Just before his death Edward established Christ's Hospital, or home
for the support and education of fatherless children, and refounded
and renewed the St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew hospitals for the sick
in London. Thus "he was the founder," says Burnet, "of those houses
which, by many great additions since that time, have risen to be
amongst the noblest of Europe."
Christ's Hospital was, perhaps, the first Protestant charity school
opened in England; many more were patterned on it. It, and others
like it, are known as "Blue-Coat Schools," from the costume of the
boys,--a relic of the days of Edward VI. This consists of a long,
blue coat, like a monk's gown, reaching to the ankles, girded with a
broad leather belt, long, bright yellow stockings, and buckle shoes.
Most of the boys go bareheaded winter and summer.
An exciting game of football, played in the schoolyard in this
peculiar medieval dress, used to seem strangely in contrast with the
sights of modern London streets. It was as though the spectator, by
passing through a gateway, had gone back over three centuries of
time. Coleridge, Lamb, and other noted men of letters were educated
there, and have left most interesting reminiscences of their school
life, especially Lamb, in his delightful "Essays of Elia." Late in
the nineteenth century this famous institution was removed to the
country, and part of the site of the ancient school is now covered
with a great business structure.