Oxford_, not to speak of a lottery ‘for matters of mirth and witt’ and a court leet and baron to be held by the Prince. So much energy and invention in one small college is astonishing, and it was hard that Mr. Griffin Higgs should have to complain of the treatment meted out to its entertainers by the University at large. ‘Wee found ourselves,’ he says, ‘(wee will say justly) taxed for any the least errour (though ingenious spirits would have pardoned many things, where all things were entended for their owne pleasure) but most vnjustly censured, and envied for that which was done (wee daresay) indifferently well.’ Amongst other colleges in which the Lord of Misrule was regularly or occasionally chosen, Anthony à Wood names, with somewhat vague references, New College and Magdalen[1487]. To these may certainly be added Trinity, where the _Princeps Natalicius_ is mentioned in an audit-book of 1559[1488]. But the most singular of all the Oxford documents bearing on the subject cannot be identified with any particular college. It consists of a series of three Latin letters[1489]. The first is addressed by _Gloria in excelsis_ to all mortals _sub Natalicia ditione degentibus_. They are bidden keep peace during the festal season and wished pleasant headaches in the mornings. The vicegerent of _Gloria in excelsis_ upon earth is an annually constituted _praelatia_, that so a longer term of office may not beget tyranny. The letter goes on to confirm the election to the kingly dignity of Robertus Grosteste[1490], and enjoins obedience to him _secundum Natalicias leges_. It is _datum in aere luminoso supra Bethlemeticam regionem ubi nostra magnificentia fuit pastoribus promulgata_. The second letter is addressed to _R[obert] Regi Natalicio_ and his _proceres_ by _Discretio virtutum omnium parens pariter ac regina_. It is a long discourse on the value of moderation, and concludes with a declaration that a moderate _laetitia_ shall rule until Candlemas, and then give way to a moderate _clerimonia_. The third is more topical and less didactic in its tone. It parodies a papal letter to a royal sovereign. _Transaetherius, pater patrum ac totius ecclesiasticae monarchiae pontifex et minister_ complains, _R. Regi Natalicio_, of certain abuses of his rule. His _stolidus senescallus_, _madidus marescallus_ and _parliamenti grandiloquus sed nugatorius prolocutor_ have _ut plura possent inferre stipendia_ assaulted and imprisoned on the very night of the Nativity, _Iohannem Curtibiensem episcopum_. In defence of these proceedings the Rex has pleaded _quasdam antiquas regni tui, non dico consuetudines, sed potius corruptelas_. Transaetherius gives the peccant officials three hours in which to make submission. If they fail, they shall be excommunicated, and Iohannes de Norwico, the warden of Jericho, will have orders to debar them from that place and confine them to their rooms. The letter is _datum in vertice Montis Cancari, pontificatus nostri anni