41. THE HOSPITAL OF BUCKLAND BY DOVER
Almost all the knowledge which we possess of
this hospital is derived from the register, (fn. 1a) unusually
interesting and complete for so small a house,
which was compiled in 1373 by Robert de Welle
and John Hwytefeld, monks of Dover, (fn. 2) at the
special instance of Thomas de Cant', sub-prior,
warden of the hospital. It is there stated that
in 1141 brothers Osbern and Godwyn, monks
of Dover, from the goods of their parents by
authority of Archbishop Theobald, and with the
consent of the prior and convent of Dover,
constructed the hospital of poor people of St.
Bartholomew by Dover, appointing the prior of
Dover disposer and ordainer of it internally and
externally, and the prior and convent granted to
the poor people all the ' teghe' before the hospital;
and that Prior Hugh, 'not being able to attend
to its business, appointed his sub-prior as their
warden, reserving important business to himself,
and this has been observed ' to this day.'
Regulations for the brothers and sisters were
laid down in great detail. Each candidate must
be examined by the warden, must be of free
condition, either unmarried, or with the consent
of the husband or wife remaining in secular life, and
must pay 100s. for admission, or more, according
to arrangement, 6s. 8d. to the warden for his fee,
and 3d. or a jentaculum to each brother and sister.
He (or she) will be brought by the master to the
door of the church, and will then take an oath
before the warden, one of the articles of this
being that at death he will leave half his goods
to the hospital. The number of brothers and
sisters was twenty in olden times, but ' now '
sixteen at most is sufficient, and of these the
master, who should be a leper, is appointed by
the warden, and takes an oath that he will
administer the property faithfully, and render an
account when required. The allowances made
to the brothers and sisters are specified. No
brother may go outside the house except with
the leave of the master, and no sister except with
the leave of the prioress; they are to frequent
no taverns; to say 200 paternosters and aves
by day, and the same number in the middle of
the night; none are to sleep outside the house
for more than three nights without leave from
the warden; they are to have a round tonsure,
and wear a black or russet dress; the leprous are
not to live with the hale; and though they may
have private property, they may riot indulge in
usury. They are to have two proctors, one for
Dover and the neighbourhood, the other for
England in general. A priest is to be maintained at the cost of the house, to celebrate daily
for the founders and to minister in the church;
he is to hear the confessions of the brothers
and sisters, and without the leave of the warden they may not have another confessor.
Each brother and sister is to labour in the
offices of the house rather than elsewhere, and
at half the pay, except in autumn, when they
may take four pence, two for dinner, and two
for stipend.
Pope Adrian IV in 1158 confirmed to Godewyn, rector of the house, all its possessions,
including 100s. of land given by Gilbert de Gant.
Pope Clement urged the faithful to be liberal
to it, and Archbishop Theobald promised indulgence to benefactors, as also did Richard,
bishop of Chichester, in 1252. Edward III in
1369 granted protection for the master, brethren,
and sisters, begging alms. (fn. 3) An early grant by
Henry de Arcell' was made for a house to receive
poor and infirm coming from ships. The lepers
are mentioned down to about the end of the
thirteenth century, but in 1346 the hospital is
said to be a place where the poor are maintained
for life and the sick are nursed until they are
well, and leprosy is not spoken of. (fn. 4)
In the Chantry Certificates the gross value of
the possessions of the hospital, lying in Dover,
Buckland, Ewell, Leeds, Bobbing and Deal, is
given as £10 7s. 6d., and the net value as
£8 3s;. 6d. yearly,;after deductions of £2 to the
manor of River, and 4s;. to the priory. (fn. 5) After
the Dissolution the hospital was granted to Sir
Thomas Palmer in 6 Edward VI.
Master; Of Buckland
Henry, occurs 1267 (fn. 6)
John de Macstone, occurs 1295 (fn. 7)
Arnold ate Regge, occurs 1309, (fn. 8) 1312 (fn. 9)
John, occurs 1323 (fn. 10)
William Ricceghe, occurs 1327 (fn. 11)
Peter Norreis (fn. 12) or Norman, occurs 1351, (fn. 13)
1357 (fn. 14)
Thomas de Lymene, occurs 1381 (fn. 15)