580 OXFORD. WORCESTER COLLEGE, FORMERLY CALLED GLOUCESTER UALL. In 1291 John Giffarcl of Brimesfeld had Hcense to grant certain houses in Oxford to the prior and convent of St. Benedict in Oxford^^, and he immediately granted the same (situate in Stockwell-street) to that estabHsh- ment as a habitation for their students in that Univer- sity. It was called Gloucester Hall in honour of the abbey of Gloucester, from which the prior and twelve first monks came, who settled at Oxford. At the sup- pression of monasteries, king Henry the Eighth in 1541 granted the custody of the mansion called Gloucester college to John Glyn and another ^-^ and in the follow- ing year the King granted the same mansion to the bishop of Oxford for a palace^^; but it was taken away in the reign of Mary, and queen Elizabeth sold it to sir Thomas Whyte, who gave it to his newly-founded college of St. John the Baptist, and ordered it to be continued for a house of learning. On 29th July 1714 the name was changed from Gloucester Hall to Wor- cester College, and it was incorporated •". PRINCIPALS. William Stocke or Stocker, S.T.B., 2^th June 1560. He became president of St. John's college. Thomas Palmer, M.A., succeeded in 1563. William Stocke or Stocker resigned the president- ship of St. John's, and again became principal of this hall in 1564. Henry Russell, M.A., succeeded in 1576. Christopher Bagshaw succeeded about 1579- John Delabere, ]I.D., succeeded about 1581. John Hawley, LL.D., succeeded about 1593. •^ Pat. 19 Edw. I. m. 16. »« Pat. 34 Hen. VIII. p. 8. m. 9. >^ Pat. 33 Hen. VIII. p. 6. i^ Pat. 13 Ann. p. 2. N«. 4.
