SCHOOLS 



enjoy all their plate and other ornaments belonging to their church, so as they convert 

 the same from monuments of superstition to necessary and godly uses for the main- 

 tenance of the same College. 



So too Queen Elizabeth allowed Winchester and Eton to retain Latin 

 services like the universities. The Commonwealth placed Winchester 

 under the Oxford University Commission ; and in our day the Oxford 

 University Commission of 1857 made statutes for it as part of the 

 university. It was therefore precedent not partiality that saved Win- 

 chester and Eton from Edward VI., ' spoiler of schools.' 



Winchester thus saved from destruction was not left to its own 

 devices. It was promptly visited by a royal commission of reform, 

 which issued a batch of injunctions. 1 They directed that the Bible- 

 reading in hall should be in English 



distinctly and apertly in the midst of the Hall, above the hearth where the fire is made, 

 both at dinner and supper. 



Grace and other prayers were also to be in English, and ' they shall 

 henceforth omit to sing or say " Stella cceli" and " Salve regina" or any 

 other such like untrue and superstitious anthems.' Thus was the queen 

 of heaven deposed in her own college. 



These injunctions are remarkable for the very strong official 

 recognition they gave to commoners. Injunction 2 directs that 



As well all the scholars of the said College and foundation, and others coming to 

 the same School, being able to buy the New Testament in English or Latin shall 

 provide for the same betwixt this and Christmas coming. 



Injunction 6 has the same expression with regard to the provision 

 of Erasmus' catechism, which the warden or a sufficient deputy should 

 read with them, ' proving every article thereof by the scripture.' He 

 was also to read to the unhappy boys the Proverbs of Solomon or 

 Ecclesiastes for a whole hour every Sunday or holy day. The use of the 

 primer set forth by the king's authority, otherwise King Edward VI. 's 

 Latin Grammar, was commanded, and ' in all prophane authors ' the 

 warden and schoolmaster were directed ' to refute and reply by allegation 

 of scripture all such sentences and opinions as seem contrary to the word 

 of God and the Christian religion.' Injunction 10 and 1 1 directed that 



As well the Warden or every Fellow and Conduct teaching the children shall 

 have for his and their pains one yearly stipend of the common goods of the College, 

 taxed by the Warden, with the assent of the more part of the Fellows : and the 

 Schoolmaster and Usher to have the old accustomed stipend of Commensals, and the 

 Warden, Fellow or Conduct to require no part thereof. 1 1 . Item, that no person in 

 the said College have the correction of the Grammarians besides the Warden, School- 

 master, Usher, and such Fellow or Conduct as shall control them in the Warden's 

 absence ; and that there be no excess correction, but that the same may be mitigated 

 by the Warden's direction. 



The injunctions suggest that there was a considerable number of 

 commoners attending the school, who were neither scholars nor com- 

 mensals. They also show that the schoolmaster and usher were not left 



1 Wilkins' ConciSa, iv. 8. 

 3<>7 



