HERMITS, FORDS, AND BRIDGE-CHAPELS. 59 



poor hermit, diligently labouring for the repair of the same, and 

 for Waterbech and Denny and Denny and Stretham causeways, 

 and William Rogere, hermit ; and for Jo. Oblyn. (Is this name 

 derived from his 'hobbling' gait, because it is stated that he "in 

 tibia sua sinistra maculat ? " Evidently a case of " The right man 

 in the right place.") 



Anno 1401— Indulgence for Wittlesford-brigge chapel, and Jo. 

 Lucas, hermit there. 



In Bishop Grey's Register, anno 1454-79, we have a mandate 

 from the Bishop to the Bailiff of Brandon, requiring him, 

 " whereas Thomas Passhelaw, lately the occupant of our Her- 

 mitage upon the bridge of Brandon was dead," to admit John 

 Herryman to be hermit there for his life ' si bene se gesserit ' (if he 

 behave himself well), the said hermit to keep the buildings of the 

 hermitage in due repair out of the offerings received of those who 

 should cross the bridge. (Gibbon's " Ely Epis. Records.") 



With this preface, let us now turn to the Bridge of St. Mary at 

 Derby. The Rev. Dr. Cox in his " Churches of Derbyshire," iv., 

 102-6, gives a most interesting account of this structure, with an 

 inventory of the ornaments and valuables contained in the Chapel 

 in 1488. This latter is very curious and valuable, as being 

 probably the only inventory extant of a Hermitage chapel, and 

 the more so, because it was taken before any danger of confisca- 

 tion was apprehended, and before the era of embezzlement had 

 commenced. 



"And the saide John and Thos. Oxle the same tyme made 

 accompt to the saide auditors of all juels and ornamentes beyinge 

 att the Mary of Brigge that be in the custody of John Shenton, 

 Armett {hermit) and his wyffe— Syr John Dale then their pste 

 (priest). 



Inprm one cole of crymyson velvett endented with golde that 

 my lady Gray gaffe, and opon hytt y^ Ixvj penyes, ij giite penies, one 

 gilte ob (farthing), ij penese of ij'', one grotte, an Be of silver, ij 

 shelles of sylver, one herte of silver, a mounde of silver, one 

 broche of copur, and gylte, ij shaftes of silver, one cristall stone 

 inclosed in silver. 



