By the Rev. Canon Moherly. 



145 



had the master's portion for no government, he had but as many 

 others have had before and since : yet by account it appeareth that 

 the poor had as much or more than in former years. The error only 

 was in this, that he was not a presbyter/' 



In 1577 Lord Pembroke resigned the mastership. But it is 

 certain that he retained the deeds and papers at Wilton, and probably 

 being an influential neighbour was consulted as to the patronage o£ 

 the hospital. The next master was also a layman — one Richard 

 Dolshon, who admitted to St. Nicholas' in 1587 and 1588. 1 He 

 was succeeded by Robert Parker, M.A., a clerk, who, as of old, was 

 instituted to the master's office by the bishop, then Bishop Coldwell, 

 in 1591. And in 1593 Parker was succeeded by Mr. Geoffrey Bigge, 

 whose mastership was distinguished by the vigorous and successful 

 efforts which he undertook to save the hospital from annihilation. 



VI. — Mr. Geoffrey Bigge's Mastership. 

 1593—1630. 



It was by Bigge's exertions that the hospital was saved from 

 being altogether wrecked by more imminent danger than had over- 

 hung it in the time of the Reformation. 



The late Acts of Parliament against superstitious foundations 

 had given birth to a race of informers who made it their business 

 to search out foundations that still entertained such superstitious 

 uses, and report them to Government, hoping for a share of the 

 spoil when they were destroyed. Such men were called concealers, 

 because they exposed concealments, which were hidden by the 

 authorities of the foundations : and were a very useful, nay necessary, 

 class of men, but odious in the highest degree to those whom they 

 exposed. Such were William Tipper and Robert Dawe, of London, 

 gentlemen, who apparently had reported badly of the hospital of 

 St. Nicholas to Sir Edward Dyer, who seems to have been chief 

 inquisitor for Wilts. Dyer issued a warrant against the hospital, 

 and petitioned the queen to grant its lands to Messrs. Tipper and 



1 In Mr. Dolshon's time one Thomas Green was admitted chaplain and brother, 

 4th February, 1587. 



