GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

WOOTTON-UNDER-EDGE.

THE GRAMMAR-SCHOOL.

FOUNDED 1385, A.D.

By letters patent under the great seal of England, dated in the eighth year of the reign of King Richard II. his majesty granted his royal licence to Katherine, Lady Berkely, widow of Lord Thomas de Berkely, to found and endow a free grammar-school at Woottonunder-Edge, to consist of a master and two poor scholars, and to endow the same with certain real estates as therein mentioned. The original design of this collegiate institution is to afford any poor persons come from whence they will" a liberal education gratis. The school was endowed, and in the time of Henry VIII. it escaped dissolution. In the reign of James I. doubts having been entertained whether the revenues of the school had not become vested in the crown, by the statute made in the first year of King Edward VI. entituled, “An Act for the Dissolution of Chantries,” a petition was presented to King James for the re-establishment of the school. In 1622 it was declared by the Court of Chancery that all titles to the said lands under any letters patent, as also all leases of those lands, were void. The possessors of the school, in consequence of this decree of the Court of Chancery, surrendered to the king; and his majesty granted certain letters patent in 1625 under the great seal, whereby it was ordained, that there should be a grammar-school in the town of Wootton-underEdge, for the education and instruction of children and youths in grammar and other good learning, to be called "The Free Grammarschool of the Lord Berkely in Wootton-under-Edge," and that the same should consist of one master and five or more poor scholars, who should be a body corporate, have perpetual succession, and be capable of holding lands.

By a decree of the Court of Chancery, confirmed in 1725, it was ordered that three scholars might be added to those then belonging to the school and that the overplus of the revenues should be applied for the maintenance of these three scholars, and for increasing the number, or for the assistance of any one or more of them at the University, as the master should judge convenient. This foundation now consists of the master, an usher, and 10 scholars. The scholars are admitted at the age of ten years, and may remain till they are eighteen; they have their education free in classical and mathematical

learning, and each receives a stipend of £6 per annum for books, &c. Those scholars, who are qualified and proceed to the University of Oxford or Cambridge, are allowed exhibitions towards their maintenance while resident there, which are not to exceed £60 a year, nor to be continued beyond four years.

HAMPSHIRE.

WINCHESTER COLLEGE.

FOUNDED 1387, A.D.

WILLIAM of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, was the sole and munificent founder of the college named "Seinte Marie College of Wynchestre *," as also of that called "Seinte Marie College of Wynchestre in Oxenford," which since the time of its foundation has been called "New College.'

From circumstances of an early date, it seems that William of Wykeham had formed some extensive plan for the advancement of learning correspondent to his ample means, and greatness of mind. In the conception of his two colleges he formed one comprehensive design, which was to lead the objects of his bounty "through a perfect course of education; from the first elements of letters through the whole circle of the sciences; from the lowest class of grammatical learning to the highest degrees in the several faculties." A design so enlarged, so

* “Wykeham, having resolved to bestow his wealth in charitable uses, was greatly embarrassed when he came to fix his choice upon some design that was like to prove most beneficial and least liable to abuse. He tells us himself, that upon this occasion, he diligently examined and considered the various rules of the religious orders, and compared them with the lives of their several professors; but was obliged with grief to declare that he could not anywhere find that the ordinances of their founders, according to their true design and intention, were observed by any of them. This reflection inclined him to take the resolution of distributing his riches to the poor, with his own hands, rather than employ them in establishing an institution which might become a source and an occasion of guilt to those for whose benefit it should be designed. After much deliberation and devout invocation of the divine assistance, considering how greatly the number of the clergy had been of late reduced by continual wars and frequent pestilences, he determined at last to endeavour to remedy, as far as he was able, this desolation of the Church, by relieving poor scholars in their clerical education; and to establish two colleges of students, for the honour of God, and increase of His worship, for the support of the Christian faith, and for the improvement of the liberal arts and sciences: hoping and trusting that men of letters and various knowledge, and bred up in the fear of God, would see more clearly and attend more strictly to the obligation lying upon them, to observe the rules and directions which he should give them.”—Bp. Lowth's Life of Wykeham.

comprehensive, so munificent as this, had not before been conceived by the most illustrious of the founders of English schools and colleges. But no provision that this excellent prelate made for his foundations is more worthy of notice than the statutes which he gave for their government, which breathe throughout the liberal spirit and wisdom of their author: and it may be remarked, that in the statutes of New College, he acknowledged, and practically admitted the equity of that first maxim of just government,-that whatever concerns the general body should be done by the general consent.

William of Wykeham lived long enough to witness the prosperity of both his colleges. He died at South Waltham in 1404, at the age of eighty years, and was interred in Winchester cathedral. He was formed to be a great and good man; and his biographer, Bishop Lowth, most justly records of him that "he was raised to the highest order of human beings,-namely, those who lead a life of active benificence directed by wisdom."

The society of Winchester College was arranged to consist, as it does at present, of a warden, seventy scholars, to be instructed in grammatical learning, ten secular priests perpetual fellows, three priests chaplains, three clerks, and sixteen choristers; and for the instruction of the scholars a schoolmaster and an under-master or usher.

