mother Mary; and directs that the master be of a healthful
constitution, honest, virtuous, and learned in Greek and Latin; that
he be a married or single man, or a priest that hath no cure; that
his wages should be a mark a week, and a livery gown of four nobles,
with a house in town, and another at Stebonheath (Stepney); that
there should be no play-days granted but to the King, or some bishop
in person: that the scholars every Childermas Day should go to St.
Paul's Church, and hear the child-bishop sermon, and afterwards at
high mass each of them offer a penny to the child-bishop: and
committed the care of the school to the Company of Mercers; the
stipends to the masters, the officers' salaries, &c., belonging to
the school, amounting at first to 118 pounds 14s. 7d. 1ob. per
annum; but the rents and revenues of the school being of late years
considerably advanced, the salaries of the masters have been more
than doubled, and many exhibitions granted to those who go to the
university, of 10 pounds and 6 pounds odd money per annum. The
second master hath a handsome house near the school, as well as the
first master.

The school at Mercers' Chapel, in Cheapside, hath the same patrons
and governors as that of St. Paul's, viz., the Mercers, who allow
the master a salary of 40 pounds per annum, and a house, for
teaching twenty-five scholars gratis.

Merchant Taylors' School is situated near Cannon Street, on St.
Lawrence Poultney (or Pountney) Hill. This school, I am told,
consists of six forms, in which are three hundred lads, one hundred
of whom are taught gratis, another hundred pay two shillings and
sixpence per quarter, and the third hundred five shillings a
quarter; for instructing of whom there is a master and three ushers: