46. THE HOSPITAL OF DOMUS DEI, BURY ST. EDMUNDS
The hospital of St. John, more usually known
as the 'Domus Dei' or God's House, was
founded by Abbot Edmund 1248-56.
There is a chartulary in the British Museum,
drawn up about 1425, when Thomas Wyger
was warden, pertaining to the Domus Dei,
'gallice Maysondieu'; described as being outside the south gate of the town of St. Edmunds,
and under the governorship of the prior of the
monastery. (fn. 1)
It was established by Abbot Edmund, when
Richard was prior, for supplying hospitality and
refreshment to Christ's poor without any fraud
or diminution. If any of the poor in the hospital
fell into any grave sickness and were not able to
depart, they were to tarry till strong enough to
go on their way. No brother or sister was to be
admitted except they were approved by two wise
and discreet wardens who were to act under the
guidance of the almoner. Mass was not to be
celebrated in the house, nor any altar erected,
but a room was to be provided for private
prayer. (fn. 2)
A revised ordination of this house by Abbot
Simon and the convent shows that the original
house had proved inconvenient, so that a new
and much enlarged house was built. In this
enlarged Domus Dei a chapel and altar were
provided for the inmates, and there was also a
graveyard attached for the burial of any who
might die within the walls. (fn. 3)
Several masters or chaplains of this house are
named in the chartulary. They were instituted
by the prior of the abbey. Thus in 1394 Prior
John Gifford inducted Reginald Sexter, and in
1416 Prior Robert Iklynham inducted Richard
Sudbury. (fn. 4)
Richard II in 1392 licensed Robert Stabler
chaplain, William Say chaplain, John Redgrave
chaplain, and two others, to alienate to this
hospital property in Bury and Westhill, in aid
of sustaining a chaplain to celebrate in the
chapel of Domus Dei; the charter recites the
consent of the abbot and convent in 1379 to the
founding of a chantry in this hospital for the
souls of John Kokerel and Clare his wife, Stephen
Kokerel and Agnes his wife, and several others.
The stipend for this chantry priest was to be
33s. 4d. to be paid by the master; in addition
to board and lodging and fire. (fn. 5)
William Place, priest, master of the hospital
of St. John Evangelist, by will of 21 July, 1504,
proved on 1 December, 1504, bequeathed small
sums to the church of St. Mary, Bury, and to
various friars at Lynn, and particular gifts to the
abbey of Bury. He made no mention of the
hospital of which he had charge, but possibly it
benefited, for he left the residue of his goods to
his executors to do other good deeds as they
should think best to the pleasure of God. (fn. 6)
Wardens of Domus Dei, Bury St. Edmunds
Adam, (fn. 7)
temp. Hen. III
Simon de Sermingham, (fn. 8) 1332, 1337
John de Serton, (fn. 9) 1371
Reginald Sexter, (fn. 10) 1394
Richard Sudbury, (fn. 11) 1416
Thomas Wyger, (fn. 12)
c. 1425
William Place, (fn. 13) died 1504