The Eighteenth Century.
John Armitstead ceased to acknowledge the receipt of his wages in 1704
and died in 1712. Just as he had belonged to a local family and had been
educated at the School and Christ's College, Cambridge, so was his
successor.
John Carr, A.B., late of Stackhouse, was a descendant of the original
James and Richard Carr and was thus the third member of the family to
hold the Mastership. He had been elected to the combined Exhibitions
from the School in 1707, and after taking his degree he was ordained
Deacon at York in 1713 and Priest in 1720. On June 18, 1712, as a layman
and at the age of twenty-three he entered upon his duties as Master.
Seven days later a relative, of what degree is uncertain, William Carr,
of Langcliffe, was elected a Governor, and eight years later another
William Carr, of Stackhouse, and hence probably a closer connexion,
possibly his father, was also made a Governor. In 1726 George Carr was
made Usher. The family circle was complete.
After 1704 the position of Usher had been successively filled by Anthony
Weatherhead, a former pupil of Armitstead's and a B.A. of Christ's, by
Thos. Rathmell from whom there are no receipts but who died in 1712, and
by Richard Thornton, who held it for fourteen years. There is no record
that he was ever a member of the School as a boy, but it is a legitimate
conjecture, when it is remembered that the Thorntons were an old family
in the neighbourhood, and one of them figures in the Minute-Book, 1692,
as having left nine shillings to the Giggleswick poor.
On the day on which John Carr was elected Master he had to sign an
agreement in the following terms:
June 18, 1712.
Conditions on which a master shall be chosen.
1. He shall observe all the statutes of the schoole.
2. And particularly the writing master shall hereafter be chosen
by ye Governours at the usuall day of meeting in March and ye
time to be appointed by the Master, as has been formerly
practic'd.
3. That the masters shall, upon receipt of any moneys from
Northcave, Rise, etc., acquaint at least one of ye Governours,
when such moneys are paid to them, give the said Governour or
Governours an acquittance under their hands, and ye moneys
receiv'd to be entred into the schoole booke and the private
acquittance given to be delivered back to the masters on the day
of meeting in march aforesaid.
4. That ye masters shall take the rents of the Keasden lands,
when due, and give an acquittance for the same to the Governours
on the usuall day of March.
5. Whereas ye statutes enjoyn that the Governours, when they
meet about ye business of ye school, shall be content with
moderate charges, it is agreed that those moderate charges on ye
usuall day of meeting in March shall not exceed at any one
meeting the sum of one pound per Annum.
To ye above written articles, I, John Carr, A.B., give my
consent and promise to observe them.
JOHN CARR.
It cannot be explained why these regulations were made, but probably the
real point of friction had lain in the collection of rents, or perhaps
in the choice of the Writing Master. It is clear from the second clause
that the original custom has not changed much. The Ancient Statutes of
1592 had given the Master power to appoint a three weeks vacation, when
he wished, in order that the "scollers" might "be exercysed in wrytinge
under a scriviner" and it is the same in 1712. It proves that, although
the School was a free school and was the place of education for the
whole township of Giggleswick and the surrounding neighbourhood, it was
not a place for elementary education and never had been.
The fifth paragraph bears reference to the agreement made with John
Armitstead in 1705, by which the Masters ceased to provide the
entertainment at the Governors' Meetings. Henceforward the amount to be
expended is limited to one pound per annum.
In 1720 Richard Thornton was allowed to act as Clerk to Charles Harris,
Esq., for six months. It does not transpire who Charles Harris was, but
the case is somewhat paralleled seventy years later, when in 1793 Robert
Kidd is "to take the trouble of keeping accounts, etc., for the
Governors and be allowed an additional sum of two guineas per annum."
In 1726 Richard Thornton resigned and George Carr took his place.
Nothing worthy of note is recorded until John Carr's death in 1744, save
that in 1728 the said John Carr received £1 11_s._ 8_d._, "to be laid
out in building a little house for ye use of ye schoole," but what it
was, is not known. The number of boys going up to the Universities in
Carr's time fell off unaccountably, though they included John Cookson
whose entry "probe edoctus" in the Christ's College Admission Book
testifies to the teaching in the School.
Carr died in 1743 and was succeeded by William Paley. Born at
Langcliffe, educated at the School and admitted into Christ's as a Sizar
with a Burton Exhibition in 1729-30, William Paley gained a Scholarship
there two years later. He became ordained and was made Vicar of
Helpston, Peterborough, where his eldest son was born. He remained Vicar
for sixty-four years till his death and combined the living with the
Headmastership of Giggleswick and for twenty years with a Curacy at the
Parish Church.
His family had lived at Langcliffe for some considerable time and from
1670 to 1720 the name is never absent from the School Minute-Book.
