COLL PRAEP 01

COLL PRAEP 01

Praeposter: Commons Books

Series

1560 - 1641

8 volumes

These books, whose title is contemporary, give a week by week record of those drawing commons in College Hall, with a summary at the head of bread, beer and emptions. They are not a record of actual numbers, although notes of those not having commons or sick are made. However, they were probably made by a boy praeposter. As with other books to do with food, the year is divided into four terms of thirteen weeks each, and each page is headed by the week. The day date of the first week of each term is given, although no year until 1603. Much of the dating is based on dates of Fellows' first appearances. Dates have been written in at various times from 18th century onwards, notably by George Betham (Bursar) and Provost Marten (1944-1948) who added week numbers to some of the early volumes. The weeks are headed "in pane / in potu / in opronio (in emptionibus 1601 on) with summary totals of cost. From 1601, no monetary total is given for bread and drink, only weight and hogsheads. Arabic figures appear from 1597 onwards. In 1641 a heading "loss in butter and eggs" is added. Below this heading is a list of Fellows' names with Vicepraepositus and Informator added at head and foot respectively, and the total cost of their commons. Below come lists of conducts, commensals, servants (by title not name), Provost's servants. Over the page are lists of the scholars, more commensals (possibly choristers) and three tables, each with a variety of guests, servants and others. This is followed until 1597 by a summary of the cost, of "loss" and a note of those sick. The Provost is listed (by title not name) from 1561 and in the bound volume is, unusually, described as Praefectus, a term rarely used.

These lists have been discussed and partially printed in Etoniana 10 and Etoniana 53. They were used by Sir Wasey Sterry in compiling the Eton College Register 1441-1698.