your memorial both eternal and blessed or if you had rather the whole Common-wealth But now I find my self too hold and too busie in thus looking to particularities God shall direct you and if you follow him shall Crown you Howsoever if good be done and that betimes He hath what he desired and your Soul shall have more than you can desire The Success of my weak yet hearty Counsel shall make me as rich as God hath made you with all your abundance God bless it to you and make both our Reckonings cheerful in the Day of our Common Audit Never man received Advice more kindly than Mr. Sutton and blessed God for the return of his Prayers in the Garden He never was inclinable to Dr. Willet's former Proposal upon these accounts he understood the Patrons of Chelsey Colledge were few nor was his design to be an additional Benefactor but a Founder Besides he plainly saw those Enemies to the work who thought they lay in secret and what was more he perceived it was look't upon with a jealous Eye by the Universities as a disparagement to them Then other Divines and Churchmen thought they were undervalued because the Fellows of this Foundation were likely to gain Priviledges prejudicial to them And lastly the Politick States-men did dislike the Project suspecting Court Divinity and History from a Colledge This is supposed to be the place meant by the Incomparable Cowley in his excellent Instructions towards the Institution of a Colledge Nor to add a City-Hospital could he be induced though much solicited the poor of those places being likely to be well provided for by the daily Legacies of such who were not in any capacity to do so great things as himself Being thus solicited by others to perform that which he had long since resolved within himself and having observed how many hopeful Youths miscarried for want of competent Means for their Education and how many ancient Gentlemen having the same tender Breeding with their Elder Brothers yet have but the slender Fortunes of a Younger Brother that they were too generous to begg not made for work whose ingenuous Natures were most sensible of want and least able to relieve it but were cast away and brought to misery for want of a comfortable Subsistence in their Old Age Therefore he resolved to prevent by his memorable Charity as far as he could these growing inconveniences The blind Devotion of former Ages had so abused the ends and designs of Charitable Works that King Edward the First as well as Theodosius the Emperour made a Law of Mortmain whereby it is made unlawful for any man to bestow Land of such a value to any Religious or Charitable use without licence from the King of Mortmain in Parliament This Law of Amortization in the Emperor's time much grieved many good men For St. Jerome thus complains to Nepotian I am ashamed to say it the Priests of Idols Stage-players and Common Harlots are made capable of Inheritance and receiving Legacies only Ministers of the Gospel are barred by the Law thus to do and that not by Persecutors but Christian Princes neither do I complain of the Law but am sorry we have deserved it To the same purpose is that of St. Ambrose Ep. 31. deploring the State of the Clergy Upon the account of this Law Mr. Sutton was forced to petition his Majesty K. James and the Parliament March 10. 1609. for leave and licence to erect and endow an Hospital in the Town of Hallingbury Bouchers in the County of Essex An Act of Parliament granted to Thomas Sutton Esq to erect an Hospital at Hallingbury in Essex c. HVmbly beseecheth your Majesty your loyal and dutiful Subject Thomas Sutton of Balsham in the County of Cambridge Esquire That it may please your most excellent Majesty and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled to enact ordain and establish And be it enacted ordained and established by the Authority aforesaid That in the Town of Hallingbury otherwise called Hallingbury Bouchers in the County of Essex there may be builded and erected at the costs and charges of your Suppliant one meet fit and convenient House Buildings and Rooms for the abiding and dwelling of such a number of poor people men and children as your Suppliant shall name limit and appoint to be lodged harboured abide and be relieved there And for the abiding dwelling and necessary use of one Schoolmaster and Vsher to instruct the sâ—m children in reading writing and Latin and Greek Grammar and of one Divine and godly Preacher to instruct and reach all the rest of the same House in the knowledge of God and his Word And of one Master to govern all these persons of in or belonging to the same House And that the same shall and may be called and named the Hospital of King James founded in Hallingbury in the County of Essex at the humble petition and at the only costs and charges of Thomas Sutton Esquire And that the right reverend Father in God Richard now Archbishop of Canterbury and his Successors Archbishops there Thomas Lord Ellesmere Lord Chancellor of England and such as after him shall succeed to be Lord Chancellors or Lord Keepers of the great Seal of England for and during the time they shall so continue or be in the same office Robert Earl of Salisbury Lord High Treasurer of England and such as after him shall succeed to be Lord Treasurers of England for and during the time they shall continue or be in the same Office The Reverend Father in God Launcelot Bishop of Ely and his Successors Bishops there Richard Bishop of Rochester and Dean of the Cathedral Church of Westminster and his Successors of and in the same Deanery of Westminster Sir Thomas Foster Knight one of the Iustices of your Majesties Court of Common Pleas usually holden at Westminster Sir Henry Hobart Knight your Majesties Attorney General John Overall Doctor of Divinity Dean of the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul