John Roysse
Encyclopedia
John Roysse was a Mercer, (a textile / wool trader), who was born in 1500 or 1501 and raised in Abingdon
, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire
). He is best known as being the benefactor of Abingdon School
in Abingdon
, Oxfordshire.
. Roysse moved to London and was apprenticed to a radical Protestant mercer, Robert Pakyngton, who was murdered in 1538, although Roysse himself was religiously conservative.
In 1526 Roysse was granted bachelor membership of the Mercers' Company and became active in the company's affairs acquiring former monastic property in Cheapside
for conversion into a hall or chapel on behalf of the Mercers. Strangely he did not rise to the mastership of the company, but this could have been because he was developing a practice as a moneylender: Roysse’s will refers to a number of debtors, ranging from various tradesmen up to the Lord Mayor of London
, Sir Rowland Hayward, and the Lord High Treasurer
, William Paulet
the Marquess of Winchester
, who was indebted to him £44.
With the dissolution of the monasteries
leading to the destruction of Abingdon Abbey
in 1538, the town of Abingdon suffered severe economic and social hardships and the burgesses of the town approached a number of possible benefactors to revive the town’s fortunes. These benefactors included Sir John Mason
, Secretary of State and Chancellor of the University of Oxford as well as John Roysse. Roysse gave a legacy from his will for the benefit of the grammar school that was in financial difficulties at the time. He also arranged that at the time of his death the Corporation of Abingdon should receive a number of named possessions, including three properties, in order to fund the move of the school into property in the centre of Abingdon that had previously been almshouses attached to the Abbey.
This indenture was connected to 31 ‘Lawes and Ordinances’ relating to the school, including prayers and memorial observances to be undertaken. This school was known for some time as Roysse’s School, before changing its name to be now known as Abingdon School
: the school bears Roysse’s colours of cerise and white. The school continued along the same vein until the early seventeenth century when the headmaster was Thomas Godwyn
(1586/7–1642), who used the bequest of another Abingdonian, Thomas Tesdale
to re-invest in the school and to found Pembroke College, Oxford
in 1624. Thomas Tesdale was from the same family as Roysse's old schoolmaster, John Tesdale.
Roysse died on 27 July 1571 at his property on Lombard Street
in London and was buried in St Helen’s Church, Abingdon on 2 August 1571.
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
). He is best known as being the benefactor of Abingdon School
Abingdon School
Abingdon School is a British day and boarding independent school for boys situated in Abingdon, Oxfordshire , previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford...
in Abingdon
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
, Oxfordshire.
Biography
He was educated in the grammar school in Abingdon by John Tesdale or Clyffe. Tesdale, a Yorkshire man, was the last schoolmaster appointed to the school by the monks of Abingdon AbbeyAbingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey was a Benedictine monastery also known as St Mary's Abbey located in Abingdon, historically in the county of Berkshire but now in Oxfordshire, England.-History:...
. Roysse moved to London and was apprenticed to a radical Protestant mercer, Robert Pakyngton, who was murdered in 1538, although Roysse himself was religiously conservative.
In 1526 Roysse was granted bachelor membership of the Mercers' Company and became active in the company's affairs acquiring former monastic property in Cheapside
Cheapside
Cheapside is a street in the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Mansion House Street. To the east is Mansion House, the Bank of England, and the major road junction above Bank tube station. To the west is St. Paul's Cathedral, St...
for conversion into a hall or chapel on behalf of the Mercers. Strangely he did not rise to the mastership of the company, but this could have been because he was developing a practice as a moneylender: Roysse’s will refers to a number of debtors, ranging from various tradesmen up to the Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
, Sir Rowland Hayward, and the Lord High Treasurer
Lord High Treasurer
The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Act of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third highest ranked Great Officer of State, below the Lord High Chancellor and above the Lord President...
, William Paulet
William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester
Sir William Paulet was an English Secretary of State and statesman who attained several peerages throughout his lifetime: Baron St John , Earl of Wiltshire , and Marquess of Winchester .-Family origins and early career in Hampshire:William Paulet was eldest son of Sir John Paulet of...
the Marquess of Winchester
Marquess of Winchester
Marquess of Winchester is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1551 for the prominent statesman William Paulet, 1st Earl of Wiltshire. He had already been created Baron St John in 1539 and Earl of Wiltshire in 1550, also in the Peerage of England...
, who was indebted to him £44.
With the dissolution of the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
leading to the destruction of Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey
Abingdon Abbey was a Benedictine monastery also known as St Mary's Abbey located in Abingdon, historically in the county of Berkshire but now in Oxfordshire, England.-History:...
in 1538, the town of Abingdon suffered severe economic and social hardships and the burgesses of the town approached a number of possible benefactors to revive the town’s fortunes. These benefactors included Sir John Mason
Sir John Mason
Sir John Mason was an English diplomat, spy and Member of Parliament.Mason was born in Abingdon in Berkshire , southern England. He was educated at Abingdon School, part of the local abbey in his native town, where his uncle, Thomas Rowland, was abbot. Later, he went to All Souls College, Oxford...
, Secretary of State and Chancellor of the University of Oxford as well as John Roysse. Roysse gave a legacy from his will for the benefit of the grammar school that was in financial difficulties at the time. He also arranged that at the time of his death the Corporation of Abingdon should receive a number of named possessions, including three properties, in order to fund the move of the school into property in the centre of Abingdon that had previously been almshouses attached to the Abbey.
This indenture was connected to 31 ‘Lawes and Ordinances’ relating to the school, including prayers and memorial observances to be undertaken. This school was known for some time as Roysse’s School, before changing its name to be now known as Abingdon School
Abingdon School
Abingdon School is a British day and boarding independent school for boys situated in Abingdon, Oxfordshire , previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford...
: the school bears Roysse’s colours of cerise and white. The school continued along the same vein until the early seventeenth century when the headmaster was Thomas Godwyn
Thomas Godwyn
Thomas Godwyn DD , headmaster and scholar, was the second son of Anthony Godwyn of Wookey, Somerset. He entered Magdalen College, Oxford at the age of fifteen and between 1604 and 1610 was a demy of the college...
(1586/7–1642), who used the bequest of another Abingdonian, Thomas Tesdale
Thomas Tesdale
Thomas Tesdale was an English maltster, benefactor of the town of Abingdon in the English county of Berkshire and the primary founding benefactor of Pembroke College, Oxford.-Life and career:...
to re-invest in the school and to found Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
in 1624. Thomas Tesdale was from the same family as Roysse's old schoolmaster, John Tesdale.
Roysse died on 27 July 1571 at his property on Lombard Street
Lombard Street
There are several famous Lombard Streets:* Lombard Street , famed for its twists and turns* Lombard Street, London, leading from the Bank of England to Gracechurch Street...
in London and was buried in St Helen’s Church, Abingdon on 2 August 1571.