To those above enumerated may be added the following benefactions.—Viz. Loneyson’s annuity of 10l. to St. James’ Hospital; from 75 acres of pasture land in the south marshes. (see p. [1134])—Also 30s. a year towards cloathing two poor widows, arising from a Legacy of 40l. bequeathed by Joan Maye to the mayor and burgesses, about 1660.—Also 40s. a year, for 7 years, to a poor scholar, a native of Lynn, who shall go thence to the university of Cambridge; being a bequest of Alex Hall, merchant of this town, who died about 1597.—Also 16s. or 3l. 8s. 8d. a year for the term of five years, (out of Nottely tithes in North Runcton) to a poor scholar, chosen out of the poorest scholars of this Free-school, by the master and vicar master of Trinity College Cambridge, and the mayor of Lynn: being the gift, it seems, of Richard Hopps.—Also John Pierson, carpenter, left 6l. per annum by his Will dated 22. Oct. 1623, as follows; viz. 40s. a year to a poor scholar, who shall go out of the grammar school of this town to any college in Cambridge, to be continued during the first seven years of his abiding there; also the same sum of 40s. every Lent season to the poor people in the Lynn Almshouse, (the Bedehouse we presume;) and another sum of 40s. to the poor people in Stone gate-ward, to be distributed also in the Lent season by the direction of the mayor for the time being, or the alderman of the said ward.—Beside these there is the Token-money, consisting of the sum of about 43l. annually laid out in coals, which are distributed in single mets, or some such small quantities among the poor in the different wards. When or whence this money originated the author cannot distinctly say, but he understands it to be of pretty long standing, and the gift of some well disposed person or persons, of other times. He also understands from good authority that all the charities, or benefactions now in the gift of the corporation, amount to the annual sum of 498l. 16s. exclusive of the endowments of the different Almshouses. [1184]

☞ Since the above was sent to the press, the author got sight of a curious old book which belonged to a former town-chamberlain, (Jos. Cooper senr.) in which the following charities are recorded.

“Mrs. Titloe, about 1613, left a Legacy to the town, the interest whereof, amounting to 11l. annually, to be paid to Emanuel College Cambridge: 8l. of which to be paid to two scholars that have gone from this Free-school thither: the remaining 3l. to the fellows towards the repairs of the chapel.—Also Matthew Clarke, alderman, gave 10l. the interest to be divided among 20 poor widows in the 10 wards, [interest then at 10 per cent.]—Also Mrs. Jane Gurlin, maid, gave 20l. to be lent out for three years gratis.—Also Wm. Cleave Esq. of London, gave a house situated at the corner of Grass-Market, let at 13l. per annum, the rent to be distributed to the poor of St. Margaret’s parish, at the discretion of the minister, church-wardens, and overseen of the same.—Also Gyles Bridgman, alderman, (mayor in 1679) gave 100l. to the mayor and burgesses on trust, the interest to be paid for ever to the master and widows, or sisters in the almshouse (Bedehouse) by way of augmentation of their weekly pensions.—Also, Nov. 10, 1721, Mrs. Margery Brock, gave 20l. the interests to be laid out in coals, and given to 4 poor widows in St. Margaret’s parish for ever.”

In the same book also stand recorded the sources and amount of our Christmas Coal-Charity, thus expressed,

Here follows what is given to the poor in money and coals at Christmas.

l. s. d.
Mr. Graves and Mr. Sendall gave 20 nobles each 13 6 8
Mr. Clarke the interest of 20l. to 20 widows of the ten wards. 1 0 0
Mr. Strogers to three wards 1 14 0
Mr. Peirson to Stonegate ward 2 0 0
Alderman Holly interest of 100l. 6 0 0
Alderman Auborne to the ten wards 9 10 0
Likewise is Coals 9 10 0
Total £43 0 8

Then it is added,—

And on New Year’s day among the poor children in the Work-house 1 0 0
And near Easter Sunday to the poor (pensioners) in St Mary Magdalen’s Hospital. 3 0 0
And to those in Framingham’s Hospital. 3 0 0
And to those in St James’s Hospital (Bedehouse) 3 0 0
And for a Sermon on Midsummer-day 1 0 0
£11 0 0

Then it is also added, that Alderman Auborne’s Charity was first disposed of at Christmas 1741.

But it must not be here forgotten that this same old book also discovers the origin and founder of the Lynn Grammar School, which had we obtained a sight of in time, would have saved us those useless conjectures at pages [1140], [1160], [1178]. The passage alluded to is as follows—