in London and his Successors Deans there Henry Thursby Esquire one of the Masters of your Majesties Court of Chancery Thomas Fortescue Thomas Paget Geffrey Nightingale and Richard Sutton Esquires John Lawe and Thomas Browne Gentlemen and such others as shall be from time to time for ever hereafter chosen and nominated in and to the places and steads of such of them as shall decease by your Suppliant during his life And after his decease by the most part of them which then shall be Governors of the said Hospital to be and succeed in and to the place and places of him and them deceasing shall and may be the Governors of the said Hospital and of the Members Goods Lands Revenues and Hereditaments of the same at all times hereafter for ever And that the same Governors and Hospital shall for ever hereafter stand and be incorporated established and founded in name and in deed a body politique and corporate to have
tent ' ac deinde usque ad in vicesimum diem Octobris proxime sequen praerogat intitulat ' An Act for the establishing and confirming of the Foundation of the Hospital of King James founded in Charter-house in the County of Middlesex at the humble Petition and only Costs and Charges of Thomas Sutton Esquire and of the Possessions thereof The Return thereof Tibi precipimus quod tenorem Actus predict cum omnibus illum tangerd nobi in cancellariam ' nostram sub Sigillo tuo distincte aperte sine dilatione mittas hoc breve T. meipso apud Westm ' xxviiio. die Junii Anno Regni nostri quarto Cesar Ra. Executio istius brevis patet in Scedula hinc annexat ' H. Elsyinge Cler ' Parl. Inspe'ximus etiam predict The time of the begining and continuance of the Parliament viz. from the 17. day of March in the third of King Charles the First until the 26. of June next following Scedulam eidem brevi annexat ' in Filaciis dict Cancellarie nostre de Recordo similiter residen in in haec verba In Parliamento inchoat ' tent ' apud Westm ' Decimo septimo die Martii Anno Regni Serenissimi Excellentissimi Domini nostri Caroli Dei gratia Anglie Scotie Francie Hibernie Regis Fidei Defensor ' c. tertio ibidem continuat ' usque in Vicesimum sextum diem Mensis Junii tunc propter sequen communi omnium Dominorum tam spiritualium quam temporalium Communium consensu Regie Majestatis assensu inter alia fancitum inactitatum stabilitum fuit hoc sequens Statutum The Title of the Act. An Act for the Establishing and Confirming of the Hospital of King James founded in Charter-house in the County of Middlesex at the humble Petition and only Costs and Charges of Thomas Sutton Esquire and of the Possessions thereof Cujus quidem Statuti tenor sequitur in haec verba viz. The Act. Whereas our late Soveraign Lord King James of blessed memory at the humble suit of Thomas Sutton late of Balsham in the County of Cambridge Esq deceased Recital of the Letters Patents by his Highness Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England hearing date the Two and twentieth day of June in the Ninth year of his Majesties Reign of England did give and grant unto the said Thomas Sutton full power licence and lawful authority to erect and establish at or in the late dissolved Charter-house besides Smithfield in the County of Middlesex an Hospital and Free School in such sort as in and by the said Letters Patents is expressed And did further by the same Letters Patents nominate ordain assign constitute limit and appoint certain persons in the same Letters Patents named to be Governours of the Lands Possessions Revenues and Goods of the said Hospital And did by the same Letters Patents Incorporate the said Governours and their Successors to be a Body Politique and Corporate to have continuance for ever by the Name of the Governours of the Lands Possessions Revenues and Goods of the Hospital of King James founded in Charter-house within the County of Middlesex at the humble Petition and only Costs and Charges of Thomas Sutton Esquire And did further by the same Letters Patents give licence to the said Thomas Sutton to give grant and assure to the said Governours the Mansion-house commonly called Charter-house besides Smithfield in the said County of Middlesex and divers and sundry other Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments mentioned in the said Letters Patents as in the said Letters Patents more at large appeareth And whereas the said Thomas Sutton Recital of the Founders Deed of Bargain and Sale minding the performance of the said Charitable Work by his Indenture of Bargain and Sale bearing date the First day of November in the Ninth year aforesaid and enrolled in his said late Majesties High Court of Chancery did according to the said licence to him in that behalf given for the consideration in the same Indenture mentioned give bargain sell grant confirm and convey to the said Governours of the Lands Possessions Revenues and Goods of the Hospital of King James founded in Charter-house within the County of Middlesex at the humble Petition and only Costs and Charges of Thomas Sutton Esquire and to their Successors for ever the said Mansion-house commonly called Charter-house besides Smithfield in the said County of Middlesex and divers and sundry other Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments in the same Indenture mentioned and expressed upon especial trust and confidence that all and singular the Rents Issues Revenues Commodities and Profits of all and singular the said Mannors Houses Lands Tenements and Hereditaments should be for ever truly faithfully and wholly distributed converted and imployed to and for the maintenance and continuance of the said Hospital and Free School and other the Charitable uses in the said Deed indented mentioned as by the said Deed indented more at large appeareth Recital of the Heirs Suit in