"Altogether a schoolmaster both by long habit and inclination, irritable
and a disciplinarian. Cheerful and jocose, a great wit, rather coarse in
his language," Such is his grandson's description of him. "And when at
the age of eighty-three or eighty-four he was obliged to have assistance
(which was long before he wanted it in his own opinion) he used to be
wheeled in a chair to his School: and even in the delirium of his last
sickness insisted on giving his daughters a Greek author, over which
they would mumble and mutter to persuade him that he was still hearing
his boys Greek."
"He was found sitting in the hayfield among his workpeople, or sitting
in his elbow-chair nibbling his stick, or with the tail of his damask
gown rolled into his pocket busying himself in his garden even at the
age of eighty."
In 1742 he married Elizabeth Clapham, of Stackhouse, who was also a
member of an old Giggleswick family. She is said to have ridden on
horseback behind her husband from Stackhouse to Peterborough. She was
the most affectionate and careful of parents, a little, shrewd-looking,
keen-eyed woman of remarkable strength of mind and spirits, one of those
positive characters that decide promptly and execute at once, of a
sanguine and irritable temper that led her to be always on the alert in
thinking and acting. She also had a fortune of £400, which in this
neighbourhood was almost sufficient to confer the title of an heiress
(_Some Craven Worthies_).
[Illustration: ARCHDEACON PALEY.]
Their son was William Paley, Archdeacon of Carlisle and author of
"Evidences of Christianity." Born in 1744 he went to Christ's College at
the age of fifteen, with a Burton Exhibition and received a Carr
Scholarship, when he entered. As a boy he had been a fair scholar with
eccentric habits. His great delight was in cock-fighting and he must
have looked forward to each Potation Day, March 12, with considerable
joy. There are many anecdotes about him. He is supposed, whilst in
company with his father riding on his way to Cambridge to have fallen
off his horse seven times, whereupon his father would merely call out
"take care of thy money, lad." His mind was always original, indeed he
was never regarded as a "safe" man and in consequence he did not attain
that high position in the Church that his intellectual achievements
entitled him to expect. When about to take his B.A. degree he proposed
to write a thesis on "Aeternitas poenarum contradicit divinis
attributis," but the Master of Christ's was so distressed that Paley was
induced to appease him by the insertion of a "non." In 1765 he gained
the Member's Prize as Senior Bachelor with a Latin essay which had long
English notes. One of the examiners condemned it, because "he supposed
the author had been assisted by his father, some country clergyman, who
having forgotten his Latin had written the notes in English." Powell,
the Master of S. John's, a learned doctor and the oracle of Cambridge on
every question concerning subscription to the faith, spoke warmly in its
favour "it contained more matter than was to be found in all the others
... it would be unfair to reject such a dissertation on mere suspicion,
since the notes were applicable to the subject and shewed the author to
be a young man of the most promising abilities and extensive reading."
This opinion turned the balance in Paley's favour (_Baker's History of
S. John's_). It also justified the father's opinion of his son. For when
the younger Paley went to Cambridge, his father exclaimed that he would
be "a great man, a very great man: for he has by far the cleverest head
I ever met with in my life." He became Senior Wrangler.
The highest position he attained in the Church was the Archdeaconry of
Carlisle, though he could have become Master of S. John's College,
Cambridge, if an University life had attracted him, but it never did. He
had left it, while quite young, to become Rector of Musgrave,
Cumberland, at £80 a year. In 1805 he died, Giggleswick's most
distinguished son.
William Paley was soon to discover the nature of the Governing Body.
Charles Nowell, one of the kin of the second founder, was confined in
Lancaster Gaol for some offence which is not recorded and there results
a neat little comedy:
April 25, 1745.
Willm. Banks, of Feizer, elected in the room of Charles Nowell,
of Capleside (now being and having been long confined in
Lancaster Gaol) having in the presence of us taken the
accustomed oath.
ANTHO. LISTER.
May 20, 1745.
Be it remembered that the said William Banks on the said
twenty-fifth day of April, having some doubt within himself
whether he was legally elected, the above-named Charles Nowell
not having resigned, he did not take the oath required by the
Statutes of the ffree School of Giggleswick but on this day,
being satisfied that his election was legal, he took the said
oath before us (the Vicar and other Governors withdrawing
themselves).
W. DAWSON.
WM. CARR.
May 23, 1745.
Be it remembered that I was absent when Mr. Wm. Banks was sworn
but I hereby agree that he was legally elected a Governor at a
prior meeting. I also hereby declare the sd Wm. Banks to be a
legall Governor.
ROBT. TATHAM.
