of Lancaster, and paid by him directly to the master, without going through the hands of the corporation, although in the chamberlain's accounts it is entered both among the receipts and payments.

Sir Ralph Rowlatt's Gift.-Sir Ralph Rowlatt, knight, in a letter dated 24th November, (no year mentioned, but probably in 1565,) directed to the mayor and brethren of the town of Leicester, stating that he understood that they, much tendering the good education of the youth of their town in virtue and learning, purposed to erect a free grammar school in the same, to the great benefit both of the town and county, and that the queen had departed with 10%. towards the intended foundation, and that he therefore, moved by her example, as also natural affection towards the place wherein his father and other his chief friends had their beginning, was contented to depart with some portion of his lawful inheritance for the better endowment of the said school, and he therefore declared his intention to settle five marks out of the rectory or parsonage of Whetstone, in the county of Leicester.

By deed-poll, bearing date the 14th February, 7th Queen Elizabeth, the said Sir Ralph Rowlett, reciting that the mayor and burgesses of Leicester had undertaken to build and found a grammar school at their own cost and charges, for the instruction of youth there in literature and morals; for the advancement of such a pious and honourable work, and the more particularly because his ancestors were sprung from that place, thought proper to assign a portion of the patrimony derived from them in the form following,-gave and granted to the mayor and burgesses of Leicester an annuity or rent-charge of five marks, issuing out of his manor of Theddingworth and all his lands and hereditaments there, payable at Michaelmas and Lady-day by equal portions, to be bestowed by them for the support and continuance of the said school, with a power of entry and distress if the said rent-charge should be in arrear for one month, and if in arrear for three months to distrain for the further sum of 10s., nomine pana, with a proviso that if the said annuity should ever be converted to any other use or uses than for a school within the said city of Leicester, or for the support of a master or undermaster teaching literature there, the said grant should be void and of none effect; and with a further proviso, that in case the said Sir Ralph and his heirs should grant lands or tenements or other hereditaments of the same annual value, for the same use, lying within ten miles of Leicester, the said grant should be void.

This sum of 31. 6s. 8d. is paid annually at Michaelma by Mr. Beazeley, the steward of Earl Spencer, owner of the manor of Theddingworth, and forms part of the salary of the schoolmaster.

Queen Elizabeth, by indenture, under the seal of the duchy of Lancaster, dated 17th April 1573, in consideration of 35l. to be paid to the hands of the general receiver of the duchy of Lancaster, in manner following, viz.,-at the sealing thereof 10., and on the 1st February following the date thereof 127. 10s., and on the 1st February then next following 127. 10s., in full satisfaction of the said sum of 351., and for other good causes, sold and granted to the mayor and co-burgesses of Leicester all the lead, stone, and timber, which then, or at any time since the 20th June last, was remaining in and on the decayed church of St. Peter's in Leicester, being parcel of the possessions of the duchy of Lancaster, which lead by commission was certified to be four fowders and 500 pounds; and the mayor &c. covenanted with the said queen not only to erect, build, and set up within the space of one year in some convenient and meet place within the said town, one substantial school-house, meet and fit for children to be taught in, made with windows and doors necessary, and covered with slate, and the same school-house so built, from time to time to repair, maintain, and uphold in all things necessary for the same, for ever; but also to employ the said lead, stone, and timber, in and about the edifying of the said school-house, and also to employ the overplus of the said lead, stone, and timber, if any be remaining after the said school-house be builded, on the bringing of a conduit of fresh water into the said town of Leicester.

The following entry appears in the Hall-book of that date, "At a common-hall, held 18th May 1573, John Eyrick, mayor, it was agreed that Mr. Morton, alias William Moreton, one of the co-burgesses of Leicester should have for ever the tenement called the Stock House, lying and being within the tenement of the said William, wherein he then dwelt, and then in the occupation of the said William; he the said William, in consideration thereof, hath at the same common hall given unto the said town the sum of 40s., and also one piece of ground, parcel of his orchard or garden, whereupon parcel of the school was then erected and builded; the agreement hereof at large is recorded in the other great book bounded like this book."

