60. THE HOSPITAL OF DOMUS DEI, THETFORD
God's House, or Domus Dei, was a house of
early foundation. Blomefield believed that it
dated back to the days when William Rufus
removed the episcopal see from Thetford to
Norwich, (fn. 1) but Martin could find no sufficient
proof of this. (fn. 2) It was situated on the Suffolk
side of the borough; the river washed its walls
on the north, and the east side fronted the
street.
It was at any rate well established before the
reign of Edward II, as it was found, in 1319,
that John de Warenne, earl of Surrey, held the
advowson of the God's Hospital, Thetford. (fn. 3)
In that year a considerable store of cattle and
goods is described as having been acquired by
the prudence and frugality of William de Norton,
the late master, and left under the care of the
bishop; his successor was enjoined not to
dispose by sale or donation of any of the
particulars of the inventory without leaving to
the house an equivalent. (fn. 4)
The new master does not, however, appear
to have followed the good example of William
Norton; for he is soon found to be holding
other preferment, and was probably non-resident.
In 1326 William Harding, master of God's
House, Thetford, and rector of Cerncote,
Salisbury diocese, acknowledged a debt of eleven
marks due to one Stephen de Kettleburgh. (fn. 5)
In the same year he was also warden of the
hospital of St. Julian, Thetford.
In 1335, John de Warenne obtained the
royal licence to transfer the hospital of God's
House with all its revenues and possessions to
the prior provincial of the Friars Preachers; but
speedily changing his mind obtained another
licence for transferring it to the prior and canons
of the Holy Sepulchre, Thetford. (fn. 6) By this
arrangement it was covenanted that the priory
should find two chaplains to sing mass for the
soul of the founder of the hospital, and to find
sustenance and entertainment for three poor
men.
In 1347 Henry, duke of Lancaster, as patron,
confirmed to the prior and canons the gift of
the lands, tenements, and rents lately belonging
to the hospital of God's House, but excepted
the actual site of the hospital, which he conferred
upon the Friars Preachers. Two of the canons
were to sing daily mass in the conventual church
for the souls of the founders of the hospital.
The priory was also to find a house yearly for
three poor people from 9 November to 29 April,
giving to each of them nightly a loaf of good
rye bread, and a herring or two eggs. They
were also to provide three beds, and hot water
for washing their feet. This charter received
royal confirmation the following year. (fn. 7)