In the same year, 1614, the institution opened.  The rules and orders for its government may yet be seen, bearing the autograph signature of Charles I., then prince of Wales.  From that time almost every man in the country, of the first rank of eminence by birth or fortune, has been a governor, and the name of Cromwell may be seen not far from that of Charles on the roll.  Up to about 1850 the patronage was vested exclusively in the governors.  Amongst these were always included—­though not necessarily—­the sovereign, the archbishop of Canterbury and the bishop of London.  The remainder were men eminent in Church or State, “the master of the hospital,"[9] who must not be confounded with the school-master, being the only official member.  The sovereign had two nominations to the other governors’ one.  Thackeray makes the great marquis of Steyne a governor, and shows how little Rawdon Crawley benefited by that august personage’s patronage:  “When Lord Steyne was benevolently disposed he did nothing by halves, and his kindness toward the Crawley family did the greatest honor to his benevolent discrimination.  His lordship extended his goodness to little Rawdon:  he pointed out to the boy’s parents the necessity of sending him to a public school; that he was of an age now when emulation, the first principles of the Latin language, pugilistic exercises and the society of his fellow-boys would be of the greatest benefit to the boy....  All objections disappeared before the generous perseverance of the marquis.  His lordship was one of the governors of that famous old collegiate institution called the White Friars.  It had been a Cistercian convent in old days, when Smithfield, which is contiguous to it, was a tournament-ground.  Obstinate heretics used to be brought thither, convenient for burning hard by.  Harry VIII., the Defender of the Faith, seized upon the monastery and its possessions, and hanged and tortured some of the monks who could not accommodate themselves to the pace of his reform.  Finally, a great merchant bought the house and land adjoining, in which, and with the help of other wealthy endowments of land and money, he established a famous foundation hospital for old men and children.  An extern school grew round the old almost monastic foundation, which subsists still with its Middle-Age costume and usages; and all Cistercians pray that it may long flourish.  Of this famous house some of the greatest noblemen, prelates and dignitaries of the land are governors; and as the boys are very comfortably lodged, fed and educated, and subsequently inducted to good scholarships at the university and livings in the Church, many little gentlemen are devoted to the ecclesiastical profession from their tenderest years, and there is considerable emulation to procure nominations for the foundation.

“It was originally intended for the sons of poor and deserving clerics and laics, but many of the noble governors of the institution, with an enlarged and rather capricious benevolence, selected all sorts of objects for their bounty.  To get an education for nothing, and a future livelihood and profession assured, was so excellent a scheme that some of the richest people did not disdain it, and not only great men’s relations, but great men themselves, sent their sons to profit by the chance.”