ortionists' or Postmasters' Hall), for forty yeares," &c.
Again, April 13, 1664: "A meeting of the warden and fellowes of Merton
College, where the renewing of the leases belonging to the family,
concerning the housing (Portionists' Hall and its appurtenances)
against Merton College, was by them proposed." Fuller, in his _Church
Hist._, book III. cent. xiii. sect. 8., has given the origin of
postmasters. "There is," says he, "a by-foundation in Merton College, a
kind of college in the college, and this tradition goeth of their
original:--Anciently there was, over against Merton College, a small
unendowed hall, whose scholars had so run in arrears, that their
opposite neighbours, out of charity, took them into their college (then
but nine in number) to wait on the fellows. But since, they are freed
from any attendance, and endowed with plentiful maintenance.... Bishop
Jewel was a postmaster, before removed hence to be fellow of Corpus
Christi." Consult also Oxoniana, vol. ii. pp. 15-22. The _Portionistae_,
or Postmasters, did not reside in the college till the latter end of
the reign of Queen Elizabeth, but in a hall opposite to it, which had
been provided for the use of the college by Peter de Habinton, or
Habendon, the first warden. It afterwards became the property of the
father of Anthony a Wood, and beneath its roof that distinguished
antiquary was born, December 17, 1632. The second brother of Anthony
became one of the postmasters of Merton College.]

_"Lyra Apostolica."_--Can you inform me who were the writers in the _Lyra
Apostolica_ who assumed the letters [alpha], [beta], [gamma], [delta],
[epsilon], [zeta]?

TYRO.

[We have heard the initials attributed to the following
writers:--[alpha], Bowden; [beta], R. H. Froude; [gamma], John Keble;
[delta], J. H. Newman; [epsilon], Isaac Williams; [zeta], Wilberforce.]

_East Dereham Manor._--Is it true that "the manor of East Dereham of the
Queen" was wrested from the See of Ely by Queen Elizabeth's celebrated
threat of "unfrocking?"

S. Z. Z. S.

[The memorable unique epistle from the maiden Majesty of England only
deprived Dr. Cox, at that time, of his town-house and fair gardens,
called Ely {305} Place, on Holborn Hill, reserving to himself and his
successors free access, through the gate-house, of walking in the
garden, and leave to gather twent