Page:A Catalogue of Graduates who have Proceeded to Degrees in the University of Dublin, vol. 1.djvu/66

 Ix INTRODUCTION. In October, 1616, the Mayor and Sir James Ware, being now appointed Commissioners to value the House, reported that Breddam was willing to take £30 in lieu of all claims ; but neither the Corporation, nor the representatives of the original Petitioners, were disposed to pay this sum ; whereupon, on December ii, 1616, the Lord Deputy offered the Bridewell to the Provost, Fellows, and Scholars of Trinity College for £30. This offer being accepted, the Corporation conveyed the house, and the parcel of ground appertaining, to the Pro- vost and Fellows, with permission to convert it into a Col- lege Hall, or free school. It is probable that soon after this the name of Trinity Hall began to be given to it. The Mayor and Sir James Ware reported that they had found the House " much decayed at this present," and as George Breddam still continued to dwell in it, without any covenant as to the duration of his tenancy, or, as far as appears, under any rent, it was some time before it came into actual possession of the College. The remaining history of Trinity Hall is thus given in the College records : — " Before the late warrs" [this was probably written about 1662] " the said College employed the said Hall to the entertainment of certain Students ; in process of the war, the said Hall was by poor people occupied, and in a manner ruinated, the said College being not in a condition to look after it, or wholly neglecting it ; whereupon the City had thoughts of reassuming it, because it was not employed to the use intended. The pretended Provost and Fellows of the said College, having notice hereof, consulted how to frustrate the design of the City. Upon this Col. Markham, and Dr. John Kerdiffe * move the said pretended Provost and Fellows for a lease of Trinity Hall, and the ground thereunto belonging, promising to secure their title against the City, and to repair the said Hall. This motion was opposed by Dr. John Stearne, and was quashed by his » John Kerdiffe was elected a Fel- restored Senior Fellow by Mandamus, low in 1631, and went out on the 1644 See List of Fellows, Univer- living of Desertcreat, 1637. He was sity Calendar.