A HISTORY OF YORKSHIRE 



were trading on their own behalf. A charge 

 of immorality was brought by certain of the 

 brothers against one of the sisters, but otherwise 

 disorder and abuse of the hospital seem to have 

 been the most serious and general complaints. 

 Richard de DriflFeld was again called as a witness 

 where he is called Magister domus hospitalism 

 although in all other cases he is merely custosJ^ 

 His second evidence was chiefly to the efiFect 

 that all were inhohedimtes, and that none observed 

 humilitatem. None had the tonsure except the 

 chaplains, and none wore the habit of religious. 

 None of the brothers were guilty of incontinence. 

 Asked if any of the brothers went into the city 

 without licence, he said they frequently did so. 

 Asked further if they were punished for this, 

 according to the rule, he replied Non ; whether 

 any frequented the tavern, his reply was Non. 



In 1303 William Greenfield, Chancellor of 

 England, held a visitation and issued a series of 

 injunctions.'' Briefly, he ordered that all were 

 to obey the master, and that each brother and 

 sister was to receive the accustomed habit and 

 tonsure, which were to be kept for life. All 

 brothers and sisters not lawfully hindered were 

 to attend matins, mass, and other canonical 

 hours. The lay brothers and sisters were fre- 

 quently to recite the Lord's Prayer, and the 

 Angelic Salutation, as the Lord inspired them, 

 praying for the whole estate of the universal 

 church. 



The brothers and sisters were not to dwell 

 together under the same roof and cloister, and 

 not to meet together at undue times, or in 

 secret places. None, after admission, were to 

 engage in trading. All who were admitted, if 

 they retained things for their use, were to will 

 them to the hospital at death. The common 

 seal was to be under three keys, and all brothers 

 and sisters were to be summoned when the seal 

 was unlocked. The box which held the alms 

 of those who visited the church was to be in the 

 charge of the same three persons, and was to 

 have three keys. It, too, was only to be opened 

 before all ; if they could not agree as to the 

 disposal of the alms in it, then such alms were 

 to be used for the hospital. 



No one was to be admitted for a previous 

 compact to pay money, &c., as that was simony. 

 No alienations or long leases were to be granted 

 without the king being consulted. If the 

 master had to be absent for a long period, he 

 was to appoint the most efiBcient brother to take 

 his place. Three brothers were to be elected, 

 who were most competent in temporal matters, 

 to look after rural, agricultural, and other business 

 afl[airs. If any were disobedient, incontinent, 

 or guilty of other excesses, they were to be 



" He seems to have been in charge as a ' custos 

 perpetuus,' and not actually master. 

 " Dugdale, Mon. Angl. vi, 710. 



chastised for the first offence by withholding of 

 food for a number of days ; for a second offence 

 the punishment was to be doubled, and if guilty 

 a third time they were to be expelled as incorri- 

 gible. If the master himself were thus guilty, quod 

 absit, the sentence was reserved to the Chancellor 

 of England. 



At a later period the hospital was annexed to 

 the priory of Holy Trinity at York, when there 

 is reason to believe that the prior became master 

 ex officio. In the Ministers' Accounts of the 

 priory (1537-8) " £2() los. 6d. is accounted for 

 for the site of the late hospital of St. Nicholas 

 juxta civitatem Ebor. 



In another document there is allusion to the 

 payment of ;^ 1 9 per annum in allowances to six 

 sisters of the hospital of St. Nicholas, extra barras 

 civitatis Ebor, annexed to the late priory of the 

 Holy Trinity. These payments were in con- 

 sideration of the age, debility, and poverty of the 

 said sisters, and also that they and their friends 

 had paid large sums to the prior or priors of the 

 late priory, for the food and chambers, &c. for 

 these sisters, which they stated had been granted 

 to them under the common seal of the late priory 

 at the rate of 63J. 4^. a year for each of them, 

 besides their chambers and the other commodities 

 of the hospital. 



Masters and Wardens of St, 

 Hospital 



Nicholas 



Thomas de Langetoft, c. 1261 (three years), 



died ^* 

 Simon de Wyllardby, succeeded c. 1264 (ten 



years) '' 

 Robert de Sancto Laurencio, alias Robert Ly- 



tell,*" 1274 (three years) *' 

 Robert le Graunt, admitted 1281,*' deprived 



12838' 

 Richard de Derfeld, or Driffeld, appointed 



1283 (six years) " 

 Robert le Graunt, appointed 1292,*' occurs 



1295^ 

 Robert de Sancto Laurencio, admitted again 



1301,'' occurs 1305** 

 John de Godele, appointed 1303*' 



Accts. Yorks. 27-8 Hen. VIII, 113, 



" Mins. 

 m. 2 d. 



" Chan. Misc. bdle. 20, file 13, no. 

 " Ibid. 



348 



^ Cf. rorks. Inq. (Yorb. Rec. Ser.), ii, 30, 125. 



*' Chan. Misc. loc. cit. 



°* York Archiepis. Reg. Wickwane, fol. 130. 



"^ Chan. Misc. Ice. cit. 



" Ibid. 



" Cal. Pat. 1281-92, p. 494. 



" Baildon, Mon. NoUs, i, 251. 



" C<»/. Pat. 1 301-7, p. 5 ; or temporary warden. 



Baildon, Mon. Notes, i, 251. 

 ™ Cal. Pat. 1 301-7, p. 102. 



