rents in founding and permanently maintaining two Scholarships, called the Sparks Scholarships for Ancient and Modern History, to be held for one year each at the School, of the annual value of £8.

We must not omit to mention the two other Exhibitions of £20 per annum each, tenable for four years at the University or in professional education. These are called the "Crewkerne School Exhibition," founded 18th August, 1847, and the "John de Combe Exhibition, founded 30th November, 1877, by the Governors of the school. They are open to all boys over 16 who have been two years at the school and are tenable at any institution providing education of a superior grade or instruction in scientific, professional, or technical subjects.

In regard to the subject of Exhibitions to assist scholars at the University, it should be recorded that as early as 1617 Crewkerne Scholars were granted assistance out of the School funds towards the expenses of their University career. Thus, in the accounts for 1617, it is recorded :— "1617 then paid for Tiler for one quarter in Oxford towards his maintenance xs." Again 1618 "Paid to Tyler for one year's maintenance for his sonne in Oxford xls." In 1621 the same Robert Tyler was paid £4 for his maintenance at Oxford. Up to 1683 the feoffees helped their scholars in Oxford in this way. After that date the Owsley Exhibitions assisted most of the Crewkernians who went to Oxford, and now the Hoskyns, Wynford, John de Combe, and Crewkerne School Exhibitions carry on the same work.

There are two other names which are connected with the School, although their owners cannot strictly be called benefactors to the School. Roger Cossins, by will 31st January, 1703, gave an annual sum of £3 12s., payable out of the lands at Furringdons,

called Bickmill and Furringdon Lakes; this sum to be paid to six poor boys for their education, and the recipients to be chosen by the Warden and Feoffees of the Free Grammar School of Crewkerne.

Mrs. Martha Mintern gave three-fourths of the yearly profits of a meadow, late Minterns, at Furringdon, in Crewkerne, onethird of which was to be given towards the education of children of honest and industrious poor people of Crewkerne.

These two Charities are still given to Scholars at the School.

NOTE ON THE FAMILY OF OWSLEY.

The Rev. William Owsley was the son of John Owsley, of Misterton. Here is an abstract of his mother's will:—

"In the Name of God, Amen. I, Eme Owslie, widow, the late wife of John Owslie, of Misterton, husbandman, being sicke in body, make my will, &c." My body to be buried in the churchyard of Crewkerne, To my son, William Owslie the elder, xx8. To my son, William Ouslie the yonger, x8. To my daughter Agnes xx8. To my daughter Elizabeth xxs. To Alice Somerset, my servant. Residue to my son John Owslie & executor witnesses Mark Winter, curat, John Partridge, William Sherlocke, John Chubb. Will dated 9 Sep., 1592. Proved at Taunton Archdeaconry Court 25 Sep., 1592. Valor inventarij £78 10s,

Crewkerne Registers previous to 1600 have these entries:-
William son of Wm Owsley Gent bapd 11 Aug 1584.

Edward son of

Ditto

bp 5 Jan 1585.

William Owsley, the younger, made his will thus:

"In the Name of God, Amen." William Owsley, of Crewkerne, Gentleman; will dated 24th April, 1620; Proved 9th June, 1620: [P.C.C. 63 Soane] mentions his lands in the tenure

of Robert Hanninge and Roger James, six acres in Northfield next unto Hasselber, "lands in the West field goeing to Ffurland" Bequeaths silver plate, tankards, &c., to Wm., son of George Owsley, Mary daughter of Edward Owsley, Mary danghter of Thomas Knight, and Joane wife of Edward Owsley my son, Residue to my wife Florence Owsley whole executrix. Witnesses John Fuller, John Ball, William Chubbe, and John Berde.

(John Fuller was curate of Crewkerne and John Ball was Schoolmaster there.)

George Owsley, son of William Owsley, of Chillington, co. Somerset, aged 19, in 1631, matriculated at Oxford 8th Nov., 1631. Of St Mary Hall.

John Owsley, B.A., was instituted Rector of Whitelackington, 6th Sep., 1726.

S

CHAPTER VII.

The School Estates.

OME account of the School Estates is necessary to the

History of the School. As we have already stated, the Founder endowed the School with his lands in Crewkerne and Merriott, with an annual rent of xxiijs. iiijd. out of Combe St. Reigne. Of these lands a full account has already been given in the 1548 Survey in Chapter IV. Besides the names there given the following names of their fields, &c., in Crewkerne occur in later times :-Furringdons, Lowergate or Wirepits, Bincombe Nap, Shutlake, Kithills, Curret Hill, Haymore, Underlangdon Bushfield, Blacknil Mead, Boscombefield, Butsclose, Acre Close, Long Strings, Hoarstone, Dragon Close, Holloway's Hays, Crowcastle, Brightwell, Parson's Walk, Portway near Maiden Beechtree, and Linterne, and in Merriott, Niddons and Bulbridge are mentioned. The whole of the Founder's gift appears to have consisted of between forty and fifty acres.

This Crewkerne estate was added to by the purchase from John Trelawny, Esq., 10th October, 1619, of a fourth part ofTM lands called Witherley, in Crewkerne.

It also appears that the School owned several Inns in Crewkerne; The Green Dragon, The Gunn Inn, The Bell Inn, and The White Hart Inn were at various times the property of the School and were let out on lease for lives.

In 1637, 1st June, a moiety of a house in Carter Street (now Abbey Street) was bought for £130 from Hugh Webb, for a

Master's house, with one quarter of Long Rodmore Close, at Furringdon, and 2 acres in the West Common Field, and 20th August, 1675, another house in Carter Street was bought from Robert Hodges, which became the Master's House.

Account of outlying Estates belonging to the School.

TEMPLELANDS IN PILLESDON, Co. DORSET.-Originally (1375) part of the Endowment of the Chantry of the Holy Trinity, then of Chantry and Free School combined, finally of Free School alone. It consisted of a farm house, barn, stable, with garden and orchard adjacent, and with fields called Cowleaze, Broomclose, Backclose, Rushclose, Corner Close, Furzeclose, Beanclose, and two other closes, in all 41 acres. An annual chief rent of 6s. was due out of it to Lord Poulett. The whole was sold to pay for the building of the New School, 1881.

MAIDEN NEWTON, CO. DORSET.-A farm house, with outhouses and garden, and closes, called "Wateringsway, lying next to the great River," Watts Close, Common Field, also lands at Blushmoor Hill, Lang Coomb, Napp, Peach's Lane, Forehills Furland, Sheeplands, Culverlands, Higher Coomb, Webber's Wall, and Townsend. In all a little over 45 acres, with common rights for 100 sheep. Possessed by Chantry and School, before 1548 described as once the property of Wm. Parker. The whole sold in 1876.

STURMINSTER MARSHALL, Co. DORSET.-A small Estate, once the property of the said Wm. Parker. It consisted of "A "meadow of one acre in the Common Mead of Sturminster, and "three acres of pasture, inclosed lying near the Church, commonly "called Parkhays, whereon are 12 pollard ashes and 6 maiden "elms" (Survey 1721). It belonged to the Chantry and School before 1548. It was sold 1881 to build the New School.