but we may regret the wanton spoliation of property devoted to sacred purposes exhibited in their utter destruction, the heavy blow inflicted on learning, more especially on that science with which we are more immediately concerned, ecclesiastical architecture; the indifference manifested for the rights of the poor, who had been accustomed to their regular dole at the gates of the monastery, to have their children educated within its walls, their sick nursed in its infirmary.

The religious houses existing before the Reformation may be divided into two classes: first, the monasteries inhabited by the regular clergy, so called in opposition to those who lived after the fashion of the sæculum or age; and second, the hospitia, endowed for the support of poor brethren, in whose constitution, though there was much that was ecclesiastical, the main feature was a provision for the sick or infirm. We shall first consider the nature of these institutions, and then notice the privileges they enjoyed.

The number of ancient Hospitals mentioned in the Monasticon as existing at the æra of Henry VIII., is 387. The earliest hospitals were probably nothing more than houses on the road-side, at which the chance traveller might obtain refreshment. Of this original design some traces were preserved until a late period.* For instance, in the hospital of St. Cross, near Winchester, the porter is still furnished, according to statute, with a certain quantity of bread and beer, of which any traveller who knocks at the lodge and calls for relief, is entitled to partake gratis. It is however probable that this simple form of the ancient hospitium lasted not long. In an age in which ecclesiastical influence so thoroughly permeated the land, a religious foundation would soon be grafted on the charitable. In accordance with this, we find that in most of the hospitals existing at the time of the dissolution, there were resident priests in addition to the poor brethren. In that of St. Cross, above alluded to, we read of a master, four chaplains, thirteen clerks, and seven choristers. In the foundation of St. Mary and St. Mark, in this city, the two characters of a religious house and a place of charity are distinctly marked, the endowment having been for the support of three chaplains, and for feeding twenty-seven poor persons every day. It is perhaps scarcely necessary to mention, that the hospital thus constituted was set apart with a solemn form of dedication. In addition to those who lived within the walls, it appears that to all the large foundations was attached a body of out-pensioners, entitled by the will of the founder to a certain alms. Thus at St. Cross, the foundation required, that besides the residents, a hundred others should be found, the most indigent that the city could furnish; and that these should be provided every day with a loaf of bread, three quarts of beer, and two messes for their dinner, in a hall appointed for the purpose, thence called "hundred-mennes-hall." Provision was also made for

the sick as well as the poor; and amongst the former, particular regard was had to the disease of leprosy, and that probably in consequence of the especial mention made of it in Holy Writ. The stringent rules of the Mosaical law would seem to have rendered the leper a peculiar

* God's House, at Dover, was founded, "ad sustentationem pauperum et peregrinorum ibidem advenientium."

object of compassion. It may be observed in passing, that at the gates of the monasteries was oftentimes a small lodging for persons labouring under this disease, as was the case at the abbey of Reading; and the hospital of St. Bartholomew, half-a-mile eastward of Oxford, founded probably by Henry I., consisted of a master, who was a priest, two healthful brethren, and six infirm or leprous brethren. In this we have three distinct features, the ecclesiastical headship, the almshouse for the poor, and the infirmary for the sick.

"

