The Great Charter, 22 Mar 1600 [ref: MD.NC/D/1/1/15]. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives
The Great Charter
The year 1600 was a pivotal moment in the history of both Newcastle and our school.
On 22 March that year, Queen Elizabeth I bestowed the town a new charter, known as the Great Charter, outlining the rights and privileges granted to the burgesses of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
It cost the town £635 and awarded them the ability to elect a mayor, sheriff, aldermen and other roles within the Common Council, who would govern the town. The Society of Hostmen was incorporated, securing their monopoly on the sale of coal on the Tyne.
Amongst many other elements is a crucial passage for RGS. The charter gave directions for establishing a ‘Royal’ Free Grammar School, and the right of the Common Council to appoint a master. This was effectively a re-foundation of the school and permitted our ‘Royal’ prefix.
The original charter survives and is cared for and accessible at Tyne & Wear Archives. Written on parchment, in Latin, it has a beautiful illustration of Queen Elizabeth I.
The historian Richard Welford translated the Charter, the section which refers to the school is shown below:
"Moreover, the queen, often revolving in her mind of what great interest it may be to the English common-wealth, over which the great and good God presides, to have youth well educated and instructed from their tender years in the rudiments, doctrines, and good morals of the true Christian religion, grants that there shall be a body corporate by the name of 'The Master and Scholars of the Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth in Newcastle-upon-Tyne', with perpetual succession, capable of purchasing lands, tenements, etc., in fee-simple or for terms of years, not exceeding a yearly value of 40 l., and not holden of the queen in chief, nor by knight's service, etc., with power to grant, demise, etc., lands, tenements, etc., to plead and to be impleaded, etc., in all courts, etc., as other liege subjects. Also to have a common seal, which they may break and change at pleasure. The Mayor and burgesses, etc., to appoint an honest, learned, and discreet man to be master, and another person, of a like description to be usher in the school during pleasure. And if the master and usher die, or leave, they may choose other persons of like qualifications in their place."
Translation by Richard Welford, reproduced in AR Laws' Schola Novocastrensis Vol. I, p.55-56
Explore the Great Charter
The Great Charter, 22 Mar 1600 [ref: MD.NC/D/1/1/15]. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives
The Great Charter, 22 Mar 1600 [ref: MD.NC/D/1/1/15]. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives
The Great Charter, 22 Mar 1600 [ref: MD.NC/D/1/1/15]. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives
The Great Charter, 22 Mar 1600 [ref: MD.NC/D/1/1/15]. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives
The Great Charter, 22 Mar 1600 [ref: MD.NC/D/1/1/15]. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives
The Great Charter, 22 Mar 1600 [ref: MD.NC/D/1/1/15]. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives
The Great Charter, 22 Mar 1600 [ref: MD.NC/D/1/1/15]. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives
The Great Charter, 22 Mar 1600 [ref: MD.NC/D/1/1/15]. Courtesy of Tyne & Wear Archives
RGS stained glass window of Queen Elizabeth I (1870)
In this article by RGS History teacher Mr Edwards, find out more about the early history of RGS, the Great Charter and the local context in which it was granted.
