52. THE HOSPITAL OF THE HOLY TRINITY, DUNWICH
A hospital dedicated to the Holy Trinity, but
more often mentioned as the Domus Dei, Maison
Dieu, or God's House of Dunwich, was founded
at an early date, though no records of it have
been found before the reign of Henry III. It
was then and afterwards in the patronage of the
king, and consisted of a master and six brethren
and certain sisters.
In October, 1304, Edward I granted simple
protection to the master, brethren, and sisters of
the hospital of the Domus Dei, Dunwich. (fn. 1) In
the following March Robert de Sefeld, and at the
same time two other benefactors, were licensed
to alienate to the hospital land in Dunwich and
Westleton. (fn. 2) Royal protection authorizing the
collection of alms was renewed by Edward I in
1306, (fn. 3) and Edward II granted a year's protec
tion in 1311, which was renewed in 1314,
1315, 1316, 1317, and again in 1323, when it
was stated that the house had fallen into debt. (fn. 4)
In 1330 Edward III granted protection for
three years to the master, brethren, sisters, and
envoys of the Maison Dieu of Dunwich, as they
were compelled by their poverty to seek alms
elsewhere, (fn. 5) and in 1337 protection was renewed
for a year. (fn. 6)
The arm of the civil law was invoked by the
brethren and sisters of this house in 1306, to
recover from the abbot of St. Osyth, Essex, a
certain cross which he had taken away, and to
which very many people used to resort from
divers parts, bringing with them considerable
offerings (non modicas largitiones). The abbot
was ordered to deposit the cross in Chancery,
and eventually on the sworn evidence of good
men of Dunwich that this was the actual cross
that had been taken from God's House of their
town, the abbot was compelled, in the presence
of the chancellor, to restore the cross into the
hands of Adam de Bram, master of the hospital. (fn. 7)
On 24 October, 1378, Richard II revoked
the letters patent of the late king granting to
John Wodecot the custody of the Maison Dieu
of Dunwich; for it had been granted on the
false suggestion that it was void by the death of
Roger de Elyngton, king's clerk, appointed in
February, 1365, on the resignation of John de
Tamworth. Restitution was to be made to
Roger. (fn. 8)
In 1455 Sibyl Francis made a bequest to the
fabric of the church of 'le Mesyndieu'; Robert
Sharparew left 3s. 4d. in 1512 to the reparation
of the 'Mezendew'; and in 1527 there was a
legacy towards the paving of the church.
In Weever's time (1631) the church had
been pulled down. He describes the hospital as
decayed, like that of St. James, through evil
masters and other covetous persons, but still possessing divers tenements, lands, and rents for the
poor of the hospital. (fn. 9)
Gardner (1754) states that in his days the
income, through 'ill-disposed rules,' was reduced
to £11 17s. The master drew £2 as salary,
and the rest was divided among a few Poor who live in the Masters and
another old decrepid House, being all that is left of
the Buildings, except a small portion of the South
Wall of the Church. (fn. 10)
Masters of the Hospital of the Holy Trinity, Dunwich
Robert Falconis, (fn. 11) died 1290
Robert de Sefeld, (fn. 12) appointed 1290, removed
1305
Adam de Bram, (fn. 13) appointed 1306
John de Langeton, (fn. 14) appointed 1319
John de Tamworth, (fn. 15) resigned 1365
Roger de Elyngton, (fn. 16) appointed 1365
John Elyngton, (fn. 17) resigned 1386
John Hereford, (fn. 18) appointed 1386
William Coterell, (fn. 19) appointed 1389
Adam de Elyngton, (fn. 20) appointed 1390
John Lucas, (fn. 21) appointed 1390
John Hopton, (fn. 22) appointed 1466
The common seal of this house is a large
oval, bearing in the centre the three lions of
Henry III surmounted by a triple cross, on the
lowest limb of which are two fleurs-de-lis.
Legend:—
SIGILLUM. FRATRUM. DOMUS. DEI. DE.
DONEWICO. (fn. 23)