Twenty years passed and another question arose to engender bitter
feelings in the hearts of the Governors and Masters. In 1755 George Carr
ceased to be Usher and John Moore took his place. As far as can be
known, Moore had not been educated at the School, certainly he had not
gone up to Christ's with a Burton Exhibition. For some years Master and
Usher worked together for stipends respectively of £90 and £45,
according to the regular method by which the Master received double the
pay of the Usher. They had been accustomed to make an acknowledgment of
"all ye wages now due to us as masters." But the Statutes of 1592 had
declared the Master's wage to be £13 6_s._ 8_d._ and accordingly the
Governors in 1768 proposed to emphasize the additional sum, as being
given of grace. They brought forward a draft receipt acknowledging the
payment of £13 6_s._ 8_d._ "being a year's salary as Headmaster; and
likewise from the said Governors £83 6_s._ 8_d._ as a gratuity and
encouragement for my diligence." This they required Paley to sign, and a
similar one was drafted for Moore. Both Masters refused. The Governors
then decided that they "cannot consistently with their trust pay the
Master and Usher any more money than is fixed for their stipend by the
Statutes." Three months later a meeting was called to take into
consideration a letter from the Archbishop of York in answer to an
appeal from both parties, and the following minute records their
decision:
"It is resolved by us, whose names are subscribed, punctually to
comply with and put into execution to the utmost of our power
the very judicious and friendly opinions and advice given by the
Archbishop in his letter."
The minute is signed by six Governors and the two Masters and on the
next page the receipts are given as they always had been before, though
the few pounds extra that each was to have received are not paid. The
very "judicious" letter of Archbishop Drummond not only fixed the salary
of the Master and the Usher but gives some additional information. The
rents had increased to above £140 a year and of this the Master and
Usher were to be given £135 and as the rents increased so should the
salaries, always leaving a sufficient surplus for the Repairs Fund.
The School, he added, had a small number of scholars, which "may be
accounted for by various causes" and was not due to the teaching to
which he paid a graceful compliment. He further suggested that the Usher
should take it upon himself to teach Writing, Arithmetic, and
Merchants' Accounts, the first elements of Mathematics, and the parts
that lead to Mensuration and Navigation.
With regard to the Governors, he counselled them to meet annually on May
2, quite apart from their ordinary meetings and make up their accounts
and submit a review of the same and of the past year's work to the
Archbishop. Secondly they should draw up fresh Statutes. He was
anticipating the Governors' action of thirty years later. The Scholars,
he noted, had no pew in the Church. Some should be procured and the
Scholars should "goe there regularly under the eye of the Master or
Usher or some Upper Boy, who should note the absentees." Altogether the
word "judicious," applied to the letter by the Governors, was justified.
Largely by the work of Arthur Young, the old system of cultivation by
open fields had been changing, and by the beginning of the reign of
George III it was chiefly the North of England that still continued
after the older fashion. People were content to make a living, they did
not concentrate their thoughts on wealth. But in 1764 the tide of reform
had reached the Governors' East Riding Estates in North Cave and Rise,
and a private Act was passed through Parliament, ordering that the
separate possessions should be marked off and enclosed. This Act
involved a very considerable expense and the Governors, being unable to
meet it out of their income, on August 26, 1766, mortgaged their East
Riding Estates to Henry Tennant, of Gargrave. The acreage was three
hundred and ninety-five acres one rood and the mortgage was concluded
for £1,120 for one thousand years. The whole of the money was at once
expended; and nearly £500 was appropriated by what Arthur Young called
"the knavery of Commissioners and Attorneys."
The income of the Governors rose immediately, in 1766 their rent
receipts amounted roughly to £208 and eleven years later to £347 while
in 1780 £400 would be a closer estimate.
The Shute Exhibition rents had also increased steadily. In 1739 they
were £9 4_s._ 6_d._, twenty-five years later £13 9_s._ and in 1786 over
£15. The Masters' salaries were therefore increased. In 1768 the
Archbishop had fixed the minimum of Master and Usher at £90 and £45. A
few years later £96 was given and in 1776 the sums of £151 and £75, each
with a few shillings. In 1784 a new scheme was evolved, William Paley
received £180, John Moore's successor--Smith--£70, and a third Master
who was apparently engaged to teach Writing and Accounts, and first
appears in 1786, received £20 a year.
Expenditure in every direction increased, and an agent, William Iveson,
had to be retained to look after the North Cave Estates, at a salary of
£1 10_s._ Repairs to the School became more extensive, Vincent Hallpike
was required to make a "box for the Charter," and the Governors made
more frequent journeys to their estates, no doubt as a result of the
increased facility and diminished expense of travelling, which was a
notable feature of the latter part of the eighteenth century. Further
they had engaged a third Master, but whether this was due to a slight
decrease of attention paid to the School by the Master--and it is well
to remember that he was still Curate of Giggleswick and Vicar of
Helpston, Peterborough--or due to a real increase in the numbers and
requirements of the School is not stated. Several indications point to
an increase in the efficiency of the School. In 1783, an advertisement
was drafted and published for the appointment of an Usher, whereas
before this time they had been content as a rule to take the most
promising of those who had recently left the School. Advertising now
gave them a wider field of choice. A Lexicon and a Dictionary were
bought in the following year for £1 8_s._ 6_d._, as well they might be,
for the last occasion on which books are recorded to have been bought
was in 1626, when the Governors had expended £3 7_s._
The Exhibition fund, which came from the rents of the land given by
Josias Shute together with the Burton rents and a rent-charge of 3_s._
6_d._ on Thos. Paley's house in Langcliffe, had been gradually
accumulating. Few Exhibitions were given and the surplus was put into
the capital account. In 1780 the general fund borrowed £160 from the
Exhibition money in order to enclose some new allotments in Walling Fen,
in accordance with an Act of Parliament. The result was startling. The
first year gave them a new rent-roll of £40, the second year saw this
sum doubled.