The seventy scholars on the foundation receive lodging, board, and tuition, free of all expense. The qualifications required by the statutes are that they be "pauperes et indigentes scholares," and that no boy is to be admitted until he is eight years of age, and not above the age of seventeen years. The other boys, who receive no emoluments from the foundation, are styled "commoners.”

William of Wykeham appointed a solemn visitation of Winchester College to be holden in it every year by the warden of New College, in conjunction with two other examiners, called posers, chosen annually from the fellows of New College. The time of the visitation is in the choice of the warden of New College, and the statute gives him a latitude of nearly three months; but it is now held in July. After the visitation follows an examination of the scholars, who are then chosen, according to their merit, to succeed to the vacancies which may happen at New College for a year to come, and whose names are put in a roll or indenture for that purpose. The names on the roll are placed in the order of merit, with the exception of the founder's kin, of whom two annually, if found to have "a competent share of learning,” are placed at the head of it. At the same time a similar roll is made of those boys

who are candidates for admission into Winchester College. The general age of superannuation is eighteen, except where the boy's name has been placed on the roll of the preceding year, in which case he is allowed to remain until he is nineteen; but founder's kin are not superannuated until they are twenty-five.

There are certain funds out of which exhibitions of £50 and £30 each are given to superannuates of the fonudation, proceeding from the College to Oxford, Cambridge, or Dublin. The actual number of recipients of these exhibitions varies, partly owing to the variable produce of the funds, and partly owing to the varying number of students on the foundation eligible to them. Of late years the total number of persons enjoying these exhibitions at one time has been about twelve or thirteen, of whom there are generally eight exhibitioners at £50, and they may hold their exhibitions for four years.

RINGWOOD.

THE GRAMMAR-SCHOOL.

FOUNDED 1587, a.d.

THIS School was founded by Richard Lyne, Esq. who bequeathed property for the endowment of it.

1621. Thomas Lyne, Esq. of Bradford Bryant, in the parish of Wimborne Minster, by his will gave £6 per annum for ever, arising out of the tythes of his farm at Bradford, and his lands at Burley in Ringwood, towards the bringing up of a poor scholar at Oxford or Cambridge, to be taken out of the free-school of Ringwood every third or fourth year; and for want of a scholar there, then from the school of Wimborne Minster, or Sherborne.

By a decree of the commissioners for charitable uses in the year 1624, it was ordered that the said tythes and land should for ever stand charged with the payment of £6 yearly to the constables and churchwardens of the places above mentioned, as the gift of the said Thomas Lyne, Esq. It was also ordered that the vicar, constables, and churchwardens of Ringwood, should meet and elect one poor scholar of the school there, and send him to Oxford or Cambridge to study for four years, with the exhibition of £6 per annum: but in case there should be no poor scholar in Ringwood School fit and capable to study at Oxford or Cambridge, then they should elect a poor scholar from the school of Wimborne Minster: and if no one be capable in that school, then they should elect a poor scholar out of the grammar-school of Sherborne for the same purpose.

BASINGSTOKE.

THE GRAMMAR-SCHOOL.

In the early part of the reign of Henry VIII. Sir William Sandes, Knt. (afterwards Lord Sandes) and Bishop Fox obtained his majesty's licence to found a free chapel at Basingstoke, and to establish a guild or brotherhood. A priest was appointed to perform divine offices, and to instruct the young men and boys of the town in literature.

The original endowment consisted of an estate situate on Basingstoke Down, and some tenements and gardens in the parish of Basingstoke, the whole being about 105 acres.

1607. John Brown, B.D. vicar of Basingstoke, gave the annual sum of £2. 12s. as a rent-charge out of certain lands in Hampshire for an exhibitioner from Basingstoke.

In 1852 a new scheme was confirmed by the Court of Chancery for the management of the school.

An exhibition of £30 a year is now offered for competition to the students of this school, tenable at any college at Oxford or Cambridge.

HEREFORDSHIRE.
HEREFORD.

THE CATHEDRAL SCHOOL.

THE earliest notice known to be on record of a school at Hereford, is contained in a document* entitled "Concessio pro Schola Grammatica in Hereford," and bearing the date of 1385. It is evident

• Johannes permissione Divina Heref. Ep. dilecto nobis in Christo filio Magistro Ricardo de Cornwaille Salutem, Gratiam, &c. Benedictum Cancellarium Ecclesiæ nostræ Cath. Heref. et ejusdem Cancellarii procuratorem ad quos de consuetudine concessio et dispositio Magistri Scholarum Grammaticarum Civitatis Heref. pertinet ad providendum de idoneo magistro pro hujus Scholæ regendo et gubernando sæpius requisivimus omnia offerendo: qui requisitionibus nostris hujus parere expresse recusarunt in præjudicium Sanctæ Ecclesiæ et Scholarium addiscere volentum dampnum non modicum et gravamen: unde nos idoneam ætatem personæ tuæ considerantes et per diligentem examinationem te habilem et idoneum moribus et scientia invenientes ad regendum et gubernandum Scholas Grammaticas prædictas cum virga et ferula, ut est moris in defectu Cancellarii prædicti et ejus procuratoris, te amicitia nostra episcopali præfecimus et ordinamus præsentibus per annum tantummodo duraturum. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum nostrum præsentibus est appensum. Datum in Manerio nostro de Whytbourne xxvI. die mensis

Decembris, A.D. 1385, et nostræ translationis A. XI.”