The College, which stood in Saint Leonard’s Church Yard, had formerly,
it is supposed, been the residence of the Chauntry Priests belonging
to the Church, and after the Act for the Suppression of the Religious
Houses, it became the dwelling of the Master of the Grammar School.
The exact year of the foundation of this School cannot be ascertained;
but the Charity Commissioners, who visited Bridgnorth in 1815, fully
investigated the matter, and discovered that it was in existence in
the reign of Henry VIII. The following is an extract from their Report
on the subject:—“It appears from the return of the Commissioners under
a Commission of the 20th. July, in the second year of Edward VI.,
that a Grammar School, long before the said 20th. of July, had been
continually kept in the town of Bridgnorth, with the revenues of the
Chauntry of St. Leonard, in that town; and it appeared to the said
Commissioners, that the Schoolmaster then for the time being should
have for his wages, or salary, £8 a year, as before that time he was
allowed anciently out of the revenues of the said Chauntry.”
The Charity Commissioners of 1815 were equally unsuccessful in their
endeavours to ascertain the origin of the Almshouses which are situate
in the Church Lane; but they found, among the papers belonging to the
Corporation, the presentment and verdict of a Jury empannelled at
Bridgnorth, in the sixth year of Charles I., which proves that land was
granted to this Charity as early as the eighth year of Henry VIII. By a
Deed, however, which I copied from the Blakeway Papers in the Bodleian
Library, it is evident that the Almshouses of this locality were well
known in the parish of St. Leonard, in the earlier part of the reign
of Henry VII. The Deed is dated 1492, and is as follows: “Alice Wood,
prioress of ye house and ch. of St. Leonard, of ye White nuns of
Byrywood, and the convent of ye same place. Whereas John Bruyne, of
Bruggenᵗ, and his ancestors from time immemorial, have held of us, and
our predecessors, in ye High Street of Bruggenᵗ betw. ye land belongᵍ
to ye chantry of Sᵗ Tho. Martyr, in ye Ch. of St. Leonard, there on ye
North, and _the Almshouse on ye South_, we confirm his estate therein,
and grant it to Wm. Otteley, of Salop, and Margery his Wife.”[82]
[82] “William Otley, ancestor of the Otleys of Pitchford, married
Margery, daughter and sole heir of John Bruyn of Bridgnorth, and thus
obtained much property in this neighbourhood. Among other estates, that
of “The Hay,” thus acquired, has remained with the Owners of Pitchford
till the present generation.”—_Rev. R. Eyton._
K. (_Page 173._) SURRENDER OF THE CASTLE.
“Articles agreed upon for the Surrender of Bridgnorth Castle, the 26th.
day of April, 1646; between
Sir Robert Howard, Knight of the Bath, Governor,
Sir Vincent Corbet,
Sir Edward Acton, and
Sir Francis Ottley, Commissioners for the King;
and
Colonel Andrew Lloyd,
Colonel Robert Clive, and
Robert Charlton, Esquire, Commissioners for the Parliament.
I. That all Commissioned Officers of Horse, and all Captains of Foot,
shall march away to any of His Majesty’s Garrisons or Armies within
forty miles, with their horses and arms for themselves, and each of
them to have a servant, with his horse and sword, and their wearing
apparel. Free quarter for thirty miles, and safe conduct, and not to
march less than eight miles a day. Any of the aforesaid Officers to
repair to any of their own habitations.
II. That all inferior Commissioned Officers shall have liberty to
march with their swords, and the common soldiers without arms, to any
of His Majesty’s Garrisons or Armies within forty miles, as before
stated, on laying down their arms; to live at their own habitations
for a fortnight, and afterwards to take the negative oath if they
live within the county, or letters from hence to the Committees of
the several counties where they intend to reside, and to have papers
granted them accordingly.
III. That all Clergymen, Townsmen, and Countrymen, within the Castle,
may have liberty to repair to their own habitations, provided they
lay down their arms, and a fortnight’s time allowed them for taking
the negative oath, and not to live within a mile of the Parliament
Garrisons; or otherwise, if they should desire it, to march to any of
the King’s Garrisons or Armies.
IV. That all wounded and sick persons within the Castle shall have
liberty to reside in the Low Town, or elsewhere, till they be fit to
travel; and then to have passes to go home, or to any of the King’s
Garrisons or Armies.
