SCHOOLS 



century before. But whether already in the thirteenth century the school 

 had been transferred to that place we can but surmise. 



It is a curious thing, in view of the subsequent history of the school, 

 that half a century earlier than the mention of the site which we have been 

 discussing, there is a mention of the school in connexion with the buildings 

 which it occupied some 500 years later, * the Hospital of St. Mark of 

 Billeswick, otherwise Gaunt's.' 



This hospital was founded by Sir Robert of Gournay some time before 

 1233, probably at the wish of Maurice de Gaunt, whose property he had 

 inherited. Henry of Gaunt, the master or warden, largely increased the 

 endowment, and in 1259 enlarged the establishment to a master and 12 

 brethren clerks and 5 lay brothers and 27 poor, * of which number 1 2 were 

 to be scholars, ministering, in the choir only, in black copes and surplices, as 

 is more fully contained in the ordinance of Walter of good memory bishop of 

 Worcester.' 



This ordinance said that the clerks were to dress like the brethren of 

 Lechlade Hospital, except the badge on their gowns, which was to be a white 

 cross on a red shield with three white geese. The 1 2 scholars were 



to be admitted and removed at will of the master and to sing at the disposition of the Pre- 

 centor (cantoris), and to be more plentifully provided for than the other poor according to 

 the arrangement of the master and the means of the house ; and one of the twelve scholars 

 was to be elected of ability to keep in order and teach the others, and he was to be provided 

 for even more plenteously and competently than the others. 



One cannot help thinking that this provision for 12 select scholars being 

 admitted to dine with the poor of the hospital was taken from the similar 

 provision at the famous hospital of St. Cross at Winchester, where it was said 

 to date from the ordinance of the founder, Bishop Henry of Blois, brother of 

 King Stephen, in 1 130,' and was probably the earliest establishment on record 

 of an exhibition foundation, in the modern sense of support without full 

 maintenance by charity. At all events, it is an interesting piece of evidence 

 of the carrying on of the school in Bristol, and the presence of poor scholars 

 of it in need of assistance. 



By a later but undated deed, to which both Robert of Gournay and 

 Henry of Gaunt were parties, the almshouse was taken out of the hands of the 

 secular clergy, and the brethren there had to become regulars ; and by 

 arrangement with the prior of Maiden Bradley three of his brethren were sent 

 thence to teach 'the regular use,' which was to follow that of Bradley, except 

 that no women were to be admitted. In 1268 these ordinances were con- 

 firmed by Bishop Godfrey Giffard,* he apparently adding that no scholars 

 were to eat or drink in the refectory, except by special leave of the master. 

 They were only to enjoy the ' sufficient beer and pottage ' of the outer poor. 

 This hospital was bought from Henry VIII for 1,000, and granted by him 

 to the city by letters patent 6 May, 1541.* Its chapel became the existing 

 mayor's chapel, and the hospital in 1584 became Queen Elizabeth's Hospital 

 for poor boys on the model of Christ's Hospital in London. 



1 Similar case* of scholars being fed occur in hospitals for the poor at Durham, and at Pontefract; f.C.H. 

 Dur. li ; Turks, ii, ' Religious Houses.' 



' Wore. Epis. Reg. Giffard, fol. \$J. ' Great White Bk. fol. 253. 



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