From the beginning of the reign of James I. there are few entries relating to scholars "of Oxford." Those of other places, however, are named to the time of Charles II., and some of them must have belonged to Oxford, their native place being recorded in lieu of the university. YOULGREAVE, DERBYSHIRE 1623. "To a poore scholler of Bakewell 0 1 0" HEAVITREE, DEVON 1667. "Given towards the maintenance of one Laskey, a poor Scholler for Oxforde L4" (This was one Nicholas Laskey, who was a son of Henry Laskey, of Heavitree, and was entered in the books of Wadham College as "filius pauperis." He matriculated May 23, 1667, at the age of seventeen; and was rector of Eggesford in 1674, and of Worthington in 1687.) These examples are all comparatively late, but we may be certain that the practice to which they bear testimony had existed at a much earlier period, when contributions had been sought, not only from custodians of church funds, but from private persons, to whose charitable instincts or devout inclinations necessitous clerks successfully appealed. Chaucer says of his clerk of Oxenford: Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre: But al that he myghte of his frendes hente, On bokes and on lerning he it spente, And bisily gan for the soules preye Of hem that gaf him wher-with to scolaye. This diligent and conscientious student "loked holwe," and his "courtefy" was threadbare. In MS. Lansdowne 762 is a poem wherein a husbandman is represented as complaining of the many charges of which he is the subject--taxes to the court, payments to the church, and exactions in the name of charity. Included in the last of these categories is alms to scholars: Than cometh clerkys of Oxford and make their mone; To her schole-hire they must have money. It is hardly likely, perhaps, that such "scholar-gypsies" always procured licences, but such were issued, and, when obtained, were doubtless efficacious in promoting the object which the applicant had in view. The following is a specimen in English dress, the original being in Latin, and dated July 15, 1467: "To the whole of the sons of Holy Mother Church, to whom the present letter may come, Thomas Chaundler, Professor of Sacred Theology, and Chancellor of the University of Oxford, greeting in the Saviour of all.