OPTHI
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OF
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THE HISTORY
e Wim\ mis ^rmmar ScloffI
OF
SEDBBRGH,
YORKSHIRE.
BY A. E. P L A T T.
LONDON : LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
KENDAL: ATKINSON AND POLLITT.
MDCCCLXXYI.
/V %
In reading this, will none, perchance, find pleasure.
But yet full oft a little vessel gaineth
The harbour safely, where is drowned in entering
A lofty ship, for she light load containeth.
GiAN Maria Filelfo, 1471.
^/ST
PREFACE.
Although, perhaps, so slight a sketch as this little work is
hardly worthy of a Preface, I feel obliged to say a few words in
explanation of my presumption in appearing in print at all.
The History of our Parish and Grammar School was first
written for the Sedbergh Magazine^ and is reprinted from that
in an enlarged form ; and the idea of it was first suggested to
me by the knowledge that there were numbers of papers,
belonging to the Grammar School which few persons seemed
to be acquainted with. These I have been allowed to read,
and as (fortunately for my ignorance) they are almost all in
English, I have compiled my History in great part from them.
I should remark, that among these and other papers which
have been kindly lent me, there are some which are imperfect
and unintelligible for want of other papers to explain them,
and these, though interesting in themselves, I have not been
able to make use of.
I take this opportunity of offering my hearty thanks to those
friends who have helped me by the loan of books, papers, and
registers, and by information of various kinds ; and I hope my
book may be interesting to the inhabitants of this, in my
opinion, most beautiful valley, who will now learn, I flatter
IV PREFACE.
myself, in some cases for the first time, the part that old
Sedbergh has played in the history of England. I conclude in
the words of the historian of the heroes of Judaea : " And if I
have done well, and as is befitting the story, it is that which
I desired : but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which I could
attain unto."
Sedbergh, September, 1875.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
SEDBERGH.
Chapter I.
Boundaries of the Parish of Sedbergh — Derivation of the Name — The
Church — Roger de Mowbray — Adam de Staveley — Stanley, Lord
Monteagle, Lord of the Manor — Suit of Mr. Strickland, of Sizergh —
Mr. Braithwaite Otway ... ... ... ... Page i
Chapter II.
The Ecclesiastical Lords of Sedbergh — Cockersand Abbey — Jorvaulx
Abbey — Andrew de Harcla — Geoffrey le Scrope — Coverham Abbey
— List of Vicars — St. Agatha's Abbey, Richmond — Cultivation of
Corn — The Pilgramage of Grace — Letter of Henry 8th — Adam
de Sedbergh — 'List of Vicars of Trinity College — James Ritter to
Lord Burghley — George Fox — Rejoicings in Dent after the Re-
storation ... ... ... ... ... ... II
Chapter III.
Parish Accounts, 1 745 — Firbank — Petition for Justices of the Peace —
Parish Accounts — Collections in Dent — Mr. Jonathan Rose — His
Sermon at Penrith — Mr. Driffield — Parish Benefactors — Charity
School — Sunday School — The Book Club ... ... 21
Chapter IV.
Patricius de Bland — William de Bland — Light in the Church — Adam
Bland, of London — The Blands of Kippax — Of Virginia — Of Der-
riquin Castle, Ireland — The Rev. Miles Bland — The Otways — The
Washingtons — Extracts from Registers — Specimen of Dialect 32
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Chapter I.
Dr. Roger Lupton — Slaying of Thomas Lupton — School House Garth —
Lofthouse — Sir Harry Blomer — Dr. Lupton — His Endowments at
Cambridge ... ... ... ... ... .. 41
VI CONTENTS.
Chapter II.
Mr. Robert Hebblethwaite — Letter from Roger Ascham — John Bland —
Indenture of Mr. Hebblethwaite and the Feoffees — Dissolution of
Chantries — Record Office — The Rood Guild . . . Page 46
Chapter III.
Edward 6th's Foundation — The Charter — Names of Farms 52
Chapter IV.
Mr. Hebblethwaite — Lofthouse — Leases at Ilkley — The Governors Oath
— Mr. John Mayer, Master — Mr. Gilbert Nelson — His Character by
Dr. Peter Barwick, by Mr. Sedgwick — His Death ... 59
Chapter V.
Dr. John Barwick — Dr. Peter Barwick — Practise in London — His
Character — John Barwick, Fellow of St. John's — Ejected — His
Efforts on behalf of the King — His Ill-health — His Imprisonment
in the Gate House — In the Tower — Visit of Mr. Otway — His
Release ... ... ... ... ... ... 64
Chapter VI.
Mr. Otway — His Birth — Fellow of St. John's College — Ejected from his
Fellowship — His Marriages — Efforts for the King — Colonel Clobery
and Colonel Redman — Mr. Otway's Journey to Scotland — Letter
from Charles the 2nd — Mr. Barwick at Breda — His Preferment to
the Deanery of Durham — Of St. Paul's — His Improvements there —
Illness and Death — His Will — Epitaph ... ... 71
Chapter VII.
Recommendation of Mr. Jackson — His Behaviour at Sedbergh — Law-
suits — Petition Against Him to the College — The Triers — Letters
— The Commission for Ejecting Scandalous, etc. — Depositions of
Witnesses from Sedbergh — From Garsdale ... . . 79
Chapter VIII.
Mr. Jackson's Witnesses — State of Feeling in Sedbergh — George Fox —
Mr. Jackson Ejected — Mr. Jackson's Remonstrance — Mr. George
Otway — Appointment of Mr. Buchanan — Expenses of the Lawsuits
— Letter from R. J. — From Sir John Otway — From Mr. Holmes —
Mr. Buchanan — His Marriage — His Children — Letter from Mr.
Barker — Mr. Edward Fell, Master — Distant Tenants — Meeting of
Governors — Mr. Fell's Marriage — Children — Death — Will — Mr.
Wharton Elected by the Governors — Bishop's License ... 89
Chapter IX.
Mr. Wharton's Marriage — His Children — Death of his Second Wife — Her
Epitaph — His Third Marriage — List of Scholars — Table of Rents —
Dictionary Money — Exhibition — Increase of the School ... in
CONTENTS. yii
Chapter X.
Suit with Sir Thomas Hodgson — With Wilfrid Lawson — His Complaint
— Defence of the Governors and Mr. Wharton ... Page 1 19
Chapter XI.
Complaint of Mr. Lawson — Answers of the Governors and Mr. Wharton
126
Chapter XII.
Defence continued — Suit Decided — Mr. Wharton's Resignation — Lord
Fairfax's Letter — Mr. Dwyer — Dr. Saunders — Decree of Governors
— Dr. Saunders' Marriage — His Daughters — Mr. Eade's Commission
— Fines Granted to Dr. Saunders — His Death ... ... 137
Chapter XIIL
Mr. Broxholme — Lawsuit with him — His Release to the Governors —
His Death — Dr. Wynne Bateman — His Marriage — His Children —
Repairs of the School — Monument — Extract from Dr. Whitaker —
Allen's History of the County of York ... ... ... 148
Chapter XIV.
Mr. Hull — The Dwelling-house — Mr. Hull's Incompetency — His Death
— Mr. Stevens — Decline of the School — Mr. Wilkinson — Improve-
ment — His Death and Epitaph — Mr. Evans — Increase of the School
— His Resignation — Mr. Day — The Endowed Schools' Commission
— Mr. Heppenstall ... ... ... ... ... 157
Chapter XV.
Benefactors to the School — Mr. Harrison — Mr. Sidgswicke — Mr.
Wharton — Mr. Holme — Employment of Exhibition Money — Bishop
Otway — Lady Elizabeth^ Hastings ... ... ... 182
GAR SD ALE.
Derivation of Name — St. Agatha's Abbey — Thomas de Staveley — Ralph
Fitz Alan — Roger de Mowbray — William de Kendal — Petition to
Sir Foulk Greville — His Reply — Lawsuits about the Manor of Gars-
dale — The Civil Wars — Mr. Dawson — Mr. Inman ... 188
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
CHAPTER I.
The parish of Sedbergh is in the wapentake of Ewecross, and
in the north-west corner of Yorkshire, the river Lune dividing
it from Westmorland. The town Hes at the foot of Winder, a
mountain whose summit is about 1,500 feet above the sea, in
a wide valley, from which branch off Cautley, Garsdale, and
Dent, all long narrow dales, of great romantic beauty. The
parish also includes Howgill, a hamlet on the eastern bank of
the Lune, which river divides Sedbergh from Kirkby Lonsdale
parish, one of whose chapelries, Firbank, is on the opposite
side of the river from Howgill. All these valleys have a river
(or beck) running through them, the Sedbergh river, called the
Rother, rising behind Wild Boar Fell, and running down
Cautley, receives the streams from Garsdale and Dent,' and
falls into the Lune about two-and-a-half miles below the town.
The mountains surrounding Sedbergh are of various form and
colour, and at all seasons of the year the country is exceedingly
beautiful. There is very little corn, but the pastures are good,
and a great quantity of butter is sent away to other places. In
the town there are about 700 inhabitants, and a rather larger
number scattered about the parish. The houses are built of
the stone of the country, hardly ever of brick, and are almost
invariably roofed with stone or slate. According to Dr. Whit-
aker.(to whom I am indebted for most of my information),
Sedbergh was, before the Norman conquest, part of the parish
and deanery of Kirkby Lonsdale. He thinks that the name
of the parish is derived from the common Saxon name of
Sadda, whose berg or fortified hill, now called Castle Tower, is
still to be seen. Mr. Phillips, in his book on Yorkshire, con-
jectures that it is derived from the tribe of the Setantii, whose
B
1 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
port (Setantiorum Portus) is commonly supposed to have been
the mouth of the Lune. The author of " Yorkshire Past and
Present/' gives the broad or firm hill or fortress, as the meaning
of Sedbergh, in the language of the Angles, who displaced the
earlier inhabitants of Yorkshire, and founded the kingdom,
afterwards the earldom, of Northumbria. I am unable to
decide between these different opinions. Besides this berg, or
fortress, there are near the town traces of a Roman encamp-
ment. Sedbergh was formerly, as we learn from ancient
charters, in Lonsdale, and was made a separate parish probably
about the time of Henry I. (1100-1135), and soon after those
parts of Lonsdale which are now in Westmorland and Lanca-
shire were separated from the Eurewickshire (Yorkshire) of
Doomsday Book ; but all the ten parishes in the deanery of
Kirkby Lonsdale remained under the same diocesan, the Arch-
bishop of York, and in the same archdeaconry (Richmond).
The church of Kirkby was no doubt the original church of
the valley, but there were many chapels in the distant parts of
the parish, most likely on the sites of the churches which were
afterwards built as they were required. The clergy who served
these chapels were supported by the offerings of the faithful, as
there was no glebe or portion of tithes set apart for them until
the chapelry became a parish. In Doomsday Book Sedbergh
was mentioned as dependent on the superior manor of Whit-
tington, and, like the rest of this neighbourhood, was part of the
king's lands. I cannot find any evidence as to whether this
part of the county suffered in the general devastation of York-
shire by William the Conqueror. Sedbergh Church, dedicated
to St. Andrew, was probably built within a hundred years after
the Conquest (1066), and from its peculiar architecture, which
resembles that of most of the churches in Ewecross wapentake,
it is supposed that the great Roger de Mowbray, " one of the
most devout and munificent men of his age," must have had
some hand in the building of it. It is built of the stone of the
country, and now that the roughcast, which used to disfigure
it, is removed, the outside is handsome. It has three bells,
one of which at least must have been cast before the Reforma-
tion, as in the inscription on it the title of Queen of Heaven is
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 3
given to the blessed Virgin Mary. The following is an exact
copy of the sentences engraved upon the three bells : —
I.
Haec campana ^acra fiat S^ritiitate '^t^isu
May this bell be blessed by the Holy Trinity.
2.
Coelorum ^te plaaat tibi ttx jsiontrjj ijste.
Christ the King of Heaven may this sound please Thee.
3-
(JTottcipiettjJ ^ pia Wtx%o coeltim rega.
Pious Virgin, Mother of Christ, Queen of Heaven.
One of these bells is unfortunately cracked. There is a centre
and two side aisles, the arches and pillars being of various
sizes and heights, most of the arches are round. There is no
decoration of any kind in the church, but there are in some of
the seats fragments of old oak carving, in all probability por-
tions of a rood screen which existed within the memory of
some now living. The altar steps are of black marble, and the
font also, which is large and handsome. The church is much
disfigured by a gallery and pews of various shapes and sizes,
but there are many open seats of old, almost black, oak.
There are no monuments earlier than the seventeenth century.
In the churchyard formerly stood two old yew trees, which
have been blown down within the last few years, and only a
fragment of one is remaining. In former times the custom of
burying in the church seems to have been very general. There
was a cross standing in the Market Place adjoining the church-
yard on the north, but the last remains of it, and the stone
steps it stood on, were taken away some years since by private
persons, and may now be seen used as gateposts to a farm-
yard, some ten miles from their original position. To return,
however, from the old church to its supposed founder or
benefactor, Roger de Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland in
1 1 38. He was one of the barons who met to consult with
Archbishop Thurstan on the defence of the country from the
Scots, who invaded the north of England under their King
David, claiming the earldom of Northumbria for their Prince,
B 2
4 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
whose wife was the daughter of the great Earl Waltheof,
dispossessed and killed by the Conqueror. The " illustrious
chiefs of England, by blood and race Normans ; before whom
bold France trembles ; to whom fierce England has submitted ;
under whom Apulia has been restored to her station ; and
whose names are famous at Antioch and Jerusalem," as they
were called by one of their leaders, assembled near Northaller-
ton, under Walter d'Espec, and Thurstan, Archbishop of York,
and Randolph, Bishop of Orkney, and there was fought the
battle of the Standard (so called from a standard with a crucifix,
which was fixed on a car, with the banners of St. Peter of York,
St. John of Beverley, and St. Wilfred of Ripon), in which the
Scots were completely defeated. Roger de Mowbray went
twice to the Holy Land, and according to one account was
taken prisoner on his second expedition by Saladin, died, and
was buried in Palestine. He possessed, and his descendants
after him, until the reign of Edward II., large estates in York-
shire. The whole of the wapentake of Ewecross, from the
north-western point of Craven to the border of Westmorland,
was one of his baronies, and the chief seat of it was the Castle
of Black Burton, in Lonsdale. The mesne lords of Sedbergh,
Dent, and Staveley, were descended from Aykfirth, a noble
Dane, who, in the days of Knut, the Danish King of England,
was lord of Askrigg, Dent, and Sedbergh. Dr. Whitaker saw
on an old stone cross, dug up in Lancaster churchyard, and of
about the time of Knut, the names of four Danes of whom
Aykfirth was one ', and he thinks this Aykfirth was probably
the aforesaid lord of Sedbergh, from whom, and from his son
Arkyl, descended two fines, one of which took the name of
Thoresby, and the other that of Staveley. Of this family we
hear of Adam, lord and baron of Staveley, Dent, and Sedbergh,
who is supposed to have built Clapdale Castle, at Clapham, in
the days of King John (1199-1216). There is an agreement
extant between him and Wilfiam de Mowbray, dividing between
them the rights of free chase, in which Mowbray, the chief
lord, reserves to himself the stag and the hawk; while the
mesne lord was only to chase the hare and (which was then a
privilege) to destroy the wolf.
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 5
Adam de Staveley died 1225, and left a daughter and heiress,
Alicia, who married Henry Fitz Ranulph, lord of Ravensworth.
To him was granted in the 35th year of Henry HI. (1247) free
manor in Sedbergh, Dent, and Garsdale, and in his family,
afterwards called Fitzhugh, these manors remained down to
Henry, Lord Fitzhugh, who died 1424, the second year of
King Henry VI. ; but his son William, Lord Fitzhugh, does
not appear to have held them. One of his family, Elizabeth,
daughter of Henry, Lord Fitzhugh, fifth baron, married Sir
William Parr, of Kendal, and their son, Sir Thomas Parr, was
father of Catherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII. Agnes
Parr, the granddaughter of Sir William Parr and Elizabeth
Fitzhugh, married Sir Thomas Strickland, of Sizergh. To
whom the manors of Sedbergh, Dent, and Garsdale were
granted after 1424 I do not know, but early in the reign of
Henry VII., Edward Stanley was lord of one moiety of the
manor of Sedbergh. This gentleman was the " stout Stanley "
mentioned in Sir Walter Scott's " Marmion," who was told to
" charge with spur of fire,
With Chester charge, and Lancashire,
Full upon Scotland's central host,
Or victory and England's lost."
No doubt he was also, accompanied by Yorkshire men "stern
of mood," probably by some of the tenants of his manor here.
He was son of Thomas Stanley, first Earl of Derby (who
crowned Henry VII. on the field of Bosworth), and was made
Lord Monteagle, the year after the battle of Flodden Field,
by King Henry VIIL, in consideration of his braveiy, and
because he had contributed by " extraordinary valour at the
head of a body of archers " to the defeat of the Scots, from
whom he won a commanding position on the field. He was
also made a knight of the garter. " This nobleman's birth,"
says Banks, "his active childht)od, and martial spirit, had
brought him early to Henry the Eighth's notice and company,
and his aspiring manhood to his service. The camp was his
school, and his learning was a pike and sword. Whenever
his Majesty met him his greeting was, 'Ho, my soldier!'
Twice did he and Sir John Wallop land, with only eight
6 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
hundred men, in the heart of France, and four times did he
and Sir Thomas Lovel save Calais ; the first time by
inteUigence, the second by stratagem, the third by valour and
resolution, the fourth by hardship, patience, and industry."
(See "Burke's Extinct Peerages.") He died in 1523, and
was succeeded by his son, Thomas Stanley, who married
Mary Brandon, daughter (by his second wife, Anne Browne)
of Charles, Duke of Suffolk, the brother-in-law of Henry
VI H., and left a son. Sir William Stanley, [who died in
1 581, when the barony of Monteagle devolved upon his only
daughter, Elizabeth, who married Edward Parker, Lord
Morley. Their son, William, was the Lord Monteagle, to
whom was addressed the celebrated letter by which the
Gunpowder Plot was discovered. This Right Honourable
William Parker, I^ord Monteagle ''was (as appears from a
statement made by Mr. Strickland, in a suit relating to the
manor of Sedbergh) heretofore not only owner of severall
customary tenements within the hamlets of Cautley and
Dowbiggin, Frostra and Soulbank, Marthwaite, Howgill, and
Bland, but seized in fee or of some other good estate of
inheritance of and in the manor or lordshipp of Sedbergh
aforesaid, as Chief Lord or Lord Paramount of the same."
On the 13th of January, in the thirty-eighth year of the reign
of Queen EHzabeth, Lord Monteagle, for the sum of 410/.,
"did grant, bargain, and sell unto John Corney, Henry
Sawyer, and Richard Willan, and their heirs, severall tene-
ments within the said hamlets, in the parish of Sedbergh
aforesaid, together with all and singular houses, edifices,
buildings, barnes, stables, orchards, gardens, lands, rents,
reversions, suits, services, meadows, pastures, feedings, com-
mons, common of pasture and turbary, woods, underwoods,
waters, ways, easements, liberties, profits, emoluments, here-
ditaments, and appurtenance^ whatsoever thereto belonging."
The paper from which I quote the above particulars is my
only authority for the history of the manor after the time
of the Stanley of Flodden, and it is imperfect and very
obscure. It is dated 1732, and is the answer of Thomas
Strickland, Esq., of Sizergh, to the Bill of Complaint of James
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 7
Birkett, Simon Washington, and others. He admits that,
in the tenth year of Queen Elizabeth, Richard Lowther and
John Featherstonhalgh, Esqs., were mesne lords of a portion
of the manor of Sedbergh, and that before that time courts
had been held (in the thirty-eighth of Henry VIII. and first of
Elizabeth) by, or in the names of. Sir John Lowther and
Michael Featherstonhalgh, but considers that this did not
furnish sufficient evidence that they were supreme lords of
the manor. Mr. Strickland further states that in February,
in the forty-third year of Queen Elizabeth, Roger Otway, Esq.,
of Middleton, Thomas Scryven, and Richard Theakstone
granted and conveyed to Sir Thomas Strickland, Knight of
the Bath, in consideration of 600/. paid by him, all the manor
and lordship of Sedbergh, late in the possession of Lord
Monteagle, with all rights and privileges belonging to it;
and by a deed of the same date, Richard Theakstone con-
veyed to Sir Thomas Strickland and his heirs " all that moiety
and half part or portion of the manor of Sedbergh with the
appurtenances, formerly part of the possessions in inheritance
of Gregory Fiennes, Lord Dacres of the South, commonly
called or known by the name or names of Scrope's Lands."
These lands were probably named after Geoffrey le Scrope,
the benefactor of Coverham Abbey, whose grandson, Stephen,
possessed the manor of Sedbergh. Stephen's son, Henry, lost
his head for conspiring against Henry V., and is best known
from the mention of him by Shakespeare —
"But O!
What shall I say to thee, Lord Scroop, thou cruel,
Ingrateful, savage, and inhuman creature.
Thou, that did 'st bear the key of all my counsels.
That knewest the very bottom of my soul,
That almost might'st have coined me into gold,
Would'st thou have practised on me for thy use.
May it be possible that foreign hire
Could out of thee extract one spark of evil
That might annoy my finger ? 'tis so strange
That, though the truth of it stands off as gross
As black from white, my eye will scarcely see it. "
All his estates in Richniondshire were granted to Henry, Lord
Fitzhugh, to hold while those lands should continue in the
S THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
king's hands, and some of them were afterwards granted him
for Hfe. But in the 2nd Henry VI. all Sir Henry le Scrope's
lands were granted to his brother Thomas, whose family
became extinct in the male line in 151 7.
In this statement of Mr. Strickland's are many names of
former landholders in Sedbergh. Sir Richard Shuttleworth,
Knight, Ralph Featherstonhalgh, Esq., Richard Duckett,
gentleman, Mr. Crackenthorpe, Sir Christopher Pickering, and
others, who, or their successors, are said to have appeared at
the courts held by Mr. Strickland's ancestors. He admitted
that he could find no record of courts held by them between
1606 and 1652, but attributed the absence of evidence during
this interval to the late unhappy civil wars, when Sir Robert
and Sir Thomas Strickland, his great grandfather and grand-
father, had been plundered and sequestrated, and their papers
probably stolen or destroyed. For want of the statements of
the other party to this suit, I have found it impossible to get a
clear idea of the matter in dispute ; but it seems that there was
a doubt whether Sir Thomas Strickland had or had not sold
his rights to Sir Henry Widderington, Sir Nicholas Tempest,
and Sir Francis Boynton, Knights, and Allen Chambre, gentle-
man, and they, or some of them, had in turn sold them or part
of them to other persons. Perhaps this Sir Henry Widdering-
ton may have been descended from the Witherington of Chevy
Chase —
* ' Then stepped a gallant squire forth,
Witherington was his name,
Who said, I wold not have it told,
To Henry our king, for shame
That ere my captain fought on foot,
And I stood looking on.
You be two earls, sayd Witherington,
And I a squire alone,
I'll do my best that doe I may.
While I have power to stand ;
While I have power to wield my sword
I'll fight with heart and hand.
For Witherington needs must I wayle
As one in doleful dumps ;
For, when his legs were smitten off,
He fought upon his stumps."
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 9
It was not denied that Sir Henry Widderington and Sir
Nicholas Tempest had sold to Richard Willan and his heirs,
on the 6th of February, 1616, a certain messuage and tenement
then in his possession, of the yearly rent of 3^-. 3^., with all
rights thereto belonging, to be holden of the chief lords ; but
Mr. Strickland said he did not know of, or believe in, any other
conveyances or grants said to have been made. The complain-
ants accused the defendant (Mr. Strickland) of coming into the
manor with " firearms or other arms, accompanied with
numbers of papists or other persons," and threatening to " fill
the gaol " of the county of York with the freeholders and in-
habitants of the said manor ; all which he denied, except that
in June, or July, 1734, he was going to view the slate quarries
upon Baughall, and there being plenty of moor game there,
" he, for his diversion, took a fowling-piece along with him to
shoot some of the said game, and in his way thither stopped at
a public-house in Sedbergh, and, fearing his gun was damp, let
it off in the back -yard." On his part he said that the com-
plainants were very many of them Quakers, and had a design
to raise great sums of money, and weary him out by tedious
and expensive suits, and " the defendant is rather induced so
to believe for that he hath heard, and doubts not to prove some
of the complainants have been so vain-glorious as to boast that
he, this defendant, would never be able to stand it against ye
united numbers and purse of such a wealthy body of people as
they, the complainants were." On the 23rd of October, 1739,
Mr. Strickland's steward and bailiff held a court leet and
court baron in Sedbergh, at which many of the freeholders
and inhabitants were presented and amerced for various
offences done or pretended to be done ; and the steward and
bailiff distrained for these amercements. Whereupon several
of the inhabitants thinking themselves aggrieved, brought
actions against Mr. Strickland and his agents, and recovered
against the defendants in the assize held at York in 1740 and
1741 ; and Mr. Strickland finding that other actions were im-
minent, paid costs of suits, and refunded various small sums of
money which were claimed by the inhabitants in repayment of
the value of their goods taken and sold. After this there was
10 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
another suit in which the parishioners were defended by Brai-
thwaite Otway, Esq., of Ingmire Hall, the son of Sir John
Otway. Mr. Otway won the cause, which he managed at his
own expense, and the tenants of the manor erected a monu-
ment to him in the church, " in his lifetime, but without his
knowledge." Their gratitude is more to be commended than
their taste, for the monument is remarkably ugly. It stands at
the east end of the church, and must be eight or ten feet high ;
having in the centre of it a small brass tablet, with the following
inscription : — "In the year 1 744, gratitude obliged the
parishioners of Sedbergh to erect this monument, in memory
of Braithwaite Otway, Esq., their generous benefactor, whose
singular humanity, beneficence, and integrity ought never to be
forgotten. When Bluecaster was inclosed, with an intent to
take it from them, and many impositions took place, he
voluntarily defended their cause at his own expense, and with
great assiduity recovered their rights and firmly established
them in their ancient properties. A judicious and noble patriot
of his country, a strenuous defender of the poor, and an ardent
lover of justice ; a bright and shining example to the rich and
potent, whose amiable conduct justly merits their imitation."
In spite of the decisions in these two last-named suits, and
another of the same kind, Mr. Strickland must have been suc-
cessful in the end, for his descendant is Lord of the Manor of
Sedbergh at this day. I find that a rent for Lofthouse was
paid to Thomas Strickland, Esq., in 1656.
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. II
CHAPTER 11.
We will now turn from the civil to the ecclesiastical lords of
Sedbergh, of whom there appear to have been at one thne or
other at least four. In the year 1501, Sedbergh and Bland
paid eight shillings to Cockersand Abbey in Lancashire ; but
I do not know how long this payment had been going on, nor
for how long a time Sedbergh paid to Jorvaulx Abbey seven-
teen shillings and ninepence. It seems very likely that Roger
de Mowbray, the great benefactor of Jorvaulx, might have given
to that abbey some of his right over Sedbergh, but I have no
evidence of this. It is known, however, from a deed of the
time of Edward III., that in the reign of Edward II. (1307-
1327) the advowson of the Church of Sedbergh was in the
hands of the king. It " was wont," we learn from this deed,
" to be governed by two rectors, and a discreet man, the Arch-
deacon of Richmond, in the Church of York, ordinary of the
place, ' to whom belonged the institution and deprival of the
said archdeaconry, and the power, as it is asserted, of uniting
or appropriating." Whether these two rectors were descend-
ants of the Lords de Mowbray and de Staveley is not stated,
though it may very possibly have been so ; and I do not know
how their rights passed into the hands of King Edward the II.,
who granted the advowson of Sedbergh, or a part of it, to
Andrew de Harcla, who was made Earl of Carlisle, and had
large estates granted to him in the north of England. He had
successfully defended Carlisle against Robert Bruce, who be-
sieged it in 131 5, and distinguished himself afterwards at the
battle of Boroughbridge on the Ure, where the Earl of Lan-
caster was in arms against the king, his cousin. Lancaster was
taken prisoner, and afterwards executed, though he tried to
bribe Sir Andrew de Harcla to let him escape. Unfortunately
for himself and his country, Sir Andrew shortly afterwards ac-
cepted bribes from the Scots, and especially made overtures to
12 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
*' one James Douglas, whereby the king, for lack of his assist-
ance, was defeated in a battle near the Abbey of Biland, in
Yorkshire." For these offences he was very justly executed, and
his lands reverted to the crown, as appears from the following
fact : — Edward the II., for good service, gave to Thomas and
Alexander Fetherstonhalgh for three lives (the king's and two
brothers) the land with belongings which was held by Andrew
de Harcla, the king's late enemy, at Sedbergh-in-Lonsdale." In
the year 1330, Edward the III. granted a mediety of the Church
of Sedbergh to Geoffrey le Scrope, with three oxgangs of land
and their appurtenances, " that the said Geoffrey may be able
to give and assign them," the deed continues, "to our beloved
in Christ, the abbot and convent of Coverham, to be had and
to be held by the said abbot and convent of Coverham and
their successors for certain charities and other pious expenses,
yet so that the same Geoffrey and his heirs render to us and
our heirs in behalf of the said abbot and convent of Coverham
and their successors the services from the aforesaid land, with
its appurtenances which is due and customary." This donation
was made by the king and the baron in compassion for the
miserable state of the monks of Coverham, "who," as the king
says "by the frequent hostile inroads of the Scots and other
events of adverse fortune have been devastated and ruined, and
driven into debt to such an extent that there is much fear of
the dispersion of the canons who serve God in that place, un-
less assistance be speedily rendered by the protection of the
faithful with a suitable remedy." The grant to the abbey was
confirmed by the Pope, and Sedbergh remained under Cover-
ham until the dissolution of the monasteries, the church being
served by the clergy from thence, as the following list of vicars
will shew. There was another vicar, not mentioned in that list.
Brother T. Leytley, who was at Coverham in 1494. And
I find among the papers belonging to the Grammar School a
notice of " Richard Mydlam, present vicar of Sedbergh," who,
in 1528, in conjunction with Christopher Hylton, abbot of
Coverham, granted to Dr. Roger Lupton the ground on which
he built his school, and a farm adjacent, called "Ye Loft-
house."
THE HISTORY. OF SEDBERGH.
From Torre's Archdeaconry of Richfiiond,
n
Time of
Institution.
Vicars of ye Church.
Patrons.
Vacated.
19 Ap., 1399
29 Mar., 1434
Do'nus John de Popelton
Fr. Elyas de Boghland
Fr. Cuth. de Rydmer
Fr. John de Lynton
Fr. John Warslawe
Abbot and Convent
of Coverham
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
p'resig.
p'niort.
The following translation of a deed from the Coucher Book
of St. Agatha's Abbey, Richmond (the fourth ecclesiastical
foundation connected with the parish), probably concerns the
other mediety of the church : — " To all, etc., Ralph Fitz
Alan, greeting, Know ye that I have given, etc., to God and
the Church of the Holy Agatha, and the canons of the same
place, for ever, etc., whatever of right and patronage I and my
ancestors had, etc., in the mediety of the Church of St.
Andrew in Sedbergh ... for the love of God and the
salvation of my soul and that of my wife, and for the souls of
my successors and heirs ; wherefore I will that the aforesaid
canons have and hold the right of the aforesaid patronage,
with all things thereto belonging, for ever."
It is considered probable, by Dr. Whitaker, that this
mediety was conveyed to Geoffrey le Scrope by the house of
St. Agatha, of which he and his family were the patrons, and
by him conveyed, as well as the other mediety, to Coverham
Abbey. This abbey was founded by Ralph Fitzrobert, or
rather, the monks were removed by him from their first
habitation at Shainby, in the parish of Picthall, to the near
neighbourhood of his own castle of Middleham, in 12 14. It
had large possessions, but little is known of its history, except
the facts which I have mentioned ; and that " there was good
singing at Coverham " is stated by Leland. At the dis-
solution the tithes of the rectory of Sedbergh were valued as
follows: — Grain, 9/. los.) wool and lambs, 30/.; hay, 405-.,
which shews that no great quantity of grain was then grown in
14 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
the parish. " Yet about eighty years before," says Dr.
Whitaker, " the burgesses of Richmond complained that their
market was ruined by the increased cultivation of corn in this
parish and neighbourhood ; for heretofore they said it ranked
among its frequenters merchants and artificers, strangers and
outsidefrs, and other tribes from different parts, used to come to
the same town from the surrounding counties of Lancashire,
Cumberland, and Westmorland, as bringers and carriers of
grain and bread from the counties of Lancaster, Cumberland,
and Westmorland, and the districts of Lunesdale, Craven,
Dent, and Sedbergh, in which at that time there was not
much corn grown; but that of late the inhabitants of these
countries made the land of their wastes and moors fertile,
producing more than was usual of wheat and other grain. '^
Besides the pa)rments made to these four abbeys, the Church
of Sedbergh paid to the Archbishop of York (its diocesan
until the bishopric of Chester was founded, after the Reforma-
tion) twenty shillings ; to the Archdeacon of Richmond, forty
shillings; and to the Prior of Connyside, twenty shillings.
All these monasteries were dissolved and destroyed and their
property seized, in the reign of Henry VIII., in consequence,
as was asserted, of the misconduct of the monks ; but as their
accusers were in many cases those who profited by their ruin,
we may be allowed to think that these charges were, at least,
exaggerated. So believed, we must suppose, the men of
Westmorland, Cumberland, Richmondshire, Craven, Dent,
and Sedbere, "who, to the number of 40,000, made, in the
year 1535, the insurrection called the Pilgrimage of Grace."
I give the account of this rebellion in the words of an old
historian. "The King was suddenly informed of another
insurrection in the north, and that their grievance was
grounded upon the same points as those of Lincolnshire
(who by their petition craved a reformation of those things
which lately had been done and concluded against religious
houses, and against the former and ancient government of the
Church), and that the number of those rebels exceeded the
number of 40,000 men, who termed themselves the Holy
Pilgrims, who intended nothing but the estabUshing of true
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 1 5
feligion, and the reformation of great abuses which defaced
the government of the Church. To encounter these men, and
to correct their braine-sick purposes and foolish madnesse, the
King appointed the two Dukes of Norfolke and of Suffolke,
and some other lords, with a strong and well-appointed armie,
to march against them with all speed. And the rebels
(expressing much joy because they were to fight) came neer
unto the dukes' armie, and before them expressed many signes
and tokens of undaunted courage and desperate boldness.
But in the night before the two armies intended to have joined
together in handiestrokes, a little brooke which came betwixt
them, and which with a drie foot might the day before have
been passed over, grew so outrageously great and violent
by the fall of immoderate and continuall showers of raine,
that the armies could not meet as they determined. This
miraculous pitie, and this mercifull compassion, which by
Almighty God Himselfe was immediately extended towards
His people for the preservation of their lives, so effectually
wrought in the hearts and mindes of the two armies, that
(upon the faithful promise of the two dukes that the King's
free and ample pardon should remit and acquite them all) the
rebels left the field, and quietly departed to their owne
houses." This took place in the neighbourhood of Doncaster.
The King kept the promise made by the dukes, but sent
a severe letter of rebuke to the insurgents, of which Dr.
Whitaker gives the following portion : — *' And here," said
his Majesty, '' in this final point which ye our commons of
Westmorland, Cumberland, Richmondshire, Craven, Dent,
Sedbere, and other places that have been seduced into this
insurrection, do desire. We verily think that the rest of all
our whole commons of many countreys, to whom ye be in
manner but a handful, will greatly disdain and not bear it, that
ye take upon you to set order to us and them, and especially
to us, being sovereign lord of you both. And that you (being
rebels) would make them, as bearers and partakers of your
mischief, willing them to take pardon for insurrections which
they never minded, but, Hke true subjects, on the contrary
have both with heart and deed been ready at our call to *
l6 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
defend us and themselves. And now, for our part, as to your
demands, we let you wit that pardon of such things as you
demand lyeth only in the will and pleasure of the prince ; but
it seemeth by your lewd proclamations and safe conducts that
there be among you which take upon them the parts of kings
and counsellors, which neither by us, nor by the general
consent of our realm, have been admitted to any such room.
What arrogance is then in those wretches (he had before called
them brutes and inexpert folk) to presume to raise you our
subjects without commission under a coloured cloak of our
wealth and in our name. Wherefore we let all you our said
subjects again wit, that were it not that our princely heart .
cannot reckon this your shameful insurrection and most ingrate
and unnatural rebellion to be done of malice or rancour, but
rather of a lightness given in manner by a haughty nature to a
commonalty, and a wondrous sudden surreption of gentlemen,
we must needs have executed another manner of punishment,
than if you will humbly acknowledge your fault, and submit
yourselves to our mercy, we intend to do, as by our proclama-
tions we doubt not ye be informed." Thus peacefully ended
this great rebellion which really seems to have been, as it
professed to be, a religious movement, for the 40,000 men
marched through the country, doing no harm to the people,
and only vigorously besieging a few castles. The men of
Sedbergh may have been moved to take so prominent a part
in this contest by the fact that the last Abbot of Jorvaulx was
a Sedbergh man, and one of those who joined the Pilgrimage
of Grace, but to him their well-meant efforts brought nothing
but harm, for he was taken up to London, and, after some
imprisonment, was executed. His name, Adam de Sedbergh,
is to be seen on the wall of a room in th« Tower of London,
with the date 1537. The rectory of Sedbergh was given at
the dissolution of monasteries to Trinity College, Cambridge,
which was originally endowed by King Henry VIIL, and the
presentation to the vicarage still belongs to the master and
fellows of that great college. The list of their vicars is as
follows : —
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
From the. Registry of Chester.
17
Time of
Institution.
Vicars of the Church.
Patrons.
Cause of
Vacancy.
1554
Thomas Atkinson
Trinity College,
Cambridge
3d Sept., 1579
Egid Wiginton
Do.
30 Aug., 1585
Adam Colclough
Edward Hampton
The Crown
2iSept.,i6io
George Harrison
Trinity College
Death of E.H.
1613
Joseph Wybarne
Do.
1615
Benjamin Hinton
Do.
Death of J. W.
1624
Robert Cademan
Do.
Res. of B. H.
1637
Thomas Briscoe
Do.
Res. of R. C.
1660
Leonard Burton
Do.
Death of T. B.
1682
Jonathan Rose
Do.
D. of L. B.
1727
Thomas Lambert, A. M.
Do.
D. of J. R.
1741
Joseph Driffield, A.B.
Do.
Cess, of T. L.
1746
Wynne Bateman
Do.
Deprivation of
J. D.
1754
John Meryett
Do.
1764
Marwood Place, B.D.
Do.
D. of J. M.
1766
William Gawthropp
Do.
Cess, of M. P.
1798
Daniel Mitford Peacock
Do.
D. of W. G.
1840
William Riddell
Do.
D. of D. M. P.
1841
George Piatt
Do.
Cess, of W. R.
I am glad to be able to give a pleasing picture of the in-
habitants of our valley some years later, taken from a letter
addressed by James Ritter to Lord Burghley, and dated
September 20th, 1589; it is quoted by the late Professor
Sedgwick. This is Mr. Rittefs own account of himself : —
" I was born in Kent, brought up in Northamptonshire, dwell
in Yorkshire, and am often conversant with the people of
Kendal."
James Ritter to Lord Burghley.
" I cannot satisfie myself in duty to my country unless I de-
lyver over to your honerable lordship the discoveries I fynd of
the particularities of this countrie from tyme to tyme. In the
which thinking myself skilful enough, I dedicated my last
endeavours therein to your good lordship, by an accident
since I know more In the execution of this office
very lately, I passed thro the people of two great dales, the
l8 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
one called Dent or Danett, as some say ; and so lyke, when
the Danes were dryven to any shyft, to be their resting ; as your
lordship's lands of Tanfield, sometimes called Danefield, where
yet remayne extensies of their encamping. The other greater
part is called Sedbar. A thing worth noting I shall recount to
your lordship. In this Sedbar the vycar could present to me
only four disordered persons, — which I bound to good abear-
ing as barrators — that haunted alehouses, the great fault of
this country, and were daily fighting, quarrelling, and disquiet-
ing this good people. In Dent only one was brought before
me, for very undutiful parties to his father. This is. notable
amongst so many hundredth householders. Now your lordship
cpmeth to the marvel ; no justice of the peace is resident within
thirty myles of them in their county. ... A head constable
they have, which, if he did anything amongst them touching
his office, I fear me it wold fall out worse for their government.
In one parish no gentelman; in the other, two, and those very
mean. These people situate amongst the wild mountains and
savage fells are generally affected to religion, quiett, and indus-
trious ; equall with Hallyfax in this, excelling them in civility
and temper of lyfe, as well in abstaining from drinke as from
other excesses. These people are as they term themselves
customary tenants, and greatly addicted to raise and maintain
customs. They have no courts kept these many years past.
I had much to do to make them knowe the high authority of
Parliaments, which they thought could not cutt off any custom,
no not for reformation of any offence. But before all, this
custom of quiett and industrious life I willed them to keep, and
so penall statutes cannot touch them."
It will be seen in the History of the School what was the
disposition of some of the inhabitants of Sedbergh during the
civil wars. I do not know that any of them actually fought on
either side, and indeed all I can learn of the parish during
those years is from the journal of George Fox, from which I
have made the following extracts : —
" 1652. — Here (in Wensleydale) the Lord opened unto me,
and let me see a great people in white raiment by a river side,
coming to the I^ord. The place that I saw them in was between
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. I9
Wentzerdale and Sedbergh. I went also through Grysedale
and several other of those dales in which some were convinced.
In Dent many were convinced also. From Major Bousfield's
I came to Richard Robinson's, and declared thel everlasting
truth to him. The next day I went to a meeting at^*Justice
Benson's, where met a people that were separated from the
publick worship. This was the place that I had seen, where a
people came forth in white raiment. A large meeting it was ;
the people were generally convinced and continue a large
meeting still of friends near Sedbergh, which was then first
gathered. . . . The same week (early in the year) there
was a great fair, at which servants used to be hired. I went
and declared the day of the Lord through the fair. After I
had done so, I went into the steeple house yard, and many of
the people of the fair came to me, with abundance of priests
and professors. There I declared the everlasting truth of the
Lord and the Word of Life for several hours. ... At last
a captain said * Why will you not go into the church ? This is
not a fit place to preach in.' I told him I denied their Church.
"1652. — I wrote also to Burton, priest of Sedbergh.
*' 1663. — It was upon me to go to John Blaykling's, in
Sedbergh, to be at the meeting there, which is large, and a
precious people there is.
1679, January. — Next day John Blaykling came to Thomas
Cam's (of Camsghyll, to bring me to his house at Drawell, in
Sedbergh, in Yorkshire ; whither I went with him, visiting
friends by the way. I staid at Drawell two or three nights,
having meetings there, and thereabouts, for while I was there
the men's and women's meetings were held, which were very
large and precious. The first day following I had a meeting at
Brigflats, to which most of the friends from the several meetings
round, with a great concourse of other people, came ; it was
thought there were five or six hundred people."
This is all I know of the history during those evil days of
religious and civil discord, and the picture is in melancholy
contrast to the one given by Mr. Ritter " In great Eliza's
golden time." In Dent there were great rejoicings on the
Rushbearing (St. Bartholomew's Day) after the Restoration,
c 2
20 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
and a pageant was exhibited, in which, among other characters,
" Oliver and Bradshaw, RebelUon, and War," were represented,
all decked by times with vizards on, and strange deformities ;
and Bradshaw had his tongue run through with a red hot iron ;
and Rebellion was hanged on a gibbet in the Market Place.
Then came Peace and Plenty, and Diana with her nymphs, all
with coronets on their heads, each of which made a several
speech in verses of their loyalty to the king."
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 21
CHAPTER HI.
There is nothing in later years to connect Sedbergh with the
general history of England, except a few notices in the parish
papers. In 1727, i/. was expended by order at the proclama-
tion of King George the Second, and in 1735 the following
sums were paid by the parish : —
To a soldier ...
To six sea men
To a sea man...
To 4 soldiers at sundry times
To 10 soldiers
To a soldier and his wife . . .
To 8 sea men...
s. D.
I o
1 6
o I
2 o
3 6
o 8
2 o
In 1736, two shillings were paid for keeping four French
passengers all night, and in the next year many soldiers and
sailors passed through Sedbergh, some with wives, and were
relieved.
It would appear that in 1727, a woman could be boarded for
a shilling a week. In 1724 are the following entries : —
s. D.