For a hundred and seventy-five years James Carr's "low, small and
irregular" building had sufficed for the needs of the School. "Deep in
the shady sadness of a vale" it had witnessed the gradual change of the
Reformation, it had inspired one of the leaders of Puritan
Nonconformity, it had seen the child growth of a great theologian and,
more than all, it had roused the imagination and fostered the mental
growth of hundreds of the yeomen and cottagers of the North of England.
But now its work was accomplished. Flushed with new-found wealth, full
of a vague aspiration after progress, conscious perhaps of real
deficiencies in the old building, these late eighteenth century
Governors spoiled the "many glories of immortal stamp." Carelessly they
destroyed the ancient building, without a line to record its glory or
its age. It was left to a nameless "Investigator C," in the pages of the
_Gentleman's Magazine_ to tell the world what it was losing. Future
dreams oversoared past deeds.
[Illustration: SECOND SCHOOL, 1790.]
No minutes survive, but the accounts of the year 1787 describe the
expenditure on a new building. Three years later the last item was paid
for and a new school-house was standing on the site of the old. It was
very solidly built and larger than its predecessor. Over the door was
fixed the stone on which the Hexameter inscription "Alma dei mater,
defende malis Jacobum Kar" etc., was written, and which had already
adorned the face of the old building so long. The old division of an
upper and lower school was retained, but otherwise details are few. The
new School was built at a cost of £276 16_s._ 8¼_d._ and served its
purpose for over sixty years, when it was then itself replaced in 1851.
With new school buildings, greatly increased revenues and a third
Master--Mr. Saul--appointed in 1784 with the privity of the Archbishop
of York but not licensed--the Governors were eager to get additional
statutory power to increase the teaching staff and pay the surplus money
away both in leaving Exhibitions and in gratuities to the Scholars at
the School by way of encouragement. There is a letter extant addressed
in November, 1794, by the Clerk to the Governors to Mr. Clough, who was
requested to lay the whole matter before Mr. Withers and get his legal
opinion.
The letter reads as follows, after first quoting the Charter and also
the Statutes of 1592, which limited the stipend of the Master to £13
6_s._ 8_d._ and of the Usher to £6 13_s._ 4_d._
The Revenues of the said School have for sometime been betwixt
three and four hundred pounds a year, but upon the Governors
lately re-letting the several farms belonging the School, the
Revenues will be advanced to about seven hundred pounds a year.
The Governors have with the privity of the late Archbishop of
York for a number of years employed a third Master to teach
Writing, and Accompts. As the Revenues of the said School are
now so much advanced, viz: from about £350 to £700 a year, the
Governors of the sd School are desirous with the consent of the
Archbishop of York to make some additional Statutes in pursuance
of the sd Charter, authorizing them to engage more assistants at
the sd School to teach different branches of literature.
The Governors propose by the new Statutes to be made that the
Head Master's stipend shall not be less than £200 a year and the
Usher's stipend not less than £100 a year, and then to authorize
the Governors to apply such part of the surplus of the Revenues,
as they shall think expedient, in the hiring one or more
assistant or assistants under such annual stipends as they shall
think proper for teaching different branches of literature at
the sd School; and the remainder of the money to be by them
applied in Exhibitions to be given to any Scholar or Scholars of
the sd School going to either of the Universities, as the
Governors for the time being shall think best for the good of
the sd School, or in any gratuitys to be given to any Scholar
or Scholars to create emulation whilst at School.
The Governors think it would be of great use ... if some ANNUAL
EXHIBITION were established of 20 or £30 a year to two or more
Scholars going to either of the Universities, who had resided
three of the last years of his Education as a Scholar of
Giggleswick School. Such Exhibitions to be held for four years,
if residing at the University, but they have some doubt how far
this can be done, or any gratuity given to any Scholar to create
Emulation, whilst still at School, consistent with the Charter.
Therefore they desire Mr Withers to give his opinion.
* * * * *
As the present vicar of Giggleswick the Rev. John Clapham was
appointed in 1783 and in 1793 refused to act as Governor, has
been a little obnoxious to the rest of the Governors, they wish
a Statute may be prepared empowering any two of the Governors
from time to time to call a meeting of the Governors respecting
the sd School. And that any new elected Governor may be sworn
before any two Governors at such meeting to be true and faithful
towds the sd School.
