SCHOOLS 



appointed master by the bailiff, treasurers, churchwardens, and other the 

 masters of the town, and received >T6 or 7 a year from them. On 

 22 January, 1559-60, after application to the Court of Exchequer by 

 William Arderne or Alderney, who said that though he and his predecessors 

 had always done their work well and faithfully, the stipend ordered by 

 the Chantry Commissioners had been withheld, letters patent were issued 

 for the restoration of the payment. It was accordingly made at the old 

 rate of 7 a year to William Arderne till Michaelmas I582. 1 Yet, though 

 the Ministers' Accounts record this payment yearly to William Arderne, 

 when on 1 2 June, 1 570, * the Court of Exchequer issued a commission to 

 Richard bishop of Gloucester, as to whether certain schoolmasters to 

 whom stipends were paid out of the exchequer were suitable persons, and 

 the schools in proper places, on 17 October certain parishioners came before 

 the vicar-general in Gloucester Cathedral, and their testimony was as 

 follows : 



The presentment and declaration of John Apennyngton, John Keyle, Henry Hopkins 

 and William Aprice, parishiners of Cyceter, to the contents of the Queen's Highnees 

 Commission, First we find and testify that we receive the sum of seven pounds yearly 

 (deducting the portage money) to the use of our grammar school of Cyetr. Item we find 

 and testify that our school of Cycetre aforesaid is well tidily and decently kept, continued 

 and maintained. Item we find and testify that our schoolmaster named Anthony Ellys, B.A. 

 is a sufficient meet well approved and able man to teach grammar and tcacheth his scholars 

 diligently. Item we say and believe that the said grammar-school cannot be placed in any 

 other place more conveniently than where it is placed for the increase of learning. 



On 8 October, 1571, the return of the bishop* to a further commission 

 dated 4 July, 1571, as to due payment of the stipend and wages of 7 a year 

 to William Arderne, schoolmaster, of the grammar school in the town of 

 Cirencester, so granted to him by decree of the Court of Exchequer dated 

 2 January in the second year of Queen Elizabeth, states on the evidence of 

 John Keyle, Philip Maryner, William Aprice, and Thomas Feryby : 



Cirencester. The scholemaister receives the sum of 20 marks yearly, and has been well 

 paid. The 7 which we have allowed yearly by the Queen's Majesty is truly paid. The 

 scholemaister is learned. The schole is in a convenient place and well kept. 



Whether we are to infer from these returns that William Arderne was 

 the schoolmaster and that he received the crown stipend but paid it in full to 

 Anthony Ellys, B.A., who was usher, or whether Arderne's name was 

 merely continued to save trouble, is not clear. 



In 1582-3 the Ministers' Accounts* show an increase of the crown 

 payment from 7 to 20. 



20 aid to William Arderne, 7 as before and 13 increase for one undermaster 

 (hipodidasculus) called an usher, to assist the schoolmaster for the better education of the 

 scholars, by a warrant signed by William, Lord Burghley, Lord Treasurer, and Walter 

 Mildmay, Chancellor of the Court of Exchequer, dated 21 November, 1583. 



This payment is continued next year to William Arderne, but in 1584-5 is 

 made to Thomas Helme. 



1 Land Rev. Rec. Accti. bdles. 28, 29, 30. ' Exch. Spec. Com. 12 Eliz. No. 867. 



1 Ibid. 1 3 Eliz. No. 868. The Commission ii in Latin, the return in English. 

 4 Land Rev. Rec. Accts. bdle. 30. 



39 I 