Law against the Foundation And whereas since the death of the said Thomas Sutton one Simon Baxter the Heir of the said Thomas Sutton hath attempted and endeavoured to impeach and overthrow the Incorporation and Foundation of the said Hospital and the endowments thereof and so to obtain and get to himself the Mannors Lands Tenements and Hereditaments that were the said Thomas Suttons and by him conveyed to the Governours of the said Hospital for maintenance of the poor there Howbeit the said Heir drawing the same in question in his said Majesties Courts of Kings Bench and Chancery and the Case being adjorned by the then Iustices of the Kings Bench into the Exchequer Chamber after solemn argument and deliberate advice of all the then Iustices of both Benches and Barons of the Exchequer it was clearly resolved That the said Foundation Incorporation and Endowment of the said Hospital was sufficient good and effectual in the Law And Iudgment was thereupon given accordingly in the said Court of Kings Bench and also a Decree agreeing with the said Iudgment was had in the said Court of Chancery upon consideration whereof and for that the said Foundation and Endowment doth daily maintain Fourscore poor men some maimed in the Wars some undone by Shipwrack and Misfortune on the Seas and Forty poor Scholars with a Master Preacher Teachers and Attendants and other Officers in very ample manner with good and sufficient allowance in all things It is most humbly desired in the behalf of the Governours and poor People of the said Hospital That it may be enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same The body of the Act. And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the said House called the late dissolved Charter-house besides Smithfield The place of the Hospital and
said Messuages Tenements or Hereditaments of the said now Lord North according to the true meaning of the said several Deeds And that it shall and may be lawful at all times hereafter to and for the said Dudley Lord North his Heirs Tenants and Assigns and all others inhabiting and possessing the said Mansion-house or any other the said Messuages Tenements or Hereditaments of the said Lord North for themselves their servants and workmen to have free ingress and regress into and from the Orchards Gardens or other places of the said Hospital where it shall be needful to survey repair cleanse amend and new make the said Pipes Conduits Cocks Chanels and Water-courses and all other Pipes Conduits Cocks Chanels and Water-courses that hereafter shall be erected or placed within the precinct of the said Hospital for the conveying of Water unto the said Mansion-house or other the Messuages Tenements or Hereditaments of the said now Lord North or any of them and to that purpose to subvert and digg up the Soil of the said Orchards Gardens or other places of the said Hospital where it shall be needful Provided also A Proviso for the Viscountess Maidstone and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that this Act or any thing therein contained shall not in any wise extend unto the Mansion-house of the Right honourable Elizabeth Viscountess of Maidstone scituate and being in Charter-house Church-yard near unto the said Hospital nor to any the Buildings Outhouses Gardens or Grounds therewith used or thereto pertaining nor to any Mansion-houses Buildings or Grounds therewith used of any other person or persons within or near the precinct of the said Church-yard or Hospital and not conveyed or mentioned to be conveyed by the said Thomas Sutton to the said Governours by the said Indenture of Bargain and Sale But that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Viscountess of Maidstone and all and every other person and persons whatsoever to hold and enjoy the said several Mansion houses and Premisses therewith used or thereto pertaining together with all ways and passages with Carts or otherwise and all Liberties Profits Easements Water and Water-courses Pipes Cocks and Passages for Water and liberty to digg cleanse amend and new make such Pipes Cocks and Water-courses as fully and as amply as if this Act had never been had nor made Ego Henricus Elsyinge Armiger ' Clericus Parliamentorum virtute brevis dicti Domini nostri Regis de Certiorando mihi direct ' his annexat ' certifico superius hoc scriptum verum esse tenorem Actus Parliamenti supradicti in eo brevi mencionat ' In cujus rei testimonium Sigillum nomenque meum apposui atque subscripsi Dat' secundo Die Julii Anno regni dict' Domini nostri Regis Caroli quarto H. Elsyinge Cler ' Parl. Nos autem separales tenores brevis scedulae predict ad requisition ' Gubernatorum terrarum possessionum revencionum bonorum Hospitalis predict duximus Exemplificand ' per presentes In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus Patentes Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium Decimo octavo die Julii Anno Regni nostri quarto Cesar Car. Examinat ' per nos Rob. Riche Edw. Clarke Clericos Irrotulat ' Rotul ' Patent ' Cur ' Cancellar ' Domini Regis Caroli infra script ' de Anno Regni ejusdem Regis Angliae c. Quarto Now all things are fixed and settled according to the admirable Ends they were designed for every one enjoying the benefit and refreshments of our Noble Founder's Charity Ezra 6.9 Day by day we have our Portions without fail that we may offer Sacrifices of sweet Savour unto the God of Heaven and pray for the Life and Prosperity of our most gracious King and the Happiness of our Noble Governours The Names of the present Governours 1. The most Reverend Father in God Gilbert Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury 2. The Lord Chancellor of England 3. The Duke of Buckingham 4. The Duke of Monmouth 5. The Duke of Ormond 6. Lord Chamberlain 7. Lord Treasurer 8. Earl of