|
Colleges and Hospitals. Bridewel. | 176 |
Colleges and Hospitals. Bridewel.
more, and to some less; (as also may particularly appear by a fair Book, wherein
their
Names are entred) Yearly 468l.
| |
There is also given to the Lazar Houses adjoining to the City of London, to the
intent
they shall not beg within the same, nor within three Miles compass thereof,
(except it be
at their own Doors) to the great Annoyance of all such as have frequented the
City in
Term time, and at other Times and Places, 60l.
| |
There is also paid in ordinary Fees, for the good Government of the said Houses,
as
followeth:
| |
To an Hospitaller being a Priest, 10l.
| |
To Five Surgeons, each of them 15l. Yearly, 75l.
| |
To two Stewards, each of them 6l. 13s. 4d. 13l. 6s. 8d.
| |
To two Butlers, each of them 6l. 12l.
| |
To two Cooks, each of them 8l. 16l.
| |
To Four Porters, each of them 6l. Yearly. 24l.
| |
To two School-masters for the Petites, each of them 53s. 4d. 5l. 6s. 8d.
| |
To School-masters for Writing, 3l. 6s. 8d.
| |
To two Matrons, each of them 53s. 4d. 5l. 6s. 8d.
| |
To Forty four Women, each of them 40s. a Piece. 88l.
| |
To two Men that carry Wood and Coal, and to be charge of the same, 4l.
| |
Thus may it appear, that the ordinary Charges of this new Erection, as before
hath been
particularly described, amounteth Yearly to 3290l. 5s. 4d.
| |
Towards the Maintenance whereof there is collected by the Geste, [Chest,
perhaps] and
free Alms of the Citizens, as may appear in a fair Register, wherein is
expressed the
Ward, Parish, Name, and Sum, that every Person within the City gives hereunto,
2914l.
| |
So that the ordinary Charges of these two Houses, is greater than the ordinary
Alms
that is given for the Maintenance of them, as may appear, &c. amounteth to
377l. 5s.
4d.
| |
Towards the Discharge whereof there hath been given this Year by Legacies and
other
Gifts, by sundry charitable Persons, as may also particularly appear, 129l. 15s.
7d. ob.
| |
So resteth to discharge the ordinary Expences, besides all manner of
extraordinary
Expences, Reparations, Furniture of necessary Implements; and many other Charges
which certainly are very great, 247l. 9s. 8d. ob.
| |
Which Sum hath been paid and disbursed by the Governors of the said Houses, out
of
their own Purses, which daily travel for the good Order of them, 247l. 9s. 8d.
ob.
| |
By the perusal of this Paper it appears, that not only such as were harboured
within
these Hospitals were taken care of, but such as were Objects of Charity abroad
as poor
Housekeepers, Alms Folks, in and about the City, were relieved also out of the
Collections made for these Houses, according to the Discretion of the Governors.
| |
There were also in the City many others of the poor necessitous Sort, that had
neither
House nor Harbour to put their Heads in, but were fain to lye abroad in the open
Streets; and divers Families of other Poor fain to lye under one Roof. This did
closely
affect many good Citizens, and particularly Ridley, the good Bishop of London,
who
by some means was informed of it, and moved in it. And considering that
Bridewell,
an old decayed House of the Kings, situate in the City, being very large and
capacious,
might be extremely serviceable to this charitable Purpose, he endeavoured to
find a Way
to beg it of the King, especially at this time, when one was about
buying it of the King to put it down, and convert it to his own Use. And for
the
compassing this, in the Month of May, this charitable Year 1552, he wrote a very
pathetical Letter to Sir William Cecyl, Knt. the King's Secretary (whom he knew
to be
of a pious Disposition, as well as much about the King) having promised to the
Citizens
to move him in this Matter, because he took him for one (as he told him in his
Letter)
that feared God. His moving Letter ran to this Tenor:
|
Bridewell.
|
"Good Mr. Cecyl, I must be a Suitor unto you in our Master Christs Cause. I
beseech you be good unto him. The Matter is, Sir: Alas! he hath lien too too
long
abroad (as you do know) without Lodging in the Streets of London, both Hungry,
Naked, and Cold. Now Thanks be unto Almighty God, the Citizens are willing to
refresh him, and to give him both Meat, Drink, and Cloathing, and Firing, But
alas!
Sir, they lack Lodging for him. For in some one House, I dare say, they are
fain to
lodge three Families under one Roof. Sir, there is a wide, large, empty House
of the
Kings Majesty, called Bridewell, that would wonderfully well serve to lodge
Christ in,
if he might find such good Friends in the Court to procure in his Cause. Surely
I have
such a good Opinion in the Kings Majesty, that if Christ had such faithful and
hearty
Friends, that would heartily speak for him, he should undoubtedly speed at the
Kings
Majesties Hands. Sir, I have promised my Brethren, the Citizens, to move you,
because I do take you for one that feareth God, and would that Christ should lye
no
more abroad in the Street."
|
Bishop Ridley's Suit for Bridewel.
Letter to Cecil;
|
He prayed him also for God's sake, that he would stop the Sale of this House, in
case
any were about buying of it, as he heard there was; and that he would speak in
our
Master's Cause. The said Bishop wrote also to Sir John Gates, another great Man
at
Court, about this Business more at large; and he joyned, he said, Cecyl with
him, and
all other that loved and looked for Christs final Benediction on the latter Day;
meaning
that in the Gospel, Come ye Blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared
for
you from the beginning of the World. For I was an hungry, &c. He also sent
Instructions by the Bearer of this Letter to confer further with Cecyl in this
Affair. So
that that holy Martyr Ridley's Name must not be forgotten as a great Instrument
in the
procurement of Bridewell to the City.
|
And Sir John Gates.
|
Afterward this House being obtained to the City, it was employed for the
Correction
and Punishment of idle, vagrant People, and Strumpets, and for setting them to
Work,
that they might in an honest way take pains to get their own Livelihood.
|
Bridewell, for what Use.
|
And here I cannot omit to leave upon Record, to their eternal Honour, the Names
of
two good Maiors of London, Dobbs, and Barnes; the former a main Instrument of
procuring the Foundation of this and the other Hospitals: The latter, of
furthering the
good Estate of them, whom in this most christianly affectionate manner, the
beforesaid
good Bishop of London, accosted in one of the Letters he writ out of Prison a
little
before his Death:
"O Dobbs, Dobbs, Alderman, and Knight, thou in thy Year
didst
win my Heart for evermore, for that honourable Act, that most blessed Work of
God,
of the Erection and setting up of Christs Holy Hospitals, and truly Religious
Houses,
which by thee and through thee were begun. For thou like a Man of God, when the
Matter was moved, [perhaps by himself, the Bishop] for Christs poor silly
Members, to
be holpen from extreme Misery, Hunger and Famine, thy Heart I say, was moved
with
Pity, and as Christs high honour-"
|
Dobbs and Barnes their good Deserts in
furthering this Foundation.
Ridley's Letter to them.
Martyr's Letter.
|
|