23. HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN THE
EVANGELIST, BERKHAMPSTEAD
The hospital of St. John the Evangelist for
lepers was founded at Berkhampstead certainly
before 1213, for it is the subject of a charter of
Geoffrey Fitz Piers Earl of Essex, who died in
that year. The earl, who was evidently patron
of the hospital, (fn. 1) committed it to the custody of
the brothers of St. Thomas of Acon, so that
under their supervision its goods and alms
might be expended on the poor and sick of the
hospital, and not be removed elsewhere. (fn. 2)
The master, brothers and sisters of the house
received letters of protection in February 1222
until the king's coming of age, (fn. 3) and in May
1227, when the king had attained his majority,
the protection was renewed. (fn. 4) A few weeks
before Henry had ordered the constable of
Berkhampstead to supply the lepers of St.
John's for their maintenance with 4 qrs. of corn
from his grange and two 'bacones.' (fn. 5)
Whatever Fitz Piers's charter may have given
the canons of Acon, (fn. 6) the right of appointing
the master of St. John's was not included.
This apparently belonged to the owner of
Berkhampstead (fn. 7) : in November 1336, when
the honour was in the king's hand, he gave the
custody of the hospital to one of his clerks (fn. 8) ;
and Henry VI, while he held the manor, presented the warden. (fn. 9)
In 1391 the house is mentioned as the hospital
of brothers and sisters of St. Thomas the
Martyr and St. John the Evangelist. (fn. 10)
Edward IV in November 1461 inspected and
confirmed Fitz Piers's deed in favour of the
brothers of Acon, (fn. 11) and when the hospital, with
that of St. Leonard, came to an end in 1515-16 (fn. 12)
the master of St. Thomas of Acon entered into
possession of the house and its property. (fn. 13)
Probably the chapel was served for some years
longer. (fn. 14) In September 1533, however, the
place was made over to Thomas Jakes of Berkhampstead, gentleman, who in January 1536
disposed of a gilt chalice, a mass-book, three
vestments and other ornaments, and in September 1539 sold the lead roof of the chapel and
its bells. (fn. 15) The existence of the house was over
long before the king granted it and its lands in
June 1540 to Robert Horderne. (fn. 16)
Wardens of the Hospital of St. John the
Evangelist, Berkhampstead
John de Rasen, appointed 15 November
1336 (fn. 17)
Henry Cows, chaplain, appointed March
1390-1 (fn. 18)
John Mildenale, resigned 1423 (fn. 19)
William Seyntpoul, appointed 11 December
1423, (fn. 20) died February 1447 (fn. 21)
Walter Osbarn, appointed 24 February 1447 (fn. 22)