Christopher Shute and Robert Dockray, 1599-1642.
Christopher Shute was appointed Vicar of Giggleswick in 1576. He had
been a Sizar of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, in 1561 and graduated B.A. in
1564, M.A. 1568, and B.D. in 1580. He was a writer on religious subjects
and published "A Compendious Forme and Summe of Christian Doctrine,
meete for well-disposed Families" and among other writings "A verie
Godlie and necessary Sermon preached before the young Countess of
Cumberland in the North, the 24th of November, 1577."
After he had been appointed Vicar of Giggleswick by Queen Elizabeth, he
took a very sincere interest in the fortunes of the School, and at his
suggestion and Henry Tennant's the Statutes of 1592 were set forth. In
1599 he began a Minute-Book to record "all constitutions, orders,
eleccions, decrees, statutes, ordinances, graunts, accounts,
reckenninges and rents for the free Grammar Schoole of Giggleswick of
the donacion and grant of the most famous king of late memorie, Edward
the Sixt by the grace of God, King of England, Fraunce, Ireland, etc.
Beginning the five and twentieth daie of March, Anno Domini, 1599.
Annoque regni Reginæ Elizabethæ etc. quadragesimo primo." These being
Governors:
CHRISTOPHER SHUTE, Vicar.
JOHN CATTERALL.
HENRIE TENNANT.
ANTHONY WATSONNE.
RICHARD CHEWE.
THOMAS BANKES.
HENRIE SOMERSCALES.
RICHARD FRANCLAUND.
He did not give the book definitely until 1604 "ad usum legum,
decretorum, electionum, compitorum," and there are no entries in it
between the years 1599 and 1603.
The period during which Christopher Shute was a Governor was marked by
great prosperity in the fortunes of the School. During the first twenty
years of the new century, many rich gifts were received. The first of
these that is recorded is in 1603 when John Catterall, Esquire, of
Newhall, leased to his fellow Governors a meadow in Rathmell for "their
only use and behoof" for twenty-one years; the Governors leased it in
their turn for an annual rent of 33_s._ 4_d._ and eventually, though the
exact date is not mentioned, John Catterall bought it back for a fixed
sum of £13 6_s._ 8_d._ and an annual rent of 33_s._ 4_d._ as the former
lessee had not paid his rent.
In 1603 also, William Clapham, Vicar of "Runtoun in the county of
Northfolke by his last will and testament bearing daite the fyft day of
July, 1603," bequeathed to the schoole the patronage, free gift and
advowson of the Churches and Rectories of Fulmodestone, Croxton and
Rolleston in the county of Norfolk, "And the yearlie pension or porcionn
paiable out of them of iiij_li._ viij_s._ viij_d._ I will that iiij_li._
thereof be yearlie for ever imploied towards the maytaynance or fynding
of a poore scholer of the said schoole of Gigleswick, being of the said
parish of Gigleswicke or Clapham, to be kept to Learning in somme
Colledge in Cambridge: Provided alwaies and my will is that he shall be
one of the Claphams or Claphamsons, if there shall be anie of those
names meete and fitte theirfore, and to have the said yearly allowance
of iiij_li._ for the space of seaven yeares, if he continue and abide in
Cambridge so long." ... "And the other viij_s._ viij_d._ I will that the
one half theirof shall be bestowed yearlie toward a potacionn amongst
the poore schollers of the same schoole, for the tyme being one Saincte
Gregories daie, and the other half distributed amongst the poore of the
said parish of Gigleswick yearlie on Easter daie for ever, to be
ordered, governed and distributed from tyme to tyme by the Feoffees,
overseers, governors, and rulers of the said Schoole for the tyme being,
whereof one to be a Clapham if their be anie of the name in the same
parish meet for that office."
Potations, thus provided for by William Clapham, were common to many
schools and were gifts of food and beer by the Master to the Scholars,
who in their turn were expected to bring gifts of money and thus enable
the Master of a Free School to get an addition to his pay. At Nottingham
Dame Mellers in 1512 did "straitlye enjoyne that the Scholemaister, and
Usshers, nor any of them, have, make, nor use any potacions, cock-fighte
or drinking with his or their wiffe at wiffes' hoost or hoostices, but
only twice in the yeare nor take any other giftes or avayles, whereby
the Schollers or their Frendes should be charged, but at the playsure of
the frends of the Scholers, save the wages to be payde by the sayde
Gardyans." On the other hand in the Hartlebury School Statutes, 1565, it
is written "the said Schoolmaster shall ... take the profitts of all
such Cocke-fights and potations as be comonlie used in Scholes." At
Cambridge "they have a potation of Figgs, Reasons and Almons, Bonnes and
Beer at the charge of the sayed Determiners."
