RELIGIOUS HOUSES 
as well as other sick people. The masters of 
the hospital were appointed by the prior, but 
the name of only one is known early in the 
thirteenth century ; he was called Roger, and 
was a chaplain of the priory." In 1293 the 
lepers of Dunstable erected a new bell, larger 
than they had ever had before, and hung it on 
a crossbar between two poles in front of their 
house ; but the prior seems for some reason to 
have suspected their motives in doing this, for 
he sent and had it taken down, restoring it 
afterwards on the condition that it should 
never be used for his parishioners nor for call- 
ing people together.? 
The hospital was still in existence in 1338, 
for the master and brethren received at that 
time another letter of protection from the 
king, and permission to collect alms ;* but it 
is not heard of at any later date. 
21. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN 
BAPTIST, HOCKLIFFE 
The hospital of St. John Baptist at Hockliff 
is first mentioned in the Lincoln Episcopal 
Registers in 1248,* but it had then evidently 
been in existence some years. ‘The patron 
at that time was John Malherbe,® a member 
of whose family was probably the founder. 
Its purpose is not stated, nor the number of 
the brethren mentioned ; but it seems most 
likely that it was a hospital for the destitute 
poor. The master and brethren presented 
rectors to the parish church from 1248 to 
1401,” if not longer, and their exercise of 
their patronage brought them once under the 
displeasure of Bishop Grossetéte ;* for they 
presented a young man of their founder’s 
family,® who was refused by the bishop for 
defect of orders and insufficiency of learning. 
In 1286 the master was deposed by Bishop 
Sutton, and another substituted ; the cause is 
not given.’° ‘The brethren were allowed in 
1 Harl. MS. 1885, f. 36b. Grant by Richard 
de Morins, prior of Dunstable, ‘of the care and 
custody of our hospital’ of St. Mary Magdalene, 
for lepers and other sick people, to Roger, chaplain 
(undated). 
2 Ann, Mon. (Rolls Series), iii. 381. 
8 Pat. 11 Edw. III. pt. 2, m. 24. 
* Linc. Epis. Reg., Rolls of Grossetéte. 
5 Ibid. 
6 The purpose of the hospitals for the sick and 
for lepers is usually explicitly stated. 
7 Linc. Epis. Reg. 
8 Ibid. Rolls of Grossetéte, 1265. 
® William Malherbe. 
10 The hospital in this year was ‘ vacant by the 
amoval of Alan de Freston, last master.’ 
I Aol 
1301 to collect alms for the rebuilding of 
their hospital, and an indulgence was granted 
by the bishop to their benefactors." In 1310 
Bishop Dalderby received a serious complaint 
from Luke of Nutley, who was then master ; 
he said that during his term of office (only a 
few months) the brethren had been unwilling 
to obey him, and were filled with a spirit of 
rebellion ; and that a certain lay brother had 
laid violent handsupon him and used contume- 
lious words, refusing to recognise his author- 
ity? The difficulty appears to have been 
settled by the resignation of Luke in favour 
of a former master,'* who was perhaps more 
acceptable to the brethren. 
The hospital was visited by Bishop Bek 
in 1342,'4 but the results are not recorded. 
Reference is made to the master and brethren 
at the institution of John Culryk to the 
parish church in 1401 ;*© and masters con- 
tinued to be appointed till 1422. It was 
probably soon after this that the hospital was 
taken over by the prior and canons of Dun- 
stable, perhaps because its income had become 
insufficient to maintain it any longer as an 
independent house. Its revenue at the dis~ 
solution was only £4 155. 4d., and it finally 
ceased to exist at the same time as the priory 
of Dunstable.’® 
Masters oF HocKLiFFE 
A(dam),!’ occurs 1248 
Walter, resigned 1264 
William de Lethom,’® appointed 1264 
Thomas” resigned 1286 
Alan de Freston,™ appointed 1286, deposed 
1288 
Thomas of Battlesden,?* appointed 1288 
Walter de Hoccon,” resigned 1289 
Ralph de Eston, appointed 1289, resigned 
1301 
Richard de Newton,” appointed 1301, re- 
signed 1310 
11 Ibid. Memo. Dalderby, 33d, 48. 
12 [bid. 178. 
12 See list of masters. 
14 Ibid. Memo. Bek, 32d. 
16 Tbid. Inst. Beaufort. 
16 It appears in the First Report of the Crown 
Bailiff as part of the property of Dunstable, and 
its value is given as above (Dugdale, Mon. vi. 242). 
It is not in the Chantry Certificates. 
17 Linc. Epis. Reg., Rolls of Grossetéte. 
18 [bid. 19 Tbid. 
20 Ibid. Memo. Sutton. 
21 Ibid. He had been a Jay brother at Brackley 
Hospital, an unusual appointment. 
22 Tbid. a3 [bid. 24 Tbid. 
26 Tbid. Inst. Dalderby, 259. 
51 
