SCHOOLS 



Cuckfield and Balcombe and three or four honest and substantial inhabitants selected by them. 

 The deed was in effect only a mortgage, and included an unfortunate provision that if Thomas 

 Mitchell, from whom the manor of Redstone had been bought, should within eight years buy other 

 lands worth ^5 a year and convey them to the trustees, he should have the manor of 

 Redstone back. 



It was expressly provided that the schoolmaster 



shall teach the scholars in the said school grammar after the form order and usage used and taught 

 in the Grammar School at Eton near Windsor from form to form according to the acts and rules there 

 made kept and used, and to keep the houres of learning in the said school as near as he can 

 that is to say 



from Lady Day to Michaelmas from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Michaelmas to Lady Day from 

 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 



He was to say mass three times a week at the least, one mass of the Holy Ghost, two of the 

 Trinity, and three of the Name of Jesus, and 'at each mass before the lavatory to say De profundis 

 and to pray for the souls of Mr. William Spicer and of the founders their father and mother souls 

 . . . and the souls of all the helpers and benefactors of the said school,' and to find bread, wine and 

 wax at his own cost. At evening before departing the scholars were to say De Profundis for the 

 same souls. It was expressly enjoined that the master was not to be compelled ' to go in visitation 

 neither to do any other cure or business belonging to the vicar or curate of Cuckfield for the dangers 

 and let that may thereof happen to ensue to him and to the said scholars.' If plague came he 

 might remove to another place within ten miles of Cuckfield. On Monday in Easter week 

 ids. was to be paid to him to keep a solemn obit for the founder in the parish church, 

 ' Dirige by note,' i.e. a dirge with singing, over night and on the morrow a requiem mass 'by note' ; 

 3*. to be given to the priests, clerks and sexton, 4^. to be offered at the mass, 3;. 4*/. in alms to the 

 poor, and \id. among the scholars, with 2s. 4^. to himself for singing the Requiem Mass and reading 

 tne Indenture and Ordinances. 



If the feoffees or the vicars failed on a vacancy to appoint a master within half a year, 

 St. Catharine's College was to take the rents and profits of the endowment, and therewith receive 

 into their house a young man disposed virtuously to learn, to be a fellow and to pray for Spicer's 

 and his friends' souls. 



Finally, 2Os. undisposed of was to be paid to a scholar of the school nominated by the parson 

 of Balcombe, who in the absence of the master should teach the scholars, ' and see good order in the 

 school under the master,' a sort of cross between an usher, a pupil teacher, and a prefect. 



Annexed to the deed were two documents both of great interest. 



Here followeth the Bead roll that the Schoolmaster must use at his masses and especially at the 

 masses assigned in the Indentures ; item, his scholars by the discretion of the master to use the same. 



He shall pray for the good estate of Mr. William Spicer, parson of Balcomb, and for the souls of 

 John Spicer, Joan his wife, and for all the souls that the foresaid William is bound to pray for, and for 

 the soul of Mr. Edmund Flower and for all the souls the which the said Edmund is bound to pray for 

 and for all Christian souls and for the good estate of all the helpers and maintainers of the said 

 Grammar School. 



Item, the Schoolmaster shall take good heed that his scholars keep good order in the church 

 and serve God. 



Then follows, in seven items, 'the Oath that shall be given to the Schoolmaster at his admission.' 

 He was to keep the indenture and read it at the stated times, and so forth. The last is ' Item, 

 the said schoolmaster shall teach the scholars in the said school after the form and usuage taught in the 

 Grammar School of Eton, the which form for this time is as it followeth : ' then the time-table of every 

 form is set out in detail. So that we here get a curriculum of Eton in the year 1528, some two 

 years earlier than that sent by Richard Cox, then head master of Eton, to Saffron Walden Grammar 

 School, 9 which was to be conducted 'after the use of Winchester and Eton.' It shows how 

 artificial and modern is the distinction between grammar and public schools, that this small foundation 

 of a merchant tailor and a rector was to be conducted on the same lines and with the same 

 curriculum as the great foundation of kings and bishops. Nor was it only at starting that the Eton 

 model was to be followed. ' These acts and orders ' were only to 



continue until such time as the Controlers be certified of others being used and taught in Eton more 

 profitable to scholars ; then it is lawful to the Controlers to add to the forms that be more profitable 

 and to leave what are not profitable at their discretion. 



There was a preparatory class below the regular forms. First, it is ordained that ' the children 

 first beginning the Grammar ' were ' to read the Accidence of Mr. Stanbridge, and diligently exercised 



' V.C.H. Essex, ii, 5x1. 

 2 4i/ 53 



