Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/187

ST. MAKV Tin: VJJUJIN, OXFUHD. l.-jo tlic Turret staircase, M'liicli at this position ascends li<.iii iliu groinid to the roof over the nave. Tiiis building has been soniethnes called the Chajiel of St. Catherine, probably from the proximity of JSt. Catherine's altar, which is said by Wood to have been situated " at the bottom of the stairs leading- from St. Mary's Church u|) to the said Library, and at ^vhich a priest ^vas ai)pointed to celebrate in every quarter of a year three masses of the Holy Ghost, and as many ' de Requie,' for the good estate of all those, hving or dead, who Avere contributors thereto." ^ But without attempting any more minute investigation of its history, it may be enough to state, that in the composition between the University and Oriel College above referred to, it is described as "Domus qutcdam in cimiterio Ecclesiae Beata) Maria) Virginis Oxoniensis, ex parte Boreali CancelH situata Ecclesiae supradictie, Domus Congregationis Univer- sitatis Oxoniensis vulgariter nuncupata, per quondam ab Universitatis quondam antiquo Scolarem, licentia piima legitima onmium (piorum intersint {.sic) in liac parte elimosi- narie icdilicata fuit et constructa per dictamque Universi- tatem, Cancellarium videlicet et Scolares, antequam dicta Ecclesia Bcata3 Maria; nobis et domui nostra) supradicta3 fuerat appropriata, imita quomodolibet vel annexa, habita, possessa, in dispositioneque Hbera Universitatis ante dicta), ante, citra, et continue in hunc diem recognitione pra)sen- tium, tarn in parte inferiori quam superiori, cum omnibus suis pertinentiis, una cum libero et perpetuo ingressu et egressu ad easdem cum potestate etiam libera aliam sive novam domum ibi, si voluerint et cum voluerint seu quis- cunque alius, seu quicunque alii, Universitatis intuitu voluerit vel voluerint, Cancellarius videlicet et Scolares antedicti construendi,"' &c. On the conclusion of this composition, when the upper chamber received the collections of books presented to the University by Bishop Cobliam and other benefactors, the lower chamber was still employed as the House of Congre- gation. About the year 1480, the books w^ere transferred to the new library, called after the name of its chief founder, Humphry, Duke of Gloucester, and the upper chamber was used by the University as another Congregation House, the two being distinguished as the Upper and the Lower House ^ Wood, iii., 913. -■ Ex uiig. Ardi. Univ.