Stocks mending ... ... ... 3 6
To Richard Backhus for taking care of the dook- ) ^
ing stoole ... ... )
Towards the repairing the cross ... ...10
The stocks were repaired again in 1 731 at a cost of 3^?., again
in 1788 for IS. 6d.
In 1743 there was a journey to Skipton to return Papists,
which cost o/. 6s. 8d.
In the Firbank registers there is an account in 1746 of the
expenses in equipping men to resist the Scotch invasion, which
is as follows : —
(This levy of men was of course for Westmorland.)
22
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
DISBURSED IN RAISING AND EQUIPPING THE TRAIN-
BAND MEN FOR FOURTEEN DAYS.
£
To two new Scabbards ... . . . o
To belts ... ... ... ... o
To carthrages, etc. ... ... ... o
To one packet of powder ... . . . o
To lead and ball ... ... . . . o
To spent at Kendal ... ... . . . o
To a belt yt would not fit, and dressing ye swords o
o
o
o
4
o
I
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
To ribbands, etc.
To eight dinners
To muster money
fTo twenty-eight days two trainband men
To carriage of money ...
To a gun...
To ye carriage of two guns
To trainband men for eight days ...
To Ed. Atkinson's cropp
To trainband men
To three acquittances ...
To Jno. Moore's gun ...
To one Halbert
s.
D.
.. 2
O
... 4
6
... 4
I
•• 5
o
... 7
o
There seem to have been no men equipped at Sedbergh,
and the only entries which can concern " the '45 " are as
follows : —
Expenses about Yorkshire contribution
To powder and ball
To expenses about more contributions
To journey to Settle with press warrants twice
To carrying soldiers to Kirby
Though I have failed to find any written record of the fact,
tradition says that some Highlanders came through Sedbergh,
and some of the Duke of Cumberland's army also. There are
two old cannons set up on end against different houses in the
town, which may possibly have been left at this period.
In 1740 Dr. Saunders, master of the Grammar School, was
one of the justices of the peace for the West Riding, but in
1 79 1 there were no acting justices within the east and west
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 25
division of Staincliffe and Ewecross, a district of upwards of 150
miles in circumference ; and it is shown in a petition to the
Duke of Norfolk, then Lord Lieutenant, that ''the said divisions
consist of 85 townships, and from the increase of inhabitants by
reason of the extension of trade in the cotton and worsted
manufactories, the penal laws are in a great measure disregarded
and the offenders against them suffered to escape, or at least to
go with impunity, to the great encouragement of others disposed
to offend in like manner. That from the most remote part of
the said divisions to the nearest acting justice for the said Riding
is a distance of 50 miles. That there are several gentlemen
within the said divisions who are now in the commission of the
peace, but who have never acted or qualified and decline so to
do. That there are several other gentlemen who have come to
reside within the said divisions whose names are not inserted
in the commission of the peace, and who would serve as was
supposed by the petitioners. These are the names from this
parish, " John Upton, of Ingmire Hall ; Richard Willan, of
Hill ; Miles Mason, of Sedbergh ; Richard Sedgwick, of Dent ;
William Gawthrop, of Sedbergh ; Christopher Hull, of same ;
and Dr. Oliver."
These names and others not of this parish, were sent from
Sedbergh by Mr. Davis (attorney at law), to a Mr. Joseph
Dixon, of Whitehaven, who shortly afterwards wTote to say that
many of the names mentioned had been put into the new
commission of the peace ; but how many of these were from
Sedbergh I am unable to say. There are some curious items
in the parish expenses concerning birds and beasts of prey. In
one year I find: "To an otter head, is.;" in another: "23
foulmart's heads, 3^-. 10^. ; 29 doup heads, y. 3^. ; 54 doup
heads, 4J". 6d. , 35 foulmart's at 2d., ^s. lod.'' The doup, I am
informed, is otherwise called the carrion crow. Between
Easter 1807, and Easter 1808, 11 ravens were killed and
IS. lod. given for their heads, and in 181 1 and 181 2 three fox's
heads cost i/. In 1784 the church warden's expenses include
extensive repairs and alterations in the church, and it was at
this time, I conclude, that the lead was removed from the roof
and the old beams whose rests are still to be seen, taken away.
24 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
The expenses were 195/. iis. 2^d., and lead, old timbers, and
freestone sold for 195/. i8j". 5^.; out of this sum 181/. os. 6\d.
was for lead.
Nine shillings was paid in 1745 for repairing the little school,
and both it and the church were roughcast and whitewashed in
18 1 7-1 8 "by order of his Lordship." New doors were made
at the same time, and a new green Communion cloth.
In 1795 a silk hood was bought, and in the same year there
was a fast day ; also is. 6d. was paid for ale to ringers (which
it was agreed should not be allowed in future). The only vic-
tories I know of in this year for which the bells were likely to
have rung, were the taking of the Cape of Good Hope and
Ceylon.
In 1821-22 the Book of Homilies for the Church of England,
costing 12s. 6^., was bought, and a new Prayer Book, costing
2/. 2 J"., the next year. The musical part of the service was not
altogether neglected, for a singing master was paid i/. 7^-. od.
in 1803-4.
Again in 1819-20, George Temple was paid for singing
2/. IIJ-. 6d., and the next year a new pitch-pipe was bought for
the church.
In 1736, 6s. 2d. was collected by a brief for Milton, and
Ts. Sd. for Llanarmon, and these are the only notices of
collections which I have found amongst the Sedbergh registers.
In Dent was collected on the 19th of June, 1686, towards
the relief of the French Protestants (who had left France in
great numbers in consequence of the revocation of the Edict of
Nantes in 1685), 5/. 7^. id. ; and in 1701, 15^-. gd. was col-,
lected towards the repair of the Cathedral of Chester, and two
shillings towards the repair of a house burnt at Ametside. So
it seems that the greater the distance of the object, the greater
was the sympathy felt.
I have not discovered that the vicars of Sedbergh have been
remarkable in any way, except Mr. Jonathan Rose, who was
vicar from 1682 to 1727. He seems to have been a very active
governor of the school, and must have built or rebuilt part of the
vicarage house, for a stone bearing the inscription J. R. 168 —
the rest broken off, has been found recently in the kitchen
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 25
chimney. He seems to have been of some renown as a
preacher, for there is extant a little book containing two
printed sermons of his, " On the mutual Love between Christ
and His Church," from Cant, ii., 6 — "My beloved is mine
and I am his. He feedeth among the lilies." The book has
the following dedication : —
"To the Reverend Dr. Todd, the Reverend Mr. Stubbs,
and the inhabitants of the town and parish of Penrith, in the
county of Cumberland.
" Dearly Beloved !
" When I had the Favour of Coming up in Your Large,
Beautiful, New-built Church (June 21, 1724), I had intended
these Two Sermons for your Entertainment, being willing to
ease the Worthy Vicar and Curate for both Parts of the Day.
But because you had several Gentlemen of the Clergy with you
that Day I preached only in the Forenoon, which occasioned my
Discourse from the Pulpit to consist of some Parts of the One,
and some of the Other ; so that You had neither of them entire.
To supply which* Defect and pursue my first Intentions towards
You I have sent them both to the Press, that those of You that
please may read at Leisure what you had not the designed
Opportunity of hearing.
" From your humble Servant
" And Hearty Well-Wisher,
"J. Rose."
This Httle book was pubHshed in 1725, at York. (" Printed
by Thomas Gent, in Coffee-House Yard, over against the Star,
in Stone-Gate,") the worthy old gentleman being then 71. He
is buried in the chancel in Sedbergh Church, and the following
Latin quotation is on a stone over his grave : — "Deus dabit his
quoque finem," (God will give an end also to these things).
He was buried June 13th, 1727.
It will be noticed that Mr. Joseph Driffield, the vicar from
1 741 to 1746, was deprived of the living. I do not know for
what offence, but I find that during his tenure the vicarage
26 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
house and gardens were let to Mr. Broxholme, the master of the
Grammar School, from midsummer 1742, at 5/. per annum. At
Mayday 1745, they were let to James Trotter for one year at
2/. ^s. o^., afterwards to the same person at 3/. ^s. od. to May-
day 1747. I have also seen an undated and unsigned paper
concerning the sequestration of the living, which I am inclined
to place in the same period. In the time of this vicar there
was a mill called Milnthorp Mill, which paid to him certain
dues.
I will now give a short account of the benefactors of the
parish and Grammar School, beginning with the following
memoranda, which are written at the end of an old book of
registers, whose entries date from 1686 to 1727, during which
period Jonathan Rose was vicar, and John Brackan for part of
the time curate, of Sedbergh. Throughout this book the new
year begins on the 25 th of March instead of the ist of
January : —
"November ye 5th, Anno Domini 1697. — The same day
was given a red pulpitt cushion by Dr. Charles Otway, of
Ingmer Hall, properly to ye use of Sedbergh Church for ever."
" February 13th, 1700. — Then was given a booke call'd ye
History of ye Bible, by Mr. Edward Speight, to ye use of
Sedbergh Church for ever." (This book was found to have
been much ill used and defaced, and was consequently removed
for safe keeping to the vicarage, where it now is.)
" March 12th, 1700. — Then was given a large table cloath
for ye Communion Table, coloured white, by Dr. Charles
Otway, to ye use of Sedbergh Church for ever; with two
napkins of the same sort afterwards."
" March ye 26th, 1702. — Then was received thirty pounds,
being ye gift of Mr. Edward Speight, of London, born att
Scroghouse, in Sedbergh, given to ye poor of Sedbergh, to be
divided by ye vicar and churchwardens every Lord's Day in
peny wheat loaves."
"That in ye year 1703 John Ffawcett, of Gateside, in
Ffrostrow, deceased, did by his last will give to ye poor of Sool-
bank and Ffrostrow, tenn shillings yearly for ever, and ye same
to be divided by ye churchwarden and overseer in peny wheat
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 2^
loaves to ye poor within ye said hamlett, upon St. John's Day
in Xtmas. And ye same to be continued yearly for ever as
above said."
"That in ye year 1704 Dr. Otway gave to Sedbergh Church
one silver salver, and ye same to continue to ye use aforesaid
for ever."
" That Charles Atkinson, of Borrad, gave a velvett bier
cloth, mark'd thus, ' C. A., 1720,' to the use of Sedbergh for
ever."
" Our present vicar, Mr. Rose, aged 71, been vicar now 43
years, did on May 12 have put into the Ratha, at the waters
meeting below Straight Bridge, one hundred live crevices (cray-
fish ?), and this day a parcel more above Milthorp Bridge, for
a fund to breed of. Witness my hand, August 4, 1725, Jonathan
Rose, vicar, Sedbergh."
Besides these, the benefactors to the parish (not including
those to the Grammar School, who will be mentioned later)
have been many, as appears from the books of the old
governors of the school.
In 1 614, Francis Harrison, of the Stone Hall, left 50/. to
the poor of Sedbergh, the interest to be distributed yearly
by the governors.
Mr. John Robinson, of Kendal, bequeathed by his last will,
in 1708, 100/. to the poor of Sedbergh, of which the interest
was to be distributed yearly by the governors. He had for
several previous years sent 5/. for the same purpose.
The governors held a meeting on August 21st, 1700, when
it was "voted and unanimously agreed by them. That no
persons of ye Church of England that are of scandalous or
irregular lives, or that are not frequenters of the Church service
and sacraments, shall for ye future receive any part of, or have
any share in ye distribution of any charitable alms deposited
with ye governors for ye use and benefit of ye poor of
ye parish of Sedbergh. Witnesse our hands, — Charles Otway,
Jonathan Rose, James Bland, Christo. Comey, John Fawcett,
John Warde, Henry Holme, Chris. Gawthropp, Simon Wash-
ington, James Ridding, Wm. Corney." (James Richardson
and Thomas Bowland also left money for the poor).
28 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
John Mackereth, of Cautley, and Ann Mackereth, of HoUin
Hill, in Cautley, are thus celebrated by their epitaph —
** Full seventy pounds these two did leave,
Chiefly unto the poor,
To be distributed yearly,
Till time shall be no more. "
Charles Atkinson, of Borrad (1728), James Cock, of
Cautley (1723), James Rowcroft, John Hadwin, of Middleton
Head, in Middleton, all left various sums, to be given in doles.
May 8, 1778, Leonard Croft, of Catholes, in Marthwaite, left
60/. to the governors, the interest to be spent in bread to be
given on Sunday afternoons to poor persons attending the
services in ye church.
June, 18 14, Mr. Wm. Warrinan, of Carhead, gave to the
governors for the poor of Sedbergh not receiving township re-
lief his quit rents in Sedbergh, amounting to i/. os. 2d. per ann.
In 1823 the Rev. Benjamin Holmes, of Freshwater, in the
Isle of Wight, left 500/. to be distributed to ye poor on St.
Thomas's Day.
Mr. Duke Holmes left to the governors 60/. to apply the
annual produce for the poor of Sedbergh ; to William Gaw-
throp and James Shaw 50/., to be applied for the poor of
Soolbank and Frostrow, and 16/. to the minister and church-
wardens for a piece of communion plate, and 60/. for an exhi-
bition for a poor scholar born in Sedbergh, going to S. John's,
Cambridge. There is no date to these bequests.
Lastly, should be mentioned Thomas Palmer, Esq., who in
his lifetime founded and endowed a hospital in Sedbergh for
six widows.
It will be seen by this list that the poor in our parish have
not been neglected in past times, neither are they now ; but I
abstain from mentioning the names of persons still living, who
have been benefactors also.
Mr. Richard Holme, of Lowther, clerk, gave to the gover-
nors 100/. for the foundation of a Charity School for the bene-
fit of the poor children of the parish, and in 1734 William
Richardson demanded the whole produce of it, insisting that it
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 29
was appropriated to the " little school at the end of the church
for a perpetual augmentation of his sallary. A representation
was therefore drawn up and sent to the said Mr. Holme how
the annual produce had been disposed of since the time the
principal was given which was to the schooling of twelve boys
and twelve girls at two different schools." Mr. Holme replied
that he had no intention of appropriating it to this little school
in particular, but that the governors were to use their discretion
in the matter. I conclude that it was to the girl's school that
Margaret Cowperthwaite, school dame, belonged. She was
buried March 22nd, 1720.
The following account, from a paper which was lent me,
may be welcome to those who are interested in Sunday
schools : —
" Two Sunday schools — one for boys, the other for girls —
having been estabHshed at Sedbergh, in the West Riding
of Yorkshire, on the 21st of August, 1803, and the following
sums subscribed for their maintenance, a general meeting of
the subscribers was held at the Duke's Head, in Sedbergh, on
the 12th of November, 1803, and the following regulations and
appointments agreed upon, viz. : —
1. The number of scholars not to exceed seventy in all, nor
thirty-eight at either school.
2. Each subscriber to have the privilege of sending one
scholar for every seven shillings subscribed; taking care,
however, to provide every scholar (so sent) with a ticket of
admission, mentioning the name of the scholar and by whom
. admitted.
3. Every subscriber of half a guinea to be a visitor.
4. A committee of subscribers to hold a monthly meeting,
for the purpose of ordering books, conferring rewards, and
expelling scholars ; the said meeting to be held at the monthly
meeting of the Sedbergh Book Club.
5. Any three or more subscribers present at such meeting to
constitute such committee.
6. Scholars distinguishing themselves by regularity of be-
haviour, or by their progress in learning ; as also those who
may have absented themselves thrice from either morning or
$0 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGtt.
afternoon attendance in the course of six months, or been
guilty of gross misbehaviour, to be represented by the master
or mistress at such monthly meeting,
7. Those scholars whom the committee may deem to have
wilfully so absented themselves without sufficient cause, or to
be incorrigible, to be expelled.
8. In the case of any scholar being so expelled, and the sub-
scriber, by whom he or she was originally admitted, neglecting
to admit another in his or her stead before the ensuing monthly
meeting, the committee to have authority to fill up the vacancy
in the name of such subscriber.
9. The school hours to be from nine o'clock in the morning
till morning service, and from one o'clock in the afternoon till
evening service ; the scholars to be taken constantly from
school to church, both morning and afternoon, by the master
and mistress.
10. The children not to be taught writing or accounts.
11. The schoolmaster to be allowed a salary of five guineas
per annum : the mistress three guineas per annum.
12. Robert Butterwith to be master; Mary Garnet to be
mistress ; Rev. D. M. Peacock to be treasurer.
13. A general meeting of the subscribers to be held annually,
on the third Monday in July, at the Duke's Head, for the pur-
pose of auditing the treasurer's account, paying in their subscrip-
tions for the ensuing year, and making such new appointments
and regulations as they may deem necessary.
SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE SEDBERGH SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
£ s.
D.
J. Upton, Esq.
-. 3 3
Mrs. Upton
... 2 2
Richard Willan, Esq. ...
... I I
Rev. D. M. Peacock ...
... I I
Mrs. Peacock
... I I
Mrs. Heys
... I I
Messrs. de Graves, Dickinson, & Co.
•• 3 3
Rev. W. Stephens ...
... I I
Mrs. Stephens
... I I
Mr. Davis...
... 2 2
Mr. Dawson
... 15
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 3 1
Peter Garforth, Esq. ...
Mrs. Garforth
Messrs. Garforth and Sedgwick, a donation of 5
Mrs. Hull...
Mr. Fawcett
Mr. Foster
Miss Foster
28 II 6
Amongst the other institutions of the place, the book club,
established more than 150 years ago, ought to have honourable
mention.
I
I
I
I
^5
5
10
6
I
I
I
I
, I
I
32 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
CHAPTER IV.
I HAVE before mentioned various noblemen and gentlemen
who have been connected with our town and parish in different
ways, but I must now say a few words on the subject of some
families who have been resident here. Of these the earliest
was the Bland or Blaund family, of the hamlet of Bland.
Thoresby, in the " Ducatus Leodicusis," says they took their
name from the hamlet. They are first mentioned, I believe,
in 1333, when Patricius de Bland, or Blound, was one of
the gentlemen appointed to command the miUtary array in
the wapentake of Ewecross, and to levy ten men at arms and
a hundred footmen, or archers, in an expedition against the
Scots. The Bland coat of arms, granted at a very early period,
bears three arrows, and perhaps their archers' bows were cut
from the old yew trees, whose last remnant will soon dis-
appear from the Sedbergh churchyard. Most of my readers,
I suppose, will know that the archers of England were the
terror of her enemies, in consequence of the great size and
strength of their bows, as well as from the skill of those
who used them. Sir Walter Scott describes the effect
produced by the sight of a band of archers on the Northern
Scots : —
*' Envy with their wonder rose,
To see such well appointed foes ;
Such length of shafts, such mighty bows,
So huge, that many simply thought
But for a vaunt such weapons wrought ;
And little deemed their force to feel
Through links of mail, and plates of steel. "
The Borderer, on the other hand,
" Looked on at first with careless eye,
Nor marvelled aught ; well taught to know
The form and force of English bow."
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 33
It may have been the duty of Patricius de Bland to guard the
narrow part of Lunedale, for I find that Lancaster was burnt
by the Scots (except the Castle) in 1322 and 1389, before and
after his time.
Also, "William de Bland (of Bland, in Lunesdale) did good
service to King Edward the III. in his wars in France, in the
company of the Earl of Richmond (John of Gaunt), and had a
pardon for the death of John del Vale, as the Privy Seal attests,
dated the 4th of June, in the 34th year of that King's reign of
England, and 21st of France." Next we hear that "Richard
(Wilkynson) de Blande (of Blande), together with John Todde
and John Whytehqde, both of Sedbergh in Lonesdale, was
pardoned for the death of John Stokedale, of 'Midelton in
Lonesdale, killed the 2d of the King's reign, as the Privy Seal
manifests, dated 7 Jul., 5th Richard II." The name is
variously spelt in old records, therefore I have no doubt that
the following statement, preserved in the Record Office, relates
to this family : —
" A light in the seyd parishe (Sedbergh) wyth a some of
money mayntayned. The same was founded by one Henry
Blownd, to have contynuance for and wyth (an illegible word)
the seyd some of money for the mayntenance thereof remain-
ing in the hands of Thomson and Bryan, yeomen,"
The name of Bland occurs frequently in the registers of the
church and among the lists of governors of the school, and one
of the family is mentioned, not very favourably, by Roger
Ascham (see page 46). The family is said to have spread from
Sedbergh to the neighbouring parish of Orton, and from thence
all over England. One of them, Adam Bland, of London,
skinner, the son of Roger Bland, of Orton, was made free ot
the City of London, 4th Edward VI., 1550, and was Sergeant
Pelletier to Queen Elizabeth (1563). This worthy was the
ancestor of numerous branches, but their pedigree has been
given in other books — Thoresby's " Ducatus Leodiensis,"
Carlyle's " History of the Blands," &c. — so I will only men-
tion a few of the more remarkable members of the family.
In the eighteenth year of Charles the I., Thomas Bland, of
Kippax, near Leeds, was created a baronet, and a Sir John
D
34 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
Bland, of the same place was remarkable for having been longer
member of Parliament than perhaps any of his age in England.
There is a very important branch of this family in Virginia,
descended from Adam, the Sergeant Pelletier. They first
emigrated about 1645. The present lineal representative of
the family is, I am informed, Mr. John Boiling Bland, descended
also from the Boilings, of Boiling Hall, in Yorkshire. (The
first Boiling who went to America, married, in 1675, J^iie
Rolph, granddaughter of the Princess Pocahontas, who married
Mr. Rolph, one of the early settlers who went out with Captain
Smith, and the descendant of this Mr. Boiling married a Bland.)
The first of the Bland family who went to America built a
church, court house, and prison at his own expense, for the
benefit of the colony. There is a parish in Virginia called
Blandford, where there is a ruined church, old for America,
and now deserted. One of the Blands of this parish was Colonel
Theodoric, who was very active in the revolutionary war, an3
a great friend of General Washington. But to return to those
nearer home. There was a family of Blands near Cambridge,
said to be descended from Adam Bland, of London, one of
whom was grandmother to Lord Nelson. But a branch more
immediately interesting to the inhabitants of Sedbergh »is the
one settled at Derriquin Castle, Ireland. I quote Carlyle's
account of their ancestor, the Rev. James Bland, the " son of
John Bland, of the parish of Sedbergh, a descendant of the old
family stock which had flourished for centuries in the West
Riding of the County of York. He was educated at that
ancient Grammar School under Mr. Wharton, from whence he
went to St. John's College, Cambridge, where he was, admitted
on the 3rd of May, 1684, and took his bachelor's degree in
1687. He appears to have been chaplain to Henry, Lord
Viscount Sidney, and to have accompanied his lordship to
Ireland in 1692, when he took upon him the lord-lieutenancy
of that kingdom. He was appointed to the vicarage of Kil-
larney, and was successively archdeacon of Aghadoe and dean
of Ardfert on the 23rd February, 1727, both of which dignities
are in the presentation of the Crown. He married Lucy, the
eldest daughter of Sir Francis Brewster, alderman of Dublin.
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 35
In the church of Killarney is a monument to his daughter, and
also a bell, with the inscription " Dulce sonat Blandus Amor,
Feb. 25th, 1708," giving a kind of punning reference to the
name of Bland. This makes it probable that the donor, was
the Rev. James Bland, son of John Bland, of Sedbergh, vicar
of Killarney. His eldest son, the Rev. Francis Bland, and his
grandson, the Rev. James Francis Bland, were vicars of Kil-
larney also. The last died 1785. Another member of the
family was General Humphrey Bland, commander-in-chief in
Scotland, and governor of Gibraltar, who married the Hon.
Elizabeth Dalrymple, daughter of Lord Stair. To come down
to more recent times — the Rev. Miles Bland was second
wrangler in 1808 ; the senior wrangler being Mr. Bickersteth,
afterwards Lord Langdale ; the third Mr. Blomfield, afterwards
Bishop of London ; and the fourth the late Professor Sedgwick,
(who was a native of Dent, and educated at Sedbergh School).
Mr. Miles Bland was the author of " Elements of Hydro-
statics," &c., and was prebendary of Wells. I will not attempt
to enter into the intermarriages of this very large family, as
they have been given elsewhere, and would fill much larger
volumes than mine.
The most important part of Sir John Otway's life is given in
the History of the School, but though Sedbergh cannot claim
him as a native (he was born at Beckside Hall, in Middleton),
he spent much time, and died, and was buried here ; he must
therefore be included amongst our note-worthy persons. His
father, Mr. Roger Otway, possessed Ingmire Hall, and there
are many persons of the same surname mentioned in the
registers of the church. A daughter of Mr. Roger Otway was
baptised July 27, 1622, and a son, Edward, in September the
same year. His son George was baptised January 23rd, 1625.
In this entry Mr. Otway is described as of Middleton. A
daughter, Elizabeth, was buried July, 1634; Mr. Roger Otway,
of Ingmyre, Feb. 12, 1648; and his wife, Mrs. Anne Otway,
March 27, 1652. Mr. John Otway had a daughter Margaret
baptised March 5, 1658, who died the next year, and another
of the same name in 1663, so he was then residing here. He
was twice married ; first to Mary Rigg, of Winchester, who was
D 2
36 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
the mother of — i, John, who died unmarried; 2, Charles
Otway, LL.D., many years fellow of St. John College, Cam-
bridge, where he died ; 3, Anne, married into Ireland ; 4,
Mary, married to Posthiimus Wharton, master of the Grammar
School, who left two daughters — Mary, married to John
Cawthorne, Esq., March 4, 1708; and Margaret, married to
Samuel Saunders, D.D., also master of the school. Mrs.
Mary Otway was buried June nth, 1659, and Mr. Otway
married, secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of John Braithwaite, of
Ambleside, gentleman. Their children were — i, Braithwaite;
2, Elizabeth, (baptised June 24, 1662, and married to
Byram. I conclude he was the Mr. John Byram who was
living at "Ingmergh" in 1683, '84, and '85, and had three
children, Elizabeth, John, and Satnuel, baptised in those
years); 3, Margaret, baptised 1663, who married Fother-
gill ; 4, Catherine, baptised Sept. 22, 1664, and married to
John Upton, Esq. None of these ladies, except Mr. Wharton's
daughter Mary, the wife of Mr. Cawthorne, seem to have been
married in Sedbergh Church. I do not know when Mr. Otway
was knighted. His burial is entered thus, " Sir John Otway,
Knight, of Ingmergh Hall, in Marthwaite, Chancellor of Dur-
ham, was buried Oct. 17th, 1693."
A white marble monument in the chancel bears the following
inscription : —
" In pious memory of the worshipful Sir John Otway, Knt.,
Vice-Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster, and Chancellor of
the County Palatine of Durham, late one of the readers of
Gray's Inn, and one of his Majesty King Charles the 2nd's
counsel learned in the law, to whom he was very instrumental
in his happy restoration. He lived much beloved, and died
much lamented, the 15th of October, 1693, in the 74th year of
his age. In memory of him his sorrowful lady hath caused this
monument to be erected."
His eldest son, Dr. Charles Otway, was for some years (as
Sir John had been) one of the governors of the school ; and
so also was Braithwaite, the second son, who was a fellow
commoner of St. John's College, and afterwards student in Gray's
Inn. His benevolence to the parish has been mentioned
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 37
before, but it should be added that he gave a sun-dial to the
church, which is still to be seen on the south porch. He died
unmarried, and his property passed to his sister Catherine,
whose descendant is the present possessor of Ingmire Hall.
It appears from Nicholson and Burns's History of Westmorland
that John Upton, of Ingmire Hall, Esq., the grandson of Mrs.
Catherine, was member for the county of Westmorland in 1761.
This history is incorrect in one particular, for it states that Dr.
Charles Otway died before his father, whereas he was really
one of the governors of the school for some years after Sir
John's death.
These are the only families of whom I have been able to find
out anything of consequence, but there is another name which
perhaps ought to be mentioned. It may not be generally
known that the first emigrants of the Washington family in
America were John and Lawrence, two brothers, who went out,
with their wives, about 1655, and it is not to this day known
with certainty from what part of England they came. Until
recently it was believed that they came from Northamptonshire,
but a flaw has been discovered in the genealogy which connects
them with the family there. Sedbergh is mentioned (among
many other places) as likely to have been the birthplace of
Lawrence and John Washington (the latter being the great
grandfather of the American general) but I have failed to find
their names, though there seem to have been two families of
Washington, one living in the town of Sedbergh and the other
at Gateside, in Howgill.
There is a flat tombstone at the east end of the church in
the churchyard, with the following dates and initials : —
1564
1582
s. w.
H. W.
1630
S. W.
s.w.
1659
D. W.
1653
A. W.
1637
E. W.
1663
and one with the name and date partly erased.
^S THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
There are also more modern tombstones, of which the outer
surface has almost peeled off, but enough remains to show that
they belonged to the ancient family of Washingtons, of Gate-
side, in Howgill. It seems to me quite certain that the emi-
grants did not come from Sedbergh, if the evidence of registers
is to count for anything ; the only cause for doubt being that
Simon Washington had a son baptised in 1630, whose name is
torn off. It may, from the size of the lost piece, have been
John, but it cannot have been Lawrence ; neither do I find in
the Sedbergh registers the name of Mary Washington, who was
the sister of John and Lawrence. Their wills were proved in
1677, therefore it does not seem likely that they were born
before 1605, when the baptismal registers begin, though of
course it is possible. They both lost their wives, and married
again after they went to America.
The registers of Kirkby Lonsdale peld no better result, and
I have also vainly searched those of Firbank, Killington, Dent,
and Garsdale. There are no old registers in Howgill or Caut-
ley, as until very recently the inhabitants of those hamlets were
baptized, married, and buried at Sedbergh. In the Kendal
registers I found many Washingtons from Grayrigg and Dillicar,
but no Lawrence and no John of the right date ; but there are
some years missing, in which it is possible that the lost names
once were. I have also been to York, to see if there were any
wills of that date, and found indeed the will of John Washing-
ton, January 15th, 1675, but he was a whitesmith, of Kendal,
cousin to Henry Washington, of Howgill in Sedbergh, who was
one of the " supervisours " to the will. The Washingtons in
Sedbergh town and Howgill are chiefly mentioned as white-
smiths or blacksmiths.
It is curious in examining these old registers to observe
the prevalence of what are now uncommon and romantic
names, such as Mabel, Christabel, Lancelot, Marmaduke,
Theophilus, etc. The following curious entry occurs in the
Sedbergh register of baptisms : — Agnes, daughter of Robert
Wilson ("als Robin of conscience ") 1632-3.
In the register of burials there are several cases of
drowning : —
THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH. 39
George Boys, son of John Boys, of Brough Sowerby, was
drowned in Marthwaite, and buried April 28th, 1702.
Walter Skirm, of Kirkby Lonsdale, drowned in Rathay,
buried August 13th, 1702.
Edward Walker, servant to William Coupland, drowned in
Loone, and buried June 26th, 17 14.
Among the deaths we also find : —
John Sheldon, ye lead myner, Janry. 22nd, 1676. Also
Rowland Pearson, schoolemaster of Howgill Chapel, July
15th, 1634. One of his successors, Mr. John Wod, married
Mrs. Mary Burton (probably the daughter of the "priest"
mentioned by George Fox) November 13th, 1673, and had a
son William baptized in the following year.
In 1702 Mr. John Marsden was curate of Howgill, and his
daughter Dorothy was baptised that year, and his son John in
the same month in the year following.
The following lines are a specimen of the dialect spoken in
this part of Yorkshire, but it is almost impossible in writing to
give a correct idea of the accent : —
T' GALLOWAY'S GRAVE.
Now what's to deu wi' thee, thou's greetin sae sair ?
I greets for auld Billy, because he's nae mair.
Auld Billy he sarra'd us a lang while and weel,
And it's like when a dees 'at ane sould tak it ilL
A right tidy galloway lile Billy's been ;
As bonny a pony as iver was seen,
Sen I kent him mysel, for a' he was auld,
His lile sperit in him was nin on it cauld,
For at twenty year aid he would gallop and run,
He'd beat t' coach and four like a shot frae a gun.
And when we would ketch him, what racin we haed,
Wi' Rechard and William and Kestor and Ned.
He'd let thee co'e tull him and wietly stand,
Till thou thought 'at thou haed him, and put out thy hand ;
And then he'd gang off frae beside Mally Fell,
40 THE HISTORY OF SEDBERGH.
Right across o teu-acre afore ane could tell.
We'd chase him for hours all up and doun t' gers,
And efter we'd ketched him he'd gallop nae warse.
And still he was wiet ; a wieter thing,
A horse keeper niver to Brough Hill could bring.
He'd use his legs weel, but it wasn't to strike,
And Strang legs they were teu, just t' mak 'at ye'd like.
We'll bury him wietly 'a by his sel,
Where t' water co's runnin' sae bonny frae t' well.
And we'll set an ake tree o'er t' galloway's head.
That '11 flourish lang efter we're a' on us dead.
T' barns '11 lake under 't, and t' auld folk '11 sit
And tell o' grand deuins lang sen as they knit.
And t' lasses '11 sit under 't milkin their kye.
And chitter and laugh wi' their lads 'at ga by.
And t' haymakers teu '11 co' thither t' rest,
And t' lile lads '11 dim up t' late a spink nest.
But they '11 nin on hem think, comin year efter year,
They '11 nin on hem think that lile Billy ligs there.
Charles Platt.
THE HISTORY OF THE SEDBERGH
GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER I.
Before beginning to relate the history of the present Royal
foundation it may be well to mention what is known of the
first^founder of Sedbergh School, Roger Lupton, Doctor of
Canon Law. In an old book kept at Durham these entries
have been found : —
" John Riddyng, late of Birkshaw, near Sadber, and Richard
Riddyng, late of Sadber, sought sanctury, because they had
been aiding and abetting in the slaying of Thomas Lupton."
" Oliver Branthwayte, of Iveshopburn, in Werdale, on Satur-
day, the 1 8th day of September, A.D. 1479, sought sanctuary
in the nave of Durham Cathedral, because he, on the feast of
Epiphany, 1477, at Sadber, in the county of York, made an as-
sault on a certain Thomas Lupton, and struck Thomas himself,
with a certain knife, in his stomach, feloniously, from which
the said Thomas died."
" Christopher Bowre, of Holgillrigg, below the parish of
Sadber, county of York, on Wednesday, ist November, 1479,
sought sanctuary, because he himself, together with others, was
present and aided, at Sadber aforesaid, at the feast of St. Peter
ad Vincula, at the felonious slaying of Thomas Lupton."
These two last announcements are, to say the least, mysterir
ous. It will be observed that Oliver Branthwayte accuses him-
self of having slain Thomas Lupton on the feast of Epiphany,
and Christopher Bcrwre says he helped to slay him on the
feast of St. Peter ad Vincula, which is the ist of August. We
must conclude, therefore, either that there were two Thomas
Luptons, killed on different days, or that one of the murderers
gave the day wrongly. I am inclined to think the former the
42 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
more likely of the two, as there were so often two or more
members of the same family who had the same Christian name,
and this felonious slaying might have been an attack upon the
whole family of Lupton, of whom this is the earliest notice I
am acquainted with.
It has been conjectured by the authors of Sanct. Dunelm et
Beverl, that Dr. Roger Lupton was the son of Thomas Lupton.
One would like to know what was the public or private quarrel
which was the cause of this felonious slaying, and also why the
murderers did not take refuge at Durham until nearly two years
after the murder ; but the record given above is the only one
that I have been able to find of their crime. To return to cer-
tainties, the following deed, dated 1528, tells of the foundation
of the school : —
" Know all men by these presents that we, Christopher
Hylton, abbot of the monastery of the blessed Mary of Cover-
ham, in the county of York, and of the same place, by unani-
mous consent, and with the consent and assent both of ourselves
and of Richard Mydlam, present vicar of Sedbergh, have con-
sulted and devised, and by this our present writing have con-
firmed to Master Roger Lupton, clerk, one small close in the
aforesaid Sedbergh, called commonly School House Garth,
annual rent 99^., in which now by the same Master Roger
Lupton the school house has been built gratuitously, to be held
in the same place for ever. Together with a certain messuage
adjacent called ye Lofthouse, with all the lands and other pur-
tenances of the same, which lately were in the tenure of James
Bland and John Bland, at the annual rent of 3/. 2s., to be had
and held all and every aforesaid by the before-mentioned Master
Roger Lupton, his heires and assigns, to the use of the ordina-
tion and foundation aforesaid for ever. Thence to be paid
annually by the aforesaid without fail in equal portions to our
vicar of the same for the time being twice in the year, at the
times usual in the said place. In testimony of which thing we
have caused our common seal to be affixed to these presents.
And because then there was present there the venerable man
Thomas Donnington, bachelor of law, archdeacon of Richmond,
general commissary, therefore the aforesaid Richard Mydlam,
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 43
vicar of Sedbergh aforesaid, by his own special request obtained
the official seal of the same Master Thomas Donnington to be
affixed in the name and behalf of the said Richard Mydlam for
more full authority and trust of these presents. Given at Cover-
ham aforesaid, on the 1 2th day of the month of August, in the
19th year of the reign of Henry the 8th after the conquest of
England.
By Christopher "Hylton, abbot of Coverham.
By me, Thomas Donnington, clerk.
Richard Mydlam, vicar."
This Lofthouse land appears to have been used by Roger
Lupton with some other lands for the foundation of a chauntry,
which was either a small chapel or a part of a larger church,
in which masses were sung to redeem the soul of the founder,
or of persons named by him, out of purgatory. It seems very
probable that if the murdered Lupton or Luptons were related
to Dr. Roger, the chauntry was founded by him for their
benefit; it being thought in those days doubly necessary to
pray for the souls of those who died by violence or in battle.
Be this as it may, the school was endowed by Roger Lupton
with the revenues of his chauntry ; and Sir Harry Blomer,
called in a deed dated 1536, chauntrie priest of the said
Roger Lupton in Sedbergh, was, as I suppose, the first master
of the school, the first governors or feoffees being James
Cowper, Rowland Bland, Harry Bland, and Thomas Bland,
But Sedbergh was not the only place benefited by Dr. Roger
Lupton. He was elected fellow of Eton College in 1503, and
provost of the same college immediately afterwards. In 1504
he was made Canon of Windsor ; died in 1540, (having resigned
the provostship of Eton in March, 1535,) and was buried in
Lupton's Chapel, a chantry chapel which he had built on the
north side of the College Chapel at Eton.
On the door of this chapel is carved the rebus of his name,
a ton with the letters L. U. P. carved between the hoops. Dr.
Lupton also built at Eton the wing of the Provost's Lodge,
containing the clock tower, which has also been called Lupton's
tower. He had in the year 1528 " made and estabHshed within
44 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
ye Colledge of St. John the Evangeliste, in ye Universite of
Cambrydge aforesaid, a foundacon for sixe scholers or disciples
for ever to continue in the said colledge," to be chosen out of
such as had been " brought up and have been scholers and
students in Sedbergh School, and of no other."
In 1536 the master, fellowes, and scholers of St. John the
Evangliste in the Universitie of Cambrydge " granted for
theyme and their successours for ever unto the sayde Roger
Lupton, that he, to the honour of almightie God, our blessed
lady, and all the saints in heven, and for the welthe of the
soule of the sayd Roger Lupton, the soules of thois that the
sayd Roger Lupton is bounde and wolle have prayed for, and
for all christian soules at the nominacon and appoyntment as
hereafter shalbe expressed, shall have two fellowes and two
scollers founded and susteyned at the costs and charges onely
of the sayd master, fellowes, and scollers within the Colledge
of St. John aforsayd, ther to continue for ever of his foundacon
over and above the sixe scollers that he hath now founded
ther. Furthermor the sayd master, fellowes, and scollers of the
colledge aforsayd, covenannten and granten for theyme and
their successours unto the sayd Roger Lupton, that he from
henceforth shall have nominacon and ellecon of the sayd two
fellowes and two scollers durynge hys lyve naturall, and after
the disseas of the sayd Roger Lupton then the sayd two
fellowes and two scollers shall be at the nominacon and ellecon
of the sayd master, fellowes, and scollers of the sayd colledge,
and of their successours for ever, provided always that ye sayd
two fellowes be ellected and chosen of thois persons which be
now scollers of the foundacon of the sayd Roger Lupton now
beyinge in the forsayd colledge of St. John's and of suche
persons as hereafter shalbe scollers of his sayd foundacon in
the sayde colledge for ever and no other. Also, the sayd
Roger Lupton will that the same two fellowes and two scollers
so ellecte and chosen, and their successours shall pray especi-
ally for the sayd Roger, takynge a speciall colect in any masse
that thei shall saye expressynge the name of the sayd Roger
Lupton, and after his disseas to take lykewyse a speciall colect
for his soule and for all the soules that he is bounde to pray for,
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 45
and for all Christian soules, and when they or any of theyme
shall make any sermon to the peple to pray specially for his
soule expressynge of his name, and the sayd Roger trustith that
thei wilbe favourable to his scollers to helpe theyme and to
geve theyme good counsaill to grow in vertu and lernynge and to
pray for his soule." ..." the sayd master, fellowes, and scollers
reseyved in money of the sayd Roger Lupton 400/. of the goods
of the sayd Roger Lupton for the purchas of certayn landes
sufficient to beir the chargs thereof for ever," and were bound
to fulfil their agreement by a penalty of 20s. for every month
in which they kept a fellowship or scholarship vacant.
The vicar of Sedbergh, the chantry priest, and the feoffees
of the school having power to sue the said master, fellows, and
scholars " for the sayd 20 shillings, and for th' arrerags of the
same, or els into the manour of Lytle Merthin, in the countie
of Nottingham, or into all that manour and landes lyinge in the
towne and fylds of Cambrydge, Colton, and Chesterton, cawlyd
Narleton's Landes, whiche were lately purchased by the sayd
master, fellowes, and scollers of the sayd Colledge of St. John's
of Sir John Mordaunt, Knight, and Ely, his wyff, and enter and
distreyne for the same 20 shillings and th' arrerags of the
same," &c.
The third part of this indenture remained with Roger Lupton,
the vicar of Sedbergh, Sir Harry Blomer, "chauntrie priest,"
James Cowper, Rowland Bland, Harry Bland, and Thomas
Bland.
46 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER 11.
Sir Harry Blomer seems to have been succeeded by Mr. Robert
Hebblethwaite, who was made chantry priest and master of the
school, sometime between 1537 and 1544, probably after 1540,
as he became a Fellow of St. John's College in 1539, and would
not, as Dr. Whitaker thinks, have been appointed to so im-
portant a situation immediately after his election to his fellow-
ship. In his days the troubles of the school began, as related
by the celebrated Roger Ascham in a letter " to the most illus-
trious Robert Holgate, bishop of Llandaff, and lord president
of the north."
The letter is in Latin, but has been translated as follows : —
" Those always deserve very well of the state, most illustrious
Prelate, who judge no private expence to be too great for form-
ing the minds and manners of youth in general. For, from the
beginning and foundation of this they very rightly indeed per-
ceive that the State flourishes, and they stir up special praise to
themselves. Now the praise of such a noble deed or under-
taking Master Roger Lupton, a man of pious memory deserved,
some years back, (though not in an equal degree yet in com-
mon with your government), who founded a public school,
where the youth among the Sedbarians should be instructed in
letters and gentility, and gave it, endowed with a certain small
estate, for the support of a school master, and committed and
entrusted it to our care, and, so to speak, control. Over this
school we have lately set Robert Hebblethwaite, an honourable,
peaceable, and learned man. He, finding that some injury
was meditated against himself on account of that aforesaid
school, by a certain Bland and a Cowper, (men of weight
among their own people, through the abundance of their wealth
and the number of their friends), caused us to ask for the exer*
cise of your power in our letters, lest some violence or injury
be inflicted on this school. Let the authority of your prudence
so check and restrain the lust of these men, that so the rest of
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 47
the world may learn what it is to make an attack upon schools
and seminaries for youth, which are themselves the foundations
of a better commonwealth. If you will do this you will greatly
oblige by this one kindness ourselves, the cause of learning,
and the State. He who carries this letter will relate the whole
matter to you more fully, and we earnestly entreat your lordship
to give credence to him."
So far Roger Ascham, and we only wish that he had entered
into particulars in writing, instead of leaving them to his mes-
senger, by which we have lost much information, and must
trust in part to conjecture. No doubt, however, the Bland
mentioned in this letter was one of the family of whom I have
spoken in an earlier chapter, and Dr. Whitaker believes that
he was one Thomas Bland, the father of John Bland who was
rector of Adesham, in Kent.
