A HISTORY OF 
Thomas Hore,' died 1444 
John Thorpe,’ appointed 1444 
John Brinklo ® 
Richard Hylston,* resigned 14.48 
William Athall, appointed 1448,° 
signed 1456 
John Goldsmith,® appointed 1456, resigned 
1456 
Thomas Kynges,’ appointed 1456, re- 
signed 1457 
John Dovey,® appointed 1461, resigned 
1462 
Thomas Horne,® appointed 1462 
Richard Hyndeman,”° appointed 1462, re- 
signed 1470 
Henry Rudyng,” appointed 1470, died 
re- 
1497 
William Morgan,’* appointed 1497, died 
1509 
Humphrey Gascoigne,'* appointed 1509 
William Wroxill,"* resigned 1520 
William Franklin,'® appointed 1520 
John Stringer,*® appointed 1530 
A seal of this hospital represents St. John 
Baptist standing, holding a long scroll inscribed 
SIGILLUM HOSPITALIS SANCTI JOHANNIS BAP- 
TISTH DE BEDFORD. ‘The same legend is 
around the margin of the seal, which is 
oval and very clear and distinct. 
16. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. 
LEONARD, BEDFORD 
The date of the foundation of the hospital 
of St. Leonard is even more uncertain than 
that of St. John. The first mention of it is 
found in a charter of King John, dated 1207,!7 
in which he granted letters of safe conduct 
to the brethren and their preachers wherever 
they might go in England to preach and seek 
alms on behalf of their sick people. Eight 
years later another charter announced that the 
lepers of the hospital of St. Leonard were 
1 Linc. Epis. Reg., Inst. Alnwick, 184. 
2 Ibid. 
3 Add. MS. 5832, 89. 
4 Linc. Epis. Reg., Inst. Alnwick, 187, 189. 
The name is given in one place as Hylston and the 
other as Ilvestone. 
5 Ibid. 
8 Ibid. Inst. Chedworth, 165. 
7 Ibid. 165d. 8 Ibid. 168d. 
® Ibid. 172. 10 bid. 172d. #t._ Ibid. 178. 
12 Tbid. Inst. Smith, 438. 
13 Ibid. 457d. 
14 Tbid. Inst. Longland, 240. 
15 [bid. 
1s Add. MS. 5832, f. 89; and Chant. Cert. 
(Beds), 4. 
17 Pat. 8 John, m. 1. 
BEDFORDSHIRE 
taken under the king’s protection.® It is 
probable that one of the Bassets was founder 
of the house, for in a dispute which was 
brought before the bishop in 1294 with regard 
to the patronage it was decided that one 
Robert Dendon was patron in right of his 
wife, Agnes Basset, daughter of Simon Basset ; 
‘though the burgesses of Bedford also had a 
share in it.*® 
There were at first six brethren in the 
house, of whom one was master ; all were at 
least in minor orders, wore the habit of 
religion,”° and probably kept a rule somewhat 
similar to that of the brethren of St. John’s 
hospital. In 1294 Bishop Sutton sent an in- 
junction to three of them by name to be 
obedient to their master until he should visit 
them. In 1302 they sent a petition to 
Parliament for permission to purchase land to 
the value of £10, and a rent in Bedford.” 
This was probably for the enlargement of 
their area and the re-building of their house, 
for in 1306 they gave great offence to the 
abbess of Elstow by closing the pathway 
which led through their buildings to Bedford, 
and opening another instead which made a 
circuit round the hospital. There was a suit 
in Chancery in consequence, and the final 
grant for closing the pathway was not issued 
till 1308.78 
Bishop Dalderby excommunicated one of 
the brethren for apostacy in 1306,” and visited 
the house in 1313 to inquire into the alleged 
impotence of the master and to appoint one 
of the others as coadjutor.?*> About this time 
the house was evidently becoming impover- 
ished, for in 1331 an indulgence was granted 
for the repair of the chapel of the Blessed 
Mary,” and in 1353 the brethren obtained a 
licence to beg alms.*” From this time for- 
18 Ibid. 16 John, m. 4. The first charter has 
‘Fratres hospitalis infirmorum,’ and the second 
“leprosos hospitalis Sci. Leonardi.’ It was pro- 
bably for both, like the hospital at Dunstable. 
19 Linc. Epis. Reg., Inst. Sutton, 99. It seems 
just possible that this Simon Basset may be really 
Simon Bascot (or Barescote), whose ancestors 
founded Caldwell Priory, and who was himself an 
alderman of Bedford. 
20 Rolls of Parl. (Rec. Com.), i. 154. The king’s 
grace for a poor house of St. Leonard’s, Bedford, 
where there are ‘six brethren, perpetual chap- 
lains, wearing the habit of religion.’ 
21 Linc. Epis. Reg., Memo. Sutton, 106d. 
22 Rolls of Parl. (Rec. Com.), i. 154. 
2 Ing. ad q.d. 34 Edw. I. No. 226; Pat. 2 
Edw. II. pt. 2, m. 15 (see Elstow Abbey). 
24 Linc. Epis. Reg., Memo. Dalderby, 98. 
25 [bid. 247d, 
28 Ibid. Memo. Burghersh, 241. 
27 Ibid. Memo. Gynwell, 52. 
398 
