5. Provision of almshouses. 6. Repairing the parish church. 7. Equipping soldiers. 8. Repairing the sea walls. 9. Provision of lamps. 10. Provision of dowries. Of these purposes, the most important was probably the provision of an endowment to enable a priest to keep a school. Mr. Leach, who was the first writer to realise fully the significance of the chantries in relation to the provision of facilities for education, states that "in all 259 schools appear in these records."[464] Two or three examples will serve to make clear the nature of the provision for education made by the chantry bequests. "WYMBORNE. Cantaria Margarite Comitisse Rychemond et Derbie matris Domini Regis Henrici Septimi. Memorandum that this was foundyd to the intent that the incumbent thereof should say masse for the solles of the founders and to be a Scolemaster, to teche frely almanner of childern Gramer within the said College."[465] "THE PARISH OF NEWLAND. Gryndoures chauntrye. Foundyd to Fynde a preste and a gramer scole half free for ever and to kepe a scoller sufficientt to teche under hym contynually."[466] "TOWCESTER. The Colledg or Spones Chauntree. Founded to mayntene 2 Prestes, beyng men of good knoweledg. The one to preach the Worde of God. And the other to kepe a Grammar Scole."[467] Our task is now that of attempting to interpret the reasons why the chantries were founded. We must give due weight to the ostensible object, which must be also regarded as the primary one. A widespread belief in the efficacy of prayers for the departed existed; unfortunately, there also prevailed, apparently, a belief in the value of hired prayers. It must be clearly realised that it was for the purpose of securing prayer for the welfare of the living and the repose of the departed soul that these chantries were founded. But, side by side with this main object, there also existed in the minds of the majority of the founders a desire to benefit the community. We have already enumerated the main directions in which it was proposed to effect the benefit. The remarkable fact is, that, in as many as 259 cases, education was regarded as of such importance that specific arrangements were made to provide for it.