V. That Sir Robert Howard, Sir Vincent Corbet, Sir Edward Acton, and
Sir Francis Ottley, with each of them, their horses, arms, and two
men a piece, with their horses and swords, and their master’s wearing
apparel, shall have liberty to march to their several habitations, and
to continue there for the space of two months: to which time they are
to make their election, whether they will go to make their peace with
the Parliament, or go beyond Sea, or to any of the King’s Garrisons, or
Armies, and to have passes accordingly,—they engaging themselves to do
nothing prejudicial to the Parliament in the mean time.
VI. That Mr. Howard, Mr. Fisher, and Mr. Grovenor, shall march away
with their horses and arms, and one man a piece, with their apparel and
swords, to any place within forty miles.
VII. That Lieutenant Col. Hosier and Doctor Dewen shall march away
without horse or arms, to any of the King’s Garrisons, or any other
place within thirty miles; provided it be not within this County.
VIII. That Mr. Milward, Captain of the Garrison, may have liberty to
go with a horse, to his house at Leighton, in this County, and to take
with him his manuscripts, and there to live, taking the negative oath
within one month’s time; or is to march away out of the County with the
rest.
IX. That the Clerks of the Commissioners may have liberty to march, as
the rest of the inferior Officers, and to have the same conditions; and
to take with them all papers concerning the Garrison, and their wearing
apparel.
X. That Lady Ottley, her children, and maid-servant have liberty, with
their wearing cloaths, to go to Pitchford, or the Hay, and there to
live unmolested.
XI. That all women and children within the Castle, may have liberty to
go to their own, or any of their friends’ houses, provided it be not
within one mile of this Garrison.
XII. That all Gentlemen, Officers, and Soldiers, within the Castle,
Strangers as well as others, desiring to go beyond the Sea, shall have
passes accordingly, and letters to the Committee of their several
Counties, to afford them the like conditions as to the Gentlemen of
this County, upon the surrender of this Castle here granted.
XIII. That the Surgeon belonging to this Garrison shall march away, and
to have the same conditions as the inferior Officers.
XIV. That the Gunners and Powdermen, with their mates, may march away
as the rest of the common Soldiers.
XV. That no violence, injury, or incivility, shall be offered to any
who shall march out of this Castle, but be protected in all things,
according to the tenor of these Articles; and that sufficient Hostage
on both sides be given for the performance of all and every the matters
here agreed upon.
XVI. That the Governor, and the rest of the Officers, shall do their
utmost endeavors to protect and preserve all the ordinances, arms,
ammunition, victuals, provisions, goods, bedding, and all other
accommodation necessary and belonging to the Castle, other than what
is allowed to be taken by the aforesaid Articles; and all these, safe
and unspoiled, to be delivered up, together with the Castle, unto the
Committee whom they shall appoint; and these Articles to be confirmed
by the Governor.
XVII. That if these Articles be consented to, the Castle to be
surrendered by seven of the clock to morrow morning; and those who
intend to march to Worcester, to quarter in the Low Town, or any
other Town within five miles of the Garrison, upon the return of the
Trumpeter and Officer sent to Worcester; provided they come within two
days.
XVIII. That if any Officer, or Soldier, shall in any way maliciously
spoil his horse or arms, or misdemean himself in his march, such
misdemeanor shall not be extended further than upon the party
offending; and upon them Justice shall be done according to the
discipline of war.
XIX. That all Commissioned Officers be certified by the Governor of the
Castle, and upon his certificate be allowed to march accordingly; and
that all Troopes march away with their swords.
XX. That Mr. Edward Lathan[83] (Latham) be delivered to the mercy of
the Parliament.
(Signed)
ANDREW LLOYD,
ROBERT CLIVE,
ROBERT CHARLETON.”
[83] “I suppose the reason of Mr. Latham’s being excepted from the
terms of Capitulation was his not being in military service. I judge it
from the following reference to him in the Articles of the surrender of
the Town of Worcester:—
“In the surrender of Worcester, Sir Wm. Russell was excepted from the
terms of the Capitulation; and it was required that he should be given
up unconditionally to the Parliament. This was protested against by
the Royalists, who said that it would be as much as consenting to his
murder, and that no such exception had been made in any articles of
surrender, except in the case of Mr. Latham, which was not a similar
case, inasmuch as he, Mr. R., was one of the Prince’s Soldiers,—and
Commanders ought to have a soldier’s conditions.”