A HISTORY OF BEDFORDSHIRE 



realized, and how long, if at all, it lasted is unknown. Nothing more is heard of it. The priory 

 was a very small one, consisting seemingly of a prior and three canons, with a total income, in 1291, 

 of j^25 131. "jd., and in 1535, of ^71 odd. 



There are the usual allegations of schools in connexion with the monastic houses. But they 

 do not seem to have much substance in support. 



The statement that Bishop Hugh de Avalon of Lincoln (11 86-1 200) sent a boy to Elstow Nun- 

 ' nery near to Bedford to learn his letters* has led to the idea that a school existed at this monastery.* 

 It is, however, well known that Elstow and other nunneries were allowed to board children,* but 

 such a practice would imply nothing more than the existence of a nursery or infants' school. A 

 nunnery could not of course keep a grammar school for boys, and the nuns themselves probably 

 did not know Latin." ' 



Among the secular clergy we find specific evidence of schools, besides that at Bedford, at 

 Tempsford and Houghton Regis. 



Houghton Regis was, as has been seen, the royal manor and parish out of which Dunstable 

 was carved. Its school, or at least the endowment of its school, was so far as we know of com- 

 paratively recent date. It is, like Bedford, one of the instances of the growth of the wealth and 

 importance of commercial men and the supersession of the successful clerics by the successful 

 merchants as the founders or endowers of schools. According to the certificates of the Chantry 

 Commissioners the school was part of a complete foundation of three or two chantry priests under 

 the will of William Dyve or Dive, mercer of London. The two accounts given by the two sets 

 of Chantry Commissioners under the Acts of Henry VIII and Edward VI respectively are a little 

 difficult to reconcile. The first says' 



The Paryshe op Houghton Regis 



The chauntrye of Houghton Regis : fownded by William Dyue of London, Mercer, wiche haithe 

 no perpetuytie, but att Wille, to the entente to fynde a Preiste to synge within the seid churche of 

 Houghton, And teche 6 poore childeren. 



Also to be given to another preiste to singe for the seid William Dyue, and other in the manour 

 of one Lues Dyue Esquier, within the chapell of Sawell. 



And also certeyne other monye to be bestowed to diuerse poore people at the obittes kepte for 

 the seid William Dyue, and Also certeine other monye to the helpe of diuerse poore people whan 

 the Kinges majestic shalle chaunce to have anye 1 5 graunted, Whiche are not able of theme selves 

 to paie Redilye, Whiche is nowe imploied and bestowed (as the feofers affirme by theire othes) ; 

 Accordinge to the laste Wille of the seid William. 



This Chauntrie haithe no foundacione, but there is one preiste singethe for the soule of the seid 

 William Dyue, in the seid churche of Houghton Regis, Accordinge to the Wille of the seid William. 

 Also An other Preiste haithe 40/. to singe Masse for the seid William in the chapell of Sawell within 

 the manour of the seid Lues Dyue, Whiche Hamelecte of Sawell is within the parishe aforeseid : 

 And the seid Preiste Hathe this Stipende to singe masse in Wynter only for the ease of the seid 

 Hamelecte, Whiche is A myle and more frome the seid parishe churche ; And ther be within 

 the seid parishe of Houghton 280 houselynge people. 



The seid Chauntrie is of the yearelye value of j^zo \6s. ^d. Wherof [reprises] £6 4/. \\tl. 



And so Remayneth, With £1 1 6s. id. for the seid preistes Wages, and money Distributed to the 

 poore folkes, j^i4 12/. 3 J;/. 



There is neither Goodes, Catalles, Ornamentes, Juelles, apperteninge to the seid chauntrie ; 

 for the chalice and other necessaries are fownde by the parishioners of the seid churche. 



The second ' certifycat " of ' Sir John Saynt John, knyght. Sir Thomas Rotheram, knyght, 



and William Smyth, gent., commyssyoners within the countie of Bedford,' gives the value of 



the lands at j^20 12s. 2^., with deductions of 45^. 5^^., which brought the net income to 

 /16 8j. b^d. 



Money payd to dyuers pore folkes of the Town of Hoghton aforesaid in ayde of the 1 5, by 

 yere, 20/. 



Money payd to John Covper for teaching of 6 pore Folkes children there by yere, 26/. %d. 



Memorandum that all the landes aforesayd were put in FefFement by Wylliam Dyue, Citezen and 

 Mercer of London, in the yere of our lord God, 15 1 5, to the intent that the said Feoffees shold per- 

 ceyve and take the profettes of the landes and tenementes aforesaid, and there with to Fynde 2 prestes : 



' Magna Vita S. Hugonls (Rolls Ser.), 146. » Cf. F.C H. Beds, i, 350. 



* Line. Epis. Reg. Gynwell, ii, 139^. ; ibid. Repingdon, 2291/. 



'In 1357 the nuns of Elstow were ordered to talk French among themselves instead presumably of 

 English. Ibid. Buckingham, ii, 343. 



° Leach, Engl. Schools at the Reformation, 1 7, from Chant. Cert. 4. 

 ' Ibid. 19, from Chant. Cert, i, fol. 33. 



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