TRURO GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 419 



"In the reign of Elizabeth, under the influence of the 

 Renascence," says Green, in his " Short History of the English 

 People," " The growth of Grammar Schools was realizing the 

 dream of Sir Thomas More, and bringing the middle classes, 

 from the squire to the petty tradesman, into contact with the 

 masters of Greece and Rome." 



Of the other Grammar Schools of Cornwall the following 

 summary of Carlisle's account may be found interesting. 



At Bodmin the school, which was in the churchyard, was 

 founded by Queen Elizabeth. Its most distinguished pupil 

 appears to have been Humphrey Prideaux, D.D., Dean of 

 Norwich, who received part of his elementary education here ; 

 and part also, it is believed, at Liskeard. He was the author of 

 several polemical works, the principal of which are " The Old 

 and New Testament connected," and " Directions to Church- 

 wardens for the faithful discharge of their office," — the foundation 

 of the later well-known work by Charles Greville Prideaux. 



The Grammar School at St. Ives was founded by a charter of 

 King Charles I, in 1639 ; Jonathan Toup, born in that town, an 

 eminent classical critic, was one of the pupils. Launceston (like 

 Penryn, Saltash, and Bodmin), was another of Queen Elizabeth's 

 foundations. Of Liskeard, as of Truro, Carlisle writes " there 

 are no records now existing, nor oral tradition, to assign a name 

 to the founder, or a date to its erection. Liskeard had no endow- 

 ment, and the school-room was on the site of the Old Castle ; 

 many noblemen and gentlemen of the highest respectability in 

 the north-east part of the county of Cornwall, and the West of 

 Devon, are indebted for their instruction to this Seminary." 

 Penryn and Saltash each had a small endowment ; but neither 

 school, Carlisle says, had been kept up for several years past. 

 There were Free Schools at Probus and at Fowey. Helston too 

 (and perhaps Launceston) had a Grammar School. That at 

 Helston was rebuilt in 1610 ; but I have failed to trace the date 

 of its foundation. 



Last in alphabetical order, but first in importance, and 

 probably also first in interest, Carlisle mentions Truro "the 

 Eton of Cornwall," as it used to be called ; his account of which 

 extends to 8 pages. This, however, I do not propose to use any 

 further ; but shall, instead, cull from the only available source 