The whole of the Governors are perfectly unanimous in this
business, except the Rev. John Clapham, the vicar, who has not
attended lately the meetings of the Governors, tho' he has
always had regular notice given him of every meeting that has
been held, and he gives no reason why he does not attend the
meetings and concur with the rest of the Governors in the Trust.
Bishop Watson, of Llandaff, was also consulted. He had already been
connected with William Paley, the Headmaster's son, and had been his
examiner for his degree, and suggested the insertion of the "non," when
the Master of Christ's had been scandalized by the subject on which
Paley had intended to write his theme.--"Aeternitas poenarum
contradicit divinis attributis." In the matter of the new Statutes his
friendly counsel had been sought by John Parker, of Marshfield, Settle,
one of the Governing Body. The Bishop recommended that twelve leaving
Exhibitions should be established of £30 for four years, and the
remainder to be disposed of "at the discretion of the Governors, to such
young men as had been distinguished by obtaining Academic or Collegiate
Honours during their residence in the University." "Some appropriation
of this kind," he added, "if you take care to get a good Master will
make Giggleswick School one of the first in the North of England, and I
for one prefer a School in the North and situated, as Giggleswick is,
out of the way of much corruption, to either Eton or Westminster. As to
French and Mathematics being taught at a great Classical School, I do
not approve of it; the Writing Master should make the scholars quite
perfect in common Arithmetic, and in vulgar and decimal fractions, and
that knowledge will be a sufficient basis to build Mathematics upon.
Greek and Latin require so much time and attention before they can be
well understood, that I think there is no time at School for any other
language."--Oct. 18, 1794.
Meanwhile the matter was developing. In January, 1795, the Governors
wrote direct to Mr. Withers, and stated that they desired "_power to
borrow money for building an additional School_," or in the
"_improvement of the Estates_." To this Mr. Withers replied that he
considered that annual leaving Exhibitions came within the province of
the Governing Body, but they could not borrow money without fresh
legislation. He further advised them to repeal all the old Statutes.
The additional School buildings that they proposed were a house for the
Master. In March, 1796, the Attorney-General gave his opinion that the
power to call meetings could not be taken away from the Vicar, "if he
remains a corporate" or member of the Body, that the granting of
Exhibitions was _ultra vires_, and that he doubted whether the provision
for the Master to teach Writing, Accounts, etc., "is consistent with the
Institution itself, doubting whether the School founded is not a School
for _teaching Latin, etc._," but possibly it might, he added, be upheld,
as a court would be hardly likely to censure the Governors for applying
a reasonable sum to that purpose.
The Archbishop of York considered the application, and altered it in one
respect only. He decided that it was too dangerous to pay the Master a
minimum of £200 and the Usher a minimum of £100, for it would tend to
make them "independent of the Governors;" he therefore preferred "to
leave it in the breasts of the Governors to reward them according to
their merit," but he allowed a minimum to be inserted in each case, for
the Master £100, for the Usher £50. A Writing Master was also to be
appointed, and such other Assistants "when occasion shall in their
judgment require to teach Writing, Accounts, Mathematics, and different
branches of Literature in the said School." Their stipend was not fixed,
and for this reason. Mr. Saul had been acting as Writing Master since
1784, at the salary of £20 a year. He left in 1790 and was succeeded by
Mr. Stannicliffe, who was paid at the same rate. After six months he
determined that the salary was not satisfactory and sent in his
resignation. The Governors endeavoured to engage a successor, but
"finding they could not get a proper person in his room for less than
£30 for six months, they all agreed (except the Vicar) to give that sum,
and a Master has been employed in the School upon these terms ever
since."
In spite of their difficulty in getting a "proper" person, there was no
lack of applicants, and one in particular is worthy of reproduction:
Littleboro', near Rochdale, Lancashire,
3rd April, 1792.
Revd. Sir,
Having perused your Advertisement in Wright's Paper for a
Writing-Master and Accountant for the free Grammar School at
Giggleswick in your neighbourhood, I take this Opportunity of
offering myself as a Candidate for that Office....
The Salary is but small but from the Tenor of your
Advertisement, I am inclined to believe that from my assiduity
and care, I should soon be able to increase it.
I have studied the French and Italian Languages grammatically
and have travelled thro' many Parts of Italy, France and Spain,
after 4 years Residence in a Counting House at Leghorn--I will
thank you, Revd. Sir, if you will candidly inform me pr Return
of Post, whether these two Languages will be useful in your Part
and how far Giggleswick is from Settle; also for a particular
description of the Place.--For if it be populous, my Wife will
carry on her Business, which is that of Mantua making.