This John Bland was burnt with three others at Canterbury,
in Queen Mary's reign, July 12th, 1555, on account of his
views relating to the mass ; and Fox gives a long account of
him from letters which he wrote to his father, whose religious
views are supposed to have been the same as his own. I give
two short extracts from the " Book of Martyrs : " — " Then said
Sir John Parker, ' Bland, we hear that you be a Scot, where
were you born and brought up ? ' And I said ' I was born in
England.' And he said * Where?' And I said 'In Sedber,
and brought up by one Dr. Lupton, provost of Eton College.'
' Well,' said he, ' I know him well.' " In another examination
Dr. Faucet said " Mr. Bland, forasmuch as you and I were
brought up in one house, and born both in one parish, I will
be as glad as any man alive to do you good, but ye may not
stand thus against the Church."
In another place Mr. Bland says that he had been Dr. Faucet's
tutor, and as there was a Thomas Faucet living at Lockebanke
in the time of Henry VIII., the doctor may have been of his
family. To return, however, to Bland and Cowper. It is very
possible that they, like many other Protestants of their day,
were desirous to seize on any lands which were likely to be
taken from the Church, and as Dr. Lupton had endowed his
school with the revenues of his Chantry, they might hope that
48 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
in the general confiscation of the property of all chantries, col-
leges, free chapels, hospitals, fraternities, brotherhoods, and
guilds, they might come in for a share of the spoil.
Whether they were successful in any degree I do not know,
or whether the Bishop of Llandaff responded to Roger Ascham's
appeal; but the next thing we hear of Mr. Robert Hebble-
thwaite is in 1545, when he, (still being called chantry priest,
and schoolmaster of Sedbergh), with James Cooper and Row-
land Bland, and the other feoffees, made an indenture with Dr.
John Tailor, master of St. John's College, and the Fellows and
Scholars of the same, witnessing that "whereas Dr. Roger
Lupton, when he established his six scholars in St. John's College,
May 6th, 1528, had "declared and expressed out of what place
and what p'sones the sayd sixe scollers should be chosen for
ever . . . but in the latter foundacon of two fellows and
two scollers, made no declaracon in his wrytinge out of what
school or place the sayd two scollers shuld be continually
chosen. Therefore nowe, as well at the instante suit, desyer,
and labour off James Cowper, of Sedbergh, and at the con-
templacon of his manifolde peyne taken about the foundacon
of the schoole at Sedbergh. As also because the sayd master,
fellowes, and scholars be fullie adcertained and certified yt it
was the sayd Mr. Dr. Lupton's will, desyre, and requeste, divers
and sundrie times yt the elecon of his scholers and disciples of
either of his foundacons myght be made conformable and lyke
in all points. . . . Yt is condescended, covenanted, and
agreed between the sayd p'ties. And y^ sayd master, fellowes,
and scollers promiseth, and by this p'sent themselfe bindeth,
and their successors, yt they shalle from henceforth for ever
choose, electe, and admitte the two scollers that be of the latter
foundacon of the sd Mr. Roger Lupton, but onlie of such per-
sons as have been brought up and have been scollers and
students in Sedbergh School and of no other. . . . And
furthermore because yt ye good mynde which ye sayd Roger
Lupton bare chieflie to the helpe and releavynge of that poor
countrie wherein Sedbergh standeth, and yt his goodlie and
charitable mynde and foundacon should not be illuded, per-
verted, or utterlie destroyed by the sinister and suttill divises
THT? HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 49
or doings of any p'son it is condescended, covenanted, and
agreed between the sayd p'ties. And ye sayd master,
fellowes, and scollers by this present grantith and themself
bindeth, and their successors yt thei yearHe at the elleccon
of the scollers of the sayd Colledge shall choose, electe, and
admitte into the room of any of the disciples of the foundacon
of the sayd Roger Lupton, then vacante, none such scoller or
scollers whom, at ye sayd elleccon time they shall p'rfittlie
know other by the letters of the schoole master or any of the
feoffees of Sedbergh, or by any other certain knowledge, not to
have studied and continued at ther learning in the schoole of
Sedbergh by one whole yeare's space at ye leaste."
With this agreement the history of Dr. Lupton's foundation
may be said to end, for in the years 1546 and 1547 Acts were
passed in Parliament by which " all chantries, colleges, free
chapels, hospitals, fraternities, brotherhoods, and guilds " were
forfeited to the king. Among the rest the chantry at Sedbergh,
called Lupton's chantry, which the pious founder fondly hoped
was founded for ever, was dissolved, and the lands sold by the
king to Sir Edward Warner, Knight of the Hospital ; Sylvester
Leigh, gent., of Pontefract ; and Leonard Bate, of Lupsett,
Yorkshire, gent. These lands are said to have been " late or
present in the occupation of Edward Bland, John Faucett, and
widow of Thomas Faucett, Henry Bland, and widow of William
Bland ; and also Leonard Whitehead, James Lupton, Richard
Lupton, John Harrison, John Faucett, James Faucett, William
Cowper, John, son of Giles Lund, Whitson, Corney,
widow of John Holme, Robert Faucett, . . . Reginald Corney,
Nelson, and widow of John Nelson, Christopher Nelson,
John Faucett (de Mosse), Peter Faucett, Richard Braithwaite,
Thomas Richardson, Bland, William Weiring, Rowland
Bland, Robert Lupton, Thomas Langstaffe, Bryan Langstafife,
Alexander Faucett, and Faucett," and to have been
situate in Sedbergh, Lockebanke, Cautlowe, Frestrey, Dow-
biggin, or elsewhere.
These particulars are from a roll in the Record Office, where
also I found the following entries : — " Sedbergh. A chauntry
there called Lupton chauntry, founded for a Schoole and so
50 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
contynued. In the sayd parishe of Sedbergh is one priest
founde besyde the vicar to serve the cure there, the number of
househng people (illegible), and is a wyde parish. Robert
Hebblethwaite, scholemaster there ; the same was founded by
Dr. Lupton to pray for his soul, and to kepe a free schole as
appeareth by foundation dated March, , and hath
been so used hitherto, and is verie necessarie, for the bringing
up of youth in that wylde countrie. Goodes, ornaments, and
plate belonging to the sd chauntry as appeareth. No goods.
The yerely value of the freehold lands is (figures illegible). A
light in the seyd parish wyth a some of money mayntayned.
The same was founded by one Henry Blound (qu. Bland), to
have contynuance for ever, the seyd some of money for the
mayntenance thereof remaining in the hands of Thomson and
Bryan, yeomen."
It does not appear exactly what lands belonged to the
chantry, as the names of the farms are not given ; but it seems
certain that Lofthouse remained to the school, as it does to
this day, and also the school house and the mansion house of
the master, which Dr. Lupton had built, were not destroyed.
The school was by this means reduced to the utmost poverty,
and remained in a forlorn condition until 1552, the year of its
re-establishment; and it was not the only foundation in this
parish which suffered at that time.
There was then a guild called the Rood Guild, in Sedbergh,
which possessed a farm called " Depemyre, lying in Cawodde,
within the lordship of Hornby, besyde Aurum (alias Archolme)
in the parish of Melling." This farm had been sold in the year
1S3O) by John Myers, of Thystylthwaite, in the county of Cum-
berland, gentleman, to James Cowper, Christopher Robynson,
and Thomas Faucett, who may have been, very probably, the
founders or members of the guild.
I find, in an old history of these times, that the word guild
" proceeds from the Saxon word gelo, or gilo, which signifies
money ; because that such as were either for charity, religion^
or merchandise sake associated, did cast their money, goods,
yea, and sometimes lands, together, for the publick support of
their own common charge. They had their annual feasts and
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. $1
neighbourly meetings." Those guilds which were founded for
religious purposes devoted their money to almsgiving, founding
of chantries, "in which mass was sung for such persons as
were named by the founders," and other such works. To which
of them the Rood Guild in Sedbergh devoted itself I do not
know, as nothing is told of it except its destruction, and the
appropriation of Deepmire to the benefit of the school.
E 2
52 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER III.
We have now arrived at the date of the second foundation of
the School, May 14th, 1552, on which day the letters patent
which re-constituted it were issued by his Majesty Edward 6th.
The original charter is in Latin, but it was translated some
time ago for the benefit of those governors who did not under-
stand that language. It runs thus : —
" Whereas, Roger Lupton, clerk, had lately created a free
Grammar School at Sedbergh, out of the rents, etc., of a cer-
tain chantry there called Lupton Chantry, which lands, etc.,
came to the hands of the Crown by force and virtue of an Act
made for the dissolution of chantries, colleges, free chapels, etc.,
so that the said school cannot be maintained as the said lands
are by us sold. Therefore we, at our special favours, etc., at
the request of the inhabitants, and many of our good subjects
in that neighbourhood, do will, grant, and ordain, for us
and our heirs, that for the future there shall be one Grammar
School in the said parish of Sedbergh, which shall be called
the Free Grammar School of King Edward 6th, to continue
to all future times. We create and ordain that one master and
one undermaster, or usher, shall be continued in the said
school, and that the said intention may take the better effect,
and that the lands, etc., granted for the support of the said
school may be better governed, we grant and ordain that there
shall be twelve men of the most discreet and honest inhabitants
of the same village and parish, who shall be called governours
of the possessions, revenues, and goods of the Free Grammar
School of King Edward VI. in Sedbergh. Therefore know ye
that we elect, name, constitute, and declare, etc., James Duckett,
Richard Middleton, James Cowper, Edward Bland, Robert
Hebylthwaite, Robert Faucett of Howgill, John Robynson,
Thomas Faucett, Humphrey Bland, William Cragg, John
Cooke, and Hugh Robynson, inhabitants of the town and
TH£; HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 53
parish of Sedbergh aforesaid, to be the first and moderne
governours of the possessions, revenues, and goods of the Free
Grammar School of King Edward VL, in Sedbergh, in the
county of York, (that they) from henceforth may and shall
be one body corporate and politick for ever. And that they
shall have perpetual succession, and shall by the same name be
fit persons in law to receive and take of us, land, tenements,
etc., etc., hereinafter mentioned.
" And we do declare by these presents, that when any one
of the twelve governors happen to die or go away to dwell with
his family, or otherwise to depart out of the said village and
parish of Sedbergh, that then it shall be lawful for the surviving
governours there continuing with their families to elect other
fit person or persons of the inhabitants of the village and parish
of Sedbergh, to succeed as governours in the place of such
dying or going away, departing or about to depart with his
family as aforesaid. We do by these presents give and grant to
the governours aforesaid, all that our rectory and our church
at Weston with all its rights, etc., being heretofore given, etc.,
etc., to sustain an anniversary in the Cathedral Church of York.*
And also all houses, edifices, barns, stables, dove cotes, springs,
orchards, gardens, lands, tythes of grain and hay, glebe lands,
and all other profits, etc., whatsoever in any wise belonging,
and the advowson, donation, free disposition, and right of
patronage of the vicarage and church of Weston aforesaid,
and also all that meadow, containing by estimation i^ acres,
and two closes by estimation 2 acres, also 8 acres with their
appurtenances, late in the occupation of Richard Waterhouse,
lying in the parish of Halifax, and late belonging to the free
chapel of Coley, within the said parish, and whatsoever
lands, etc., in any wise belong to the said chapel of Coley.
And also all that our messuage and tenement, etc., called Depe-
mire, being in the parish of Melling, in the county of Lancaster,
late belonging to the Guild called Rood Guild, in Sedbergh,
also two closes, etc., about 2^ acres, being in Skyecoate, in the
* The tithes of Weston and Askwith were seized by the Dean and Chap-
ter of York about 1636.
54 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
parish of Halifax, late belonging to the late chantry called
Hunter's chantry, in Halifax. And all that our cottage or
tenement, and all lands, etc., late in the tenure and occupation
of John Watson, situate and being in Fishlake, in the county
of York. Heretofore given and granted to the sustaining of
lamps in the church of Fishlake aforesaid. And all those our
lands, etc., etc., about yl acres, called Mary Crofts, in the
parish of Thorne, late belonging to the chantry of the blessed
Mary, in the church of Thorne aforesaid, in the county of York.
And also all that our messuage, etc., etc., and lo acres of land,
and ^ acre of meadow, with appurtenances. And also all that
our messuage, land, tenements, etc., etc., known by the name
of Allanthing, containing, by estimation, 30 acres, lying and
being at Bramwith and Barnby, in the county of York, formerly
belonging to the late chantry of the blessed Mary, in Barnby.
And also all that our messuage, and our cottage, and all lands,
tenements, etc., etc., lying and being at Bramwith and Barnby,
formerly belonging to the late chantry of the blessed Mary, in
Barnby aforesaid. And also one acre lying and being at
Westhall. Also i acre lying into Thwaite, within the village
of Thorpe. Also one acre of meadow lying and being into
Old Inge, in Barnby aforesaid, and Fishlake or elsewhere.
(The above three parcels of land formerly belonged to the
late chantry of the blessed Mary, in Barnby.) Also all that
our 18 acres of land, and 16 acres of meadow, with its ap-
purtenances, lying at Stainford, in the county of York. And
also all that our messuage and tenement, etc., etc., lying and
being within the parish of Fishlake and Haylefirth, now or late
in the tenures or occupation of William Simpson, Thomas
Adlington, James Howson, and Christopher Howson, both the
above to Jesu College, in Rotherham, formerly belonging.
And also all the whole late chantry of St. Nicholas, in Ilkley, in
the parts of Craven, with all its rights, etc., etc., known by the
names of Packstone, Becklees, Edes, Longlands, etc., etc.
And all and singular the hereditaments thereunto belonging.
And the reversion and reversions of all and singular the pre-
mises, and of every part and parcel thereof, in as full, free, and
ample a manner and form as any chantry priest, etc., of the
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 55
late chantries, guilds, or colleges, or any of them, or any other
heretofore hath possessed thereof, or hath had, holden, or en-
joyed, or ought or might have, hold, or enjoy the same or any
part thereof, in the same ample manner and form as all and
singular the same came or ought to have come to our hands by
force and virue of a certain Act for dissolving and determining
divers chantries, colleges, guilds, fraternities, and free chapels,
in our Parliament holden at Westminster in the ist year of our
reign, which certain messuages, lands, tenements, rents, rever-
sions, services, and all and singular the premises do now extend
to the clear yearly value of 20/. 13^-. lod. To have and to hold
the aforesaid messuages, etc., and all and singular other the
premises with appurtenances aforesaid, to the modern govern-
nours, etc., newly elected and their successors for ever. To be
holden of us, our heirs, and successors, as of our manor of
Wakefield, by fealty only in free soccage,* and rendering yearly
to us, our heirs, and successors of and for the aforesaid mes-
suages, etc., part of the possessions of the late free chapel of
Coley, 16 pence, and of and for the two closes in Skyecoate and
Halifax, 2 pence and a halfpenny, to our Manor of Wakefield,
and to pay yearly to us, our heirs, etc., after the death of the
most reverend father in God, Robert, by divine permission
Archbishop of York, for the messuages, etc., in Barnby, as well
a certain annual rent of 13 pence halfpenny, as also a certain
annual rent of 4 pence year by year, to be paid for all the rents,
services, and demands, for the premises to us, our heirs and
successors, in any manner or wise whatsoever.
**We do nominate and constitute Robert Hebblethwaite,
clerk, in the office and place of a master, to enjoy the same so
long as he shall live and behave himself well in that office.-
We grant to the said governors, etc., that for the future for ever
they may have one common seal, so that it touch and concern
the same only. And that the said governors may plead and
implead, defend and be defended, answer and be answered, in
whatsoever courts or places, and before whatsoever judge, in
* Lands held in soccage are lands held not on condition of militaiy ser •
vice, but on what are said to be certain inferior husbandry services.
56 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
whatsoever causes, actions, etc., of what nature or kind soever
they may be touching the premises. And seeing that in con-
sideration of ijOoo/. of EngHsh money, by the aforesaid Roger
Lupton, clerk, to the master, fellows, and scholars of the
College of St. John the Evangelist, in the University of Cam-
bridge, commonly called St. John's College, given and granted,
it was consented and agreed between the said Roger Lupton,
and the master, fellows, and scholars of the same college,
that the same master, fellows, and scholars amongst the rest
of the statutes which by the executors of the excellent Princess
Margaret, Countess of Richmond and Derby, foundress of the
said college, certain statutes and ordinances, ordained, incor-
porated, and made, for two fellows and eight scholars in the
same college, to be sustained in all future times over besides
and above the scholars for the foundress before given and
instituted by other benefactors of the same college, which two
fellows and eight scholars are to come forth instructed out of
the Grammar School of Roger Lupton, at Sedbergh aforesaid,
to be founded according to certain writings, agreements, and
ordinances in their behalf made and kept, by virtue whereof
the said master, fellows, and scholars of the said College of St.
John have constantly hitherto been supported and maintained,
and there ought to be supported and maintained in the said
college two fellows and eight scholars coming forth instructed
out of the school of Sedbergh.
*' We will therefore, and by these presents, ordain that the
same two fellows and eight scholars in the said College of St.
John's, as before shewn, shall be sustained for the future,
coming forth instructed out of our school at Sedbergh, by these
presents advanced like as heretofore hath been accustomed to
come forth and be elected out of the school of Roger Lupton
erected at Sedbergh. And we by these presents declare and
ordain that after the decease of Robert Hebblethwaite, now
master, it shall be lawful for the master, etc., of St. John's to
name and elect a master to the school aforesaid ; and if they
do not name and elect a master within the space of one month
after notice to them given, that then it may be lawful for the
governors, with the assent of the bishop of the diocese, to
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 57
elect and name a master to the said school. And we will and
ordain that the said governors, with the advice and assent of
the master and fellows of St. John's College for the time being,
may make fit and wholesome statutes and ordinances in writing
touching the ordering, governing, and directing the master,
usher, and scholars of our school aforesaid, and to be supported
in the said College of St. John's, which statutes and ordinances
so to be made, we, by these presents command to be faithfully
observed from time to time for ever. And farther, of our
abundant favour, and by the advice aforesaid, we give and
grant to the said governors and their successors special liberty
and free and full power to have and take to them and their
successors for ever, of us, our heirs, and successors, manors,
messuages, lands, tenements, rectories, tythes, or other heredita-
ments whatsoever, within the kingdom or elsewhere within our
dominions, for supporting our school aforesaid, so that they do
not exceed the clear yearly value of 20/. over and above the lands
and tenements, etc., etc., given to the said governors aforesaid.
''And we will and ordain that all the clear yearly rents, etc.,
be expended and laid out and converted to the wages and for
sustaining the master and usher of our school, and to no other
use whatsoever. And further, we will and ordain that the
house where the school was formerly kept, and the mansion
house of the master, shall remain and be converted to the like
use for our school and mansion of the master thereof as hath
been accustomed. And that the master for the time being
shall -hold and enjoy the same house, with all buildings, lands,
etc., etc., thereunto belonging.
" And we will and by these presents grant to the governors
these our letters patents under our Great Seal of England, in
due manner to be made and signed without fee or reward,
great or small, to us in our Hamper or elsewhere, to our use,
therefore, in any manner to be rendered, paid, or done. In
witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made
patents. Witness, the King at Westminster, the 14th day of
May, in the fifth year of our reign. By writ of private seal,
and the date aforesaid. By authority of Parliament.
"May 14th, 1552." " Wainwright.
58 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
It will be observed as rather a curious thing that the school
which had been deprived of its property, because that property
was the endowment of a chantry, was re-endowed with lands
belonging to other chantries and religious foundations in other
parts of the country. This arrangement was the cause of
much trouble to later governors, as there was a great difficulty
in collecting rents and looking after tenants, at the distance of
a hundred miles or so from Sedbergh. There were many
law-suits in consequence, and the governors must often have
wished that his Majesty had left them in peaceable possession
of Dr. Lupton's gift, and not followed the pernicious custom of
those days, which unfortunately is not yet extinct, of " robbing
Peter to pay Paul."*
In these days, however, the distance is of little moment, and
the land has increased so much in value that, probably, the
school has gained upon the whole.
* This significant byeword came from the fact that the Bishopric of
Westminster was destroyed, and some few of the lands belonging to it and
to the Abbey (St. Peter's), were laid out for the restoration of St. Paul's
Cathedral.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 59
CHAPTER IV.
It seems probable that Mr. Robert Hebblethwaite, the master
appointed by the King, was the person mentioned in Roger
Ascham's letter. We must suppose him, therefore, to have
been a man of moderate views and quiet temper, or else so
excellent a master that his services could not be dispensed with,
as he had begun by being a chauntry priest, and was continued
in his office of schoolmaster by the men who destroyed the
chauntries.
I have not been able to find out how long Mr. Hebblethwaite
held the school, but in the year 1562 he was still master, as
appears from an award touching the rent of Lofthouse, a farm
which still belongs to the school. The award is as follows :
" Unto all true Christian people, to whom soever this present
award indented shall come, etc. Robert Faucett, of Sedbergh,
John Cooke, of the same, and John Holme, of the same, within
the county of York, yeomen, send greeting in our Lord God
everlasting. Whereas there have been divers variances, con-
troversies, and debates heretofore had, moved, and depending
betwixt Robert Hebblethwaite, clerk, schoolmaster of Sedbergh,
of the one part, and Robert Bower, of the same Sedbergh,
husbandman, on ye other part. And most specially for one
parcel of ground which ye said Bower saith ye said Robert
Hebblethwaite held from him. For quietness to be had therein
both the said parties have committed and given their said
matters to us, the aforesaid Robert Faucett, John Cooke, John
Holme, of their full consent. Whereupon we deem, judge, and
award that Robert Hebblethwaite and his successors, or they
who shall have ye interest of ye tenement called Lofthouse, now
in ye occupation of ye said Robert Hebblethwaite, shall con-
tent and pay yearly at Whitsuntide, for ever, Sd. to ye said
Robert Bower and his assigns, or them who shall have ye, tene-
ment which ye said Robert Bower is in occupation of. Alsoe
60 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
we deem, judge, and award that the said Robert Hebblethwaite,
his successors nor assigns, shall never give any fine, income, or
grossonie, to the said Robert Bower, nor his assigns, neither at
change of lord nor tenant, but only the yearly rent of 8^., as
before is said. In witness whereof we, the aforesaid arbitrators
to this"said award, have put to our hands and seals, the 5th day
of April, in the 4th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady
Elizabeth, by ye grace of God, Queen of England, France, and
Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc."
I have found no record of Mr. Hebblethwaite's death, nor of
any other event until the year 1589, when leases were granted
of farms at Ilkley to Robert Cowghyll, butcher, and Richard
Gybsone, farmer, by the governors of the school, whose names
are given in the lease, as follows : Richard Duckett, Francis
Cowper, John Robinson, James Syggiswyk, junr., Gylberte
Bland, James Faucett, Thomas Atkinson, Christopher Holme,
and Henry Sawre. CowghylFs lease was for twenty-two years,
and the land which the governors " demysed, granted, and to
farme lettyn," consisted of " one dwelling house, one barne, and
one lytle house, one croft thereunto adjoining, one close cawlyd
East Close, conteanynge foure acres, one other close cawlyd
Syke Close, conteanynge one acre and a halfe, one rood of
medow cawlyd Wheattags, three roods of ground cawlyd [word
illegible], sytuate in the next holme, one close cawlyd Bynding
Holme, conteanynge towards three acres or lesse, comons,
comon of pasture and [word illegible], with all and singular ye
appurtenances and all other p'fitts and comoditys thereunto
belonging or in any wyse appertaining, or which have been
knawen, tayken, rented, or occupied, or any part, parcell, or
number of the sayme within the towne and fields of Ilkley afore-
said." For this he agreed to pay the yearly rent of thirteen
shillings, four pence, of current YngHshe money att the Feast of
the Nativitye of St. John Baptiste and St. Andrew th' Apostle,
by evyn portions to be payd att or in the south porch door of
Ilkley Church aforesayd." (The following form of oath is in
one of the governor's books : " I, A. B., do sweare according
unto the grant and trust reposed in my p'decessors by King
Edward the Sixth, constituting them a Corporation, and me a
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 6 1
member thereof now elected, well and faithfully to execute and
p'forme the office of one of the governors of the Free Grammar
Schoole of King Edward Sixth, in Sedbergh, in preserving the
rights and privileges thereto belonging, and improving them to
the best advantages of the said schoole, and therein I will dis-
charge my conscience uprightly, soe helpe me God.")
The next event recorded is the granting of a lease by John
Mayer, schoolmaster of Sedbergh, to John Graswith, of one
acre of meadow in Kirk Sandal Ing, late in the occupation of
George Brookby, of Halifax, gentleman, at the rent of 3 shillings
(March 27, 1598). There were Mayers, or Mayres, whose
baptisms and deaths are registered, but it is not stated that
they belonged to Mr. John Mayer, M.A., master of the Free
Grammar School. He was buried March ist, 1622 (or 23), and
a gentleman of his name died at Thorns Hall in the year 1670.
He was succeeded, apparently, by Mr. Gilbert Nelson, who
" was of St. John's College in Cambridge, mentioned in the
register of that university to have taken both his degrees of that
college, that of B.A., 1618-9, and that of M.A., 1622; but having
never been fellow, was probably chosen master of Sedbergh
School for his worth." (Life of Dr. John Barwick).
He^had four daughters, all baptized at Sedbergh, the first in
1626, and is thus described in the life of his distinguished pupil
Dr. John Barwick. " When John had lost much time under
masters of little diHgence, and not much learning, and was now
well grown, he was sent to Sedberg School in Yorkshire, not
without hopes, as it afterwards proved, that he would there
make a greater proficiency in learning. His master there was
Mr. Gilbert Nelson, a very good man, but that he did not
constantly attend the school, for his salary not being sufficient
to maintain his wife and family, he engaged also in a cure of
souls, to the great disadvantage of his scholars. What time he
could afford them he taught them Latin very well, Greek
indifferently. He was a very pleasant facetious man, and by
his many comments rendered so very agreeable what used to
give most uneasiness in learning, that his scholars became fond
of their books, though never so hard. They were wonderfully
delighted when he undertook to explain any of the dramatick
62 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
poets, particularly Terence or Plautiis, for whatever in them
seemed difficult to the weaker capacity of the boys, he expounded
with so much wit and merriment that all who had the least
ingenuity were extremely in love with that sort of learning. In
order also more thoroughly and clearly to explain the meaning
of those poets, whether comedians or tragedians, he used to
teach such of his scholars as he found fit for it to tread the
stage now and then for their diversion, and act the several parts
of those plays ; without which kind of knowledge he knew he
might fit them for the lives of monks or hermits, but not to
bear any offices in the State, or perform the duties of a civil
life. Among such as were most skilful in acting plays, he took
greatest delight in John Barwick, and was mightily pleased to
see him act so much to'the life the part of Hercules raving in
the tragedy, as to gain the applause of all the spectators."
Mr. Nelson is also highly spoken of by another pupil, Mr.
Sedgwick, agent to the Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery,
and born at Capplethwaite, in Killington ; but, as he says,
" Capplethwaite being sold, my father then bought a small
estate a mile above Sedbergh, from whence I and my second
brother went every day to the school there, being then of great
note and eminence, under Mr. Gilbert Nelson, the worthy
schoolmaster ; who out of his love and affection to me, when
my father began to decay in his estate, took me into his own
house, and gave me diet and lodging for a year and above, with
other scholars then boarders there. A great honour I had for
the memory of so worthy a person ; and though God did not
prolong his life till my coming into the north in 1652, yet I had
the means and opportunity, by the favour of my most honoured
lady the Countess of Pembroke, to place his widow (then in a
low condition) mother of her ladyship's almshouse in Appleby,
then newly built and endowed by her, where she had a con-
venient chamber, a garden, and 8/. a year, during her life;
taking a daughter of hers at the same time into her service,
from whence she was afterwards well married."
I have not been able to find out what Church was served by
Mr. Nelson to the detriment of the school ; and there are no
further records of him, except that in January, 1625, a power
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 63
of attorney was granted to him to hold a court at Bramwith
Woodhouse, Bramwith, Barnby, Fishlake, and Stayneford, etc.,
and to collect rents, grant leases, etc., by He. Cowper, Thomas
Atkinson, Edward Bland, Jo. Fothergill, John Bland, James
Cowper, Edmund Guye, Theophilus Waidson, Reginald Robin-
son, John Robinson ; and in 1635 ^ similar power of attorney
was given to Mr. Nelson and William Foster, of Tatham,
Lancashire, gent., by John Bland, Edmund Guye, John Robin-
son, Theophilus Waidson, James Cowper, James Sidgewicke,
governors of the school.
In 1648 Mr. Nelson died, and was buried June 26th; and
before entering on the history of his successor I will give my
readers a short account of one of his pupils. Dr. John Barwick,
whose life was written in Latin by his brother, and a translation
published about the same date, from which the following
chapter is principally derived.
64 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER V.
Dr. John Barwick was born at Witherslack, in Westmorland.
His father was of an ancient family (being descended from
Thomas de Berwick, or Barwick, who had the command of the
archers in the reign of Edward the 3rd), but possessed only a
small estate, which he adminstered so prudently, as to bring up
all his five sons well, and leave his estate increased when he
died. Peter Barwick, who was seven years younger than John,
was, like him, educated at Sedbergh, and at St. John's College,
Cambridge, which he left probably on account of the ejectments.
In 1655 he was created doctor of physick, and married a kins-
woman of Archbishop Laud about the same time. He practised
in London, and directly after the Restoration he was made one
of the king's physicians in ordinary.
In the following year he and his brother John had the honour
of an addition to the arms of their family, of a red rose irradiated
with gold. He left only one daughter, who married Sir Ralph
Dalton, of Sherborn, in Gloucestershire. He was a zealous
advocate of Dr. Harvey's discovery of the circulation of the
blood, famous for his knowledge in the small pox and all sorts
of fevers, and also was of great service during the erruption of
the plague in London. " When the dreadful fire of that city
the year following had driven him from the neighbourhood of
St. Paul's, where he had purchased a house for the convenience
of attending daily upon God's service in that cathedral ; the
same pious reason determined him to take another house very
near Westminster Abbey, where he lived to a great age, and
constantly frequented the six a clock prayers, consecrating the
beginning of every day to God, as he always dedicated the next
part of it to the poor, not only prescribing to them in their
sickness gratis, but furnishing them with medicines at his own
expence, and charitably reHeving their other wants." (From
the preface to the translation of the life of Dr. John Barwick).
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 65
He died on the 4th of September, 1705, in the 86th year of
his age (having been for some years blind), and was buried
near his wife, in the Church of St. Faith.
John Barwick went up to Cambridge in the year 163 1, at the
age of eighteen, and had for his tutor Mr. Thomas Fothergill,
to whom he was greatly indebted both for his instruction and
pecuniary aid. He studied hard, but diverted himself by
pitching the bar, and football, and also by music. He used to
sing in the choir, and in after years found his knowledge of
church music "very useful for the management of a choir,
when he was promoted to the government of a cathedral."
He early began to take a prominent part in the public affairs
of that unhappy time, and was one of the persons who managed
the conveyance of plate and money from the university to the
king at Nottingham. This was a difficult business, as Crom-
well had heard of the intentions of the colleges, and was lying
in wait to intercept their offering, but it was conveyed safely
through bye roads. Shortly after this the university was
" visited " and the loyal members of it deprived of their
incomes, and some of the more important imprisoned.
Mr. Barwick, who had been chosen fellow of St. John's
College, gave an account of the sufferings of his own college
under the title of " Querela Cantabrigensis, or the University
of Cambridge's Complaint." Before this he and some friends
had written a book against the Solemn League and Covenant,
which was not pubhshed, because it was thought by the Vice-
Chancellor, Dr. Ralph Brownrigg, that it would endanger the
heads of the university. Mr. Barwick, of course, was deprived
of his fellowship, but he had left Cambridge a month before
the ejectments began, probably in February, 1643, and went to
London, where he had the management of the king's affairs,
and carried on a con-espondence between London and Oxford,
the king's head quarters. For greater convenience and safety
in this business he lived in the family of Dr. Morton, Bishop of
Durham, whose private chaplain he was, as Durham House,
being large, afforded opportunity for hiding papers and cyphers,
and his chaplaincy gave a sufficient reason for his residence in
London. Here he endeavoured to bring back to their duty
F
66 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
those men that he perceived to be wavering, especially Sir
Thomas Middleton, of Wales, who afterwards did good service
to the King, and Colonel Roger Pope, who, however, had no
sooner returned to his allegiance than he was seized with the
plague.
In his last illness Mr. Barwick ministered to him, though the
Colonel had hesitated to send for him for fear of infection, and
also from a feeling that he had done so much to injure the
Church that he did not deserve to be comforted by the clergy.
Mr, Barwick managed to keep up a secret correspondence with
the King, in cypher, and by means of various agents, all the
time of his imprisonment ; and was with him after he was taken
from Holmby House to the head quarters of the army. He
was sent by the King to London, during the negotiations with
the Parliament, and even went disguised as a soldier with
Cromwell's army towards London, in order to find out how the
common soldiers were affected to the King's cause.
When the King was removed to Carisbrook Castle Mr.
Barwick still managed to communicate with him, in cypher,
through one of his servants, Mr. Cressit. He also received and
deciphered letters in London for and from others of the King's
friends, particularly Mr. Thomas Holden, who being found out
and imprisoned, Mr. Barwick went to see him, and succeeded
in conversing with him in whispers through a chink of a nailed-
up door, and so was able to find and burn all his cyphers and
papers, and give warning to other persons who were threatened
with imprisonment.
All this time Mr. Barwick seems not to have been suspected
himself, but was able not only to do the King's business (on
one occasion going from London to the Isle of Wight in one
day and back again in the same time, without being tired) but
also to help his less fortunate friends.
After the King's death he still would not despair of the
Monarchy, but continued to correspond with the young King
and his ministers abroad, one of his two brothers, Peter and
Edward, who were both then in London, going to the post
office for his letters, which came under a feigned name. Mr.
Barwick was at this time in a very feeble state of health,
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 67
supposed to be in a consumption, and not likely to recover,
insomuch that, with the assistance of his " dearest friend, Mr.
John Otway," (of whom more hereafter) he had prepared him-
self a burying place where he might be interred with the rites
of the Church of England. But at last he and his brother
Edward, being betrayed by one of their agents, were brought
before those in power, in the Holy Week of the year 1650, Mr.
Barwick having left the Bishop of Durham some time before,
and being in private lodgings, which he frequently changed to
escape detection.
The brothers were examined separately, but nothing could
be extracted from them, though John Barwick was threatened
with torture to make him discover his accompHces. " But he,
who (as they well knew) would never acknowledge for laws the
military resolves of these new lords, made no scruple to answer
undauntedly that neither he himself, nor any others with whom
he had entertained friendship, had done anything that he knew
repugnant to the laws of his country; and that if anything
should possibly be extorted from him to the contrary by the
force of torments, which that dry and bloodless carcase they
saw of his might not be able to bear, it ought by all means to
pass for nothing."
His brother Edward was threatened with death, and both
brothers were charged with contumacy, but nothing could be
proved against them or their friends, as Mr. John Barwick,
before the messengers who came to take him could break open
his door, which he always kept bolted, had burnt all his letters
and cyphers. However, he was found guilty of high treason,
and his brother suspected of it, so both were confined in
dungeons in the Gate House of Westminster, by a warranl from
Bradshaw, president of the new Republic.
Here they suffered a close imprisonment, none of their friends
being permitted to see them, and were treated with great
cruelty, until at the end of a few weeks Mr. Edward Barwick,
when "almost destroyed with cold and hunger," was let out of
prison, upon security to return there when summoned.
But his captivity had been more than he could bear, and he
soon afterwards died of diseases brought on by his hardships.
F 2
68 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
" He was a young man of exemplary piety/' and had borne
arms for the King under Sir Marmaduke Langdale as ensign
in the company of Colonel James Bellingham. " After that
gallant army of north countrymen was routed, taking his colours
from the staff, he tied them round his waste, and brought them
safe to his colonel."
In the meanwhile, John Barwick, after three days' imprison-
ment, had been again examined and threatened, and promised
large rewards if he would confess what plots he had been privy
to, but without effect. " Yet they thought it not advisable to
put him to the torture, a barbarity in this age unheard of in
England, and he reduced to a mere shadow;" but "by a
warrant under Bradshaw's own hand, dated the 12th of April,
1650, they order Mr. Francis West, Lieutenant of the Tower
of London, to take into his custody this dying person. Nor
after all this did they desist from their cruel threatenings, for
they gave this reason for changing his prison, that he might be
nearer to the rack, kept there to torture such incorrigible rebels,
as they esteemed him ; nor indeed, as false and perfidious as
they were in other instances, did they use to fail the least tittle
of what they threatened."
" But Mr. Barwick's hopes soared higher than to be the least
affected with their dire menaces. In all difiiculties he still
preserved his mind firm and undejected, and at all times fortified
his faith and patience with this pious reflection, that upon the
very same day, according to the computation of the Church,
Christ had endured more grievous sufferings for him, for it was
on Good Friday that all this was done." The Lieutenant of the
Tower kept him very strictly, even nailing boards against his
window to intercept the air, and not allowing him writing
materials, or any book except the Bible, which he almost learnt
by heart during his imprisonment. All his possessions had been
seized, and no allowance was made for his support, while great
difficulties were put in the way of any assistance from his
friends, who were not allowed to see him, except one special
person, and he only in the presence of the gaolers.
Mr. Barwick had always lived sparingly, but now was obliged
to do so more than ever, not being desirous of causing more
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 69
expense to his friends than he could help. Among these
friends must be reckoned the King (Charles the 2nd) who,
having received the welcome present of a thousand pounds
from Lady Savill, ordered two hundred to be employed for Mr.
Barwick's relief, and endeavoured to exchange for him a
prisoner he had made. But contrary to the expectation of
friends or enemies, the spare diet, close confinement, and
enforced idleness, were of singular benefit to his enfeebled
health, so that after fifteen months, Mr. Otway having with
great difficulty obtained leave from Bradshaw to visit his friend
and carry messages from other friends in Gray's Inn, found Mr.
Barwick so much altered for the better that he hardly knew
him ; and " being almost astonished at the unexpected sight."
" Is this," says he, " that Mr. Barwick whom I saw at our last
meeting, or am I rather imposed upon by some apparition ?"
" Yes, indeed," replied Mr. Barwick, " you might formerly take
me for a shade or an apparition, or anything of yet less
substance, my dear Mr. Otway, when you was so good to take
upon you the care of seeing my then wasted body duly interred ;
but now I am again your very friend Barwick, since God of
His great mercy has sent His Spirit into these dry bones, and
beyond all hope commanded them to live under this severe
confinement."
The two friends were left alone together by the Lieutenant
of the Tower (who had been so won over by the goodness of
his prisoner as to have become very friendly to him), and had
a long and interesting conversation, Mr. Otway with much
difficulty prevailing on Mr. Barwick to accept a small sum of
money as a pledge of the further bounty of his friends if he
required it.
Mr. Barwick's example had made so great an impression upon
Mr. Robert Browne, the Deputy Lieutenant of the Tower, that
he was, " together with his wife and family, daily at prayers with
him ; received the blessed Sacrament from his hands ; brought
his new bom child to be baptised by him according to the rites
of the Church of England ; and, indeed, became' so thorough a
penitent that he would no longer serve under the usurpation,
but soon after returned to his own trade, that of a cabinet-
70 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
maker, as more honest, though less gainful." The sponsors at
this baptism were the Lords Ogilby and Spiney, both prisoners
in the Tower, and the wife of General David Leslie, who had
been taken prisoner at Worcester, and was also himself present
at the ceremony, though formerly an enemy to the Church of
England, but, as he said on the occasion to Lord Ogilby,
" such sacred offices as these are by no means unacceptable to
me, which may be not a little owing to the extraordinary virtue
and piety of this holy man."
By the favour of his gaolers Mr. Barwick's captivity was
much lightened, and he was removed into a convenient room
where he was allowed to take exercise and see his friends.
The Government, during the last four months of his imprison-
ment, granted him five shillings a week towards his subsistence,
chiefly through the entreaties of Mr. West, to whose endeavours
also his liberation on the 7th of August, 1652, is principally to
be attributed. This took place before the Government was
seized by Cromwell.
Mr. Barwick being out of prison, devoted some time to his
private studies, reading prayers daily at some friend's house.
He had only been set free on condition that he would appear
when called upon, but he was not troubled any more, though
he soon began to turn his thoughts towards the restoration of
the Church and King. To relate distinctly the part he took in
this we must return to his friend Mr. Otway, who if not a
Sedbergh scholar (and I think it likely he was one), may cer-
tainly be claimed as a Sedbergh man.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 7^
CHAPTER VI.
Mr., afterwards Sir, John Otway, was born at Beckside, in
Middleton, and was the son of Mr. Roger Otway, who died
at Ingmire Hall, near Sedbergh, February, 1648. He was
admitted pensioner of St. John's College, Cambridge, at the
age of 16, June 3, 1636, and made fellow March 24, 1639.
He was ejected with the rest of the fellows March 15, 1643,
for refusing to take the solemn league and covenant, and other
misdemeanours.
In Dr. Barwick's life he is called " that brave Mr. Otway,
who first of all the University of Cambridge was not afraid
publickly and learnedly to defend the Royal cause against the
wicked association of those which were thence called the
Associated Counties, in despight of the ringleaders of the
rebellion and all their malice; first of all was thrown into
prison for that heroick action ; and being first of all expelled
the University, courageously led up the first rank, as it were,
of academick combatants, who fought so strenuously against
savage brutes in that glorious conflict for their oppressed
country ; nor did he shew less courage afterwards in the field
against the sworn enemies of the Kingdom than he had
formerly done in the University."
He married, first, Mary Rigg, of Winchester, and secondly,
Elizabeth, daughter of John Braithwaite, and niece and heiress
of Thomas Braithwaite, of Ambleside. He was one of the
readers of Gray's Inn, and during Mr. Barwick's residence in
London he seems to have been there also. When Mr. Barwick
was set at liberty, he and Mr. Otway and other Royalists,
endeavoured to persuade those of their friends who were of the
other party to return to their duty, and, in particular, Mr.
Otway devoted his attention to his two brothers-in-law, Colonel
Daniel Redman, who married his sister, and Colonel John
Clobery, who married his wife's sister. Colonel Clobery com*
72 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. ,
manded in Scotland, and Colonel Redman in Ireland. Colonel
Clobery was a friend of General Monk, and Colonel Redman
served under Henry Cromwell, and their brother-in-law laboured
for seven years to bring them over to his side, in which at last
he succeeded with the assistance of Mr. Barwick, who frequently
came up to London from Sussex, where he lived under the pro-
tection of Sir Thomas Ersfield. After his death Mr. Barwick
remained some time with Sir Thomas Middleton in Wales, with
whom he had many consultations regarding his Majesty's affairs,
and from thence went to London in the beginning of the year
1658, where he lived with his brother, Dr. Peter Barwick.
In his house, in St. Paul's Churchyard, he found an oratory
formerly consecrated to God, but profaned during the Rebellion.
He restored it to its former beauty, and constantly performed
divine service there. In this house there were also many con-
venient hiding places for cyphers and letters, of which during
this time Mr. Barwick received some from the King, and many
from Sir Edward Hyde, afterwards Lord Clarendon. With the
latter he had a long correspondence on the subject of consecra-
ting new bishops, those prelates who remained being now very
old, so that it was feared that the succession might be lost.
The Restoration, however, happily prevented this misfortune.
In the meanwhile, Oliver Cromwell being dead, and his son
Richard Protector, the hopes of the Royalists began to revive,
and Mr. Barwick had reason to believe that by the industry of
his friend Mr. Otway, both Colonel Clobery and Colonel
Redman were willing to serve the King when opportunity
offered. Colonel Redman, however, was turned out of his
employment in Ireland at the same time as his general, Henry
Cromwell, and became for the present useless. Therefore,
" Mr. Barwick, by his Majesty's direction, desired Mr. Otway
to lay aside all thoughts of the affair in Ireland for some time,
and take a journey into Scotland, and prevail with his brother-
in-law. Colonel Clobery, to endeavour by all means possible to
bring over his general to the King's interest, to which no
accession could be of greater importance, and with whom the
great opinion the general had of Clobery 's courage, prudence,
and fidelity, had given him no little credit.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 73
Mr. Otway undertook the business willingly, and performed
the journey at his own charges, in acknowledgement of which
service and many others, he received the following letter from
the King : —
" Brussels, Jan. 8, 1660.
" The person through whose hands this comes to you, hath
enough informed me of your great affection and zeal to my
service, and of the pains you have taken to advance it, of which
you may be confident I have the sense I ought to have. I
have writ to your friend (Col. Clobery) which you will deliver
to him and use your interest in him, that he may take my
business to heart ; and persue it with his utmost industry and
dexterity. I hope the issue will be good for us all, and you
will find that I can never forget your part, and that I shall
always be
" Your affectionate friend,
" Charles R."
