for ever, be and shall be one bodie corporate and politique of itselfe in deede and name, by the name of the Wardeine and poore of the Hospitall of the Holie Trinitie in Croydon of the foundation of John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie, and the same Wardeine and poore and their successors by the said name of the Wardeine and poore of the Hospitall of the Holie Trinitie in Croydon of the foundation of John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie, doth by theis presents according to the said power and authority before mentioned, incorporate, create, and make one bodie corporate and politique by the same name for ever to the pleasure of Almightie God to endure; and also really and fully for him and his heires doth erect, creat, and ordayne, make constitute and establish firmely by theise presents; and that by the same name of the Wardeine and poore of the Hospital of the Holie Trinitie in Croydon of the foundation of John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie, at all tymes hereafter, they shall be called and nominated, and by that name have a perpetuall contynuance and succession for ever; and that by the same name they be and shall be persons able apte and capable in the lawe to purchase, receive, have and possess as well goodes and chattells, as manors landes tenements, rents and hereditaments whatsoever (not exceeding the value of two hundreth pounds by the yeare) to them and their successors for ever, as well of our Soveraigne Ladie the Queene's Majestie, her heires and successors, as of the said Archbishop of Canterburie, his heires and assignes, or of any other person or persons, for the sustentation, mayntenance, and reliefe of the said Hospitall, and of the said Wardeine and poore therein from tyme to tyme abiding, and to be relieved according to the forme, effect, and true meaning of the said Acte of Parliament, to all intents and purposes: and also the said Archbishop graunteth assigneth and appoynteth by theis presents to the said Wardeine and poore of the Hospitall of the Holie Trinitie in Croydon of the foundation of John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie and to their successors, that they for ever hereafter shall and maye have and enjoye a common seale to serve for their affayres concerning the said Hospitall, and everie of them, engraved with the history of Dives and Lazarus, and a scutcheon of the armes of the said John Whitegift, and circumscribed with these words, “Segillum Hospitalis Sanctæ Trinitatis in villa de Croydon ;" and that the said Warden and poore of the said Hospitall, and their successors, by the name of the Wardeyne and poore of the Hospitall of the Holie Trinitie in Croydon of the foundation of John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie, may and shall be able to plead and be impleded, sue and to be sued, defend and to be defended, aunswer and to be aunswered unto in all and singular causes, quarrells, suits, and actions whatsoever, of whatsoever kind or nature they be, in whatsoever places or courts of our said Soveraigne Ladie the Queene, her heires or successors, or in the courtes and places of any other person or persons whatsoever, and before any judges or justices whatsoever within this realme of England or elsewhere; and to doe and execute, performe and accomplish all and singular other things whatsoever, and that as fully and freely, and in as large and ample manner and forme as persons incorporate, or any other the liege people of our said Soveraigne Ladie the Queen being persons able and capable in the lawe, may lawefully doe and execute in anie parte or place within the realme of England; and that the same Hospitall, and the Wardeyne and maymed poore or impotent persons of the same for the tyme being, and everie of them shall be from tyme to tyme ordered, directed, and visited, placed, or upon just cause displaced and amoved by suche person or persons, bodies politique or corporate, their heires, successors, or assignes, as shall be nominated or assigned by the said John Whitegift, his heires or assignes, according to such rules, statutes, and ordinances, as shall be set forth, made, devised, or established by the said John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie, or his heires or assignes, in writinge under his or their or some of their handes and seals, not beinge repugnant or contrarie to the lawes and statutes of this realme: and furthermore the said pre John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie doth by theis sents appoynte, assigne, and lymit that all the profitts, commodities and revenewes of all the landes, tenements, rents, hereditaments and possessions by theis presents mentioned to be given, or hereafter to be given, and likewise all the goodes and chattels hereafter to be given to the relief of the same Hospitall, shall be converted, disposed, and employed to and for the mayntenaunce and sustentation of the said Hospitall, and of the said bodie and members thereof, according to the rules statutes and ordinaunces hereafter to be lymited, assigned, or appoynted as is aforesaid: and further the said John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie to and for the present endowment of the said Hospitall doth by theis presents (according to the purport and true meaning of the said Acte of Parliament) give, graunt, appoynte, and confirme unto the said Wardeine and poore of the said Hospitall of the Holie Trinitie in Croydon of the foundation of John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie, and to their successors for ever one annuitie or yearly rent of tenne pounds by the yeare of lawful money of England to be had and taken out of all those landes and tenements of the said John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie called or known by the severall names of Christian-field, and Rye-croft, conteyninge by estimation threescore and seventeen acres, scituat lying and being in the parish of Croydon in the said county of Surrey, to have and to receive the said annuitie or yearly rent of tenne pounds unto the said Wardeyne and poore of the said Hospital of the Holie Trinitie in Croydon of the foundation of John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie, and to their successors for ever, at the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, and the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, by even portions yearlie to be paid: and if it happen the said yearlie rent of tenne pounds, or anie parte thereof to be behind unpaid, in parte or in all by the space of tenne days after any of the said feasts in which (as aforesaid) it ought to be paid, that then, and so often, it shall be lawful for the said Wardeine and poore of the saide Hospitall of the Holie Trinitie in Croydon of the foundation of John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie, to their successors and assignes, to enter into the premises, or any parte thereof, there to distrayne, and the distresse so taken to withold, untill they be of the said rent and of the arrearages (if any be) fully satisfied contented and paid; which said landes and tenements, called or known by the several names of Christian-field and Rye-croft, are holden in soceage, and the said John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie is and standeth thereof seized of a good sure and lawful estate in fee simple, absolutelie to him and his heires. In witness whereof the said John Whitegift Archbishop of Canterburie to this present deede hath putt his hande and seale. Dated the five and twentith day of June, in the yeare of the reigne of our Soverayne Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of God, Queene of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith &c. the one and fortithe, Abstract of the Statutes of Whitgift's Hospital*. I. Number of Poor to be maintained. THAT the number of Brethren and Sisters shall be always thirty at the least, and so many more under forty as the revenues of the Hospital will permit; of which number one shall teach * See the original at length in the Manuscript Library at Lambeth, No, 275. a common school in Croydon, in the school-house built by the Founder, and shall perform such other offices as are appointed by these statutes. That the yearly sum of £10. be reserved out of the revenues, for repairs, suits in law, and other necessary charges. That if any vacancy of a poor Brother or Sister continue for the space of one whole month, or of the Schoolmaster for three months, or if there be any overplus when the Hospital shall be full, the amount arising from such vacancies, or from such overplus, shall be reserved as a common stock for repairs, and other common charges. II. Concerning Poor Sisters. That at no time above one half part of the whole number (not counting the Warden and the Schoolmaster) shall consist of women only. Provided always that the poor widows of longest continuance in Croydon and Lambeth, being duly qualified according to the statutes, shall be preferred before all others. III. Who shall not be lodged, or entertained in the Hospital. That no man or woman shall lodge wife, children, or others, not being members of the Hospital; nor shall entertain any person in Croydon, not being born there, or remaining there for the three last years, lest the town be hereafter burdened, upon pain of being dismissed for ever from the Hospital. IV. Of the election and placing of the Members of the Hospital, That within one month after notification by the Warden, of a vacancy, the Archbishop of Canterbury, for the time being, or, the See being void, the Parson of Lambeth, and Vicar or Curate of Croydon, shall nominate, and place some one qualified according to these statutes, under his or their hand |