*Regent*, _subs._ (Royal High School, Edin.: obsolete).—An
assistant master: the Head-master was called “Maister” or
“Principal Maister”; now “Rector.”
*Remedy*, _subs._ (Winchester).—A holiday. _See_ WORK, quot.
1891.
1484. _Chapter Register of Southwell Minster._ Nota generaliter.
Ministri Ecclesiæ non vacant scolæ grammaticali. Magister
grammaticalis non attendit debitis horis doctrinæ suorum scolarium in
scola; et quam pluries indiscrete dat REMEDIUM suis scolaribus diebus
ferialibus, quod quasi ad tempus nichil addiscunt, expendendo bona
suorum parentum frustra et inaniter; et non locuntur latinum in scola
sed anglicum.
_d._ 1519. DEAN COLET, _Statutes of St. Paul’s School_. I will also
that they shall have no REMEDYES. Yf the Maister granteth any REMEDYES
he shall forfeit 40s., totiens quotiens, excepte the Kyng, or an
Archbishopp, or a Bishop present in his own person in the Scole desire
it.
1530. THOMAS MAGNUS, _Endowment Deed_, Newark Grammar School. Thomas
Magnus ordeyneth ... that the said maisters shall not be myche
inclyned nor gyven to graunt REMEDY for Recreacyon or Dispoorte to
their scolers unless it be ones in a wooke upon the Thuysday or
Thursday, or that further REMEDY be requyred by any honorable or
worshipfull Person or Personage, &c. &c.
1593. _Rites Durham Cathedral Monastic Church_ [Surtees Society].
There was ... a garding and a bowling allie ... for the Novices
sumetymes to recreate themselves when they had REMEDY of there master.
_c._ 1840. MANSFIELD, _School-Life at Winchester_ (1866), 49. In the
short half we had at least one “REMEDY,” and a half day every week,
and in summer two always; they were on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These
“REMEDIES” were a kind of mitigated whole holidays. We were supposed
to go into school for an hour or two in the morning and afternoon; but
as no Master was present, it didn’t come to much. This was called
“Books Chambers.” REMEDIES were not a matter of right, but were always
specially applied for by Præfect of Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The custom was for him to waylay the Doctor on his way to morning
chapel, and make the request, when, if granted, a gold ring was handed
to the applicant, on which was engraved, “_commendant rarior usus_.”
This ring was worn by the Præfect of Hall for the rest of the day, and
returned by him to the Doctor at the beginning of middle school on the
day following.
1891. WRENCH, _Winchester Word-Book_, s.v. REMEDY. A holiday in the
half, with Books-chambers or Toy-time. Originally there was always
one, and generally two REMEDIES in the week. Later every Tuesday in
Easter-time and Cloister-time was a REMEDY, the Thursday’s REMEDY
being often granted. Now Thursdays in Cloister-time only are REMEDIES
proper in middle-school hours; there are on these days Morning-lines,
and the afternoon is a half-holiday. Ascension-Day and the Queen’s
Accession are _holidays_: all red-letter Saints’-days are
Leave-out-days. _Remedium_ seems to have been the original word for
holiday: translated REMEDY.... The tradition of REMEDIES being granted
by _great persons_ survives in the custom of the Judges on Circuit
demanding a Half-REMEDY.
*Remi*, _subs._ 1. (Westminster).—A holiday. _Cf._ REMEDY.