Mr. Otway had not been long at his brother-in-law's quarters
in Edinburgh, when General Monk's brother arrived, also an
emissary of the King, and he and Colonel Clobery and others
used all the influence they possessed with the General to incline
him to the resolution he finally adopted. In August, 1659,
there was an unsuccessful rising of Royalists in Cheshire, and
General Lambert, after having defeated them, marched his
army against General Monk, who was, he knew, no friend to
him, though Monk's real designs, if he had any, were at this
time known to none, and could only be guessed at. Mr. Otway
thought it a favourable sign that the General made use of
Colonel Clobery to purge the army of such officers and men as
he could not confide in, before he marched to England.
He sent three commissioners before him (of whom Colonel
Clobery was the chief), and in London the colonel met Mr.
Otway and Mr. Barwick, and also Colonel Redman, who they
hoped would induce his old regiment to declare for the King.
Colonel Redman set off for Yorkshire, where his regiment was
encamped, and as soon as his old soldiers saw him " they bad
their new commanders, Axtel and Zanchy, shift for themselves,
74 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
openly protesting they would serve hereafter under none but
Colonel Redman, and their example was followed by the whole
wing, to the number of fifteen hundred horse."
Thus a great obstacle in General Monk's road to London
was removed, and Lambert's army weakened; but this cele-
brated march is a matter of general history with which Mr.
Barwick and Mr. Otway had nothing to do but look on and
wait, and send what tidings they could to their friends abroad.
But when Monk declared for the King, Mr. Barwick was sent
by the bishops to his Majesty at Breda to inform him of the
state of the Church, etc.
He preached there before the King, and was appointed one
of his chaplains. He also petitioned that his friend Mr. Otway
might be put into a place then vacant in the Court of Chancery,
to which he had some right from the grant of Charles the ist.
I do not know whether this was the vice-chancellorship of
the Duchy of Lancaster, or the chancellorship of the County
Palatine of Durham, but Sir John Otway filled both these
offices ; nor do I know in what year he was knighted. Colonel
Clobery was knighted and received a considerable pension. I
cannot discover how Colonel Redman was rewarded. Mr.
Barwick went to Cambridge and took his doctor's degree, but
refused to turn out the holder of his fellowship, and would not
ask for any preferment or favour for himself, except that he
hoped to be confirmed in the possession of his prebendal stall
at Durham, and the rectories of Wolsingham and Houghton-in-
le-Spring, which had been given him by his late patron the
Bishop of Durham, from the enjoyment of which benefices
" the iniquity of the times had debarred him."
However, the King ofiered him the See of Carlisle, which he
declined lest persons should think he had ambitious motives
for his anxiety to fill up the vacant Sees, and was appointed
Dean of Durham. He took possession of the deanery on All
Saints Day, 1660, and reserved to himself only the living of
Houghton, distant four miles from Durham. Here he liberally
employed his large revenues for the public good, repairing the
cathedral and the prebendal houses, erecting a grammar school,
and bringing water into the college for the prebendal houses.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 75
But he had not time to execute half he had intended, for before
the year was expired he was appointed Dean of St. PauFs, and
gave up his preferments in the north, where he would for his
own part have preferred to stay.
He went to St. Paul's in October, 1661, and at once began
to restore the musical service, which had been discontinued.
(This he had also done at Durham.) He found great disorder
in the cathedral, there being only two canons instead of twelve,
and they neglectful of their duty, and began at once to do his
best to remedy this state of things, subscribing largely to the
repairs of the cathedral.
He was appointed prolocutor in Convocation, and by his
labours there, and in his duties as dean, he again ruined his
health, and was seized with his old distemper November, 1662.
Notwithstanding, he would not be withheld from administering
the Holy Communion in St. Paul's on Christmas Day, after
which service he became much worse, and was ordered to have
rest and change. The former he would never really take, but
for the sake of the latter he removed to his living of Therfield,
in Hertfordshire. Here he became a little better, and endea-
voured to resume his duties in London, but was obliged to
return to the country, and stayed at Chiswick by the express
command of his ecclesiastical superiors, though even there he
continued to work very hard in arranging papers, etc. He had
a severe fit of vomiting blood, and going to London a short
time afterwards he was seized with a violent pain in his side
and died in three days, October 22, 1664. Dr. Henchman,
Bishop of London, read the burial service over him ; and his
dear friend. Dr. Gunning, afterwards Bishop of Chichester and
of Ely, preached the sermon, his text being Phil, i., 21, 22,
23, 24.
In his will he left his copy, in two volumes, of the Eicon
Basilike to his " dearest friend, Mr. John Otway, who mainly
by his advice and persuasion (to use the words of the testator
himself) declined no labour nor danger that the King's son
might be restored to his throne." He left, among other
legacies, 40/. to Sedbergh School, 300/. to St. John's College,
and 100/. to St. Paul's Church, and these three sums "to be
76 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
employed in the repairs of all those publick buildings." His
epitaph was written in Latin by Mr. Samuel Hewlett, a young
gentleman of great promise, and fellow of St. John's College.
I found an imperfect copy of it in a book belonging to the
governors of Sedbergh School. The following is a transla-
lation : —
Sacred
To Love, and to Generations to come.
Thou that passest by, whosoever thou art,
Bring hither thine Eyes and Understanding also,
Intuitively both to look and lament.
For within this marble Wardrobe are folded up
The thin worn Weeds
Of the valuable, substantial, and well accoutred Soul
Of John Barwick, Doctor of Divinity ;
To whom Westmorland may well boast
To have given Breath and Being ;
Next Cambridge may boast
To have given him his first Admission,
And St. John's College there a Fellowship
In that Foundation : ^
From which Fellowship
(Which still makes more for his Honour)
He was unjustly ejected by a Pack of Parricides,
Who notwithstanding
Regardless of the Rage of those bloody Times,
Or his own Blood-spitting Malady equally pernicious,
And at length more certain, alas ! to destroy him :
Boldly attempted and successfully managed
Matters of the greatest Difficulty and Danger,
In the behalf of the King and Church ;
And for that Cause
Was shut up in a dire and loathsome Prison,
Where he suffered inhuman and barbarous Usage.
Yet with a constant and undaunted Spirit.
And in the end he saw,
By the Miracle as it were of a new Creation,
The Revival of both Crown and Mitre,
Himself vigorously assisting at the new Birth of both.
Last of all
For his active Services, and passive Sufferings,
He was dignified with the Deanery of Durham,
Which he held a few months.
And afterwards with that of St. Paul's
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 77
Which he enjoyed three years,
Tho' either of them too short a Season,
Yet discharged both with singular care and Fidelity,
Living and dying a Bachelor,
And strictly chaste and sanctimonious
Both in Soul and Body :
And being much debilitated
By a long and lingering Consumption,
Here he rests in the Lord,
And deposits his Remains
Among those ruinous ones of St. Paul's Church,
Being confident of the Resurrection
Both of the one and the other.
He died in the 53d Year of his Age,
And of our Lord 1664.
Reader, if thou desirest to know more
Of this Reverend Churchman
Go Home, and learn
By the conspicuous copy of his sincere Devotion
What it is to be a true Christian indeed.
This is taken from the translation of Dr. Barwick's Life,
and so is the original Latin, which is as follows : —
Amori et ^ternitati.
Quisquis es Viator,
Oculum, animum, hue adverte, lege, luge.
Jacent sub hoc marmore
Tenues exuviae non tenuis animae
JOHANNIS Barwick, S. S. Th. D.
Quem suum
Natalibus gloriatur Ager Westmoriensis,
Studiis Academia Cantabrigiensis,
Admissum socium in S. Johannis Collegium
Indeque, quod magis honori est,
Pulsum a Rebellibus.
Qui nee perduellium rabiem.
Nee Haemoptysin, quamvis aeque cruentam,
Et certius heu ! tandem percussuram,
Quicquam moratus.
Pro Rege et Ecclesia summe ardua molitus,
Diro carcere perquam inhumana passus.
(Inconcussa semper virtute)
Renatum denuo vidit et Diadema et Insulam,
Etiam sua non parum obstetricante manu.
Qui deinde functus
7 8 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Decanatu Dunelmensi paucis mensibus,
Paulino ver6 triennio,
Parum diu utroque, sed fideliter ;
Tandem (post ccelibatum
Cum primis caste cum primis sancte cultum)
Labe pulmonum et curis publicis confectus,
Heic requiescit in Domino,
Atque inter sacras ^dis Paulinae ruinas,
Reponit suas
(Utrasque resurrecturas securus)
Anno astatis LI 1 1.
Salutis MDCLXIV.
Caetera scire si velis,
Discede et Disce
Ex illustri primsevse pietatis exemplo,
Etiam sequiore hoc seculo,
Quid sit esse veri nominis Christianum.
His brother, Dr. Peter Barwick, observes, that he was
spared much sorrow in dying before the Great Fire of
London, which, however, it was remarked by his affectionate
friends, spared that part of the choir of the Cathedral where he
was wont to celebrate the Eucharist, and one little Oratory
which he used for his private prayers. From the likeness of him
affixed to his life. Dr. Barwick would appear to have possessed
handsome features and a pleasant face.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 79
CHAPTER VII.
While these various events were in progress Sedbergh was not
without its own share of trouble. The University having been
visited before the death of Mr. Gilbert Nelson, it was to the
usurping master and fellows that the governors of the school
had to address themselves in the year 1648, and they received
the following reply : —
" A Coppie of the College letter of recommendation of Mr.
Jackson.
" St. John's Colledge, Cambridge,
July 31st, 1648.
" Gentlemen, — We, the master and senior fellows of St.
John's Colledge, in Cambridge, understanding by your letters
of June 3olh (which came to our hands July 6th) that the Free
Grammar School of Sedbergh is now void by the death of Mr.
Nelson, finding that it belongs to us to elect a schoolmaster
within a month after notice of a vacancy, duly consideringe the
present condition of ye schoole (not without takeinge to heart
yor affectionate address made to us for a good supply), and
earnestly desireinge to approve ourselves to God and men in
the faithful discharge of our duty herein, have made choice of
the bearer hereof, Richard Jackson, Master of Arts heretofore
of our colledge. A man of such approved abilities and con-
versation, and withall of such experience as wee cannot but
hope that he will by God's blessinge prove instrumental for
regaineing the reputation of yo^ schoole, and promotinge as
well pietie as learning among you, wee therefore heartily recom-
mend him to your love (not doubtinge of his friendly reception)
and you to the guidance and grace of Christ, in whom we are
yor assured friends — Jo. Arrowsmith, Js. Worrall, Geo.
SiKES, Jo. Pawson, Tho. Goodwin, Sam Heron."
So THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
How little Mr. Jackson deserved the high praise bestowed
on him in this letter the following account of his actions will
show. He seems, very soon after his arrival in Sedbergh, to
have begim to quarrel with the governors of the school, and to
engage them in various expensive lawsuits. They paid one of
their attorneys, Mr. Ward, from June, 1650, to August, 1654,
55/. 1 1 J". 7^., and more was still owing; for various expenses
in the same suit, 11/. gs. was paid. Another bill was 22/. iSs. ;
and another, for expenses and repairs, was 106/. 12^-. id. ; and
yet another, for the second suit against Mr. Jackson, was
21/. Ss. id. These various expenses I believe to have been
for a suit between the masters and governors respecting a tenant
at Stainforth. The governors had granted a lease of their land
there to William Coulson for twenty years, at a rent of 23J. 4^.,
the fine being 15/. Coulson underlet the land to a man named
Swift. But the previous tenant, John Wright (who had paid
15^-. 4d. per annum, and whose lease had expired in 1645),
had underlet the farm to one Sympson, and this Sympson,
supported by Mr. Jackson, claimed the farm.
In November, 165 1, Baron Thorpe, one of the justices of
assize at York, required Sir Robert Barwick to call the parties
before him and make an end of the suit between them if he
could. He heard them both, but found, as he says, "the
schoolmaster unconformable to reason." His opinion was
decidedly in favour of the governors, especially as Coulson was
willing to pay a larger rent, and the lands were worth six or
seven pounds a year more than they were let for. I know not
how this suit ended; perhaps it dropped of itself, as more
important ones took its place.
The governors received from June, 1650, to October, 1654,
rents from various tenants, from three of them arrears (Deep-
myre, the schoolmaster of Halifax, and John Waterhouse), in
all amounting to 131/. 19^". 2d. I do not know whether the
law expenses were paid out of the revenues of the school, but
it seems as if they had been, as the accounts of them are among
the school papers. The governors must, however, if they paid
any income at all to the master, either have borrowed money,
or paid some of the many and heavy expenses themselves,
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 8 1
which they might think worth while if they could so rid them-
selves of their enemy. About five years after Mr. Jackson's
appointment they addressed the following petition to the master
and fellows of St. John's College (1653-4) : —
^' A Petition against Mr. yackson.
" To the Right Worshipful the Master and Senior Fellows of
St. John's College, in Cambridge, the humble Petition of the
Governors of the Free Grammar Schoole of Sedbergh, to-
gether with the Minister and other Inhabitants of the same
Parish.
" Sheweth, that your petitioners have for the space of five
years patiently borne what, with much prejudice, they have
sustained by the turbulent and vexatious temper of Mr. Richard
Jackson, master of the Free Grammar School of Sedbergh, who
noe sooner gott footing here by your worshipful approbation
and commission, but as one wholly bent to recke the good of
Posterity thereby to launch his owne private interest, he forth-
with engaged us in a long and tedious suite, much to our
disturbance, but (as God would have it) more to his owne both
disadvantage and discredit, wherein the publick face of justice
has taken such notice of his own lesse, as well as groundlesse
clamours, that both the Honourable Baron Thorpe and the
Right Worshipful Sir Robert Barwick have publiquely repre-
hended him in the canvasse of these differences 'twixt him and
us. And the whole county can witnesse what open checks
was given him for his misdemeanour by the full bench at the
generall sessions held at Pontefract, the 4th of April last,
sufficient to render a man of any forehead but his both silent
and penitent. But that (Right Worshipfull) which more afflicts
us is the great dishonour of God, and the great neglect of the
duty of his charge, arising from his debauched and dissolute
conversation. A constant haunter of Alehouses, frequently
intoxicated with immoderate drinking, who (without regard
had either to the gravity of his function or the duty of the day)
on a late Sabbath was most notoriously drunke, engaged wagers
of no small value to kindle strife and adverse contention to the
$2 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
breach of the blessed bond of peace and love amongst us, and
the no lesse scandall of his sacred profession. In the piirsuite
of which disordered disputes he has now for a long time
deserted his employment, shut up the schoole rooms, discharged
the usher, and those few schollers left, who are soe thinned by
his gross neglect, that scarce a sixt part of that number his
former predecessors usually had either is or has any time been
resident since he came amongst us, soe as were not the schollar-
ships and fellowships built upon this royall foundation a greater
invitation than any improvement to younge students can be
hoped from his tuition, the schoole of Sedbergh in all pro-
bability had long ere this sunk under his tyranny on one side
and remissnesse on the other. And the schoole house, instead
of young Athenians, been left a lodging for owls and batts to
roost and rest in. Further, we crave leave to minde you how
miserably he has suffered the mansion houses to delapidate,
that if we had not interposed in a speedy repaire, not only the
houses themselves, but even their reuins too had perished. In
a Word (for we delight not to pursue complaints to the period,
how just soever, and should we attempt it here, not onely this
paper but this day would faile us), so vexatious has his carriage
been that while he is amongst us none will share in office with
us in lieu of those whom death hath taken from us. And as
he hath outdonne all former president in his practise, soe he
has left us short of all expression for reproof
" May it therefore please your reverend society, out of a
tender regard had to the memory of our noble and pious bene-
factors, not to suffer the immunities and privelidges of this
Royall (and late flourishing) foundation to be sacrificed to the
proud, petulant, and pedantige humour of the present in-
cumbent. But out of your grave wisdomes either to authorize
Mr. Garthwaite, master of arts of your college, who by his long
continuance here and civill and carefull managery of his charge,
both well understands the constitution of the schoole and well
deserves our commendation to it, being foniierly put in by
order of Parliament, or (if your wisdomes shall otherwise
resolve) to send us some well qualified person who, by the
blessing of God, may both preserve what little is left, and in
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 83
time repaire what is so nearly lost, in order to the fame and
credit of this now widowed foundation. And your petitioners
shall be ever bound to pray."
This petition has no signature to it, neither can I find that
it ever received any answer ; possibly the college were not able
to assist the petitioners. Mr. Jackson afterwards stated that
the governors sent a " scurrilous railing petition to the colledge"
in May, 1654, and also to Whitehall to the commissioners, who
were then sitting there ; but neither petition seems to have pro-
duced any effect, as Mr. Jackson continued in his office for
some time longer, until the governors appealed to a more
powerful body.
Before their petition to the college, the Long Parliament
had come to an end, and also all the various committees
and sub-committees for sequestrating livings and expelling
clergymen and schoolmasters from their benefices. Cromwell
and the Independents were now in power, and in the be-
^nning of the year 1654 a new ordinance was issued "for
ejecting scandalous, ignorant, and insufficient ministers and
schoolmasters."
In March, 1654 (1653 according to the reckoning of that
time, which began the year on the 25 th of March), a committee
of about forty persons was appointed, who were called tryers,
and sat at Whitehall, and no one could be appointed to any
benefice who had not been approved by them " to be a person
for the grace of God in him, his holy and unblameable con-
versation, as also for his knowledge and utterance able and fit
to preach the Gospel." They chiefly directed their attention
to finding out the " precise time and manner of the conversion
of the candidate, but also required that all who presented
themselves for approbation should bring a certificate, signed by
three persons at least, of known godliness and integrity (one of
which to be a preacher of the Gospel in some settled place),
touching their godly and unblameable conversation." (See
Walker's "Sufferings of the Clergy,") And an ordinance of
September 2, 1654, provided that no one should be appointed
to a benefice until the Protector and his Council were satisfied
of their conforming to the governmept of the day.
G 2
$4 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Perhaps it was in order to travel up to London and present
himself at Whitehall that Mr. Jackson shut up the school in
April, and absented himself for three months (though he does
not say so), but he was certainly approved by the tryers about
June, 1654, in spite of the complaints of the governors.
Shortly afterwards, however, a Court of Commissioners for
Ejecting Scandalous Ministers, etc., sat at York, and the op-
portunity was at once seized by the inhabitants of Sedbergh
and Garsdale, who began a new prosecution in 1655, as is shewn
by the following letters : —
"Jan. 15th, 1655.
"Mr. Cowper, — I have sent the inclosed from Mr. Huddleston
Phillipson, with directions how to prosecute, as you may
perceive, soe as I desire you would consider hereof and take
advice by Mr. Howley (yf he be in Yorke), to present the
articles and keepe coppyes therein, and gett a summons from
the commissioners to give him notice before he goe forth of the
country, and lett not anything be awanting, whatever it cost.
I pray you lett my cosen Edmond Ward know this much. I
intend to goe for London next Tuesday, soe I desire to have
some account before I goe. Nothing els but my ever kind
respects and regards. Your assured friend,
"Jo. FOXCROFT."
"Jan. 19, 1655.
"For my very loving friend, Mr. John Cowper, att Sedberghe,
theise. Accordinge to directions to us, we have drawn articles
against the party you know, which we hope may be duly and
truly ended against him (a coppye thereof we have herein
enclosed and sent you, with a coppye of yor first petition to
-the college). The committee for ejecting scandalous, ignorant,
and insufficient ministers and schoolmasters, of Tuesday, August
29th, 1654, wherein you may se your way of p'secution, therein
desiringe you to put yor articles in forme, and to direct us the
way for p'secution, and to returne them with all speed and
safety. Upon Wednesday last, Mr. Adamson, their attorney,
delivered a declaration to James Sedgwick, who lives at ye
Lofthouse, a coppie whereof we likewise send you, and ye
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 85
declaration itselfe we shall deliver to Edward Foxcroft, who
we shall direct to come to you to advise for a plea. This is all
we have to present to you att present, but that we are your
faithful friend and lo. brother."
In February, 1655, Mr. Jackson called the governors before
Mr. Asheton and Mr. Coates, two of the justices of the peace
for the West Riding, at Giggleswick, upon two warrants from
His Highness Cromwell, upon Mr. Jackson's petition. " He
there laboured to prove who first entered into the schoole after
Mr. Jackson leavinge of the same, and whether the feoffees then
forcibly kept him, the said Jackson, furthe of the schoole, but
could not prove the same." I suppose that no further steps
were taken in the matter, though the governors appear to have
taken advice as to whether it was material for them to " pleade
Mr. Jackson herein."
The following paper is dated March 5th, 1655: — " By the
commissioners for ejecting scandalous, ignorant, and insuffi-
cient ministers and schoolmasters, for the West Riding and
Citty of York, it is ordered that the b\isiness concerning Mr,
Jackson, of Sedbergh, be putt off and suspended until our next
meeting in ye assize week at York, upon Wednesday, ye 19th
instant, at which tyme Mr. Jackson is to appeare, and our
clarke is to give coppyes of ye depositions and Mr. Jackson's
answers to ye prosecutors. Signed by order of ye aforesaid
Commissioners. — Jo. Stephenson, Regr."
The depositions of the witnesses from Sedbergh which were
made upon oath before the Commissioners were as follows : —
" Mr. Edmund Ward, of Sedbergh, deposeth, that upon the
9th day of January, 1653, being the Lord's Day, he see Mr.
Richard Jackson, school master of the said school of Sedbergh,
very much distempered with drink, in a common ale-house, in-
joining that he could not repeat the words that he had newly
spoken, and the landlord of the house wagered a flaggon of ale
with the said Mr. Jackson that he could not remember or
repeat the words which the said Mr. Jackson had spoken ; but
the said Mr. Jackson lost.
" Mr. Richard Garth waite, of Sedbergh, deposeth, that being
usher to the said Mr. Jackson about the beginning of Aprill,
86 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
1654, (he) discharged this deponent, and the said Mr. Jackson
locked upp the schooll doores and absented himself for the
space of three months or hereabouts, all that tyme taking noe
care of his schoole.
" John Cowper, of Sedbergh, in the county of York, deposeth,
that about the ist or 2nd day of April, 1654, Mr. Richard
Jackson aforesaid, did leave his schooll, locked upp the doores,
discharged his schollers for the space of three months. And
the said John Cowper further deposeth, that the said Mr,
Jackson, during his residence at Sedbergh, was a common
frequenter of alehouses, and this deponent hath seen the said
Mr. Jackson at several tymes, both in Sedbergh and other
places, much distempered with drink.
" Henry Guy, of Sedbergh, deposeth, that upon a Friday,
about the 9th or loth day of May, 1653, this deponent, having
an occasion to goe into an alehouse, in Sedbergh, found the said
Mr. Jackson in the said alehouse drinking, and at that tyme
the said Mr. Jackson was soe full and distempered with drink
that he was forced to lye down upon a bedd in ye said alehouse
(to which bedd he had much adoe to gett) and there began to
talke, but this deponent could not understand him, he faltered
soe sore in his speech,
" Richard Cowper, of Sedbergh, deposeth, that upon a Lord's
Day, about the 9th or loth of January, 1653 (this deponent
then living uj the house where the said Mr. Jackson then
lodged), he, this deponent, see the said Mr. Jackson sore dis-
tempered in drink ; and this deponent at night went to help
him to bedd, and the said Mr. Jackson sitt downe in a chair, but
being so much distempered he could not sitt, but fell out of the
chair upon the boards ; soe that this deponent was forced to call
for help to gett the said Mr. Jackson to bedd. And he was a
constant frequenter of ale-houses while he was at Sedbergh.
" Edward Fawcett, of Sedbergh, deposeth, that the said Mr.
Richard Jackson, about the ist day of April, 1654, did lock
upp his school doores and absented himselfe for the space of
three months, all that tyme takeing noe care of his school, and
the said Mr. Richard Jackson at several tymes before hath left
his school for a month together. He further deposeth, that
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 87
this deponent see the said Mr. Jackson about (Michaelmas)
distempered with drink for three or four days together. And,
also, on a Lord's Day, about Martinmas, 1653, this deponent
was at Garstall, with the said Mr. Jackson, when and where he,
the said Mr. Jackson, was very full of drink, and as he came
home he could scarce keep his horse, and he would have ridde
in the water (being then very high,) but was prevented by this
deponent.
" True coppies examined by Jas. Stephenson, registrar."
It will be observed that all the occurrences mentioned in these
depositions took place before Mr. Jackson's approval at White-
hall, as he remarks in his defence. I cannot find out whether
all these accusations were brought before the tryers or not ; if
they were, Mr. Jackson may probably have defended himself
by stating that his *' conversion " took place after these events,
as his defence before the commissioners at York seems to imply
something of this kind.
' I have not found any of the names of these witnesses, except
that of John Cowper, among the governors. The depositions
from Garsdale bring much the same accusations (though in that
place, to which Mr. Jackson had been appointed minister about
1648, he seems to have had some friends), and are as follows,
being dated March 19th, 1655, which it will be observed was
near the end of the year: —
'' John Guye, of Garsdale, deposeth, that about September,
1655, Mr. Richard Jackson left his congregation at Garsdale
for at least three months, not once looking after his people, nor
took any care for the supply of it. He further deposeth, that
Mr. Jackson, coming one Lord's day, the 30th December last,
to Garsdale, being his parish church, being very wett, lighted at
an ale house, and told his people he was soe wett he could not
preach, and soe disappointed his congregation, and the said
Mr. Jackson came that day from a place called Baynbrigge,
about ten miles distant, where he did not live.
"Christopher Parkinson, deposeth, that about ye 21st Sep-
tember, 1655, he seeing Mr. Richard Jackson at Clapham, he
believes ye said Mr. Jackson had bin drinking, and he thinks
he was something distempered with drink, and this deponent is
S8 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
induced to believe this, in regard the said Mr. Jackson was
chollerick in some discourse to this deponent.
" OUver Linsey, of Garsdale, deposeth, that in Sept. 1655,
Mr. Richard Jackson, minister of Garsdale, left his cure here for
at least 3 months together. And he further saith that on a
Lord's day, in December, 1655, the said Mr. Jackson came to
Garsdale and lighted at an ale house in the dayle, and the
said Mr. Jackson kept in the alehouse, with some company, and
did not preach to his parishioners.
" Symon Nelson, of Garsdale, deposeth, that in September,
1655, the aforesaid Mr. Jackson left his congregation at Garsdale
for at least three months together, and the said Mr. Jackson did
not provide any to supply the cure, that this deponent heard off.
"True coppies executed by J. Stephenson, registrar."
" Mr. Jackson went and absented himselfe from Garsdale the
2d of Aprill, 1654, being the Lord's day, leaving the church
without cure untill July, 1654, being 3 months or upwards.
And that he absented himselfe in the like manner in September,
1654, until May, 1655, being 7 months and upwards. And
likewise that he absented himselfe from June, 1655, until the
30th of December, 1655, being about 6 months, being the
Lord's day, then comeing to Garsdale, the people being there
assembled at the church, expecting some exercise from him, he
betooke himselfe to the ale house, utterly neglecting his office
and duties. And further, that he upon [day illegible] 1655,
being the Lord's day, did fall into such extravagances and raile-
ing Termes in his Exercise to the great dislike of his hearers, in
so much that some of them left him.
"John Guye can affirm this last, for he upon his dislike of
Jackson's raileing Termes went out of the Church. I perceive
that Mr. Jackson goes about to get a certificate from the dale
for Testimonie of his good conversation. But if you thinke it
fitt and necessary, I will do my endeavours to get a certificate
from Mr. Burton (of Sedbergh), and Mr. Waller (being two of
the next ministers) of Jackson's neglegence, and this I preferre
to your serious consideration, and shall ever study to render
myselfe to be, your most observantly obedient servant,
" John Cowper."
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 89
CHAPTER VIIL
To rebut these accusations Mr. Jackson produced the following
testimonials : —
*' To the noble the Lord Maior of Yorke and ye rest of his
Highnesses Commissioners for ejecting scandulous ministers,
etc. in the West Riding, sheweth unto your honours yt this day
hath been shewed unto us most scandalous artickles exhibited
before your honours against Mr. Richard Jackson, schoolmaster
of Sedbergh and minister of Garsdale. And at the request of
the parishioners aforesaid wee are intreated to certifie our
knowledge and opinions in reference to ye said artickles.
" To the I St artickle we do not believe it to be true, for we
have heard the said Mr. Richard Jackson preach at Kendall,
and doe conceive him to be an able minister of the Gospell,
but we refer it to ye tryall.
" To the 2d, we can say nothing.
" To the 3rd, we do not conceive it to be true, seeing ye said
Mr. Richard Jackson hath lived within 7 miles of us, wee have
knowen him about seaven years and uppwards, and yet never
knew ye said Mr. Richard Jackson guilty of what is exhibitted
against him in ye said artickles. Neither ever heard any such
report, but hath often heard otherwise by men of judgment and
piety. — Robert Jackson, Maior, Roger Bateman, Ja.
Greenwood.
"Kendall, 15th March, 1655."
" To the Rt. Noble the Lord Maior of Yorke and the rest of
his Highnesses Commissioners for ejecting scandalous
ministers in the West Riding, etc. —
" The humble certificate of us, the inhabitants of Garsdale
and Grisedale, sheweth that upon Sunday, ye 9th instant, Mr.
Richard Jackson, our minister, did openly publish certain
scandalous artickles exhibited against him before your honours.
90 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Wee therefore ye inhabitants aforsaid, doe conceive our selves
bound in conscience to certilie unto your honours the truth
according to our knowledge concerning the same.
" To the I St artickle we doe conceive ye said Mr. Richard
Jackson to be a very al)le minister and preacher of the Gospell.
'' To the 3rd artickle, ye said Mr. Richard Jackson hath
been our Minister for 7 years or thereabouts, but hath bin an
Inhabiter amongst us but about a yeare and a halfe or some-
what more, and in all that tyme wee never have known him to
be any ale-house haunter or distempered in the least kinde by
any excessive drinking, nor ever heard him soe accounted off.
— George Heber, Rich. Atkinson, Rob. Shaw, Wm.
Nelson, Jo. Dawson, Jo. Nelson, Wm. Dawson, Rich.
Shaw, Edw. Stockdall, Jo, Morland, James Thompson,
James Wilson, Jo. Darby, Abra. Nelson, Tho. Heber,
John Holme, Reginald Win, Jo. Win."
It will be observed that in neither of these testimonials
is anything said about Mr. Jackson's conduct at Sedbergh;
and, indeed, it does not seem clear how the Mayor or any
other inhabitant of Kendal (distant io|- miles from Sedbergh),
could have much opportunity of forming an opinion as to his
behaviour there (much less in Garsdale, seven miles further off)
if he stayed at home and attended to his business in either
place. It is also curious that George Heber and Abraham
Nelson (whose names are appended to the Garsdale testimonial)
are the same names that were borne by those who signed a
remonstrance against the illegal engagements which the House
of Commons endeavoured to impose upon the nation. ( Vide
chap. ii. in the History of Sedbergh).
Another strange thing is, that Mr. Jackson would appear,
according to the testimony of his friends, to have resided
in Garsdale for a year and a half before he was petitioned
against by the much enduring governors and inhabitants
of Sedbergh. Before that time he seems to have lodged in
an ale-house in Sedbergh, as far as I can ascertain from the
depositions against him ; and I cannot find anything decisive
about the mansion-house of the master, though it is frequently
mentioned.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 9I
The governors, however, at the beginning of the present
century remark that " Lofthouse, being the only school estate
adjoining the town of Sedbergh or near the school, has an
ancient dwelling house upon it, wherein it is supposed the
master used formerly to reside;" and at Lofthouse, in 1656,
Mr. George Otway resided, and paid 5/. 4s. for rent. It might
be that Mr. Jackson, being frequently absent, found his house
an incumbrance, and I do not know whether he was married
during the period of his mastership, though he left a widow.
His name does not appear in the registers, but he most likely
would not be married at Church, nor his children (if he had
any) be baptised there.
I cannot find that he had many sympathisers in Sedbergh in
his political and religious opinions, and there is nothing in the
registers to show that any change was made in the church.
Mr. Burton, who is called curate of Sedbergh, first appears in
1636, when his son Christopher was baptised ; and he had four
other children, the youngest of whom was baptised in 1647.
In the list of vicars given by Dr. Whitaker from the Registry
of Chester, there is the name of Thomas Briscoe from 1637 to
1660, when he died, and Leonard Burton succeeded him.
The name of Mr. Briscoe does not appear in the Sedbergh
registers, but I find it in the list of Fellows of Trinity mentioned
in " Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy " who were turned out of
their fellowships. He is known to have held an office at Cam-
bridge in 1643, 3.nd I conclude never resided at Sedbergh, so
Mr. Burtoti was his curate.
In 1652, George Fox, the founder of the sect called Quakers
says he wrote to *' Burton, priest of Sedbergh," and in
1680 Mr. Leonard Burton, vicar of Sedbergh, died. I find the
following entry among the expenses of the governors : — " To
Mr. Leonard Burton, for other yeares rent, fourth of the Loft-
house, 16s. od." in 1656 ; and this I conclude to be the rent
secured to the vicar of Sedbergh when the farm was originally
demised to Roger Lupton. There is a gap in the register of
baptisms from December, 1627, to August or September, 1630,
when they are copied in a beautiful clear hand by Jo. Bracken
(p'ish Clarke in 1698) until 1649.
92 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
A gap again occurs until 1654, but the register is on loose
leaves, and might easily have been accidentally spoilt or lost.
The marriages between 1641 and 1648 are also missing, but
the funerals go straight on after 1602. It will be observed,
therefore, that these gaps do not coincide with the dates of the
beginning and end of the rebellion. Mr. John Otway, the
friend of Dr. Barwick, is mentioned as of Ingmire Hall, in 1658,
when his daughter Margaret was baptized, and his father, Mr.
Roger Otway, died there on the 12th of February, 1648. Mr.
George Otway, brother of Mr. John, seems to have held his
opinions, and expressed them in rather a violent fashion, as will
appear subsequently.
It is remarkable that Mr. John Otway, though he had been
dismissed from his fellowship, on the charge of malignancy,
seems to have had no fear of bringing himself into public notice,
by taking an active part against Mr. Jackson.
The influence of the gentry is said to have been very strong
in this neighbourhood, which is perhaps the reason there were
fewer changes than in other places during this troublesome
time, or it may be that the living was so small that no Presby-
terian or Independent cared to dispossess the vicar. At any
rate, Mr. Jackson seems not to have been held in high estima-
mation, for I cannot find that one person in Sedbergh spoke in
his favour ; perhaps because his delinquencies as a schoolmaster
admitted of no question. He shall shortly speak for himself,
but in the meantime, unless there is a mistake in the date of
the papers relating to this business, the commissioners seem to
have proceeded at once to eject Mr. Jackson, before, indeed,
some of the witnesses' depositions can have reached them, those
of the inhabitants of Garsdale who were against him bearing
date, March the 19th.
The writing of this last named paper is, however, so indis-
tinct, that I cannot be sure that it did not belong to the next
year. Here follows the instrument of sequestration : —
"March 20th, 1655. By the commissioners for ejecting
scandalous, ignorant, and insufficient ministers and schoolmasters
for the West Riding and City of York. Whereas the Free
Schooll of Sedbergh, in the West Riding aforesaid, is no w vacant
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 93
Upon the ejecting and displacing of Richard Jackson, late school
master there. We doe hereby sequester the said Free Schooll,
and all and singular the dues, profitts, and benefitts belonging
to the said school. And wee doe nominate, appoynt, and
impower you whose names are hereunder written, sequestrators
and trustees, to receive and gather all and singular the dues and
profitts belonging or payable to the said Free Schooll of Sed-
bergh. And you are to give us an account (when required) of
what you shall receive by virtue of this order, and if you provide
an honest, well-afifected, and able man to officiate during the
vacancy, and untill the schooll can be supplyed, you are to
satisfy him out of the profitts, giving an account thereof to this
court. To Jo. Otway, Esquire, Jo. Cowper, gent, Adam
Sawer, Rich. Holme, Jo. Bland, Antho. Willan, Tho. Blaik-
linge, James Hebblethwaite, or any three of them. Signed by
John Geldart, Tho. Bourchier, Robert Washington,
J. Dickinson, Jo. Wardsworth."
Against this judgment of the commissioners Mr. Jackson sent
the following eloquent remonstrance, dated May 5, 1655. [I
conclude that he must have begun his year in January] : —
" An answer to those three articles exhibited against Richard
Jackson, dark, pretended maister (as they speak) of the Free
School at Sedbergh, and now minister of Garsdale. ' Firstly,
as touching the ist articles concerning insufficiency (I say) first
that the colledge conferred that upon me in 1648, "not as a
gift, but as a reward," in respect of my approved ability and
conversation to promote learning and piety in those parts, as
appears by their letters I brought when I took possession, if
they dare show them ; as also by their reiterated letters to these
pretended feoffees, when they understood some of their gross
breaches of trust, as is expressed in my printed petition. 'Sec-
ondly, there is in the colledge the properest judge of sufficiency
in either kind, one Mr. John Fothergill, senior fellow, who was
bredd upp under Mr. John Maiers, my immediate predecessor ;
[This is a mistake, Mr. Nelson was the immediate predecessor]
and one Mr. Blaisthing, lately fellow, and now at a country
living near Cambridge, who was bredd upp all his tyme under
my predecessor, Mr. Nelson. If my adversaries will agree to
94 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
it, and you by your order, I will adventure the tryal before Dr.
Arrowsmith (master of St. John's), and Mr. Duggon (who was
Greek lecturer), and if I do not make it appeare before those
judges to the face of those two nominated, that neither of my
predecessors (whom they commend) was equall, much less
superior, to myself, either in learned ability for the school, or
constant sedulity in the school, or for a godly, honest conversa-
tion, seconding a theologicall sufficiency for the good of the
country and the schooll, in propagating Gospel truths and con-
futing of heresies (which referreth partly to ye 2d article also)
then I will relinquish my right and tytle, saving only for my
arreares."
It will be observed that Mr. Jackson does not venture to call
on any Sedbergh person to testify to his " godly, honest con-
versation,"^^or " constant sedulity in the school." " Further, to
ye 2d article, I say that ye scholars I did not discharge when
I locked upp ye doors in April, 1654, and discharged Richard
Garthwaite, Clark (having appoynted another to teach those who
came in my absence, as appeareth by oath) because he turned
apostate proselyte (as may appear by a letter lately written to
him by one Brian Walker), he being what I expressed him in
my printed petition ; and, therefore, justly rejected by the
colledge upon their articles against him in 1649, and ought to
be for now having introduced ye observation of the holly days
(with their eves) which I had abolished and brought to ye Par-
liament order.
" But unto this* article I answered more fully before the
justices, using some arguments answerable for ought could be
said to the contrary then, with some others to the same purpose,
so fully answering that worst part of the 3d article concerning
January 9th, 1653, though not used then, yet shall be ready
against Easter week, if I may have leave to write them fair over.
To the 3d article I say, that being an opinion or proposition
copulative, it is false in logick as well as in law, the first part
being a manifest slander, for Mr. Jackson hath given evidence
enough to the contrary, and can give more if need be to the
full satisfaction of any who are irnpartial, that he is noe haunter
of ale houses, but one who hath desired and endeavoured
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 95
ye reformation and correxion of all their abuses (as may appear
by another printed petition which some of these deponents had
in their hands long since), and by his constant renouncing of
all evill society, but of some of those his adversaries, and of
all others who have insinuatingly sought it both before and
since his approbation, which together (with ye Schooll cause) is
that which irritates them with an implacable spite to afflict him
whom they cannot infect.
" Secondly, for that clause of being drunk upon ye Sabbath,
January 9th, 1653. ist, it was not upon ye Sabbath, neither
according to the Old Testament nor ye New." (Note. I have
looked into a prayer book of the year 1638, and I find that the
9th of January did fall on a Sunday in the year 1653, so I
cannot account for this very impudent assertion, unless, as I
have before said, Mr. Jackson began his year in January, or
unless he supposed that his judges, having no prayer books,
would have no calendars, and therefore could not convict him
of a mistake).
"And, neither my will nor desire was engaged in that
sin, but that barbarous ruffian, George Otway (bearing a spit to
me in reffeience to his brother and ye cause of ye Schoole),
having sought my company before, and mist of it was drinking
with some of his complices at my lodging," (Again the question
arises, why did Mr. Jackson live at an alehouse ?) '• And when
I had supt within at night he sent ye hostess to intreat my
company, which I yielded to, but then about 9 or 10 of
ye clock when he grew scurrilous and quarrelsome in his
language, not hearing of a reckoning I bid good night, for I
would to bedd, saying, ' what cometh to my share I will pay
it,' soe I went away calling for a candle ; but ye said Otway
urged his companion to reduce me back againe by faire means,
which he refusing, Otway came himselfe and pursued me to my
chamber, and swore he would have his company upp or I should
downe, or els he would never depart, but burne all rather, and
soe forced me once downe againe, not suffering me to pinne
mine owne door ; and then with his complices forced drink
upon me, and urged words' to take advantage quite contrary to
what I said. I being then in danger of my life being amongst
96 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
such a crew of villaines, and utterly unable to quit myselfe of
their insolent abuses, having a sore legg, and me necessitated
to take so much drink as did stupifye me.
" Thirdly, God did by this sink my spirit with such repentance
ever since, both for this and other failings, that through the grace
of Christ I am (in a measure) rejoiced to hear myselfe so in-
juriously railed at, and reproached for ye relicks of ye old man
yet remaining in me." (On this I would observe that his
repentance does not seem to have been genuine, for he was
declared to have been " distempered with drink " in the same
manner on several occasions after the 9th January, 1653.)
" Fourthly, they have made use of this very thing in a scur-
rilous railing petition to ye colledge, and commissioners at
Whitehall, to hinder my approbation there in May, 1654, and
to Mr. Attorney Prideaux, in ye court, and by one Chamber-
lane to the trustees, who questioned me about this very thing,
and received full satisfaction, soe that I have their order to
attest the same sufficiently.
" Fifthly, John Cowper offered it to ye Justices, and now to
you, ye worthy commissioners, if it seem good to your grave
wisdoms that implacable adversaries of such reprobate humours
in all their conversation should still cast that in my teeth which
I have spitt out of my mouth soe long since, with a sincere
conscientious detestation, as all ye godly in that country very
well know.
" For ye other parts of this 3d article, they are mere calumnyes
to exasperate your spirits by ye uglinesse of ye accusation, that
soe I may be despited for repenting. I must referr all legall
advantages against these my violent adversarys. First, they
call me late maister, and excluded maister. Why then should
they meddle with me on this score ?
" Secondly, this, which is the latest thing that they alledge,
was almost half a year before mine approbation at Whitehall,
which court acted before you came in power, to execute that
yoi^ commission.
" Thirdly, I doe not see how you can legally proceed against
mee, except something be alledged and proved since my appro-
bation.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 97
"Fourthly, but if at the spiteful instance of men, burning
with the desire of revenge, you will revive those buried offences
(of human frailties) to bespatter the approved in favour of his
persecutors soe to reproach (as it were in despite of those, his
approvers) them, consider whether your authority in so acting
should not absolutly bawde it to the base malignity of such
fellows.
"Fifthly, if I may have due tyme, I will manifest it that in
ye schoole's cause, and upon this occasion you can neither
hurt me nor help mine adversaries, except you will usurp upon
and goe against ye tenour of all lawes, and abandon all sound
principles upon which honest and godly patriots ingaged, in
judgment and conscience in that great controversie against the
late King, and ye finall scope and end of this constitution and
settlement, and the true declared interest ; together with ye
godly intention of ye said Lord Protector, and ye glory of God
in the reproach or prejudice of such as sincerely close with ye
Government in favour of ye few and wilde fellows, who adhere
to those old principles and that cursed interest which they can-
not renounce. As also by hardening men to an impenitent
impudency, according to ye paganish opinion of ye Roman
orator."
" A true coppy by Jo. Stephenson, registrar."
How far the charge which Mr. Jackson brings against Mr.
George Otway is well founded, there is no evidence to show,
but I find the following statement in Fox's Journal, 1657 : —
" I passed into Westmoreland, — till I came to John Audland's.
