A HISTORY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE 



fixing the salaries, which the corporation ' do think too mean and not sufficient 

 for their annual maintenance in a competent and meet manner .... for 

 the more credit and honour of the said school,' the salaries were raised to 4 

 and 30 respectively, 'out of the issues of the said lands and such other 

 monies or benefit or gift as are or shall be bestowed upon the said school.' 

 The ' other monies ' refers to a gift by will l of George Nathway, 27 Septem- 

 ber, 1628, of jCs ' to be employed in some land or otherwise for the aug- 

 mentation of the stipends of the master or usher of the Free School.' An 

 annuity of 3 was paid by the executors in respect of this, which was re- 

 deemed by payment of 50 in 1671 : jTi los. was paid to the master, and 

 i 5-f. to the usher, afterwards reduced to i 6s. 8*/. and i%s. ^d. respectively, 

 and called, for some mysterious reason, ' hat-money.' 



The first extant bailiff's account of the school lands is for 16334, and 

 shows a rental of some 85 with 20 for a fine on renewing a lease. Among 

 the expenses is, ' For the charge of visitations at the Grammar School the 

 week before Christmas i 5 s -' 



In 16367 the city paid Mrs. Cheyney, widow of Richard Cheyney, a 

 gratuity of 10 by way of pension. 



On Cheyney's death ' Mr. Henry James, late master of Queen Eliza- 

 beth's Hospital, was appointed in his place.' This is a singular instance of 

 the promotion of a master from this much lower grade school to the master- 

 ship of the high school. It was probably due to personal influence, 

 Mr. Henry James having been a Bristol boy, who matriculated at Trinity 

 College, Oxford, aged 17, on 30 April, 1619; M.A. from Hart Hall, 7 May, 

 1625. He does not seem to have been a success, as on 27 September, 1638, 

 Bartholomew Man, recommended by the earl of Pembroke, the high steward 

 of the borough, was chosen in his place. 



In February, 1638-9, Elisha, son of Mr. Farmer, later minister of 

 St. Werburgh's, having been 8 or 9 years in St. John's College, Oxford, 

 was chosen usher in place of Walsh, removed ' for abuses by him in the 

 disparagement of the school and retarding the boys learning.' 



In the Council Book on 7 September, 1640, 



the whole house doth enact that there shall be a visitation of the Free Grammar School for 

 examination of the scholars how they profit in learning twice a year viz. before Michaelmas 

 and before Easter, on pain of 401. per time each mayor making default, and the common 

 and usual premium given the boys best deserving to be continued, whether out of the 

 chamber's money or the Free School rents, as heretofore hath been done. 



On 23 January, 1642-3, Man was ordered ' to remove at Lady Day, 

 and Walter, son of John Rainsthorp, a free burgess, succeeded. He held 

 office all through the Civil War. In December, 1657, his salary was increased 

 to 60 a year. He died shortly afterwards, and on 23 March, 16578, a 

 handsome eulogy of him was entered in the Council Book. He was 'exceed- 

 ing faithful, diligent, and able in his place, and one whom God made 

 especially instrumental in the educating, teaching, and bringing up of youth 

 within this city, sending many able and useful scholars to the university.' He 

 left a widow and six children and a very small estate. So 10 a year was 

 directed to be paid for their use. 



1 Will Bk. No. 3. Vellum Bk. of Charities. 

 372 



