A HISTORY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE 



10. But two centuries later, while everybody else's pay had increased, even 

 the minor canons getting 150 a year, the two masters were left with 

 only 20 and 10 respectively. At this time the chapter took a truer and 

 higher view of their duty to the school. Langley retired probably at 

 Michaelmas, 1635, his successor being admitted 3 November, 1635. There 

 is no foundation for the statement in the Dictionary of National Biography that 

 he became a canon of Gloucester. On the contrary, he was either expelled 

 from his post of master or driven to resign in consequence of Laudian 

 persecution, because at Laud's visitation of the cathedral he displayed Puritan 

 leanings. Whether he betook himself to keeping a private school in 

 Gloucester or busied himself in clerical work, he was at hand in the neigh- 

 bourhood for the benefit of the town when they wanted the Crypt School 

 reinforced. For, as will be seen, when we come to deal with that school, on 

 the usher going out of his mind and the master proving a failure as a teacher, 

 Langley was in September, 1637, appointed usher and assistant to teach the 

 Greek tongue at a salary of 40 marks. Six months later the head master's 

 salary was reduced to 20 marks, when he appealed to Archbishop Laud. A 

 writ of privy seal was sent down 22 April, 1640, to prohibit the corporation 

 from removing the master, or from employing Langley, who had at Laud's 

 visitation ' shown himself sedulously set against the government of the church 

 and publicly refused to conform himself and deserted the college school.' 

 However, Langley did better for himself, being elected high master of St. Paul's 

 School 7 January, 1640-1. Here he was in high repute. He gave evidence 

 against Laud before the Lords Committee for his persecution of a Puritan 

 preacher at Gloucester, which caused the poor man's death. Langley was 

 appointed by Parliament 23 June, 1643, a licenser of the press for works of 

 philosophy, history, poetry, morality and arts, but complained of for remissness 

 in 1648. In 1644 he published a rhetoric entitled, Totius Rhetoricae adum- 

 bratio in usum Paulinae Scholae, and an Introduction to Grammar. He died ten 

 days after Oliver Cromwell, 13 September, 1657. 



Thomas Widdows succeeded Langley as head master 3 November, 1635, 

 and ten days afterwards Christopher Prior, a Balliol B.A., was admitted as 

 usher. Widdows was from Mickleton, and matriculated at Gloucester Hall 

 1 3 April, 1 627, at the age of fourteen, probably with a view to attending the 

 Grammar School. He became a demy at Magdalen College in 1630, and 

 there took his B.A. degree in 1630-1, and M.A. 17 December, 1633. He 

 was only twenty-two when he became head master. The ushers were as 

 usual evanescent, Prior having given place to William Collins of Magdalen 

 College in 1636, and he to Richard Lovell of the same college, on 7 March, 

 1637, to be succeeded by William Eldridge of Bentham, Gloucester and Balliol 

 on 21 May, 1639. On 10 November, 1636, the chapter passed a resolution that 



whereas Mr. Thomas Widdows, master in arte and schoolmaster of the grammer schoole 

 within this churche, hath since his admission to that place bin very diligent in his instruccion 

 of the youth under his charge, as well in their manners as learninge, to the great good 

 likinge of us the Deane and Chapter and the creddit of the said schoole We do therefore 

 order that the same wages formerly paid to Mr. Langley his immediate predecessor in that 

 place shall be continued and paid to him. 



Accordingly we find in the accounts 16367, 'Mr. Thomas Widdowes for 

 increment of sallery 2 3^. 4^.' ; 1637-8, 'To Mr. Widdows' preferment 



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