Such was the custom and William Clapham evidently intended by his gift
of 4_s._ 4_d._ to relieve the Master from the expense and allow the
gifts to be pure profit. Unfortunately no record has been traced of any
gifts though there are entries in the Minute-Books of payment of
expenses on March 12, 1626, "charges this day vi_s._ vi_d._," which
probably refer to the expenditure upon the scholars. Such mention is
quite exceptional up till the close of the seventeenth century. The
usual accounts are much briefer, giving no details of expenditure but
mentioning the balance only _e.g._ "their remaineth in the hands of John
Banks fifty-eight pounds eighteen shillings sixpence."
In time Clapham's bequest increased in value and was reckoned in the
Exhibition Account. Certainly from 1767 the Exhibition Account gave
something towards the cost of the Potation. In 1767 it was £1 7_s._
0_d._, in 1770, 11_s._ 3_d._ In 1782 it becomes a fixed sum of £1 10_s._
4_d._ and the Governors make up the rest from another account. In one
year 1769 it was regarded as a joint expenditure by the Governors and
Masters. During the last twenty years of the eighteenth century the
expenditure averaged £2 10_s._ 0_d._ In 1814 it was £8 1_s._ 2_d._, thus
proving independently that the numbers of the School must have increased
considerably. In 1839 figs and bread are mentioned as having been bought
and the Charity Commissioners' Report of 1825 says that beer had ceased
to be provided. The figs and bread continued to be distributed till
1861, after which the practice ceased.
The Scholarship to "some colledge in Cambridge" was gradually merged
with other gifts in a general Exhibition Account and it is only rarely
possible to distinguish a holder of the Clapham Exhibition. Indeed £4
was not a luxurious sum as time went on.
On June 29th, 1604 Henry Tennant of Cleatopp, who had already shewn
himself eager for the welfare of the School by supporting the petition
of Christopher Shute for the confirmation of the Statutes, gave £100 to
the Governors of the School. With this money they were to buy lands or
rent charges "to and for such use, purpose and intent that the yearly
revenues, yssues, and profittes ... shall and maie be by them ...
emploied first for and towardes the better mantaynance of Josias Shute,
one of the sonnes of the said Christopher Shute, in Cambridge, until
such tyme as he shall be admitted to be Master of Arts in the said
Universitie, and from yeare to yeare for ever for and towards the
releiving and mantayninge of such schollers within the Universitie of
Cambridge, one after another successivelie, as shall be naturallie borne
within the said parish of Giggleswick and instructed and brought upp to
learning at the said free Grammer Schoole, and as shall be elected and
chosen out of the said Schoole by the Master and Governors ... to be
fitt for that purpose." Each one was to receive the money until he
became Master of Arts, so long as he did not defer the time beyond the
customary limit nor remove nor discontinue his place.
This gift Tennant confirmed in his will of July 5 in the same year with
a further gift of all his lands and hereditaments in Settle and the
"ancient yearlie rent of five shillings be it more or lesse." This was
to "go towards the procuringe and obtayninge of an Exhibicioun for a
poore scholler or seizer in somme one Colledge in Cambridge until ... he
shall or may be Bachelor of Arts.... The same poore scholler to be borne
within the parish of Giggleswick and brought upp at the schoole their
att learninge and to be elected ... by the Maister and Governors."
Clapham's advowsons and rent-charge were sold by the Governors on June
20, 1604, to "one Symon Paycock, of Barney, and Robart Claphamson, of
Hamworth, in the countie of Northfolk, clarke" in consideration of the
payment of one hundred marks and the lands in Settle left by Henry
Tennant were sold to Antonie Procter, of Cleatopp, on January 14, 1604
for £40. These two sums together with Henry Tennant's former gift of
£100 helped to make up £240, with which the Governors on January 19,
1609, bought a rent-charge of £14 13_s._ 4_d._, which has been paid them
ever since. Being a rent-charge, it is not liable to fluctuation.
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, capellanus, 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 Essex, 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 Essex 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 Scholarships at £5 apiece and after
the death of Joane the whole estate was to provide eight Scholarships at
£5, and two Fellowships at twenty marks (£13 6_s._ 8_d._) apiece. The
Scholarships were to continue until the holder had time to "commence
Master of Arts," if he abode so long, and the Fellowships 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
Scholarship, 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 Scholarship at one time.
The Fellowships 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 scholarships 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 Scholarships 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 Headmastership 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 petitioned Archbishop Piers for his assent 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
mastership 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.
[Illustration: REV. JOSIAS SHUTE, B.D.]
