Memoirs of Eminent Etonians

of the eminent Etonians of the fifteenth century, and foremost of these stands, our first actual Provost:? WILLIAM OF WAYNFLETE. The father of this distinguished statesman, divine, and scholar seems to have sometimes borne the surname of Patten, sometimes that of Barbour. Indeed surnames among the mass of the population were at that period used with little fixity or regularity. William the son was known, at least after the period of his taking holy orders, by the designation of William of Waynflete. The old chronicler, Holinshed, says?" It was a fashion in those days from a learned spiritual! man to take awaie the father's surname (were it never so worshipful or ancient) and give him for it the name of the town he was born in." He cites several instances of this, and states " that it in like manner happened to William Waynflete, is a matter right proveable." Waynflete was educated at Winchester and Oxford, and he seems to have entered into holy orders in the year 1420. His age at this time may be guessed at, but the precise year of his birth is uncertain. In 1429, he was appointed Head-Master of Winchester, and for many years Waynflete discharged his duties there ably, diligently and successfully, when King Henry the Sixth became acquainted with him and resolved to make him the chief of his Eton College. Waynflete thus became an intimate favourite with King Henry; and to his honour be it recorded, that he was true to his royal patron in his adversity as we...