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The Mediæval Hospitals of England by Rotha Mary Clay

3. PROFITS BY TRADING

306 words  |  Chapter 83

The fair was a great institution in mediæval England, and the funds of privileged charities were assisted in this way. At Maiden Bradley the leprous women and their prior held a weekly market and an annual fair. The Chesterfield fair was exchanged for a yearly payment of six pounds of silver from the royal Exchequer, which indicates the value set upon it. The most notable hospital-fairs were that of the leper-house near Cambridge (originally held in the close and still held on Stourbridge Common), and those connected with St. Bartholomew’s and St. James’ near London. The story of the former has been told by H. Morley; and the “May-Fair” of St. James’ leper-house was also famous. These galas were usually at the patronal festival and lasted two or three days, but occasionally these profitable festivities were carried on for a fortnight. Fairs were held at the following hospitals:— [p183] Aynho, Bath (Holloway), Bury (St. Nicholas, St. Saviour), Baldock, Colchester (St. Mary Magdalene), Devizes (St. James & St. Denys), Dover (Buckland), Harting, Ipswich, Lingerscroft, Newbury, Newport, Newton Garth, Racheness, Royston (St. Nicholas), Swinestre near Sittingbourne, Thetford (St. John), Wycomb (2), etc. This curious and interesting custom survives in connection with St. Bartholomew’s, Newbury. The fair, originally granted by charter of King John (1215),[109] still takes place annually on the day and morrow of St. Bartholomew (_Old Style_), upon lands belonging to the hospital. A “Court of Pie Powder” is held on the morrow of St. Bartholomew’s day; the proctor of this ancient charity with the steward and bailiff attend, and proclamation is made opening the Court. Tolls derived from stallages are collected, together with an impost of 2_d._ on every publican in Newbury (the latter due being resisted in a few cases). The following day the Court meets again, when the proceeds are divided amongst the almsmen.[110]
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Chapters

1. Chapter 1 2. CHAPTER I 3. CHAPTER II 4. CHAPTER III 5. CHAPTER IV 6. CHAPTER V 7. CHAPTER VI 8. CHAPTER VII 9. CHAPTER VIII 10. CHAPTER IX 11. CHAPTER X 12. CHAPTER XI 13. CHAPTER XII 14. CHAPTER XIII 15. CHAPTER XIV 16. CHAPTER XV 17. CHAPTER XVI 18. PART II 19. 1. St. John’s Hospital, Oxford . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 1 20. 2. A Pilgrim . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 6 21. 3. Domus Conversorum, London . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 20 22. 4. *Poor Priests’ Hospital, Canterbury . . . B. C. Boulter . . . 23 23. 7. The Leper and the Physician . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 59 24. 8. Elias, a Leper-monk . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 64 25. 9. A Leper . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 68 26. 10. “The Memorial of Matilda the Queen” . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 71 27. 11. *Tomb of Rahere in St. Bartholomew’s, Smithfield . . . J. Charles 28. 12. Memorial Brass of John Barstaple . . . — . . . 84 29. 13. *St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Bristol . . . S. J. Loxton . . . 89 30. 15. Seal of Knightsbridge Hospital . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 103 31. 19. Plan of St. Mary’s, Chichester . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 112 32. 20. Plan of St. Nicholas’, Salisbury . . . — . . . 113 33. 21. Sherburn Hospital, near Durham . . . — . . . 118 34. 22. Plan of St. Mary Magdalene’s, Winchester . . . J. Charles Wall 35. 23. *Chapel of Abbot Beere’s Almshouse, Glastonbury . . . J. Charles 36. 24. Seal of the leper-women of Westminster . . . J. Charles Wall 37. 25. *Ancient Hospital Altar at Glastonbury . . . — . . . 165 38. 26. A Leper with clapper and dish . . . — . . . 177 39. 27. Document and Seal of Holy Innocents’, Lincoln . . . J. Charles 40. 28. Alms-box, Harbledown Hospital . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 192 41. 29. *Bell-turret of St. Mary Magdalene’s, Glastonbury . . . E. H. New 42. 30. Seal of St. Anthony’s, London . . . J. Charles Wall . . . 208 43. 31. *Gateway of St. John’s, Canterbury . . . B. C. Boulter . . . 241 44. 32. Seal of St. Mary Magdalene’s, Bristol . . . J. Charles Wall 45. 36. A Pilgrim’s Sign . . . — . . . 265 46. 37. Seal of St. Bartholomew’s, Rochester . . . J. Charles Wall 47. INTRODUCTION 48. CHAPTER I 49. 1520. At that time the needs of visitors were met by special provision, 50. CHAPTER II 51. CHAPTER III 52. CHAPTER IV 53. CHAPTER V 54. 1. PIONEERS OF CHARITY 55. 2. PUBLIC OPINION 56. 3. CIVIL JURISDICTION 57. 4. ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION 58. 5. EXAMINATION OF SUSPECTED PERSONS 59. 6. TREATMENT OF THE BODY 60. 7. TREATMENT OF THE SPIRIT 61. CHAPTER VI 62. 1445. Because 63. CHAPTER VII 64. CHAPTER VIII 65. 1244. Buckler’s sketches (Pl. XV) give some idea of the charm of the 66. CHAPTER IX 67. 1. NOMINATION AND ADMISSION 68. 2. REGULATIONS 69. 3. PENALTIES 70. CHAPTER X 71. CHAPTER XI 72. 1. THE SERVICES 73. 2. THE CHAPEL 74. CHAPTER XII 75. 1. FOOD 76. 2. FIRING AND LIGHTS 77. 3. BEDDING 78. 4. TOILET 79. 5. CLOTHING 80. CHAPTER XIII 81. 1. ENDOWMENTS 82. 2. BEQUESTS 83. 3. PROFITS BY TRADING 84. 4. ADMISSION FEES 85. 5. INVOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS 86. 7. ALMS OF PILGRIMS 87. 1519. Shortly after leaving the city, where the road becomes steep 88. CHAPTER XIV 89. 1. _The Monastic Orders_ 90. 2. _The Military Orders_ 91. 3. _The Friars_ 92. CHAPTER XV 93. 1462. From these facts several conclusions are drawn. The industrial 94. CHAPTER XVI 95. part I think often, that those men which seek spoil of hospitals

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