said Towne of Hallingbury Bouchers such an house for an Hospital as is immediately before remembred and that the said House should be called The Hospitall of King Iames founded in Hallingbury in the Countie of Essex at the humble Petition and at the onely costs and charges of Thomas Sutton Esquire And that the Archbishop of Canterbury that then was and other Reuerend Praelats of this Realm and their Successors in their seuerall Seas the right Honorable Thomas Lord Ellesmere Lord Chancellor of England and such as should succeed after him to be Lo Chancellors or L Keepers of the Great Seale of England the Lord Treasurer that then was those that should succeed in that Office with diuers other select persons both of the Clergie and Laity in such manner as you shall find them set downe in the said Volume of Reports whereunto I referre you were by the said Act of Parliament elected nominated and appointed the first and present Gouernours of the Lands possessions reuenues and goods of the said Hospitall But afterwards vpon more mature deliberation finding this great Mansion of the Charterhouse farre more conuenient for his purpose then that of Hallingburie could bee Hee was an earnest sutor to my Lord of Suffolk to buy that House of him acquainting his Lordship with the change of his minde concerning Hallingburie and his great affection to make the Charter-house his Hospitall To this Petition of his it is not to bee doubted but that my Lord gaue the more ready and willing way because the chiefe end thereof was the glorie of God and the reliefe and comfort of a great number of poore people Long the matter was not debated betweene them but the price being concluded the Bargaine and sale was assured The summe disbursed for this purchase came to thirteene thousand pounds which was paid down in hand before the conueyance was sealed Hauing thus assured the state of this great House to him and his Heyres He makes humble suite to his Maiestie to grant him licence to erect and establish his intended Hospitall and Grammat Schoole and other his godly charitable vses in the said late dissolued Charterhouse as in a more cōmodious place then that of Hallingbury Herevnto the King readily yeelded being graciously affected to so charitable a worke The better therfore to encourage and enable this Heroicall Gentleman to prosequute this good minde to the full perfection it pleased his Maiestie out of his most Royall disposition to grant his Letters patents vnto him thereby authorising him to the vses last mentioned as in his Letters pattents more fully appeareth Now therefore with alacritie this busines goes forwards The Reuerend Father in God George now Arch-bishop of Canterbury Thomas Lord Ellesmere Lord Chancellor of England Robert Earle of Salisburie Lord high Treasurer of England Iohn the elect Bishop of London Lancelot now Bishop of Ely Sir Edward Cooke Knight cheefe Iustice of the common pleas Sir Thomas Foster Knight one of his Maiesties Iustices of the common plees Sir Henry Hobart Knight and Baronet Atturney generall Iohn Ouerall now Deane of the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul in London George Mountaine Deane of the Collegiat Church of Westminster Henry Thursby Esquire one of the Masters of the Chancerle Geffrey Nightingale Esquire Richard Sutton Esquire Iohn Law Gentleman Thomas Browne Gentleman and the Master of the Hospitall of King Iames founded in Charterhouse within the Countie of Middlesex at the humble Petition and the onely costs and charges of Thomas Sutton Esquire are elected nominated and ordained by the Kings most excellent Maiestie in his Letters Patents granted as aforesaid the first Gouernors of the Lands Possessions Reuenues and Goods of the said Hospitall of King Iames founded in Charterhouse And further power is giuen to the said Gouernours as you may find more at large in the said Letters Patents Herevpon diuers Lands by him formerly purchased are made and past ouer to this Hospitall for maintenance of the poore people there to be relieued Preparation is made for fit lodgings and other necessaries and all things goe onwards with as conuenient speed as may be to the wished end Now for the Readers better information and content it will not be amisse to set downe what Lands they were and in what Counties which were made ouer and annexed by Maister Sutton to the said Hospitall Thus therefore they are named as they follow in order viz. All those his Mannors and Lordships of Southminster Norton Little Hallingbury alias Hallingbury Bouchers and Much Stanbridge in the County of Essex with all their and euery of their rights members and appurtenances whatsoeuer Also all those his Mannors and Lordships of Bastingthorpe alias Buslingthorpe and Dunnesby in the County of Lincolne with their euery of their rights members and