I Shall, In The Next Place, Survey The Free Schools And Charity
Schools.
Anciently I have read that there were three principal churches in
London that had each of them a famous
School belonging to it; and
these three churches are supposed to be - (1) The Cathedral Church of
St. Paul, because, at a general council holden at Rome, anno 1176,
it was decreed, "That every cathedral church should have its
schoolmaster, to teach poor scholars and others as had been
accustomed, and that no man should take any reward for licence to
teach." (2) The Abbey Church of St Peter at Westminster; for of the
school here Ingulphus, Abbot of Croyland, in the reign of William
the Conqueror, writes as follows: "I, Ingulphus, a humble servant
of God, born of English parents, in the most beautiful city of
London, for attaining to learning was first put to Westminster, and
after to study at Oxford," &c. (3) The Abbey Church of St. Saviour,
at Bermondsey, in Southwark; for this is supposed to be the most
ancient and most considerable monastery about the city at that time,
next to that of St. Peter at Westminster, though there is no doubt
but the convents of St. John by Clerkenwell, St. Bartholomew in
Smithfield, St. Mary Overy in Southwark, that of the Holy Trinity by
Aldgate, and other monasteries about the city, had their respective
schools, though not in such reputation as the three first. Of these
none are now existing but St. Paul's and Westminster, though perhaps
on different and later foundations. Yet other schools have been
erected in this metropolis from time to time, amongst which I find
that called Merchant Taylors' to be the most considerable.
St. Paul's School is situated on the east side of St. Paul's
Churchyard, being a handsome fabric built with brick and stone,
founded by John Collet, D.D. and Dean of St. Paul's, anno 1512, who
appointed a high-master, sur-master, a chaplain or under-master, and
153 scholars, to be taught by them gratis, of any nation or country.
He also left some exhibitions to such scholars as are sent to the
universities and have continued at this school three years. The
masters are elected by the wardens and assistants of the Mercers'
Company, and the scholars are admitted by the master upon a warrant
directed to him by the surveyor. The elections for the university
are in March, before Lady Day, and they are allowed their
exhibitions for seven years. To this school belongs a library,
consisting chiefly of classic authors. The frontispiece is adorned
with busts, entablature, pediments, festoons, shields, vases, and
the Mercers' arms cut in stone, with this inscription over the door:
INGREDERE UT PROFICIAS. Upon every window of the school was
written, by the founder's direction: AUT DOCE, AUT DISCE, AUT
DISCEDE - i.e., Either teach, learn, or begone.
The founder, in the ordinances to be observed in this school, says
he founded it to the honour of the Child Jesus, and of His blessed
mother Mary; and directs that the master be of a healthful
constitution, honest, virtuous, and learned in Greek and Latin; that
he be a married or single man, or a priest that hath no cure; that
his wages should be a mark a week, and a livery gown of four nobles,
with a house in town, and another at Stebonheath (Stepney); that
there should be no play-days granted but to the King, or some bishop
in person:
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