stewards have kept this decree until this time accompting it their duty (And. Bordman, Ga. Ducket, Sy. Robson, Da. Linsell, W. Baylie, Fra. Snell, Dr Hickman).