Part 3 (1/2)

The first elections were made on February 14, 1604. Josias Shute did not take his B.A. degree till 1605 nor his M.A. till 1609, so that the clause in Henry Tennant's will referring to him still held and he was receiving the interest on 100, but there is also the interest on the lands in Settle which had been sold for 40 and were bringing in 4 yearlie.

Thomas, one of the sons of Christopher Shute, and Alexander Bankes, of Austwick, in the parish of Clapham (also a relative of one of the Governors) were elected to the two Exhibitions. But as Clapham's money continued for seven yeares, they were each to receive 4 a year for four years and to divide the Clapham Exhibition during the next three years, if both continued in the University. This was done ”for their better mantaynance and to take awaie emulation.”

Thereafter elections were frequently made, until the merging of the funds in the general foundation of the School by the scheme of 1872.

In 1507, the half-acre of land on which James Carr, capella.n.u.s, had built his school had been leased for seventy-nine years for a yearly rent of ”xij_d._ of good and lawfull moneye of England,” and when the seventy-nine years were up, the lease was to be renewable on a payment of 6_s._ 8_d._ Clearly it had been renewed in 1586 but no record remains. In 1610 ”on the ffourteenth daie of December, Sir Gervysse Helwysse and Sir Richard Williamson were owners in ffee farme of the Rectorie and Parsonage of Giglesweke.” Durham had ceased to possess it, on the Confiscation of Finchale Priory, and in 1601 Robert Somerskayles had bought it of the Crown.

Sir Gervysse Helwysse and Sir Richard Williamson ”in consideracion of a certeyne somme of money to them in hand paid, but especially at the request and mediacion of the said Christofer Shutt” sold ”all that house comonly called the Schoolehouse in Giglesweke afforesaid and that close adioyneing therto, called the Schoolehouse garth, parcell of the said Rectorye.”

The amount of the ”certeyne somme of monye” is not declared. The land now belonged to the School, but the xij_d._ yearly had still to be paid as part of the fee farm rent, payable for the Rectory to the King's majesty.

The next important bequest comes from Richard Carr, Vicar of Hockleigh in Ess.e.x, who died in 1616. He was a great-grandson of the brother of James, the founder of the School. The family interest was maintained and at his death he left a house in Maldon, called Seely House Grove, with all its appurtenances to his wife Joan and after her death to the ”Societye, Companie and Corporation of Christe Colledge in Cambridge.”

He also bequeathed direct to the College ”a tenement at Hackwell alias Hawkwell in the Countie of Ess.e.x called Mount Bovers or Munde Bovers.”

These lands ”during the naturall life of my foresaid wife, Joane” were to be used for the provision of five Scholars.h.i.+ps at 5 apiece and after the death of Joane the whole estate was to provide eight Scholars.h.i.+ps at 5, and two Fellows.h.i.+ps at twenty marks (13 6_s._ 8_d._) apiece. The Scholars.h.i.+ps were to continue until the holder had time to ”commence Master of Arts,” if he abode so long, and the Fellows.h.i.+ps until they had time to ”commence Bachelor of Divinitie.”

The Scholars had to be born in the parish of Giggleswick or be children ”lawfullie begotten of my brother-in-law, Robert Thornton and my sister Jeanet, his wife, in the parish of Clapham and of their children's posteritie for ever.” They must have been brought up in the free School of Giggleswick and were to be ”chosen from the poorer sort though they be not altogether so learned, as other scholars, who have richer friends.” If any of the founder's kin were not immediately ready for the Scholars.h.i.+p, it could be held over for one year and the amount for that year distributed among the Sizars of the College. Never more than four of his kin might hold the Scholars.h.i.+p at one time.

The Fellows.h.i.+ps were to be offered to his two nephews ”Richard Carr, now of Peterhouse, and Robert Thornton, of Jesus Colledge in Cambridge.” If they should be unable to accept them the ”Maister and Fellowes of Christe Colledge” shall elect fellows from the number only of those ”who have or at least have had some of the aforesaid scholars.h.i.+ps and none other to be capable of them.”