appurtenances whatsoeuer Also those his Mannors of Salthorp alias Saltrop alias Haltrop Chilton and Blackgroue in the County of Wilts with their and euery of their rights members and appurtenances and also all those his lands pasture grounds called Blackgroue containing by estimation two hundred acres of pasture with the appurtenances in Blackgroue and Wroughton in the said County of Wilts and also all that his Mannor of Missenden otherwise called the Mannor of Missunden in the Parishes of Wroughton Lydierde and Tregose in the said County of Wilts with all his rights members and appurtenances And all that his Mannor of Elcombe and Parke called Elcombe Parke with the appurtenances in the said County of Wilts Also All that his Mannor of Watlescote alias Wiglescete alias Wiglescete with the appurtenances in the said County of Wilts And also All that his Mannor of Wescote alias Wesete with the appurtenances in the said County of Wilts and also al those his lands and pastures containing by estimation 100. acres of land 60. acres of pasture with the appurtenances in Wiglescote Wroughton in the said County of Wilts and All that his Mannor of Vffcote with the appurtenances in the said County of Wilts and also al those his two Messuages one thousand acres of land two thousand acres of pasture three hundred acres of Meadow and three hundred acres of wood with the appurtenances in Brodehinton in the said County of Wilts And also All those the Mannors and Lordships of Campes alias Campes Castle otherwise called Castle Campes with the appurtenances scituare lying being and extending in the Counties of Cambridge and Essex or in either of them or elsewhere within the Realme of England And also all that his Mannor of Balsham in the County of Cambridge with all singular the rights members appurtenances thereof whatsoeuer And also All those his Messuages and Lands scituate lying and being in the Parishes of Hackuey and Tottenham in the County of Middlesex or in either of them with their and euery of their rights members and appurtenances whatsoeuer which said Messuage was lately purchased of Sir William Bowyer Knight the said Lands in Tottenham
and Anne Popham all daughters of the said Lady Anne Popham one hundreth poundes a peece which seuerall summes I will shall be paid them at the dayes of their marriage or when they shall accomplish the age of eighteene yeares And my will and meaning is that vnlesse the said Sir Francis Popham and the said Lady Anne his wife do or shall giue to mine Executor or Executors a generall acquittance or release to the effect aboue mentioned that then as well the said Legacy of two thousand marks so wiled to bee giuen to the said Sir Francis Popham and the Lady Anne his wife as also the other seuerall legacies giuen and bequeathed to euery of the said children of the said Sir Francis Popham and the Lady his Wife shall remaine and be to the vse of mine Executor or Executors to bee wholly disposed and giuen by them within one yeere after my decease partly to the amending of high waies and partly to poore Maidens marriages and partly to the releasing of poore men that lie in prison for debt and partly to the poore people of mine intended Hospitall when it shall please God that it shall bee established and erected And where perhaps it is or may bee supposed that the said Sir Iohn Popham hath paid three hundred poundes to Sir Rowland Hayward of the Citty of London Alderman as a debt due vnto him vppon the bondes of Iohn Dudley and Thomas Dudley I protest before God that I paide the whole three hundred poundes to the said Sir Iohn Popham in this sort to bee paid ouer to the said Sir Rowland Heyward viz Two hundred poundes by my seruant Iohn Fishborne and one hundred poundes by one Henry Best Scriuener neere Temple-barre There was a demande made by Alderman Duckets Executors for foure hundred poundes owing to the said Alderman vppon the bondes of Iohn Dudley and Thomas Dudley for Copper for the vse of the Earle of Lecester which the saide Earle transported into Spaine which debt was paid to the said Alderman For I my selfe was a messenger from the said Earle to the said Alderman to let him vnderstand that Master Bainham my Lords speciall Officer and receuer should discharge them presently and after it was discharged the said Alderman demanded interest for the forbearing of the foure hundred poundes which as I remember Thomas Dudley discharged Maister Iustice Owin as I remember who had the doing in the testament of Alderman Ducket promised to deliuer in the said bond to Sir Iohn Popham then being Attorney which I doe beleeue hee did And where Maister Iohn Gardiner brother to my late wife by his last Will and Testament did giue vnto Anne Dudley now Wife to Sir Francis Popham one hundred poundes to be paid to her at the day of her marriage the same hundred poundes was and is paid by me at or before the day of her marriage videlicet In a Chaine of Golde beeing fourescore seauenteene poundes tenne shillinges in Golde and for the fashion paid to Maister Podmore Goldsmith in London fifty shillinges which compleates the hundred pounds for the which amonst other thinges which I deliuered in trust I haue no acquittance Item I giue to Maister Ieffery Nightingale Esquire the some of forty poundes of lawfull money of England Also I giue to my Cosen William Stapleton sonne of Sir Richard Stapleton Knight one hundred markes Item I giue vnto the Children of Sir Frauncis Willoughbie Knight one hundred poundes of lawfull money of England to bee equally distributed amongst them Item I giue vnto Iohn Law one of the Procurators of the Arches London two hundred poundes And to Maister Thomas Browne ten pounds to make him a Ring Item I giue to the wife and Children of Iohn Gardiner my late wifes Nephew if they be liuing after my decease being the mother and two sonnes two hundred markes to be equally deuided amongst them Item I giue to the poore people of Hadstock to be distributed amongst thē by the Church-wardens and Constables there for the time being twenty poundes Item I giue to the poore people of Littlebury and to the poore people of Balsham to be distributed as afore to either Towne twenty pounds Item I giue to the Parson and Church-wardens of Balsham aforesaid for the time being to buy a Bell withall to be hanged vp in the Steeple to amend the Ring there twenty poundes Item to the poore of Southminster twenty poundes Item to the poore of little Hallenbury twenty poundes Item to the poore of Dunsby in the County of Lincolne twenty poundes Item I giue to Robert Wright poulter of little Hallenbury fiue pound Item I giue to widdow Aske late wife of Robert Aske of London goldsmith twenty pound which she oweth me Item my will and meaning is that there shall no interest or increase for money bee taken after my decease so as hee or they by whom any summes of money are or shall bee owing doe pay the principall debt within one halfe yeare next after my decease Item I giue and bequeath to the poore prisoners within the Prisons of Ludgate Newgate the two Compters in London the Kinges bench and the Marshalsea the summe of two hundred pounds to be paid deuided among the same prisoners by euen equall portions Item I giue to Susan Price at the day of her marriage forty poundes Item I giue to one Collins of the Towne of Cursall in Essex fiue poundes Item I giue to my good friends Mistris Heyward and Mris. Low either of them ten pounds Item I giue to Margret Woodhall my God-daughter the summe of twenty poundes Item I giue to al other my God-children fiue poundes apeece Item I giue and bequeath to the Maister and fellowes as the Corporation of Iesus Coledge in Cambridge the summe of fiue hundred markes of lawfull money of England to bee imployed vsed and bestowed for or in some perpetuity for and to the vse benefit and behalfe of the said Colledge Maister Fellowes and Schollers in such sort manner and forme as by the discrecion of the Bishop of Elie for the time being the Vicechancellor of Cambrige for the time being the Maister and Fellowes of the said Colledge for the time being and my executors hereafter named or the suruiuor or suruiuors of them if they bee liuing when the bestowing of the saide summe shall come in question shal be thought best and most conuenient Item I giue and bequeath to the Maister and Fellowes as the Corporation of Magdalene Colledge in Cambridge the summe of fiue hundred pounds to be imployed vsed or bestowed for or in some perpetuity for and to the vse benefit and behalfe of the said Colledge Maister and Fellowes and Schollers there in such sort manner and forme as by the discretion priuity and consent of the Vicechauncellor in Cambridge for the time being the Maister of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge for the time being and the Maister and Fellowes of the said Magdalene Colledge for the time being shal be
of the sale thereof together with as much more as shall make vp the same summe the full som of twenty thousand poundes I will shall bee imployed and bestowed by my said Executors or the suruiuor of them with the aduise of my Superuisors afore named in some good works and charitable vses for mine intended Hospitall and for poore people or otherwise as they in their wisedomes discretions shal think fit Item I giue to Maister Flud Parson of Newington the summe of thirteene pound sixe shillings eigt pence And to the wife of Beniamin King of Southminster sixe pound thirteene shillings fourepence Item I giue to Thomas Averell if it shall bee found that he hath dealt faithfully and plainely with me in my businesse the summe of tenne poundes which he owerh me