51. THE HOSPITAL OF ST. MARY, DOVER
Hubert de Burgh, earl of Kent, justiciary of
England, founded the hospital of St. Mary or the
Maison Dieu, Dover, for the maintenance of the
poor and infirm and pilgrims; and by charter (fn. 1)
in 1227 or 1228 he granted to it the manor of
Eastbridge. We first hear of it in 1221, when
a grant of protection was made to the brethren; (fn. 2)
and in the following year they had a presentation
to the church of Sellinge, (fn. 3) which was confirmed
to them in 1248. (fn. 4) In 1228 some treasure trove
was given (fn. 5) to the brethren of ' the new hospital
of Dover.'
The founder at an early date transferred the
patronage of the hospital to Henry III, who
granted on 11 October, 1229, that at every vacancy the brethren might elect a master, either
from the hospital or otherwise, and should have
the custody of the hospital without interference. (fn. 6)
A large number of charters were made to the
hospital by this king. On 6 July, 1227, he
granted to it the tithe of the issues of the passage
of the port of Dover; (fn. 7) in 1229 £10 yearly at
Michaelmas out of the issues of the port; (fn. 8) in
1230 50s. yearly from the issues of the port for
the support of a chaplain celebrating divine service daily in the hospital for the soul of Reymund
de Burge; (fn. 9) and on 12 December, 1231, .£10
yearly at Easter from the same as a dowry for the
church of the hospital, which was dedicated in
his presence. (fn. 10) On 14 February, 1229, he granted
that the master and brethren should be. quit of
suit of shires and various other charges. (fn. 11) On
11 July, 1228, he granted to them a yearly fair
at Bewsbury by their manor of Whitfield on the
feast of Sts. Philip and James, and the two days
following; (fn. 12) on 14 July in the same year the
manor of River; (fn. 13) and on 24 October, 1231,
the church of Warden in Sheppey. (fn. 14) In 1228 he
confirmed the grant by the founder of the manor
of Eastbridge with the advowson of the church; (fn. 15)
in 1231 the grant by the same of land in Milk
Street, London, and the advowson of the church
of Ospringe; (fn. 16) in 1247 the grant by the same
of the manor of Honeychild; (fn. 17) in 1228 the
grant by Simon de Warden of possessions in
Warden; (fn. 18) and in 1231 grants of land in
Sheppey, 100s. from the manor of Dersyngham,
and the manor of Coldred. (fn. 19) In 1235 several
grants were repeated. (fn. 20) On 5 September, 1229,
he granted to the brethren a porch which they
had built in the highway before the hospital, (fn. 21)
and which they afterwards, in 1278, had licence
to lengthen. (fn. 22) Edward I on 10 May, 1286,
granted to them free warren in their demesne
lands of Coldred, ' Kingesdune' by Middleton,
and Whitfield; (fn. 23) and charters of confirmation
were obtained from several later kings. (fn. 24) The
master successfully proved his claim to liberties
under Edward I and Edward II. (fn. 25)
Nicholas Haute had licence in 1410 to grant
a rent in Dover to the master and brethren to
find a lamp burning daily in the hospital before
the high altar; (fn. 26) and Richard III in 1484
granted to them in frankalmoign lands in Birchington, Monkton, and River. (fn. 27)
Pope Gregory IX in 1236 made a grant of
protection and confirmation of possessions and
liberties to the master and brethren, (fn. 28) and in
1239 he granted that they and their successors
should observe the rule of St. Augustine. (fn. 29)
The master had grants of protection in 1276,
1277, and 1280, when going beyond the seas on
business of the house. (fn. 30) In 1290 the question
of repair of dykes led to a dispute between him
and the tenants of his manors of Honeychild and
Eastbridge in Romney Marsh. (fn. 31)
The crown claimed corrodies in the hospital;
Henry de Oldington being sent there in 1315 to
receive such maintenance as Henry le Blessid,
deceased, had by order of the late king; (fn. 32) Richard
Waytewell in 1327, (fn. 33) and John Monyn in 1330. (fn. 34)
The chancellor had livery for himself and the
clerks of the chancery in the hospital by ancient
custom at all times when the chancery was at
Dover; and when the earl of Chester was lodged
there in 1325 he formally promised that it should
not be to the prejudice of the chancellor. (fn. 35) These
charges may have formed part of the reasons why
in 1325 and on several later occasions the hospital secured exemption from taxation on the
alleged ground of poverty. (fn. 36)
In 1352 application was made to the crown
for the arrest of Richard de Sellyngg, a vagabond
brother of the hospital. (fn. 37) In 1359 Thomas
Wodelonde was retained by a formal deed (fn. 38) to
keep the Watergate, serve in th: bakery when
required, and do other odd jobs about the hospital, receiving in return a corrody and 6s. 8d.
yearly.
