to all people to whom this present writing shall come we Eliz Cressener widow Eliz Clifford widow and Ann Cressener spinster all of the parish of Newington Stoke in the county of Middlesex send greeting know ye that we the said Eliz Cressener Eliz Clifford and Ann Cressener being credibly informed of the learning piety and integrity of Thos Bernarde vicar of Earls Colne in the county of Essex master of arts and for divers good causes and considerations us thereunto moving have presented constituted and appointed and do hereby present constitute and appoint the said Thos Bernard to be the schoolmaster of the free grammar school in Earls Colne aforesaid there to teach and instruct all free scholars of the said school in the latin and greek tongues as are and have been usually there taught and regularly to exercise and manage the said school for the education of youth and the advancement of learning and virtue therein according to the best of his skill and knowledge and for his encouragement therein to receive have and take to his own use all the prerequisites and profits properly belonging to the same school to have hold and enjoy the said place of schoolmaster of the said free grammar school and the benefits and profits hereof unto the said Thos Bernard from the day of the date of these presents unto the full end and term of ninety nine years from hence next ensuing and fully to complete and ended if he the said Thos Bernard shall so long live and shall civilly demean himself in all things to our reasonable satisfaction and content and shall constantly either in his own person or else by some able and sufficient deputy diligently attend the said place and discipline teach and instruct the said free scholars as he ought to do or otherwise to be put out of the said place at our pleasures in testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals 25.1.1723 and in 9Geo1 by grace of god etc sealed and delivered in the presence of us Eliz Cressener Solomon Grimston (in another hand) this is a true copy of the deed sealed by the said Eliz Cressener Eliz Clifford Ann Cressener unto me which I do accept according to the tenor of the said deed Thos Bernard