The Mediæval Hospitals of England by Rotha Mary Clay

THE CONSTITUTION “_It is agreed amongst men of religion that order be observed, because without order there is no religion._” (Rules of St. John’s, Nottingham.) We now turn to the inner working of the hospital and inquire how the lives of inmates were ordered. Early charitable institutions were under a definite rule, either that of the diocesan bishop or of the monastic order with which they were in touch. In the Constitutions of Richard Poore of Sarum (_circa_ 1223), one clause is headed: “Concerning the Rule of Religion, how it is lawful to found a _xenodochium_.” Persons desiring so to do shall receive a form of government from the bishop, “since too great diversity of forms of religion brings in confusion to the church of God.” Laymen therefore applied for an episcopal constitution; the burgesses of Nottingham, for instance, charged Archbishop Gray with the drawing up of an “Ordination” for St. John’s (1231–4). Even when a community was under a monastic house, the diocesan was often asked to compile statutes, as Grossetête did for Kingsthorpe and Bishop Stratford for Ilford; but the abbot of St. Albans drew up his own code for St. Julian’s. There was apparently a definite Anglican Rule, for “The Statutes of St. James’ according to the Use of the Church of England” were promulgated at Canterbury in 1414. [p127] Founders and patrons also had a voice in the matter, sometimes drawing up the rule and submitting it to their Father in God; thus the Ordinances of St. Mark’s, Bristol, made by the patron and “exhibited to the Bishop” (1268) are entered in the registers. Most hospitals followed a definite system, at least in theory, as to admission, observation of regulations and penalties for disobedience.