"Also at the same Common Hall it is agreed that Robert Johnson of Leicester, mason, in consideration of the surrendering up to the town of his old lease of a piece of ground that he holdeth, whereupon parcel of the school is erected and builded (and all the residue of the same ground is also laid to the said school for a walking place or backside to the same) should have a new lease for 21 years, from Michaelmas next after this Common Hall, of a close of the said town's called the Tayllor's Close, now in the occupation of Mr. Darker, paying therefore yearly to the said town the sum of 10s.-the town paying all charges for indentures and seal. In an ancient parchment book, called the Lock Book, lettered Records I., under the date of 1574, is the following entry:

"In this year, namely the 16th of Queen Elizabeth, was the school-house builded and finished."

"Item,-the same year was a new house erected and builded at the north end of the same schoolhouse, which house is appointed for the head schoolmaster to dwell in, and thereunto is laid all the backside or yard late being in the occupation of one Johnson, mason, paying therefore yearly to the chamber of the town 20s."

At a Common Hall, 7th May, 16th Elizabeth,—

66

It was agreed by the mayor and his brethren and the 48, that towards the building and

Leicester.

Grammar School. continued.

Leicester.

Grammar School, continued.

erecting of a new house at the end of the school-house, the said mayor and co-burgesses will give 2s. a-piece, and the 48, 12d. a-piece."

This house under the same continued line of roof as the school, is used for a kitchen and other offices to the house in which the master now resides, and which was purchased by the corporation about the year 1730 of Sir William Wilson, and soon after appropriated to the residence of the master, on payment of 2s. 6d. per annum when demanded.

Earl of Huntingdon's Gift.-By indenture, dated 18th May, 16th Elizabeth (1574), between Henry, Earl of Huntingdon, K. G., of the first part, the mayor and burgesses of Leicester of the second part, and the chaplains and poor of William Wigston's Hospital in Leicester of the third part, reciting that Queen Elizabeth had granted to the said mayor and burgesses 101. yearly, for the use and maintenance of a school within the said town; and Sir Ralph Rowlatt, for the like use, 31. 6s. 8d. per annum; and that the said earl had appointed 101. yearly to be paid by the master of the said hospital for the time being, to the use and maintenance of the said school, out of a certain annual rent granted by the said earl to the said chaplains and poor of the said hospital and their successors, by his deed, dated 17th of said month of May; and that the said chaplains and poor had granted and allotted out of lands and tenements in their possession other 10., yearly, by them and their successors to be paid to the use and maintenance of the said school,—It was agreed between the said parties, for themselves, their heirs and successors, in manner following, viz.-the said mayor and burgesses covenanted with the said earl and his heirs, and with the said chaplains and poor and their successors, that they and their successors would yearly pay the said sum of 107., granted by the said queen to the higher usher of the said school for the time being, for his stipend or salary, and the said sum of 31. 6s. 8d., given by the said Sir Ralph Rowlatt to the usher of the petits of the same school for his yearly stipend, and also take order that the schoolmaster should teach his forms of scholars in the uppermost part of the school-house then built, and that the usher should occupy the lower part of that school-house, for their teaching, and the said chaplains and poor of Wigston's Hospital covenanted with the said earl and his heirs, and with the said mayor and burgesses, that they or the master of the said hospital would yearly pay to the schoolmaster of the said school for his salary, as well the said sum of 107., charged upon their own lands in their former possession, as also the said yearly 10., appointed out of the said rent by the said earl granted; and the said earl, for himself and his heirs, and the said mayor and burgesses, and the said chaplains and poor, for themselves and their successors, covenanted and agreed with each other that the said school, and the master, ushers, and scholars thereof, and all persons and things appertaining or belonging to the said school, should be governed, ruled, and ordered, by and under such ordinances, rules, and constitutions, as were set down and written in a book therefore made and sealed, as well with the seal of the said earl, as also with the common seal of the said mayor and burgesses, and the common seal of the said chaplains and poor.

