, the illustrious founder of Magdalen college, Oxford, was the eldest
, the illustrious founder
of Magdalen college, Oxford, was the eldest son of Richard
Patten, or Harbour, of Waynflete in Lincolnshire, by Margery, daughter of sir William Brereton, knight; and had
for his brother John Patten, dean of Chichester, but the
precise time of his birth is no where ascertained. According to the custom of his day, he took the surname of Waynflete from his native place. He was educated at Winchester school, and studied afterwards at Oxford, but in what
college is uncertain. The historian of Winchester is inclined to prefer New college, which is most consistent with
the progress of education at Wykeham’s school. Wood
acknowledges that although his name does not occur among
the fellows of New college, nor among those of Merton,
where Holinshed places him, unless he was a chaplain or
postmaster, yet “the general vogue is for the college of
William of Wykehasn.
” Wherever he studied, his proficiency in the literature of the times, and in philosophy and
divinity, in which last he took the degree of bachelor, is
said to have been great, and the fame he acquired as schoolmaster at Winchester, with the classical library he formed,
is a proof that he surpassed in such learning as was then
attainable.