Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/77

 2nd g. N 4., JAN. 26. '56.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

69

and Thomas Ladd, tho' nott att home, is concerned in their apprehension.

[Endorsed.]

Coppy of a letter from M r Mascall, of New Rom- ney, dated 11 June, about the taking of S r Jno. Fenwick.

The above appears to be a contemporaneous transcript "of the original letter. I purchased ,it many years ago among a large mass of old Kent MSS.

There is no superscription given ; but doubtless it was addressed to the Duke of Shrewsbury, Principal Secretary of State, whose chief secretary or clerk was James Vernon, Esq. The writer, John Mascall, was a jurat of New Rom' ney, and had been mayor of that town two years -before the date of this letter. L. B. L.

Song on the Jesuits' Chapel and Schools in the Savoy.

It is a curious fact that neither by Cunningham in his Handbook of London, nor by Tinibs in his Curiosities of London, is there any reference to the spacious house, including a church and a school, which Macaulay (vol. ii. p. 98.) says was built in the Savoy for the Jesuits in 1686 :

"The skill and care with which these fathers had, during several generations, conducted the education of youth, had drawn forth reluctant praises from the wisest Protestants. Bacon had pronounced the mode of in- struction followed by the Jesuit Colleges to be the best yet known in the world, and had warmly expressed his regret that so admirable a system of intellectual and moral discipline should be subservient to the interests of a corrupt religion. It was not improbable that the new academy in the Savoy might, under royal patronage, prove a formidable rival to the great foundations of Eton, Westminster, and Winchester. Indeed, soon after the school was opened, the classes consisted of four hundred boys, about one half of whom were Protestants. The Protestant pupils were not required to attend mass ; but there could be no doubt that the influence of able pre- ceptors devoted to the lioman Catholic Church, and versed in all the arts which win the confidence and affection of youth, would make many converts."

Strype, in his edition of Stow's Survey of Lon- don (ed. 1755.), vol. ii. pp. 103-4., says :

" In the year 1687, schools were set up and ordained here at the Savoy ; the masters whereof were Jesuits. Rules were provided for these schools and published in print. It was declared therein, that the intention of them was to teach youth virtue and learning. That those that came thither should be taught gratis, and to be at no further charge than in. buying of their own pens, ink, paper, and books. That these schools should be common to all, of what condition soever, and none to be excluded, when they should be thought fit to begin to learn Latin, and wrote sufficiently well. In these schools to be taught Greek and Latin, poetry and rhetoric. And whether Catholics or Protestants came to these schools, yet in teaching, no distinction to be made, but all to be taught with equal diligence and care. And neither by master or scholar, and tampering or meddling, to persuade any one from the profession of his own religion. But few there were but did believe, nay, could but believe other- wise than that this pretended" charitable project was for the advantages hereby to be compassed for the promoting

the Roman religion. These schools were soon dissolved upon the ceasing of the Government of King James. And the clock that was made for the use of this Savoy school, was afterwards bought and set up upon a gentleman's house in Low Layton, as was said."

,Strong as was the popular feeling against this school and the following contemporary ballad is given as evidence of that feeling there can be little doubt that the cause of education was ad- vanced by this institution, sjnce its establishment gave rise to many other schools in the metropolis. The Blue Coat School, in St. Margaret's, West- minster, is one of these.

"RELIGIOUS BEUQUES;

Or, the Sale at the Savoy ; upon the Jesuits breaking up their School and Chapel.

1. " Last Sunday, by chance,

I Encounter'd with Prance, That Man of Upright Conversation, Who told me such News, That I cou'd not chuse But Laugh at his sad Declaration.

2.

" Says he, if you'll go,

You shall see such a Show Of Reliques expos'd to be Sold,

Which from Sin and Disease

Will Purge all that please , To lay out their Silver and Gold.

3.

" Straight with him I went,

Being zealously bent, Where for Sixpence the Man let me in,

But the Croud was so great,

I was all in a Sweat Before the rare Show did begin.

4. " The Curtain being drawn,

Which I think was of Lawn, The PRIEST cross\l himself thrice, and bow'd; Then with a sour Face, Denoting his Case, He address'd himself thus to the Croud.

5.. " You see our sad State,

'Tis a folly to prate,

Our Church and our Cause is a-ground ; So in short, if you've Gold, Here is to be sold For a Guinny the worth of Ten Pound.

6. " Here's St. James's old Bottle,

It holds just a Pottle, With the Pilgrim's Habit he wore ; The'same Scollop shells, As our Holy Church tells,

Who denys it's a Son of a W.

7.

" Here's a piece of the Bap, By Age turn'd to a Rag, In which Judas the Money did bear ; With a part of his Rope, Bequeath'd to the POPE, As an Antidote 'gainst all despair.