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 for upon "Gunpowder Treasondaie, in the year of our Lord 1659" it was the intention of the Mayor and Corporation "to goe from hence to visite the grammer schoole, and from thence to the sermon accordinge to the usual custome"; but the disturbance seems to have caused the "accompte of Mr Seaman" to be neglected, for not until January 17th, 1660, was it decided that at the next meeting "the accompts of Mr Seaman about the repaire of the Grammar School shall be perused and debated."

There were other disputes, and one which arose concerning the endowment was not settled until the beginning of the eighteenth century. The foundation deed had stated that the properties to the yearly value of 20 marks were "assigned, limited, layd out, and conveyed, for the maintenance of the said Free—school, and the Schoolmaster thereof for the time being, for ever," which meant that while a master was in office he was entitled to the full income. The municipality, however, had acquired the extremely profitable habit of paying the master an annuity of 20 marks (the original annual value of the properties assigned to his use), and putting "the over-plus into their own pockets, or at least into the common stock" (Morant, iii, II).

Taking the value of 20 marks as £13/6/8, the profit in 1635 must have been £20/13/4, and in 1643 £18/13/4, when the properties were leased to Philip and Thomas Neville respectively. At last, as the result of a complaint to the Visitor, the Bishop of London, a bill against the Mayor and Corporation was filed in Chancery in Michaelmas Term, 1696, and a decree obtained in October, 1698, although nine years more passed before an agreement was effected. On September 16th, 1707, the properties were vested in trustees, for the master "to have, possess, and enjoy the said messuages, etc., and to take and receive the rents, issues, and profits thereof to his own use." The first trustees were Sir William Luckin, Bart., of Messing, Sir Isaac Rebow, Kt., Joseph Thurston, Hope Gifford, John Potter, Nathaniel Lawrence, Jnr., and Thomas Ruse; and the properties were from time to time conveyed to new trustees.

When William Turner died in office in 1786 he received this remarkable, if cautiously worded, tribute from the Suffolk Mercury : " Monday, January 31, 1726. On Monday night last dy'd the Worthy and Learned Mr Wm Turner, Master of the Free Grammar School at Colchester in Essex, he had been for many years Master of the Free School at Stamford in Lincolnshire, from whence he removed to Colchester (being elected by the Free Burgesses) on the Death of Mr Allen the former Master, about three Years ago. He was a man of that Universal good Behaviour that we don't hear he hath left one enemy behind him, his Death being generally regretted by all that knew him."

Later in the same year the same paper carried an advertisement by Turner's successor, David Comarque, who not only said that Rh