ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, CHICHESTER,

SUSSEX.

THIS Hospital is situated in the north-east quarter of the city of Chichester: it was originally a nunnery, and was founded by William, the fifth dean of the cathedral church of the Holy Trinity in that city, about the year 1173, or 1174. It is not possible to discover at what period, or on what occasion, it was converted into an Hospital for indigent persons.

Early in the thirteenth century the parish church of St. Peter having become ruinous, Ralph Neville, who was at that time bishop of Chichester and lord chancellor of England, procured that the parishioners (who could not have been very numerous, since there were only two or three houses in the parish) should have the right of hearing divine service in the chapel of the Hospital, and of having other spiritual assistance they required, administered to them by its chaplain.

In the year 1407 there occurs an episcopal mandate for the consecration of the chapel attached to the Hospital; and by the style of its architecture the chapel must have been re-edified about this time.

The following curious document, which bears date the 10th of October 1447, is a collation to the Hospital, on

E

ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL, CHIChester,

the resignation of the then warden, John Crowcher, dean of Chichester; it is written in Latin, and, translated, runs thus:

"Form of collation to the Hospital of the Blessed Virgin Mary, made before sir John Goswell, vicar in the quire of Chichester, in the month and year underwritten.

"To all the sons of Holy Church to whom these presents shall come; John Clounham, præcentor of the cathedral church of Chichester, and president and chaplain of the same place, salvation in the Saviour of all. Be it known unto all by these presents, that we have committed to sir John Goswell, chaplain, the administration and guardianship of the house or Hospital of the poor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, now vacant by the resignation of the very reverend man master John Crowcher, dean of the cathedral church of Chichester, and fully and rightfully belonging to our collation, and have conferred the guardianship of the charity, in which collation of his admission, under the same context, the said sir John yielded to us accustomed and canonical obedience, and also made corporal oath faithfully to administer the goods of the said house or Hospital, and to give a faithful account of his administration yearly, whilst he shall there continue; and not to alienate the lands, houses, or revenues of the said house or Hospital; and not to admit, moreover, any brethren or sisters into the said house or Hospital, without the requisite consent of the dean and chapter first had and obtained, according