ff 24–4v (Chapter 43: on the practice of dances, wrestling matches, and other irregularities in the chapel and hall)
...Item quia per incautos & inordinatos ludos in Capella claustro vel aula dicti nostri Collegij prope Wyntoniam ex insolencia forsan aliquorum in eisdem fiendos dicte Capella & Aula in muris stallis picturis & fenestris vitreis & alias frequencius damnificari possent ac eciam deformari. Nos ipsorum indemp |/ nitati prospicere cupientes iactus lapidum & pilarum necnon rerum quarumlibet aliarum Capella claustro stallis et aula predictis saltus insuper luctaciones aliosque incautos & inordinatos ludos quoscumque in Capella claustro & aula predictis vllo vmquam tempore fieri districtius prohibemus per que vel eorum aliquod sumptuosis operibus eorundem in materia vel forma dampnum inferri poterit quomodolibet vel iactura. Item quia subtus aulam predictam que in modum solarij desuper terram eleuata et edificata consistit scole grammaticales ordinantur in quibus scolares dicti nostri Collegij addiscere & studere debebunt qui per luctaciones coreas, tripudia, saltus, cantus, clamores, tumultus & strepitus inordinatos aquarum cervisie & liquorum aliorum effusiones ludos que tumultuosos in aula ipsa forsan fiendos ab ipsorum studio & doctrina defacili & verisimiliter poterunt impediri & alias in libris vestibus dampna grauia sustinere. Nos igitur omnes huiusmodi luctaciones, coreas, tripudia, saltus, cantus, clamores, tumultus & strepitus inordinatos aquarum ceruisie aliorum que liquorum omnium effusiones ludos quoque tumultuosos & alias insolencias quascumque in aula predicta vllo vmquam tempore fieri districtius prohibemus per que vel eorum aliquod prefati scolares ab ipsorum studio vel doctrina quomodolibet poterunt impediri seu alias in libris vestibus alijs ve rebus suis dampnum sustineant vel grauamen seu per que aula ipsa in ipsius ornatu vel fabrica deorsum vel superius infra vel extra in aliqua sui parte deturpetur lesionem ve seu dampnum aliquod paciatur. Et si quis in premissis vel aliquo premissorum culpabilis inuentus fuerit pro dampno per ipsum illato satisfaciat competenter. Et nichilominus vt pena vnius sit metus multorum per subtraccionem communarum suarum vel alias iuxta discrecionem & ordinacionem Custodis & vicecustodis Bursariorum & sacriste dicti Collegij iuxta quantitatem excessus acriter puniatur sine fauore quocumque....
ff 24–4v (Chapter 43: On the practice of dances, wrestling matches, and other irregularities in the chapel and hall)
...Likewise, because, by incautious and unregulated games carried out in the chapel, cloister, or hall of our said college, near Winchester, from the insolence perhaps of some in the same, the said chapel and hall could frequently be damaged or even deformed in the walls, stables, pictures, and glass windows, and elsewhere, we, desiring to make provision for the security of these things, strictly prohibit the throwing of stones and balls and anything else in the aforesaid chapel, cloister, stables, and hall, and, in addition, dances, wrestling matches, and any other incautious and unregulated games done at any time ever, by which, or by any one of which, damage or loss in material or form could be inflicted in any way to the sumptuous buildings, in the aforesaid chapel, cloister, and hall. Likewise, because the grammar schools, in which the scholars of our said college will be obliged to learn and study, are situated below the aforesaid hall, which in the manner of a solarium stands raised up and built above the ground, they (ie, the scholars), by wrestling matches, dances, revelry, leaping, singing, clamours, tumult and excessive noise, spillings of water, beer, and other liquids, and tulmultuous games, perhaps occurring in that very hall, could easily and plausibly be hindered in their study and learning and otherwise sustain serious damage to books (and) clothes. We, therefore, strictly prohibit that any wrestling matches, dances, revelry, leaping, singing, clamours, tumult and excessive noise, spillings of water, beer, and other liquids, and tumultuous games of this sort and any other irregularities of any kind take place in the aforesaid hall at any time ever, by which, or by any one of which, the aforesaid scholars could be hindered in any way from their study or learning or otherwise sustain damage or grievance to their books, clothing, or other things, or by which the hall itself, in its ornamentation or fabric, below or above, inside or outside, in any part of it, could be disfigured or suffer injury or damage. And if anyone should be found guilty in the premises or in any one of the premises, he shall make thorough satisfaction for the damage inflicted by him. And nevertheless, in order that the punishment of one may be the fear of many, let him be punished harshly by the withholding of his commons, or otherwise, according to the discretion and arrangement of the warden and vice-warden, the bursars, and the sacrist of the said college, according to the magnitude of the offence without any partiality whatsoever. ...
Record title: Founder's Statutes of Winchester College
Repository: Winchester College Archives
Shelfmark: WCM 21470
Repository location: Reading
1400; Latin; parchment; iii + 26 + iii; 400–20mm x 290–300mm (275mm x 195mm); original rubricated and decorated foliation with modern pencil foliation (followed here); rubricated and decorated initials throughout the MS; original leather binding with seal.