SCHOOLS 



duties [i.e., \d. a head] for the admission of scholars as formerly have been usually given. 

 And it is declared that .... he shall not admit or receive into the same school above the 

 number of 1 2 scholars that shall be strangers and not freemen's sons, to be either tabled or 

 taught by him or the usher at any one time, to the end that freemen's sons of the same city 

 may be prepared and be better instructed, according to the true intent and meaning of the 

 founder of the said school. 



This was a quite illegal restriction on strangers, far from the ' true 

 intent and meaning of the founder/ who would have expressed it if he had 

 meant it. The reference to tabling shows that there were then boarders in 

 the school, whose payments no doubt had enabled the schoolmasters to live 

 in spite of the small salary they received after the corporation's breaches of 

 trust. The restrictions were bad policy, as experience has shown that the 

 more widely a school throws open its doors to strangers and boarders as well 

 as to residents on the spot, the better school it becomes and the more residents' 

 children it is likely to have in it. But to restrict the school not merely to 

 residents but to a limited class of residents, the sons of freemen, was a suicidal 

 policy, which in later days was one of the main causes of the narrow 

 dimensions to which the school was reduced. 



Payne, who was probably the Richard Payne of Gloucestershire who 

 matriculated at New College, Oxford, 11 November, 1608, M.A. 161617, 

 only held office for a few weeks. Probably the new restrictions made him 

 go, for on 6 August, 1622, on the election of Mr. Richard Cheyney, the 

 restriction was relaxed : he was ' not to take above 20 forain scholers at any 

 one time, whereof 10 he may table at once and no more.' Richard Cheyney 

 had taken his M.A. degree at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, 10 July, 1618, and 

 was already, when elected master, rector of Tarrant Rushton, in Dorset. 

 He held office till his death in 1636. At his coming the school library was 

 much augmented. ' Paid Mr. William Brown for 107 books bought for the 

 use of the library in the Grammar School, 14 lo/.' and five years later, 

 16289, 'Paid Richard Roydon for books he delivered Mr. Cheyney for the 

 library at the Grammar School, 4.' In 1626 Richard Whickham by will 

 gave 100 to be converted to the use of the Free Grammar School. Only 

 68 was received in respect of this legacy, and employed on new building the 

 library and furnishing it with several books, ' which were some time the books 

 of Mr. William Swift, late master.' William Burns, by will 1 3 November, 

 1634, gave 10 to buy books for the library. 



On 23 June, 1629, George Harrison, the usher, was 'utterly discharged 

 and dismissed.' 



Complaint hath often been made against him, as well for misdemeanours as for his neglect 

 and insufficient training up and instructing such boys and youths in the rudiments and 

 grounds of learning as have been committed to his care and charge, to the great disgrace of 

 the city and especially the governors of the same school, insomuch that divers inhabitants of 

 the said city have of late years for the reasons aforesaid sent their children out of this city to 

 be taught and instructed, to their great and extraordinary charge. But in regard of his 

 poverty and charge of his wife and children and to the end that he may be the better enabled 

 to settle himself elsewhere, 



the Corporation gave him 50 out of a fine paid by Thomas Cecil for 

 insulting the mayor, and 17 2s. lit/, 'for divers implements, reparations 

 and other things .... yet in the school.' 



Mr. James Walsh, of Mangotsfield, was elected usher in his place. The 

 same day, 23 June, 1629, after a long recital of the decree of Lord Ellcsmere 