This annuity of 107. is charged upon certain lands called Freak's Closes, belonging to the corporation, and is paid by the town clerk to the master, chaplains, and poor of Wigston's Hospital, as a part of their revenue, and is repaid by them to the master of the school, together with the other sum of 107. charged upon their own lands as Sir William Wigston's Gift, and 20s., the gift of another of the family of Wigston.

The Earl of Huntingdon drew up some statutes and orders for the government of the school, containing the most minute directions for the business of each of the seven forms into which the school was to be divided. These rules are very curious, as detailing at length the course of instruction then thought adviseable to adopt, and many books are mentioned as class-books which it would now be difficult to obtain.

By one of the rules it was ordered that the visitors of the school should be the mayor for the time being, the master and the brother of the hospital of William Wigston, and, if they thought good, to associate some learned man dwelling within the shire of Leicester, and power was given them "to reprove or remove any master or usher according as the offence deserved." Clarke's Gift.-Thomas Clarke, by Will, dated 15th June 1603, devised to the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, to the only use of the under usher of the free school in Leicester, a yearly annuity of 20s., payable out of the orchard or piece of ground which he had lately purchased in fee-farm of the said mayor and burgesses in the parish of St. Nicholas, near the water called the Soar, payable at Michaelmas and Lady-day, by even portions, or within 14 days after, with power of entry in case the same should be unpaid for 20 days, and the same orchard, upon such default of payment, he gave and bequeathed to the said mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses, to the use aforesaid.

This rentcharge of 20s. is now paid (deducting 4s. for land-tax) by Mr. Hudson, who occupies the land charged (formerly the Water Laggs) as a coal-wharf, in Bath-lane, Leicester. The property is in the hands of mortgagees. It has generally been received by the steward, and passed in his general account, but three or four years were in arrear at the time of our inquiry. William Norrice's Gift-By deed-poll dated 29th September, 9th James I., (1611,) William Norrice, of the love which he bore to the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses of Leicester (having been one of their number for threescore years), and that children might be trained up in learning in the free grammar-school there, granted a yearly rent of 31. 6s. 8d., payable out of a close or pasture ground situate in the Abbey Gate, near the borough of Leicester, the land of the heirs of John Tatam, deceased, on one part (the other boundaries torn out), and then in his own occupation, payable to the said mayor, &c., at Michaelmas and Lady-day, to hold the said rent to the said mayor, &c., for the furtherance and increase of the yearly stipend of the head usher of the grammar school at Leicester, which said head ushership's place his well-beloved in Christ, Robert Aston, gent., did then supply, and that very learnedly

in every respect, with a power, if the same should be unpaid for 14 days, for the said mayor, &c., to enter into the said close or pasture ground commonly called the Abbey Gate Close, and distrain for the arrears. And it was provided that the rentcharge was given upon condition that 10 or 12 of the scholars of the said free grammar school, being scholars in and under the teaching of the said head usher, if so many of his scholars then should be for that purpose fit and ready, otherwise in their or any of their default other of the scholars of the said school, together with the said head usher himself, or his sufficient deputy in case of sickness, should yearly, upon the Tuesday next after Trinity Sunday, come to the dwelling-house of the said William Norrice in the Saturday Market stead, and there, in decent manner, standing in the street near the said dwelling-house, sing to the glory of God the 113th Psalm in the note of the singing Psalms, which having done, they should depart in peace.

The above instrument is much decayed, and many parts are destroyed.

The Abbey Gate Close above mentioned is now the property of William Simpson, esq., Friar-lane, Leicester, who pays the sum of 31. 6s. 8d. annually at Michaelmas, to the steward of the corporation.

Baker's Charity.-An entry in the old corporation book states that Mrs. Dorothy Baker gave a sum of money to the corporation, in trust, that they should give yearly to the ushers of the grammar school 10s. a-piece, to the end that they and either of them in their several places should teach their scholars to write.

A note adds, This is paid at Michaelmas.

In the chamberlain's accounts 1617-18, is entered, " Paid to the head usher and under usher of the school, the free and voluntary gift of Mrs. Dorothy Baker, widow, 17.”

