"The noblest memorial of the Cambridge gilds consists of the College which was endowed by the munificence of St. Mary's Gild and the Corpus Christi Gild: it perpetuates their names in its own.... In other towns the gilds devoted their energies to public works of many kinds--to maintaining the sea-banks at Lynn, to sustaining the aged at Coventry, and to educating the children at Ludlow. In embarking on the enterprise of founding a College, the Cambridge men seem, however, to stand alone; we can at least be sure that the presence of the University here afforded the conditions which rendered it possible for their liberality to take this form."--CUNNINGHAM. Unique Foundation of Corpus Christi College--The Cambridge Guilds--The influence of "the Good Duke"--The Peasant Revolt--Destruction of Charters--"Perish the skill of the Clerks!"--The Black Death--Lollardism at the Universities--The Poore Priestes of Wycliffe. "Here at this time were two eminent guilds or fraternities of towns-folk in Cambridge, consisting of brothers and sisters, under a _chief_ annually chosen, called an alderman. "The Guild of Corpus Christi, keeping their prayers in St. Benedict's Church. "The Guild of the Blessed _Virgin_, observing their offices in St. Mary's Church. "Betwixt these there was a zealous emulation, which of them should amortize and settle best maintenance for such chaplains to pray for the souls of those of their brotherhood. Now, though generally in those days the stars outshined the sun; I mean more honour (and consequently more wealth) was given to saints than to Christ himself; yet here the Guild of Corpus Christi so outstript that of the Virgin Mary in endowments, that the latter (leaving off any further thoughts of contesting) desired an union, which, being embraced, they both were incorporated together. 2. Thus being happily married, they were not long issueless, but a small college was erected by their united interest, which, bearing the name of both parents, was called the College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Mary. However, it hath another working-day name, commonly called (from the adjoined church) Benet College; yet so, that on festival solemnities (when written in Latin, in public instruments) it is termed by the foundation name thereof."[45] So picturesquely writes Thomas Fuller of the Foundation of Corpus Christi College.