cofferer (Wm. Ashburnham) telling us odd stories, how he was dealt with by the men of the church at Westminster, in taking a lease of them at the King's coming in, and particularly the devilish covetousness of Doctor Busby.' This seems to be in connection with what was formerly called Ashburnham House; there the Cottonian Library was at one time stored. A disastrous fire occurred there in 1731, destroying many treasures and injuring others. Sir Clements Markham has kindly allowed me to make use of some notes made by him as to the antiquity of the school, as follows: Old Documents in Archives. A.D. 1284. Expense, Elymosyniæ, being provisions for the teaching of scholars. A.D. 1318. The same. A.D. 1339. Payments for Westminster School. A.D. 1368 and 1370. Almoner's accounts. A.D. 1545. Book of the erection of the King's new College. Hence Westminster School existed in 1284. In 1339 there were scholars there, for John Payne was paid 9s. 8d. for scholars, viz., pro scholaribus inveniendis ad scholas.' In 1368 the Almoner made a payment for two poor scholars going to Oxford. From 1370 there are regular entries. The earliest school-room was part of the Little Almonry, near the present junction of Great Smith Street and Orchard Street. The boys were called ' grammatici.' In 1443 the school was moved to the southern portion of what is now 'green' (Great Dean's Yard); it was called the Scholars House, and was at the end of the granary. The Master was at first one of the monks of the Abbey, but in 1434 the Headmaster was a married layman, John Newborough by name, and was granted a house. Masters and boys received gowns from the Abbey. In the Act of Uniformity, 1662, the College of Westminster, owing to its greater antiquity, was placed before the Colleges of Eton and Winchester. These notes of Sir Clements Markham, though not dating back to St. Ingulphus and the days of Queen Elgitha and Edward the Confessor, carry us back to the time of Edward I., who reigned from 1272 to 1307, and there is clear proof that Queen Elizabeth, although a great benefactress and reviver of the school, cannot be considered as the foundress of the College of St. Peter's. Nevertheless, I do not grudge to our good Queen Bess her arms over the archway and up school, or the special grace to her memory that is recited at prayers up school on 'early play' days. The changes in connection with the school since my time have been many-some I cannot but think unnecessary, some, of course, of the utmost benefit to the school. No doubt the school before Dr. Liddell's time was at low ebb-tide in its fortunes, and many abuses had crept in which required a strong hand to put down; the commencement of his reign, in 1846, was the signal for several changes. The old octagonal hearth in College hall and the purple gowns of the 'Bishop's boys' were the first things to disappear. The new studies up College were formed by the closing of the arches of the arcade of the dormitory. The race with Eton, too, was stopped at about the same time. Some of these changes have been to the advantage of the school, modernizing it in accordance with the demands of the present day, adding much to the comfort of the boys out of school, and giving them when in school the benefit of the new class-rooms, in place of the rather desultory mode of carrying on instruction practised in the old school. The things that I, personally, regret most are: First and foremost, the abolition of 'water,' which was the very keystone of my school-life; secondly, the old form of the general Pancake Grease; thirdly, the old custom of 'substance' and 'shadow '-the two last might well be revived; fourthly, the 'mills' in 'green'; fifthly, the chairing of the head' min. can.'; lastly, the painting out of so many of the old names up school and elsewhere. In conclusion, I hope that these few pages of my Westminster recollections may be the means of recalling some of these old customs to the memories of my old comrades at the school, and serve in some slight degree to remind them of the days when we were all young together. A WESTMINSTER GLOSSARY [THIS glossary was composed by Sir Clements Markham, who has given me permission to include it in my Recollections. Almost all the words found therein were still in use in my time, though the original meaning and derivation of some of them were even then doubtful. The Westminsters of the present day will no doubt come upon some that have dropped out of use. Following the example of a clever little compilation called 'Lakeland Words,' lately published, I have in difficult cases given a short example of the use of the word.] ANGELO: The school fencing-master, with rooms on right hand going up St. James's Street. BALLMAN: Old man who sold balls and racquets. BEVERS: Refreshment between meals. Latin bibere, Spanish beber 'Qui si bebe' (or 'beve')-Here one drinks. BENTHALL'S: The rebuilt boarding-house in Little Dean's Yard, later Rigaud's, later James's. BENTLEY: The care-taker at 'fields.' Young Bentley, the son, acted as second professional. BIDDLECOMB: A sausage-maker in the Sanctuary. BISHOP'S BOYS: These boys were on a separate foundation, and wore purple gowns; these were abolished in Liddell's time. BLUE BOOKS: Novels, etc. BOOTS: An old idiot who was given to fits, at a shilling each. BOYD: The baker in Abingdon Street. BUCKHORSE: A box on the ear with closed fist, ball of thumb and fingers striking. From the name of an old prize-fighter, who took one for one shilling. [ 227 ] BULLY: The whipped end of a Queen's Scholar's gown sleeve. BUMMER: A flogging of the first degree. CANDIDATE: See Major' and 'Minor' at election times. CAPTAIN OF THE WATER: The fellow who had rowed longest in the eight; if two of same date, then the senior in school. CAULK: To throw a ball or stone at anyone. : CERBERUS Keeper of the gods' at the Play. See 'Gods.' CLERK OF THE WAY: A junior in charge of 'way,' which see. COCK-SHY: Something to caulk stones at. 'A jug or top hat would make a fine cock-shy.' COLLEGE: The dormitory. 'Up College.' COLLEGERS: Queen's Scholars on the foundation. COLLEGE JOHN: Head-attendant up College; he also made the rods. COLLEGE WAISTCOAT: A double-breasted black waistcoat, with cloth sleeves, worn by collegers in first, second, and sometimes third, year. COLLEY: A grocer in the Sanctuary (gone in 1850). DERBY CAKES: Procurable at Mother Shotton's. DEVINE: The milkman, top of Bowling Street. DIP: A small round glass ink-bottle with short neck, sponge inside. DITCH-LEAPING: See account of St. David's Day, p. 163. DOBBS The hosier by Westminster Hospital. DOG'S-NOSE: Porter with gin and spice. EARLY PLAY: No school after breakfast. ELECTION: The examination of major and minor candidates. See Chapter XV. ELECTIONS: Four in number: juniors, second, third, and seniors. EPIGRAMS: Spoken once a year up school, and at election dinners in hall. EXAMINATION-TABLE: This stood halfway up school, on left-an oblong table, with book cupboard in front for lexicons and books for reference. EXPOS.: Exposition of Church Catechism-a Monday lesson. FAIRY: Name (or nickname) of the constable of Dean and Chapter. |