BENEFACTION OF SIR ROBERT REDE. 1524.

Robert Rede was educated at Buckingham College, the predecessor of Magdalene College, and afterwards became fellow of King's Hall. In 1495 he was knighted; and in 1506 appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. King Henry the Seventh also made him one of his executors. King Henry the Eighth continued him in his judicial office, which he held till his death, 8 January 1518–19.

His executors, by deed dated 10 December, 1524 (printed below) purchased of the abbot and convent of Waltham Holy Cross an annuity of twenty marks, to be paid to the Master and Fellows of Jesus College, who bound themselves in their turn to pay £4 to each of three persons, who should read lectures in the common schools of the University on Humanity, Logic, and Philosophy. It is evident, from the language of the deed, that the lectures here referred to are the “ordinary lectures” prescribed in one of the Statuta Antiqua by which all students are required to attend lectures on Terence for two years, on Logic for one year, and on the physics and metaphysics of Aristotle for one year. Sir Robert Rede was the first to give a fixed stipend to the lecturers. The amount of this stipend was probably fixed by that of the Mathematical Lecturer, who, by another of the Statuta Antiqua, received £4 annually from the common chest.