This sum of 20s. per annum is now paid by the corporation as a charge upon their general funds, and forms part of the sum of 167. 5s. 4d. paid to the master.

Ellys's Gift.-James Ellys the elder, by Will, dated the 4th of September 1615, proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Leicester 11th November 1617, gave and bequeathed to the second schoolmaster of the free school for the time being, and to his successors for ever, one annuity or yearly rent of 26s. 8d. a-year of lawful money of England, to be paid quarterly for ever of his house in the parish of All Saints in Leicester, in the occupation of William Noone, costermonger; and for default of payment of the said annuity, he willed that the said second schoolmaster, and his successors, should enter upon and have and hold the said house to him and his successors for ever; and his will was that his said tenant, William Noone, should not be put forth of the said house, paying the rent that he then paid, and keeping the same in good and sufficient repair.

It appears that Trinity Hospital is in possession of a house in the parish of All Saints, formerly occupied by Noone, but we cannot find that any payment has been made in respect of this annuity for many years.

Ellys's Gift.-James Ellys, by Will, dated 16th January 1628, and proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 1630, gave to the mayor and burgesses 2007., to the intent that the mayor and aldermen of the borough should pay unto the minister of the parish church of St. Martin's in the said borough 20s., and to the schoolmaster and two ushers of the free school 37., to be equally divided between them on the 21st of December yearly, and every year, until the end and term of 50 years should be fully ended and expired; and also upon the said 21st December yearly to the minister and churchwardens of the parish of St. Martin's 17. 6s. 8d., to the minister and churchwardens of St. Mary's 16s. 8d., to the minister and churchwardens of St. Margaret's 16s. 8d., to the minister and churchwardens of All Saints' 13s. 4d., and to the minister and churchwardens of the parish of St. Nicholas 6s. Sd., to be distributed in their several parishes amongst the most needful housekeepers upon the 21st of December yearly, and also pay the like several sums, amounting in the whole to 47., to the said ministers and churchwardens of the said several parish churches upon the 21st of December, for the said term of 50 years. Testator also devised a house in Parchment-lane, and other property, to Trinity Hospital, on failure of issue of certain persons to whom he previously devised the same, as stated in our account of that charity.

These several payments appear to have been made regularly by the corporation to 21st December 1681, when the term of 50 years expired.

Gilbert's Charity.-The old charity-book states that Thomas Gilbert gave yearly for ever the sum of 51. to be yearly disposed by the chamberlains for the time being as follows, viz.—

d.

Leicester.

Grammar School, continued.

£. s.
3 0 0

The sum of 57. per annum has been hitherto paid out of the general funds of the corporation, on which it has been considered a charge, and it forms part of the 167. 5s. 4d. paid to the schoolmaster.

It appears, however, from several entries in the rentals and accounts of the corporation, that a sum of 1007. was given by Mr. Gilbert for the benefit of the master and usher of school, and laid out by the corporation in 1663, together with 107. from the corporation funds, in the purchase of Burgess Meadow from Mr. Stanley. This close appears to have been let for 5l. 10s. for many years, of which 57. was paid to the schoolmasters.

Amongst the bailiff's payments for 1687-8, is the following:

"Mr. Thomas Gilbert's gift, payable out of the Burgess Meadow, viz.-to the head schoolmaster 31., to the head usher 30s., and to the under usher 10s., in toto 57."

Leicester.

We were not able to obtain the conveyance of this property, and there is some difficulty in ascertaining exactly the spot called Burgess Meadow. If it should be ascertained, we appreGrammar School, hend that ten-eleventh parts of the rent belong to Gilbert's Charity, being the proportion that 1001. bears to the sum of 10l. advanced by the corporation.