Bridgewater 9. Earl of Craven 10. Earl of Shaftsbury 11. Lord Bishop of Winchester 12. Lord Bishop of Rochester 13. Lord Robarts 14. Mr. Secretary Coventry 15. Sir William Wild. 16. Martyn Clifford Esquire Thus the Government of this Foundation is fixed upon the most Honourable Grandees of our State and the most Reverend Prelates of our Church they who sit at the Helm of our Kingdom and are graciously pleased to steer and guide this goodly Ship of Renowned Sutton's Charity And here we may note the great Wisdom of our Founder who made choice of men of Honour and Power who were able to maintain his Foundation by their Interest and to grace it with their Honour When any of these Noble Lord happen to decease another is chosen within two months by the voices of the Major part The Patent runs thus TO all whom these Presents shall come the Governours of the Lands Possessions Revenues and Goods of the Hospital of King James founded in the Charter-house within the County of Middlesex at the humble Petition and only Costs and Charges of Thomas Sutton Esquire send greeting in our Lord GOD everlasting Whereas _____ one of the Governours of the Lands Possessions Revenues and Goods of the Hospital of King James aforesaid lately died and departed this life by means whereof his room and place of a Governour did become and yet is and continueth void Know ye therefore that the said Governours according to the true intent and meaning of the Letters Patent of our late Soveraign Lord King James for the Foundation of the said Hospital bearing date the Two and twentieth day of June in the Ninth year of his Reign do elect nominate and appoint _____ to be henceforth one of the Governours of the Lands Possessions Revenues and Goods of the said Hospital of King James founded in the Charter-house within the County of Middlesex at the humble Petition and only Costs and Charges of Thomas Sutton Esquire in the room and place of a Governour so being void as aforesaid by the death of the said _____ _____ to be and continue in the room and place and to have exercise and enjoy the said room and place of one of the Governours of the Lands Possessions Revenues and Goods of the Hospital aforesaid according to the true intent and meaning of the said Letters Patent In witness whereof the said Governours have hereunto set their Common Seal and every one of them his particular Seal c. The Members that are kept and maintain'd in the Hospital chiefly consist of old Gentlemen and Children 1. FOurscore ancient Men who have been formerly in the Wars and been serviceable to their King and Country or else decay'd Merchants whose Estates have been swallowed up in the Deep or aged and poor Housholders who have formerly lived in a fair esteem in the World who have a long
the good oversight of mine Executor or Executors the Constable of Newington and the Church-wardens there for the time being the same High-ways to be amended made and holpen within one year after my decease Item I give towards the amending of the Highways between Ashden and Walden in the County of Essex called Walden-lane One hundred pounds of lawful mony of England And towards the amending of the Highways between Great Lynton in the County of Cambridge and the said Town of Walden Threescore and six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence of lawful mony of England And I also give towards the amending of Horsheath-lane Threescore pounds of lawful mony of England All these works next before recited I will shall be overseen and guided by the two head-Constables thereunto next adjoyning the Treasurer of Walden and the Parsons of Ashden Hadstock and Horsheath and the Constables of the same Parishes for the time being And the same several Sums to be imployed and the said Highways so to be amended so far as the same Sums will extend within One year after my decease Also I give towards the amending of the Bridges and the ordinary Highways between Southminster and Maldon in the said County of Essex the Sum of One hundred pounds of lawful mony of England and the same Work to be overseen and guided by the two head-Constables thereunto next adjoyning and the Parsons or Vicars of Southminster and Maldon for the time being and the same mony to be so imployed and the Highways so amended within one year after my decease Item I give to Mr. Robert Dudley Alderman of Newcastle upon Tine or to his Children or to so many of his Children as shall be living at the time of my decease Thirty pounds of lawful mony of England which he oweth me And I will and do earnestly charge mine Executor or Executors to deliver into the Treasury or Chamber of the City of London One thousand pounds in currant mony of England with such care and foresight to be had that such Bonds or Assurances be taken of the Lord Maior and Aldermen of the same City that for the time shall be by learned Counsel in the Law as the same may be safe and for ever go and be converted to these uses following That is to say That the said thousand pounds be yearly lent and put forth to Ten young Merchant men not having any great Stocks of their own being young men and of honest life and conversation and towardly in their Trades that is to every one of them One hundred pounds for a year without paying any thing for the same And these Ten young Merchants to be chosen and appointed by the Lord Maior and Aldermen of the said City that for the time shall be and the Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in London for the time being Provided as before that none have or continue the said hundred pounds so appointed above one year Item I will and give to the Children of Justinian Crome Draper sometimes dwelling in the City of Lincoln or to his Childrens children if any of them shall be living at my decease Twenty pounds of lawful mony of England to be equally