24. HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST AND ST. JOHN EVANGELIST, NEWPORT PAGNEL.
There were certainly two hospitals, at
Newport Pagnel, even if we identify the
'New Hospital' of 1240 with that of St. John
Baptist. (fn. 1) If the identification should prove
to be a mistake there would be three, but it
seems most probable that it is correct. The
'New Hospital' is first mentioned in a will of
1240 (fn. 2) : an inquisition of 1245 alludes to the
master of the hospital of St. John Baptist
among the tenants of Roger de Somery. (fn. 3)
According to a foundation charter quoted in
Bull's History of Newport Pagnel the hospital
of St. John Baptist was said to have been
founded by John de Somery (fn. 4) ; a commission
appointed at the new foundation under
James I. reported that it was first built in the
reign of Henry III. or earlier, and until 1275
had a master, brethren and sisters. (fn. 5) Letters
of protection were granted in that year to a
master and brethren only, (fn. 6) but in 1329 again
to a master, brethren and sisters (fn. 7) ; Indulgences were granted to those who would contribute to the maintenance of the house in
1301 (fn. 8) and 1336 (fn. 9) ; in 1332 the brethren received a licence from the king to collect alms
once a year. (fn. 10) In 1336 it was stated that the
master and brethren had become quite dependent on charity. (fn. 11) By 1387 there is no more
allusion to the hospital: masters were instituted from that time forward to the 'free
chapel or hospital' of St. John Baptist and St.
John Evangelist. At the Suppression of the
Chantries and Hospitals the commissioners
stated that the original intent of the foundation was unknown: the house was down, the
chapel sore in decay, and no hospitality had
been kept for sixteen years. The incumbent
was 'of honest understanding,' but nonresident. The clear revenue of the house
was £6 10s. 6d. (fn. 12)
It seems probable that as there was another
hospital founded at Newport, this one may
have been originally intended for the poor.
It was refounded for this purpose, under the
name of Queen Anne's Hospital, in the reign
of James I. (fn. 13)
Masters of the Hospital
Adam Russell, (fn. 14) resigned 1291
Gilbert de Luda, (fn. 15) elected 1291, died 1303
Richard of Willen, (fn. 16) elected 1303
John Drayton, (fn. 17) elected 1340
William Draper, (fn. 18) elected 1345, resigned
1355
Thomas Atte More, (fn. 19) elected 1355, died
1360
Henry de Hauksherd, (fn. 20) instituted 1360,
died 1369
Ralf Heyward, (fn. 21) instituted 1369, resigned
1374
John Dene, (fn. 22) instituted 1374, resigned 1381
John Carter, (fn. 23) instituted 1381, died 1386
Thomas Mody, (fn. 24) instituted 1386
Henry Smith, (fn. 25) died 1483
William Baynton, (fn. 26) S.T.P., instituted 1483,
died 1496
Thomas Wimeston, (fn. 27) instituted 1496, died
1501
Thomas Smytheson, (fn. 28) instituted 1501, died
1506
Thomas Copland, (fn. 29) S.T.P., instituted 1506,
resigned 1510
Edward Champion, (fn. 30) instituted 1510, died
1528
Thomas Thornham, (fn. 31) instituted 1528, died
1548
John Saunderson, (fn. 32) instituted 1548
25. HOSPITAL OF ST. MARGARET, NEWPORT PAGNEL
This hospital is only mentioned once in a
will dated 1240. (fn. 33) Its date of foundation, its
purpose, and the time when it finally disappeared are alike unknown.