SCHOOLS 



and Alderman of London ; and wheare my will mind and intent is that the Schole- 

 master of the said Free Schole for the time being shall have for his stipend and wages 

 yerely ;^i8 and the Usher of the said Schole yerely ^6 13^ 4^. 



This recital is a plain declaration enough that the main object of 

 Laxton's foundation was a grammar school. 



The codicil then declared Laxton's 'will, mind, and intent ' to be to 

 have seven poor men, 'beade-men,' perpetually to be found at Oundle with 

 ^d. a week each and convenient lodgings and free house-room and dwelling 

 in the said gild or fraternity house. In fact except for the substitution 

 of men for women in the almshouse, and the increase of pay, his ' will, 

 mind, and intent ' was to reproduce exactly the old institution on the 

 very spot in which it had been founded. To accomplish this he pro- 

 ceeded to devise to the company his lands in St. Swithin's, London 

 Stone, Sherborne Lane, St. Nicholas Lane, Abchurch Lane, Candle- 

 v/ick Street and East Cheap ' recently ' bought of Mr. Edward Weldon 

 Esquire,' ' upon this condition and intent.' First, they were to acquire 

 the gild house from the king and queen's (Philip and Mary) majesties, 

 for the school and almshouse. Then they were to apply the revenue to 

 the objects already stated, the qualifications of the masters being insisted 

 on in the words : ' an honest, virtuous and learned Schoolmaster, being 

 a Master of Arts, to teach grammar, freely, within the said schoolhouse 

 to all such as shall come thither to learn ' and ' an honest learned person 

 to be Usher ' (was virtue not expected in an Usher ?) ' and to teach and 

 instruct the scholars of the same under the said Schoolmaster.' In 

 choosing the poor men the company were to act with the advice and 

 consent of the vicar, churchwardens, and ' four of the best and honest 

 parishioners of Oundle.' The same body of local managers were to 

 receive 24J. a year for the repairs of ' the messuage called the Free 

 School.' 



The codicil concluded rather pathetically : — 



And I will, that for lack of convenient time further to explain and set out the 

 erection aforesaid, that all other things necessary touching the erection and continu- 

 ance of the said Free School and other the premises shall be considered and done 

 in such goodly sort as by the discretion of my executrix and overseers of my last 

 will and testament, or by their learned counsel, shall be thought meet and con- 

 venient. 



Three days afterwards, 25 July, Laxton died and the codicil was 

 proved with the will on 28 August, 1556, by his executrix and widow, 

 Dame Johan or Jane. 



On 16 November Mr. Alderman Lodge, Laxton's stepson-in-law,^ 

 declared to the court the will ' whereunto the whole Assistants are well 

 willing to receive the same, with thanksgiving for his genteel remem- 

 brance.' 



On 23 December the court recorded their acceptance of the trust 

 and appointed a committee ' to speak with Mr. Southcote to travaile 



' This appears from Laxton's will of personalty {Calendar o/Hustingt Wills, ii, 665), bequest of 

 basins and ewers to Anne Lodge, a daughter of his wife. 



243 



