SCHOOLS 



and causeway between Gloucester and Over. A yearly meeting was to be 

 held to survey the repairs of the school. If the corporation of Gloucester 

 failed to carry out the trusts the property was to go over to the corporation 

 of Worcester for the repair of the walls of that city. By a subsequent deed 

 of 20 November, 32 Henry VIII, an annuity of 6s. 8d. a year was charged 

 in favour of the corporation of Worcester on the lands of Brockworth ' to 

 the intent and purpose that they should see to the performance of the trust 

 and confidence imposed by this deed.' 



The parish of Christ was otherwise and more commonly known as that 

 of St. Mary-le-Crypt, because of the crypt underneath the church. There 

 is no evidence that the school was ever carried on in the crypt, and it was in 

 fact until the eighteenth century commonly called Christ School. But in 

 modern times it is called the Crypt School from the church parallel with the 

 west front of which still stands the handsome building in the Tudor style, 

 which used to be the school. But except the gateway which gives access 

 to a small quadrangle on the north side of the church the whole buildings 

 have been completely * restored in ' modern times, and the school has been 

 removed to another site. The school seems to have been built before 

 the extant city account books begin, so no record of its building or the cost 

 of it remains. 



The first notice we have of the school as a going concern is in the first 

 extant account book of the corporation, of the date apparently (for the first 

 page and date are lost) of 3 & 4 Edward VI, 1 549-50. Out of a total rental of 

 86 is. u\d. of city property, the 'manors, lands, and tenements geven by 

 Dame Jone Coke, widow, deceased,' amounted to 26 6s. ^d. 



Poddesmead manor was let for 13 6s. 8d. ; Bentham in Begworth, now 

 Badgeworth, for 5 6j. 8d. ; other lands in Begworth for z 8s. ^d. ; mill 

 in Ebley 3 ; grounds in Chaxhill 13^. io</., in Standish 131. 4*?., and a 

 tenement in Westgate Street 8j. 



No mention of payment to any master appears in this account. A 

 master, however, existed, as in the city rent-roll l for 1 544 under St. Mary 

 Lane is the 



Item. The Scholemaister of the Highe Schole holdeth at will another parcell or parte of 

 the same lane extendynge from the parcell which widow Asbyns holdeth unto the church- 

 yarde of Criste, and yeldeth by yere, 21. 8</. 



But in the next, 15501, is the entry * Also in money paid to Thomas Bow- 

 land, scolemaster of the Gramer Scole of the said citie, for his wages by the 

 tyme of this present accompte as in yeres precedent, 10.* Thomas Bowland 

 had supplicated for his M.A. degree at Oxford 7 December, 1525. Accord- 

 ing to Rudge's History of Gloucester he was not the first master, but had been 

 preceded 8 by John Disteley, whose history has not been traced, but he is no 

 doubt the father of John Dysley of Gloucester, who became a scholar of 

 Winchester in 1560 and subsequently a fellow of New College, Oxford. 



The school finances were heavily taxed in this and the succeeding years 

 for a law suit, ' expenses of suit with Massenger at London 2OJ., for 

 Mr. Recorder of counsel, 4,' while next year saw 3 5^. 6d. expended, with 

 Mr. Anthony Ronehill 2 i6s. 8</. and Mr. Rastell 5 4*. jd. Even if we 



1 City MunimenU, No. 1 369. ' Rudge, Hut. ofGlouc. 



2 345 44 