divided amongst them I give also to the Wife and Children or Child of Martin Wathersine Dutchman sometime dwelling at the Sign of the White-Bear in Buttolph-lane London if any of them be living at the time of my death Ten pounds to be equally divided amongst them Item I give to the next Kinsman or Kinswoman of Henry Vavering Dutchman Smith sometimes dwelling in Barwick three pounds six shillings eight pence Item I give and bequeath unto Sir Francis Popham Knight as well in respect and good will which I bear unto his Wife being the Daughter of my late deceased dear Wife the Sum of Two thousand Marks of lawful mony of England upon condition nevertheless and so that the said Sir Francis Popham and the said Lady Anne his Wife give a sufficient discharge and a generall release to mine Executor or Executors as well for that summe as also for the receipt of all the rest of her part of portion of the plate money and houshould stuffe already paid and delivered to them or to their use as appeareth by severall bills or notes subscribed with my own hand which I do think to be the very true half and better half of the said plate mony and houshold-stuff part whereof was delivered by one John Fishborne my late Servant to Sir John Popham Knight late Lord Chief Justice of England at his late House in Chancery-lane The rest of the Houshold-stuff as Chairs Stools Bedsteeds Kitchin stuff Tables and such like was delivered by the said Fishborne to the said Sir John Popham's Servants at Newington One thousand pounds in mony paid in this sort viz. To Sir John Popham by his Servant Straker upon the said Sir John's Bill before marriage Three hundred pounds which Bill after the marriage I returned to the said Sir John Popham seven hundred pounds were paid to the said Sir John Popham upon the marriage by one Mr. Anthony Law late dwelling in Pater-noster-row London the better moiety of the plate due to Sir Francis Popham was by the appointment of the said Sir John Popham received by one Mr. Clark sometimes towards the said Sir John and now a Counsellor at the Law of the Middle-Temple as I ghess Item I give to my well-beloved friend Amy Popham Two hundred pounds to be paid to her at the day of her marriage or when she shall accomplish the age of Eighteen years Item I give to Francis Popham Mary Popham Elizabeth Popham Jane Popham and Anne Popham all Daughters of the said Lady Anne Popham One hundred pounds apiece which several Sums I will shall be paid them at the days of their marriage or when they shall accomplish the age of eighteen years And my will and meaning is that unless the said Sir Francis Popham and the said Lady Anne his wife do or shall give to mine Executor or Executors a general Acquittance or Release to the effect above-mentioned that then as well the said Legacy of Two thousand Marks so willed to be given to the said Sir Francis Popham and the Lady Anne his wife as also the other several Legacies given and bequeathed to every of the said Children of the said Sir Francis Popham and the Lady his wife shall remain and be to the use of mine Executor or Executors to be wholly disposed and given by them within one year after my decease partly to the amending of High-ways and partly to poor Maidens marriages and partly to the releasing of poor men that lie in Prison for Debt and partly to the poor people of mine intended Hospital when it shall please God that it shall be established and erected And where perhaps it is or may be supposed that the said Sir John Popham hath paid Three hundred pounds to Sir Rowland Hayward of the City of London
Free from disquiet and complaint Which trouble and distract the busie head Such peaceful paths his Infancy did tread Here the great Cowley's Poet and his Saint Was taught the Elements of Speech and Piety Cowley he was the Subject of thy Pen That Pen which did bewail the end Of thy most dear and most lamented Friend For thou didst but desire when he was snatch't from us frail men A modest portion of his sacred fire Yet some may say thy Charity was blind Because it has thy modesty outran For thou hast prov'd so kind T'embalm and bless that very man Who left Religion and his Friend behind 'T is true alas had he not stept aside But in his Mothers bosom dy'd Had his Muse not wanton been Nor fled unto Loretto's shrine He might have long since this begun From smaller Numbers his eternal Song 16. Here our first James that wore the Brittish Crown Weary'd with acclamations and the toyl Of travel to unite this long divided Isle Enter'd withall the Noble Train he â—ed Within these walls three nights he laid his thoughtful head Until he did advance into the Town Until another Palace was prepar'd As Princes came from far to view the Throne Of Mighty Solomon So Scotland's King mov'd many a tedious mile Drawn with the Fame of this Great Pile He came and saw more than ever he had heard 17. Exactly on the South I saw A comely Structure shew its head And when I question'd whose abode It was I heard the Law And Gospels read I saw twice forty Elders drawing nigher I heard the Musick of the sacred Quire And then I knew it was the House of God 18. The Image of thy boundless Soul Where e're our gazing eyes do roul Is the fair object of our view To Youth untaught to number years To active youth well near its prime In glorious Visions it appears The Aged too still dream of you Although they 're e'en worn out with time Here Innocence and Piety Are fed and nurst by Charity Here the tender Plants do grow A handsome and a graceful show There the tall and Aged Oake In patience waits the fatal stroke Which as it falls must lye Until it approach Eternity 19. Sickness and death are almost strangers here No ill-foreboding Comet dare appear Whilst Nedham's nigh they cannot kill No Carthusian blood can spill In vain they tempt his known