28. HOSPITAL OF ST. MARGARET, HIGH WYCOMBE
The hospital of St. Margaret is mentioned
first in 1229, when a yearly fair was granted to
the master and leprous brethren on the vigil
of the feast of St. Margaret. (fn. 1) Richard, master of 'the hospital for the sick' at Wycombe,
jointly with the master of the hospital of
Crowmersh, sued Walter Champion for tithes
in 1268 (fn. 2) ; and the same two masters claimed
a tenth sheaf in the fields of Wigan de Wallingford in Oving, after the church tithes had
been collected. (fn. 3) These suits may refer either
to the hospital of St. Margaret or to that of
St. Giles, the hospital of St. John being apparently for the poor.
An indulgence was granted in 1368 to the
hospital of 'St. Gilbert and St. Margaret next
Wycombe' by Bishop Bokyngham. (fn. 4)
29. HOSPITAL OF ST. GILES, HIGH WYCOMBE
The hospital of St. Giles, High Wycombe,
was founded for the reception of lepers before
1229, when letters of protection were issued
to these. (fn. 5) In 1389 John Skefthyng was appointed warden, (fn. 6) but shortly after this date
it was dissolved. It was granted early in the
reign of Henry V. to a certain Thomas Giles,
and its endowments were finally bestowed
upon the college of Windsor. (fn. 7)
30. HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST, HIGH WYCOMBE
This hospital was certainly in existence
early in the thirteenth century, if not in the
twelfth. In an inquisition taken in 1245, it
was found that the brethren and sisters of
this house were bound to distribute annually
on Lady Day to the poor who should ask alms
at their gate bread to the amount of two
quarters of wheat, and also to pray for the
soul of Adam Walder, who may have been the
founder. (fn. 8) A fragment of a charter exists
which must have been made out between
1235 and 1241. (fn. 9) In 1236 the master of the
hospital gained the day in a suit with Richard
of Rouen concerning a carucate of land in
High Wycombe. (fn. 10) In 1239 the brethren received a grant of a yearly fair on the vigil of
the Translation of St. Thomas of Canterbury. (fn. 11)
In 1548 the commissioners found that there
was a master in possession of the hospital, but
no brethren. The original purpose of the foundation was quite forgotten, and the charter
had been burnt. It was still however a part
of the master's duty to find three beds for
poor and infirm persons coming through the
town. (fn. 12)
After the Suppression of Chantries the
house was sold to the mayor and burgesses,
and converted into a grammar school. (fn. 13)
In 1302 and 1346 the master of St. John's
Hospital held one-fifth of a knight's fee in
Wycombe. (fn. 14) Its clear value at the suppression was £8 10s. (fn. 15)
Masters of the Hospital
Gilbert, (fn. 16) occurs 1236
Robert, (fn. 17) occurs 1265
Adam, (fn. 18) instituted 1277
Geoffrey, (fn. 19) died 1304
Richard de la Raye, (fn. 20) Instituted 1304, resigned 1310
John Outrel, (fn. 21) instituted 1310
John de Martham, (fn. 22) died 1344
Hugh of Newton, (fn. 23) instituted 1344, resigned 1344
Michael of Northburgh, (fn. 24) instituted 1344,
resigned 1354
John of Hale, (fn. 25) instituted 1354, died 1355
John atte Corner, (fn. 26) instituted 1355, died
1361
Hugh of Bridham, (fn. 27) instituted 1361
William of Lokington, (fn. 28) instituted 1369
John Talworth, (fn. 29) instituted 1382
John Dede, (fn. 30) instituted 1440
John Benet, (fn. 31) instituted 1456
Hugh Clay, (fn. 32) resigned 1471
William Blackpoll, (fn. 33) instituted 1471, died
1474
John Wykes, (fn. 34) instituted 1474, died 1478
Edmund Hampden, (fn. 35) instituted 1478, resigned 1484
Geoffrey Hemmysby, (fn. 36) instituted 1484,
died 1493
Edward Wellesbourne, (fn. 37) instituted 1493
William Trew, (fn. 38) instituted 1522, resigned
1541
Charles Chalfont, (fn. 39) instituted 1541