A HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE 



After the death of Pocock, the master, there seems to have been an 

 interregnum. As a consequence of the Fire of London in 1666, the 

 payment of Lancaster's gift by the Skinners fell into arrear. For that 

 year they only paid 80 instead of ioS to the Basingstoke corporation. 

 Then Edward Webb, now D.D., who had now recovered his rectory of 

 Kingsclere, sought also to recover the mastership of the school, or rather 

 its revenues, as he seems to have had no intention of performing its 

 duties. In 1667 he filed a Bill in Chancery against the corporation and 

 the gild. He alleged that in the late plague (1665) they had 'made 

 the school a pesthouse, and, under pretence of repairing the chapel, cut 

 down the trees and converted them to their own use.' After the usual 

 dilatory proceedings the cause was heard on 27 October, 1669, and by 

 the Lord Keeper referred to the arbitration of George Morley, Bishop 

 of Winchester. He awarded 1 on 21 February, 1669-70, that Webb 

 should give up the school and its revenue to a master to be nominated by 

 the bishop during Webb's life. On 7 March the bishop exercised the 

 patronage he thus conferred on himself by the appointment of Marcus 

 d'Assigny, M.A., a Jersey man, vicar of Penrith in Cumberland. Webb 

 did not quietly acquiesce in so adverse an award, and lodged exceptions 

 against it, but they were not admitted and the award was confirmed 

 1 8 May, 1670. Thereon Webb filed a new Bill, but without effect. He 

 never recovered possession. The corporation celebrated his defeat in a 

 Latin inscription on the Holy Ghost School walls, 2 in honour of Bishop 

 Morley as meriting everlasting praise by his restoration of the school. 

 On 29 July, 1673, the Reverend John James was elected ' preceptor' by 

 the mayor and burgesses and signed the three articles contained in the 

 sixth canon on receiving his licence to teach on 22 September, 1673.' 

 John Clarke, licensed by Bishop Morley 1 5 April and appointed by the 

 corporation on 22 August, 1673, came as usher at the same time. 

 James held the mastership for a long time until 1717, combining with it, 

 from 1 697, the vicarage of Basingstoke. In his time the Sandys chapel 

 and tower were finally allowed to go to ruin. The steward of Sir John 

 Mills, nephew and heir of the last Lord Sandys of the Vine reported, 4 

 March, 1692, that he had been informed that 'the repair of the chapel 

 and covering the tower or staircase ' would cost 20. The steward 

 ' thought it might be done for 12.' Sir J. Mills wished it done but 

 ' intended to make the town bear a part in the charge because of bury- 

 ing in the chapel yard.' 



Disputes, meanwhile, had arisen with the Skinners' Company as to 

 Lancaster's gift. The Skinners could no longer obtain the old rents from 

 the Lincolnshire estates under the will or from the London property 

 bought to satisfy the codicil. On 28 January, 1684-5, they wrote* to 



1 Basingstoke, w- 147, 675. There is an irreconcilable difference as to the dates given in the 

 book, through a mistake as to the regnal year apparently. 



a Ibid. p. 147. 



9 Ibid. p. 655. Mr. Baigent seems to be mistaken in thinking that John Rogers, whom he inter- 

 polates here, was master. He seems to have been usher only. 



Ibid. pp. 114, 678. Skinners' Court Minute Book under date. 



380 



