burden, little in accordance with the original intention of the founders. We have not at present been able to point out any similar example of a grant by "way of pension or corrody," in Protestant times, conceded at the instance of the patron or founder in any Church establishment or royal foundation. The ancient " King's School," connected from early times with the Monastery of Westminster, had been founded and endowed anew by Elizabeth, in 1560, as a nursery for religion and orthodox literature ; and it is not easy to understand why the royal bounty could not be sufficiently extended to Camden, the Head Master of that Institution, without rendering him a pensioner at the table of his friend and neighbour, at the Deanery. The requisition, for which we are indebted to the kindness of Mr. Burtt, is conveyed in the following terms:—
Trustie & welbeloved. Wheare we have of late used in some service [word erased] William Cambden Scholemaster there in such thing whereof by his travayle & study he hath attained the skill wch he[1] so much to or goodliking and contentment as we may have occasion hereafter to employ him in the like wch to thend he may be [bothe the] redyer and better encouraged to attend we have bethought orselfe yt it were fitt he were settled in some place where he might be both neer to or calle & commādement & freed from [somewhat eased of] the care of living so as he might may wth more liberty & freedome of mynde intend to such services as may be layd uppnu him [And uppon consideration whereof] We have fond no place more meet for aunswerable to this or means then yt or Church of Westminster, where we have therefore thought good to place him & to require you the that uppon the receipt of these or Irẽs he may be admitted to have his dyett & food [for himselfe] at the table of you the Dean [& Prebends] & for one servant among yor servants so to continew during his life, wch being no great breden to the Church & a matter tending to gi'atefy us [wthall well deserved off [at or hands by the] is in the long tyme & paynes he hath alredy s͛sved there in teaching] we doe not doubt but you will easely conde- scend unto [& suffer him to enjoy. Notw^l'standing] xind doe require you for bis better assurance thereof & or satisfaction we doe require [you] to make a graunt thereof to him by writing under the Chapter seale as by way of pen- sion or corrody [to be holden] during his lyfe. And the same to send unto us to be delivered from us to him as a token of some part of y'" gratuity y"^ we mean towardes him. And we shall take it in thankefull part at yo'" handes. To ye Dean of Westmr. 4 April 1594 for Mr Cambden.
- ↑ In printing this document, the words given in Italic are erasures in the original; the words bracketed arec those supiilied in the MS. as interlinear corrections or additions.
