A HISTORY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE 



The will with this secret trust in it was proved in the Prerogative Court 

 of Canterbury at Lambeth on 8 July, 1519, by William Wyatt, the other 

 executor, Wossley, being admitted to probate also on 1 2 August following. 

 What the secret trust was transpires in Letters Patent of Henry VIII, 1 dated 

 at Chelsea, 17 March, 1531-2, whereby the king 



considering the pious purpose of our beloved Thomas West, knight, Lord La Warr, George 

 Croft, chaplain, Robert Thorne and Nicholas Thorne, of our city of Bristol, and John Godrick 

 (sic) clerk, executor of the will of Robert Thorne deceased, in the foundation, maintenance 

 and support of a certain Grammar School (scale gramatice) to be made in the said town of 

 Bristol or in the suburbs of the same for boys in the same school to be instructed in good 

 manners and literature (erudiendh in bonls moribus et litteraturis) for the better sustenance of a 

 master and one usher (hostiarii), or two ushers, of the same, and of other things necessary, 



granted to the mayor, burgesses, and commonalty of Bristol and their successors 

 that they might 



acquire and take the house or hospital of St. Bartholomew in the said town with the profits 

 and advantages which now are or in time past have been accepted or reputed as parcel of the 

 same hospital or which the aforesaid George Croft, master of the hospital aforesaid, ever held 

 and enjoyed in right of the same hospital in the said town of Bristol or the parishes of Clifton, 

 Stapleton, Sodbury and Wickwar, in the county of Gloucester and elsewhere within the 

 kingdom of England, to the yearly value of 40 beyond all charges and reprises, as well 

 from the aforesaid Thomas West, knight, Lord La Warr, the true patron and founder of the 

 hospital aforesaid, as from the said George Croft, master and keeper of the house or hospital 

 aforesaid, and from the brethren and. sisters of the same house or hospital, 



or from any one else having or pretending title in the premises. 



All this was to be done without fine or fee paid to the Crown. 



This patent had been preceded by an indenture of covenant, preserved 

 among the school muniments in the possession of the Bristol municipal charity 

 trustees. By this deed, made 31 January, 1 531-2, between Sir Thomas West, 

 knight, Lord La Warr and Robert Thorne, citizen and merchant of London, 

 the latter covenanted that if a sure, sufficient, and indefeasible estate in fee 

 simple be made by Lord La Warr and George Croft, the master of the 

 hospital, to Thorne and his co-executors, within a year, of the hospital and its 

 property, that then Thorne, within six years, shall 



ordain, prepare and make a convenient scole house for a free grammer scole to be taught and 

 kept upon the said house or hospital or upon some part of the said lands and tenements 

 belonging to the said house or hospital, and also the said Robert within the same term shall 

 provide, establish and order a schoolmaster and usher to teche and kepe the said free scole, 

 with such convenient waige to them to be appointed as shall or may conveniently come of 

 the rents, issues and profits of the said lands, and also the said Robert shall appoint, make and 

 establish within the same term of six yeres the foundacion, patents and ordinances of the said 

 scole, after the mind and advice of John Barlowe, Deane of Westbury upon Trym, and of 

 George Croft, Robert Thorne, Nicholas Thorne and John Goodriche. 



In the ordinances ' the said Lord La Warre shalbe namyde and takyn as 

 one of the principal founders of the said scole, and the said George Croft 

 to be namid and takyn a singuler benefactor thereof and provision was to 

 be made that 



there shalbe a solemn obit to be kept yerely for ever on the eleventh daye of October at the 

 said Bartilmews to pray for the souls of the said Lord La Warre, George and Robert and of 

 Sir Thomas, now Lord La Warre, and for the soule of Sir Thomas West, knight, late Lord 

 La Warre, and for the souls of all their ancestors and prog fnitors, and this obit to be kept 



1 Pat. 23 Hen. VIII, pt. ii, m. 36. 

 362 