I have been twice at Settle, but it is a long time ago. I was
private Pupil to the Rev. Mr Shuttleworth B.A., Curate of our
Village, upwards of 12 years and from him and from the
neighbouring Gentlemen and Clergy, I can obtain the needful;
provided you think it wd answer for me to come over with my
Family and settle.
I should like a neat House, with a good garden to it and
Accommodations for a few boarders.
Most Elections, in different Departments of Life, are very
unfair and partial and if you suppose this is likely to be the
case on the present Occasion, your Candour will infinitely
oblige me and be instrumental in preventing my further trouble.
Your friendly reply as soon as possible will be deem'd a great
favour conferr'd on
revd. Sir,
Yr mo obedt Sert,
JOHN WOOLFENDEN.
He was not selected.
All candidates, or nearly all, sent with their letters of application
beautifully written testimonials in different styles to shew their
proficiency, one unfortunately made a bad blot. They were also put
through an examination in Arithmetic, when they assembled on the day of
election. One confessed to being a member "of ye old Established
Church," another "hoped to continue so." Finally, Robert Kidd was
chosen. His letter of application is particularly interesting, both
because of its beauty and because he says: "I have a good circuit for
half-a-year, and if attendance from January to middle of the year, or
from Midsummer to January will suit at Giggleswick," he would be ready
to come. From this he appears to have been one of the old type of
Scrivener, who paid regular visits to different Schools, and for whom
the Ancient Statutes of 1592 allowed a special vacation to the Scholars.
He wrote on April 8, from Whalley Grammar School, and a special
messenger was sent to fetch him at a cost of 5_s._ In the following year
he wrote an elaborate address to the Governors, in which he said,
"Permit me to say, I have been a faithful labourer and Disciplinarian in
your School. You are truly sensible of the Inequality of the Attendance
and Salaries. Now Gentlemen, if it be consistent with your Approbation,
and the Institution of your Seminary, to make a small adjustment, the
Favor shall be gratefully acknowledged." He was accordingly "put to the
trouble of Keeping Accounts, etc., for the Governors," and paid an
additional two guineas a year.
Archbishop Markham agreed to the alteration of the Statutes with regard
to the Governors themselves, and thenceforward a newly elected Governor
was to protest and swear to be faithful etc., in the presence of any two
Governors, instead of before the Vicar as formerly; and the privilege of
summoning meetings was taken away from the Vicar and given to any two
Governors. Further, any five, duly assembled, had the power to act and
proceed with business, and "the determination of the major part of them
shall be final and conclusive."
The Scholars moreover were at liberty to receive annual rewards and
gratuities, in such manner as the Governors may deem "best calculated to
excite a laudable emulation." Thus in 1798 three guineas were
distributed among them in the presence of the Masters and Governors:
£ s. d.
Jno. Carr 1 1 0
Jno. Bayley 0 10 6
Enoch Clementson 0 7 0
Wm. Bradley 0 7 0
Jno. Howson 0 7 0
Richd. Paley 0 3 6
Richd. Preston 0 3 6
Jams. Foster 0 3 6
Any Scholar who had attended at the School for the last three years of
his education could receive an Exhibition with which to attend any
English University, provided that the Governors always reserved in their
hands a sufficient sum for the necessary Repairs of the School, and also
of a House for the habitation of the Master, if and when such a House
should be built.
Mr. Smith, who had been acting as Usher but without a license from the
Archbishop, resigned in 1792 and Nicholas Wood succeeded him. Possibly
he had been educated at the School, for in 1796 a letter was sent to the
Archbishop from the Governors saying that they had appointed Nicholas
Wood, of Giggleswick, Clerk, to be Usher, and praying the Archbishop to
give him a license "subject to the said Statutes and Ordinances," which
had been agreed upon.
The new power to grant an increase of salary was soon exercised and in
1797 the Headmaster received £250, the Usher £100, "in case of Diligence
and good Conduct" and the Assistant £60 provided that he assisted the
Governors when necessary in "transacting the business of their Trust"
and taught Writing and Arithmetic to the free School Scholars, "every
boy who has been at the free School one month to be entitled." In the
following year Robert Kidd was allowed £70 on condition that he "gives
due attention on every day in the year, Saturdays, Sundays and one
month at Christmas only excepted and that, when any boy is initiated
into the ffree School he will not take any pay in case such Boy or Boys
should attend his School, altho' they may not have been a month at the
ffree School."
The matter of prizes is also taken up and a certain sum, which is not
named, was allotted to each of the three head classes and was to be
expended on books, which should be given to the best Scholar of each
class. No class was to compete which had less than nine boys and they
were to be examined once every year in the presence of the Governors.
The Master was required to see that the boys in the higher department of
the School had their conversation during School hours in Latin. This was
evidently a throw-back to the Ancient Statutes of 1592, when they were
at least given the alternative of Greek or Hebrew. Further they said
"conceiding that a Boy may improve in writing as much by an exercise as
a copy, they recommend that every boy be obliged to write his exercise
in the high or Writing School, under the inspection of the Writing
Assistant and each exercise to have his (_i.e._ the Assistant's)
initials affixed to signify that such Boy wrote his best, not to signify
whether a good or bad Exercise."