Item I giue vnto the wife of Maister Ingry of Littlebury three pound sixe shillings eight pence Item I giue to Sir Henry Hubberd Knight the Kinges Maiesties Attorney generall a peece of plate of the valew of ten pound And to Maister Locksmith his Clarke the summe of tenne pound Item I giue to the poore of the parish of Hackney ten pound Item I giue to Bridget Law the summe of ten pound And to the Lady Altham daughter to Maister Auditor Sutton the summe of twenty poundes Item I giue to Sir Edward Phillips Maister of the Rolles a peece of plate of the value of twenty pound And to Sir Iames Altham one of the Barrons of the Exchequor one peece of plate of the valew of twenty pound Item I giue to my late wiues kinsman Guy Goddolphin the summe of ten pound Item I giue to the right honorable my very good Lord the Earle of Suffolk the summe of foure hundred pounds All the rest of my goods chattles and debtes not before giuen and disposed I giue and bequeath to my entented Hospitall to be imployed and bestowed on and about the same according to the discretion of the Feoffes of my said Hospital or the greater part of them In witnes hereof I haue here-vnto set my hand and seale the twenty eight day of the moneth of Nouember aboue written THOMAS SSTTON Memorandum that the same testator did acknowledge this his will written and contained in these three and twenty leaues to be his last will and testament and that his hand and seale set therevnto is his owne hand and seale and that he had heard it read was acquainted with the contents of it the said twenty eight of Nouember aboue written in presence of vs Iohn Law Leonard Houghton Alexander Longworth Thomas Hall The marke of Richard Pearce The marke of Thomas Iohnson Primo Decembris 1611 idem recognitum pertestatorem coram Io. Crooke Quarto Decembris 1611 recognit to be the Testators last wil. Before me Hen. Thoresby A Codicill to bee anexed to the last Will testament of Thomas Sutton Esquire made and declared the day whereon he dyed being the twelfth of December one thousand sixe hundred and eleuen Item he gaue and bequeathed to Maister Iudge Crooke one of the Iudges of the Kinges Bench at Westminster the summe of tenne poundes And to Maister Henry Thoresby one of the Maisters of the Court of Chancery the like sum of tenne pound And to Mistris Sutton of London widdow the summe of three pound sixe shillings eight pence to make her a Ring Also he gaue to Maister Hutton Clarke Vicar of Littlebury the aduowsion or next presentation to the parsonage of Dunsby in the County of Lincolne Also he did then publish and declare before Maister Flud Parson of Stoke-Newington in the County of Middlesex Robert Petit Alexander Longworth Iohn Parsons and Thomas Iohnson his cooke that he had made his will and thereof had made and ordaind Richard Sutton of London Esquire and Iohn Lawe his Executors FINIS
THE CHARTERHOVSE WITH THE LAST VVILL and Testament of THOMAS SVTTON ESQVIRE Taken out of the Prerogatiue Court according to the true Originall LONDON Printed for Thomas Thorp 1614. THE CHARTER-HOVSE CHARITIE of the three Theologicall Vertues by the vncomptrolable testimonie of Saint Paul the greatest hath in these our daies vpon whom are or may be supposed to haue been come the ends of the World amongst them all of all sorts hath beene least regarded The consciences of some particular persons sealed with the true seales of peace and puritie to their owne euerlasting comfort and the sensible good of their fellow-members remaining haue left to posteritie notable markes of their godly deuotion 〈…〉 followed This 〈…〉 dooers agrees well 〈…〉 where euery 〈…〉 according to the workes hee hath done in his bodie it is said few shall bee saued Indeed it is not to be meruailed at that Charitie waxeth cold in these times where Auatice hath gotten the vpper hand Christ himselfe long since prophecying that towards the end of the World it should bee so All States generally are corrupted each man preferring his owne priuate interest before the common care of his distressed brethren not measuring any thing but by the rule of his owne profit To insist longer vpon these common places would bee ouer-tedious to the Reader and not much auaileable but rather hurtfull as wherein he may behold the Worlds miserable thrift and so become a sectator thereof whilest in the meane while hee make shipwracke of his Conscience and hazard the perdition of Heauen and his owne Soule Let vs therefore walke into the Valley of Lillies where Christ with his true and euerlasting delights is ready to entertaine vs. Herevnto wishes alone auaile not though in themselues commendable Quiddam altius in desiderio There is something more to be desired With this godly desire wee must ioyne sanctitie Holinesse of life is it whereby wee are acceptable before God Naturally wee