— The next day in the meeting time came one Otway, with
some rude fellows. He rode round about the meeting with his
sword or rapier, and would fain have got in through the friends
to me, but the meeting being great, the friends stood thick, so
that he could not easily come at me. When he had rid about
several times raging, and found he could not get in, he at
length went away. — This wild man went home, became dis-
tracted, and not long after died. I sent a paper to John
Blaykling to read to him while he lay ill, shewing him his wick-
edness ; and he did acknowledge something of it." Probably
his intention was more to frighten than to hurt, or why did he
H
98 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
not bring some more effective weapon than a sword ? I believe
this "wild man" to be the same person as Mr. Jackson's
" barbarous ruffian," because I find that Mr. Otway's brother
George did die in March, 1658, which would agree with Fox's
account. Unfortunately for his character, we have it only from
his enemies.
It certainly seems very remarkable that Mr. Jackson should
have been ejected by the commissioners for offences committed,
as he truly observes, before his approval by the committee at
Whitehall. Had it been a year or two later, we might have
supposed that the reaction in favour of what Mr. Jackson calls
" those old principles and that cursed interest," had set in ; but
in 1655 Oliver Cromwell was still in power. However, it
appears that there was some doubt as to whether tl\e school
were really vacant or not, and perhaps Mr. Jackson may have
appealed to some higher court, for no new master was appointed
until April 22nd, 1657, the date of the following instrument : —
"By the commissioners for ejection of scandalous ministers
for the West Ryding and Citty of Yorke.
"Whereas, upon the ejection of Mr. Richard Jackson from
the Free Schoole of Sedbergh, in the West Ryding aforesaid,
the said Free Schoole is vacant and unsupplyed : And foras-
much as wee have received a letter from Dr. Antho: Tuckney,
master, and the senior fellowes of St. John's College, in Cham-
bridge, concerning the learning and abillities, life and conversa-
tion of Mr. James Buchanan, Master of Arts, and off his fitness
and sufficiency for a schoole master, and desiring that wee would
allow off and confirme him into the place and trust off the said
schoole of Sedbergh. Upon consideration of the said testi-
moniall from the said master and fellowes of the said colledge,
we doe hereby approve, constitute, and confirme him the said
Mr. James Buchanan, in the maistership of the said schoole,
and the rights, profitts, and priviledges thereunto belonging.
T. Dickenson, Tho. Bourchier, Christo: Watson, Robert
Washington, Marma: Rayner, Jes: Dixon."
The following letter is from the master and fellows of St.
John's College : —
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 99
"April loth, 1657.
" (To the governors.)
" Gentlemen, — Whereas that our Free Schoole of Sedbergh
is become void by the ejection of Mr. Richard Jackson, late
schoole master there, and being well satisfyed of the good life
and conversation of Mr. James Buchanan, Master of Arts, as
also having made serious tryall of his learning and abilityes, and
finding him very fitly qualifyed for that imployment, wee have
chosen and do hereby chuse and nominate him, the said Mr.
James Buchanan, to be master in that our Free Schoole, and
desyre you to receive him as soe, and to let him have your best
assistance and advise for the receiving all the dues and profitts
belonging to the said schoole. And not doubting of your
chearful compliance, herein we take leave and rest your loving
friends, Anthony Tuckney, Thomas Fothergill, Isa
WoRRATT, Henry Eyre, Law: Fogge.
"St. John's College, Cambridge, Aprill ye loth, 1657."
After this, I do not know what became of Mr. Jackson,
except that he seems to have carried on a very long lawsuit
with the governors for his arrears. These arrears I suppose to
have been the fifth part of the yearly income of the school,
which, according to the ordinance of Parliament, was granted
to all those clergymen and schoolmasters who were ejected
from their benefices. In many cases, as appears from the
history of these times, this small pittance was paid only partly,
and often not at all, to those clergymen who were ejected for
their loyalty to the Church and the King ; and in Mr. Jackson's
case also there seems to have been a long altercation before
anything was paid. The governors might certainly have said
that they had been made to spend so much money by Mr.
Jackson, that he could hardly claim anything from them.
It will appear from the following accounts what the receipts
and expenses of the school at this time were : —
"Concerning ye suit with Mr. Jackson, 1656.
£ s. D.
Received of Robert Dawson for Depemyre, for a half
yeare from Pentecost, 1656 ... .. o 13 4
From John Waterhouse ... .. ...0168
H 3
lOO THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
£ S. D.
Of the tenants at Ilkley, Weston, and Mr. Vavasour ... 913 6
At Doncaster, June, 1656 ... ... ... 2 13 o
Of Robert Dawson, November, 1656 ... ... o 13 4
Tenants of Ilkley, etc. ... ... ■■' 9 ^i ^
John Waterhouse ... ... ... ... o 16 8
Of Mr. George Otway, for rent of ye Lofthouse, 1656 540
Of Edward Fawcett, Geoffrey Fawcett, and John
Washington, for cowgrass at Lofthouse, 1656 ... 2 o O
Of Robt. Dawson, Nov., 1656, for a fine for Depemyre 10 13 4
In July and December, 1656, of John Waterhouse, a fine 21 19 4
Feb., 1656, of Mr. Holme, a fine for land at Barnby-
upon-Dunn ... ... .. ... 6 13 4
Total ... ... £ti 10 o
Disbursed.
£ S. D.
To James Bainbrigge, for carrying a letter to Cambridge
to assist the solicitors, etc. ... ... I lo o
To Mr. John Otway, at Pentecost, 1656, in defence
of the suite commenced by Mr. Jackson against us
upon the school accompt ... ... ..,400
To the said Mr. Otway, in December, 1656, upon the
like accompt ...
More, Feb., 1656 ... ... ...
To Mr. Foxcroft, our attorney in Chancery, for fees,
etc., December, 1656
Ditto, Feb., 1656...
Mr. Ward, our attorney at Common Law, July, 1656
Ditto, Nov., 1656...
To Mr. Leonard Burton, for other yeare's rent, 1656,
forth of the Lofthouse
Paid to Mr. Gibson for officiating in the schoole from
Aprill, 1656, till May, 1657
Besides yett owing to him
To Thomas Strickland, Esqre. , for rent forth of Loft-
house, 1656 ...
Total ... ... ;^58 5 4
** Disbursed in goeinge to justice of peace upon his
Highness the Lord Protector's reference to him upon Mr.
Jackson's petition, and to procure a warrant to summons our
witnesses."
For this and some other items the sum is not mentioned, but
2
10
5
6
8
3
3
6
16
13
19
6
5
10
3
3
2
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 10 1
it will be seen that the balance left in the hands of the governors
must have been very small. Besides this suit, also, there had
been two others, one costing io6/. 12s. id., and the other
21/. Ss. id., and this third suit must have gone on for years, as
on the 5th December, 1660, Mr. Buchanan received from Mr.
Otway 10/., for the prosecution of the suit against Mr. Jackson.
There is among the school papers a copy of a letter signed
" R. J.", which appears to have been written by Mr. Jackson,
though it is not addressed to any one person. How it came
into the hands of the governors, who were certainly not Mr.
Jackson's old friends, I do not know. It is as follows : —
" My old friends, July 19th, 1661,
" Yours I received on Saturdaie last, and have written these
for my old friend A., to shewe that myne assize of novel
dessizinge is in the sheriffe's hands, who sent it downe soe
soone as ever he knew who should ride the circuit. And when
the assize wold be, but he feareth that they cannot impanell
men to viewe the plese and to have a returne in soe short a
tyme and then must I suffer an (essoyn ?) I am disappointed
of money I expected and therefore cannot come downe yet, if
he were at the assize I shold write to Mr. Turner who wold
shew him all the businesse, and if need were he can witness
how I was kept out by force. I carried Mr. Turner, who per-
formeth the office of Under-Sheriff to Judge Jenkins, who-
shewed him the nature of the writt and all the particulars out of
Ployden, intimatinge that if they did not appeare there might
be an assize per defaultum, but he is conceited it cannot be
done this assize for all the judge his allegacon, then must I
looke this assize upon the which he saith he will upon receiving
of the writt pricke me a jurie which shall performe it. In the
mean time, that the school maie be p'vided, I wold appoint
yor sone Gilbert to teach as usher under me, and you maie
p'ferr it to them if he be not better placed, for I will be their,
God willings, soe soone as I can ; but you maie know by what
I writt now they will partt with nothinge of myne which they
wrongfullie keepe and detaine till God shall dragge it out of
their bellies. If our friends Eliz: cold spare you so much
money as wold beare your charges it wold not be amiss that
f02 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
you were att Yorke towards the latter end of the assize, for yoU
know the whole business upon the which myne assize of novel
dessizinge is grounded, and have already deposed enough
agst George Otway to cleare the case, for the question is
whether I was kept out by force, which both you and yor sone
and manie more know to be true before ever their with anie
such crewe as these complices, therefore looke so narrowly as
you can in the businesse, and inquire of Mr. Turner what returne
the sheriff maketh or to what the judge maie saie as to that of
their owne time of [word illegible] assize per defaultum in the
non-appearance of the F. in case it come so farr. However,
send me word by post what you shall see, heare, or observe.
And then God will find out a waie for us, which is and hath
been my sole refuge in all my afflictions and under my oppres-
sours through the speirritts of the prince of the aire present here
even at this present. So with salutations to yor famiHe, my
praiers for you all, desiring yors.
" I remain yor old friend, R. J."
As Elizabeth was the name of Mr. Jackson's wife, it is
possible that part of this letter was addressed to her, but it is
very confused and unintelligible. The following is from Sir
John Otway : —
"For Mr. John Cowper, Sen., at Kendal, Westmorland,
these Mr. Cowper, — I think Mr. Jackson has taken out new
attachments upon the old false ground that John Tennant
served you with the decree under scale, and shewed you the
seale and gave you copyes of the same, which you have often
told me is notoriously untrue. I know Tennant dare not affirm
it, for the decree was never drawne upp nor sealed — pray gett
some to speak to the bayliffe in that appearance shall be given,
and this terme I hope to gett things right. However, be not
affrighted with every bug beare, for he wilbe a tormentor as
long as he lives, altho' if it can be made out (as the truth is)
that you never see this decree under seale, he wilbe catched in
his owne trapp.
" This is all from yor assured friend, J. O.
"May 27th, 1662."
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. I03
I quote the following letter to show some of the many
difficulties which must have beset the Governors in managing
their distant tenants, and as shewing some of the consequences
of Mr. Jackson's behaviour : —
"1663.
" Good Mr. Cowper, — I had long ere this way ted upon you
and ye Governors of ye schoole, had I not been hindered by
a long and tedious sickness, which hath lyen upon me ever
since ye beginning of December last, and as still continues, soe
yt. I am not able to stir abroad, nor able to supply my needs
but by the help of others. And since I perceive (by reason of
a false information) yt ye Governors are urged for me to take
so tedious a journey, noe lesse than to ye hazarding of my life,
I have, therefore, pVayled with my brother to undertake it for
me, and to know yr pleasures and wt it is wh they require of
me. I wonder yt any credence should be given to such an one
as Foster, who is a man yt will ayther speak or sweare any-
thing for his owne advantage and ye hurt of another. He is so
quarrelsome a fellow yt he hath gott ye name of Lawyer Foster
in ye towne where he lives, and what a notorious lye he hath
informed you, yt I have sold my lease for freehold land when
all ye county about us knows it is but a lease, and if I had
assigned it to my sister I think I might have done it, as well as
to assigne it to him or any other tenant, without any p'judice to
ye schoole, considering by yt means ye farme would be un^
divided and soe not mix amongst other men's lands. He hath
beene so dishonest a tenant unto us yt no man will or can
endure it. He will pay us noe rent, and swears yt he payed
a rent before hand (when he entered) to Mr. Segar, which we
know he was not able to do ; and besides we have had him and
Mr. Segar together, and Mr. Segar denies to his face yt ever he
received any rent before hand, and yet for all yt he thinks to
outface and defraud us of it. He owes a whole yeares rent
and SOS. besides, and we cannot get a penny of him without
suite. He keeps possession of ye farmes, as he saith for ye
schoole, though by our old lease wee have title to it until!
October next. He lets ye houses goe downe, ye land (he re-
ported himselfe) was soe out of heart yt no man knew wher^
104 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
to sett a plough in it. He joyried with Mr. Jackson agst ye
feoffees, and would yn have forfeited our lease. He sayth my
brother would sell it to Mr. Portington, and I am confident
they never see one another, nor never exchanged letter ; and
when he built ye barne which he tells of, he had some wood
alowed, and as we are informed (for it was before our time) he
felled all ye wood yt was upon ye ground, even such as was
not any ways useful for building. This we can prove. He
chargeth me most unjustly that I p'mised him he should have
it att ye old rent ; indeede, we asked him more rent yn we
could lett it to another, on purpose to gett shutt of such a
knave. He hath land of his owne in ye towne, and if he con-
tinue any while upon it he will so order yr businesse, yt his
owne land and ye schoole's will be soe mixt yt ye school will
be in danger to lose some of theyres. He is noe tenant to ye
schoole but only to us, nor hath any tenant right there as we
have, though in Mr. Jackson's time he appeared for him against
ye Governors; and in ye rentall gott our names scraped out
and his own put instead of ours, as if he had been ye schole
tenant and not me. He dayly setts us att defiance, and gives
us most base language sealed with bloody oathes ; for I am
verily persuaded a more prophane and wretched swearer lives not
upon ye earth, as all men will say yt knows him. He hath
made us all this mischief, and put us to all these unnecessary
charges. Now, I beseech you, sir, and ye rest of the Governors,
to consider whether this be a fitt tenant ayther for ye schoole
or as you know my sister agreed with you and ye fine
and charges hath cost her above 30/., and he keepes her
right from her, and will pay noe rent; my brother W,
Wormsley was att great charges in comeing to Sedbergh, being
thither invited to renew his lease, but could doe nothing onely
wasted his time and spent his moneys ; and he and myself was
att a chargeable suite all ye assizes (as your selfe knows) with
Mr. Portington in defence of ye schoole's rights, which cost us
att ye least out of our purses 12/., besides ye costs we had
given by ye jury. And shall a prateing deceitful knave be
heard before those who have suffered soe much in maintaining
your and ye schoole's interest. And, as for my lease, you
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. I05
know it was granted to me without my seeking ; you was
pleased att Mr. Burnett's to lett your sonn take my name, and
Mr. Mayor, your son-in-law, was by ; and you sayd you would
do it for me for my paynes taken in visitting you when you was
sick, and you further sayd, yt you knew your fellows would not
deny you in yt being falen sick in your iourney to London,
having beene about ye schoole's businesse ; and you know I
paid 6/. loj". 4^., ye usuall fine; and I gave a gratuity to Mr.
Burrill (by your directions) for takeing paynes about ye sealing
of ye lease; and he had of me loi-. besides, which he sayd he
had given to ye clerk for drawing ye lease, and you had my
moneyes when ye schoole was in necessity, having had a
chargeable suite with Mr. Jackson ; and it hath been out of my
hands 7 years, ye use of which would have amounted to 3/.
And now this iourney of my brother will bring my charges yt I
have been att to a valuable sum ; and I am informed yt there
is an Act of Parliament, since ye King was restored, for ye con-
firmation of leases of schooles and colledge lands which have
been let since those troublesome times. I have had as yet noe
benefitt, not one farthing for laying out my moneyes these 7
years. Foster hath had ye farme att ye old rent. Sir, I
earnestly beg yt ye feofiees will not take my moneyes and
looke to deprive me of my right. If they have done more
yn they can justify where lyes ye blame? Upon you or me?
Ye act on their part was voluntary, and truly all men yt heard
of it, wonders at ye businesse. I hope I have to deal with
honest men ; however, I shall stand to my lease, and onely be
content with what ye law gives me. I have ye maior pte. of
ye feoffee's hands and ye schoole master's confirmation of it.
I hope honest men will not goe agst. theyre o\\Tie hands,
and theyre owne volutary act and deede. I desyre no con-
troversy, but a fayre end of the businesse, and shall willingly
pay ye rent behinde, and as it shall become due, if it will be
received, and shall be ready to serve ye schoole in anything I
can. We have beene tenants above 100 years, and Foster's
father was only a servant to Mr. Grant, and put into ye house
by him ; and now his sonn seeks to deprive us of it, and hath
all Mr. Jackson's time gone about to defraud us of it. I ques-
I06 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
tion not but ye feoffees will take these things into consideration
and deal uprightly ; and I hope I shall not fare ye worse att
theyre hands for my respects and services unto you in your
weaknesse. Sir, I beseech you, let my brother finde your
friendship in my behalf, though I be absent, and not able to
stir abroad as yet. I desyre a right understanding between us ;
and yt clamorous fellows who only seeks theyre owne ends, may
not be encouraged to doe wrong unto others. The Lord direct
you all, my respects to your son.
" I am, Sir, your obliged friend and servant,
" Armthorp. " Ber. Holmes.
" Directed these for my worthy esteemed friend Mr. John
Cowper, one of the feoffees of ye Schoole of Sedberghe, in or
nere Sedberghe. Inclosed letter from Mr. Bernard Holmes, of
Armthorp, in the year 1663, whose ancestors had been schoole
tennents about 100 year."
Here is Mr. Wormsley, brother-in-law to Mr. Holmes, men-
tioned.
The suit with Mr. Jackson seems to have lingered on for
some years more, and at last (I do not know how long after his
death) the governors paid to his widow, Elizabeth Jackson, the
sum of 131/. as the arrears due to him, and received a release
from her, dated Sept. 28th, 1675.
To return to the history of the school at the date of Mr.
Jackson's ejectment.
Of his successor, Mr. James Buchanan, who was appointed in
April, 1657, by the commissioners and the college, I find but
few notices. On the 29th of June, 1658, he married Emma
Burton, and the baptism of his daughter, Rachell, is entered in
the Church Register, in 1659 ; also her death in the same year.
The baptism of his son, George, is recorded March 25th, 1660.
In the same year Mr. Buchanan received a fine of 20/. for the
renewal of a lease in Fishlake, and in 1662, he received of
John Otway, Esq., the sum of 4/., being (in full) of the 20/.,
granted him for repairs. This last payment was probably after
he left Sedbergh. He is mentioned in rather a doubtful manner
in the following letter : —
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. I07
"January i8th, 1662.
" Mr. Cowper .... concerning the schoole rents due
at Martinmas, — 60, and Pentecost, — 61, I was, by severall
lettres both from Mr. Buchanan, your late schoolmaster, and
his father, then ympowered to collect for his use the rents due
as aforesaid. And the most of the schoole rents, as aforesaid,
I collected (not knowing but that hee was in place) and accord-
ingly have paid to young Buchanan ; and I have an acquit from
him for the receipt of them under his owne hand. I shall at
any tyme be readie upon demand to give an account to you or
to Mr. Fell what rents I then received, and of whome. But,
good sir, if I have been once deluded by a schoolmaster,
belonging to your schoole, I trust I maie be soe no more. But
that you and the rest of the feoffees maie alwaies hereafter make
choice of such deserving maisters as their words, especially their
writings, maie stand good. Fourtie years since I received
schoole rents for Mr. Nelson many yeares together, but was
never questioned for my doings. I have always beene still
constant for the schoole p'fitts. And if I bee now incumbered
for my pains I shall suddenly surcease, and meddle noe more
for anie to come. But be readie to render an account what he
hath already don, who is, sirs,
" Your friend and servant, Fran. Barker."
It seems from this letter that Mr. Buchanan must have left
before Martinmas, 1660, otherwise surely the rents up to that
time would have been due to him ; but I have not found the
exact date of his leaving, nor any account of it. It seems
strange that the tenants should not have been informed of his
departure ; but, perhaps, the country might be still unsettled,
and travelling difficult. The manner in which letters were sent
in those days may be seen from the following endorsement to
a letter sent from Stainforth, November, 1662 : —
" For his honoured and good friend, Mr. Edmund Warde, att
Sedbergh, these present, with speed and care. ^ Leave these
with Mr. Claire, att Bridgefoot, in Doncaster, and att the signe
of the Talbot there to bee carefully conveyed, and with as much
speed as maie conveniently bee, as above."
Io8 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Mr. Buchanan was succeeded by Mr. Edward Fell, M.A.
The first mention of him occurs in a power of attorney, granted
to him as master of the school (September loth, 1662) ; and to
Edmund Ward, of Sedbergh, gentleman ; John Cowper, of
Sedbergh, gentleman ; and Edward Fawcett, of Sedbergh,.
yeoman, to grant leases, gather rents, &c. And another was
granted March 6th, 1663, to Mr. Fell, and Richard Robson^
and Edward Fawcett, governors, to collect rents, fell trees, &c,,
on any of the estates, by Jo. Otway, Jo. Mayor, Leo. Burton
(the vicar), Jo. Cowper, John Bland, James Waidson, Henry
Washington, Jo. Cowper, junior, Richard Holme, James
Hebblethwaite. It will be seen by this list that the governors
had by this time been able to complete their number again,
which in Mr. Jackson's time they had been unable to do.
There were no remarkable events, so far as I know, during Mr.
Fell's tenure of office ; only the usual difficulties with the
distant tenants, two of whom, Mr. Perkins, of Fishlake, and Mr.
Holmes, said they would not travel to Sedbergh in November,
1662, to have their leases renewed, if the governors would "give
them their farmes." Mr. Sandwith, another tenant, declined
also to take the journey, being unfit either to walk or ride, from
ill health. Mr. Brooke, of Ashwith, and Mr. Watkinson, of
Ilkley, sent their half-yearly rents in December, 1662, with an
apology for having delayed in consequence of the " great
storme and uncertainetie of the way, whether passable or not."
About this time the following entry is made in the school
records : —
" October ist, 1669. — It was this present day ordered by the
governors of the Free Grammar Schoole of King Edward the
6th, in Sedbergh, atte a solemne meeting there, by their unani-
mous consent, that noe schollers for the future shall have any
certificate from the sd governors or schoolmasters for the tyme
being, whereby to qualifye him or make him capable of any
privelidge benefit or advantage as scholler of the sd schoole,
unless he shall be instructed in the sd schoole, and resident
there two compleat years or upwards. — Edward Fell, (p'sent
schoolmaster), John Otway, John Mayer, Leo. Burton,
John Cowper, Jo. Cowper, junr., Richard (Hobson?) James
the history of the grammar school. i09
Hebblethwaite, Edward Fawcett, James Waidson, Henry
Guy."
Mr. Fell married Ann Bland, July 15th, 1669, and his
daughter, Elizabeth, was baptized August 3rd, 1671 ; another
daughter, Emma, in August, 1673. His son, Richard, died
March loth, 1669, and he himself October 25th, 1674. By his
will (in which he is described as of Castley, in Sedbergh,) he
left to the governors of the school 5/., the interest to be spent
in the purchase of a dictionary for the use of the school. The
will is dated Oct. 7th, 1674. The governors sent notice of Mr.
Fell's death to the college, who thereupon proceeded to elect
one Mr. Cox, who never took possession of the place, but
delivered up his presentation to the college within the month.
Six weeks afterwards, the college, not having appointed any
master, the governors took the advice of two eminent lawyers,
Sir Thomas Stringer and Mr. Hill Rawlinson, who gave their
opinion thus : " If the colledge doe not elect a person who
accepts of the place within a month, the governors may nominate
and elect, for otherwise the place might never be supplyed."
The governors then considered that the right to nominate the
master " was devolved on them by Providence," and they pro-
ceeded, by the following instrument, to appoint Mr. Posthumus
Wharton : —
" Let it be known to all to whom this present writing shall
come, that we, the governors of the possessions, revenues, and
goods of the Free Grammar Schoole of King Edward VI. of
Sedbergh, in the county of York, have elected and nominated
our beloved P. Wharton, M.A., and member of the Colledge of
St. John the Evangelist, Cambridge, to the mastership (or
presidency) of our aforesaid schoole, now vacant by the death
of Edward Fell, the last incumbent there ; and coming and
falling to our election and nomination by the lapse of time, for
this turn. And the same P. Wharton we make, ordain, and
constitute through these presents master, head, or pedagogue of
our foresaid schoole, in testimony of which thing we have
caused our common seal to be affixed to these presents, on the
4th day of December, A.D., 1674, and in the 26th year of the
reign of his most gracious Majesty King Charles the 2nd."
no THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
The following is the bishop's license : — " John, by permission
of God, Bishop of Chester, to our beloved in Christ P. Wharton,
master of arts, health to exercise his duty and office of school-
master and teacher of religion in the Free Grammar School of
Sedbergh, in the county of York, and diocese of Chester, and
to interpret publicly any good authors of the laws and approved
by the statutes of this realm of England, in the Latin or the
vulgar tongue, to do, to forward, and to exercise the other
things which refer and relate to the duty and office of a school-
master, or are supposed to refer or relate (all those things being
first subscribed and sworn by you which are to be subscribed
and sworn by law in this matter), we give to you in the Lord
licence and faculty by these presents."
Dr. Whitaker says Mr. Wharton took his degree of A.M. in
1674, and belonged to the ducal family of Wharton.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Ill
CHAPTER IX.
On the 4th of May, 1676, Mr. Wharton married Barbara
Corney. She was the mother of five children, Lancelott,
Willyam, Elizabeth, Tobias, and John ; and died the same day
the last was born, September 30th,' 1681. I have not found
the date of his second marriage to Mary, the daughter of Sir
John Otway, but it appears that she was buried on the 8th of
September, 1690, the day after the baptism (or birth) of her
daughters, Mary and Margaret. There is a brass tablet to her
memory on the floor of the chancel in Sedbergh Church, with
an inscription in Latin, of which the following is a translation
(she died at Thorns) : —
A man abroad, a matron in thy home,
A true Pandora, not by bards invented,
But by the true God's providence made come.
Each sex at once the palm to thee presented.
And gifts which other women, howe'er blest.
Have but in part united in thy breast.
Ah ! how I wish the Fates had granted me
To lie now in thy place, but I believe
That this was best, and God was pleased with thee.
But when my eyes are closed by the last day
That comes to me, O heir, I bid thee pile
This dust o'er me, when solemnly they lay
My corpse to rest beneath this self-same aisle.
The Latin is as follows : —
Mas foris et Matrona domi, non ficta Poetis
Pandora, at veri numine facta Dei.
Sexus uterque dedit palmam tibi, qugeque beatas
Dant divisa alias juncta fuere tibi.
Quam vellem supplesse vices si fata tulissent,
Credo Mage ast jure et te placuisse Deo,
Sed mihi summa dies cum lumina clauserit, Haeres,
Hac ipsa jubeo ut conglomerarer humo.
On the 7th of June, 1696, Mr. Wharton married Mrs. Mar-
garet Cowper, of this parish, by license. She was the daughter
112
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
of Mr. Cowper, of Pedgecroft, at which house she died, March
24th, 1736, having survived her husband twenty-two years. It
does not appear that she had any children. Mr. Wharton was
master of the school, as his monument states, for more than
thirty years, and must have retired from his office about the
year 1705, in which year the school had 122 scholars, of whom
only twenty-three were born in the parish. The following is a
list of their names : —
Park, I mus.
Powley
Browell
Gale
Crosby
Vincent
Upton, I mus.
Inman
Yarburgh, 3 trus.
Parker, i mus.
Peacock
Braithwaite, i mus.
Braddyll, i mus.
Dodson
Blacket
Hornby
Armistead
Sawrey
Yarburgh, I mus.
Park, 2 dus.
Emerson
Yarburgh, 2 dus.
Dickinson, I mus.
Stanley, 2 dus.
Maxwell
Currer, I mus.
Jackson
Ouston
Gosling, I mus.
Toll, 2 dus.
Ward, I mus.
Fothergill, 2 dus.
Dawes, 2 dus.
Green
Braddyll, 2 dus.
Gathorn
Bowick
Smales
Clayton
Armistead, i mus.
Rigby, I mus.
Whitfield
Atkinson, i mus.
Lowdon
Close
Stainton
Wilson, 2 dus.
Christian
Atkinson, 2 dus.
Whinfield
Sanderson
Hartley
Ward, 2 dus.
Thornton
Wilson, I mus.
Bland, 3 trus.
Budsay
Hall
Dawson
Wentell
Askew, I mus.
Crookholme
Cragg
Askew, 2 dus.
Man
Phillipson
Rishton
Coleby
Braithwaite, 2 dus.
Dickinson, 2 dus.
Stanley, i mus.
Walker
Whittingham, 2 dus.
Coulton
Pallison
Rigby, 2 dus.
Carter
Bindloss
Collinson
Edwards
Croft
Fothergill, i mus.
Satterthwaite
Parker, 2 dus.
Strickland
Fowthian
Whelpdale, i mus.
Potter
Nelson
Wallbank, i mus.
Cautley
Brittan
Critoft
Wharton, I mus.
Upton, 2 dus.
Currer, 2 dus.
Holdsworth
Lickbarrow
Addison
Laythes
Farrer
Walton
Longmire
Banks
Cockell
Bland, i mus.
Todd
Bland, 2 dus.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
113
Braddyll, 3tius.
Scott
Weslyd
Wallbank, 2 dus.
Toll, I mus.
Ary
Whittingham, i mus.
Wharton, '2 dus.
Whelpdale
Dawes, i mus.
Wykliffe
Poast, I mus.
Poast, 2 dus.
Gosling, 2 dus.
In all 12 2, of which born in ye parish twenty-three.
The rents at this time were gradually increasing. In 1669
the rents from Bramwith amounted to 4/. loj-., in 1691 to
5/. 8s. lod., and in 1693 to 61. ()s. id. These were "sent to
be left att Tho. Masslebook's, in Doncaster, to be given to Mr-
Bateman, and he to carry it to Mr. Posthumous Wharton, to
Sedbergh."
The following table shows the rents of all the farms. Rents
advanced in Mr. Wharton's time : —
Feby. 21, 1681. £ s.
John Waterhouse farme at
Shelfe, formerly ... i 13
Advanced to... ,50
Fine ... ... 16 o
[785.
£ s. n.
4 Now J. Walton's, at .
•550
Fine
..36
Abraham Hodgson, ad-
vanced the rent of Shar-
pow Close att Halifax
from ... ... 100
To ... ... I 10 o
Fine ... ... 15 o o
Now
Fine
200
90 o o
Mr Lawson advanced the
three farmes at Ilkley
(late Joseph Watkinson's)
from ... ... I
8
8
Now Boiling.
To ... ... 8
Fine ... ... 20
Mr. Barker advanced a
farme, at Ilkley, late in
the possession of William
Squire, from ...
10
4
Now Harrison.
To ... ... 2
10
Pine ... ... 10
Fine
50 o o
114 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
;^ S. D. £ S. D.
Mr. Fountaine advanced a
farme, at Ilkley, late in
the possession of Henry
Currer, and sometime of
Cowgill, from the yearly
rent of
To
o
4
13
15
4
Now-
Fine
John Brogden
Fine
25
70 o o
John Mawson and Ann
Sheffield advanced a
farme, at Ilkley, late in
the possession of William
and Ann Sheffield, from on 8 Now Lofthouses.
To ... ... 3 10 o Rent ... ...460
Fine ... ... 25 o o Fine ... ... 80 o o
Mr. Samuel Swaine ad-
vanced a farme, at Ilkley,
late in the possession of
Nicholas Stead, and for-
merly in the possession
of one Squire, from the
yearly rent of
To
Fine
Widow Sand with advanced
the rent of her farme from 134 Now Lilly's.
To ... ...400 Rent ... ...500
Fine ... ... 20 o o Fine ... ... 90 o o
One rood of ground lying
in Bentley Ing is now
in farme to Sir George
Cooke for 5^., haveing
not of late yielded any
p'fit to the schoole.
Wm. Nicholson advanced
the rent of the tithes of
Weston ... ... 8 10 o
To ... ... 12 o o
Fine ... ... 13 6 8
19 8 Now Robt. Brogdens.
600 Rent
..600
33 Fine
..80
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
115
S.ent and Fynes of Leases granted by the Governors^ September 28th ^ iyo2.
Mr. Lister, of Halifax, paid the rent of
Mr. Cleworth...
Mr Barker ...
Mr. John Mawson
John Brogden
Mr. Roger Coates
Rent,
s. D.
10
5
15
15
15
o
Paynes.
£ s. D.
20 o o
o
o
4
o
o
30
25
40
29
46
An Account of the Yearly Rent and Fynes
renewing, July 20th,
Mr. Thomas Currer, of Lofthouse
William Burton, for Jenny Bland
John Taylor, for Deepmyre
Mr. Thomas Barker, for lands at Ilkley
Edward Boiling, do,
Mr. Roger Coates, do.
Mr. Thos. Cleworth, for lands at
Stanforth...
Mr. John Mawson, for lands at Ilkley .
Thomas Stephenson, for lands at Thorn
The Governors of Halifax School
John Brogden, for two farmes
Dr. Nicholson, for lands at Barnby Dunn
John Medley, for lands at Shelf
Thomas, Lord Fairfax, for Askwith tithes
Wm. Vavasour, for Weston tithes
Some few rents att Doncaster
Widow Turner, rent
Sir George Cooke
due and payable at the last
1706,
Fynes.
£ S. D.
000
000
7 10 o
25 o o
100 o o
46 o o
Rent.
£ s. n
8 o
4 o
7 o
2 15
9 o
6 o
4 5
3 15
I o
I 10
5
6
5
22
12
3
o
o
35
40
10
22
29
40 o
12 15
40 o
20 o
o o
o o
5 o not yet renewed.
The whole yearly rent
,. ;^ioi 12 4 ;^437 2 6
John Brackan, Clerk.
Out of this small income Mr. Wharton had to pay his usher,
and there were in his time, also, two expensive lawsuits besides
the smaller one, of which I find the following notice, dated
August the 9th, 1699: — "N.B. Whereas, Mr. Thomas Lee,
of Hatfield, has cutt down and sold to ye value of 8/., timber
in ye lands of his school farm called St. Mary Croft, in ye p'ish
of Thorn, and has upon discovery and prosecution for ye same
I 2
Il6 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
refunded ye said 8/. into ye hands of Mr. Wharton, the present
schoolemaster, ye present governors of ye said school, both for
the encouragement of ye said Mr. Wharton as in regard y^
said Mr. Wharton has lately been as much moneys out of his
pocket in a late prosecution att Bramwith, ye present governors
doe unanimously and freely present Mr. Wharton with ye said
sum of 8/. as aforesaid. — Charles Otway, Jonathan Rose,
Henry Washington, James Bland, Lancelot Dawes,
James Mackereth, Christo. Corney, John Fawcett,
Christo. Gawthropp, William Corney, John W^ard,
Henry Holme." The governors had in their hands at this
time various sums of money for the poor of Sedbergh, and for
poor scholors, which they lent out at an interest of about five
per cent. There was also the money for the Dictionary, which
was laid out in the following manner : —
"February 6th, 1679. — Received of Edward Fawcett, one
of the governors, the summe of one pound four shillings, being
four years interest for a legacy of 5/., which Mr. Fell, late
schoolmaster, left by his last will for a continual supply of a
Dictionary for the publique use of the schollres. I say, re-
ceived by me, Posthu. Wharton."
jC s. d.
April 1 6th, 1680. — Laid out of the former sum for
a Dictionary
Carriage
Year's interest of 5/. lent upon bond
February loth, 1683. — Littleton's Dictionary
Carrying
March, 1635. ... Littleton's Dictionary
Dec. 1688. — Binding two books belong'ng to
school
September, 1689. — Dictionary
February, 1692. — Littleton's Dictionary ...
August, 1693. — Littleton's Dictionary
November 4th, 1 700. — Cambridge Dictionary
September 3rd, 1703. — Cambridge Dictionary
September 24th, 1705. — Littleton's Dictionary
May 3rd, 1709. — Littleton's Dictionary ...
August 1 2th, 1 71 7. — Dictionary
September 17th, 1720. — Dictionary
... 12
...
2
... 6
... 14
...
2
,. 14
the
... 2
6
... 15
6
... 14
... 13
... 17
... 19
... 16
.. 18
... 19
0,
... 19
Q
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. II7
In 1707 the school library contained 62 classical works.
The sum left for the maintenance of poor scholars at St. John's
College seems to have brought in 7/. igs. 6d. yearly. It is
small, but it seems to have been a matter of some consequence
in those days. On April 13th, 1700, the governors had a
discussion on the subject, as follows: — "22/. due to poor
schollars last Candlemas (none parish born being then at Cam-
bridge, but William ye son of Christopher Croft) tis this day
voted by the governors whether ye said Wm. Croft shall have
the said moneys or not. Against him, James Bland, Christ.
Corney, Lancelot Dawes, John Warde, Henry Holme, Chris-
topher Gawthropp, Wm. Corney. Mem. That Christopher
Croft, ye father of William Croft, besides a paternal estate in
land, had left him by an uncle's will the sum of 1,000/. or
1,200/. And, therefore, the said governors, aiming at nothing
but a conscientious discharge of their trust, voted against him,
as noe proper object of ye charity.
"The day and year above written it was voted by ye
governors yt ye sum abovesaid is divided as underwritt, viz.,
26/. to Marmaduke Holme, son of John Holme, of Settlebeck,
parish born, and the remainder to John, son of Robert Bain-
bridge. Signed as above.
" Mem. — That John Holme, the father of Marmaduke
Holme, being a poor man, and not able to answer his son's
earnest desire of being educated some small time at Cambridge,
made his humble address to the governors that they would
please to apply ye gift of charity (whereof they have the dis-
posal) to the maintenance of his son at St. John's College.
Wherefore, ye said governors, looking upon him as a fit object
of the charity, and themselves obliged by their trust to gratifie
his request, did by their votes grant him the summe here
mentioned."
In 1705 the yearly interest was divided thus : —
£ s. D.
To Mr. John Scaife... ... ... ... 5 o o-
To Mr. James Railton ... ... ... 2 lo o
To Thos. Walton, Richd. Walton's son, to buy him books 096
Il8 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
But in general it was paid to some one person. August i8th,
1703, we find the governors legislating for the school : —
"Whereas, by the great flourishing and encrease of the
school, and the expectation and custom of the scholar's rela-
tions of having a play-day at each entrance, and at other
occasional vigils, the master is rendered very uneasy in the
faithful discharge of his duty. The governors taking the same
into consideration, do make an order that no play-days shall
be granted for the future exceeding one afternoon in a fort-
night's time. — Charles Otway, Jonathan Rose, James
Bland, Lancelot Dawes, Henry Holme, Simon Washing-
ton, William Corney, John Warde, John Fawcett."
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. II9
CHAPTER X.
The first of the great suits, begun in Mr. Wharton's time,
related to the lordship of the manor of Bramwith Woodhouse,
of which the governors of the school stated that they and their
predecessors had been seized since King Edward the Sixth's
foundation. The complainants were Sir John Otway, knight,
Jonathan Rose, clerk (the vicar of Sedbergh), John Cowper,
esquire, Edward Fawcett, James Rycroft, John Robinson,
James Bland, James Mackereth, Christopher Corney, Henry
Washington, and John Atkinson, gentlemen. They informed
George, Lord Jeffrey, Baron of Wenmore, Lord High Chancel-
lor of England, of the circumstances of their possession of the
said manor, with its rights, members, royalties, and appurte-
nances, and stated that the several and respective tenants of the
manor had paid and performed to them and their predeces-
sors suit and service "all along, time out of mind, whereof the
memory of man is not to the contrary (till now of late). But," the
complainants continue, "the said manor being neare a hundred
miles distant from the said Free Grammar Schoole, and from
the place of residence of ye sd orators, and their predecessors,
governors thereof, all the rentales, surveys, terriers, extracts,
court rolls, court bookes, and counterpartts of leases belonging
to the said mannor, were usually kept within the same, and in-
trusted with the stewards or bayliffs thereof By which means
the same or a great part thereof were in the late tymes of trouble
and warr lost or mislayed. Soe that ye sd orators cannot tell
how to come by or have the same or true coppyes thereof,
albeit as ye sd orators have been informed that severall coun-
terparts of leases, rentalls, surveys, terriers, extracts, and court
rolls, belonging to the said mannor, were lately remayning with
John Newton, gent, some time steward thereof, and that the
same or some of them are, since the said Newton's death, by
some casuall or indirect means, come into the hands, custody,
120 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
and possession of Sir Thomas Hodgson, Knight, (who is riotv-'
lately by purchase become a tenant of the said mannor), or to
the hands, custody, and possession of some other person or
persons to his use and by his privity, consent, or knov/ledge.
By reason of which said counterpartts of leases, rentalls, sur-
veys, extracts, terriers, and court rolls, soe in his custody, or in
the custody of some other by his privity, or by some other ways
he does now withdraw his suit and service from the court of
the said mannor, and totally refuses to pay to yr said orators the
annual or yearly rent of ly. 4^., which has yearly and every
year been paid to yr orators and their predecessors by his the
said Sir Thomas Hodgson's predecessors, owners of the capitall
messuage, lands, tenements, and premises, with their members
and appurtenances, within Bramwith Woodhouse, aforesaid,
which he, the sd Sir Thomas Hodgson, now enjoys, and which
he has lately purchased of George RaiziUj of Doncaster, gent."
The governors further state that they had informed Sir Thomas
Hodgson, before he purchased the land in Bramwith Wood-
house, of this charge upon it, but as, for want of the necessary
papers they could not tell whether it was a " rent, sock rent,
service rent, charge or farme rent, or what rent, and out of
what particular land the same ought to be issuing or goeing
forth, they being so great strangers and liveing so remote," he
for ten years before their complaint had refused to pay his an
nual 13^. 4^., or to do any other service.
The governors also accused Sir Thomas Hodgson of having
made a strict confederacy with some persons unknown to them
(whose names, when discovered, they prayed might be inserted
in the bill of complaint), but what his confederates had done
does not appear. It is asserted, however, that his and their
doings were contrary to all right, equity, and good conscience ;
and therefore as the governors could have no redress from the
common law for want of their deeds, and because their witnesses
" are now very aged and impotent, and not likely to live long,
and doe inhabit and dwell in forraigne country s, and are not
able to travell to the Castle of Yorke where actions at the com-
mon law for this matter must be tryed," they appealed to ths
Lord Chancellor.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. til
Sir Thomas Hodgson, in his reply, did not deny that the
governors were lords of the manor of Bramwith Woodhouse, or
that rent and services were due to them, and had been paid.
But he declared that he knew nothing of the lost papers, nor
did he know or believe that he was a tenant of the said manor,
or that he owed, or ought to have paid any suit or service to the
court of the said manor. He was seized, as he said, of the
manor of Barnby Grange, in Bramwith, All Souls, Bramwith,
etc., which he had bought in July, 1677, of Geo. Raizin, gent.^
but did not know or believe that he had property in Bramwith
Woodhouse, or that he or.any of his predecessors had ever paid
the i3>5-. 4^. in question, which he believed to have been paid
by the tenants of other lands belonging to George Raizin.
How the suit ended, or how much it cost, I have not been
able to discover, but the governors carried it on after the death
of Sir Thomas Hodgson, whose will, made some short time
before his death, was dated April, 1693, the same year in which
died the distinguised governor, Sir John Otway. This gentle-
man's name last appears in the school papers as a tenant of
Under Winder Banks, for which he paid a rent of 7/.
In the year 1702, Mr. Wharton and the governors were en-
gaged in a very important suit relating to some of their land at
llkley. The governors at this time were Jonathan Rose, clerk
(vicar of Sedbergh), Lancelot Dawes, James Bland, Christopher
Corney, William Corney, John Ward, John Faucett, Henry
Holmes, Christopher Gawthropp, James Ridding, Simon Wash-
ington, and Dr. Charles Otway. The usher at this time was
Simon Atkinson. The complainant in the suit was Wilfrid
Lawson, who had married Mary, one of the two daughters and
co-heirs of Joseph Watkinson, a former tenant of three farms at
llkley, belonging to the school. Wilfrid Lawson said in his
complaint that his wife and her ancestors had held the said
farm for many years of the Crown, paying a rent of i/. Ss. 8d.,
while the governors, in a very full and particular statement,
affirmed that the three farms were " heretofore parcel of and
belonging to the late charity of St. Nicholas in llkley, which
had been part of the endowment of King Edward the Vlth.
They had counterparts of leases in their possession which showed
122 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
that these farmsihad been let, in the 31st year of Queen Eliza-
beth, to one Richard Gibson, a tanner for the term of 22 years,
and in the 3rd year of King Charles the ist, to Joseph Watkin-
son, for 21 years ; and in the i3.h year of King Charles the 2d,
to the same Joseph Watkinson, for the same term of years, at
the rent of i/. Ss. 2>d. for the three farms. They had no means,
as they said, of knowing what fines were paid for granting the
said leases ; but they did conceive that if the fines were not very
large the governors who granted the leases were, by " the re-
moteness of the said premises from the town and parish of Sed-
bergh, ignorant of the intrinsic value of the farms ; therefore,
or otherwise, were, by accepting or leasing at such a small rent
as i/. 2>s. M. yearly, guilty of great breach of trust and
mismanagement of that branch of the revenues of the said
school, by reason that it is of a very considerable yearly value."