We come now to the habits of life in these institutions, and we shall of course expect to see it savouring strongly of the monastic system. A particular dress appears to have been enjoined; and according to the wonted legislation of our forefathers, the most minute particulars were entered into by the statutes. We meet with several laws, "De habitu Fratrum ; "De calciamentis Fratrum." Before admission, each person had to pass a time of probation, during which he was excluded from all concern in the management of the establishment; but having been admitted, we do not find that he was always constrained to a vow of poverty. In one code which has come down to us, it is expressly provided that each resident may possess whatever property he can honestly acquire, provided that "ipsis decedentibus vel discedentibus," the said property should not be alienated, but converted to the common use of the hospital. The candidate for the benefit of the charity, having thus passed a kind of noviciate, and having made a vow of chastity, was forthwith obliged to a close attendance upon the services of the church. "In the morning (we quote from the statutes of St. Julian in Herts.), at the tolling of the bell, let all rise at canonical hours, and entering the chapel let them seat themselves in order according as they enter, so that none presume through arrogance to claim the place of another, and let none presume to excuse himself, unless on account of more than ordinary infirmity, and let all keep silence until the service be done." Again, the statutes of St. Mary's at Lyme, enjoin that all should attend the service of the seven canonical hours, and pray for the founders and benefactors of the place. We shall make one more quotation in reference to this point; it is from the charter of the hospital of St. John the Baptist, at Coventry, and runs thus: "We do ordain that the sacred office according to the use of Salisbury be celebrated by the master and brethren, and chaplains, with due reverence, at the proper hours; that of the lay brethren, the illiterati,' shall in place of matins say the Lord's Prayer 30 times, the same number of Aves, and one Credo ; and that at the other hours the exercises be 7 Pater-nosters, Ave, and Credo; but that the 'literati' repeat the services to the Virgin, and the Psaltery of the same."

We come now to notice the privileges secured to these institutions. The first is founded on a decree of the Lateran Council, held 1179, and grants a remission from paying certain tythes. This rule would seem, however, to apply only to houses for the relief of leprosy; for we find this exception from paying tenths, granted by various sovereigns to particular foundations. One instance occurs after the Reformation: to the hospital of Heytesbury, in Wiltshire, Queen Elizabeth granted a patent of exemption from payment of first-fruits and tenths. We may notice also the privilege of holding fairs at certain seasons, generally on

the festival of the patron saint. An example occurs in a patent given by Richard I., to the foundation of St. Mary Magdalen, at Colchester. The hospital at Dover was endowed by Henry III., with the tenth of the revenues arising from the port at that place and lastly, king Henry III. granted licence to the hospital at Coventry, to send either the brothers or sisters of the house, or any messengers, to gather alms for them during the space of seven years, and enjoined all persons to assist and defend them.

It would appear also that it was sometimes deemed necessary to obtain the express protection of the court of Rome. We are not told what were the circumstances which led to the application for the following bull, granted by Pope Honorius, A. S. 1221, to the hospital at Coventry. "We do take (it runs) your persons, with all the goods which ye now possess or shall hereafter acquire by just means, under the protection of the blessed St.. Peter and our own, more especially the land of Smercote, with the houses and other effects thereto belonging."

66

It is unnecessary to multiply examples; the above are sufficient to shew the sources from which a great part of the revenue of thes foundations was derived; and we now proceed to give a brief account of the hospital of St. Catherine, a few remains of which existing in our neighbourhood have been the origin of this paper. It was founded by Robert de Berklie, who died 4 Henry III., for a master, or warden, and seven poor brethren,* and is mentioned by William of Worcester, as Hospitalis domus in ecclesiâ Sanctæ Catherinæ ubi magister Henricus Alyngdon musicus de capellâ regis est magister." The registers of Wells inform us that it was not a house of religious at its first foundation; and that heretofore, the master or warden had with him, at a time, three or four priests or brethren, who always wore the habit of secular priests, except that instead of the outer vest, they used a cope or mantle of black, with a St. Catherine's wheel of cloth of another colour sewed to the left breast.t In accordance with this statement, we learn that Richard Waldegrave, a layman, was chosen warden, in the year 1523, and that his successor was also a layman.

The foundation of Robert de Berklie was confirmed by his brother, Sir Thomas, who also gave it lands and tenements in Bishopworth. The buildings of the hospital were enlarged in the reign of Edward I.; and in the 19 Edward III., Sir Thomas Berklie, grandson of the above Sir Thomas, founded a chantry in the chapel, for a priest to say mass for Lord Maurice his father, and Margaret his wife, which chantry he endowed with lands in Portbury and Bedminster; he also erected a hermitage in Bedminster, and gave to the warden of St. Catherine's a parcel of land near to the hospital.

In the first year of Richard II., lands in Ashton, near the church, were granted by Alexander de Alveto, to Robert the master, brethren, and sisters of the hospital, in free charity.

