Stamfordham, Hewght, Little Babington, and in Riddefdale.

We have been the more particular in this enumeration of the fources of the wealth of this religious inftitution, as it was not then more famous for its hofpitality, (and probably too, in later times, for its monaftic indolence and luxury) than for a series of years past it has been more justly celebrated as a feat of learning, for acquiring fcience and polifhed manners.

As the revenues of this hofpital increased, fo the number of brethren, bede-men, pilgrims, &c. was proportionably enlarged; and for the better government of whom, mafters or priors prefided in St. Mary's.

That this foundation was of very remote antiquity, appears from the donation to it made by Lord de Bolbec; where, among the witneffes to the deed, no mention is made of any mayor of Newcastle as attesting it; and indeed it was previous to the existence of a fupreme magiftrate in that corporation.

To this we may add, that at a period fo diftant as A. D. 1290, we find the brethren of this hospital petitioning the king in parliament, and setting forth, that, as the new town-wall of Newcastle had been built through the middle of their court-yard, leaving the greater part of their edifices on the outfide thereof, humbly praying permiffion to make a postern-gate of communication through the faid wall; which was granted them, and which gate exifts to this day, by the name of the Postern Gate.

But all human inftitutions have, fooner or later, a termination; and this among others, where it is to be fuppofed, scenes of charity and benevolence were exhibited for ages, was overthrown by the stern Henry VIII, who was, by these means of violence and rapine,

giving incurable wounds to the papal power, while he was daily fwearing by the Mother of God, (his common oath) that he would maintain it with all his might. So inconfiftent is often the conduct of tyrants! but which are fo frequently over-ruled by the Sovereign of the univerfe, to promote the best interefts of the human kind.

This was particularly exemplified in the happy transformation which the Hofpital or Spital fuffered, in being converted to a feat of useful knowledge, under the title of

THE ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Eliza

This celebrated fchool was at firft fituated on the north-east side of St. Nicholas church, in the large area, called the church-yard, and before the buryingplace was railed in. In the 42d year of queen Elizabeth's reign, it by charter from that princess became a royal foundation, and was removed to the hofpital of St Mary, its prefent fituation beth was, on many occafions, an encourager of learning, and the poffeffed a large fhare of erudition herself. In this charter, fhe expreffes her motive for encouraging the grammar fchool in Newcastle, was, her regard for the inftruction of youth from their tender years in the rudiments of the true Chrif tian religion, in learning and good manners. She enacts, that the foundation be ftyled the Free Grammar School of queen Elizabeth; the mafter and scholars whereof are to be a body corporate in law, with perpetual fucceffion; to have a common feal, and a legal capacity of purchafing and holding lands to themselves and fucceffors in fee fimple, or for a

term

term of years, provided they exceed not the value of forty pounds, are not held of the crown in chief, or by military fervice, notwithstanding the act of mortmain. Seven of the governing part of the corporation, (the mayor and fix aldermen) are appointed the patrons of this fchool, with the power of electing a master and usher thereof; whofe offices are held under their pleasure, and, on every vacancy or removal by death, are to be filled up by them."

Such is the charter, which fanctions all the privileges of the free grammar-fchool of Newcastle.

Animated by this royal encouragement, and knowing that future fuccefs to their newly-erected inftitution greatly depended upon a prudent election of their master, the patrons invited Robert Fowberry, A. M. to be the firft in that office. He is faid, by his cotemporaries, to have been a gentleman of great eminence for learning, and attention to the improvement of the scholars.

Edward Wigham fucceeded Mr Fowberry, who, on his death, was fucceeded by Francis Grey, A. M.

It was under this gentleman that the famous lieut. colonel John Lilburn received part of his education. "I was brought up, fays he, (in his Innocency and Truth Juftified) well nigh ten years together, in the best schools in the North, namely, at Auckland and Newcastle; in both which places I was not one of the dronefeft fchool-boys there: and befides my knowledge of the Latin tongue, I was a little entered into the Greek alfo. And at Newcastle, I did not only know, but also was known of the principal men there."

This celebrated character, who made a confiderable figure in the long parliament, was, however, of a fingular

gular caft of temper. If colonel Lilburn learned logic among his other acquirements at Newcaftle, he certainly had made great proficiency. Being of fuch a difputatious turn, that having written againft almost every public perfon, he at laft wrote against himself, which occafioned the wits of thofe times to obferve, that if Lilburn was confined to a defart he would still write, were it only John against Lilburn, and Lilburn against John, which the fatyrical lines in Hudibras probably allude to, viz.

So keenly given to dispute,

Tho' changing fides, he'd ftill refute.

About the year 1637, Amor Oxley was appointed mafter in this royal feminary; but living in the convulfed times of Charles I. and on his efpoufing the royal fide, the lords and commons, dreading his infufing principles hoftile, as they faid, to liberty, difplaced Mr Oxley from his mastership of this grammar-fchool.

Little is faid of his fucceffor, Nicholas Augur, who refigned his charge in 1647 on account of his ill ftate of health; but he was fucceeded by one of the greateft and worthieft characters that adorned this feminary of learning. His name was George Ritchel, who was inducted into the maftership of this fchool in the year 1648. An account of the life of this very extraordinary perfon is given at great length, by that indefatigable biographer, Wood, in his Athenæ Oxonienfis, of which it would be a fhameful omiffion not to prefent our readers with an abstract.

"George Ritchel was born in Bohemia, 1616, and at the age of feventeen years was fent to the univerfity of Strafburg, where he ftudied feven years. Upon

Fer

Ferdinand II. from a mistaken zeal, banishing all his proteftants from his dominions, Mr Ritchel, prefering a good confcience to the enjoyment of a fine estate, made it over to his younger brother, referving only out of it as much money as would fupport him. on his journey. He then came to England, and for fome time fettled at Oxford. But the civil war in England breaking out, he went to the Hague, Leyden, and Amfterdam; and after vifiting many countries on the continent, he again came over to England, and arriving at Oxford, he entered himfelf a member of Trinity College in Kettle-Hall. Here he spent most of his time in the Bodleian library, in the most ardent pursuit after knowledge. From this university he was invited to be head mafter of the grammar-school in Newcastle. The corporation were fo pleased with his perfon and fervices that they added 10l. to his falary yearly. From Newcastle he got an invitation to the church at Hexham, where he was both minifter and lecturer for twenty-eight years. The humility of this learned and great man was one of his moft fhining virtues. Born of genteel parents, heir to a fine eftate, and, for fome time tutor to the fons of the prince of Tranfylvania, of the imperial family of Auftria; in the enjoyment of all thefe he became daily more humble, unaffuming, and useful, in every part of his life. He departed this life at Hexham, December 28, 1683, where he lies buried in the chancel of the church. He wrote many learned and critical works."

Upon the restoration of the Stuart family, Amor Oxley was appointed a fecond time mafter to the grammar-school in Newcastle, and for his loyalty