and mighty skill In vain they make a needless strife All that belongs to human life To every Limb to every Nerve To fortifie repair and long preserve He knows it all And then for shame why do we call The Seat of Health an Hospital H 'as trac'd the Infant from the womb Through all his changes to the Tomb H 'as planted here the Tree of Life that Fate Has no Comission for to enter Here no contagious ills dare venture While this great Aesculapius guards the Gate 20. He that Robs thy Treasury of Love Shall feel the Scourge of Heaven above And as to Scripture if we strive to add 'T is thought a Crime a most as bad For then our Benefactions are in vain We empty Cockles in the boundless Main To thee alone Great Sir we pay this Right Of Thanks Thy arge and crowded Store Will entertain no more No not the Widow's Mite And yet thy Charity 's not bestow'd in vain For many Ages hence it will be found again Thy Bread is cast upon and covers all the Main 20. The Influence of thy mighty Zeal Does warm these Northern parts Dissolves the Ice and softens all our hearts Thy Love amazes all the Roman Spyes It warms our Clime and dazles all our Eyes And what is more in this fair solitude Thou by a Miracle Dost now instruct and feed a multitude So that if Saints above can understand and see How things are acted in this Vale of Misery Thy Charity to us must still encrease For there they say 't will never cease Though all thou hadst on Earth was given Yet thou hast Blessings to bestow On us poor Mortals here below As thou art made Lord Almoner of Heaven The CONTENTS Of the Old Foundation AN Account of the Rise and Original of the Carthusian Order Cap. 1. Page 1. Of the Rules and Constitution of the Order c. 2. p. 7. Of their Transplantation and Number in England c. 3. p. 12. Of the Charter-house or Carthusian Monastery near Smithfield c. 4. p. 15. Of their Fabulous Miracles c. 5. p. 22. King Edward the Third's License or Grant for the Foundation of the Monastery p. 30. Bulla Urbani Papae p. 32. Of the New Foundation Sutton's Life p. 37. The Occasions of his growing Rich p. 40. Knott the Jesuit's unjust Censure of him p. 45. Sutton's Death and Funeral Solemnities p. 54. Bishop Hall's incomparable Letter to stir him up to Charity p. 59. An Act of Parliament to erect the Hospital at Hallingbury in Essex p. 69. King James's Letters Patent to alter the Scituation p. 85. Ecclesiastical Preserments in the Governour 's disposal p. 87. Simon Baxter Heir in Law to the Founder enters an Action of Trespass against the Governours p. 88. The Casâ—â—â—…atea on both sides p. 89. Sir Francis Bacon's Letter to King James to overthrow the Foundation p. 96. The Opening of the House p. 109. An Establishment made whereby all the Officers and Members in the House are to be regulated p. 110. Concerning Assemblies and Committees p. 116. The Election and Duty of a Master p. 120. Of the Preacher p. 123. Of the Physician p. 125. The Register and Solicitor p. 126. The Receiver p. 129. The Maâ—ciple p. 130. Schoolmaster and Usher p. 135. The Auditor p. 141. Allowances to the Members p. 145. A Confirmation of the King's Letters Patent by an Act of Parl. for the removal of the Hospital p. 154. The first List of Governours p. 70. The names of the present Governours p. 176. A Patent for a Governour p. 177. Of the number and nature of the Members maintained p. 181. The Warrant for a Pensioner p. 182. How to obtain a place for an old Man or Youth p. 189. A Warrant for a Lad p. 190. An Account of the encrease and present state of the Revenues of the House p. 193. The Founder's Will p. 200. Orders for the Pensioners p. 231. Ordinis Carthusiani Monachus F. H. Van. Houe fec Of the Old FOUNDATION OF THE Charter-House CHAP. I. An Account of the Rise and Original of the Carthusian Order IN the year of our Lord 1082 at what time Gregory the Seventh was Bishop of Rome and in the Sixteenth year of the Reign of King William the Conqueror we are told there hapned in Paris a very strange and wondrous accident the Relation whereof I find much after this manner Bruno a German born at Cologne of an ancient and worthy Family by his studious life and successful endeavours obtained so great a reputation among learned Men that he was at length prevailed with to visit France where he was
possessionem inducendi defendendi Inductos amotis quibuslibet detentoribus ab iisdem ac faciendi ipsis Priori Conventui de ipsorum Beneficiorum Fructibus redditibus proventibus congruas portiones ad ipsius Archiepiscopi vel Ordinarii arbitrium super quo ipsius Archiepiscopi Ordinarii conscientiam oneramus taxandas ex quibus si sint Ecclesiae Parochiales perpetuiâ—l icarii per Priorem qui erit pro tempore conventum dictae domus ad Beneficia eadem praesentandi commodè sustentari jura Episcopalia solvere alia iis incumbentia onera sustentare Contradictores Authoritate nostrâ appellatione postposita compescendo non obstantibus si aliquis super provisionibus sibi faciendis de hujusmodi vel aliis Beneficiis Ecclesiasticis in illis partibus Speciales vel Generales Apostolicae Sedis vel Legatorum ejus Literas impetravit estamsi per eas ad inhibitionem reservationem decretum vel alià s quomodolibet sit processam Quas Literas Processus habttos quos per eos post unionem hujusmodi habert conttgerit ad dicta Beneficia volumus extendi Sed nullum per hoc iis quoad assecutionem aliorum beneficiorum praejudicium generari quibuslibet Privilegits Indulgentiis Literis Apostolicis Generalibus vel Specialibus quorumcunque tenerum existant per quae praesentibus non expressa vel totaliter non inserta effectus earum impediri valeat quom â—olibet vel differri de quibus quorumque totis tenoribus habenda sit in Literis nostris mentis specialis plenam liberam tenore praesentium potestatem concedimus Datum Romae Apud Sanctam Marinum trans Tyberim