A HISTORY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE 



omitted the provision for it, as he did in the case of the only cathedral 

 of the new foundation which did not have a school as part of its foundation, 

 Winchester, and that we learn from Archbishop Abbot was because of ' that 

 noble school of Wykeham's foundation,' which then took day boys as well 

 as boarders. 



But at Archbishop Laud's visitation, which took place in 1634, less 

 than a hundred years after the foundation of the cathedral, we not only have 

 positive evidence of the existence of the grammar school, but the evidence 

 shows that it was then by no means new, but already on the decline ; and at 

 the same time, that it was not then, and never had been, or was intended 

 to be, exclusively or mainly, or indeed partially, a choristers' school. 

 Among the papers preserved in the House of Lords MSS. 1 relating to this 

 visitation, are the following returns as to Bristol Cathedral : 



[About the Choristers.] The weakenes, through age of their master causeth that they 

 bee not so well ordered or instructed as they otherwise should, but for helpe hereof are 

 committed to the care of some others of the quier, and some of them alsoe goe to the 

 gramar schoole. Two of them are sent to the grammar schoole. 



[About the Grammar School.] The yearly allowance of the schoolemaster is by 

 statute only 20 marckes, and for an usher 20 nobles, both which stipendes have beene con- 

 ferred upon the schoolemaster heretofore undertaking the whole charge of the schoole, and 

 receiveth the whole 20 ; and they conceive hee is diligent in his place. 



The yearely allowance of the schoolemaster is ^13 6s. 8d., and of the usher 

 6 13*. 4-d. But the whole 20 hath beene enjoyed by two or three schoolemasters, his 

 immediate predecessours, and likewise by himselfe for these fifteene yeares by the consent 

 of the bishop, deane, and chapter. . . . There is great want of an usher, the master being 

 an ordinary preacher and chaplyn to the Lord Bishop. The schollers who of ould were 

 wont alwaies to repair to the morning service in the cathedrall church half an hower after 

 6 do wholly absent themselves therefrom, and are not culpable. . . . 



The prebend, whose house is utterly decayed, hath the house auntiently the school- 

 master's. The schoolemaster the house of a petty canon, without any care for restitution 

 thereof to that poore place. 



The whole churchyard is made a receptacle for all ydle persons to spend their time in 

 stopball. . . . The schoolhouse standing on this site is made at all times as a common 

 tennis court, and ys in a manner fitted for that use. 



When deans and chapters were abolished in 1649 Parliament took care 

 that the schools and other charities dependent on them should not suffer. 

 The Trustees for Plundered Ministers were charged with seeing to the pay- 

 ment of the masters, with power to augment their salaries. Their pro- 

 ceedings have been very ill preserved. But we find an order on 28 November, 

 1651": 



Whereas the yearely pension of 13 6s. 8</. heretofore payable by the Dean and 

 Chapter of Bristoll to the schoolmaster of the Free Schoole of Bristoll and 6 13*. 4^. 

 to the usher of the said schoole is now charged upon and payable by the said trustees, 

 which said service is performed by [ ] Adams, schoolmaster of the said schoole, 



It is ordered that the said 13 6s. 8d. and 6 131. 4^. to bee from tyme to tyme paid unto 

 the said Mr. Adams to bee accompted from the i6th day of October, 1650. 



Mr. Richard Phelps, the receiver, was accordingly told to pay the 

 money ' for and during such tyme as he shall contynue to performe the said 

 service.' A rather curious entry about it occurs on 20 November, 1654: 

 ' Mr. Richard Phelps, upon his account hath delivered up the respective 



1 Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. iv, 142. 



' Marginal note in the original : ' It were well that the boyes came to church.' 



1 Lamb. MSS. (Lamb. Lib.), Aug. 969, fol. 91. 



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