10 ALMSHOUSE OF ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF SHREWSBURY. 



dealing with the rent-charge, and misdated i March, 41 Eh'z., 

 1598. 



The rules or orders are dated 5 October, 41 Eliz. They are 

 most characteristic of the Countess, and are signed by her. They 

 are printed in full by Simpson. 



The latest deed, dated 25 Sept., 3 Jas., is indorsed, " 1605 

 Hospitall at Derby A Distress out of Edensore &c and Bowden 

 for a further securyty of the ret charg graunted unto them." By 

 this deed, after recitals of the Letters Patent, and the building 

 and endowment of the almshouse, the Countess, " consideringe 

 and foreseeinge in her grave and wise Judgment that the value 

 of the sayd lands charged with the payment of the said rent may 

 hereafter by Alteracon of tymes or other meanes happen to 

 decay," and be insufficient to satisfy the rent, and that it would 

 be a matter of much vexation for the warden, brethren, and 

 sisters, to sue for the rent in case of default, gave to them powers 

 of entry and distress over a moiety of the manor of Edensor in 

 demayne and the tenements there amounting to twenty oxgangs 

 at the least, over all other hereditaments in Edensore, Pillesley, 

 Calton, and Lees, then lately purchased of the Right Hon 

 George, Earl of Cuniberland, and Sir Francis Clifford, knight, 

 and over all hereditaments purchased of Nicholas Browne of the 

 marshe, esquire, Nicholas Browne his son and heir, and Cecilie, 

 wife of the said Nicholas the son, and John Browne, one of the 

 younger sons of Nicholas the elder, situate in Bowden als Bawden 

 in the parish of Chappell in the Frythe. The rent-charge was 

 further secured by an additional penalty of ;^i3 6s. 8d., assured 

 by the delivery of "sixpence inclosed within the waxe of the 

 Seale of these presents." Part of the impression of the great 

 silver sixpence of the period is preserved. 



What the Countess did not provide for was the present cheap- 

 ness of money. The rent-charge was, however, voluntarily sup- 

 plemented for many years with an additional ^^50 by the Dukes 

 of Devonshire, and this was secured to the charity by the late 

 duke under the recent scheme. 



The Inventory of ist October, 1599, referred to by Simpson, 



