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RELIGIOUS HOUSES live as religious, having a common refectory and dormitory; they were to have the tonsure of a priest and to wear clothing of any sober colour, covered by a dark mantle. They were to remain in the hospital for life, and, when admitted, to take an oath of obedience to the statutes and to the master; they were every day to sing the canonical hours and celebrate the divine office for the living and the dead, praying especially for the soul of the founder and other benefactors. The master was to correct the brethren ordinarily, but he might appeal to the bishop in case of necessity. 1 In 1306 Bishop Dalderby wrote a fuller rule for the brethren, which was practically an adaptation of the rule of St. Augustine to their particular circumstances. 2 It is clear that though they were so few in number they were expected to live quite as strictly as the religious of large communities. The church was rebuilt early in the four- teenth century, and the brethren then had a licence to beg alms for this purpose on account of their poverty. 3 The master of the hospital, Robert Rous, was appointed in 1333 to hear the confessions of all the subjects of the arch- deacons of Bedford and Huntingdon. 4 He died in 1349, 6 probably of the pestilence. In 1399" the hospital was reconstituted on the old foundation by Bishop Beaufort, with the same number of brethren and the same rule as before. When inquiry was being made at the end of the reign of Henry VIII. into the condition of chantries and hospitals, it was said that no poor person was kept there, nor had been for many years. 7 It appears > Line. Epis. Reg., Memo. Beaufort, 22d. 2 Beds N. and O. i. 321; transcribed from Camb. Univ. Library MS. Dd x. 28. It is dated 2 Aug. 1306. It is an amplification of the shorter rule in the episcopal register, with more than one reference to ' the rule of blessed Augus- tine '; alludes to the three vows of obedience, chastity and poverty, 'but above all things charity'; and prescribes penances for the transgression of the rule. The only regulation that seems a little unusual is the permission to speak briefly in low tones in the refectory; though the usual strict silence is enforced in the church, cloister and dor- mitory. The colour and shape of their habit was not exactly prescribed; the bishop only orders that they wear a ' uniform and humble habit, marked with a cross.' 3 Line. Epis. Reg., Memo. Burghersh, 38, io6d (1321 and 1323). • Ibid. 268. & Ibid. Inst. Gynwell, 378. 8 Ibid. Memo. Beaufort, 22d. 1 Chant. Cert. (Beds), I also that there were no longer any brethren, but only a master, who was also rector of the church. 8 The hospital was not taken into the king's hand at that time, but in 1591 an attempt was made to prove that it had reverted to the Crown by the death of the master and religious brethren. Oliver St. John and others were commissioned to inquire into the foundation and to find out who were the heirs of Robert de Parys. 9 It was finally proved that it had been united with the parish church and was the property of the mayor and corporation, who in 1628 petitioned that there should be no further proceedings against them in respect of it, ' except only by course of law.' 10 At the end of the eighteenth century the rector of the church was still called master of the hospital, and ten beadsmen received ninepence weekly from the funds of the old foundation. 11 Neither the church nor the hospital of St. John is mentioned in the Taxatio of Pope Nicholas, but in 1216 the brothers owned a mill in Bedford. 12 In 1302 the master held one-twentieth of a knight's fee in Clophill. 13 1° x 535 the revenue of the hospital, consist- ing mainly of small rents, amounted to £2 os. 8d.; u at the end of the reign of Henry VIII. to £zo. ls Masters of St. John's Hospital, Bedford Baldwin, 18 appointed 1286 William of Buckingham, 17 died 1316 Richard of Buckingham, 18 appointed 1 316 Robert Rous, 19 appointed 1333, died 1349 William Rous, 20 appointed 1349, died 1374 John Appelond, 21 appointed 1374 Walter of Swineshead, 22 occurs 1384 and 1410 s The Valor Eccl. (Rec. Com.), iv. 191, gives only the name of a rector, who was also warden. » S. P. Dora. Eliz. ccxl. 142. 1° Ibid. Chas. I. exxiv. 84. " Add. MS. 5832 (Cole MSS ), f. 86. " Pat. I Hen. III. m. 3d. Other small pro- perties are mentioned Pat. 29 Edw. I. and Inq. ad q. d. 40 Edw. III. n. 7. « Feud. Aids, i. 14. » Valor Eccl. (Rec. Com.), iv. 191 is Chant. Cert. (Beds), I. > 8 Line. Epis. Reg., Memo. Sutton. » Ibid. Inst. Dalderby, 274. 18 Ibid. is Add. MS. 5832, f. 89. The masters from Richard of Buckingham are nearly all given here by Cole, as he copied them from a parish register of St. John's Church. so Line. Epis. Reg., Inst. Gynwell, 378. si Ibid. Inst. Buckingham, 389. " Add. MS. 5832, f. 89. 397