HOUSES OF KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS
60. THE COMMANDERY OF MALTBY BY LOUTH
Though the knights of St. John held a good
deal of property in Lincolnshire at the dissolution,
only a small part of it had come down to them
from their early endowment. They had but
two commanderies in the county (or perhaps
three) before 1312, when the property of the
Templars passed into their hands. Of these the
earlier was that established at Maltby during the
reign of Stephen by Ranulf, earl of Chester, (fn. 1) a
considerable benefactor of many religious houses
in Lincolnshire.
This commandery does not, however, seem to
have been a very large one. Its master was
accused in 1275 of unjustly citing his men
before the warden of the hospital in London, and
of wearying them out with trouble and expenses
until they were willing to do whatever he
pleased. He was accused at the same time of
appropriating a free warren in Tathwell. (fn. 2)
In 1338 there was still a 'Bailiwick' at Maltby,
having a squire as preceptor, and with him two
brethren, a knight, and a squire; there were
three corrody-holders as well, dependent upon
the revenue of the commandery, which amounted
to 174 mks. 6s. 8d., and the expenses of the
house and hospitality, and other outgoings being
75 mks. 6s. 6d., there were 99 mks. 10s. 2d.
clear, to pay into the common treasury. (fn. 3)
The smaller commandery at Skirbeck was, it
is supposed, afterwards united with that of Maltby.
The original endowment seems to have included the parish church of Maltby, with lands
at Maltby and Tathwell, and half a knight's fee
at Rauceby. (fn. 4) At the dissolution the preceptory
of Maltby, with the advowson of churches and
of the chapel of Skirbeck, was valued at £34. (fn. 5)
Preceptor of Maltby
William de Hambleton, (fn. 6) occurs 1338.
61. THE COMMANDERY OF SKIRBECK
The commandery or bailiwick of Skirbeck is
said to have been founded originally as an ordinary
hospital, and to have been handed over to the
hospitallers about 1230 by Sir Thomas Moulton. (fn. 7)
In 1338 twenty poor people were maintained in
the infirmary; there was a preceptor in charge,
and a chaplain to serve the house. It was
stated at that time that the endowment of the
bailiwick consisted of the manor of Skirbeck
only, with the chapel of the manor, and of Winstow (then let to farm); that its revenues amounted
only to 126 mks. 11s. 7¾d., of which 118 mks.
11s. 8¾d. went in expenses and the support of
twenty poor according to the ordination of the
lord of Moulton, the founder of the house; and
that it had been difficult even to raise sufficient
for this during the last sixteen years, because
of severe inundations. (fn. 8) There were two corrodyholders attached to the house, both chaplains. It
seems that the revenue had already diminished, if
it had really a few years before sustained four
priests as well as the twenty poor in the infirmary
and relieved as many as forty who came every day
to the gate. (fn. 9) As time went on, and the value of
land became still less after the great pestilence,
this house apparently ceased to have a separate
existence, and became merged in the preceptory
of Maltby. (fn. 10)
The only preceptor whose name survives is
John of Steeping, who occurs 1338. (fn. 11)
62. THE COMMANDERY OF LINCOLN
In a charter dated 1257 (fn. 12) mention is made of
a house which was of the fee of the hospitallers
of Lincoln. This would seem to imply the
existence of a bailiwick or commandery there at
the beginning of the thirteenth century, but if
this is correct, it had ceased to be when the
survey of 1338 was taken.