In spite of the smallness of the rent, the said Joseph Watkin-
son had declined to pay it, claiming the lands as his own, so
that the governors had brought an action against him at York
in the year 1659, and had proved the land to be theirs; and
after judgment being given in their favour they say they know
not how the the said Joseph Watkinson did or could esteem the
premises in the bill named as his own. "But they conceive," they
said, " that as well he was (as the now complainants, and every
one of them now are) far out of the way if they or any of them
(especially after so long and easy enjoyment of the premises in
the bill named) could or can, or do think that the inheritance
of the said governors was his or theirs, or any of their own."
Mr. Lawson also stated that Mr. Watkinson had spent large
sums of money in building upon and improving the farms. As
to the building, the governors say that they beHeve it was done
more than seventy years before, and not by Joseph Watkinson
at all; and as to improving the land, they say they are not
aware that it was " barren or moorish ground, or that the ances-
tors of the said Lawson's wife did by great industry and charge
improve the same by tillage and manuring thereof ; " but, if
they did, they could well afford to do so as they had the land
at so small a rent, and '' as the improvements by tillage and
manure do, usually by the immediate product of crops of corn
tHE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 12^
and melioration of the soil for many years after, compensate the
charge and expense thereof, and that often with very great sur-
plus of profit, especially if the succeeding prices of com are not
very low." Besides all this, the plaintiff, Lawson, had, in the
year i68i (his father-in-law being dead and the lease expired)
made application to the governors for a renewal, which was
granted on his paying a fine of 50/. and increasing his rent to
8/. a year, for twenty-one years.
The premises let consisted of one dweUing house and barn,
with a tan house, and also all other buildings and edifices
thereto belonging ; and one croft containing one acre, called
the East Close ; one close called Golden Butts ; one acre lying
in the West Holme, which had been in the tenure of Richard
Gibson ; and nine other messuages and tenements which had
been in the tenure of Christopher Snipe. The rent was paid at
the Feasts of the. Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and St.
Andrew the Apostle. On these terms Lawson held the land
peaceably for nearly twenty-one years, and his lease being
nearly expired, he sent one Mr. Boiling, one of the complain-
ants, to Sedbergh, and he and the governors being met
together, he asked upon what terms they would renew the
leases. The governors, having discovered that the farms in
question were worth 34/. per annum or thereabouts or upwards,
demanded the sum of 100/. for a fine or foreguift, and the sum
of 10/. on the occasion, and a yearly rent of 10/.
At this meeting nothing was said of the claim subsequently
made by Lawson to have the premises continued to him at the
same rent and without a fine, according, as he said, to a promise
made by the governors when they granted the former lease,
(this promise the governors jointly and severally said they had
no right to make, and never had made) and Mr. Boiling went
back to acquaint Mr. Lawson with the proceedings, and shortly
after wrote to Mr. Wharton, September 27, 1701, and in a post-
script uses these words : — " Mr. Lawson and family presents
you with all their humble services to you, and is in his old dis-
temper of a cough, but will attend you in due time, and refers
the whole matter to you all, being ready to serve you and to
fall into your courtesies accordingly; but hopes yet of your
124 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
further favours at a further meeting." From this the governors
supposed that Mr. BolUng had acquainted Mr. Lawson with
their terms, and that he acquiesced in them, but time passed
on, andthey heard nothing further from him, and the leases
being expired, they caused entry to be made into the premise
in question, and declarations in ejectment were served. Law
son seems then to have brought actions against them to hinder
their further proceedings, making various accusations (which
the governors jointly and severally declared to be false), before
ihe Master of the Rolls.
Amongst other things, he professed that the fine demanded
or part of it, was demanded as a subscription to rebuild the
school, which was not rebuilt ; and to this the governors an-
swered that, in truth, '' some of the governors then seeing the
fabric of the said school too small, and until they were since
otherwise advised by counsel learned in the law, believing that
the governors had power to apply part of the revenues of the
said school to build it anew and larger, might, over and above
the said loo/., which should be paid as a fine or forguift, enlarge
the last named fine or foreguift to rebuild the schoole, and pur-
pose of applying the said loo/. was so moved and mentioned
principally by the instigation and arguments of the deft Jon-
athan Rose, he alleging such new building to be very conducive
to the benefit of the said school, or to that effect. But these
defendants, the 1 1 governors being since satisfyed that in regard
the school is in good repair they have no authority or fund to
build it anew, and therefore they have not since nor now do
insist or intend to apply any part of the revenues of the said
school that way." They go on to plead how necessary and
right it was for them to make the most of the school revenues,
in these words: ''These defendants, the ii governors, do sev-
erally answer and say, that the inhabitants of the said town and
parish of Sedberg are of themselves very poor, and the said
town is situate in the most naturally barren, bare, cold, remote,
and north-western part of the county of York, lying amongst
very high mountains ; but that since the defendant, Posthumus
Wharton, has been the master of the said school, his and the
said defendants, the 1 1 governors, respective residence in the
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 12$
said town and parish of Sedberg, the said Mr. Wharton hath
discharged his office and duty in that behalf of schoolmaster
with so great care, diligence, judgement, learning, and discre-
tion, and demeaned himseif so soberly, piously and with so
much humanity and honesty in his dealings, conversation, and
course of living that he has almost all along had a very full
school, and of greater repute than any of the neighbouring
schools in the said county, or in the adjacent or neighbouring
counties of Lancashire, Westmorland, or Cumberland, the said
school being furnished not only with boys born in the said
town and parish and in the neighbourhood of Sedberg, but also
with very many and great numbers of others sons of gentlemen
of very good quality and estates, sent thither from several and
remote countries and places within this realm, and by reason
that the said school doth, and hath so flourished, the said town
and parish are not only very much enriched by the benefit
accruing by monies expended for the diet, apparell, and other
expenses of several of the scholars and their friends, relations,
and others repairing to the said town on their account, but also
the boys of the said town and parish get a better and cheaper
education, whereby the inhabitants of the said town and parish
are and daily become more civilised, and of better lives and
conversation, and many learned and useful persons both in
church and state have gone out of the said school from the said
Mr. Wharton into the Universities and other places within this
realm, whereupon these defendants, reflecting on the said great
and many benefits arising from the said school and Mr. Whar-
ton, the present master thereof, have and d*o conceive them-
selves not only obliged hereby, but by the duty of their office
of Governors to use all lawful, just, reasonable, and honest ways
and means for improvement of the said school and of the rev-
enues thereof, that they might be the better assured of the
said Mr. Wharton continuing amongst them, whilst he should
be able to discharge his duty, they conceiving that his departure
or death would much prejudice the said school, and after that
to induce men eminent in that profession to sue for or accept
it ; and therefore these defendants ' thought it their duty to get
as large rents and fines as they could.' "
126 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER XI.
Mr. Lawson endeavoured to prove that the governors had been
illegally appointed, or had ceased to hold their office, in conse-
quence of having left Sedbergh. He entered at length into the
history of the foundation of the school, and the appointment of
the governors, laying stress on the provision made in case any
of the governors " for the tyme being should dye or departe
this life, or to inhabite, or with his family to departe to another
place out of the towne and parish of Sedbergh aforesaid, that
then and soe often for ever it should and might be lawfull to
the -rest of the surviving governors there, with theire familyes
resident, or the greatest parte of them to electe and chuse
another fitt person to serve as governor." Mr. Lawson also
stated how that "in consideration of looo/. of English money,
paid by Roger Lupton, clerk, to the master, fellowes, and
schollars of the colledge of St. John the EvangeHst, in the
University of Cambridge, commonly called St. John's colledge.
It was agreed betwixt the said Roger Lupton and the master,
fellowes, and schollars of the said colledge, among the other
statutes which were ordained by the executors of the illustrious
Princesse Margarett, Countess of Richmond and Derby, found-
resse of the said ^colledge, they the said masters, fellowes, and
schollars, should cause to be incorporated certain statutes and
ordinances for the maintenance of two fellowes and 8 schol-
lars in the said colledge, in all tyme to come ; besides, and
over and above, the schollars by the said foundresse and other
benefactors of the said colledge instituted, which said two
fellowes and 8 schollars should be taught and goe instructed
out of the said grammar schoole." "The corporation of the
12 governors," it was further stated, " hath continued in suc-
cession ever since, from the tyme of the said letters pattents,
and att this present tyme one Jonathan Rose, Gentleman ;
Charles Otway, Esq^e; James Bland, Gent; Henry Holmes,
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. I27
Gent ; Lancelot Dawes, Gent ; Christopher Corney, Gent ;
James Ridding, Gent; John Ward, Gent; William Corney,
Gent ; and Simon Washington, Gent ; are or pretend them-
selves to be governors of the said free schoole, and one Pos-
thumus Wharton in and for diverse years last past hath beene
the master of the said free schoole of Sedbergh. And the said
Posthumus Wharton having by the wayes and means hereafter
mentioned acquired greate riches, he, the said Mr. Wharton,
doth in effect govern and dispose the revenues of the said
Schoole at his own pleasure ; and he and the said Governors
have beene guilty of greate mismanagement and misbehaviour
in the said trust, and in particular whereas by the said letters
pattents the said governors are appointed to be chosen out of
the inhabitants of Sedbergh, and when it should happen that
any one should dye, or not inhabit with his family in the said
parish or towne of Sedbergh that then another should be
chosen in his roome. The said governors or great parte of
them, contrary to the said letters pattents, were either not
inhabitants of the said towne and parish when they were
chosen, or have departed with theyi'e familyes from the said
towne and parish, and yett noe new governors were chosen in
their place and roome, — and, in particular, the defendant,
Charles Otway, Esqre., was not an inhabitant, or att least for a
long tyme hath not been an inhabitant, in the said towne and
parish ; but, yett, being a relation of the said Posthumus
Wharton, he hath, by the interest and influence of the said
Mr. Wharton, with the rest of the governors, been chosen and
continued a governor of the said schoole, contrary to the
direction and intent of the royall founder of the said schoole.
And whereas the said schoole was founded by his Majestye as
a free grammar schoole for the inhabitants of the said towne
and parish and in the neighbourhood thereof; and there was an
ample revenue provided by his said Majestye for the support
and maintenance of a schoole master and usher. The said
P. Wharton contrary to his duty and the trust reposed in him
hath exacted greate summes of money from the parents, rela-
tions, and friends of such boyes as he hath taught in the said
free schoole, and hath refused to admitte or teach any in the
125 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
said schoole unlesse they pay him 20 shilUngs or a guinea at
their entrance, which said summe he allways demanded, and
the further summe of 40 shilHngs a yeare for every boye that he
teaches in the said schoole ; over and besides, he demands and
exacts 20 shiUings or such considerable summe for every boye
he teaches in the said free schoole every Christmas, and not
only soe, but at Shrove tide he demands and exacts from his
said schollars a certain summe for what he calls a cock penny,
all which summes the said P. Wharton receives, or if the same
are refused or neglected to be paid he either refuses to teach
the boyes of such parents or friends so refusing, or treats the
said boyes with such markes of distinction that he compells
complyance to all the said unwarrantable demands. And
whereas there ought to be an under master or usher constantly
kept in the said schoole, and the said governors ought to
appoint maintenance for such usher, which said under master is
to be appointed by the said letters pattents by the said master;
he the said P. Wharton all or great parte of the tyme he has
"beene master of the said schoole hath not appointed any usher
or under master att all for the said schoole, but to the end that
he might save the charges thereof and convert the intire rev-
enues and profitts of the said schoole to his own use, he, the
said Mr. Wharton hath appointed one or more of the schollars
in the upper formes^ in the said schoole to supplye the place of
an usher and all or the greatest part of the younger boyes in
the said schoole are taught by one or more of the rest of the
boyes in the upper formes in the said schoole, and by means
thereof he, the said Mr. Wharton, receives the intire rents,
revenues and profitts of the said schoole to his owne use, and
Tiath so great an influence over the said governors that they
dare not contradict or withstand the said proceedings. And
although the annuall Rents of the said premises, given by his
said Majestye, King Edward the 6th, doe now amount to above
200/. per ann., and the profitts by entering penny es, and cock
pennyes as they are called, and other summes the said P. Whar-
ton unwarrantably received from the schollars of the said
schoole does yearly amount to above 200/. per ann. ; more yett
the said P. Wharton doth make other unlawfull advantages by
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. I29
the said Schooje, for whereas by the letters patents before sett
forth there are to be two Fellowes and 8 Schollars to be received
and maintained in St. John's Colledge — which said Fellowes
and Schollars are to have a Certificate from the Master of Sed-
berghe Schoole that they have been taught and instructed in
the said Schoole of Sedbergh as a necessary qualification to be
admitted to the said Fellowships and Schollarships, and the
said P. Whafton hath been guilty of a very grosse misbehaviour
in granting such certificates, for the said P. Wharton doth
demand lo/. or some such greate summe, as a fee or gratuity
for the making or signing such certificates ; and although
divers tymes the p'rsons were duly qualified by having beene
taught and educated in the said Free Schoole to be admitted to
the said Felloweships and Schollarships in St. John's Colledge,
and in justice, and according to his duty, the said P. Wharton
ought to have granted such certificates, yett he either refused
soe to doe or raised objections and cavills against the same
until the said summe of lo/. or some considerable summe of
money, was paid him for the said certificate ; and, many tymes
to elude the said charitable provision, the said P. Wharton hath
received strangers into the said Free Schoole and hath caused
them to continue there for a month, or some such small tyme,
and for the summe of lo guineas, or some such like summe of
money, hath given certificates that the said boyes were taught
and educated in the said Free Schoole, thereby to qualifye them
to be received as Fellowes or Schollars in the said Colledge in
Cambridge. Whereas, in truth, they were not taught and edu-
cated in the said Schoole according to the intent of the founder
thereof, to the great discouragement of the Schollars of the said
Schoole of Sedbergh, for whose benefitt and advantage the said
Felloweships and Schollarships were intended."
Besides all this Mr. Wharton was accused of having demanded
large fines from the school tenants on the renewal of their
leases in the year 1681, in particular pretending " That the
said schoole and buildings thereto belonging were very much
out of repair, and that it was necessarye the same should be
rebuilt." From the tenants and the parents and relations of
the scholars, it was asserted, more than 1,000/. had been
K
130 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
obtained by Mr. Wharton on this pretext ; " but when the said
Posthumus Wharton had received the said money he converted
the same to his owne use, and left the said schoole and build-
ings in the said conditions that they were." This last accusa-
tion was founded on fact, for there is an account of small sums
received by Mr. Wharton for the rebuilding of the school, 2/. ;
3/. received for granting a lease to Mr. Lister ; 5/. for another
lease to Mr. Thomas Cleworth ; and 3/. 4s. 6d. given by Mr.
Mawson towards the erecting of a new school, (returned
according to promise because a school was not built). " Mr.
Lawson hereupon demanded that Mr. Wharton and the
governors should be called upon to answer all these accusations
before Sir Matthew Wright, Lord Keeper of the Create Scale
of England (June 30th, 1702)." I cannot find that any
witnesses were called on either side, but the governors and Mr.
Wharton gave a very long and distinct answer. Mr. Lawson
seems to have had friends in Sedbergh who provided him with
information, but I do not know who they were.
The joint and several answers of Jonathan Rose, clerk, James
Bland, Lancelot Dawes, Christopher Corney, John Ward, John
Fawcit, Henry Holmes, Christopher Cawthropp, James Ridding,
and Simon Washington, eleven of the twelve governors of the
possessions, revenues, and goods of the Free Crammar School
of King Edward the 6th, in Sedbergh, in the County of York ;
and of Posthumus Wharton, clerk, master of the said Free
Grammar School ; admit to be true all that Mr. Lawson had
said about the constitution of the school and the election of
the governers ; and assert that Mr. Wharton had been duly
elected master in December, 1674. But he and they, jointly
and severally, deny " that the defendant, Posthumus Wharton,
doth govern and dispose of the said revenues of the said school
as he listeth, or otherwise than as receiving and disposing
thereof in such manner as is hereafter mentioned and set forth ;
neither have these defendants or any of them, or the said Mr.
Wharton, as they humbly conceive, been guilty of any misbe-
haviour or mismanagement in the trust in the said letters
patents expressed; for these defendants, the governors, and
every of them respectively, say that they and every of them
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 13^
were inhabitants of the said town and p'ish of Sedbergh, when
they respectively were chosen, and have not, nor any of them
hath, departed with their or his family from the said town or
p'ish of Sedbergh since the time they have been respectively
chosen governors as aforesaid. Neither do these defendants,
or any of them, know or can remember or have heard of any
person or persons that were governor or governors as aforesaid,
that departed from die said town or p'ish, except a Mr. Daniel
Mayers, Mr. Geoffrey Borrett, Mr. Braithwaite Otway, Mr.
Christopher Adamson, and Mr. John Robinson." The latest
of these departures had happened more than ten years before,
and other governors had been duly elected in the place of those
departing. " And these defendants do severally say that the
defendant, Charles Otway, Esqre., is son and heir of Sir John
Otway, Knt, deceased, and a Doctor at Laws, and seized and
possessed of a considerable estate, lying and being in the said
town or p'ish of Sedbergh ; and thereby and by his other estates,
education and quality, being the most considerable person of
the said town and p'ish, was, by these defendants, J. Rose,
J. Bland, L. Dawes, J. Faucit, C. Corney, J. Ward, and W.
Corney, being the greater number of the governors for the time
then being, and being seven of the present governors, duly
elected to be one of the governors in place of Edward Faucit,
a former governor, then lately dead ; he (ye said Dr. Otway)
then inhabiting ye said town and p'ish of Sedbergh ; and his
election was unanimously made, and that without being influ-
enced in any way or respect by the defendant, P. Wharton,
whose relation to ye said doctor was not otherwise than that
the defendant married a sister of the said doctor, who died
several years before the time of the said election of the said
doctor ; and that the said doctor hath resided and inhabited
with his family at his house, Ingmire Hall, situate in^ye said
town and p'ish of Sedbergh, in every year since he was so
elected, to wit, in the summer time, or the most of it, since his
said election, and hath furnished his said house with very rich,
fashionable, and valuable house-hold goods ; and though the
said doctor did and doth usually leave and depart from the said
town and p'ish in the season of autumn or there-abouts every
K 2
132 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
year, and repairs to St. John's Colledge, in Cambridge (though
he is not one of the fellowes thereof), Uving there only as a
fellow commoner or such like respect ; yet, he all along since
his said election hath left all his family or most part of it at
Ingmire, Hall aforesaid, saving a servant that used to wait on
him at Ingmire Hall, and in his journey betwixt Cambridge
and Ingmire Hall, and backwards to Cambridge, so that the
defendants, the said eleven governors, do hope and conceive
that as the said Dr. Otway did inhabit in ye said town and
p'ish of Sedbergh at ye time of his said election ; and hath con-
tinued, part or all his family, there all along since such his said
election, save as above mentioned ; and hath inhabited at his
said house some part of the year ever since, to wit, in the
summer season, or the greatest part of it, that therefore he (ye
said doctor) was and is still duly qualified to have been elected;
and as he hath not since departed with his family to any other
place without ye said town and p'ish in any other manner than
as above mentioned, that, therefore, these defendants neither
ought nor may choose another person to be a governor in his
place, so that such of these defendants that elected ye said Dr.
Otway do humbly hope that they have not in respect of the said
Dr. Otway mismanaged or misbehaved themselves in relation
to ye trust in them reposed in and by ye said letters patents.
But, if they have it hath been ignorantly, and by their mis-
apprehension and misprising of the intent and meaning of ye
said letters patents in relation to election of governors ; and, if
so, they and the other defendants, ye governors, are ready to
obey such directions and orders for redressing such mistake as
this honourable court shall be pleased to make. And the
defendant, P. Wharton, doth absolutely disown and deny that
he ever exacted or demanded any other monies or other rewards
or profits from the parents or friends of any boys belonging to
or taught by him in or at ye said school, or any of ye boys
there taught ; and doth also deny that he ever refused to admit
or teach any in ye said school unless they paid him 20 shillings
or a guinea, or other sum of money, upon that or any such or
like account of any person whatsoever ; nor ye sum of 40 shil-
lings per ann. or any sum of money for every or any boy by
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 35.
him taught in ye said school. And this defendant, P. Wharton^
doth also deny that he ever demanded or exacted from any
scholar any sum of money at Shrovetide, called by the name of
cockpenny or by any other name ; or received any sum of
money upon the account of any of the boys taught in the
school, save as is undermentioned ; but ye said defendant doth
say that he is informed and hopes to prove that for the time of
all his (the defendant's) several predecessors, masters of ye said
school, it had been a general practice that ye parents or other
friends of boys brought to be taught in ye said school did give
ye master 10 shillings or 20 shillings, or more or less as their
abilities or inclinations moved them, for gratuity when they did
first bring boys to be taught there ; and that, likewise, about
Shrovetide yearly, several or most of ye boys (by ye consent
and approbation of their parents or guardians, or by example
of ye other boys belonging to ye said school, or some of them)t
contribute together some 5 shillings, some 10 shillings, and
some 15 or 20, or more or less as their parents or guardians, or
sometimes themselves, thought fit, and made up such contribu-
tions into one or two gross sum or sums, purse or purses, and
presented such gross sum or sums, purse or purses, by the name
of cockpennies to ye master of ye said school for ye time being,,
about Shrovetide yearly by ye hands of 2 of their members,
they being ye head scholars; and ye same practice at Shrove-
tide is and long hath been used in most neighbouring free
schools, which said practice and usage in presenting ye master
such gratuity as aforesaid, at ye entrance of boys into ye said
school, and making up and disposal of the said monies,
called cockpennies, this defendant doth confess, hath been
continued for ye most part towards him by such parents
and guardians, and boys respectively, or some for them, ever
since this defendant was master. And ye said bounty monies
and gratuities have been voluntarily and freely presented and
given all along to this defendant, especially by gentlemen
and others, wealthy persons, living remote from ye said town
and p'ish, and that without any demand or exaction made
thereof by this defendant in any manner. And this defend-
ant doth likewise confess that some, though very few, par-
134 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
ticular persons of ye wealthiest or ablest parents of quality
of boys, which were or are taught at ye said school, have
generally every year presented this defendant with some bounty
money or gratuity, over and above such money given at
entrance, or cockpennies as aforesaid ; wherein all persons were
so at their own free liberty, and acted so variously both in
ye value and ye times, that this defendant is not able to be
particular in this respect All which said bounty monies and
gratuities this defendant did accept in good manners, and out
of respect unto and lest he should by a refusal disoblige ye
persons presenting and giving of ye same to him ; for 'tis very
probable if this defendant had refused ye same, ye parties^
parents or guardians, presenting or giving, or ordering ye same,
would have been angry at, or have censured this defendant's
denial thereof. And this defendant doth humbly crave leave
to offer to ye consideration of this honourable court, that since
ye said year 1674 until this present time he hath discharged his
duty in his said most useful, important, and laborious office of
schoolmaster of ye said school, with as much diligence, integrity,
and success as he possibly could ; he having been so indefati-
gable therein as to have risen, for ye most part, since his having
been master of ye said school, at or about 4 of ye clock in
the morning, and to have been with ye boys in the said schools
usually by 6 of ye clock, both summer and winter, till about
2 years since, when for ye preservation of his health, it being
impaired by age and hard labour, he was advised, and so hath
practised, to begin ye school in ye depth of winter only at 7 of ye
clock in ye morning, and this defendant also hath, for most part
of ye said time in ye evenings, made it a great. part of his busi-
ness to discover how ye several boys taught in ye said school spent
their time, which this defendant's care and industry has been so
far successful ; that he has generally had a very full school, and
more considerable that any school in that part of the county of
York, or in ye neighbouring counties of Westmorland, Cumber-
land, or Lancashire, having regard to ye qualities and circum-
stances of ye parents of ye boys taught therein, ye said school
consisting of boys not only living and born in ye said town,
p'ish,'and neighbourhood, but of ye sons of several gentlemen
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 35
and others of very good quality and ability living far distant ;
so that there have gone yearly from the said school, since this
defendant, P. Wharton, was master thereof, not only several
scholars taught by this defendant unto one of ye universities
of this realm^ who have been reputed upon their admission
there to have been for ye most part as well and often better
instructed in grammar and school learning than any or the most
coming from other schools to such universities, but, likewise,
several other boys have gone into other places after they had
been taught in ye said school by this defendant, that have
proved very eminent men in their several subsequent stations
and course of life ; so that this defendant not only hopes to
prove that ye persons who have given or bestowed any gratuity
or bounty money upon this defendant, or ye most of them, will
think, and upon occasion so declare, that this defendant did
very well deserve ye same as given to him for his extraordinary
care and pains in educating such boys that were put to him ;
but, also, this defendant doth humbly hope that in regard that
he never exacted or demanded any sum of money, that such
his acceptance of some small gratuities, there being, as this
defendant is advised, no matter or thing in ye said letters
patents contained to ye contrary, nor any clause therein to
restrain this defendant from acceptance of such small bounty
money or presents, this honourable court will be of opinion
that this defendant hath not done anything amiss in this respect,
such like or some other gratification being as he (this defendant)
is informed, practised and permitted in almost all, and even
ye best ordered and endowed schools in this realm, as those of
Westminster, Eaton, and others. And this defendant denyeth
that if such bounties in ye said information mentioned were
refused, he either refuses or hath refused to teach boys of such
parents or friends, or treats or hath treated ye said boys with
such marks of distinction that he compels a compliance to any
pretended demands in ye said information mentioned. And
this defendant saith he doth not make nor hath made in his
method of teaching, or in any of his deportment, any such
distinction between ye boys of ye said school ; his (this de-
fendant's) carriage and dealing being- alike and common to all
136 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
ye boys, and without any difference, but what their different
demerits or carriage in their lives and learning ought reasonably
to produce in this defendant And this defendant further saith
that for all ye time he hath been master in ye said school there
hath been an usher or under master in ye said school, duly
appointed by this defendant ; which said usher hath had and
received ye yearly stipend, salary, and allowance of 16/. out of
ye revenues of ye said school, and such usher hath also yearly
received such gratuities and bounties from ye parents, guardians,
and friends of boys in ye said school, or from ye boys them-
selves by ye order or approbation of their parents, guardians,
or friends, as that his place is unanimously esteemed to be
worth ye sum of -^dl. or thereabouts, which said place or office
of usher of ye said school, this defendant doth, therefore, believe
to be as good in point of profit^ if not better, than ye like many
neighbouring school or schools. And this defendant denyeth
that he hath appointed one or more of ye scholars to supply
ye place of an usher, except in case of sickness or absence of
ye usher for ye time being, or for some other accidental occa-
sion which could not reasonably be foreseen or prevented. And
this defendant denies that he (this defendant) receives ye entire
rents, revenues, and profits of ye said school to his own use, or
that this defendant hath so great an influence over ye said
governors that they dare not contradict or withstand any such
proceedings, but on ye contrary, ye entire yearly profits have
been all along applied in such proportions as in ye beUef of
ye said P. Wharton have usually and in former times been
allowed and practised. And this defendant believes that taking
one year with another he hath not received out of ye entire
rents and profits of ye said school above ye yearly sum of 97/,
And as to ye presents and gratuities which have been from
time to time yearly given and bestowed upon this defendant,
they have been so uncertain both as to ye value of them and
ye time when given, that this defendant is not able to give any
certain yearly value thereof, this defendant not keeping any
notes or memorandums thereof"
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 37
CHAPTER XII.
Mr. Wharton continues his defence as follows : — " And this
defendant further saith, that in defence of the rights of the
school, and otherwise for the improvement of the possessions
belonging to it, there hath been expended out of the rents and
revenues of the said school at several times and occasions since
this defendant became master thereof the sum of 250/. or up-
wards, to the great impairing of this defendant's stipend, salary,
and support. And this defendant denyeth that he hath made
any unlawful advantages by the said school, or has been guilty
of any misbehaviour in granting certificates to any scholar of
his school, when procured or sent for by any in order to be a
fellow or a scholar in St. John's College, in Cambridge, or when
sent to that college ; neither did this defendant ever ask, de-
mand, or receive the sum of to/., or any gratuity whatsoever,
for making or signing any such certificates as in the said infor-
mation is falsely suggested. And this defendant also denieth
that he at any time when any person or persons was or were
qualified by having been taught in the said school to be ad-
mitted to the said fellowships or scholarships, or any of them,
in St. John's College aforesaid, or that when this defend-
ant ought in justice and in duty to have granted such certifi-
cate or certificates, that this defendant either refused so to
do, or raised objections or cavils against the same until the
sum of loA, or any other sum of money, was paid him ; but on
the contrary, this defendant hath constantly and freely made and
given the same to his scholars taught in his school without de-
manding any fee or reward whatsoever ; and this defendant
denyeth that he did ever receive any strangers into the said
school with intent to cause them to continue for a small
time there to elude the provision for scholars going out learned
out of the said school to the said college ; neither hath this de-
fendant, for 10/. in fees, or for any other reward, given any
138 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
certificates to any such boys that were strangers, or that were
taught and educated in the said school of Sedbergh for a small
or other time, thereby to qualify them to be received as fellows or
scholars going out learned out of the said school unto the said
college in Cambridge otherwise than that this defendant in the
certificates by him made to the said college constantly set forth
as near as he could the true space of time truly wherein the
person named therein had remained as a scholar at the said
school, thereby leaving it to the said college to judge how far
such person so certified for was capable of being elected to be
a fellow or scholar in such respect ; and this defendant saith
he never gave any certificate to any scholar but that he specified
the time of his abode at the said school as aforesaid as exactly
and truly as he could, and that if he cannot enjoy the said place
of master of the said school during his good demeanour therein
quietly, he shall be very free to quit the same, as being very
unwilling and unfit to be concerned in any, but especially
malicious and vexatious, suits, as for the reasons above and
under mentioned he conceives this to be, all which he humbly
submits to the consideration of this honourable court, he hav-
ing not to his apprehension in any wise misbehaved himself in
his said office or place. And the other defendants, the 11
governors of the said school, do jointly and severally say that
they do not know, believe nor have heard that all or any of the
several matters by the said information charged to be done and
committed by the defendant, Mr. Wharton, or any of them are
true otherwise than are above set forth by the said P. Wharton ;
but, on the contrary, these defendants say that the said P.
Wharton hath discharged his duty of master of the said school
as or rather more fully and beneficially for the parties concerned
as or than is above mentioned. Whereas the said town and
parish of Sedbergh, is much enriched and benefitted, not only
saving the charges of putting forth the boys of the said town
and parish out at remoter schools, but by the monies spent
therein for the diet, apparell, and other necessaryes of the boys
coming thither from remote places, and by monies expended
also therein by the parents or others coming with or visiting
such boys ; and that the said school is as considerable, as is by
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 39
the said P. Wharton sett forth, insomuch that if the said P,
Wharton should leave it, by reason of his uneasiness by such
suits as this, or for other reasons, or should die, these defend-
ants do conceive that the said school would for a long time be
exceedingly impaired, and the said town and parish be conse-
quently prejudiced in many important respects. The rather
for that most of the boyes would upon the uncertainty of the
fitness and aptness of his successor (coming generally and
immediately from the said college and consequently untryed
in that respect) go to other schoolmasters of good estabHshed
repute in their calling."
The governors then proceed to deny that Mr. Wharton had
any such influence over them as to govern them or hinder
them from "contradicting him when he ought to be contra-
dicted (if any such occasion ever happened)." They also, as
well as Mr. Wharton, denied that money had been claimed from
the tenants to rebuild or enlarge the school, or subscriptions
demanded ; though Mr. Wharton admitted that he might have
had some casual conversation with some few persons on the
subject. It was also stated that it had always been the custom
(in order to save the expenses of a yearly salary to a receiver
thereof) that the rents, issues, and profits were received by the
master, and out of them he paid the usher, kept the school in
good repair, and disbursed all other sums concerning the order-
ing and managing the said lands and tenements, and vindicat-
ing their rights, which (the governors conceive) is not inconsist-
ent with the said letters patents, unless the master should
neglect or refuse to pay the usher, etc., wherein when any
master shall make default as they remember no such to have
happened, these defdts., the ii governors, will take themselves
to be obliged to constitute by some instrument a particular
receiver of the said rents." Mr. Wharton stated that " he had
paid the usher out of the rents, repaired the school, built a lath
or barn, and a new house for the master for the time being to
live in." It does not appear what this house was, as Mr.
Wharton lived at Thorns in the time both of his first and second
wife, who died there, and a family named Mayer lived there
before him as far back as 1657. He may, however, have built
140 THE HISTORY OF TH£ GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
a new house there, but this descended, I believe, to his
family.
The governors further state that they conceive it to be their
duty to improve the revenues of the school wherein they reason-
ably may, "the rather since families cannot now-a-days be
maintained at as easy rates as they might have been above 20
years ago, and that as the stipend and place of the said master
is the most beneficial, so the school will, in all and greater pro-
bability, be constantly suppHed with a person very eminent in
that profession, and the intent of the said letters patents be the
better effected." They then gave the dates of their respective
elections, and declared that they were all resident in Sedbergh,,
and professed their belief that " Mr. Lawson (whose son-in-law
is a councillor at law) hath caused or procured the said inform-
ation to be exhibited without any cause, colour, or pretence,
other than to vex and weary these defendants with multiplicity
of suits, and to gain new leases as followeth without any suffi-
cient fines, he having also filed or caused to be filed a bill of
complaint against them and others in his own name and others
in this honourable court, upon very false, frivolous, and weak
suggestions, and refusing to pay a fine reasonably demanded of
him for renewing or making leases to him of three farms belong-
ing to the said school, worth 34/. per annum or upwards, as
they the defendants are credibly informed and hope to prove."
And " these defendants hope that inasmuch as the estate in
law in the said school lands is in these defendants, the gover-
nors, and the said Chas. Otway's hands for such a charitable
and important use as is that of education of youth, and being
for the benefit of the master and usher of the said school, these
defendants and the said Dr. Otway may have the like power
and liberty to demise the said three farms to whom they please
at a full rent, and shall not by malicious suits or otherwise be
compelled to leave the same to the said vexatious relator. The
rather, since that his said proceedings tend very much, as these
defendants conceive, to the prejudice and discouragement of
the said school and the good and pious intent of the said letters
patent. And this defendant, P. Wharton, saith he hath not
received any fines or contributions for rebuilding the said
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 141
school ; neither hath this defendant any constant yearly sum
for every scholar he teaches in the said school, as is vainly
imagined by the said information." The governors then de-
clared all Mr. Wharton's statements to be true, and prayed to
be " dismissed with their reasonable costs and charges in this
behalf wrongfully sustained." Mr. Currer, attorney-at-law, de-
livered a bill of charges for this suit to the governors amounting
to 89/. 2s. 9^/., of which he was not willing to make any abate-
ment ; but as it seems that the plaintiff had to pay costs, this
large sum of money was of the less consequence.
On the 26th of June, 1706, Mr. Wharton resigned his master-
ship into the hands of the college, in the following terms : —
" I, Posthumus Wharton, master of the Free Grammar School
of King Edward the Sixth, in Sedbergh, in the county of York,
do freely and willingly resign into the hands of the worshipfuU
the master and senr. fellows of St. John's College, in the
University of Cambridge, all the right and title that I have to
the said school, to dispose of as they in their wisdoms shall
think convenient. In testimony of which I, the said Posthumus
Wharton, have sett my hand and seal the day and year above
written. "Posthumus Wharton.
" Witnesses to the signing and delivery hereof are as under —
Jonathan Rose, James Bland, Henry Holme, Christopher Gaw-
thropp, Simon Atkinson, Jo. Brackan."
This document is written by Mr. Wharton in a very clear and
delicate hand.
It appears from one of the school papers that after his resig-
nation of the mastership Mr. Wharton was one of the governors
of the school, until his death, March 27th, 1714. It is not
known in what part of the church he is buried.
The following letter from Lord Fairfax, respecting the gover-
nors' votes, may be interesting ; it is addressed as follows : —
" To the Rev. Mr. Wharton and the rest of the Feoffees at
Sedbergh School.
"Denton, Oct. t, 1703.
" Gentlemen, — Coming lately into the country, I find that
interests are making for the next election of Parliament men.
I have had the honor to be chosen for the county, for which I
142 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
thank my friends, and you, gendemen, in particular. My un-
willingness to engage them in contentions was the reason I
declined it the last time, whereof some gentlemen were so
sensible as they made a voluntary promiss to chuse me the
next. And I am resolved to put it to the tryall, desiring your
assistance, and that you will signifie it as occasion happens,
when you will greatly oblige, gentlemen,
'' Your most humble servant,
" Fairfax."
In Mr. Wharton's last will, dated September nth, 1710, he
left to the governors 20/. to be put out at interest, and the
yearly interest to be be applied to the maintenance of a poor
scholar at St. John's College, in Cambridge, that is born within
the parish of Sedbergh and educated at the school. The
governors lent the money accordingly to two men, who paid
interest for it ; but in 1731 they were " unable to pay their just
debts," and the governors only recovered 8/. of the 20/., which
they lent to another person.
The next master of the school was Mr. Dwyer, of whom I
know nothing, except that he seems to have left the school in
1709. On the 20th September in that year it was agreed at a
meeting of the governors " that when it shall happen that any
master of the said school shall dye, or remove from the said
school, that what time as they have taught the school after the
half-year day, they shall have allowed them 40 shillings per
week for every week, and to be paid them out of the next half-
year's rent next coming ; the same sum being paid by Mr.
Dwyer to Mr. Wharton, and this custom to continue as long as
the rents shall continue as they are." On the loth of October,
1709, they made a memorandum that "Mr. Dwyer taught
Sedbergh School fifteen weeks after midsummer last, so there
remains, pursuant to the agreement, above 30/. to be paid out
of the rents next accruing."
Mr. Dwyer was succeeded, apparently, by Dr. Samuel
Saunders, who had a peaceful reign of thirty years. He
seems to have speedily won the regard of the governors, as
may appear from the following decree, dated October 26,
1709: —
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 43
" Be it known to all whom it does or may concern, that the
governors of the Free Grammar School of King Edward the 6th,
in Sedbergh, taking into their serious consideration that the
endowments and statutes of the said school were designed for
the liberal education of youth in good literature, religion, and
morality, to the honour. of God and the pubhck weal of Church
and State, have in their meeting this day made a decree, that
if any publick or private house in Sedbergh, or the parts ad-
jacent, shall at any time or on any occasion entertain any of
the young gentlemen, strangers, or our own neighbours, scholars
for the time being of the said school, without the privity,
knowledge, or consent of ye master, or parents, or landlords of
the said scholars ; or if any be instrumental in the imbezzle-
ment of the books, cloaths, or other goods' of the said scholars
(who by reason of their minority have not such things at their
disposal), they shall be complained of to the magistracy, and
prosecuted according to law. And for the encouragement of
the present master, his great care and diligence in so a good a
work, the said governors will stand by and assist him to the
utmost of their powers. For the apparent truth thereof and to
signifie our resolution and unanimity herein, we have sett our
hands this 26th of October, 1709. — Jonathan Rose, John
Warde, Simon Washington, William Corney, Christopher
Corney, Christopher Gawthropp, James Ridding, John
Fawcett, Jo. Brack an. Mem. This was published at the
Cross upon the same day, and afterwards fixed there under the
school seal."
Dr. Saunders, besides being master of the school, was vicar
of Wheldon and Hulton Bushel, in Yorkshire. He married
Margaret (daughter of Mr. Posthumus Wharton and Mary, his
wife), by whom he had two daughters, Margaret and Rachel,
born in 1713 and 1716.
On the 2 1 St of June, 17 10, the governors and Mr. Saunders
agreed to confirm a decree made previously, that there should
be no play-days granted for the future, except oi;ie afternoon in
a fortnight's time, so it is to be supposed that the numbers of
the boys kept up well.*
* See Page 118.
144. THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
In 1722 the governors sent a Mr. Eade to examine into the
state of their distant farms. He set off on Sunday, May 13th,
and rode that day to Settle, having refreshed at Clapham. The
next day he went by Skipton to Halifax. His expenses in
ale on Wednesday, i6th, when he met at Coley Chappel
several of the tenants, amounted to ^s. 2d. He found many
persons in the neighbourhood of Doncaster who gave him infor-
mation on the subject of the Sedbergh land, as it was called,
though in some instances no rent was paid to the governors,
and it could not always be found out to whom it was j^aid.
One man, named Emerson, had a farm commonly called Sed-
bergh School Lands, and Mr. Yarborough, of Natfield, Mr.
Stones, of Brafit, and Mr. John Smith, of Rancor, all said to
Mr. Eade (who kept a journal of his proceedings) that Emerson
had told them often that he had a farm of Sedbergh School
Lands, and " pretended every year to goe into the north to pay
rent, but where or to whom no person ever knew, he kept the
same so secret.'^ On the 21st of May, Mr. Eade went to
Bramwith Woodhouse, and " laid his horse fast in the way,^'
way," and had to pay \s. 6d. to men and horse to get him out.
He lodged that night at Bramwith, and on his way there he
met with one John Denman, a Quaker, who, as he says,
*' informs me that William Watson, of Bramwith Woodhouse,
had made a late purchase of lands in our lordship, and that in
his deed for the said lands he had caused to be inserted a con-
veyance of the royalty, ' waifts, strays, fishery, and whatsoever
else belonged to the said royalty. When I inquired of Watson
concerning the same he confest, and that he thought the
governors of Sedbergh School would never look after their
rights, therefore that he might as justly claim the royalty as the
neighbouring lords who disputed our title and threatened to
drive our common. One Reynold, of Bramwith Woodhouse,
tells mee that his brother Reynold, who dyed in York Castle,
left some witness in the jaylor's custody relating to our mannor
and fishery." Mr. Eade did not at this time make any search
for these writings, but after transacting various pieces of busi-
ness he returned to Sedbergh, on Saturday, the 26th, having
spent on his journey 2/. 17J. o^d^ He had borrowed a saddle
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 14$
of Mr. Rose for the journey, towards the repairs of which,
costing 2S., Mr. Eade paid is. On Wednesday, the 13th of
June, he set forth again, having first dispatched a messenger
(to whom he paid 4^.) to go to Copplethwaite and fetch Mr.
Morland's horse off the moor. This animal having had a new
shoe, price 3^., Mr. Eade started on his journey, going first' to
Kirkby Lonsdale. On Friday, the 15th, he was at Shelf, where
he met " Mr. Sharp, Medley's widow, and Waterhouse, and,"
as he says, " had no other way but by treating the company to
obtain a release from Waterhouse and Medley's widow ; by
which they relinquish all title to our farm at Shelf; also pre-
vailed with Medley's widow and Waterhouse to sign a general
release to each other. My expenses on this account, 6s. 4^."
On Sunday, the 17th, Mr. Eade rode to York and saw the
jailor, who, however, before he would give a letter to enable
Mr. Eade to get Reynold's papers, *' squeezed out of him 6d.
for shewing the Castle, and a treat of 2s. 2d." Indeed, through-
out his journey, Mr. Eade found it necessary to pay by treating
for any information that he required. In November he took a
third journey, going first to Kendal to consult Lawyer Chambre,
and thence to Kirkby Lonsdale. Between these two places
his horse fell and lamed him, so that his journey was greatly
delayed. He got through a large amount of business on this
occasion, holding courts, granting leases, etc., and the expenses
of the whole excursion, which ended on the 26th of December,
were 14/. 10^. lod.
It will appear from the following notice how these expenses
were provided for : —
" At a meeting of the governors of the possessions, revenues,
and goods of ye Free Grammar School of King Edward the 6th,
in Sedbergh, in the County of York, on the i6th day of
November, a.d. 1722, there being present The Reverend Mr.
Jonathan Rose, Mr. Charles Atkinson, Mr. Chris: Gawthropp,
Mr. John Holme, Mr. James Stock, Mr. James Simm, Mr.
Richard Fothergill.