Archbishop Warham made a visitation (fn. 39) of the
hospital on 20 September, 1511, when John
Clerke was master and there were five brethren
or priests. Simon Tempilman, who had been
instituted to the benefice of Leigh in the diocese
of Rochester, begged to be re-admitted to the
brotherhood of the house, so that he might reside
there or in his benefice, as he pleased; but this
was refused, as the master and brethren gave
evidence that when he had before been a brother
in the house he had been so quarrelsome, brawling, and litigious, that religion could not be properly observed. The brethren gave evidence
that the master held no annual meeting to announce the amount of their pensions, and only
told them the state of the house verbally and
without any details; and these points were
ordered to be rectified.
In August, 1533, (fn. 40) the master was ill and,
thinking he would not recover, by the advice of
friends he told the brethren that he intended
to resign for the safety of the house, as it was
likely none of them would have the mastership
on his death. They proceeded to election, and
after choosing two candidates whom he refused,
they finally elected John Burn ell, with whom he
was satisfied, but from whom he insisted on having surety that he should be allowed to have his
chamber, his keeper, and his kitchen for life.
The lawyer who was sent for to make the obligation, however, advised them first to obtain the
favour of some great man in the matter, lest the
king should refuse to admit Burnell; and acting
on this suggestion the master withdrew his resignation, telling the brethren to say that there was
none, but that one was chosen to govern the
house under him, 'and thus ye shall stop their
speech.'
This master was apparently John Clerke, who
must have reached a great age, as he was elected
in 1484, and signed the oath of acknowledgement
of the royal supremacy in December, 1534, with
Henry Wood, William Coorte, John Burnell,
William Nowlde, and John Enyver, brethren. (fn. 41)
He probably died soon afterwards, for reference
is made to the late master in an inventory (fn. 42) ot
the goods of the house, taken on 23 January,
1535, and signed by the above five brethren. It
included £24 7s. 6d. in ready money, silver
weighing 527½ oz., masers and nuts weighing
159 oz., 1,600 sheep, 119 bullocks and kine,
15 mares and colts, and 14 horses and geldings.
John Tompson succeeded to the mastership.
Christopher Hales gave him a bad character in a
letter to Cromwell, (fn. 43) but he probably owed his
appointment to business ability, for he is frequently
mentioned during the next few years as superintendent of the new harbour works at Dover.
He was master at the time of the Valor of 1535,
in which the whole possessions of the house, including the manors of Dudmanswyk, Eastbridge,
Great and Little Pokton, ' Northmersshe,' River,
Whitfield, Coldred, Pising, Kingsdown, and
Charlton, were valued (fn. 44) at £231 16s. 7/ 14d.
yearly, the net value being £159 18s. 6¾d., after
deductions of £71 18d. o½d. for rents, pensions,
fees, in dispute and ' charges by the foundation.'
These last apparently were the only benefit that
the poor now got from the hospital, as the
brothers were of the nature of fellows or canons.
In 1544 the Maison Dieu was reported as
suitable for a victualling yard, (fn. 45) and it was surrendered on 11 December by Henry Wood,
John Burnell, William Noole, and John Tompson. (fn. 46)
Masters of St. Mary's, Dover
John de Hertford, resigned 1248 (fn. 47)
Michael de Kenebalton, elected 1248 (fn. 48)
Edmund, occurs 1271, (fn. 49) 1278 (fn. 50)
Ralph de Marisco, elected 1280 (fn. 51)
Thomas de Dovor, elected 1281 (fn. 52)
Henry de Herefeld, elected 1305 (fn. 53)
John de Dovorre, elected 1316 (fn. 54)
Walter de Rydelyngweld or Hedebrand, (fn. 54a)
elected 1338, (fn. 55) resigned 1358 (fn. 56)
Simon deBrusele, elected 1359, (fn. 57) died 1368 (fn. 58)
Alexander Wayte, elected 1368, (fn. 59) died 1378 (fn. 60)
Valentine de Bere, elected 1378, (fn. 60) died 1407 (fn. 61)
Roger Kympton, elected 1407, (fn. 61) died 1420 (fn. 62)
James Brandred, elected 1420, (fn. 62) resigned
1439 (fn. 63)
Giles Crouche, elected 1439 (fn. 63)
John Wellys, elected 1442, (fn. 64) died 1446 (fn. 65)
Thomas Moys, elected 1446 (fn. 66)
John Barboure, elected 1467, (fn. 67) died 1478 (fn. 68)
William Baker, elected 1478 (fn. 69)
John Clerk, elected 1484, (fn. 70) occurs 1511, (fn. 71)
1534 (fn. 71)
John Tompson, occurs 1535, (fn. 71) the last master (fn. 71)
The seal (fn. 72) of the hospital (twelfth century) is
a pointed oval measuring 2½ in. by 1⅝ in., representing the Virgin seated on a carved throne
under a trefoiled canopy, with the Child on her
right knee. In the field on each side a countersunk quatrefoiled panel containing a head. Over
these on, the left a crescent and a star, on the
right a demi-angel with a censer. In base under
a trefoiled arch the master half-length in prayer,
to the left. Legend:—
SIGIL' 9MUNE DOM9 HOSPITAL' BE MARIE DOVOR'