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.

    15/24 (page 13)
    The information farther charged the defendants with having combined to conceal the King’s right, and with having intruded upon 14 messuages and 40 acres of land, parcell of the possessions belonging to the said Hospitall. The tenants answered by Mr. Thos. Lee, giving a general denial to the charges, stating the amounts which they had expended in im¬ proving the property, and urging the injustice of depriving them thereof. The Dean and Chapter answer that the Hospital was an ancient lay hospital of the advowson of the Prior of St. Andrew, and since the Dissolution, of the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral. That it had consisted from time immemorial of a Governor (or) Prior, Brethren, and Sisters, who were secular, not regular. They deny that it was founded by any of his Majesty’s progenitors—that it was intended for any superstitious uses—and that it was ever surrendered or dissolved. K D 1^22. This was followed by a replication of the Attorney General, re¬ asserting the charges, and this replication by a rejoinder of the Dean and Chapter, and the other defendants, denying them as before. A commission was now appointed for the examination of witnesses, “ but Sir Rd. Bingley would never execute the same, but by the convey¬ ance aforesaid intituled himself to the estates.” The Dean and Dr. Filesley, one of the prebendaries, some time afterwards petitioned Parliament, but without result. The Brethren next petitioned the Attorney General that he would call before him all parties to the suit. This being done, and Sir R. Bingley failing to make out the King’s title, the Attorney General gave order that the suit in the Exchequer should not be proceeded with, but advised an agreement. This failed, and shortly afterwards Sir R. Bingley died. a.d. 1624. Upon the appointment of Dean Balcangnall, at the instance of the poor brethren, he caused Lady Bingley to show title in the Court of Chancery, and to restore the rents detained Irom the brethren. The matter was submitted for arbitration to Ed. Smith and John Seldon, ot