16. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. LEONARD, BEDFORD
The date of the foundation of the hospital
of St. Leonard is even more uncertain than
that of St. John. The first mention of it is
found in a charter of King John, dated 1207, (fn. 1)
in which he granted letters of safe conduct
to the brethren and their preachers wherever
they might go in England to preach and seek
alms on behalf of their sick people. Eight
years later another charter announced that the
lepers of the hospital of St. Leonard were
taken under the king's protection. (fn. 2) It is
probable that one of the Bassets was founder
of the house, for in a dispute which was
brought before the bishop in 1294 with regard
to the patronage it was decided that one
Robert Dendon was patron in right of his
wife, Agnes Basset, daughter of Simon Basset;
though the burgesses of Bedford also had a
share in it. (fn. 3)
There were at first six brethren in the
house, of whom one was master; all were at
least in minor orders, wore the habit of
religion, (fn. 4) and probably kept a rule somewhat
similar to that of the brethren of St. John's
hospital. In 1294 Bishop Sutton sent an injunction to three of them by name to be
obedient to their master until he should visit
them. (fn. 5) In 1302 they sent a petition to
Parliament for permission to purchase land to
the value of £10, and a rent in Bedford. (fn. 6)
This was probably for the enlargement of
their area and the re-building of their house,
for in 1306 they gave great offence to the
abbess of Elstow by closing the pathway
which led through their buildings to Bedford,
and opening another instead which made a
circuit round the hospital. There was a suit
in Chancery in consequence, and the final
grant for closing the pathway was not issued
till 1308. (fn. 7)
Bishop Dalderby excommunicated one of
the brethren for apostacy in 1306, (fn. 8) and visited
the house in 1313 to inquire into the alleged
impotence of the master and to appoint one
of the others as coadjutor. (fn. 9) About this time
the house was evidently becoming impoverished, for in 1331 an indulgence was granted
for the repair of the chapel of the Blessed
Mary, (fn. 10) and in 1353 the brethren obtained a
licence to beg alms. (fn. 11) From this time for
ward, though there was a regular succession
of masters, nothing further is known of the
history of the house. (fn. 12) The brethren probably
died off gradually and their places were not
filled up; and the later masters held the
hospital in plurality with other benefices after
it had become a sinecure. Its name does not
appear in the Chantry Certificates, but at
Cardinal Pole's visitation in 1556 it was
alleged that it had been 'violated and occupied by laymen a great while in the time of
the schism.' (fn. 13)
In the petition to Parliament of 1302 it
was stated that the hospital owned only 67
acres of land and a rent of 26s., all in lay
fees, and held in capite of the king, and no
spiritualities. (fn. 14) In 1535 the value in rents,
etc., was £16 6s. 8d. clear, (fn. 15) and the same
amount is mentioned in 1556. (fn. 16)
Masters of St. Leonard's Hospital,
Bedford
William, (fn. 17) resigned 1288
Walter of Torksey, (fn. 18) appointed 1288, resigned 1294
Robert Cuppe, (fn. 19) appointed 1294, died 1310
Gerard of Eaton, (fn. 20) appointed 1310, died
1314
John of Woodweston, (fn. 21) appointed 1313
William of Woodweston, (fn. 22) appointed 1349,
resigned 1356
William of Bedford, (fn. 23) appointed 1356
William of Willington, (fn. 24) died 1392
Thomas Fisher, appointed 1392, (fn. 25) resigned
1398
Thomas Ulf, (fn. 26) appointed 1398, resigned
1436
John Leget, (fn. 27) appointed 1436, resigned
1441
William Barford, (fn. 28) appointed 1441
William Edwards, (fn. 29) resigned 1470
Richard Hyndeman, (fn. 30) appointed 1470
Edward Exmowe, (fn. 31) died 1480
Thomas Shenkwyn, (fn. 32) appointed 1480, resigned 1493
Richard FitzJames, (fn. 33) appointed 1493, resigned 1497
Bernard Andrew, (fn. 34) appointed 1497, resigned 1499
Hugh Oldham, (fn. 35) appointed 1499, resigned
1505
Richard Elwyn, (fn. 36) appointed 1505, resigned
1513
Reginald Bray, (fn. 37) appointed 1513, resigned
1517
John Pitts, (fn. 38) appointed 1517, occurs 1535