continued,

In addition to the income derived from the donations above stated, the corporation of Leicester has, at different periods, ordered voluntary payments from their own funds to be made to the master and ushers. Previous to 1797 these payments amounted to 371. per annum, 167. of which was paid to the master, 87. to the head usher, and 137. to the under usher; and in that year a further addition of 30l. was made, and the whole ordered to be paid to Mr. Heyrick, who was the sole master appointed by the mayor and aldermen, and who was to find and provide for at his own costs such assistant masters as he might require. To this allowance was soon after added 8l. 18s. 6d. per annum, which appears to have been the rent of a house in Sanvey Gate, belonging to the corporation, formerly occupied by the usher, and also of a garden enjoyed by him, and which, there being then no usher appointed, had been let by the corporation, and the rent given to the schoolmaster. All these sums, amounting in the whole to 751. 18s. 6d., have for many years been paid to the schoolmaster out of the private funds of the corporation.

The corporation also pay annually to the master the further sum of 167. 5s. 4d., being the amount of the donations vested in and received by them for the use of the school. The particulars of the first five have been given in the present Report, the two last will be reported hereafter under their several names, viz.,—

In addition to the donations already noticed, there are two recorded on a stone tablet in the front of the school to have been given by Robert and Tobias Heyrick, the former 13s. 4d., and the latter 6s. 8d., of which we can obtain no satisfactory information. They have not been paid for many years.

The Rev. Richard Davies, B. D., having been under master and second master from 1802, was appointed head master in 1816, with power to choose his own under masters, who were to be paid by him. The right of appointment is in the mayor and such of the aldermen as have served that office. The assent of the master of Wigston's Hospital has sometimes been obtained, but it does not appear to be required by any document we have seen.

Mr. Davies resides in the house adjoining the school belonging to the corporation, which is able to accommodate 20 boarders. There is a garden at the back of the house, and a large play-ground at the back of the school.

The sons of all burgesses are admitted free for classical instruction, paying a guinea entrance, but a charge of 7s. 6d. a quarter is made to all boys for writing and arithmetic, and also 10s. 6d. a quarter in lieu of " potation money." These payments were fixed by the corporation. For town boys, not sons of burgesses, a charge of 17. 1s. a quarter is made.

For many years after Mr. Davies's appointment the school was well attended, there being at one time 30 boarders and 50 day boys, and the town of Leicester is much indebted to his exertions for the establishment of several parochial schools. It is however to be regretted, that for the last few years the number of scholars in the grammar school has been gradually decreasing, so that in the first half year of 1836 there were only three or four day boys, and one boarder, sons of freemen, and no other scholars.

This school has fluctuated like most similar institutions. In 1791, when Thoresby published his History of Leicester, the writer laments that the master and ushers were almost without scholars, and adds, "I remember it a noble seat of learning, an honour to the town, and most eminent for its scholars." It has revived since that period, and the present cause of its falling off may unfortunately be traced to the unfitness of the master, who for some time has been afflicted with a partial loss of memory, which, in the opinion of the inhabitants of the town, renders him incapable of discharging the duties of a teacher. It is to be regretted in such a case, that there is no means of supplying a retiring allowance from the income of the school,

Leicester.

without so far diminishing the funds as not to leave sufficient to induce a new master to undertake the office. We find that in 1678 the corporation paid a sum of money to induce the then head master to resign, and a portion of the corporation funds at the present time might be Grammar School, well bestowed for the benefit of the town, in making such a reasonable provision for Mr. Davies as might induce him to resign the school, and leave it open to the appointment of an efficient

master.

EXHIBITIONS.

Earl of Huntingdon's Gift.-The Earl of Huntingdon, by deed enrolled, dated 11th October 1576, made provision for an exhibition of 107. a year, to be divided into two exhibitions of 21. each, to two boys whilst at school, and two exhibitions of 37. each to scholars at the University. The deed will be found in our Report of Wigston's Hospital.

We find in the accounts of Wigston's Hospital, that for three years before Michaelmas 1827, the sum of 31. per annum was paid to an exhibitioner from this school, and in 1828 and 1829 the same payment was made to Mr. Sutton, who also received the exhibition of the gift of Mr. Haynes.

Haynes's. For particulars of Haynes's Exhibitions, see Report of Charity, p. 33.
THE TOWN LIBRARY.