He was a skilled Hebrew scholar a language which he had probably begun
to study at Giggleswick, and he left many manuscripts which were
posthumously published by his brother Timothy. While he was still at
Cambridge, he had enjoyed the interest on £100 given by Henry Tennant
and in gratitude therefor and for other benefits received at the School
he left to the Governors by a will dated June 30, 1642, certain parcels
of land in the parish of Giggleswick, called Eshton Close, Cappleriggs
Close and Huntwait Fields. The rent of these fields was to be
apportioned in two ways. Five pounds was to be given yearly to the
maintaining of a poor Scholar of the parish, who had been educated in
the School, at either University until he became Master of Arts. The
remainder of the rent was to be distributed amongst the poor of
Giggleswick, who were most pious and had most need. The land increased
in value greatly. In 1683 the rent amounted to £6 8_s._ 0_d._, and in
1697 £7 5_s._ 10_d._ Seventy years later it had almost doubled and in
1806 it was £34 6_s._ 0_d._
In the latter year the Governors effected an exchange. Huntwait was
given up for Tarn Brow and the rent rose five pounds. In spite of this
gradual increase in value, the Governors only allotted the five pounds
to the Exhibition Fund, the rest went to the poor of Giggleswick, to be
distributed on the day of the Purification of the Virgin Mary. The five
pounds was as a rule paid as an extra Exhibition in addition to the sum
received from the Burton rent-charge, which had been bought with the
money left by William Clapham and Henry Tennant, and the recipients were
often especially mentioned as poor, notably in 1652 and again in 1673.
On December 13, 1872, Tarn Brow was sold for £1,000 and apportioned to
pay part of the cost of the buildings which were then being erected. The
Governors were directed to pay three-and-a-half per cent. interest on
the sum expended. Cappleriggs was let for £20 a year and Eshton for £11.
The whole income now arising from these sources is applied in providing
certain boys with total exemptions from payment of tuition fees and the
costs of books and stationery: they are called Shute Exhibitions and are
offered in the first instance to boys who are in attendance at a Public
Elementary School in the ancient parish of Giggleswick.
Christopher Shute had three other sons who were all ministers of the
Church and were "all great (though not equal) Lights, set up in fair
Candlesticks."
He had done his duty as a Father, he had more than done his duty as
Vicar and Governor. It is unfortunate that there is no portrait of him,
for it would then be possible to discern the scholarly and courtly
grace of the man under whom the School more than it had ever done before
or was to do again until the nineteenth century flourished and prospered
and grew notable. He died, still Vicar and Governor, in 1626. "Happy a
father who had his quiver full with five such sons."
The Rev. Robert Dockray succeeded in 1619 as Master, and Henry
Claphamson, who had been Usher certainly since 1615, possibly earlier
though no records exist, continued in the office. The pay of both had
increased since 1592. The Ancient Statutes of that date give the stipend
of the Master as twenty marks (£13 6_s._ 8_d._), and of the Usher as £6
13_s._ 4_d._, with power to the Governors to increase it. It cannot be
ascertained when a change was made but in the half-year Accounts for
1617 there occurs the entry:
Item: to the Maister and Usher, xv_li._
Robert Dockray and Henry Claphamson never received less than £20 and
£10 yearly apiece after 1619. In 1629 they received an additional
gratuity, the Master, of twenty nobles, _i.e._ £6 13_s._ 4_d._ and the
Usher, of £3 6_s._ 8_d._
The School went on its uneventful way. Dockray, the Master, became Vicar
and made his protestation as an ex-officio Governor in 1632. In August,
1635, Christopher Lascelles, of Ripon, gentleman, received £20 in
consideration of some request he made concerning troubles which he had
been put to but which he does not specify. For the rest Governors
succeeded Governors, Scholars were sent to the University with aid from
the Exhibition money, Master and Usher receipted their wages each half
year. The year 1640, is the last in which Robert Dockray appears as a
Governor and his last receipt for his wages is dated March of the same
year. Henry Claphamson succeeded to his work temporarily for eighteen
weeks, receiving 10_s._ 3_d._ a week, but himself died before August
1642. Anthony Lister, the Vicar, taught for just over six months at the
same rate, and on August 25, 1642, the Rev. Rowland Lucas had earned £9
12_s._ 0_d._ as "head scoulmaster."
The Usher's place was taken by William son of Thomas Wilsonne,
"Agricolæ" in Giggleswick. He had been at the School for ten years under
Mr. Dockray and at the age of eighteen had gone up to S. John's,
Cambridge, as a Sizar in 1639. Thence he went back to his old School in
1642 and remained there for twenty-four years.