The College Authorities were asked to provide convenient chambers and studies for both Fellows and Scholars and to account them as Fellows and Scholars of the College.

In consequence of the provision that the Scholars were to be elected from ”the poorer sort” an agreement was made in 1635 by which those elected were allowed to receive the 5 and yet go to another College.

For 5 was quite inadequate and at Christ's ”by reason of the poverty of the holders, no Fellow is found willing to undertake for them as a Tutor in respect of the hazard thereof.” Tempest Thornton is the only name recorded as a Giggleswick Fellow and he held office in 1625. The reason why no other was ever elected is given in a letter from Thomas Atherton, Fellow of Christ's, written May 29, 1718, to Richard Ellershaw, Vicar of Giggleswick, in which he says that it was ”owing to our having lost that part of the Estate thus bequeathed us called Seely House Grove, which was sued for and recovered a great while ago by some or other that laid claim to it.”

The farms in Hockley and Maldon are still in their possession and one of them retains its name, Munde Bowers. Never more than six Scholars.h.i.+ps a year had been given and in 1718 the income was 31 a year. In 1890 there were apparently two Carr Exhibitions of 50 a year each, while at the present day there is one of 50 tenable for three years, but it is possible that in a few years another Exhibition may be given occasionally.

In 1619 the term of Christopher Shute's Headmasters.h.i.+p drew to a close.

He resigned and his place was taken by the Rev. Robert Dockray. It cannot be ascertained how long Shute had been Master, for the earliest expenditure which is entered in the Minute-Book was in 1615 and therein:

Item: to Mr. Shute and Mr. Claphamson for monie that was behind of their wages 1 17 4

This entry establishes the fact that one Christopher Shute was Master in 1615 and the receipts continue in his name for four years until 1619.

Tradition says that the Vicar and Master were one and the same person, but there are certain difficulties in the way. In the first place the Vicar was over seventy years of age, secondly there is no Grace Book or extant contemporary writing or extract from the Parish Registers, in which he is called both Vicar and Master. Thirdly, the Vicar's son, Josias, is said to have been educated by his father, until he was of an age to go to the Grammar School. On the other hand Shute may have undertaken the work of the Master for a few years only and owing to some especial necessity, which has not been recorded. Secondly there is no record of any Christopher Shute, other than the Vicar, who in 1615 could have acted as Master. Nathaniel Shute had a son Christopher, who was later a Fellow of Christ's, Cambridge, but at this date he was still a boy. Thirdly the signatures in the Minute-Book of both Master and Vicar are very similar.

The year 1619 is the latest date at which the Vicar took any active part in the advancement of the School and his work may be briefly summarised.

With Henry Tennant, he had pet.i.tioned Archbishop Piers for his a.s.sent to the Statutes, which they had drawn up. In 1599 he had procured a parchment-covered book, which he called ”Liber Christopheri Shute et amicorum” and in 1604 he presented it to the School. The book contains elections of Scholars, elections of Governors, Accounts, Receipts, etc.; it is not full of important matter, but is rather a bare record of certain facts.

In 1610 he was responsible with Robert Bankes and John Robinson for the purchase of the land on which the School stood, and during his masters.h.i.+p the Clapham, Tennant and Carr bequests were made. Such benefactions in themselves denote the fame of the School, and the result of its teaching is seen in the pupils it sent forth.

Nathaniel Shute was born at Giggleswick ”his father, Christopher Shute being the painful Vicar thereof.” He was educated at the School and went thence to Christ's College, Cambridge; he became a most excellent scholar and solid preacher, though nothing of his work remains save the Corona Caritatis, a sermon preached at the funeral of Master Fishbourn.

He died in 1638.

Josias Shute, born in 1588, was the brother of Nathaniel and from Giggleswick went on to Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1611 he became Rector of S. Mary Wolnoth, Lombard Street, and remained there over thirty years. He was ”the most precious jewell ever seen in Lombard Street,” but suffered much during the civil disturbances of the reign.

Charles I made him Archdeacon of Colchester in 1642, and he died on June 14, 1643. His funeral sermon was preached by Ephraim Udall.