SCHOOLS 



of the value to be 47 a year, out of which 26 13*. 4^. was to be given to 

 the master, and 4 each to 5 poor scholars. 



The premises were surrendered and a new patent granted on 24 May, 

 1624. By this the school was reincorporated by the name of ' Master and 

 Schollers of the Free Grammer Schoole of the Lord Berkeley in Wotton 

 Underege in the countie of Gloucester.' The scholars were now to be 5 in 

 number or more, according to the income of the property ; and ' our well- 

 beloved Edward Cooper, Bachiler in Divinitye,' was named ' to be the first 

 and present master.' The nomination of future masters was vested in George 

 Lord Berkeley and his heirs, 'and for default of such issue in the lord of the 

 manour of Wotton Underege for the tyme being,' and on his default for 60 

 days in the mayor of Wotton. Power to make new ordinances was given to 

 the patron with the consent of the bishop of Gloucester or his chancellor. 



The ' Ordynaunces for the said Schoole ' annexed to the patent were not 

 very interesting. The qualification of the master was merely that he was to 

 be a ' religious, discreet, and learned man,' who * shall inhabite and dwell in 

 the said schoolehouse and teache Grammer Schollers there,' and upon him was 

 cast the burden of keeping the school and house in repair. Instead of the 

 foundation being, as designed by Lady Berkeley, open to the world on equal 

 terms, it was provided that 



the master shall not demaund receave or take any somme of money or reward of the said 

 schollers [i.e. the foundation scholars] or any of them for teaching them, nor of any other 

 scholler borne or inhabiting within the said burrowe or village of Wotton Underege or North 

 Nibley above the summe o(6d. the quarter for teaching them. 



To what was to be done and taught in the school only two items refer. 

 The first required that 



cache morning and evening at 6 of the clock contynuallye in the school house, prayer shall be 

 said and a psalme sung by the Master and schollers in such sorte as is used in the Free Schoole 

 of St. Paule in our citye of London and as is expressed in a little book thereof late printed. 



The other (No. 9) 



that the scollers shall everye daye in the weeke that is not Sundayes or hollidayes be 

 dilligently ymployed by theire master in the said schoole from 6 of the clock in the morning 

 until II, and from I of the clock in the afternoon untill 6 at nighte. Neyther shall it be 

 lawful for the said Schoolmaster to graunt any playdayes .... save only Thursdayes in 

 the afternoone, nor that neither if there be a hollidaye in the same weeke. Item our will 

 and pleasure is that the said schollers be taught to write a fayre hand, to cypher and cast an 

 accompte, and to use noe other language in the said schoole but Lattin, or in tyme of disporting 

 themselves together, which place we will have alwayes to be neere the schoolemastcr's house. 



The visitor was to 



visite the Schoole house for reparacions, the master for his good behaviour and diligence, and 

 the said schollers for theire fashionable carriage and proceeding in learninge, and to sec these 

 our constitutions put in execution. 



On 7 July, 1624, Edward Cooper, still the nominal master, executed a 

 series of leases in accordance with the decree and the letters patent. The 

 main one to Smith himself is not among the eight leases now in possession of 

 the governors. 



Cooper died on 11 June, 1632, and John Smith, who had obtained a 

 transfer of the patronage from Lord Berkeley, appointed John Turner, M.A., 

 ' of Wiltshire, plebeian,' who had matriculated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, 



405 



