MR. PETER BLUNDELL, the magnificent founder of this School, was born in Tiverton, in the year 1520, of Parents in a very humble station of life, but by assiduity and integrity in business amassed, what in those days must be considered a very large fortune, as it appears by his will, which bears date 9th June, 1599, that he left upwards of forty thousand Pounds in various legacies and bequests. We find the following mention made of him in Prince's Worthies of Devon; "He was a poor lad who went errands for the carriers who came to Tiverton, and was tractable in looking after their horses and doing little services as they gave him orders. By degrees he got a little money, of which he was very careful, and bought herewith a Kersie, which a carrier was so kind as to carry for him to London gratis, and to make him the advantage of the return. Having done so for some time, he at length got kersies enough wherewith to load an horse, and went with them himself, where being very diligent and industrious, he was received into good employment by those, who managed there the Kersie trade, (for which Tiverton was then very famous) and he continued therein until he was rich enough to set up the calling for himself."

After various legacies and benefactions to a very large amount, he left all his Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, in Devonshire, to twenty-seven Feoffees, mentioned by name in trust for the endowment of a free School, with full directions as to the site, building, dimensions, &. and appointed his executors and overseers to conduct the building under the direction of SIR JOHN POPHAM, Knight, then Lord Chief justice of England. His wishes appear to have been most promptly executed, for we find the School, with Dwelling Houses, Offices, &., were built within four years from Mr. BLUNDELL'S death, and the first Master appointed by LORD CHIEF JUSTICE POPHAM, in 1604. MR. BLUNDELL also directed that two thousand pounds should be expended in founding and establishing six Scholars to be Students in Divinity, in the university of Oxford or Cambridge, or both; but left the arrangement of this to SIR JOHN POPHAM, or in his default, to his other executors and overseers.

[Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]