SCHOOLS 



On 5 February, I6OO-I, 1 Mr. John Whitson, alderman, himself a great 

 benefactor to Bristol, and three others, were appointed a committee 



to consider of the Master and Usher of the Free Grammer Schooles pcticion touching the 

 raising of their stipends, and the Orders which they would have established in the Free 

 School, and to bring in their opinions in writing. 



On 10 May, 1602,* it was agreed that for five years following the chamberlain 

 should pay 5 a year and the executors of Robert Kitchen should pay another 

 5 a year which he had given by his will, making 10 in all, to increase the 

 master's salary by 6 1 3^. 4^. and the usher's by 3 6s. 8</. This made the 

 master's salary 20 and the usher's jTio ; the amount contemplated by 

 Nicholas Thome the elder 60 years before. Now it was quite inadequate. 

 In 1604 the master's salary was raised to 23 6s. 8</. and the usher's to 

 i i I3_f. \d. But two years later the audit book ceases to show any pay- 

 ments to masters. It has been stated that the school was closed preparatory to 

 the attack on the grant to Nicholas Thorne II which now followed. But it 

 is more probable that the masters subsisted on their own resources pending 

 these proceedings. 



Under the Statute of Charitable Uses of 44 Elizabeth, 1603, passed on 

 purpose to redress such breaches of trust, a commission was obtained from 

 Chancery, 1 8 July, 1608, and an inquisition 8 under it was held at the Guild- 

 hall, Bristol, before Sir George Snigge and two others on 25 April, 1609. By 

 the jury, nearly all members of the council, it was found that the said 

 Nicholas II, ' pretending to inherit the same lands, procured a conveyance in 

 fee farm under the yearly rent of 30 only,' though then they were of ' the 

 cleare yearly value of 52 and upwards, and now are of a farre greater value 

 over and above all charges and reprises.' They had been held by John Pykes 

 deceased since Thome's death, and were then held by Alice Pykes ' to the 

 defrauding of the true intention of employment of the said lands .... 

 and to the decay of the said school, schoolmaster and other the said uses.' 

 The decree thereon made next day, 26 April, echoed the findings of 

 the jury, asserted that N. Thorne had made away with the records, and 

 had made conveyances of the lands to persons who were cognizant of 

 the trust. The commissioners ' long endeavoured to appease the said 

 persons,' and heard them all, but they * obstinately refuse to conform them- 

 selves to such reasonable courses as equity in our opinion requireth.' So 

 the commissioners 



do think fit that the said lands be returned to the said true first use and intent of 

 employment thereof, that such said schoolmaster, ushers, and instructors of the said 

 children and youths may hereafter live of the profits and revenues of the said lands, 

 which now they cannot do ; and that children may be better instructed in the said 

 school .... do order .... that the schoolmaster should have yearly the yearly wages 

 of ^40 and the usher or ushers ^20, which wages will be raised out of the said lands, 

 unjust incumbrances being discharged. 



Alice Pykes, however, put in exceptions to this decree before the 

 chancellor, and also filed a bill against the corporation. Commissioners were 



1 Council Bk. 1598-1608, p. 47. 



' Ibid. 58. 



1 P.R.O. Chan. Petty Bag. Inq. 7 Ja. I. 

 2 369 47 



