Notes on the hospital of St. Bartholomew, Rochester.

Date:
[1896?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes on the hospital of St. Bartholomew, Rochester. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Sir John Townsend tried to make good the King’s title, but Mr. Crooke ruled that unless they could shew the hospital to have paid first fruits to the King, he could not be entitled to it. Sir John Townsend asked time for enquiry, and promised at the same time that in the event of the King’s title being proved, the estates should nevertheless be conveyed to any whom the Dean should nominate upon reasonable conditions. The Dean, wishing to decide the matter, gave them £20 in hand, and promised more if it should be ruled that the King’s title was good, and the lands conveyed to him by the King for the use of the brethren. While the matter was thus depending, Sir Richard Bingley, the then Surveyor of the Navy, who was tenant to most part of the estates, “ did secretly deal ” with Sir John Townsend, in order to have the estates conveyed to such as he should nominate for the use of himself and his wife. Sir J. Townsend, “ being very willing to take any money also of him,” agreed, and caused the patentees, Buck, Lingen, and Wells, to convey the lands unto Messrs. Gilborne and Lucas for Sir Richard Bingley. Some of the tenants refusing to acknowledge these transactions, and continuing to pay rent to the the Brethren, Sir Rd. Bingley caused in 1620 an information to be laid against them. An information was filed by Sir Thomas Coventry, the Attorney a.d. Ib20. y J General, against the Dean and Chapter, and Brethren and tenants :— “ That whereas before the reign of our late sovereign Lord, King Henry VIII., there was founded by His Majesty’s progenitors in the parish of Chatham, in the county of Kent, a Hospital, Priory, or Fraternity, called St. Bartholomew’s, consisting of a Prior andrtai ces Friars or Brethren, and Sisters, to pray for the souls of the Foundern and all Xtian souls departed, or for some such other superstitious use, intent, or purpose. . . . which said Priory long since was in due form of law surrendered and dissolved. . . . and come unto his Highness. ... by virtue whereof his Majesty was actually seized of thesaid Fraternity, Priory, or Hospitall,” &c.