To the Right Honorable and most Reverend Edward, Lord Archbishop of York &c.

?with

That in the year of our lord 1547, Archbishop Holgate founded a free school of Grammar "within the Town of Old Malton", "for the commodity and profit of the Kings Majesty’s subjects, Church Inhabitants of this his Grace’s Realm of England"

And ordained that the Master "shall generally to all scholars, thither resorting for the same, duly read and teach Grammar, and other good Authors of the Latin Tongue, and Authors translated into Latin, as the same scholars shall be able and apt to receive the same, according to the discretion of the schoolmaster."

That the Founder ordained, that "two honest persons of the Parish of Norton" should join with others, named in the statutes, in providing that the schoolmaster was ordained "according to the true meaning and intent" of the Foundation.

That there are now resident in the Parish of Norton, Respectable Tradesmen, who were educated in the free Gramar School, without charge, by the Revd Mr Johnson, appointed Master 1783 and died in 1808.

That the School fell into decay about the year 1820 (see 17 Report of Form of Charities)

That in the year 1834 the Revd Mr Lonsdale was appointed Master, but refused free instruction to all excepting residents in the Parish of Old Malton.

In 1836 the present Master received the appointment, and issued cards of terms, free to the inhabitants of Old Malton; and as the two preceding Masters had done, made charges to all others for classical learning.

That the School has been maintained with much attention and expense by the present Master in a situation more central and convenient for the major part of her "Majesty’s Subjects" resident in these parts, than in the churchyard of Old Malton. But these advantages have been only partially enjoyed by four Petitioners on account of the charges imposed for classical learning.

Your Petitioners therefore humbly beg that in your Grace’s adjudication, as visitor of the School, attention may be paid to the very general wording of the Statutes, and to the Rights formerly enjoyed by the Inhabitants of Norton

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