

SCHOOLS 



still occupied by the grammar schoolmaster, Mr. Moffatt, whereas in 1540 

 the mayor's audit book shows ' a tenement over Frome Yate sometyme the 

 Schole house in the tenure of William Dewe, coriar,' and in 1542 Mr. Moffatt 

 was pensioned. It seems, probable, therefore, that it was in 1538 or 1539 

 that under its old master, Moffatt, the ancient grammar school removed a few 

 doors down Christmas Street, technically outside the town, in the suburbs, 

 and found its fourth home in St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where it remained 

 for nearly 290 years. The new master, Harris, does not appear to have 

 come till three or four years after the removal in 1541 or 1542. 



Of St. Bartholomew's Hospital all that remains to view is the beautiful 

 fourteenth '-century gateway, with a Virgin and Child on one side, and a 

 much battered figure on the other, which still remain to adorn the entrance 

 to what is now entitled * Brewer's Hall,' a little way to the right of the 

 Christmas Steps, close to the top of which stand the chapel and chambers of 

 Foster's Almshouse, otherwise the Three Kings of Cologne, to which Robert 

 Thorne made a bequest. Some inner arches are also visible, but the whole 

 place, which used to have a large quadrangle, is now so filled up with mean 

 dwellings and a brewery office that few traces of antiquity or beauty are 

 visible. 



Unfortunately for the school, Nicholas Thorne, like his brother, a busy 

 merchant, and much employed abroad, died without conveying the Bartholo- 

 mew lands to the Corporation. 



He made his will * on 4 August, 1 546, describing himself as * citezen 

 and marchante of the cytie or towne of Bristowe ' it had become a city 

 when it acquired a bishop in 1542. He was an exceedingly rich man, and 

 he gave many charitable gifts, and especially remembered the schoolmaster 

 and usher, and provided for the establishment of a school library. He gave 

 his brother-in-law, William Harper, probably the merchant tailor who, as 

 Sir William Harpur, founded Bedford School, c 60 and a gown jackett of 

 tawny damask and to my sister his wife a ring with a diamond, a ring with 

 emerall, a ring with a ruby, >Tio and two gowns for 53*. 4^.' To Vincent 

 Thorne, his brother Robert's illegitimate son, he gave 



2OO dukatts, and if he die under 21 yeres of age ... to the use and behoofe of the 

 Bartholomews in Bristowe there to be employed to the moste advauntage that may growe, of 

 and towardes the buyldyng and reparacion of the same howse, or in purchasyng of landes for 

 the mayntenance of the Free scoole there, after the dirreccion of myne executors or their 

 assigns, or of such parsonnes that shall hereafter have the charge of the same, thinketh moste 

 necessary for the behooffe and maytenaunce of the said free scole. 



Then after giving jC IO to one illegitimate son, apprentice to a haber- 

 dasher in London, and >C9 I 3 /t 4^- to another at Biscay, he proceeds : 



Item, I geve and bequeth to Mr. Harrys, scolemaister of the free scoole at the Bartilmews, 

 5 markes sterling (3 61. 8d.) and a black gowne price 301., for his paynes taking hereafter 

 to bring upp youthe there in vertue to the pleasure of God, and he to have the same some 

 that he nowe hathe for terme of his liffe, sicke and hole ; and yf the lands of the Bartilmewes 

 L may be hereafter ymproved by any meanes, the rents to be annye more than it is at this 



present day, then I will that his waigges be enlarged to 20 by the yeare. Item, I bequeth 

 to Thomas Clarke of Allar, to John Serieaunt (Sergeant) ussher of the grammer scole, to 

 John Sare notary . . to every of them 3 tonne of saultc.' ' Item, I bequeth to the hows*- 



1 Not 1 3th century u in Bristol Past and Present. ' P.C.C. 1 8 Alen. 



1 Elsewhere it appears that a ton of salt was worth toi. 



365 



