SCHOOLS 



dead. He was probably a Wykehamist and a New College man, in the 

 sense of being one of Wykeham's scholars at Winchester and Oxford 

 before the actual foundation, since his name imports that he came from 

 Romsey, Hants, and it is not to be found in the lists of any of the earlier 

 colleges. Being called Magister T. Romsey, he was certainly an M.A. 

 While still headmaster he was, in 1401, presented by Wykeham 1 to the 

 living of Patney, Wilts, the patronage of which belonged to the see of 

 Winchester. He retired from the headmastership at Easter, 1407, 

 having held office for over twelve years. After the resignation of his 

 successor he held the headmastership again for four years, from 1414 

 to 1418. His total term of sixteen years was by far the longest before 

 the Reformation, and was not exceeded until after the Restoration, 

 when Harris held from 1678 to 1700. After his retirement the 

 steward of hall's books exhibit him frequently at Winchester dining 

 and supping in hall as a guest, the last time that has been noticed 

 being in 1424. 



Romsey's successor was John Pole, who was certainly a Wykehamist 

 and New College man, as his name appears on the book of the steward 

 of hall at New College, fourth on the roll of scholars in 1392-3, when 

 both foundations were in full working order. 



John Pole must have been a successful headmaster as it was during 

 his rule, in 1412, that Cardinal Beaufort issued his injunction against 

 the admission of commoners beyond the statutory ten, stating that he 

 was informed there were eighty or one hundred beyond that number. 

 As has already been pointed out, the admission of outsiders being left to 

 the warden, it is quite probable that no change was made. From what 

 Christopher Johnson says of Pole it would seem that at that time Pole's 

 note-books were preserved. 



Rosa licet Pa/urn tamea adversaria produnt 

 Debetur blattis gratia quanta vide. 



Worm-eaten though they be his note-books show 

 John Pole to us. What a debt to worms we owe ! 



a somewhat ambiguous remark, which would lead us to suppose that 

 Johnson did not think Pole's note-books much of a treasure. Would we 

 had them now ! The note-books of a fourteenth century schoolmaster, 

 and that schoolmaster one who had known Wykeham, would be worth 

 their weight in gold. 



After Pole's departure Romsey resumed office, a circumstance which 

 makes Johnson ask in surprise : 



Aerumnose senex, iterum Romseie redhti ? 

 Saltern his terumnis debuit esse modus. 



Returned in age to thy old cares, my friend 

 Romsey, should not such cares have had an end ? 



Romsey left behind him a memorial in the shape of ' a grammar 



1 Wykeham's Regiittr, i. 

 283 



