RELIGIOUS HOUSES 



of his executors, cattle and corn to the value of 

 10, He also expressed a wish that his wife 

 should give to the hospital cooking utensils and 

 other necessaries to the value of 40J. 10 



Robert Morton junior, of Bawtry, was involved 

 in the revolt of the Percys and the Welsh at the 

 beginning of the reign of Henry IV, and all his 

 estates in the counties of Nottingham and York, 

 to the value of 40 marks yearly, were forfeited 

 to the Crown. In 1405 all his property was 

 granted by Henry IV to John Peryent, the king's 

 esquire, together with the chapel and chantry of 

 St. Mary Magdalen by Bawtry. 11 



In October 1403 John Scot, 'chivaler,' obtained 

 licence for 20 marks to grant the manor of 

 Misson to William Myrfyne, warden or chap- 

 lain of the hospital of St. Mary Magdalen by 

 Bawtry, to find a chaplain to celebrate daily in 

 the hospital for the good estate of the said John 

 and for his soul after death, and for the souls of 

 his wives, sons, and ancestors, and also for the 

 souls of Robert Morton and Joan his wife. 13 

 These letters patent were not, however, executed, 

 and were surrendered in February 1406, when 

 by payment of an additional 5 marks John Scott 

 was permitted to transfer the manor of Misson 

 to the Prior and Convent of Mattersey in aid of 

 their maintenance. 13 



The Valor of 1534 names Richard Pygott as 

 master, and gives the clear annual value of the 

 hospital as 6 6s. 8^., of which 5 6s. 8d. was 

 paid by the priory of St. Oswald, whilst 

 2OJ. was entered as the value of 12 acres of 

 land." 



When Sir John Markham and other commis- 

 sioners visited this hospital in 1545 they reported 

 under the head of ' The parrishe of Harworthe ' 

 that ' The Hospitall of Mary Magdalen juxta 

 Bawtrie (was) founded by one Robert Morton, for 

 a Priest, there to be resident and to keep Hospita- 

 litie for poore People, to pray for the Founder's 

 Soule and all Christian Soules, as the Deputye 

 of the Incumbent saith uppon his Oathe, with- 

 out any Writings shewed to the Commissioners.' 

 The whole of the revenues (amounting to up- 

 wards of ji4) at that time were in the hands 

 of Richard Pygott, described mistakenly by the 

 commissioner as 'chapliene to Kinge Henry the 

 eight,' except 131. \d. which he gave to a priest 

 to say mass there two days a week. 15 This man 

 Pygott was not in orders, but was ' a gentleman 

 of the Chapel Royal ' and a favourite of the 

 king ; Henry VIII insisted on bestowing on him 

 prebends and other ecclesiastical appointments 

 ' notwithstanding his laity.' ls 



10 Test. Ebor. i, 210. 



11 Pat. 6 Hen. IV, pt. ii, m. i. 

 " Pat. 5 Hen. IV, pt. i, m. 28. 

 "Pat. 7 Hen. IV, pt. i, m. 15. 



14 Valor Eccl. (Rec. Com.), v, 177. 

 M Langtoffs Chron. ii, 399-400. 

 " L. and P. Hen. rill, xx, passim. 



Notwithstanding the definite chantry purpose 

 of the income to this hospital from the priory of 

 St. Oswald, the payment was continued on the 

 dissolution of that house, and it even escaped 

 confiscation as a ' superstitious ' use in the days 

 of Edward. This ancient charge even now 

 continues to be paid by the Crown. 



One James Brewster was collated by Arch- 

 bishop Sandys to the mastership or chaplaincy of 

 this hospital in 1584. Brewster entered into a 

 conspiracy with Thomas Robinson and two others 

 to subvert the hospital and its funds, and, upon 

 false information, to enable them to sell the 

 hospital and its grounds. In 1590 a warrant 

 was issued by the High Commissioners for Lands 

 Ecclesiastical at York to attach James Brewster 

 and others ' for profayninge and ruinatinge the 

 House and Chappell of the Hospitall.' The 

 opening sentence of the warrant runs : ' Where- 

 as We are crediblie enfourmed, that diverse 

 evill disposed Persons have of late entered the 

 Hospitall of Mary Magdalen at Bawtrie and 

 pluckt up and carried away certaine Stalls and 

 other Furniture belonginge to the same, contrary 

 to all order and without any Awthoritie.' The 

 various conspirators made confession of their 

 actions and of their endeavours to transfer the 

 archiepiscopal rights as patrons to the Crown, 

 and Archbishop John Piers, in conjunction with 

 John Cooper of Southwell, whom he collated 

 to the mastership, jointly made suit before the 

 barons of Exchequer to recover the title. Cooper 

 in his evidence stated that from time immemorial 

 this hospital had been founded for the relief of 

 certain poor people and for the support of a 

 master who was to be an ecclesiastical person ; 

 that divine service and common prayer ought 

 weekly to have been said ; that the patronage was 

 in the hands of the Archbishop of York, or of the 

 Crown during voidance of the see ; that within 

 two years last past one James Brewster of 

 Chelmsford, claiming to be master, set himself to 

 upset the state of the hospital, and to make 

 acquisition of its possessions to himself and his 

 heirs^ disburdening himself of residence and 

 obligation to hold divine service ; that latterly 

 he had profaned the chapel, carrying away all 

 ornaments, changing the same ' from a Chappel 

 to be a Stable or a Roame for theire Horses and 

 Cattell, to the great offence of the inhabitants 

 neare thereabouts adjoyninge . . . and contrary 

 to all Law and Equitie and good Conscience, 

 seinge as the same Hospitall was never lawfully 

 dissolved ' ; and that therefore Brewster had for 

 his long absence and ' other lewd Demeanors ' 

 been deprived of the hospital by the archbishop. 

 On the death of Archbishop Piers, in 1594, this 

 suit was continued by his successor Archbishop 

 Hutton in conjunction with John Cooper, and 

 in 1595 decree was given in their favour, 

 Cooper being empowered to recover the profits 

 of the last five years and apply them to the 