The old town library was built at the only cost and charges of the corporation of Leicester, at the motion and by the approbation of John Williams, Lord Bishop of Lincoln, and by the prosecution of Mr. John Angell, public lecturer for the borough of Leicester, and head master of the grammar school, and confrater of Wigston's Hospital.

The building was begun in the time of the mayoralty of Mr. John Norrice, in 1632, and finished in the following year.

A full account of this library, and the names of the several contributors, is given in Nichols's History.

Henry Earl of Huntingdon had given many books before this time, which were placed in the parish church of St. Martin, Leicester, for the help and benefit of ministers and scholars. And upon the building and foundation of this library, and by the consent and approbation of the said Lord Bishop of Lincoln, all those books which were of the donation of the said earl, and many others given by former benefactors, were removed and placed in this library for the better furnishing thereof.

There was a general and voluntary collection in the borough of Leicester for the raising of a sum of money to be bestowed in books for this library.

A general collection was likewise made in every deanery in the county, amongst the ministers and clergy, to raise money for the same purpose, and many contributions are recorded.

Of all the books then given, Mr. John Angell made a classed catalogue, prior to the year 1666. One of the principal contributors was Mr. Thomas Hayne, whose Will, bearing date in 1640, is given in a subsequent part of this Report. From his bequest the library acquired upwards of 600 volumes. Considerable additions have been made by other benefactors whose names are recorded, and latterly the books printed by order of the Commissioners of Public Records, with a few others, have been added to the library.

About the year 1796, and again in 1802, Mr. Richard Weston published proposals for a catalogue, and hints for improving this library, but it does not appear that his project met with much success.

Formerly library keepers appear to have been regularly appointed. The library is an upper room adjoining the old town hall. The books are in very good condition, having been recently repaired, and many of them are rare and of considerable value; but they are, generally speaking, of little use to modern students. The library is accessible daily at certain hours.

ALDERMAN NEWTON'S CHARITIES.

continued.

Exhibitions. Earl of Huntingdon's Gift.

Haynes's.

Town Library.

By indenture of bargain and sale dated 15th March 1760, and enrolled in Chancery 2d June Alderman Newton's following, between Gabriel Newton, alderman of Leicester, of the one part, and Nicholas Charities. Throseby, mayor, and the bailiffs and burgesses of Leicester, of the other part, the said Gabriel Newton stating that it had pleased God to endow him with a plentiful fortune, and to take away his only son, and that he was desirous to settle great part of his substance to such charitable uses as might be most conducive to promote the general good of mankind, and from long reflection and observation having reason to conclude that the religious education of children was of all others the most extensive branch of charity, that he was desirous of promoting the due reading of the Creed of St. Athanasius as thereinafter mentioned, which he looked upon as the completest body of divinity ever composed since the time of the Apostles, and a full answer to all heretical objections to the doctrine and tenets of the Church of England, concurring with Dr. Waterland in his history of that creed, who deemed the minister and parishioners of any place who did not receive and read the same, as directed by the rubrick of the Church of England, to be lukewarm Christians; to the intent to carry his said design into execution granted unto the said Nicholas Throseby, mayor, and the said bailiffs and burgesses, their successors and assigns, several closes or inclosed grounds within the lordship or liberties of Barwell, known by the names of the Smith Hill Close, the Upper Close, the Great Close, the Middle Close, the Meadow, Bell's Pingle, the Little Pingle, the Passage, the Fold Yard, and Rick Yard, otherwise Fox Hill Closes, Biddle's Closes, or Heatley's Closes, containing together 60 acres, or thereabouts, and also the barns, stables, and buildings, belonging to the said premises, which said last-mentioned premises were conveyed by indentures of lease and release, dated 25th and 26th March 1751, by John Heatley and Sarah his wife, to the said Gabriel Newton and his heirs; and also a capital messuage in Shilton, otherwise Earl Shilton, in the county of Leicester, wherein Sampson Goodhall formerly dwelt; also another messuage or tenement in Earl Shilton, with the homestead and backside thereunto belonging; also a close