RELIGIOUS HOUSES 
live as religious, having a common refectory 
and dormitory ; they were to have the tonsure 
of a priest and to wear clothing of any sober 
colour, covered by a dark mantle. They 
were to remain in the hospital for life, and, 
when admitted, to take an oath of obedience 
to the statutes and to the master ; they were 
every day to sing the canonical hours and 
celebrate the divine office for the living and 
the dead, praying especially for the soul of the 
founder and other benefactors. ‘The master 
was to correct the brethren ordinarily, but he 
might appeal to the bishop in case of 
necessity.’ 
In 1306 Bishop Dalderby wrote a fuller 
rule for the brethren, which was practically 
an adaptation of the rule of St. Augustine to 
their particular circumstances.? It is clear 
that though they were so few in number they 
were expected to live quite as strictly as the 
religious of large communities. 
The church was rebuilt early in the four- 
teenth century, and the brethren then had a 
licence to beg alms for this purpose on account 
of their poverty.? The master of the hospital, 
Robert Rous, was appointed in 1333 to hear 
the confessions of all the subjects of the arch- 
deacons of Bedford and Huntingdon.‘ He 
died in 1349,° probably of the pestilence. 
In 1399° the hospital was reconstituted on 
the old foundation by Bishop Beaufort, with 
the same number of brethren and the same 
rule as before. When inquiry was being 
made at the end of the reign of Henry VIII. 
into the condition of chantries and hospitals, it 
was said that no poor person was kept there, 
nor had been for many years.” It appears 
1 Linc. Epis. Reg., Memo. Beaufort, 22d. 
2 Beds N. and Q. i. 3213; transcribed from 
Camb. Univ. Library MS. Dd x. 28. It is 
dated 2 Aug. 1306. It is an amplification of the 
shorter rule in the episcopal register, with more 
than one reference to ‘ the rule of blessed Augus- 
tine’; alludes to the three vows of obedience, 
chastity and poverty, ‘but above all things charity’; 
and prescribes penances for the transgression of 
the rule. The only regulation that seems a little 
unusual is the permission to speak briefly in low 
tones in the refectory; though the usual strict 
silence is enforced in the church, cloister and dor- 
mitory. The colour and shape of their habit was 
not exactly prescribed; the bishop only orders 
that they wear a ‘uniform and humble habit, 
marked with a cross.’ 
3 Linc. Epis. Reg., Memo. Burghersh, 38, 106d 
(1321 and 1323). 
« Ibid, 268. 
5 Ibid. Inst. Gynwell, 378. 
® Ibid. Memo. Beaufort, 22d. 
7 Chant. Cert. (Beds), 1. 
also that there were no longer any brethren, 
but only a master, who was also rector of the 
church.® 
The hospital was not taken into the king’s 
hand at that time, but in 1591 an attempt 
was made to prove that it had reverted to the 
Crown by the death of the master and religious 
brethren. Oliver St. John and others were 
commissioned to inquire into the foundation 
and to find out who were the heirs of Robert 
de Parys.? It was finally proved that it had 
been united with the parish church and was the 
property of the mayor and corporation, who 
in 1628 petitioned that there should be no 
further proceedings against them in respect of 
it, except only by course of law.’?° At 
the end of the eighteenth century the rector 
of the church was still called master of the 
hospital, and ten beadsmen received ninepence 
weekly from the funds of the old foundation." 
Neither the church nor the hospital of St. 
John is mentioned in the Taxatio of Pope 
Nicholas, but in 1216 the brothers owned a 
mill in Bedford.1? In 1302 the master held 
one-twentieth of a knight’s fee in Clophill.’? 
In 1535 the revenue of the hospital, consist- 
ing mainly of small rents, amounted to 
£21 os. 8d. ;* at the end of the reign of 
Henry VIII. to £20.'* 
Masters oF St. JoHn’s Hosprrat, BEDFORD 
Baldwin,'® appointed 1286 
William of Buckingham,’ died 1316 
Richard of Buckingham," appointed 1316 
Robert Rous,’® appointed 1333, died 1349 
William Rous,” appointed 1349, died 1374 
John Appelond,”* appointed 1374 
Walter of Swineshead,” occurs 1384 and 
1410 
8 The Valor Eccl. (Rec. Com.), iv. 191, gives 
only the name of a rector, who was also warden. 
® §. P, Dom. Eliz. ccxl. 142. 
10 Ibid. Chas. I. cxxiv. 84. 
11 Add. MS. 5832 (Cole MSS.), f. 86. 
12 Pat. 1 Hen. III. m. 3d. Other small pro- 
perties are mentioned Pat. 29 Edw. I. and Inq. 
ad q. d. 40 Edw. III. n. 7. 
13 Feud, Aids, i. 14. 
14 Valor Eccl. (Rec. Com.), iv. 191 
18 Chant. Cert. (Beds), I. 
1s Linc. Epis. Reg., Memo. Sutton. 
17 Ibid. Inst. Dalderby, 274. 
18 [bid. 
19 Add. MS. 5832, f. 89. The masters from 
Richard of Buckingham are nearly all given here 
by Cole, as he copied them from a parish register 
of St. John’s Church. 
20 Linc. Epis. Reg., Inst. Gynwell, 378. 
2 [bid. Inst. Buckingham, 389. 
22 Add. MS. 5832, f. 89. 
397 
