2nd S. No 8., Fen. 23, 86.) 
LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23; 1856. 
Hates. 
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS, THEIR USAGES AND TRADI- 
TIONS. 
In addition to the mere history of the founda- | 
tion and endowments of our grammar schools, 
much interesting illustration of ancient manners 
might be collected by notices of the peculiar 
recreations, customs, and privileges asserted by 
the boys on various anniversaries, such as the 
Eton Montem wis. Most schools, too, have some 
peculiar prayers and graces to be said before and | 
after meat, commemorations of benefactors, &e. 
The new course of study proposed at Oxford 
will gradually affect the state of things in the 
schools, and miny of their old observances will 
probably becoitie obsolete. It seems, therefore, 
that a few columns of “N. & Q.” might fitly be 
reserved for placing on record those memories 
of their old schools; which, doubtless, many a 
veteran will be glad to supply: 
As an alumnus of Blundell’s school at Tiverton, 
Devon, I would furnish a Note and a Query in 
illustration of my meaning. The school stands 
upon the bank of a small stream called the Low- 
man, which is often suddenly swollen to such a 
degree as to intercept the communication with 
the town. In front of the entrance to the school- 
green the letters P. B., the initials of Peter Blun- 
dell, the founder, are wrought in white stones in 
the pavenient; and, whenever the first swell of the 
rising Lowman reaches these letters, it is the duty 
of the porter to announce it, and the boys rush 
home, — solventur tabule for that day. Again, 
towards the close of the winter half-year, the boys 
used to subseribe for the purchase of tar-barrels 
and torches; the latter were kindled into a bon- 
fire in the centre of the green, each boy standing 
round with a lighted torch in his hand, whilst 
“Dulce domum” was sung, for two or three 
nights in the last week of the half-year, according 
to the amount of the funds collected. Now for 
my Queries. Can any contributor furnish a copy 
of the true Dulce domum”?* It is, I believe, of 
Wyckamist origin. A peculiar prayer was used 
on Saturdays at Tiverton School; of which I give 
the commencement, and should be obliged if any 
one will complete it : 
“Gratias tibi agimus, Domine Deus, quod nos hie loci 
studio pietatis et literarum, munificentia Petri Blundelli 
pi& memoria educamur; Teque rogamus pro summa tua 
benevolentia ut, cum nos hoc tanto beneficio adjuti in 
laudem tui nominis profecerimus,” cwtera desiderantur. 
Then “ Pater noster,” &c., “ Gratia Domini nos- 
tri,” &e. 
* It is given with translations in Milier’s Winchester, 
vol: ii. p. 130.3 and in the Gentleman’s Mugazine for 
March, 1796; pp, 208—210. ] 
NOTES AND QUERIES. 
145 
A few college memoranda, — copies of “ Graces 
in Hall,” &¢.,—may, for aught we know, find in 
“N.& Q.” their safest asylum for posterity, whilst 
they assuredly would interest many in the present 
day. Y.B.N. J. 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF MACAULAY. 
Judge Jeffreys at Wells. —1I have read with 
much interest the Lilustrations of Macaulay which 
have appeared in recent Numbers of “ N. & Q.” 
It is well known that Werts, among other places 
in this part of the kingdom; was the scene of 
Judge Jeflreys’s wholesale condemnation of the 
unfortunate followers of the equally unfortunate 
Duke of Monmouth; which was soon afterwards 
followed up by the execution of nearly one hun- 
dred of Jeffreys’s victims. The spot where the 
gallows stood is a short distance to the south-west 
of the town, and is still known by the name of 
| “ Gallows Close.” Within the memory of old men 
now living, the remains of the gallows still stood 
there ; and the upright shaft or post was removed 
some years ago, and is now converted into the 
doorpost of a house inga street called Southover, 
which leads from the city to the place from whence 
it was taken. The same gallows continued to be 
occasionally used for the execution of offenders 
who happened to be condemned at Wells, the last 
victim being a man named Reginald Tucker, who 
was hung here for a murder committed at Ansford, 
near Castle Cary. 
It may not be uninteresting to some of the 
readers of “ N. & Q.” to see the manner in which 
Jeffreys and his associates were entertained at 
Wells; and underneath I have transcribed the 
particulars from the City Records. They are as 
follows : 
“1685. — The Account of Monies disburs’t by Rich’'d Cup- 
per for ye Entertainment of ye 5 Judges and their 
Attendance, by order of Mr. Mayor and this House, at 
the Assizes in Wells, in September ’85. 
“Tt. paid. For 2 hogsheads and halfe and 1 
tearse of beere and ale brewed - 
Mr. Edward Slade, for 5 duz. of Oc- 
tober beere - - - - 
For 24 flint glasses - - - 
For 1 load of old hay and 1 load of 
straw.  - - - - - 
For 2 bushells of beanes - - 
For 9 bushells of oats, at 1s. 9d. p* b. 
For 2 sackes of charcoals - - 
For 16 satkes of cole, at 94. per sacke 
For 5 duzzen of bottles and corkes = 
For tobaco and pipes, 2s.; 2 slips, 
10d. - - - - - - 
For 3 horseloads of dry billetts and 
30 faggotts = - ~ - 
For carige, 10d.; vinegar and oyle, 
2s. 6d. = - - - - 
For 1 sacke more of oate - = 
For 2 bushells and § of béanes, at 
Shad: feb: 2 os = 
_ 
— 
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