are inclined to wish well to our owne selues Nemo odit earnem suam But to this well-being well-doing is required Quid oportet me facere was well propounded by that Holy Conuertite in the Actes What must I doe to attaine euerlasting life For to this end by the free grace of God we are deliuered from the bondage of Sinne and Death That wee may serue him in holinesse Surely the yoke of the old Law was insupportable in respect of flesh yet that yoke was not so taken off by our Sauiour that we should thinke our selues free from all manner of yoke Iugum meum dulce leue My yoke is sweet and light yet a yoke Hee that sustaines the VVorld beares part with vs therefore an easie yoke As easie notwithstanding as it is few vndergoe it How culpable therefore the most part of Mankinde is in refusing to be coupled in this sweet yoke and to draw together with Christ who beares the heauiest part thereof it is more than to be lamented Not a fountaine but an Ocean of teares is here to be desired to wash away this guilt Ex fructibus by their fruits you shall know them is the Cognisance whereby the good are discerned from the bad the surest marke of all others whereby either God or Sathan may claime their owne If therefore wee would be accounted and taken for the true seruants of God we must weare his cognisance wee must labour to make our Election sure by bringing forth such fruits as proceed from a faith working by Loue. But this Badge is so seldome seene among vs as it may well be supposed that God hath heere but a very few seruants Let vs desire the Almightie for his great Loue to Mankinde that hee will more and more kindle the small sparke of Charitie that is amongst vs that it may breake forth into a bright flame of brotherly loue and wholly involue vs in the zeale of Gods House Then may wee ioyfully burne incense to the GOD of Israel and offer vp our vowes without feare For the mercifull man hath cast his bread vpon many waters and the Lord hath assured him a reward Now it is time to commend to posteritie the due praises of that truely worthy and neuer to bee forgotten Gentleman Maister Thomas Sutton the right Phoenix of Charitie in our times who mounting vp to the highest top of Gods holy Hill and gathering together the Aromaticall spices of Loue and Compassion hath consumed himselfe in the fire of feruent zeale towards Gods poore Saints who setting all worldly respects eyther of Alliance or Consanguinitie farre behinde his Loue to God and his poore brethren in Christ hath made them in effect the Heyres of all those great riches wherewith it pleased the Lord to blesse him This godly Act of his hath herein especially approoued it selfe for that hee neuer stucke at any cost nor let slip any occasion which might further or establish it to the benefit of the poore people The greatnesse of the gift and the religious care taken for confirmation thereof with the pious forwardnes of our good Soueraigne in the advancement of so good a VVorke are at large set foorth in a more full Volume amongst many other notable Reports by a Reuerend famous and learned Iudge of this Land whereunto when it shall be published I referre the courteous Reader for his more ample satisfaction In the meane time briefly take this The late dissolued Charter-house by Smithfield not long since belonging to the Right Honourable Thomas Earle of Suffolke Lord Chamberlaine of the Kings houshold is well knowne to bee a very large and goodly Mansion beautified with spacious Gardens VValkes Orchards and other pleasures enriched with diuers dependencies of Lands and Tenements therevnto belonging and very fitly seated for wholesome ayre and many other commodities This commodiousness of syte and largenesse of circuite gaue occasion to this worthily renowned Gentleman Maister Sutton to affect this House as the onely fit place wherein to lay the foundation of his Religious desseignes For hee had before that time a setled determination to erect an House in Hallingbury Bouchers in the Countie of Essex to be an Hospitall for such poore Men and Children as Hee himselfe in his life time or the future Gouernours of the same Hospitall should nominate and appoint to bee lodged and relieued there As also for a Schoole-Maister and Vsher to teach the Children to reade and write and instruct them in their Latine and Greeke Grammar for a Diuine likewise to preach the VVord of God vnto them all and for one Maister to gouerne all those people belonging to that House And to that end purpose He had vpon earnest Petition procured himselfe ability by Vertue of an Act of Parliamēt begun holden by prorogation therof at Westminster in the Countie of Middlesex the 9. day of February in the seuenth yeare of his Maiesties raigne ouer England c. and there continued to the 24. day of Iuly then next following To erect build in the