The Statutes of the Free School at Wem. and able to instruct in the latin tongue, and somewhat in the greek, and to write a good legible hand. Let him be tried by the visitors and upper master, and be chosen also in manner as hereinafter followeth, and promise to be advised, and directed by the upper, or chief master, in the instruction of the children, both for the books which they shall learn, and method wherein he shall teach. And let him also give security to depart the school, if hereafter he shall prove scandalous, negligent, or faulty, as is provided before touching the upper, or chief master. CONCERNING THE THIRD, OR He shall be in like manner orthodox in religion of pious and sober conversation, and able to teach the accidence. He shall write a good legible hand, and be approved and chosen by the feoffees, or major part of them, and also observe the advice and directions of the upper master, and be likewise liable to the rules and provisors, concerning his. demeanor and expulsion, as are provided concerning the other masters. For a constant supply of feoffees, for the managing of the said school, in case of death, or removal, to The Statutes of the Free School at Wem. inhabit out of the parish, when their number shall be less than nine survivors, and inhabiting in the said parish, the remaining part of them, or the major thereof, within one month after the death, or removal of such feoffee, or feoffees as aforesaid, shall elect, and choose some other substantial honest man, or men inhabiting within the parish; so that the full number of nine may be continued feoffees, or trustees, for the more effectual transacting the work of the said school, which is at all times to be managed by the major part of the feoffees, and at no time by less than five being the major part of the said nine, and the charge in the preamble is to be always read to the newly elected, who must promise with his, or their best endeavour to perform it, as is there expressed. of For a constant supply of schoolmasters in case of death, or voluntary departure, or removal for any the causes before expressed, the feoffees, or visitors, or the major part of them shall within three months next after such death, removal, or voluntary departure, elect, and choose, with the consent of the founder, if he be then living, another schoolmaster qualified, and fitted for that employment. And in case the visitors, and feoffees, and their successors, or the major part of them do not appoint a schoolmaster within the aforesaid time, and space of three months next after the decease, departure, or removal The Statutes of the Free School at Wem. of such schoolmaster as aforesaid, that then the minister of Wem, and the church-wardens, or the major part of them shall present, and commend a schoolmaster unto the founder and his heirs, who are first to approve of him, and so he is to be admitted according to, and under the rules, and pro visors before prescribed. That these things may be better for ever be observed to the glory of God, by the increase of godly learning, and virtuous behaviour, the school once every year at the least shall be visited, (viz.) the Tuesday before Ascension day, which is in the fourth week after Easter week, by the present parsons and ministers of Wem, Whitchurch, and Hodnet, and their respective successors, or two of them at least, together with the feoffees, and the successors, or the greatest part of them, who shall observe how the scholars profit, and what the masters and usher have done in keeping these orders. To which visitors, liberty is given to explain these statutes in any doubt that shall arise about them. The chief Masters of Wem School. THE CHIEF MASTERS OF WEM RICHARD RODERICK born at Oswestry, in the county of Salop. He was in orders, but did not accept of any preferment in the church. He taught in a large room over the old markethouse till August 1665, when Daniel Wycherley, gentleman, having purchased the barony, and manor of Wem, would not suffer him to teach there any longer. This obliged him and the other masters to remove to the church; but the church being inconvenient, as well as too sacred for such a use, on the 20th of January, 1668, the feoffees agreed to build a school, as had been intended from the beginning. Their design was not carried into execution before the year 1670, when the present school was erected. Mr. Roderick had the pleasure to be the first chief master that taught in it. Under him the school flourished exceedingly. Great numbers of young gentlemen were committed to his care. Richard, earl of Bradford told me, that he had been his scholar. And how much he improved his scholars appears from his two sons, Richard and Charles, who were men of great learnng, and obtained considerable preferments in the church. He was particularly remarkable for the strict discipline he kept, and the dread his scholars were under, of incurring his dis The chief Masters of Wem School. pleasure. A messuage, and lands in Northwood, in the parish of Wem, were purchased by him, which, in 1666 he sold again, for £240. By some accident unknown, he had the misfortune to hurt one of his feet, which occasioned a little lameness, and his being called Club-foot Roderick. After he had taught upwards of twenty-three years, he died at Wem, and was buried there April 5th, 1674, as Ann his wife had been July 1671. CHARLES RODERICK, his youngest son was elected 1674. He was a considerable benefactor to the school, to which, he gave £20. At this time he was in holy orders, and probably Fellow of King's college, in Cambridge; whither he returned upon a difference that arose between him and the feoffees, because he neglected, or refused to pay to the treasurer the money due for play-days. They ejected him by virtue of his resignation bond; and this event which might have ruined another, proved the making of his fortune. For applying himself to his studies, in 1689 he commenced doctor in divinity; and acquired so much favour in his college, as to be chosen their provost; and so much interest at court, as to be collated to the deanery of Ely. He lived in great credit and splendour, and died in 1712, leaving two or three children by a young woman, whom he married in the sixty-third year of his age. Сс |