It will be remembered that in the house that James Carr built, the lower
part was for advanced teaching, the higher for writing. The distinction
had apparently continued and the upper portion alone had materials for
writing. Certain it is that each portion was wholly distinct from the
other, and Usher and Assistant were masters in their own domain. In
June, 1797, the Governors decided that attention should be paid to
Classics in the Writing Department and Nicholas Wood, the Usher, was
asked to undertake the work but refused, whereupon Mr. Clayton an
Assistant in the Classical Work was requested to do so and accepted the
duty for an additional remuneration of £10.
These two men held an interesting position. Wood certainly had a
freehold, and Clayton was difficult to remove, so that in 1798 the
Governors decided that an Assistant should "be provided during the
summer months to teach the Classical Scholars, unless Mr. Wood and Mr.
Clayton in three days signifie that one of them will teach." Fortunately
Mr. Wood at once agreed to do so. It referred, no doubt, to the
Classical Scholars in the Writing Department, whom Wood had refused to
instruct, but when Clayton undertook the work and received £10 for his
trouble, Wood relented.
Two months later the Governors issued a pathetic appeal that the
"Master's Assistant and Usher be requested to attend better at the
School." It was July and only in the previous April Robert Kidd's
salary had been raised to £70 on stringent conditions of attendance.
The numbers of the School were growing apace, for twice in 1798 it was
resolved to advertise for a Mathematical Assistant. At the same meeting
25_s._ was allowed to the Master's Assistant "for the purpose of
providing fuel during the winter and no collection shall be made from
the Scholars." The Staff seem to have been a little difficult. Nicholas
Wood refused to sign a receipt in full for his wages when he was only
being paid a part, and the Governors resolved to "withold the remainder
of his salary."
Robert Kidd and Nicholas Wood left the School in April, 1799, and John
Carr, of Beverley, took Kidd's place. Wood's post was filled by Clayton,
who was made Usher at a salary of £100 a year, "provided he conducts
himself to the satisfaction of the Governors or a majority of them," and
agreed to teach five days a week.
Some difficulty arose, and on May 11 there is a minute saying that "Mr.
Wood and Mr. Kidd had been settled with." Wood seems to have been
dependent on his wife, who could not make up her mind whether she wished
to stay or go.
For the post of Usher there were several applicants as well as Clayton,
who got testimonials from Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he had
behaved himself with "sobriety." One of the applicants went so far as
to give an extract in Hebrew writing in order to shew his capacity. The
study of Hebrew in the School had perhaps not lapsed. He further stated
that he did not consider it necessary to learn Latin and Greek first, in
order to get a good knowledge of Hebrew. A sound foundation in English
was sufficient, though he hastened to declare that he was perfectly
capable of teaching Latin and Greek "with quickness and accuracy."
An advertisement had before appeared with a view to electing a
Mathematical Assistant, and was worded thus:
"Whereas the Revenue of the Free Grammar School of King Edward
the Sixth at Giggleswick is very much increased. The Governors
for that Charity wishing to appropriate the same to be as useful
to the Community at Large as possible, have resolved to appoint
an ASSISTANT to teach Mathematics in all its Branches, to
commence the First Week of February, 1799, provided there be
Three Young Men at that Time inclined to be instructed therein."
Therefore, NOTICE is hereby given,
That Classics, Mathematics, Writing and Accompts, etc., will be
taught free of any Expense to any Person in the Kingdom.
Such Persons as wish to be instructed in Mathematics are desired
to signify their Intention by Letter addressed to the Governors
of Giggleswick School, on or before Michaelmas Day next, in
order that an Assistant may be obtained.
Certain School holidays were fixed at the same meeting. They were to be
the 12th and 13th of March (Potation Day and its successor), Monday and
Tuesday in Easter Week, Monday and Tuesday in Whitsun-week, two days at
Laurence Mass (Lammas), one month at Christmas, and "one month to
commence the first Monday after the 5th day of July annually."
But while the difficulties with the Usher and the Assistants were
developing, the attitude of the Head Master was not altogether
satisfactory. In December, 1798, "Mr. Preston reports that Rev. Mr.
Paley refuses his resignation upon such terms as the Governors are
inclined to receive ... therefore resolved that the Recorder be applyed
to for every matter that the Governors are doubtful about." William
Paley was a man of considerable age, and disinclined to believe that he
was unfit for his work. The Governors had recognized the possibility
that he would not be strong enough for his duties, when in 1797 they had
agreed to give him a salary of £250 "for the time that School shall be
taught by him or by a sufficient and diligent Assistant." Clayton
probably acted as the Assistant. Yet in December, 1798, the Governors'
patience was exhausted, for they had already questioned Miss Elizabeth
Paley on the subject, and she appears to have given grounds for hoping
that her father would resign, but on the twenty-ninth he definitely
refused. They waited another nine months, and on September 28, 1799,
they adjourned their meeting to October 5, "as the present Master is not
considered to survive many days." On September 29 he lay dead.
