Chapter I: Preface

The purpose of this book is to give an account of the provision which was made in this country for Education during the period from the Introduction of Christianity to the Eve of the Reformation. Preparatory to writing it, I tried to examine all the relevant, available evidence with the object of discovering the factors which contributed to the educational development of the nation during the period under consideration.

Whilst this work was in progress, the late A. F. Leach published his _Schools of Mediaeval England_. His book, however, differs essentially from mine, his aim is different, the conclusions he arrives at are different; further, as he does not quote the authorities for the statements he makes, I did not find his work of direct assistance. This criticism does not apply to his _Educational Charters_, a collection of documents of inestimable value to all students of English Educational History.

I have tried to acknowledge in every case my obligations to other writers. In addition, I give in an appendix a list of the authorities I have consulted, and of the other books I have studied for the purpose of this investigation. Still, as a great part of this book was written whilst I was on military service (1914-9) and I was consequently dependent on notes which I had compiled at various times and places, it is probable there may be some omissions and inaccuracies. My defence must be the special circumstances of recent years.

May I take this opportunity of expressing my indebtedness to Professor Foster Watson, D.Litt. As one of his former students I owe to the stimulus and encouragement I received from him, my interest in matters relating to the History of Education. I wish also to refer in appreciative terms to Mr. J. E. G. de Montmorency's _State Intervention in English Education_. Mr. de Montmorency was the first writer to give a connected account of the development of English Education, and it is only fitting that those who essay a similar task should realise their obligations to the one who first "blazed the trail."

I must also thank Mr. G. St. Quintin and Mr. S. E. Goggin for relieving me of the distasteful task of correcting the proofs, and the Rev. Dr. Hughes for kindly preparing the Index.

A. W. P.

CARMARTHEN,
_January 1920._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

INTRODUCTION 1

BOOK I.--THE ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD.

I. THE WORK OF THE MONASTERIES 3

II. EDUCATION UNDER THE SECULAR CLERGY 17

III. THE EDUCATIONAL REVIVAL 31

BOOK II.--THE CHURCH IN CONTROL OF EDUCATION.

INTRODUCTORY 44

I. EDUCATIONAL LABOURS OF THE MONASTERIES 55

II. SOME TERMS IN DISPUTE 63

III. ORGANIZATION OF EDUCATION BY THE SECULAR CLERGY 76

IV. THE MONOPOLY OF SCHOOL KEEPING 92

V. THE APPOINTMENT AND TENURE OF MASTERS 104

VI. THE EDUCATION OF THE SONS OF THE NOBILITY 117

BOOK III.--EDUCATION PASSING OUT OF CHURCH CONTROL.

I. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES 124

II. THE RISE OF THE UNIVERSITIES 132

III. GILDS AND VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS 144

IV. CHANTRIES 157

V. MONASTICISM AND EDUCATION IN THE LATER MIDDLE AGES 170

VI. THE ORIGIN OF THE GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS 188

VII. UNIVERSITY COLLEGES, COLLEGES AND COLLEGIATE CHURCHES
IN THE LATER MIDDLE AGES 202

VIII. CURRICULUM AND METHOD 216

IX. THE PROGRESS OF EDUCATION 232

APPENDIX 245

INDEX 256