" The governors taking into consideration the great diminu-
tion of the revenues of the school by the loss or concealment
of several parcels of land, rents, and tithes, heretofore belonging
146 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
to ye same and now possessed or detained by other persons
through the ignorance, neghgence, or ill practises of persons
employed by the masters of the sd school, in and concerning
such premises, and more especially in or near the manor of
Bramwith Woodhouse, and in the parishes of Hallifax and
Weston, in ye which first-named parish great wast and destruc-
tion hath also been made in ye timber trees of the governors,
and considerable discoveries of such concealed lands, tithes,
rents, and wasts being lately made by Dr. Saunders, the present
master of the s<i school, and persons employed by him to repair
to the said parts to make enquiries and observations, and to
retrieve several court rolls and evidences of the title of such
lands and premises, whereby much expense of money is caused
and undergone by the sd Dr. Saunders, and proceedings at the
law and in equity will be necessary for the recovery of such
lands, rents, tithes, and damages for such wasts, the benefit of
which past and intended proceedings will ensue more to the
next schoolmaster than to Dr. Saunders, in case the sd Dr.
shall not survive the sd intended suits, and, forasmuch as it
hath been usual to renew the leases of the estates of the sd
governors (for the most part) when the leases in being had only
two years or thereabouts to come and remaining unexpired, and
application being now made unto ye sd governors for granting
leases of the tithes in the parish of Weston and township of
Askwith, altho' the term of three years and -odd months or
thereabouts are yet to come therein and unexpired, it is never-
theless agreed upon by the sd governors that new leases shall
be granted of the sd tithes, to commence at the expiration of
those in being, and that for the usual term of twenty-one years,
and under the yearly rent of 22/. is. for Askwith tithe so as
the leasees in such new leases do advance and pay the sum of
90/. for Askwith tithe in the whole, for a fine or fines so to be
obtained shall be the fund, and be employed as well for reimburs-
ing the sd by past expenses as for defraying those to come, and
to be undergone for and concerning the restitution and recovery
of the sd just rights of the sd governors, who, nevertheless, do
upon this occasion declare that the granting of the sd intended
new leases (so to be made before the usual times) shall not
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 47
hereafter be drawn into president, and is agreed now to be
practised merely upon the extraordinary occasions before recited,
and not otherwise, and is therefore become necessary at this
juncture, and with a full view of improving the revenues of the
sd school. This order is confirmed by us the sd governors this
8th day of Jan., 1722. Witness our hands — Jonathan Rose,
Charles Atkinson, Edmond Bland, James Simm, John
Fawcett, Arthur Croxton, John Hadwin, Richard Ward,
John Holmes, Richard Fothergill.
Dr. Saunders died November ist, 1741, aged 58, and was
buried at Westminster.
L 2
148 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER XIII.
Dr. Saunders was succeeded by Mr. Broxholme, who did not,
however, come to Sedbergh until the 25th of March, 1742.
He paid to Mrs. Saunders, according to an arrangement made
by the governors, 37/., "for and in consideration that the
school was taught, or caused to be taught, by the late Dr.
Saunders from the 24th day of June, 1741, till the ist day of
November in the said year (being the day of his death)." Mr.
Broxholme was an eminently unsatisfactory master, as will
appear from the following queries addressed by the governors
to some legal adviser : —
" It has been the custom upon renewing the school leases to
receive a fyne for the use of the master. But either covetous-
ness or necessity prompt every master to reach at these fynes
before they become regularly due ; therefore, to prevent the
complaining and murmerings which frequently happen on one
side or other by granting or refusing these unseasonable re-
quests, we think it would be the most equitable and reasonable
way to sink the fynes and increase the rents, and for our direc-
tion in that matter we desire your opinion.
" Question.
" I. Can the governors by virtue of the letters patent, or any
other statute in being, be warranted to dropp the fynes and to
increase the annuall rents of the school in proportion to the
valine of the accustomed fynes ?
" Answer.
" I apprehend that the master is intituled to all rents, issues,
and profitts arising from the school lands yearly, and from tyme
to tyme. And, therefore, I think, all fynes on renewall of leases
will belong to him, as well as the yearly reserved rents. But I
can't see by the letters patent that the govrs have power to lett
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 49
leases at less or other reserved rents than at rack or the full
vallue, and if so, that wil putt an end to all fynes or money on
granting the sd leases. Unless the govrs shd do this by the
advise and consent of the mar. and fellows of St. John's, who
together (and not otherwise) have power given to make laws
and statutes for the government of the mar., usher, scholars,
and revenus of the sd school, for the support of the said school
and the two fellows and 8 scholars to be sent from the sd school
to the said University of St. John's, Cambridge. And if no
such orders or statutes have been heretofore made by the said
mar., fellowes, and govrs that fynes shall be pd on renewall of
the leases of the school lands, in that case I advise to lett all
the present leases expire and not to renew but at rack rent,
and that will answer the purpose of the quere. But I appre-
hend that if any fynes be now in hand on accot of renewall of
leases, that it hardly falls within the scope of the power given
the govrs to purchase lands and (houses ?) there with not ex-
ceeding the yearly value of 20/. And I apprehend that all
statutes and orders relateing this foundation made by Mr. Roger
Lupton are void, and nothing now remaining sinse those pos-
sessions int. alicB. fell to the Crown at the tyme of the Dissolu-
tion of Abbies, etc., but wt is granted by ye letters patent of
Edward 6th.
" Question.
" 2nd. The school tenants in their leases covt to pay their
rents to the governours for the use of the schoolmaster, and
seeing Mr. Broxholme does not performe the office and place
of a schoolmaster, can the governors detain the rent received
till he performe his office ?
" Answer.
" I apprehend the school is full till Mr. Broxholme is
removed. And I observe that the mar. is chosen for life, or so
long as he behaves himselfe well, whereby he has gained a
freehold in law from which he can't be removed but on just
cause shewn in some of his Ma'ties Courts of Record, on proper
articles to be exhibited agt him. And that the guvenators,
150 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
with the advise and consent of the mastr and fellows of St.
John's, will make some statute or order touching the mastr's
behaviour, whereby to oblige him to go to the school constantly
and to continue therein to instruct, etc., from day to day so
many hours, or in default thereof to order that he shall be
removed from his office and from the profitts of his office, wh I
apprehend they have power to do by the Itres. patent ; and
upon his making default I apprehend they may exhibit an
information against him in the King's Bench, and so have him
removed ; but without such method taken I am at a loss how
to advise, and think this a case of so much difficulty as well to
deserve the advise and opinion of the Attorney Genl. But at
present, and so long as the school in point of law is full, the
rents, etc., must be pd to him. And I also apprehend that,
notwithstanding the rents are reserved to be paid to the govs
in the school-house, yet they are payable to Mr. Broxholme at
his house. And if the govt's can't have access there, then I
advise them to send Mr. Broxholme notice in writing of a
proper place and tyme appointed for payment, and that the
money will be then tendered him if he'll p'sonally appear to
receive it ; and if he refuses I think he'll have difficulty to
maintain an action, and I think the school-house a proper place
to make the tender at. But till such order is made, and till he
is removed, he is intituled to receive the profitts. And I shd
apprehend that it is necessary for the govrs to make such order
as above prescribed and to send it to the master and fellows
for their advise and corisent, and upon their refusall to sign
such order, then I apprehend, under the state and circumstances
of this case, that the governours and parish may have the
benefitt of the school, they will be intituled to have an execu-
tion of this grant or letters patent by decree in Chancery on a
bill to be fyled agt Mr. Broxholme and the master and
fellowes of St. John's, Cambridge, and to pay an injunction to
stay paymt of the rents and profitts.
" Question.
*' 3d. Can the governours retain charges necessarily expended
abt the school afiairs ?
the history of the grammar school. i5r
" Answer.
"I apprehend the govrs may retain all charges incident to
letting the estates, repairs of the mast^'s house (which I presume
is the school-house), and for defending the title to the estates.
And shd think they wd be allowed costs of suite out of school
revenues for wt ever relates the affaires of the school. But if
they fail in this attempt agst the master, I think they would not
be allowed those expenses, as they would not in construction
of law be deemed necessary expenses.
" Question.
"4th. If the law will oblige the governours to pay the
annuall rents to Mr. Broxholme, notwithstanding his continued
negligence, aud seeing Mr. Broxholme will not depart from his
chamber, must we attend on him there to pay the same ? Or,
as the tenants are bound by covenant to pay the rents at or in
the school to the governours, would it be proper to make a
tender at or in the school, giving Mr. Broxholme notice thereof;
or how ought we to demeane ourselves in discharge of the trust
reposed in us, seeing the world blames us for paying wages
where no work is done ; and Mr. Broxholme, on the other side,
must be equally uneasie by the want of necessarys to support
him in idleness ?
" Answered by the foregoing answer."
This paper is not dated, but on the 21st of September, 1744,
Mr. Broxholme gave a release to the governors, as follows : —
" Know all men by these presents that I, William Broxholme,
of Sedbergh town, in the county of York, clerk, for divers good
causes and considerations me hereunto moveing, have remised,
released, and quit claimed, and by these, for me, my heirs,
executors, and administrators, do fully, clearly, and absolutely
remise, release, and for ever quit claim unto William Burton,
Edward Bland, John Gawthropp, Richard Ward, James Simm,
James Braithwaite, Edward Leece, Christopher Corney, Richard
Branthwaite, John Howgill, Arthur Croxton, and John Fawcett,
governours of the possessions, revenues, and goods of the Free
Grammar School of King Edward 6th, at Sedbergh — all and
all manner of actions, cause and causes of actions, suits,
152 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL,
quarrels, controversies, trespasses, damages, and demands what-
soever, both in law and equity, or otherwise howsoever, which
against the sd William Burton, etc., I ever had, now have, and
which I, my heirs, executors, or administrators shall, or may
hereafter have, claim, challenge, or demand for, or by reason or
means of any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever, from the
beginning of the world unto the day of the date hereof. — In
witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal ye 21st
day of September, 1744.
"W. Broxholme."
It seems from this document that Mr. Broxholme and the
governors must have come to some agreement as to where his
salary should be paid ; but this is all I know about him, except
that on November 19th, 1744, he was in arrear of rent to the
vicar, for School-house Garth, i/. los. If, during part of his
time, he was in want of the necessaries of life, as the governors
seem to suppose, it is not wonderful that he should be a little
behindhand. He died in 1745, and was buried March 14th.
Mr. Broxholme was succeeded by Mr. (afterwards Dr.)
Wynne Bateman, who came to Sedbergh School the 24th of
May, 1746. Unless there was a very long interval between
them, of which I find no record, this date seems to show that
the 25 th of March was still the beginning of the year, as Mr.
Broxholme died the 12th of March, 1745, and the 24th of May
would in that case be not much more than two months later.
Dr. Bateman, February 17, 1746, married, at Firbank, Rachel,
younger daughter of Dr. Saunders. Their children were —
Catherine, born December 19th, 1747; Samuel, baptized
March 21st, 1750; Margaret, March 29th, 1751 j and Thomas
Saunders, April 28th, 1761. Dr. Bateman acted, for a time at
any rate, as curate of Sedbergh, as well as schoolmaster. There
are few records of his mastership. In 1751 there was a dif-
ficulty in collecting the tythes at Weston (in kind), Mr. Vavasour,
the landlord, preventing his tenants from taking the tythes to
the tythebarn, and some refused to pay tythe, but it is not
recorded how they settled it. There are also the following
letters relating to the repairs of the school. The first is from
St. John's College : —
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 53
"Cambridge, St. John's College, October 27, 1778.
" Sir, — I have communicated to the society the contents of
your letter of the 3rd inst. We have examined what writings
we have respecting the foundation of Sedbergh School. The
right of nominating a master, and of making rules and orders
in concurrence with the govrs for the maintenance and manage-
ment of the school as a charitable end, is all that seems to
belong to the college, not a word being said concerning the
house or buildings. And tho' the governours themselves have
no power to lay out any part of the rents and profits of the
school in repairing ye house, yet, from the very nature of the
trust committed to them, they must have a power to call the
master to an account for any abuses or neglects which he may
be guilty of; and as to the measures they may think proper to
pursue for this purpose, the college can have no objection.
" I am, sir, yr most obedient servant,
"J. Mainwaring.
" Mr. J. Wadeson, one of the governours of Sedbergh School,
Yorkshire."
Nearly a year after the governors again applied to the college,
as follows : —
"Sedbergh, Sept. loth, 1779.
" Gentlemen, — Abt 1 2 mo's ago Mr. Wadeson, one of the
govrs of this school, by I'tre to Mr. Mainwaring, gave an
account of the school-house, a very fine building, being greatly
gone to decay for want of the necessary repairs being made by
the present master. Dr. Bateman, (of which Mr. Holmes, the
bearer hereof, can give you full information), and desiring the
advice and assistance of the college to oblige him to repair it.
In October last, Mr. Mainwaring was so obliging as to answer
this I'tre, and said he had communicated the contents of it to
the society, who seemed to think that this was a matter which
did not belong to 'em. But said, as to any measures the
govrs might think fit to pursue, the college wd have no objec-
tion. By the charter all the lands belonging the school are
vested in the govrs, except an estate adjoining to it (called
Lofthouse, let for upwards of 20/. p' annum), on part of which
the school-house is erected, and the charter not having
154 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
expressly granted this estate to the governours, Dr. Bateman
uses it and lets it as he thinks fit, and the charter directs the
governours to pay the cleare rents of the rest of the lands to
the master for the time being. Hence the governours are not
litterally impowered to lay out any of these rents in repairing the
school-house ; and tho' they have often required Dr. Bateman
to repair it, or allow them to do it out of the rents, he refuses
so to do, and for want of reasonable repairs it's now likely to
come soon to decay, which will be a great injury to the charity.
It's apprehended the Court of Chancery would, upon an infor-
mation filed at the relation of your society and the governours,
direct a sufficient portion of the rents to be laid out in the
repairs of the school-house ; but this would be an expensive
method of proceeding, and as the college has an interest by
having the right of nomination of future masters, the gov^s would
take it as a favour if the society wd direct their bursar to write
to Dr. Bateman and require him to make the necessary repairs,
or that proper measures will be taken to oblige him, and if this
has not the desired effect, what the college shall think proper
or advise further to be done, they may command the assistance
of the govrs as far as lies in their power."
It does not appear what further proceedings were taken,
except that in 1780 the master and fellows of St. John's gave
leave to the governors to repair the school, which, I suppose,
they did. The estimate made in 1774 of the expense of repairs
and making a new west door was 58/. iSs. gd. I have not
been able to find any account of the money expended on
the new building, but it is stated that a school-house, a good
and spacious building, was erected in 17 16 upon the site of the
old one. If so, it seems strange that only 60 years afterwards
it should have been so nearly in ruins as the governors say, and
I am inclined to believe that this date is wrong, and that the
decaying building in Dr. Bateman's time must have been the
original one of Dr. Lupton ; especially as it is called a " very
fine one," which could hardly have been said at any time of the
present edifice.
Dr. Bateman was master of the school for :^6 years. The
following is the inscription on a monument to him and two of
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 155"
his predecessors in Sedbergh Church : — " Sacred to the
memory of the Revd. Posthumus Wharton, descended from the
family of Wharton Hall, and Mary his wife, daughter of Sir
John and Lady Otway. She died at Thorns, Sept. 7, 1690,
aged 31. And he, having been master of the Free School in this
place upwards of 30 years, died on ye 23th day of March, 17 14,
aged 73. To the memory likewise of Margaret, their daughter,
widow of Samuel Saunders, D.D., also master of the said school
for an equal period of time, and vicar of Wheldon and Hutton
Bushel, in this county. He died (and Hes buried in West-
minster) Nov. the I St, 1 741, aged 58; she, June 6th, 1776,
aged 86. They had two daughters, the elder of whom, Mar-
garet, died unmarried, on the i8th of April, 1750, aged 36;
the other, who caused this monument to be erected, married to
Wynne Bateman, D.D., also master for six and thirty years of
the said school, and with what success and credit he discharged
that office, let his scholars, dispersed through the world, say for
him. He died. May the 17th, 1782, aged 68. Rachel, his
widow, younger daughter of the aforesaid Samuel Saunders^
died much lamented, Aug. 20, 1802, aged 86."
Some of Dr. Bateman's scholars were probably amongst
those mentioned by Dr. Whitaker, whose history was written, I
believe, during the mastership of Mr. Stevens. " Still I could,
for the sake of the college and for that of the living and of the
dead, which this seminary has sent forth to adorn both that
and other colleges, be glad to hail this place as classic ground ;
but in the taste and fashion of education, as well as all other
things, there are revolutions, which interest itself can not
control. Forgetting, therefore, what it is, and recalling from
more distant times the names of both the Barwicks, let me
next commemorate either the living or the recently departed
ornaments of this seminary. Dr. George Mason, late bishop
of Man ; Dr. Walker King, now bishop of Rochester ; Sir
Isaac Pennington, late professor of physic at Cambridge ; Dr.
Thomas Kipling, dean of Peterborough ; Dr. William Cookson,
canon of Windsor; Mr. Thomas Starkie, late fellow of St.
John's, and now vicar of Blackburn, the senior wrangler of his
year; the witty and elegant Thomas Wilson, B.D. ; and above
156 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
all, Dr. William Craven, master of St. John's College, who to
the attainments of a profound scholar, added the humility of a
saint, and to the manners of a gentleman the simplicity of a
child."
To these may be added, from Allen's " History of the
County of York," " Robert Willan, a physician of very con-
siderable eminence, and born at the Hill, near the town, in
1757. He received his scholastic tuition in the grammar school
of the place of his nativity, under the care of the Rev. Dr.
Bateman and the celebrated Mr. Dawson. He died in 181 2.
The humane Dr. Anthony Fothergill was born at Sedbergh, in
1732-3, and his medical studies were diligently pursued, first
at Edinburgh, and afterwards at Leyden, and finally at the
Sorbonne at Paris. He obtained the degree of M.D. at Edin-
burgh in 1763, on his thesis, ' De Febre intermettente,' and
soon after he commenced practice at Northampton. In 1778
he was elected F.R.S. ; in 178 1 he removed to London; and
in 1784 to Bath. In 1803, having acquired a fortune sufficient
to enable him to relinquish the duties of his profession, he
sailed for Philadelphia, where he resided till the political dis-
putes between Great Britain and America assumed a warlike
appearance in 181 2, when he returned to London. He died
May II, 1813."
In the year 1771, the governors exchanged their rectory of
Weston, the advowson, and tithes, with Mr. Vavasour, for a
farm at Deepdale Head, and one called Haycoat. This ex-
change was made by Act of Parliament.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. T57
CHAPTER XIV.
Dr. Bateman was succeeded by the Rev. Christopher Hull,
and it became necessary to find a dwelling-house for the
master. The governors stated some years afterwards that
** Lofthouse being the only school estate adjoining ye town of
Sedbergh, or near the school, has an ancient dwelling-house
upon it wherein it is supposed the master used formerly to
reside, though no master was ever known to live there within
the time of memory ; three of them in succession who held the
school for a long while and until the last 34 years enjoying in
right of their wives a good mansion but little further from the
school than the house at Lofthouse." These three masters
were Mr. Wharton, Dr. Saunders, and Dr. Bateman ; Mr.
Dwyer and Mr. Broxholme being omitted, and it does not
appear where they lived. There is a plan extant (unfortunately
undated, but which may have been either in the time of Mr.
Dwyer, Mr. Broxholme, or Mr. Hull) for a new school-house
and dwelling for the master. The building was to have been
all in one, with a straight frontage and a good piece of ground
before it, two wings projecting at the back, and a few feet in
front of the centre. One of these wings was to be the school,
which was 54ft. long by i8ft. broad, with an upper story, and a
court round it. The other wing was to belong to the dwelling-
house, which has an upper story and attics. The interior of
the school is very like the present one, but it has no windows
on the side next the house. There is no indication of the site
of the proposed building, and it certainly can never have been
built. Mr. Hull bought the present dwelling-house of the
master and the garden on November 23, 1784. It is described
as a capital mansion or dwelling-house, one other dwelling-
house, with a stable at the end thereof, a coach-house, etc.,
two yards, one garden, and one orchard. All or the greatest
part of which buildings had been erected by Mr. James Waid-
158 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
son, who had died leaving the estate mortgaged to various
persons. It was sold to the Rev. Robert Vanburgh, of Chester,
April 16, 1782, and on his death passed to his son George,
who sold it to Mr. Hull. On the same site there stood, when
Mr. Waidson bought the property, besides outhouses, one
ancient thatched dwelling-house, which was formerly an inn,
called the Cross Keys. The estate changed hands seven times
between 1702 and 1784, and paid rent to the rectors of Sed-
bergh parish, 7^. 4^.
In 1785 Mr. Hull received from John Dawson, apothecary,
Sedbergh, and Thomas Holmes, mercer, Sedbergh, 180/., in
consideration of which he made over his house and premises
to them, unless he paid back the money, with 4 per cent,
interest, by the ensuing February. He was to keep the
premises until default of payment. The money lent belonged
to the fund of the governors. In his will Mr. Hull charged
the moiety of an estate called Ulldale with the payment of the
mortgage on the house ; but after his death his executors sold
the house and gardens to Mr. Charles Hudson, of Halifax, for
540/., and he paid the 180/. to Mr. John Dawson; and after-
wards exchanged the aforesaid premises with the master and
fellows of St. John's College, Cambridge, the governors, and
Mr. Stevens, the master of the school, for a piece of land called
Sedbergh Ing, in Skyecote, in the parish of Halifax (given by
Edward the Sixth, consisting of two acres and a half of land
formerly belonging to the then late chauntry called Hunter's
Chauntry, in Halifax), and 90/.
In 1796 Mr. Hull made an agreement with John Cockbone,
of Sedbergh, yeoman, the owner of certain dweUing-houses and
buildings on the north side of the street, to allow the water
springing up in the cellars of one of these houses to flow away
through his conduit, on condition that John Cockbone should
remove a stack of turf at the east end of his house, and in front
of Mr. Hull's mansion, and a thatched covering to it, and never
erect any thatched building there in the future. There are
few records of Mr. Hull's proceedings, except a complaint from
the governors that "the school having much decreased by
reason of Mr. Hull's incompitency to teach Latin and Greek,
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 59
the governors offered him to give loo/. to another master, and
having nothing more to do with the school himself, which, he
refusing, they offered it again, and threatened if he refused they
would take a portion themselves for a new master, and take
measures to remove him."
What Mr. Hull's classical attainments were we have no
means of knowing, but as he was third wrangler in his year
(1765), there can have been no reason to complain of his
mathematics. It does not appear what followed upon this
representation by the governors, but Mr. Hull seems to have
died in possession of the mastership, and is buried in the
chancel of Sedbergh Church. He died very suddenly, January
3rd, 1799, i^ ^^^ 59^^ y^^^ ^^ h^s age. He was rector of
Aspeden, Herts. In Mr. Hull's time public dinners were given
in the great room above stairs in the school, and Quaker
speakers were allowed to preach there.
Mr. Stevens, who was also a wrangler, was the next master,
and things went on from bad to worse. The governors took
counsel's opinion, and stated among other things that " in
1799, the year Mr. Stevens was elected master by St. John's
College, Cambridge, the governors purchased for him and his
successors a handsome commodious house, offices, and garden,
in the town of Sedbergh, lying quite compact and contiguous to
Lofthouse land, and the master can, without ever going into the
town, pass through his garden to and from the school, only about
200 yards off, a good and spacious building erected in 1716
upon the site of the old one. Previous to Mr. Stevens's time
the boys were always taught in the school, and an usher kept,
but he, excepting for a very short period, and that long ago,
never had an usher, and for years together had the school locked
up, teaching entirely in his own house a few boys, scarcely ever
^mounting to ten, and most of them boarders and lodgers with
him."
The school was visited during Mr. Stevens' time by two
fellows from St. John's College, the Charity Commissioners,
and the Bishop of Chester (who was bishop of the diocese and
visitor ex officio), but they seem to have failed in working a
reformation or finding a remedy. Before Mr. Stevens shut up
l60 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
the school a dancmg master used to give lessons there to his
children and others, " to the great annoyance of the studious
young men."
In 1799 the annual rents amounted to 300/. 12s. dd. In
1802 application was made to the governors of the school by
the Rev. Richard Sedgwick, of Dent, for the exhibition money
for his son born in Dent, but the governors refused his applica-
tion, considering that only natives of the township of Sedbergh
were eligible.
Mr. Stevens died November 9th, 181 9, and was succeeded
by the Rev. Henry Wilkinson, who was second wrangler and
Junior Smith's Prizeman in 18 14, and afterwards became a
fellow of St. John's. There are few written records of his
mastership ; indeed, the only one of consequence is a differ-
ence of opinion between him and the governors, as to whether
boys not natives, but residing in the parish, should pay any-
thing for their instruction. The governors held that the school
was free to all comers ; and finally it was agreed that they
were right. Mr. Wilkinson found the school almost empty of
scholars, and left about 50 pupils at his death in March, 1838.
A tablet was erected in Sedbergh Church to his memory, with
a Latin epitaph, which is as follows : —
A * Q.
In vestibule australi hujus Qidis
Donee Redemptoris adventu resuscitetur
Jacet Henricus Wilkinson, A.M.,
Ecclesise Anglicanse presbyter,
Coll. Div. Joh. Cant., olim socius,
Et Ludi Regii in hoc vico
Per annos fere XX Magister.
Egregie quum Matheseos,
Turn multiplicuni literarum sciens
Et scientise communicandge peritus
Quern munere assidue fungentem
Mors occupavit die ultimo Mart
A.D. MDCCCXXXVIIL, ^t. XLVI.
Amantissimus suorum, suis carissimus,
Et propter vim ingenii,
Et Morum virtutumque dotes,
Nemini non honoratus
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. l5l
Ingens sui desiderium omnibus reliquit,
Qui eo vel prseceptore,
Vel amico usi fuerant,
Hunc lapidem,
Pietatis et Honoris testimonium
Alumni Moerentes.
P. C.
A * Q.
In the South Porch of this Church,
Until he be raised again at the coming of the Redeemer,
Lies Henry Wilkinson, A.M.,
Priest of the Church of England,
Formerly Fellow of St. John's Coll. , Cambridge,
And nearly twenty years Master
Of the King's School in this place.
Eminently distinguished for his Mathematical skill,
And yet more for his varied literary attainments
And possessing the happy art of communicating knowledge.
He was arrested by death in the assiduous discharge of his duties
On the last day of March, in the year of Our Lord 1838,
At the age of 46.
Loving and beloved in his private circle
Both for the powers of his mind and the virtues of his heart
Universally respected.
He died regretted by all who had known him
Either as a Master or a friend.
His sorrowing Pupils caused this stone to be erected
As a Monument of their affection and esteem.
Mr. Wilkinson was succeeded by the Rev. John Harrison
Evans, who was third wrangler, and in the first class in the
classical tripos in 1828, and for more than twenty years an able
and honoured master of the school. The number of scholars
increased considerably, and at one time there were no, so that
the master's house was enlarged for the reception of boarders.
Before Mr. Evans left, however, in consequence of his faihng
health, and also, perhaps, the establishment of other schools in
the neighbourhood, the numbers had fallen again, and when he
left were about 50. Mr. Evans resigned, on account of ill-
health, in 1 86 1, much regretted by his scholars, and by the
inhabitants of the town and parish in general, who gave him a
handsome silver salver, as a token of their affection and respect.
M
l52 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Some time previous to this a number of Mr. Evans' former
scholars wished to present him with a testimonial, and, having
collected a considerable sum of money, they asked him in what
form the testimonial would be most acceptable. Mr. Evans
desired that the money should be spent upon a reading-room
for the town, which was accordingly done, and the Reading-
room and Market-house now standing in Sedbergh Market
Place are the result of his generosity.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Henry George Day, third
wrangler, and in the first class in the classical tripos in 1854,
the last master appointed by the master and fellows of St.
John's College under the old system. A new scheme granted
by the Endowed Schools Commission came into operation
during the present year. It is as follows : —
No. 243.
ENDOWED SCHOOL COMMISSION.
County of York ; Place, Sedbergh.
Scheme for the Management of the Free Grammar School of
King Edward VI. in Sedbergh, in the County of York.
Part I. — General Scope of Trust.
1. — The object of this foundation or trust shall be — (i.)
To supply a liberal education for boys by means of a school or
schools in the parish of Sedbergh. (2.) To promote the educa-
tion of girls.
2. — From the date of this scheme all the particulars which
by the Endowed Schools Acts, 1869 and 1873, are capable of
being hereby repealed and abrogated, shall, so far as relates to
the management of this endowment, be repealed and abrogated.
Part II. — Constitution of Governing Body and
Management.
3. — The governing body, herein-after called the governors,
shall ultimately, when completely formed and full, consist of
15 persons, of whom eight shall be nominated governors, and
seven shall be cooptative governors. Until the appointment of
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 63
the former is completed the governing body as hitherto con-
stituted shall, notwithstanding anything herein contained, remain
unaltered.
4. — The nominated governors shall be nominated — one by
the justices of the peace for the West Riding of the county of
York acting in the petty sessional division in which Sedbergh
is situated ; one by the justices of the peace for the West
Riding of the county of York acting in the petty sessional
division in which Giggleswick is situated ; two by the master
and seniors of St. John's College, Cambridge ; one by the prin-
cipal and professors of Owens College, Manchester; one by
the governing bodies of the Burnley Grammar School and of
the Keighley Grammar School alternately ; one by the govern-
ing bodies of the Skipton Grammar School and of the Kirkby
Lonsdale Grammar School alternately ; one by the governing
bodies of the Kendal Grammar School and of the Penrith
Grammar School alternately.
5. — The several first nominations shall be made as soon
after the date of this scheme as can conveniently be managed,
but in no case by the governing body of a school, unless or
Until a scheme framed by the Endowed Schools Commissioners
for the management of such school has taken effect. Wherever
alternate nomination by two governing bodies is prescribed, the
first nomination shall be made by the first-named of such two
governing bodies.
6. — Whenever a nomination of one or more nominated
governors is to take place the governors shall give notice thereof
in writing to the proper constituent body, requiring them to
nominate within a period named, but not earlier than 14 days
from the date of such notice, and to notify the result of such
nomination in writing to the governors. Such notification
signed by the chairman or other authorised officer of the con-
stituent body shall be conclusive evidence of the nomination.
Provided that no nomination shall be required to be made by
the master and seniors of St. John's College, Cambridge, except
during the Cambridge University term time.
7. — For the purposes of the several first nominations the
provisions of the last foregoing clause, so far as they are ex-
M 2
164 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
pressed to relate to the governors, shall be taken to apply solely
to the governing body of this foundation as hitherto constituted.
Such governing body shall, as soon as conveniently may be
after the date of this scheme, make arrangements for the pur-
poses of such first nominations accordingly.
8. — The nominated governors shall be appointed to office
for the term of five years, but on the expiry of such term may
be re-appointed.
9. — If during his term of office any nominated governor
becomes bankrupt or incapacitated to act, or expresses to the
governors in writing his wish to retire, or omits for the space of
two years to attend any meeting, the governors shall cause a
record of the fact to be entered in their books, and thereupon
the governor to whom such record applies shall forthwith cease
to be a governor.
10. — On each vacancy in the office of nominated governor,
the proper nominating body shall, as soon as conveniently may
be, nominate a new governor.
11. — The cooptative governors shall, except as herein ap-
pears, be appointed to office for the term of ten years, and shall
be capable of re-appointment.
12. — The first cooptative governors shall be : — The Earl
of Bective, the Rev. George Piatt, Warwick Pearson Boustead,
James Wearing Sewart, John Herd, John Sedgwick, and Richard
Inman, of whom the six last-named persons are members of the
governing body of this foundation as hitherto constituted. Of
these persons the two whose names stand highest on the list
shall retire at the end of eight years from the date of this
scheme, and the two whose names stand next shall retire at the
end of nine years from the date of this scheme.
13. — The office of cooptative governor shall, except as to
period of tenure, be vacated in the same way as that of a
nominated governor.
14. — On each vacancy in the office of cooptative governor,
some person well qualified and wilHng to act in the trusts of
this scheme shall be appointed by the governors at their first
ensuing meeting, by a resolution to be forthwith notified by
them, with all proper information, to the Charity Commissioners
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 65:
for England and Wales, at their office in London ; but no such-
appointment shall be valid until it has been approved by the
said commissioners, and their approval certified under their,
official seal.
15. — Every governor shall, at or before the first meeting
which he attends, sign a memorandum declaring his acceptance
of the office of governor, and his wilHngness to do his duty as
such, and to act in the trusts of this scheme. And until he has
signed such a declaration he shall not be entitled to discharge
the functions of a governor.
16. — Religious opinions or attendance or non-attendance at
any particular form of religious worship, shall not in any way
affect the qualification of any person for being a governor under
this scheme. No teacher of any school of the trust shall be a
governor.
17. — The governors shall hold meetings in some convenient
place in Sedbergh, or in some other convenient place to be
fixed by themselves, as often as may be found necessary for the
management of the trust, and at least twice in each year, on
some convenient days to be appointed by themselves, and after
such notice as they shall think fit to prescribe.
18. — The governors shall, at their first meeting in every
year, elect one of their number to be chairman for that year,
and make regulations for supplying his place in case of his
absence.
19. — A quorum shall be constituted whenever five governors
are present. Whenever any decision is carried by the votes of
less than a majority of the whole existing number of governors,
any two governors may within fourteen days from the day of
the decision demand that the decision shall be once recon-
sidered at a special meeting.
20. — Any two governors may at any time summon a special
meeting for any cause that seems to them sufficient.
21. — All special meetings shall be convened by notice in
writing to the governors specifying the object of the meeting.
And it shall be the duty of the clerk to give such notice when
required by any governors having a right to summon such a
meeting.
1 66 triE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
2 2. — All matters and questions shall be determined by the
majority of the governors present at any meeting ; and in case
of equality of votes, the chairman shall have a second or casting
vote.
23. — If a sufficient number of governors to form a quorum
are not present at any meeting, or if the business at any meet-
ing is not fully completed, those present may adjourn the
meeting to a subsequent day.
24. — A minute book and proper books of account shall be
provided by the governors, and kept in some convenient and
secure place of deposit to be provided or appointed by them
for that purpose, and minutes of the entry into office of every
new governor, and of all proceedings of the governors, shall be
entered in such minute book, and duly signed.
25. — Full accounts shall be kept of the receipts and expen-
diture of the governors, and such accounts shall be stated for
each year, and examined and passed annually at the first meeting
in the ensuing year, and signed by the governors then present.
26. — The governors shall cause sufficient abstracts of the
yearly accounts to be prepared and published in two local
newspapers. Such abstracts shall be in accordance with the
provisions of the schedule hereto, unless any form is prescribed
by the Charity Commissioners, in which case the form so
prescribed shall be followed.
27. — The governors shall make such arrangements as they
may find most fitting for the custody of all muniments, title
deeds, and other documents belonging to the trust, for deposit
of money, for drawing cheques, and for the appointment of
agents for the conduct of their business. If any such agent is
himself a governor he shall not be entitled to a salary.
28. — All lands and hereditaments, not being copyhold, be-
longing to the trust, and all terms, estates, and interests therein,
shall from the date of this scheme vest in the Official Trustee of
Charity Lands, and his successors ; and all stock in the public
funds and other securities belonging to the trust, shall be trans-
ferred to and vest in the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds, by
whom the dividends and income arising therefrom shall be from
time to time paid to the governors or their order.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 167-
29. — All the estates and property of the trust not required
to be retained or occupied for the purposes thereof, shall be let
or otherwise managed by the governors, or by their officers
acting under their orders, according to the general law applic-
able to the management of charitable foundations.
30. — Any money arising from the sale of timber or from any
mines or minerals on the trust estates shall be treated as capital,
and be invested in Government stock in the names of the
Official Trustees of Charitable Funds, except in any special cases
in which the governors may be authorised by the Charity Com-
missioners to apply such money or any part thereof as income.
31. — From the date of this scheme, the existing corporation
of the governors of the possessions, revenues, and goods of the
Free Grammar School of King Edward VI., in Sedbergh, in the
county of York, shall be dissolved, and except as herein other-
wise expressly provided, all rights, liabilities, and powers vested
in that corporation in respect of this foundation, except any
copyhold tenancies, shall be transferred to and vest in the
governors created by this scheme.
32. — From the date of this scheme all rights and powers, if
any, reserved to, belonging to, or claimed by, or capable of
being exercised by any person or persons other than her
Majesty as visitor of this trust, shall be transferred to her
Majesty, and all such rights and powers, and also any like
rights and powers vested in her Majesty on the 2nd day of
August, 1869, shall be exercised only through and by the
Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.
33. — From the date of this scheme all jurisdiction of the
ordinary relating to or arising from the licensing of any master
under this trust shall be abolished.
Part III. — The Grammar School and its Management.
34. — The Grammar School shall be a day and boarding
school.
35. — The governors, under the sanction of the Charity Com-
missioners, may at any time enlarge or improve the present
school site and buildings, or acquire another site in the parish
of Sedbergh and provide suitable buildings thereon, according
1 68 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
to plans and estimates approved by the Endowed Schools Com-
missioners, or, after their powers have ceased, by the Charity
Commissioners, and for these purposes may raise such a sum
of money by sale or mortgage of the trust property in such
manner as the Charity Commissioners shall direct.
36. — No person shall be disqualified for being a master in
the school by reason only of his not being, or not intending to
be, in holy orders.
37. — From the date of this scheme, or, if such date falls in
a school term, then from the end of such school term, the Rev.
Henry George Day shall cease to be head master under this
trust, and the governors shall thenceforth pay to him the yearly
sum of 450/. during his life, and to the Rev. Isaac Green,
formerly assistant master under this trust, the yearly sum of
50/. during the life of the said Isaac Green.
38. — The head master shall be appointed by the governors
at some meeting to be called for that purpose, as soon as con-
veniently may be after the occurrence of a vacancy, or after
notice of an intended vacancy. He shall be a graduate of
some university within the British empire. The circumstance
that he has taken or made, or omitted to take or make, any
oath or declaration on obtaining a degree shall not affect his
qualification. In order to obtain the best candidates the gover-
nors shall, for a sufficient time before making any appointment,
give public notice of the vacancy and invite competition by
advertisements in newspapers or by such other methods as they
may judge best calculated to secure the object.
39. — The governors may dismiss the head master without
assigning cause, after six calendar month's written notice, given
to him in pursuance of a resolution passed at two consecutive
meetings held at an interval of at least 14 days and duly con-
vened for that express purpose, such resolution being affirmed
at each meeting by not less than two-thirds of the governors
present.
40. — For urgent cause the governors may by resolution
passed at a special meeting duly . convened for that express
purpose, and affirmed by not less than two-thirds of the whole
existing number of governors, declare that the head master
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 69
ought to be dismissed from his office, and in that case they
may appoint another special meeting to be held not less than
a week after the former one, and may then by a similar resolu-
tion, affirmed by as large a proportion of governors, wholly and
finally dismiss him. And if the governors assembled at the
first of such meetings think fit at once to suspend the head
master from his office until the next meeting, they may do so
by resolution affirmed by as large a proportion of governors.
Full notice and opportunity of defence at both meetings shall
be given to the head master.
41. — Every head master previously to entering into office,
shall be required to sign a declaration to be entered in the
minute book of the governors, in the following form : — "I,
declare that I will always, to the best of my
ability, discharge the duties of head master of the Sedbergh
Grammar School during my tenure of the office, and that if I
am removed by the governors, according to the constitution of
the said school, I will acquiesce in such removal, and will
thereupon relinquish all claim to the mastership and its emolu-
ments, and will deliver up to the governors, or as they direct,
possession of all their property then in my possession or occu-
pation."
42. — The head master shall reside in the dwelling-house
assigned for his residence. He shall have the occupation and
use of such house and of any other property of the trust of
which he becomes occupant, in respect of his official character
and duties, and not as tenant, and shall, if removed from his
office, deliver up possession of such house and other property
to the governors, or as they direct. He shall not, except with
the permission of the governors, permit any person to occupy
such house or any part thereof
43. — The head master shall give his personal attention to
the duties of the school, and during his tenure of office he shall
not accept or hold any benefice having the cure of souls, or
any office or appointment which, in the opinion of the gover-
nors, may interfere with the proper performance of his duties
as head master.
44. — Neither the head master nor any assistant master shall
170 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
receive or demand from any boy in the school, or from any
person whomsoever on behalf of any such boy, any gratuity,
fee, or payment, except such payments as are prescribed or
authorised by this scheme.
45. — Within the Hmits fixed by this scheme the governors
shall prescribe the general subjects of instruction, the relative
promience and value to be assigned to each group of subjects,
the division of the year into term and vacation, the payments
of the day scholars, the number and the payments of the
boarders, and the number of holidays to be given in term.
They shall take general supervision of the sanitary condition of
the school buildings and arrangements. They shall determine
what number of assistant masters shall be employed. They
shall every year assign the amount which they think proper
to be paid out of the income of the trust for the purpose of
maintaining assistant masters and of maintaining a proper
plant or apparatus for carrying on the instruction given in the
school.
46. — Before making or altering any regulations under the
last preceding clause, the governors shall consult the head
master in such a manner as to give him full opportunity for the
expression of his views.
47. — Subject to the rules prescribed by or under the
authority of this scheme the head master shall have under his
control the choice of books, the methods of teaching, the ar-
rangement of classes and school hours, and generally the whole
internal organisation, management, and discipline of the school :
provided that if he expels a boy from the school, he shall forth-
with make a full report in writing of the case to the governors.
48. — The head master shall have the sole power of appoint-
ing and, subject to appeal to the governors, of dismissing all
assistant masters, and shall determine, subject to the approval
of the governors, in what proportions the sum assigned by the
governors, for the maintenance of assistant masters and of plant
or apparatus shall be divided among the various persons and
objects for the aggregate of which it is assigned. And the
governors shall pay the same accordingly, either through the
hands of the head master or directly, as they think best.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 171
49. — The head master may from time to time submit pro-
posals to the governors for making or altering regulations as to
any matter within their province, and the governors shall con-
sider such proposals and decide upon them.
50. — The head master shall receive a fixed stipend of 200/.
a year. He shall also receive head money calculated on such
a scale, uniform or graduated, as may be agreed upon between
himself and the governors, being at the rate of not less than 4/.
nor more than 8/. a year for each boy. The payments of
stipend and head money shall be made terminally or quarterly
as the governors think fit. In each of the first three years from
the date of this scheme, the head master shall receive from the
trust a total income at the rate of not less than 400/.
51. — The governors shall make such regulations as they
think right for the reception of boarders either in the house of
any master upon terms sufficiently profitable to him, or upon
the system generally known as the hostel system, under which
the pecuniary and domestic arrangements of the boarding-house
are regulated by persons directly accountable to the governors,
and the profit, if there is any, accrues to the credit of the trust.
Or if they think it best they may combine both systems.
52. — All boys, except as herein-after provided, shall pay
such entrance and tuition fees as the governors shall fix from
time to time, provided that no such entrance fee shall be more
than 3/., and that no such tuition fee shall be less than 8/. or
more than 24/. a year. No difierence in respect of these fees
shall be made between any scholars on account of place of
birth or residence, or of being or not being boarders. The
payment for a boarder apart from tuition fees shall not exceed
the rate of 45/. yearly in a hostel, or 55/. yearly in a master's
house. No extras of any kind shall be allowed without the
sanction of the governors, and written consent on behalf of the
scholar concerned. Any boy on the roll of the school at the
date of this scheme, if such date falls in a school term, shall be
charged for such term with such payments only as would have
been payable by him if this scheme had not taken effect.
53. — All payments for entrance, tuition, or boarding in a
hostel shall be made in advance to such person as the governors
172 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
shall from time to time determine, and shall be accounted for
by the person receiving them to the governors, and treated by
them as part of the general income of the trust.
54. — No boy shall be admitted into the school unless he
has attained the age of nine years, and no boy shall be allowed
to remain in the school beyond the end of the term in which
he attains the age of 19 years. And the head master shall
make regulations for the withdrawal of boys from the school in
cases where from idleness or incapacity to profit by the instruc-
tion given they have fallen materially below the standard of
position and attainment proper for their age.
55. • — Subject to the provisions established by or under the
authority of this scheme, the school and all advantages of the
school shall be open to all boys who are of good character, and
of sufficient health, and who are residing at home with their
parents, guardians, or next friends, or in some boarding-house
established under the sanction of the governors. No boy, not
so residing or boarding, shall be admitted to the school unless
he has previously obtained the permission of the governors.
56. — Applications for admission to the school shall be made
to the head master, or to some other person named by the
governors, according to a printed form to be approved of by
them and delivered to all applicants.
57. — The head master or other person named by the gover-
nors shall keep a register of applications, showing the date at
which every application is made for the admission of a boy, the
date of his admission, withdrawal, or rejection, the cause of
rejection, and the age of the boy at the date of application.