For fifty-five years William Paley had presided over the destinies of
the School and his work may fitly be compared with that of his great
predecessor Christopher Shute. Both had taken up their work, when the
fortunes of the School were at a low ebb. Shute had watched the careful
saving of the School money, until they had been able to purchase "the
school-house and yard in 1610 and a cart-road in the same yard and
liberty for the schollers to resort to a certain spring to drink and
wash themselves 1619, and likewise a garden for the use of the Masters
and several other good things." Paley had become Head Master in 1744
when no accounts were kept, when the Master and Usher appropriated all
the money from the rents and when the boys were few in number. Rapidly
matters began to mend. His own son William left the School in 1759
already a scholar and destined to a lasting fame. Thomas Proctor was a
boy at the School between 1760 and 1770, and became a great sculptor.
His "Ixion" exhibited in 1785 is still recognized as a work of genius.
William Carr, of the same family as James Carr, the founder of the
School, won a Scholarship at University College, Oxford in 1782, a
Fellowship at Magdalen 1787, and settled down at Bolton Rectory in 1789.
His literary tastes brought him the friendship of Wordsworth, and he
became famous as the breeder of a heifer of remarkable proportions.
One of Paley's pupils--Thomas Kidd--probably a member of the same family
as the Writing Assistant, a family who had lived in the neighbourhood
certainly since 1587--wrote from Trinity College, Cambridge, to the
Vicar, the Rev. John Clapham, in 1792:
Revd. Sir,
I recd your Draught of £26 0_s._ 0_d._ April 19, 92. Mr. Jas.
Foster left the University in March. I _was_ very happy to
congratulate him on his being elected Fellow of S. John's Col.
_by that_ respectable _Society_ and I _hope_ that he will be
able to assert this honour _legally_ x x x. I am sincerely sorry
that the Governors are not pleased that I so long deferred to
send a certificate of my residence, if it is an _offence_, it is
_involuntary_:--and for the future it shall be sent in due time
and _nearly_, I expect in the same _formula_. For what business
have I in the country previous to "taking" my degree?
There aren't any I remember in the country, _some here_, who
affect to despise what they cannot understand; such enterprising
critics and fastidiously hypercritics, men of truly
philosophical penetration--of a truly classical taste spurn
aside the coarse beverage to be found in Gr. mss. scholiasts and
various _lections_; but
[Greek:
all' aidesai men ... en lygrô
gêra proleipôn ... mêtera
... hê =me= pollakis
=theô= aratai zônta pros domous molein.]
This appeals to the feelings: but we must attend to general
consequences.
Please to present my respects to my worthy master Mr. Paley--let
him know that we have this year gone through Mechanics--Locke on
the H.U., Duncan and Watts, etc. Logick--Dr. T. Clarke and Dr.
Foster on the Attributes, Mr. Paley's Moral and P.
Phil.--Spherical Trigonometry--and are going to lectures in
Astronomy--That I have written a Gr. Ode in Sapphics--that it
has been examined--that I am advised to hazard it in the
Lottery.
This year has been distinguished for remarkable events in the
litterary world, wh our narrow limits will not permit us to
mention.--The learned Dr. Parr _began_ an edition of Horace--it
will _come out_ a 4to on _Human Evidence_--(a very interesting
subject in _Jurisprudence_)--caused by a political
frate.--Porson will vacate the University Scholarship next
October.
I am your most obliged humble servant,
T. KIDD.
Trin. Coll., Camb., April 24--92.
The majority of those that went to Cambridge seem to have gone to
Colleges other than Christ's, but of those who went there one, Adam
Wall, son "pharmacopolae haud indocti" was Second Wrangler in 1746, and
had a distinguished Academic career, his own son William was Senior
Wrangler, John Preston gained the "wooden spoon" in 1778, but was
afterwards elected a Fellow of his College, while Thomas Paley his great
nephew, was Third Wrangler in 1798, and a Fellow of Magdalene. All three
were Christ's men. This was a very good proportion of successes, seeing
that only thirteen boys went there from Giggleswick in Paley's time.
Not only in the educational improvements, but also in the financial
increase of the School property, these years were similar to the
beginning of the 17th century. North Cave and Walling Fen were enclosed
by Acts of Parliament, and land worth £140 in 1768 was valued at £750 in
1795. The Exhibition Fund had no balance in 1765, while nine years later
there was £100 in the bank. A new School had been built, the teaching
staff increased and new Statutes made. Surely a great and enviable
Headmastership.