Page:A History of Horncastle from the Earliest Period to the Present Time.djvu/125

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It will have been observed that we have so far adopted the prevalent nomenclature, and spoken of this school as an Elizabethan institution, founded in 1571. It must now be added that, venerable as that date of origin would make it, it has a higher claim to our veneration still. Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona. There were grammar schools before that date. Edward VI. is said to have established several, in various parts of the country, and we have already named two such in our own neighbourhood, viz., those of Spilsby and Louth; but it is now known that even these were, strictly speaking, revivals of still other institutions. It is now known that not a few of the charities, or public institutions, supposed to have been founded by Queen Elizabeth, were really of older date, but revived, confirmed, or augmented, under her wise rule. In a published account of the old grammar school of Giggleswick, Yorkshire, commonly reputed to be a foundation of Edward VI., is the following statement, "a large number of schools bear the name of Ed. VI., who undoubtedly desired to strengthen the grammar school system. His good intentions were, however, frustrated by the Commissioners; and very few of the so-called Edward VI. grammar schools had their origin in his reign, being older foundations with a new name."

It seems certain that Horncastle Grammar School is an analogous case. Documents have recently been brought to light in the archives of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln, which prove that, acting for the Chancellor (who was ex officio "Magister Scholarum"), during a temporary vacancy of that office, they appointed Masters to the grammar schools of Boston, Partney, Horncastle, and elsewhere, in the year 1329; the Horncastle Master, so appointed, being one John of Beverley. This mode of appointment being exceptional, was only to be valid for one year; but the Chancellorship continuing vacant, the Masters were confirmed in their positions by the Dean and Chapter, in the following year 1330, and again in 1331; and so on, in successive years.

Now this mode of appointment being only in lieu of appointment by the Chancellor, while his office was in abeyance, it follows that these schools were in existence, as public institutions under the Chancellor, before the dates named. Although, therefore, we are unable to fix the exact period of the school's existence, it may be satisfactory for Horncastrians to know that, in addition to the various interesting associations which we have already given as connected with the school, there is proof that before Shakespeare had composed one of his immortal plays, before Spenser had written a line of his Faerie Queen, before Bacon had even thought of his Advancement of Learning, there had existed a "seat of learning" in the small provincial town of Horncastle, which had then attained to the respectable age of more than two centuries.