35. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. JAMES AND ST. MARY MAGDALEN, CHICHESTER
A hospital for lepers was founded outside the
east gate of Chichester at an early date, possibly
by 'the good queen Maud,' consort of Henry I.
Bishop Seffrid's confirmation charter shows that
it was endowed with 10s. rents from the archdeaconry of Lewes, tithes in Colworth in Oving
and a rent of 4s.; the bishop added the grant of
eight woollen tunics at Christmas and eight of
linen at Easter, so that we may conclude that
there were originally eight inmates. Further, as
the church was dedicated in honour of the Magdalen whose sins were forgiven because she loved
much, fifteen days' relaxation of penance were
granted to those visiting and relieving the poor
inmates. (fn. 1) This charter was confirmed in 1362
by Bishop William, who represents the hospital
as founded in honour of St. Mary Magdalen and
St. James, and grants forty days' indulgence to
persons visiting the house on the days of those
saints. (fn. 2) The hospital had already for about a
hundred years previous to this date been commonly known as that of St. James, probably to
avoid confusion with another house of St. Mary
Magdalen—that of 'Loddesdown.'
Henry II gave a general charter of confirmation to 'the infirm of Chichester' (fn. 3) and Henry
III in 1231 directed John de Gatesden to give
whatever remained over of the money assigned to
him when sheriff for the king's alms to the
chaplain of the house of lepers. (fn. 4) The hospital
was under the control of a chaplain or master,
who received 2d. a day, charged on the issues of
the county, (fn. 5) and Bishop William's charter mentions a 'prior,' who was the senior inmate. The
customs of the house were confirmed by the dean
in 1408. (fn. 6) Candidates were admitted by consent
of the chaplain and a majority of the brethren
and were liable to expulsion if they married or
were convicted of incontinence or of being
absent without leave of the prior. This latter
had to take an oath to the chaplain and brethren
to look well after the affairs of the house. The
infirm inmates were to be supported by the hale;
each had a weekly allowance of money, but if
any spent his recklessly, relying on his brethren
for support, the prior might deduct part of his
money. If a brother were quarrelsome, or revealed the secrets of the house to strangers, he
should, after warning, pay a fine to the light of
St. James. The sacrist had to rise an hour after
midnight and ring a bell to summon all to
prayers, consisting of memorial prayers for the
king, the realm and all benefactors, the Creed and
a hundred Lord's Prayers and Salutations (the
knowledge of which was an essential condition
of admission).
A visitation held in 1442 showed that the
management of this charity had become lax and
corrupt; the inmates had all secured admission
by payments to the master and of the eight
brethren six, including the prior, were married
and usually spent the night at home with their
wives, the prior himself being absent night and
day and totally neglecting his duties. (fn. 7) In 1535
the income of the hospital was £4 14s. 10d., (fn. 8)
and shortly after this date alterations appear to
have been made in its constitution, as in 1540
the master was a layman and there were sisters
as well as brethren in the house. (fn. 9)
In 1594 the income of the house was about
£6, of which, after repairs had been paid for,
the master, Charles Lascelles, received half, the
other moiety going to the inmates, who were at
this time—
William Egle, now proctor, and Dorothy his wife,
both about 50, Hugh Young impotent, age 33,
Richard Mottle cripple, 35, Richard Parshaw cripple,
16, Thomas Mawrynge cripple, 18, John Pellard a
diseased idiot, 30, Agnes Patchinge a maid without
legs, 30, Agnes Barnes a maid without legs, Margaret
Crowcher a maid about 40, a cripple, Elizabeth Vody
an idiot, 17, Alice Taylor a cripple, 30, and Constance
Cutt an impotent cripple in her loins, 15. All of
honest conversation.
They only left the house for the purpose of obtaining alms, their income being obviously insufficient for their maintenance; (fn. 10) accordingly the
queen in 1597 licensed William Egly as 'guider
of ye sd House' to collect money. (fn. 11) Besides the
master and prior a chaplain was engaged at
£1 6s. 8d. per annum and 20s. were paid to
Richard Woods for 'acting as a singing-man.' (fn. 12)
In 1618 William Lawes, the master, petitioned
the justices for payment of a yearly sum of £10
formerly given to the hospital, and this was
agreed to by the justices on condition that they
should have the nomination of inmates, whose
number was to be reduced to eight. (fn. 13) It is probable that not long after this date the hospital
ceased to exist and the mastership became a
sinecure, the issues being applied in augmentation of the stipend of one of the cathedral
vicars. (fn. 14)
Masters Of The Hospital Of St. James, Chichester
Thomas, died 1244 (fn. 15)
William Burdun, appointed 1244 (fn. 16)
Leger de Hampton, appointed 1249, (fn. 17) occurs
1275 (fn. 18)
Peter de Lewes, appointed 1282, (fn. 19) died 1284
William de Deveral, appointed 1284, (fn. 20) died
1309
Richard Letice, appointed 1309, (fn. 21) died 1311
John Gilbert, appointed 1311, (fn. 22) died 1317
Adam de Anne, appointed 1317, (fn. 23) died 1317
William son of Gilbert le Bakere, appointed
1317, (fn. 24) died 1320 (fn. 25)
Stephen de Carleton, appointed 1320, (fn. 26) died
1336
Stephen de Ivelchestre, appointed 1336 (fn. 27)
John Nichole of Tangmere, appointed 1348, (fn. 28)
occurs 1378 (fn. 29)
Henry Botiller, appointed 1383 (fn. 30)
William Fissch, appointed 1383 (fn. 31)
John Sheparde, exchanged 1398 (fn. 32)
Henry Hikke, appointed 1398 (fn. 33)
Hugh Veautrey or Voytrer, appointed 1399 (fn. 34)
Richard Hugh, appointed 1402, exchanged
1406 (fn. 35)
Nicholas Cotille, appointed 1406, exchanged
1408 (fn. 35)
Thomas Waryn, appointed 1408 (fn. 35)
Thomas Gardener, occurs 1437 (fn. 36)
Gilbert Boxforde, occurs 1442 (fn. 37)
William Forden, occurs 1471 (fn. 38)
Hugh Gryndon, occurs 1481, (fn. 39) 1490 (fn. 40)
Richard Odeby, occurs 1525 (fn. 41)
Francis Everede, gent., occurs 1540 (fn. 42)
Charles Lascelles, occurs 1594, (fn. 43) 1606 (fn. 44)
William Lawes, clerk, occurs 1618, (fn. 45) 1621 (fn. 46)