The college meeting on 16 January 1628/9 decreed that, to supplement the college finances, caution money should be paid to the Master at the rate of £5 by fellow commoners, £3 by pensioners and £1 10s by sizars on their admission. The money would then be paid to the bursar, who return their cautions to those leaving during his term of office, and hand the residue to his successor.
For the term of his mastership,m Dr Butts kept the record, after which it was kept by the bursar.
As well as sums received and repaid the book records the name of the tutor of each individual.
From 1642 the pensioners' caution was increased to £4, and scholars paid £3; and from 1682 fellow commoners paid £6.