Ladies Charity School-house Roll of Highgate.
One Of The Earliest Pleas In English
For
Female Philanthropy
[Philanthropy]. The Ladies Charity School-house Roll of Highgate: or A Subscription of many Noble, well-disposed Ladies for the easie carrying of it on. [London: 1670.]
Small 8vo.; four engraved plates; marbled endpapers; contemporary black calf, elaborately tooled in gilt; a.e.g.. In a specially made cloth slipcase.
First edition of this volume produced by William Blake, a woolen draper of Covent Garden, in the interest of disseminating information about The Ladies Charity School on Highgate Hill which he founded and maintained through the patronage of “noble, well-disposed” women. The school initially housed forty fatherless boys, however in 1682, thanks to a positive response to projects such as this, Blake was able to secure Dorchester House, across the green, for female students. “During the next six years six houses were built on the estate. Apart from their rent and occasional contributions from a few London parishes, a number of pious and wealthy ladies were the main source of income for the school” (Foot).
Several copies were bound at publication for presentation in an elaborate fashion similar to this one; those, however, had individual presentation gilt stamps, most likely to patrons of the school, on the covers, which this does not (see “The Charity School Binder,” by Mirjam Foot, The Book Collector, Spring 1983). The engravings illustrate Charity, the School, Father Time, and ten allegorical butterflies.
Our copy was held by women at least through the 18th century. An autograph note on the first blank suggests that it was first transferred by an original subscriber, or potential donor, to her granddaughter: “Anna Fry her booke given by my grandmother Naper. November 7th 1686.” A second note, on the blank opposite, reads “Mary Callard Her Book 1748.”
Blake opens with thanks and praise to his current benefactors, and an entreaty for new subscribers:
Being well informed that there is a pious, good, commendable work for maintaining near forty poor, or fatherless children, born all at, or near Highgate, Hornsey, or Hamsted: We whose names are subscribed do engage or promise, that if the said boys are decently clothed in blew lined with yellow; constantly fed all alike with good and wholesome diet; taught to read, write, and cast accompts, and so put out to trades, in order to live another day; then we will give for one year, two or three (if we like the design, and prudent management of it) once a year, the sum below mentioned … but hoping that the work may be good, take root, find many friends, last long, be commendable in future ages, we be enclined to do as above-mentioned, not knowing but that a kernel may become a tree, and a thing of small beginning prove popular and praise—worthy to the honour of our Protestant religion, and in time find many benefactors: also it standing so exceeding well and near this city’s famous hospitals, which were not half so great as now. However, this little infant being the first erected thing in our names, and dedicated to us as a pious work, worthy of encouragement; we are not willing it should wholly die, but to try the expedient, believing all good works to be good, and not to be repented of, in life, death or eternity, but the surest sign of true love to God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now ‘tis ten to one but some of your near acquaintance, as well as your great relations, may say, Pray Madam let us trouble you with a small sum, or a few guynies to this good work, hoping it will be no sin to add a little charity to your ladiship. And in such a case you may for the ease of your memory, set it down in one of these lines below, and so you will be sure not to forget or wrong us.
This he follows with quotes from the Bible about the heavenly rewards of earthly generosity, and “three or four short reasons why you noble ladies should not let this little school-house d
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