Stamfordham, Hewght, Little Babington, and in

Riddefdale.

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

As the revenues of this hofpital increased, so the number of brethren, bede-men, pilgrims, &c. was proportionably enlarged; and for the better government of whom, masters 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 witnesses 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 supreme magistrate in that corporation.

To this we may add, that at a period so distant as A. D. 1290, we find the brethren of this hofpital 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 exists to this day, by the name of the Postern Gate.

But all human institutions have, fooner or later, a termination; and this among others, where it is to be supposed, 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 swearing by the Mother of God, (his common oath) that he would maintain it with all his might. So inconsistent is often the conduct of tyrants! but which are so frequently over-ruled by the Sovereign of the universe, to promote the best interefts of the human kind.

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

THE ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

This celebrated school was at first situated 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 present situation Eliza beth was, on many occafions, an encourager of learning, and the possessed a large share of erudition herself. In this charter, she expresses her motive for encouraging the grammar school in Newcastle, was, her regard for the instruction of youth from their tender years in the rudiments of the true Chriftian religion, in learning and good manners. She enacts, that the foundation be styled the Free Grammar School of queen Elizabeth; the master and scholars whereof are to be a body corporate in law, with perpetual fucceffion; to have a common feal, and a legal capacity of purchasing and holding lands to themselves and fucceffors in fee fimple, or for a term of years, provided they exceed not the value of forty pounds, are not held of the crown in chief, or by military service, notwithstanding the act of mortmain. Seven of the governing part of the corporation, (the mayor and fix aldermen) are appointed the patrons of this school, with the power of electing a master and usher thereof; whose 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-school of Newcastle.

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

Edward Wigham succeeded Mr Fowberry, who, on his death, was succeeded 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, says 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 dronefest school-boys there: and befides my knowledge of the Latin tongue, I was a little entered into the Greek also. 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

I

gular caft of temper. If colonel Lilburn learned logic among his other acquirements at Newcastle, he certainly had made great proficiency. Being of fuch a difputatious turn, that having written against almoft every public perfon, he at last wrote against himself, which occafioned the wits of those times to observe, that if Lilburn was confined to a desart 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 still refute.

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

Little is faid of his fucceffor, Nicholas Augur, who resigned his charge in 1647 on account of his ill state of health; but he was succeeded by one of the greatest and worthiest characters that adorned this seminary of learning. His name was George Ritchel, who was inducted into the mastership of this school in the year 1648. An account of the life of this very extraordinary person is given at great length, by that indefatigable biographer, Wood, in his Athenæ Oxonienfis, of which it would be a shameful omiffion not to present 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 Strasburg, where he studied seven years. Upon

Fer

Ferdinand II. from a mistaken zeal, banishing all his protestants from his dominions, Mr Ritchel, prefering a good confscience to the enjoyment of a fine estate, made it over to his younger brother, reserving only out of it as much money as would support him on his journey. He then came to England, and for some time settled at Oxford. But the civil war in England breaking out, he went to the Hague, Leyden, and Amsterdam; and after visiting many countries on the continent, he again came over to England, and arriving at Oxford, he entered himself 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 master of the grammar-school in Newcastle. The corporation were so pleased with his person and services that they added 10l. to his salary yearly. From Newcastle he got an invitation to the church at Hexham, where he was both minister and lecturer for twenty-eight years. The humility of this learned and great man was one of his most shining virtues. Born of genteel parents, heir to a fine estate, and, for some time tutor to the fons of the prince of Transylvania, of the imperial family of Austria; in the enjoyment of all these 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 second time master to the grammar-school in Newcastle, and for his loyalty