 He carefully scrutinised claims to fellowships on the plea of founder's kin.The main alteration which he made in the constitution of the college was the admission of poor scholars ("servientes"), who in 1612 numbered thirty-one, but they were discontinued during the Commonwealth, and were later represented only by four bible clerks.Hovenden died on 25 March 1614, and was buried in the college chapel, where there is his monument with an inscription.