A HISTORY OF SUSSEX 



In December, 1285, John de Hampton, master of Lewes School, was ordained acolyte in 

 South Mailing Church.' Earlier in the same year Archbishop Peckham, writing to the abbot of 

 Cluny, 4 declared that the priory of Lewes was dearer to him than any other house in England^ quo 

 in ipsius vicinia coaluimus a puero et ab ejusdem professoribus solatia recepimus et honores. 

 would seem from this very probable that the archbishop might have been educated at Lewes 

 School, which, though not in, could no doubt be said to be near the priory. 



The next mention of a schoolmaster at Lewes transpires in the will ' of John Wodewey, clerk, 

 made 8 May. proved 16 June, 1405, who in the midst of a series of specific bequests, says, 'I owe 

 the schoolmaster (magutn scolarum) of Lewes 6d. for half a quarter.' Half a quarter of what ? 

 Tuition fees ? The testator was probably quite young, as he made bequests to his parents and 

 brothers and sisters. 



Again a century elapses, and then we find a lady endowing a free grammar school in bouthoyer 

 next Lewes' either because Lewes School had gone to decay, or perhaps only with a view to making 

 a free school where there was a fee school. Meanwhile, in the priory account roll for 1480 pay- 

 ments are entered for clothes for ten ' pueri de custodia,' the names of eight being given : John 

 Eston, John Trowbrigge, John Mallyng, John Glassenbury, Robert Caynysham, Hugh Massyngham, 

 John Kent, and Nicholas Wode. 6 These may have belonged to an almonry school, or they may 

 have been boys to whom the prior was guardian, either by feudal right or by appointment, but though 

 living in the priory they would probably have gone to the grammar school for their education. 



Agnes Morlay, widow, made her testament 7 of personalty on 20 November, 1511. She 

 directed her body to be buried in the parish church of St. John the Baptist ' next unto the buryall 

 of William Morlay, my last husband.' He was presumably the William Morley who in his will, 8 

 proved by Agnes his relict, 19 November, 1505, bequeathed to the high altar of St. John the 

 Baptist, Southover, 6d. Then she gave a series of specific legacies to Thomas Puggislee the elder, 

 her executor, and Andrew, Roger, Thomas the younger, and Clement Puggislee, his sons, who 

 were, we must conjecture, her brother and nephews. She continued : 



Item, if Andrew, Roger, Thomas or Clement bee a Relligious man, I will that his bequest 

 shalbee divided amonges the remenaunt. Item, if anny of theym bee prestes, I wille that he shall 

 not occupie my housyng if anny of the other bee alive. Item, I will that the forsaide Andrewe 

 Puggislee, Roger Puggislee, Thomas Puggislee the yonger, and Clement Puggislee, assone as they come 

 to laufull age and before that they receyve anny parcell of my forsaide legacye in maner and forme 

 aforesaide, shall release all their right, title, interest and demaunde whiche they and eche oone of 

 theym hathe or may have, of and in the mesuage and the Scolehouse and a gardeyn lying at the 

 Watergate, with the appurtenaunces, in the parrishe of Southovere aforesaide, to my feoffys of and in 

 the saide mesuage, Scolehouse and gardeyn, w' thappurtenaunces, which shalbee for that tyme beyng, 

 to the use and perfourmacion of the Free Scole perpetually to contynue and endure. 



If they did not their legacies were to be withheld and ' the same money and plate to bee putte 

 into my cheste whiche belongith and ys ordeyned for the saide Free Scole, and there to remayne to 

 the use and performation of the forsaide Free Scole.' 



After more bequests she gave some lands in Southover to Thomas Puggislee in tail general 



and for lak of an heir of his body lawfully begotten, than I will that all the saide landes and tene- 

 mentes shall remayne to the use and behofe of the Freescole at Watergate, and for the maynteynyng 

 of Sainct Erasmes' Chapell in the Churche of Southovere aforesaide, and for fyndyng of wyne and wex 

 for the same Chapell, and for the mayntenaunce of all the ornaments of the saide Chapell. Item, I will 

 the rule, ordre and governaunce of the saide landes and tenementes shalbee doone by theym that bee 

 appoyncted in my Will of the saide Freescole for that tyme being, aswell to bee in feoffement and the 

 rent gatherid and accompte given thereof likewise as the annuite ys provided for, for the saide Free 

 Scoole. 



She gave Roger Puggislee the 



Pepir Come, lying in the parrishe of Southovere aforesaid . . . upon this condicion folowing, that is for 

 to say, the saide Roger Puggeslee shall release all his right, title, interest and demaunde whiche he hathe 

 or herafter may have of and in the forsaide mesuage and gardeyn, w' thappurtenaunces, lying at 

 Watergate in Southovere aforesaide, to the feoffees whiche shalbee in the saide mesuage and gardeyne, 

 w' thappurtenaunces, for the tyme beyng, to thintent and performacion of the saide Free Scoole con- 

 tynually to bee contynued. And if he will not so doo, than I will that the profile of the saide 

 mesuage and gardyne called the Pepir Come shall stande and remayne to thuse of the forsaide Free- 

 scole for evermor. 



3 



P. C. C. 70, Marche. Mins.'Accts. bdle. 1023, No. 30. 



P.C.C. 20 Fetiplace. Printed by Mr. R. Garraway Rice in Suss. Arch. Coll. xlvi, 134. 



Reg. Epiit. Peckham (Rolls Ser.), iii, 1038. ' Ibid. 902. 



P. C. C. 70, Marche. 

 P.C.C. 20 Fetiplace. 

 6 P.C.C. 41 Holgrave. 



412 