pridié Idus Decembris Pontificatûs nostri Anno primo An Account of Sutton's Foundation with his Life and Death THOMAS SUTTON Esquire Founder of King James his Hospital in the Charter-house was born at Knaith in Lincolnshire in the year of our Lord 1531. which was the Four and twentieth year of Henry the Eighth Though he was born rather to give Honour to his Family than to borrow any from it yet his Blood was conveighed to him through many noble Saxon Veins in Cheshire Lancashire and Worcestershire For notwithstanding the Danish and the Norman Conquests yet in the time of the latter we find one of this Family Sherif in those Parts a Person of a fair and honourable esteem in the World And this advantage a Man well descended has above all others unless he degenerate that the Great Actions of his Ancestors will not let him sleep until he has outdone the Original The Course of this Ancient Family like the River Alpheus a while ran silently under Ground while at last it sprang up in Lincolnshire in the time of Henry the Seventh under Dudley as notorious for Cruelty and Exactions as our Founder is for Mercy and Compassion His Father was Edward Sutton Son of Thomas Sutton Servant to Edward the Fourth His Mother was Jane Stapleton the Daughter of Robert Stapleton Esquire of the most Generous and Worthy Family of the Stapleton's in Yorkshire Ancestours not so low that his Descent should be a shame to his Vertues nor yet so great but that his Vertue might be an Ornament to his Birth Mr. Cox afterwards Dr. Cox Almoner to King Edward the Sixth and Bishop of Ely under Queen Elizabeth brought him up three years at Eaton four years in Magdalen and Jesus Colledges in Cambridge to each of whose Children surviving at his Death Mr. Sutton gave 10 l. for a Legacy and as a thankful Acknowledgment of the Benefits he received from those places of good Learning he nobly bequeathed 500 to each Colledge Soon after he was placed in Lincolns-Inne as a Student that he might want no part of Learning becoming a Gentleman Not long after almost tired with a Sedentary life desire of Travel increasing with his Knowledge he went to visit Forreign Nations and obtained the perfection of several Languages Half of a year he tarries in Spain two in Italy one in France and then he passes into Holland and the Low-Countries from whence after a year or two spent in the Italian Wars for he was at the Sacking of Rome under the Duke of Bourbon he returned accomplish't with experience and observation Then he was admitted to the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Leicester's service To the former he was a Steward to the latter a Secretary and to both he approved himself so able and faithful that they declared him fit for more Publique Imployments as after appear'd by their helping him to Farm the Northern Coal-mines and that upon no other Security than his own Word He was quickly spy'd out by his wise and noble Soveraign Queen Elizabeth one who knew where to bestow her Favours and who deserved her Bounty by her he was made Master of the Ordnance at Barwick which Office he enjoyed Fourteen years in token whereof there are two Pieces of Ordnance carved in Stone and set upon the Chimney-piece in the great Hall in the Charter-house Then he was chosen Pay-Master to the Northern Army and afterwards one of the Commissioners for the Sequestration of the Lands of the Northern Rebels in opposition to whom he shewed himself a wise Man in disposing so advantageously of the Berwick Forces And a valiant Man in his Actions and Conduct Some years after he became Victualler to the Navy and some Garrisons in the Low-Countries one of which was Ostend which by the help of some Fishermen he relieved very strangely and to his own great Advantage to which Town he left in his Will 100 l. Lastly he was a Commissioner for Prizes under the Earl of Nottingham Lord High Admiral of England who gave him Letters of Mart against the Spaniard from whom he took a Ship richly laden worth Twenty thousand pounds Having by these profitable Imploys laid the Foundation of a good Estate upon some mis-understanding between him and the Northern Nobility he retires to London to enjoy and improve it where his Riches increased and came upon him like a Tyde by the just Arts and Methods which he used He brought with him to London the Reputation of a mighty monied Man insomuch that it was reported That his Purse returned from the North fuller than Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer here he was made a Freeman Citizen and Girdler of London His Payments were thought as sure as her Pensions the readiness of his money and the fairness of his dealing laid the grounds of a mighty Reputation for now he is look't upon by all men he has the first refusal of the best Bargains of Sales and Mortgages which were more frequent in a dead time of Money as that was Here possibly he got acquaintance with several Lords Servants whom he remembers in his last Will and piously relieves them He was also resorted to by Citizens for mony and indeed Mr. Sutton became the Banker of London being called upon so much that he was perswaded to help