The hospital thus founded and endowed continued from about the year 1220 to the general dissolution of religious houses. Nominally the establishment continued until the middle of the reign of Elizabeth, the last master on record, Francis Nevil, having been elected on the

* Vid. Dugdale, Baronage. Vol. i. p. 352. + Vid. Tanner's Notitia Monastica.

26th May 1573. It is, however, probable that the brethren had by degrees deserted it, as in the 2nd year of Edward VI., when the chapel was sold, it was certified that the master assigned but three cottages for the poor to live in, and no maintenance. The revenues never exceeded the yearly value of £24, out of which the hospital paid to the rector of Bedminster an annual pension of 6s. 8d.; and to the same church, on the feast of St. John the Baptist, two wax candles of a pound weight each.* In 1534, the revenues were valued at £21. 15s. 10d. When sold, the chapel was said to have a chalice of silver, of 8oz., ornaments valued at 4s. 6d., and of bellmetal 101 lb.

The lords of the manor were the successive patrons,† and appear to have exercised the right of presenting to the mastership, subject to the approval of the bishop of Bath and Wells; for in 1349, we read of Ralph, bishop of Bath and Wells, admitting Walter de Estham, priest, to the house and hospital of St. Catherine, on the presentation of Thomas de Berklie, patron. In the year 1357, John of Eggesworth made his profession before the bishop in the following terms :

"I, John of Eggesworth, promise perpetual observance of good morals, chastity, and denial of property, which I will keep from my soul from this time, according to the rule of the hospital of St. Catherine, near Bristol, in the diocese of Bath and Wells, which I henceforth profess, as ordained by the holy fathers, as much as is consistent with the said rule, or hereafter shall be consistent for me to observe, and I will lead my life according to regular discipline."

The ruins of this ancient house are very insignificant; nor have we any data on which to form a conception of what the original building was. Assuming the account we have given of the life led in these institutions to be correct, we must suppose it to have contained, besides a chapel, of which mention has been made, an infirmary and refectory, probably of considerable dimensions. The body of the chapel is stated by Collinson to have been 49 feet long, and 21 feet wide; the chancel 27 feet long and 16 wide. The building now remaining has been broken up into cottages of the most wretched description. But a few ancient windows are still visible, though blocked up, and a doorway on the south side, under a very depressed arch, the mouldings round which are boldly cut.

On the 16th of June 1587, the site of this hospital was granted to Edward Herne and John Nicholas, and their heirs, by whom it was sold in the next year, to Henry Nevil, Esquire, from whose hands it passed into the possession of Sir Hugh Smyth.

It is a singular circumstance that the seal of the hospital, of which a representation stands at the head of this paper, contains beneath a canopy, a figure, not of St. Catharine, but of St. Mary Magdalen; and the inscription round it describes it as the seal of the Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen of Brightbow. In all the documents quoted in this notice, the hospital is spoken of merely as the hospital of St. Catharine; and we have no where found it mentioned as having had a double dedication. That the seal however was the seal of St. Catharine's hospital there can be no doubt, since there is no record of any other establishment of this kind ever having existed in that locality.

*

Excerp. e Regist. Wellen. +Collinson's Hist. of Somerset. Vol. ii. p. 280.

THE Parish of Boyton is situated on the banks of the Wylye, a little river from which the name of the county is derived.* It lies seven miles S. E. from Warminster, near the road leading to Salisbury; and is in the deanery of Wylye, the archdeaconry of Sarum, and the Diocese of Salisbury.

The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is situated on a level ground at the bottom of the valley, and surrounded by trees. It is a building of considerable interest, though of no great size; but in both respects it is superior to most of the churches of the neighbourhood.

The disposition of its parts is somewhat singular; the tower being situated on the north side of the nave, between a small chapel on its eastern side, and a sacristy upon the west. On the south side is an interesting mortuary chapel, opposite to, but considerably larger than that already mentioned on the north. The principal dimensions of the church are as follow:-the chancel is in length 33 feet 6 inches, and

* "And Wylye claims of right the Plain should hold her dear, Which gives that town the name, which also names the shire."

Wilton, of Wily, and Wiltshire of Wilton.

Polyolbion.