Alfred Mumford’s history of the school, published in 1919, gives us a transcription of the statues of the school, written in 1525. They make interesting (if lengthy) reading.
MGS in the 16th century
A large section is given over the employment terms of the High Master and Usher. Procedures for leave and sickness are outlined – (supply teachers existed in the 16th century):
X – That every high-master and usher, for ever, from time to time shall teach freely and indifferently every child and scholar coming to the same school, without any money or other rewards taken therefore…except only his said stipend and wages hereafter specified.
XIX – Every high-master and usher shall take yearly only 20 days to sport them at one time or sundry times, as they be both not absent at one time.
XX – That if the high-master be sick of sickness incurable, or fall into such age that he may not conveniently teach, and hath been a man that long and laudably hath taught in the said school, then he to have to surplusage and store belonging to the same school, yearly, £4 sterling.
XXII If the high-master be sick of sickness curable, the usher to help him, and to take the more pain upon him, and also to have for his said pain…of the wages of the said high-master; and in likewise if the said usher be sick, then the high-master to take more pain teaching the scholars, and to have part of the wages of the said usher.
XXV – If it happens the high-master and usher to be both sick at once, and of sickness curable…then they to hire one sufficient to teach for them, and they to pay his wages.
The wages of the High Master were to be £10 a year and the Usher £5.
A section of the statues are devoted to the conduct of the pupils – the “scholars”:
XXVI – There shall be no scholar nor infant of what county or shire soever he be, being man child, be refused except he has some horrible or contagious infirmity infective, as pox, leprosy, pestilence for the time being
XXVII – Every scholar within the same school shall be obedient to help the schoolmaster and usher for the time being, for the correction lawfully of any scholar or scholars of the same school, at the commandment of the schoolmaster or usher for time being.
XXVIII – No scholar then being at school, wear any dagger, hanger or other weapon invasive nor bring into the school staff or bat, except their meat knife.
XXIX – That no scholar there make any affray within the same school upon the master, the usher or upon any other scholar of the same school, upon pain of leaving of his said school by one month; and if any scholar there make two frays as above is said then to leave the same school by the space of two months; and if any make the third, he to be banished the same school for ever without any favour.
XXX – The scholars of the same school shall use no cock-fight nor other unlawful games, and riding about for victory and other disports had in these parts, which be to the great loss of learning and virtue and to charge and costs of the scholars and of their friends.
XXXI – That every scholar of the same school be at the said school in the morning betwixt Michaelmas and Easter before seven of the clock and between Easter and Michaelmas at six of the clock, except such as come daily far to their learning, which shall come to the school at such an hour as shall be limited to the master, according to the distance of the place that they come from.
XXXII – Every scholar pay at his first admitting and writing in of his name in the book of scholars one penny sterling, and not above, that always to be paid to the two poor children for the time being which keep the book of scholars’ names, and make clean the school
XXXIII – That no scholar shall bring meat or drink into the school, nor there to use their meat and drink; but always, if any such poor scholars there be, that for their great poverty bring their meat and drink with them, they to go to some house in the town there to eat and drink, and so to resort again to the school.
XXXV – That the schoolmaster and usher shall cause all scholars being learned in grammar at all times to use to speak their Latin tongue within the school and all other places convenient
The statutes give us a fascinating insight into what life might have been like in the very early years of the school. Reference is made to the book of scholars’ names. Regrettably, this book no longer exists; our earliest register dates from 1730. The book was allegedly destroyed by zealous Puritans during the civil war. It also seems that the late pass system was informally in existence as early as 1525!
Rachel Kneale
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