Provided that every person requiring any application to be
entered shall pay such fee as the governors shall fix, not ex-
ceeding five shillings.
58. — Every applicant for admission shall be examined by or
under the direction of the head master, who shall appoint con-
venient times for that purpose and give reasonable notice to
the parents of those whose turn is arriving. No boy shall be
admitted to the school without undergoing such examination
and being found fit for admission. Those who are so found
fit shall, to the extent of the capacity of the school, be admitted
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 73
in order according to the dates of their application, but if at
any time there are more applicants than the capacity of the
school will admit, the governors may direct that their order of
admission shall be determined by competitive examination.
59. — The examination for admission shall be graduated
according to the age of the boy, but shall never fall below the
following standard, that is to say : — Reading easy narrative ;
writing simple sentences from dictation ; sums in the first four
rules of arithmetic ; the outlines of the geography of England.
The governors may raise the minimum standard from time to
time if they deem it advantageous for the school.
60. — The parent or guardian of or person liable to main-
tain, or having the actual custody of, any day scholar may
claim, by notice in writing addressed to the head master, the
exemption of such scholar from attending prayer or religious
worship, or from any lesson or series of lessons on a religious
subject, and such scholar shall be exempted accordingly, and a
scholar shall not by reason of any exemption from attending
prayer or religious worship, or from any lessons or series of
lessons on a religious subject, be deprived of any advantage or
emolument in the school or out of this trust to which he would
otherwise have been entitled. If any teacher in the course of
other lessons at which any such scholar is in accordance with .
the ordinary rules of the school present, teaches systematically
and persistently any particular religious doctrine, from the
teaching of which any exemption has been claimed, as in this
clause before provided, the governors shall, on complaint made
in writing to them by the parent, guardian, or person liable to
maintain or having the actual custody of such scholar, hear the
complainant, and inquire into the circumstances, and if the
complaint is judged to be reasonable, make all proper pro-
visions for remedying the matter complained of
61. — The governors and the head master, within their
respective provinces, as herein-before defined, and subject to
the provisions of this scheme, shall make proper regulations
for the religious instruction to be given in the school.
No alteration in any regulations made by the governors
respecting the religious instruction to be given in the school
174 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
shall take effect until the expiration of not less than one year
after notice of the making of the alteration is given.
62. — The subjects of secular instruction shall be as follows :
— English, Latin, and Greek languages and literatures, arith-
metic and mathematics, geography, history, at least one branch
of physical science, at least one foreign European language,
drawing, vocal music. The boys shall be instructed in the
foregoing subjects according to the classification and arrange-
ments made by the head master.
6;^. — There shall be once in every year an examination of
the scholars by an examiner or examiners appointed for that
purpose by the governors, and paid by them, but otherwise un-
connected with the school. The examiners shall report to the
governors on the proficiency of the scholars, and on the con-
dition of the school as regards instruction and discipline, as
shown by the results of the examination. The governors shall
communicate the report to the head master.
64. — The head master shall make an annual report in
writing to the governors on the general condition of the school,
and on any special occurrences during the year. He may also
mention the names of any boys who in his judgment are worthy
of praise or substantial reward, having regard both to pro-
ficiency and conduct.
65. — By way of exhibitions tenable at the school, the
governors shall grant exemptions from the payment of tuition
fees for such periods and on such conditions as they think fit.
All such exemptions shall be given as the reward of merit only,
and shall be assigned, in the case of candidates for admission,
on the result of an open competitive examination, to be con-
ducted by an independent examiner under arrangements to be
made by the governors and head master, and in the case of
boys already attending the school, on the report of the ex-
aminers and head master, and no exemption shall be granted
to any such boy if the head master reports that he is rendered
undeserving of it by ill-conduct. The governors may, under
these conditions, exempt boys from the payment of the whole,
or of one-half of the tuition fee, but such exemption shall in
every case be liable to forfeiture in the event of misconduct or
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 175
failure to maintain a reasonable standard of proficiency. Boys
so exempted shall be called and ranked as foundation scholars,
and the degrees of exemption shall be further distinguished if
the governors think fit. Not more than lo per cent, of the
boys shall be wholly exempt, and no further exemptions shall
be allowed when the exemptions, total and partial, reach the
proportion of one in every five boys in the school.
66. — The governors may also apply a further annual sum
not exceeding 80/. in providing other exhibitions, tenable at the
school, of such value and duration as they think fit, to be given
as the reward of merit, and to be competed for by boys whose
parents or guardians are at the time, and have for not less than
three years immediately before, been living in the parish of
Sedbergh. Subject to the preference given by this clause, the
exhibitions attached under this scheme to this school shall be
freely and openly competed for.
67. — The governors may also, in case of special merit, and
if the state of the funds admits, grant further exhibitions tenable
at the school, by remitting, in the case of a hostel, or in other
cases paying out of the trust funds the whole or any part of the
charge for boarding, or, if they think fit, by conferring pecuniary
emoluments in other ways : provided that such exhibitions do
not exceed in the case of the remission or payment of the
charge for boarding the proportion of one boarder in every 20,
and in the case of the pecuniary emoluments in other ways
under this clause, the aggregate sum of 150/. in a year.
68. — If and when the funds admit, the governors shall estab-
lish one or more exhibitions, tenable for not more than four
years at a university or any such place of liberal, scientific,
technical, or professional education or study as they may ap-
prove. Candidates shall be elected to these exhibitions by the
governors on a consideration of the reports of the head master
and of the examiners.
69. — The exhibitions established under this scheme shall be
tenable only for the purposes aforesaid. If the holder of an
exhibition dies, his representatives shall be entitled only to the
next instalment whenever payable. If the holder is guilty of
gross misconduct or idleness, or wilfully ceases to pursue those
176 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Studies for the sake of which the exhibition was awarded, the
governors may determine the exhibition.
Part IV. — The Middle School and its Management.
70. — As soon as conveniently may be after the date of this
scheme, the governors shall estabHsh on some suitable site to
be purchased by them or otherwise secured to the trust, in or
near the town of Sedbergh, a school, herein-after referred to as
the middle school, such as will supply a useful and practical
education suitable to children up to the age of 15 years, or
thereabouts. For the purpose of providing such site and suit-
able buildings thereon, the governors may spend the sum of
1,000/. to be raised out of the trust estate by sale or mortgage
under the direction of the Charity Commissioners, but shall
not exceed that sum except with the consent of such com-
missioners.
71. — The middle school shall be subject to the like pro-
visions as are herein-before contained relating to the Grammar
School, so far as such last-mentioned provisions are applicable
to case of the middle school, except those of clauses 66, 67,
and 68, and except as the provisions referred to are varied or
as is otherwise provided in the following clauses, numbered 72
to 79, both inclusive.
72. — The school shall be exclusively a day school.
73. — The head master need not be a graduate of any uni-
versity. He shall receive a fixed stipend of 70/. a year. He
shall also receive payment according to the number of boys in
the school, after the manner and according to the conditions
herein-before prescribed for the head master of the Grammar
School, provided that such payment may be of any amount not
more than 2/. yearly for each boy.
74. — Payments for entrance and tuition shall be made by
the boys after the manner and according to the conditions
herein-before prescribed for the Grammar School, provided that
no such entrance fee shall exceed 5^"., and that no such tuition
fee shall be less than ^os. or more than 4/. a year, and that the
payments for tuition may be made for weekly, monthly, or
quarterly periods.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOI,. 1 77
75. — No boy shall be admitted into the school unless he
has attained the age of seven years. No boy shall remain in
the school after the end of the term in which he attains the age
of 1 5 years.
76. — The minimum standard of examination for admission
shall be reading monosyllabic narrative and writing text hand ;
easy sums in the first two rules of arithmetic.
77. — The subjects of secular instruction shall be as follows :
— Reading, writing, arithmetic; English grammar, composi-
tion, and literature ; the outHnes of geography, political and
physical; English history ; the elements of algebra and geometry,
mensuration, and land surveying ; natural science, Latin or
some foreign modern language, drawing, vocal music.
78. — In providing exhibitions tenable at the school, the
governors shall arrange that they shall be competed for in the
first instance by boys who are being educated at the public
elementary schools in the parish of Sedbergh, and they shall
make such arrangements as seem to them best adapted to
secure the double object of attracting good scholars to this
school, and applying a stimulus to the said public elementary
schools. None of these exhibitions shall be thrown open to all
comers until the head master has reported that there are not
enough boys from such public elementary schools who on
examination prove worthy to take them. Subject to the pre-
ference given by this clause, the exhibitions attached under
this scheme to this school shall be freely and openly competed
for.
79. — The appointment or dismissal of an assistant teacher
shall not be valid until it has been confirmed by the governors,
and the distribution of salaries among the assistant teachers
shall also be fixed by the governors.
80. — Girls may be admitted to the middle school and all
the benefits thereof under the same regulations and provisions
as herein-before prescribed as regards boys in the middle
school, or in such other manner as the governors with the
advice and assent of the Charity Commissioners may determine.
Provided, that no girl shall be so admitted to the school unless
one at least of the teachers is a woman.
1 78 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
8 1. — In the event of an upper department being established
in any school in the parish of Sedbergh, being a public elemen-
tary school in accordance with section 7 of the Elementary
Education Act, 1870, the governors may, if they think fit,
instead of establishing or continuing a middle school in Sed-
bergh, as herein-before is provided, pay to the managers of one
such public elementary school for every scholar, up to the
number of 30, being educated in the upper department of such
school, the sum of 3/. yearly, subject to the following con-
ditions : — (i). Instruction in the subjects specified in clause
77 of this scheme shall be provided for the scholars in such
upper department. (2.) No such payment shall be made in
respect of any scholar for any year in which such scholar fails
to satisfy the examiner or examiners, in an examination con-
ducted under arrangements made by the governors in the sub-
jects hereby required to be taught in such upper department.
(3.) Free places for not less than 10 per cent, of the number of
scholars in average attendance in such upper department shall
be reserved for deserving scholars from the said public elemen-
tary schools.
Part V. — Education of Girls.
82. — As soon as the said pension of 450/. ceases, the yearly
sum of 200/. shall be applied by the governors in promoting
the education of girls in the West Riding of the county of
York. For this purpose a supplementary scheme may be made
by the Endowed Schools Commissioners, or, if the powers of
such commissioners have ceased, the governors shall apply to
the Charity Commissioners for a scheme.
Part VI. — Application of Income. *
83. — The governors shall place the sum of 1,500/. consols
to a separate account in the name of the Official Trustees of
Charitable Funds, entitled " repairs and improvements." The
income shall be paid to the governors, and expended by them
in ordinary repairs or improvements of the property used for
the purposes of the schools of the trust, and if not wanted for
that purpose shall be accumulated by them to the same account.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 79
The governors shall draw upon the accumulations at their dis-
cretion for the purpose of any such repairs or improvements,
but shall not encroach upon the capital, except for the purpose
of substantial improvements or extraordinary repairs or renewals
of such property, and then not without the consent of the
Charity Commissioners, and under such conditions of replacing
the capital as that board may think right
84. — Until the repairs and improvements fund is provided,
■the governors shall treat the sum of 45/. a year, part of the
income of the trust estates,. as applicable to the same purposes
as the income of the repairs and improvements fund, except
that they may lay by any surplus in the ordinary methods, and
need not pay it over to the Official Trustees of Charitable
Funds.
85. — After defraying the expenses of management and of
any ordinary repairs or improvements which the income of the
repairs and improvements fund may be insufficient to answer,
and providing for the said pensions and making any proper
payments in respect of claims legally affecting the trust estate,
the governors shall employ the income in paying the head
master as herein-before prescribed, in paying the amount as-
signed for the assistant masters and school plant or apparatus,
in paying the examiner or examiners, and in providing for such
exhibitions and prizes as they may have adjudged.
86. — The governors may, if they think fit, and the trust
funds suffice for the purpose, agree with the head master of
each school of the trust for the formation of a fund in the
nature of a pension or superannuation fund, the main principle
of such agreement being that the head master and the trust
fund shall each contribute annually for a period of 20 years
such sums as may be fixed on ; that these contributions shall
accumulate at compound interest ; that in case the head master
serves his office 20 years, he shall on his retirement be entitled
to the whole fund ; that in case he retires earlier on account of
permanent disability from illness he shall also be entitled to the
whole fund ; that in all other cases he shall on his ceasing to
be master be entitled to the amount produced by his own con-
tributions.
N 2
l8o THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
87. — If there is any residue of income they may employ it
in increasing the fund applicable to the payment of assistant
masters and school plant or apparatus, in improving the accom-
modation of the school buildings, in aiding the games of the
scholars, or generally in promoting the spirit and efficiency of
the schools of the trust, or in increasing the amount applicable
for the education of girls under Part V. of this scheme. What-
ever they do not think fit to spend in these ways they shall on
passing the yearly accounts state as unapplied surplus, and shall
deposit it in a bank ; and if the sums so deposited rise to 300/.
they shall invest the same in Government stock in the name of
the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds to the general credit
of the trust.
Part VII. — General.
88. — Nothing in this scheme shall authorise the doing or
omission of any act in prejudice of whatever interest was on the
I St day of January, 1873, legally vested in any boy on the
foundation.
89. — The governors may receive any additional donations
or endowments for the general purposes of the trust. They
may also receive donations or endowments for any special
objects prescribed by the donors, provided that such objects
are certified by the Charity Commissioners to be for the general
benefit of the trust, and not calculated to give privileges to any
scholar on any other ground than that of merit, and not other-
wise inconsistent with or calculated to impede the due working
of the provisions of this scheme.
90. — If any doubt or question arises among the governors
as to the proper construction or application of any of the pro-
visions of this scheme, the governors may apply to the Charity
Commissioners for their opinion and advice thereon, which
opinion and advise when given shall be binding on the
governors.
91. — The Charity Commissioners may from time to time in
the exercise of their ordinary jurisdiction frame schemes for the
alteration of any provisions of this scheme or otherwise for the
government or regulation of the trust, provided that such
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. l8l
schemes be not inconsistent with clause one of this scheme, or
with anything contained in the Endowed Schools Acts, 1869
and 1873.
92. — This scheme shall be printed and a copy given to
every person who shall become a governor of the trust, and to
every master or assistant master and teacher appointed to either
school, and copies shall be sold at a reasonable price to all
persons who may wish to buy.
93. — The date of the scheme shall be the day on which her
Majesty by Order in Council declares her approbation of it.
We hereby signify our approval of this scheme,
(Signed) Lyttelton.
Hugh Geo. Robinson.
8th June, 1874.
Approved,
(Signed) Richmond.
15th June, 1874.
The Rev. Frederick Heppenstall, late head master of the
Perse School, Cambridge, began his duties as head master of
Sedbergh School in September, 1875.
It will be observed that the constitution of the school is very
much altered by the new scheme. It is a consolation, how-
ever, to think that this is not the first time the school has been
destroyed and reconstituted ; and as three hundred years ago
Dr. Roger Lupton's foundation was disendowed and apparently
ruined, only to increase in glory and general usefulness, perhaps
beyond his original intention, so let us hope that the recent
changes, great though they may be, and unwelcome to many of
us, may ultimately benefit the school, the town, and the country
generally.
Note. — I have not found out that any great poet or musician has been
bom or brought up in Sedbergh, but we may claim two artists, now living
and well known, Mr. J. D. Watson, who was born in Sedbergh, and Mr.
Birket Foster, whose ancestors resided in the parish.
1 82 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
CHAPTER XV,
It will be well here to give a short account of the different
benefactions made to the school.
The following is a bequest in the last will and testament of
Francis Harrison, late of the Stone Hall, in Sedbergh, to poor
scholars, parish born, as it was found among the papers and
writings of John Mayor, M. A., formerly master of this school : —
(Date, 1 6 14.)
" I give and bequeath to the use and benefit of such scholars
as shall be bom in Sedbergh the yearly benefit and profit that
shall arise out of the sum of 60/., which I do hereby give unto
the feoffees of the school of Sedbergh to remain as a stock for
ever, to be employed by the said feoffees that are and hereafter
shall be for the time being, and put forth or letten out for dd.
the noble for the use of ye sd scholars wh shall be born in Sed-
bergh, and ye sd money wh shall arise out of ye increase of
ye sd 60/. to be paid to ye sd scholars yearly, provided that
such as are nearest of my kindred shall have ye benefit thereof
before any strangers, any former restraint or limitation to the
contrary notwithstanding, and in default of my own kindred
within 5 degrees, the poorest of ye scholars born in Sedbergh
shall have ye benefit thereof towards their help and mainten-
ance and discharge of such defrayments as they shall be put
unto, to be paid at the discretion of ye feoffees of ye sd school
always for ye time being.''
The following two indentures (the first dated 1626) appear
to relate to a small sum of money left for the same purpose : —
" The condition of this obligation is such yt if ye above
bounden Samuel Handley and Adam Sawer, yr heires, and
executrs, and administrators, or assignes, or some of ym, doe
well and truelye contente, satisfiie, and paie to ye above-named
Henry Cowper and Edward Bland, y^ heires, executors, ad-
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 83
ministrators, or assignes, or to some of ym, to ye use of ye
poore schollers of Sedberghe, p'cell of ye moneye given by
James Sidgswicke, ye full and pYect somme of seaven poundes
and elleaven shillings of good and lawfull Englisbe moneye in
one sole payment upon ye feaste daie of St. Luke ye Evan-
geliste nowe nexte cominge after ye daie present which shall be
in Ann. domi. 1626, at or within ye nowe dwelling-house of
ye sd Henry Cowper, situate and beinge at Pedgecroft, in Sed-
berghe aforsaid, without any fraud or further delaie yt yn ys
present obligation to be void and of none effect, or els to standi
abyde, and remaine in full strength, force, and virtue. — Samuel,
Handley, Adam Sawers. Sealed and delivered in presence
of Edward Ward, Jo. Cowper."
The other indenture is dated 1640, and is in very similar
terms.
" The condition of this obligation is such that if the above
bounden Henry Washinghton, of Sedbergh (blacksmyth), Myles
Bland, of Sedbergh, yeoman, and George Barker, of Killington,
in the county of Westmoreland, yeoman, theire heires, execu-
tors, administrators, or assignes, or any of them, doe well and
truely content, satisfye, and paye to the above-named Henry
Cowper, of Sedbergh, gent, and Edmond Guye, of Sedbergh,
yeoman, theire executors, administrators, or assignes, or to some
of them, the full and juste somme of 10/. i6i-. dd. of good and
lawfull Englishe money in one whole payment, upon the 2d
daye of February next cominge after the date hereof, which
shall be in a.d. 1641, being a guifte given by James Sidgwick,
of Sedbergh, deceased, to the use of Sedbergh scholars, to be
paid at or in the nowe dwelling-house of John Bland, in Sed-
bergh towne, the same daie, without any devyse, fraud, or
further delay, that then this obligacon to be void and of none
effect or els to stand and remayne in full power, force, strength,
and vertue. — Henry Washington, Myles Bland, George
Barker. Sealled and delivered in the p'sence of us, viz.,
Leonard Metcalf, John Walton (his mark), John Bland."
I conclude that both these indentures refer to the same sum
of money, and that interest had to be paid on account of the
delay. After this it does not appear that any other bequest
184 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
was made till 17 10, when Mr. Posthumus Wharton left 20/. to
the principal stock. This was lent out at interest, and 12/. of
it was lost in 1731, yet the principal stock had increased to
133/., and with the remaining 8/. of Mr. Wharton's bequest, it
amounted to 141/. in 1732 ; so that it appears that when there
were no students at college the interest was added to the stock
instead of accumulating for the next applicant. From 1 742,
when the farm called Whins was bought, several years interest
and rent of Whins was added to the stock to make up the sum
of 184/., which sum went towards the purchase of Whins.
Richard Holme, of Lowther, clerk, by his will dated January
28th, 1735, bequeathed 100/., and some time after 1838 the full
income derived from Whins and the land near it, from houses
in Cockle Street, Sedbergh, and from money invested on the
turnpike road, was 39/. ly., with 200/. accumulated. The
capital is set down at 766/. 6s. M.
The following entries may perhaps be interesting : —
"April 23, 1679. — Some of the governors received of
Matthew Burke, for consideration of the poore scholar's money
due Candlemas, 1679, 7/. 193-. 7^., there being 3/. los. thereof
distributed to Edward Teasdall as a poore schollar."
"Jan. 4th, 1680. — The remainder of that money being
4/. 9i-. 6d., was disposed of to James Hebblethwaite, at Cam-
bridge, saveing ye c^s. 6d., wh was given to Edward Teasdall,
yn at York,"
" April 13, 1700. — 22/. due to poor scholars last Candlemas
(none parish born being then at Cambridge but Wm. ye son of
Christ. Croft), 'tis this day voted by the governors whether ye
said Wm. Croft shall have the said moneys or not. Against
him James Bland, Christ. Corney, Lancelot Dawes, John Warde,
Henry Holme, Christ. Gawthropp, Wm. Corney. (Mem.) That
Christ. Croft, ye father of William Croft, besides a paternal
estate in land, had left him by an uncle's will the sum of 1,000/.
or 1,200/, And, therefore, the said governors, aiming at nothing
but a conscientious discharge of their trust, voted agst him as
noe proper object of ye charity.
" The day and yeare above written it was voted by ye gover-
nours yt the sum above-said is divided as under-writt, viz., 20/.
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 185
to Marmaduke Holme, son of John Holme, of Settlebeck, p'ish
born, and the remainder to John, son of Robt. Bainbridge.
(Signed as above.) Mem. That John Holme, the father of
Marmaduke Holme, being a poore man and not able to answer
his son's earnest desire of being educated some small time at
Cambridge, made his humble address to the governors that
they would please to apply yt gift of charity (whereof they
have the disposal) to the maintenance of his son at St. John's
College. Wherefore, ye said governours, looking upon him as
a fit object of the charity, and themselves obliged by their trust
to gratifie his request, did by their votes grant him the summe
here mentioned."
"May 15, 17 17. — Then disputed among the governors for
2 years last past exhibition whether Mr. Whinfield, now at St.
John's Coll. Cantab., SedbeTgh born, and educated at Sedbergh
School, shall have the same or no. Witnesse our hands accord-
ing as we vote for Mr. Whinfield. — Jonathan Rose, Jo. Brackan,
Charles Atkinson, Christopher Gawthropp, Edmond Bland,
James Cock, John Fawcet {eodem die et loco). Against him —
James Simm. Refused to write their names either pro. or
con. — Simon Washington, Christopher Corney, John Ward,
Edw. Corney.
" John Fawcett, of Crosse Hall, not being at this meeting,
his hand is to be taken the next opportunity, whether pro. or
con.^ according to his own judgment. The same day the afore-
said 4 threw up their places."
"July 2, 17 17. — Then the following persons were chosen
and sworn governors of the school — John Holmes, Arthur
Croxton, John Hadwin, Richard Ward. Mem. That ye exhi-
bition money due from Mrs. Fletcher Dawes was pd to John
Holmes for the use of his nephew, Mr. Jo. Whinfield, for the
year 17 17, and also 20 shillings more that was the interest of
20/. that Mr. Wharton left for the same use, as witnesseth Jo.
Brackan."
The exhibition money in the year 17 18 amounted in all to
24/. 13^., and was paid that year and the following to Mr. Jo.
Whinfield.
Besides Dr. Lupton's foundations there was a fellowship
1 86 THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
founded at St. John's College, Cambridge, by Mr. Heble-
thwaite, to be chosen out of scholars from Sedbergh School.
There were also three exhibitions founded in Christ's College,
Cambridge, by Bishop. Otway, of whom the following account
has been kindly furnished by a friend : —
"Thomas Otway, Bishop of Ossory (Ob. 1692).
"Thomas Otway was born in Wiltshire on the ist Nov.,
1 61 6, and educated at Cambridge, but took his degree of
Doctor of Divinity in the University of Dublin, a.d. 1670. In
the beginning of the great rebellion in England he was chaplain
to Sir Ralph, afterwards Lord Hopton, to whom, and to the royal
cause, he faithfully adhered during the troubles, and was active
against the Long Parliament and Oliver the Protector. But at
last he was taken prisoner and, amongst others, banished to the
West Indies, where he continued until the restoration of King
Charles the Second made room for his return. He was then
promoted to no inconsiderable benefice in England, which he
enjoyed until John, Lord Berkley, Baron of Stratton, Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland (to whom he was chaplain), on the i6th
November, 1670, advanced him to the united sees of Killala
and Achonry, and from thence, nine years after (viz., on the
7th February, 1679), he was translated to this see (Ossory) and
enthroned the 20th May, 1680; and, in his letters patent, had
a commendary grant to the archdeaconry of Armagh and to the
rectory thereto annexed, to hold during life or incumbency.
He died in his episcopal house at Kilkenny, on the 6th March,
1692, in the 77 th year of his age, and was buried in the
cathedral, near the west door, as he had appointed in his will.
Over his grave is placed a simple marble slab with this inscrip-
tion —
* Hie jacet Thomas Otway, Ossoriensis Episcopus, quit obiit 6th Martii
1692-3. ^tatis sue 77.'
He was a prelate of unshaken loyalty to his Prince, sincere,
pious, humane, charitable to the poor, and in universal esteem
with all ranks and degrees of men. He lived a bachelor, and
what he had laid up, disposed at his death to pious uses. He
bequeathed to Christ's College, in Cambridge, 500/., to pur-
THE HISTORY OF THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 1 87
chase three exhibitions for three scholars, who should be entered
from the school of Kirkby Lonsdale, in Westmorland ; but, for
want of such, to go to the same number of scholars from the
school of Sedbergh, those of the name of Otway, and of the
town of Middleton, exteris paribus, to have always the pre-
ference."
He also bequeathed 200/. to Trinity College, Dublin, and
sums of money to various other charitable objects in Ireland.
" These things he did at his death, and in his life was not un-
mindful of good works." His constant charity to poor house-
holders was very considerable ; he was also a great benefactor
to his cathedral and neighbourhood.
Lastly, I would mention the Lady Elizabeth Hastings, of
whose life the following particulars have been sent to me : —
" She was the daughter of Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon,
was born in 1682, and died Jan. 2, 1739. ^^^ never married,
and devoted herself to pious and benevolent works, and
amongst others she founded ten exhibitions at Queen's College,
Oxford, open to persons educated at the schools of Penrith or
St. Bees, in Cumberland ; Appleby or Heversham, in Westmor-
land; Bradford, Giggleswick, Hipperholme, Leeds, Pontefract,
Sedbergh, Wakefield, or York, in Yorkshire. From pupils at'
these schools in former days a certain number was selected,
and the successful candidates were chosen by lot. In later
times the choice has depended upon an examination. Lady
Elizabeth Hastings was buried at Ledsham, near Pontefract,
where there is a beautiful marble monument with effigies of
herself and two of her sisters, and an elegant Latin inscription
by Mr. Barnard, master of the Grammar School in Leeds, who
also wrote a life of this worthy lady."
GARSDALE.
This is one of the beautiful valleys which are in the old parish
of Sedbergh, and through it runs the road to Wensleydale. It
has a church built in 1861, in place of the old one, and dedi-
cated to St. John the Baptist. The name of the valley is said
to be derived from Garr, or Garri, a Saxon personal name ; but
who the said Garr may have been, or when he lived, I do not
know. There was, however, soon after the Conquest, a family
called " of Garsdale," for we find that William Coke, chaplain
of the chapel of St. John the Baptist, in Garsdale, was paid the
sum of 4/. I ^s. 4^. for celebrating divine service for the soul of
the son of Alan of Garsdale ; which family appears to have
founded the chantry, and probably also gave the lands upon
which the annuity (4/. 13^-. 4^/.) seems to have been charged, to
the Abbot and Convent of St. Agatha, near Richmond. This
abbey was also at one time in possession of rights and patron-
age in the mediety of the advowson of St. Andrew's Church,
Sedbergh ; given them before the whole of the advowson was
bestowed by Geoffrey le Scrope on the Abbey of Coverham ;
and in all probability transferred by them to Geoffrey le Scrope,
who was one of their great patrons.
The Abbot and Convent of Coverham also had a small estate
in Garsdale, valued at iii". 4^. per annum, and they paid a rent
to the Abbot of St. Agatha for the town of Garsdale. There
are deeds in existence relative to St. Agatha's Abbey, which
show that it maintained a small cell near the chapel of Garsdale,
in which some of the canons were always residing, for the per-
formance of divine service. Thomas de Staveley bestowed
upon them (the canons performing divine service in the Chapel
of St John the Baptist) and their successors the whole right
and claim which he had " in one estate of pasture within the
precincts of Garsdale, next to the aforesaid chapel, beyond the
TOWNSHIP OF GARSDALE. 1 89
bridge which lieth toward the north, lying in longitude between
Rotherford in the east, and Twersgill which is in the^west, and
in latitude between the water of the river of Garsdale, and one
mound of stones which shows itself from a great distance.
Wherefore," he continues, " I will and concede that the afore-
said canons make the aforesaid piece of pasture land affixed,
and see that they hasten to enclose it, for their greater advant-
age, without any dispute from me or my heirs."
I will quote also a deed of endowment from Ralph Fitz-
Alan (of which the following is a translation), as the names of
places mentioned in it may be interesting : — " Know all, that
I, Ralph Fitz Alan, have given, etc., to God and the Abbey of
St. Agatha, and the canons serving God there, for the salvation
of my soul and those of my ancestors and my heirs, my estate
in Garsdale to the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, with all the
buildings there, and with the whole of my property there
between 2 acres, and the whole of my property between Winter-
scale and Coteghyll, with my mansion there, and for the com-
mon pasturage of Garsdale and Grisedale, and my mansion of
Bacunstalle, with 100 cows and the coming crops for 3 years,
and with 40 mares and the coming crops for 2 years, and after-
wards they shall remove the crops etc ; to be had and held all
for the support of one chaplain who shall celebrate divine
service in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist for ever. And
the aforesaid canons shall find for the same chaplain then
engaged in the celebration of divine services, as in other things,
every thing necessary from their perpetual dues. With warrant
and witnesses."
There is also a deed in confirmation of the above from Roger
de Mowbray, the chief lord, which runs thus : — "To all, etc.,
Roger de Mowbray sendeth greeting in the Lord. Let all of
you know that I of my intuitive piety for the safety of my own
soul and those of my ancestors and my successors have given
— and confirmed — all possessions in Garsdale and Grisedale,
as well from the gifts of Adam de Staveley and Henry Fitz-
ralph, my soldier, and Adam de Magneby, as from the gifts of
Ralph, son of Alan, and Helie, daughter of Ralph, and Jordan
of Hebblethwaite with all etc., — to have and to hold etc.,"
190 TOWNSHIP OF GARSDALE.
William de Kendal, son of John, parson of Betham, also gave
up whatever rights he had in the valley of Garsdale ; and the
lordships of Garsdale belonged to the abbey, as is proved by
the following acknowledgement of fealty from an early lord of
Upsall : —
"On the octave of Easter, in the year of grace 1303
Michael, Lord of Upsall, took the oath of fideUty to the Lord
Abbot of St. Agatha, in the chapel of St. John, of Garsdale, in
the presence of the brothers there living, and recognised the
Lord Abbot to be his chief lord of all possessions which the
said Michael held in Garsdale, from the aforesaid Lord Abbot
And Sir Thomas of Douch, chaplain — received the oath —
in the presence of witnesses. Brother John of Campsal and
Brother Roger of Lancaster, then living in Garsdale."
In spite of all the care of these ecclesiastical lords, there was,
I regret to say — at some time (I do not know the exact date) —
one Thomas Ulthwayt, of Garthesdell, parish of Sadber, who
sought sanctuary in Durham Cathedral for driving away twenty
head of cattle. The chapelry of Garsdale suffered like many
other places, but in a slight degree, from the dissolution of the
monasteries, and in 161 5 the inhabitants petitioned as fol-
lows : —
^' To the Right Honourable Sir Foulk Grevill, Knight, Chan-
cellor of his Ma'tie's Court of Exchequer, and of his Ma'tie's
most honourable Privy Councell.
" The humble petition of the poore inhabitants of Garsdale,
in the countie of Yorke, most lamentablie shewinge —
" That whereas an annuall stipend of [figures illegible] by
yere was graunted by the Abbat of St. Agatha's (who was then
"Owner of the same daile), for the fyndeinge of one minister for
divyne service att a chappie in that daile, being distant from
their P'ish Church 6 myles or thereabouts, and a verie dangerous
passage of mountainous way as any in the north of England.
Att which chappie they bury their dead, christen, and mary.
It beinge so farre from the church as in ye winter season they
cannot travayle there without danger of life. Being withall so
many and so poore in that daile, as there are of them above
TOWNSHIP OF GARSDALE. Ipl
loo households, and few of them above (illegible figure) rent
per annum. That upon the dissolution of that abbey, the lands
coming to the Crowne (out of which the same [illegible figure]
did issue). The same was contynued to be paid by King
Edward the 6th, as by deed dated 29th November Anno 5
Regni sui appeareth. And also by order and warrant from the
Channcellor and Barons of the Exchequer was confirmed by
the late Queen Elizabeth and still paid by the Receiver of the
County of Yorke untill this last year.
" In tender comiseration, and forasmuch as by the contynu-
ance of ye paiement off this p. annum by his Majestie
(together with the help of the Lady Bowes, who allowed 5/. a
year out of her charitie), a preacher is maynteyned amongst
your suppHcants att ye said chappie. To the great education
of them, and their children being many in number, which if it
shall not be contynued by his Majestie (as tyme out of mynde
it hath been paid). Then your supplicants are so poore (beinge
forced to paie all manner off tythes and dues to their Parish
Church, whereoff they receive no benefitt of the word of God,
being soe farr from it as aforesaid). As they arr not able to
maynteyne service and preaching att ye said chappie, whereby
many hundred soules young and old in that daile wold be like
to be utterly lost for want of instruction and hearing of God's
word preached amongst them. A case most lamentable if it
should befall. Most humblie therefore beseech your good
honours (even for the glorie of God and Christ his Sone) to
commisserate so many sealy souls. And to give order and war-
rant to the Auditor and Receiver of the said County of Yorke
for contynuance of the paiement of the same per annum
with the arrearages for the same last year, being to so godly
and charitable a work. The inhabitants of Garsdale in Com.
Ebor. " Mr. Auditor Hutton. I praie your answer of this
petition, and certifie me whether the pension within men-
tioned was not allowed the last year and what els you fynde
and give me information of the true state of this matter with all
particulars of your knowledge, for his Majestie's most advantage
therein.
" 20 June, 1615." " FuLKE Grevyll.
192 TOWNSHIP OF GARSDALE.
" The said pension of within mentioned was not allowed
the last yeare, for that it was alleadged by my predecessor, Mr.
Auditor Paddon, that most of the lands and possessions belong-
ing to the late Monasterie of St. Agatha (out of which it was
thought this pension doth yssue) are purchased in fee simple
from his Majestie. The revenues whereof were ever since the
dissolution of the said monasterie charged within the receiver's
accompts of Richmond but this pension hath yearlie bin
paid for 50 yeares last past and upwards by the generall receiv-
ors of Yorkshire for the tyme beinge. Whereby it appeareth
that the said pension of— — hath not bin paid out of the
revenues of the said Monastery of St. Agatha, but out of the
generall revenues of Yorkshire. The contynuance whereof wil
be a very charitable dede from his majestie in regard of the
necessitie of a minister there for the reasons within this petition
mentioned. All which I doe humblie leave to your ho. con-
sideration.
"Thomas Hutton, Auditor.
" 22 June, 1615."
" Upon the certificat of the auditor within mentioned let this
pension be paid and so continued till there shall be any cause
to the contrary.
" FuLKE Grevyll.
"27 June, 1615."
"This petition is enrolled and examined the said 27 of June,
161 5, before me,
" Tho. Hutton, Auditor."
This Fulke Grevyll was the first Lord Brooke, and describes
himself as " servant to Queen Elizabeth, counsellor to King
James, and friend to Sir Philip Sidney."
The purchaser of the manor or lordship of Garsdale from
King James the ist was Sir William Garraway, Knight, of the
city of London. He and others conveyed it with all its rights,
royalties, etc., to Gilbert Nelson, James Nelson, Richard Gar-
thwaite, John Guye, and Richard Hobson, as they said, for
their own benefit, and that they might be Lords of the Manor.
For some years they acted in this capacity, holding courts, dis-
TOWNSHIP OF GARSDALE. 1 93
training, etc., in company, part of the time with Mr. Roger
Otway, to whom they had sold a portion of their rights. On
the other hand many of the tenants of Garsdale said that the
purchasers were only trustees for the rest of the tenants, and
that the purchase was made for the general benefit. In par-
ticular they assert that the profits of the courts held were to be
employed " to the maintenance of a preacher " in the said lord-
ship. As far as I can make out the matter was decided in the
tenants' favour, but there are various contradictory papers ; the
lords of the manor (so called) having apparently conveyed and
sold some of the lands in Garsdale. There is frequent mention
of a tenement called " the Priest's house, with the closes and
comons to the same apperteyninge, then late in the tenure of
the chanter there, of the yearly rent off 46s. Sd." which was
let (Feb. 8th, i8 James ist) by Lady Philadelphia Scroope to
George Sidgwicke, Bryan Nelson, James Nelson, and John
Guy; this and other lands having formerly belonged to St.
Agatha's Abbey, at Richmond. In 1624, a tenement called
Paradyce, with the appurtenances, was made over by Isabell
Garthwaite, of Garsdale, to trustees, " To th'end and purposse
that the severall inhabitants within the lordshipp of Garstall
maye be the better enabled to mayntayne a preacher and have
the Word of God more plentifully taught amongst them."
The parishioners of Garsdale had also a difficulty, which was
decided by arbitration, as to whether they should contribute to
the repairs of Dent Church, and to the payment of the minister
and clerk. Finally, under the arbitration of Sir John Otway,
they compounded, and for the payment of a sum of money
down they were declared free of all claims for ever. Garsdale
has, apparently, only once taken a part in the public affairs of
the nation, and that by means of only two of its inhabitants.
''In the year 1641-2 the House of Commons, by their sole
authority, illegally endeavoured to impose upon the nation an
engagement to defend their religion ; which, though it appeared
harmless, was intended to make people believe that it and their
liberties were in danger from the proceedings of the Court
But at the time this protestation was signed without suspicion
by most people in the parishes of Bentham, Ingleton, Thornton,
o
194 TOWNSHIP OF GARSDALE.
Sedbergh, Dent, and Garsdale. Two men, however, there were
wiser or more courageous than their fellows, who refused to
sign, and one of them justified his refusal as follows : —
" Whereas you expect my answer to this protestation ; this is
briefly to certifie you, that for the othe of my allegiance, as
also to the Artickles of Christian religion and maintayninge the
unitie of the 3 kingdomes, I shall and will, by God's grace, be
alwaies ready e to tender my othe. But as for maintaininge the
priveledges of the Parliament and the liberty of the subject,
(they) are things that I doe not understand. Kings and Parlia-
ments, you knowe, are subject to mutability ; and one of the
Christian articles that I ame to be sworn unto admonisheth me
to the contrary, that is, that I ought not to swear rashly. Yet
never the less, if you can either certify me that they are sett
out by the King's Ma'tie's authoritie, or that I may swear with
this exception (viz.) that they be not repugnant to my othe of
allegiance to the Kinge ; I am and will be ready, God willinge,
to take the othe. And this liberty I hope noe good Protestant
nor true subject will deny me. And so I rest yours,
'^ George Heber."
On the roll which contains this remonstrance is written : —
" The names of those who refused to make protestacon within
Garsdale, parcell of the township of Dent, viz.,
" I. George Heber, gent.
" 2. Abraham Nelson, chapman, who publiquely refused
before the whole dale in the church."
It appears from the registers that the damsels of Garsdale
were either eminent for their personal, mental, or moral attrac-
tions, or else of a very roving turn, for they seem to have
married men from all the neighbouring parishes, and some
from. a considerable distance. This secluded valley was also
a favourite place for being married in with people of other
parishes.
I have only further to mention the very distinguished man
who was born here, and shall give an account of him which
the late Professor Sedgwick kindly permitted me to take from
TOWNSHIP OF GARSDALE. 1 95
a sketch he wrote of some of those he remembered as living in
Sedbergh.
A photograph from a Hkeness of this great mathematician,
which was given by Professor Sedgwick, hangs in the Reading-
room in the town, and there is a beautiful marble bust in the
Church.
John Dawson was a native of Garsdale, and born in a.d,
1734. He was the son of a ''statesman" in Garsdale, and
though poor, and having no teaching except in the simplest
elements of knowledge, no books, and no encouragement, he
acquired so much learning that, in 1756, three young men took
lodgings in Garsdale that they might read with him. One of
these three was Professor Sedgwick's father, afterwards in-
cumbent of Dent. Soon after this Mr. Dawson went to Lan-
caster, to the house of an eminent surgeon there, with whom
he remained for some time, studying both medicine and mathe-
matics with very great success ; and then practised for a time
as a medical man, without a diploma, took some pupils, and
managed to save about a hundred guineas. With this sum he
walked to Edinburgh, and entered the university as a medical
Student. He remained in Edinburgh until his money was
exhausted, and then returned to Sedbergh on foot as he went.
Here he found plenty of practice waiting for him, and by care
and economy he saved about three hundred pounds, and set
off, walking as before, to London. Here living was more
expensive than in Edinburgh, and the money was soon spent,
but the time was not lost, for Mr. Dawson made acquaintance
with several men of science, finished his medical studies, and
obtained his diploma. He then walked back to Sedbergh,
where he settled, and "John Dawson and Ann Thirnbeck,
both of this parish, were married by licence in this church on
the third day of March, 1767, by W. Bateman, D.D." Mr.
Dawson had an extensive medical practice, but in spite of this
still continued his scientific studies, until he became one of the
greatest mathematicians of his day, and his fame spread over
the country. After a time he gave up his surgical practice and
became a teacher of mathematics. Many Cambridge men
were his pupils, amongst whom may be mentioned Professor
o 2
196 TOWNSHIP OF GARSDALE.
Sedgwick, and Dr. Sumner, the late Bishop of Winchester; and
he had among them ten or eleven senior wranglers. He died,
aged 86, on the 19th September, 1820.
Mr. Dawson's face, as represented on the monument erected
by his '' grateful pupils," looks much younger than in the like-
ness in the Reading-room, and must have been taken, I think,
from a portrait which was exhibited among the Yorkshire
worthies at the Leeds Exhibition in 1868, and was painted, I
believe, by a Mr. Allen. I cannot close this notice better than
by quoting Professor Sedgwick's own words in description of
his " dear old master : " — " Simple in manners, cheerful and
mirthful in temper, with a dress approaching that of the higher
class of the venerable old Quakers of the dales, without any
stiffness or affectation of superiority, yet did he bear at first
sight a very commanding presence, and it was impossible to
glance at him for a moment without feeling that we were before
one to whom God had given gifts above those of a common
man. His powerful projecting forehead and well chiselled
features told of much thought ; and might have implied severity,
had not a soft radiant benevolence played over his fine old face,
which inspired his friends, of whatever age or rank, with confi-
dence and love." Such was the outward appearance of this
good and great man ; great in his natural gifts, but greater still
in the perseverance and self-denial by which he obtained the
means of cultivating them.
The following extract from "Beeton's Dictionary of Uni-
versal Biography " may be interesting, as giving a short account
of another eminent native of Garsdale. The Rev. James
Inman was "an eminent mathematician, many years professor
of mathematics at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth dock-
yard. He was the oldest of Cambridge senior wranglers, his
degree dating as far back as 1800, and was long celebrated in
naval circles for his application of science to navigation and
shipbuilding. He laboured very many years unobtrusively,
but zealously, in his country's service. He sailed round the
TOWNSHIP OT GARSDALE. 1 97
world with Flinders, as astronomer, was wrecked with him, and
took part with the late Sir John Franklin in that celebrated
action in which a fleet of British merchantmen beat off the
French admiral, Linois. While professor of mathematics at the
Royal Naval College, he reduced to system the previous ill-
arranged methods of navigation, and published several valuable
works now in general use in the naval service ; but he was best
known by his having been the first person in England who built
ships on scientific principles, and by his having educated a class
of men at whose hands the promised ' reconstruction ' of the
British navy is to take place. Dr. Inman's translation of
' Chapman,' with his valuable annotations, is the text book on
which all subsequent writers on naval architecture have pro-
ceeded." Dr. Inman was born at Garsdale Foot, near Sed-
bergh, 1776, and died 1859.
THE END.
Kendal :
Printed by Atkinson & Pollitt,
Stricklandgate.