Abstract of the Original Foundation Deed of the Manchester Free Grammar School
"By Indenture, bearing date 20th August, 7th Henry VIII, between Hugh Oldham, bishop of Exeter, the Rev. Thomas Langley, rector of Prestwich, Hugh Bexwyke, chaplain, and Ralph Hulme, Gentleman, of the first part; the abbot and convent of Whalley of the second part; and the Warden and Fellows of the college of Manchester, of the third part; reciting, that the said parties had often taken into consideration that the youth, particularly in the county of Lancaster, had for a long time been in want of instruction, as well on account of the poverty of their parents, as for want of some person who should instruct them in learning and virtue, and therefore to the intent that there should be some fit person to teach youths and boys freely, without any thing to be given to, or to be taken by him, had covenanted and agreed as thereinafter mentioned; and further reciting, that the said Hugh Bexwyke and Ralph Hulme, together with Joan Bexwyke, widow, had by indenture bearing date 20th June then last, demised to the said warden and fellows all their lands, tenements, rents and services of the water corn mills, called Manchester Corn-Mills, and all their tolls of, &c., to the tenants of Lord La Warr, for 70 years, at the yearly rent of 13 marks, payable to the said Lord La Warr; and further reciting, that the said Hugh Bexwyke, Ralph Hulme, and Joan Bexwyke, had by deed, bearing the same date as that indenture, released to the said warden and fellows all their right in the said premises, to the use and intent thereinafter expressed; and further reciting, that the said Ralph Hulme and Richard Hunt had by indenture bearing date 2nd July then last, demised to the said warden and fellows the messuages, lands, and tenements, &c., in Ancoats, which they had held jointly with Roger Dondeforth, D.D., deceased, John Veysey, archdeacon of Chester, and Thomas Marler of the gift and feoffment of Barnard Oldham, archdeacon of Cornwall, to hold to the said warden and fellows for the like term of 70 years, paying the accustomed rents and services to the chief lord; and further reciting, that the said Ralph Hulme and Richard Hunt had by deed bearing date 6th July then last, released all their right and interest in the said premises to the said warden and fellows and their successors, to the use and intent thereinafter expressed, all which premises above mentioned were stated to be of the yearly value of £40, and were given to the said warden and fellows to the intent that they, with the rents and profits thereof, should perform the agreements thereinafter expressed.
It was witnessed, that for the performance and execution of so great a work, the said parties covenanted and agreed that the said Hugh Oldham, bishop of Exeter, the said warden and fellows, and the said Thomas Langley, Hugh Bexwyke and Ralph Hulme, during the lives of the said bishop, and of the said Thomas, Hugh and Ralph, should provide and nominate a fit person, secular or regular, learned and fit to be master, to teach and instruct scholars in grammar, in the town of Manchester, according to the form of grammar then taught in the school in the town of Banbury in Oxfordshire, and an usher (hostiarium) or substitute to such master, to teach grammar in his absence, or for his assistance; and after the dean of the persons above named, that the said wardens and feloows for the time being should for ever provide such master, &c.; and the said warden and fellows agree to pay annually without any deduction, £10 to the said master, and £5 to the said usher; and William Pleasington was thereby appointed as the person who should first, freely and without any ting to be therefore given to him, except his stipend, instruct in grammar all boys and children in the said town of Manchester, coming to him in the place appointed for the purpose; and Richard Wolstoncroft was appointed to be the usher to teach such boys as aforesaid coming to him, without any thing to be taken by him except his salary appointed as aforesaid; and it was agreed, that in case the said warden and fellows for the time being should be remiss or negligent , or should not be able to agree in the election of a master or usher within two months after a vacancy, the abbot of Whalley and his successors for the time being should elect for that turn; and that the said master and usher should not be removed except for reasonable cause, as for incontinence, or neglect of their scholars, or such like, which should be brought to the notice of the said warden and fellows; and that the master and the usher should perform certain services in the church therein mentioned, and that the said warden and fellows should provide for such services, and make certain payments for the same; and that upon every nomination of a master and usher so to be appointed as aforesaid, the said warden and fellows should cause the said master and usher respectively to take an oath, impartially and indifferently to teach and correct the boys and scholars, and to use due diligence therein, and that they would not take any the smallest gifts, by colour of their office, or for their teaching, except their stipends
By Lease, bearing date 11th October, 7th Henry VIII., the said warden and fellows demised the Manchester Corn-Mills, and the premises at Ancoats, to the said Hugh Bexwyke and Joan Bexwyke for 60 years, at the yearly rent of £15 18s. over and above the rent of £9 13s. 4d. payable to the said Lord La Warr."
Abstract taken from “The Manchester Grammar School 1515 - 1915” by Alfred Mumford
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