The Bishop of Nelson points out that the scholars were called not after Walter de Merton, but after the place--Merton priory. Merton himself had no surname; he was born at Basingstoke, and was perhaps educated at the priory from which he also took his name. Beket was certainly educated at this well-known Merton, which gave its name to the “Statute of Merton” devised there in 1236, and was also the theatre of a council held by the archbishop 22 years later. At the evaluation of 1291, the priory held property in Norfolk (_Index Monasticus_). The Cambridge estates settled on the scholars of the _domus apud Meandon_ (Malden) in 1270 were in Gamlingay, _Merton_, _Over-Merton_, Chesterton, etc. It is worth notice that among a number of scholars who received the king’s pardon in 1261 for the part they had taken in a riot, there is a _William de Merton_, servant to two of the East Anglian scholars implicated. [86] For the “Ely scholars” see ii. pp. 122-3. The first _to leave an endowment_ for scholars was William of Durham in 1249; but several years elapsed before the fund was utilised, scholars maintained, or University College Oxford founded. University College was thus the outcome of an earlier _intention_ to endow, and Balliol College was an earlier foundation in embryo, than either Peterhouse or Merton. [87] The preamble of these letters addressed to the civic authorities at Northampton is as follows: _Occasione cuiusdam magnae contentionis in villa Cantabrigiensi triennio jam elapso subortae nonnulli clericorum tunc ibidem studentium unanimiter ab ipsa villa recessissent, se usque ad villam nostram praedictam Northam. transferentes et ibidem (studiis inherendo) novam construere universitatem cupientes_. The letters are dated from Westminster 1 Feb. in the 49th year of his reign (1265). _Rot. Claus._ 49, _Hen. III. membr._ 10. _d._ [1 Feb. 1264-5]. [88] Chaucer shows us that the system of private lodgings continued in vogue at Oxford even in the late xiv c. His “pore scholer” lodges in the house of a well-to-do carpenter. [89] p. 33. [90] Cf. the regulations for lodgings at the present day, iv. pp. 224, 225. [91] Caius speaks of “two principals” overseeing respectively the studies and the economics of Physwick hostel. [92] Cf. ii. Trinity Hall p. 79, Magdalene pp. 127, 128. [93] Crouched, Crutched, for _Crossed_. So the Trinitarians who also wore a conspicuous cross on their habit were known in England as Crutched friars. [94] p. 56. [95] S. Austin’s or Augustine’s hostel had a length of 220 feet with 80 of breadth. [96] See _pensioners_, iv. p. 217 _n_.