Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/146

 HISTORY OP BISHOP AUCKLAND. 119 the school has scarcely been to the advantage of the institution. What they may have gained in situation has been negatived by exchanging a school measuring 121 feet by 34, for a room about 18 feet square. The school, however, under the management of the present master, Mr. E. K. Limoiilan, is showing signs of a new life, and with a judicious carrying out of the original intention of the donors (which ought to be the principal object aimed at by those in trust), it may ! e'-omu a great boon, and play an important part in the education of the rising generation of the town and district. The importance of the following document, it being a transcript of the original charter of the Grammar School of King James, is a sufficient apology for its insertion here in full. As the resources of the country are about to be taxed for the education of the masses, it behoves every individual to use to the utmost the power he possesses to see that these rich endowments, with which this county abounds, are applied to the purpose for which their original founders intended them ; for, though they are left in the hands of certain trustees, yet they are to all intents and purposes the property of the public ; and any documents or other matter calculated to throw a light upon their history, either past or present, ought to be carefully preserved, and placed in the hands of those for whose especial benefit they were intended, as they are the most likely parties to look after the judicious application of their funds : — James (by the grace of God), of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith, «kc. To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas, Ann Swyfte, of the City of Durham, widow, late wife of Robert Swyfte, of the aforesaid city, deceased, hath most humbly beseeched us that we would deign to found and establish, within the Town of North Auckland, otherwise called Bishop Auckland, in the County of Durham, a Grammar School for the good education and instruction of the boys and young people of the same town, and of those dwelling and sojourning in there, the vicinity, or adjacent parts. Know ye that we to this pious petition willingly assenting, of our special grace and for promoting true learning, and of our own inclination, have willed, ordained, and granted, and by these presents for us our heirs and successors do will, ordain, and grant, that de cetera there shall be one Grammar School in the Town of North Auckland, otherwise Bishop Auckland aforesaid, in the said County of Durham, for the education, teach- ing, and instruction of all and every the young peo[)le in the Rules of Grammar, and other fruitful knowledge, Tor ever, which shall be called the Free Grammar School of King James, in the Town of North Auckland, in our said County of Durham. And such school we, by the name of the Free Grammar School of King James, in the Town of North Auckland, otherwise Bishop Auckland, in the County of Durham, do erect, create, found, and establish by these presents, and that such school shall consist of one teacher, or master, and one underteacher, or usher, and of boys and young people, there by the same master and usher to be taught and instructed according to the rules in these presents declared ; and that our intention might take the better effect, and that the messuages, lands, tenements, rents, reversions, reventions, hereditaments, annuities, goods and chattels, and other profits, for the sustaining and maintenance of the same school, of the master or teacher, usher, and scholars of the same school, should be granted, assigned, and appointed either to their use, or to the use of some one or other, or others of them. We will, grant, and ordain, for us, our heirs, and successors, that de cttero there shall be twelve discreet and honest men according to the rules in these our letters patent as below to be content^ and declared nominated and appointed, who shall be called Latine Gubernatores Bonorum Possessionum et Reventionum Liberse Scholar Grammaticalis Jacobi Regis infra, ViUam de North Auckland, alias Bishop Auckland, in Comit Dunelm, et Anglice, the governors of the goods, possessions, and reventions of the Free Grammar School of King James, within the Town of North Auckland, otherwise Bishop Auckland, in the County of Durham. That the aforesaid employment and offices may be well and faithfully executed and f ulfiUed, we have elected, nominated, appointed, and constituted, and by these presents for us, our heirs, and successors, do appoint, elect, nominate, and constitute our well-beloved (dilectum nobis pra^nobilem virum) Radulph Eure, Knight ; Lord of Eure ; Cuthbert Pepper, Knight Henry Bellasis, Knight ; Thomas Calverly, Esquire ; Richard Frevyle, Radulph Butler, Thomas Lever, Stephen Hegge, Anthony Trotter, Thomas King, Gentlemen ; Henry Bayles, and Roger Bradley, to undertake and be the first and modern Governors of the goods, possessions, and reventions of the Free Grammar School of King James, in the Town of North Auckland, otherwise Bishop Auckland, in the County of Durham, and of our especial grace and for the promoting of true learning, and of our own inclination we have further willed, granted, ordained, and established, and by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors do will, grant, ordain, and establish that the aforesaid governors of the goods, possessions, and reventions of the said Free Grammar School of King James, in the town of North Auckland, otherwise Bishop Auckland, in the county of Durham, and their successors shall be for ever one body corporate and politic, in fact and in name, by the name of the governors of the goods, possessions, and reventions of the Free Grammar School of King James, in the town of North Auckland, otherwise Bishop Digitized by Google