his Assistants for the time being to this end and purpose That they shall distribute or cause to be distributed the yearly profit arising of the same over and above the yearly Rent payable to the Kings most Excellent Majesty amongst the poorest people dwelling within the said Town of Beverly Also I give to the Maior and Aldermen of the City of Lincoln for the time being all such Profits and Revenues as shall arise and grow of the Parsonage of Glentham within the County of Lincoln and all the residue of the years that shall remain after my decease to this intent that they shall distribute and bestow or cause to be distributed and bestowed the same amongst twenty of the poorest people that shall then be dwelling in the said City with the consent and privity of the Dean of the Cathedral Church of Lincoln or the Recorder of the same for the time being they the said Maior Aldermen Dean and Recorder foreseeing that the Parsonage be letten for their most benefit Item I give into the Treasury or Store-house of mine intended Hospital to begin their Stock with and to defend the Rights of the House One thousand pounds of lawful English mony And I give to every one of my Feoffees whom I have put in trust about my intended Hospital to whom I have not given any thing in this my last Will the Sum of Twenty six pounds thirty shillings and four pence of lawful mony of England Item I give to Amy Popham if it please God she live to keep House three Feather-beds and so many pair of Holland Sheets with the Boulsters to them and so many Hangings of Tapestry as furnish her a Bed-chamber The rest of my Housholdstuff I will shall be sold by mine Executors for the speedier payment of my Legacies and performance of this my last Will. Item I give to the Widow Tassel of Balsham the Sum of Five pounds of lawful mony of England and to Thomas Lawrence the elder of the same Town Five pounds of lawful mony of England Item I give and bequeath unto the Brother of Percival Graung my late Servant deceased the Sum of Twenty pounds of like lawful mony of England And of this my last Will and Testament I make and ordain Richard Sutton of London Esquire and John Law one of the Procurators of the Arches London my Executors charging them as they will answer at the last Day of Judgment that they or one of them in the absence of the other endeavor themselves with all earnestness and diligence to see this my Will performed according to my true meaning and charitable intent And I make Overseers of this my last Will and Testament the Reverend Father in God George Abbot Arch bishop of Canterbury unto whom I give and bequeath the Sum of Forty Marks of lawful mony of England or a piece of Plate of that value at his election and choice And also Launcelot Andrews Almonizer to the Kings Majesty my other Supervisor and Overseer of this my last Will and Testament unto whom I give and bequeath the Sum of Twenty pounds of lawful mony of England or a piece of Plate of that value at his election and choice Item My will and full intent and meaning is That if any person or persons whosoever to whom I have in and by this my last Will and Testament given and bequeathed any Legacy or Sum or Sums of mony shall any ways gainsay impugn contradict or impeach this my last Will and Testament that then all and every one so impugning contradicting impeaching or gainsaying this my last Will and Testament and every of their Children and Kinsfolks to whom I have in and by this my last Will and Testament given and bequeathed any Legacy or Sum or Sums of mony shall have no part nor portion of any such Gift Legacy or Bequest but shall utterly lose the same and be utterly barred thereof as if no such Legacy Gift or Bequest had been given unto him her or them by this my last Will and Testament any thing before in these presents mentioned or contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding Item I give and bequeath to Richard Sutton one of my Executors before named the Sum of One hundred pounds and to Mrs. Law over and besides the Legacy before to her given I give the Sum of Forty pounds to make her a Gown withal Item I give to Master Hutton the Vicar of Littlebury Twenty pounds To the Town of Camps Castle where I dwell to be distributed amongst the poor of the same Parish Ten pounds Also to the poor of the Town of Elcomb to be equally distributed amongst them the Sum of Ten pounds Item I give and bequeath those my Mannors of Littlebury and Hadstock in the County of Essex to the Right Honourable the Lord Thomas Howard Earl of Suffolk and to his Heirs for ever upon Condition that he do well and truly pay or cause to be paid to my Executors before named or to the Survivor of them the Sum of Ten thousand pounds of lawful mony of England within One year next after my decease And if he shall refuse to pay the said Sum of Ten thousand pounds for the said Mannors then I give and bequeath the said Mannors of Littlebury and Hadstock to my said Executors and to their Heirs for ever And then I will and devise that the said Mannors of Littlebury and Hadstock shall be sold by my said Executors or the Survivor of them to the uttermost price and value that they may be sold for and the mony coming of the sale thereof together with as much more as shall make up the same Sum the full Sum of Twenty thousand pounds I will shall be imployed and bestowed by my said Executors or the Survivor of them with the advise of my Supervisors aforenamed in some good works and charitable uses for mine intended Hospital and for poor people or otherwise as they in their wisdoms and discretions shall think fit Item I give to Mr. Flud Parson of Newington the Sum of Thirteen pounds six shillings eight pence And to the wife of Benjamin King of Southminster Six pounds thirteen shillings four pence Item I give to Thomas Averell if it shall be found that he hath dealt faithfully and plainly with me in my business the Sum of Ten pounds which he oweth me Item I give unto the wife of Mr. Ingry of Littlebury Three pounds six shillings eight pence Item I give to Sir Henry Hubberd Knight the King's Majesties Attorney General a piece of Plate of the value of Ten pounds And to Mr Locksmith his Clerk the Sum of Ten pounds Item I give to the poor of the Parish of Hackney Ten pounds Item I give to Bridget Law the Sum of Ten pounds And to the Lady Altham daughter to Mr. Auditor Sutton the Sum of Twenty pounds Item I give to Sir Edward Philips Master of the Rolls a piece of Plate of the value of Twenty pounds And to