Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/177

 ST. MARY TIIK VIRGIN, OXFORD. 1-2'J the Proctor of tlie University, for the purpose of making ajipHc.ation to those who were hkely to become contributors, and of collecting their benefactions. As this letter is not a long one, I will here introduce it as a specimen of a correspondence which at least had the merit of producing considerable influence upon those to whom it was addressed ; for the appeal was answered with a libe- rality which provided sufficient funds for the erection of the noble nave and aisles of the present Church, the reconstruc- tion of the Chapel of St. ]Iary, commonly called Adam de Brome's Chapel, and for repairing and altering the building eastward of the tower, comprising the old Congregation House and present Law School. The nature and objects of Stephen Browne's commission are thus expressed : — " Universis Sancta? Matris Ecclesise filiis ad quos presentes literse pervenerint, Johannes permissione divina Lincolniensis Episcopus,'* Universitatis Oxoniensis Cancellarius, ca'tusque Rcgentium universus in eadeni, Salutem in Omnium Salva- tore. Cum nos, Cancellarius et Regentes ante dicti in nostrae Congregationis Domo nuperrime congregati, constructionem Ecclesia) Sanctse Marise, ubi antiquitus [actus nostri] solcnnes et jam indies per nos celebrantur, sedulo curaremus ; cum que etiam nostra) facultates ad ea perficienda opera minus sufficerent ; dilectum nobis in Christo Stephanum Browne nostrum procuratorem constituimus per pra}sentes, ad interce- dendum et interpellandum nostros beuefactores, petendum et recipiendum j^ro nobis et in nomine nostro quicquid nostri benefactores ad idem opus elargiri dignabuntur. Vobis igitur humillime supplicamus, quatenus nostrae paupertati conq-)atientes, ipsum ad nostrorum negotiorum declarationem admittere, nobisque in tantis negotiis succurrere dignemini intuitu caritatis. Dat. Oxon. in nostrae Congregationis Bomo sub sigillo nostro Communi A°. Bni M' CCCC'"" octo- gesimo sexto, die mensis Februarii Vicesimo Sexto." The letters which follow, and with the delivery of which it would appear that Stephen Browne was entrusted (for he is shortly afterwards again written to, thanked for his past services in this behalf, and requested to continue them), are addressed to a great variety of persons : such as King the See of Rochester hi 1480, aii>l died in 1494.
 * John Russell, the first perpetual Chancellor of the University, was tr.inshited from