A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



with them in drawing a plott and form in what manner the same may 

 be done.' But a long time was to elapse before anything could be done. 

 Six months later, 6 July, 1557, the same committee was again to 'travaile' 

 for a ' draught to be made of the freehold at Oundle,' meaning probably 

 a draft conveyance. On 25 July the Gild Hall, 72 ft. by 38 ft., was 

 valued^ at 10s. a year for sale to Lady Laxton, by 10 August, at j^^o- On 

 12 November Mr. Southcote, the counsel, attended the court, when 

 Mr. Alderman Lodge said that the Lady Laxton was minded to make 

 assurance of the lands as Sir William Laxton did give ' after her decease ' 

 on condition they were applied to the declared uses. This is somewhat 

 mysterious, as the codicil said nothing about a life interest in Lady 

 Laxton, but perhaps the lands were subject to dower. Counsel said that 

 the will ' being inrolled in the Court of Hustings of London shall be a 

 sufficient assurance.' But ' to put all things out of doubt,' he thought it 

 necessary to have a release from Mr. Wanton and his wife, the latter 

 being presumably Laxton's heiress-at-law. Mr. Wanton, there present, 

 declared that ' for his part he would never hinder that good work, which 

 Mr. Laxton had decided to be done ; notwithstanding, he would that his 

 heirs should take such benefit as the law would give them if the Company 

 should chance to break the said Mr. Laxton's will.' In spite of which 

 noble words Mr. Wanton managed to delay the completion of the founda- 

 tion for another six years, when it was accomplished only after 'a charge- 

 able suit ' in Chancery and a decree of the Lord Keeper made 17 October, 

 1572. 



On 6 May, 1573, the deeds of arrangement between Lady Laxton 

 and the company were sealed. 



At length, on 3 June, 1573, possession was taken on behalf of the 

 company. This was done " ' in the presence of a great number of the 

 town of Oundle, both old and young, and there was given to forty-eight 

 scholars a penny apiece to the intent they should better remember 

 Mr. Wardens' being at Oundle about the said possession.' And there 

 was also given to five poor women there, ' before now placed by the Lady 

 Laxton, and now removed to place men there, to each of them 12^.' 



The wardens called before them John Sadler, formerly schoolmaster, 

 ' but now of late had discontinued, and had not taught there but placed 

 a young man in his room.' They told Sadler that the school must be kept 

 according to Sir William Laxton's will, and it was appointed that the 

 schoolmaster was to have >Ci8 ^ 7^^^ ^-ith a house, and must be resident. 

 Sadler agreed to these terms and was continued in his office. 



The warden then called in ' the young man which the said School- 

 master had placed in his room, named Robert Lynacre, and declared unto 

 him that from henceforth there must be an usher to teach scholars in the 

 said school under the Schoolmaster, and that his wages must be £6 1 3J. 4^'. 

 a year and a house to dwell in, and did ask him whether he had a good 



1 Harl. MS. 607, fF. 75, 6. 



2 Court Minute, 12 June, 1573. Here and elsewhere where no other reference is given the 

 authority is the minute book of the Court of Assistants under date. 



244 



