The Leper in England: with some account of English lazar-houses Part 4

[l] _Royal Mandate, enjoining the exclusion of Leprous persons front the City._

20 Edward III. A.D. 1346. Letter-Book F. fol. cxvi. (Latin.)

"EDWARD, by the grace of G.o.d, etc. Forasmuch as we have been given to understand, that many persons, as well of the city aforesaid, as others coming to the said city, being smitten with the blemish of leprosy, do publicly dwell among the other citizens and sound persons, and there continually abide; and do not hesitate to communicate with them, as well in public places as in private; and that some of them, endeavouring to contaminate others with that abominable blemish, (that so, to their own wretched solace, they may have the more fellows in suffering,) as well in the way of mutual communications, and by the contagion of their polluted breath, do so taint persons who are sound, both male and female, to the great injury of the people dwelling in the city, aforesaid, and the manifest peril of other persons to the same city resorting;--We, wis.h.i.+ng in every way to provide against the evils and perils which from the cause aforesaid may unto the said city, and the whole of our realm, arise, do command you, strictly enjoining, that immediately on seeing these presents, you will cause it to be publicly proclaimed on our behalf in every Ward of the city aforesaid, and in the suburbs thereof, where you shall deem it expedient, that all persons who have such blemish, shall, within fifteen days from the date of these presents, quit the city and the suburbs aforesaid, on the peril which is thereunto attached, and betake themselves to places in the country, solitary, and notably distant from the said city and suburbs, and take up their dwelling there; seeking their victuals, through such sound persons as may think proper to attend thereto, wheresoever they may deem it expedient. And that no persons shall permit such leprous people to dwell within their houses and buildings in the City, and in the suburbs aforesaid, on pain of forfeiture of their said houses and buildings, and more grievous punishment on them by us to be inflicted, if they shall contravene the same. And further, taking with you certain discreet and lawful men who have the best knowledge of this disease, all those persons, as well as citizens as others, of whatever s.e.x or condition they may be, whom, upon diligent examination in this behalf to be made, within the city and suburbs aforesaid you shall find to be smitten with the aforesaid blemish of leprosy, you are to cause to be removed from the communion of sound citizens and persons without delay, and taken to solitary places in the country, there, as above stated, to abide. And this, as you shall wish to keep yourself scatheless, and to avoid our heavy indignation, you are not to delay doing; and as to that which you shall have done herein, you are distinctly and openly to certify us in our Chancery under your seals, within the fifteen days next ensuing herefrom. Witness myself, at Westminster, the 15th day of March, in the 20th year of our reign in England, and of our reign in France the 7th."

Proclamation of this writ was made on the Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Gregory the Pope [12 March], in the 20th year aforesaid.

_The Porters of the City Gates sworn that they will prevent Lepers from entering the City._

49 Edward III. A.D. 1375. Letter-Book H. fol. xx. (Latin)

WILLIAM DUERHIRST, _barbir_, porter of Algate, and the several porters of Bisshopesgate, Crepulgate, Aldrichesgate, Neugate, Ludgate, Bridge Gate, and the [1]Postern,--were sworn before the Mayor and Recorder, on the Monday next after the Feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle [24 August], in the 49th year etc., that they will well and trustily keep the Gates and Postern aforesaid, each in his own office and bailiwick; and will not allow lepers to enter the City, or to stay in the same, or in the suburbs thereof; and if anyone shall bring any leprous person to any such Gate, or to the Postern aforesaid, or if any lepers or leper shall come there, and wish to enter, such persons or person shall be prohibited by the porter from entering; and if, such prohibition notwithstanding, such persons or person shall attempt to enter, then they or he shall be distrained by their or his horses or horse, if they or he shall have any such, and by their outer garment; the which such persons or person are not to have back, without leave of the Mayor, for the time being. And if even then such persons or person shall attempt to enter, they or he shall be attached by their bodies or body, and in safe custody be kept, until as to such persons or person it shall by the Mayor, for the time being, have been otherwise ordained.

[1] Near the Tower.

And further, the same porters were told, on pain of the pillory, that they must well and trustily observe and keep this Ordinance, as aforesaid.

William Cook, [2]_forman_ at [3]Le Loke, and William Walssheman, _forman_ at Hakeney, were sworn that they will not bring lepers, or know of their being brought, into the City aforesaid; but that they will inform the said porters, and prevent the said lepers from entering, as far as they may.

[2] Foreman, or manager.

[3] The Lock, adjacent to Southwark; these were Lazar-houses for Lepers.

Memorials of London and London Life, XIII, XIV, and XV centuries, Riley.

In the _Liber Albus_ p. 273, is a regulation that no Leper is to be found in the city, night or day, on pain of imprisonment; alms were, however, to be collected for them on Sundays. Again on p. 590, are further regulations that Jews, Lepers, and Swine are to be driven out of the city.

[m] See Dr. Lanigan's Eccles. Hist. of Ireland vol. III. p. 83-88, Dublin 1822, quoted by Dr. Stewart in "Arch. Essays" 1872, ii.

[n] See vol. I. Surtees soc: pp. 37,41.

[o] A Sewer was an Usher. Vide Catholicon Anglic.u.m.

See Dugdale's Mon: Angl. vi. 643, 2nd ed.

Lord Lyttleton's the Life of Henry II. etc. (London 1767) append of Doc.u.ments iv. 220.

Leland's Itinerary iv. 105. (Hearnes ed.)

[p] See authorities quoted by Simpson in Arch. Essays, (ed. Stewart) ii. 115.

[q] See p. 179, ii. Arch. Essays, Simpson ed: ed Stewart.

[r] See Rot: Orig: in Curia Scacecrie Abbrev: i. 33, London 1805.

[s] See Dugdale's Mon: Angl: vi. 687. Cheon Hencia Knyghton, _Bod: Lib:_ ii. cap. 2. quoted by the late Sir J. G. Simpson, Bt. in Arch.

Essays, ii.

[t] See Alex. Jenkin's, H. and Discrip: of the City of Exeter, etc.

(1806) p. 384 quoted by Simpson.

[u] Simpson quotes b.e.l.l.e.n.den's Transl. of Boece, Chronikles of Scotland, ii. 102, ed. of 1821. Dempter's Hist. Eccles Gentis Scotorum (1627) p. 278, etc.

[v] See Fuller's Hist. of the Holy Warre (3rd ed. 1647) p. 94, quoted by Simpson. Notes and Queries 7th S viii. 218.

[w] See Orygynale Cronikil of Scotland, (Macpherson's ed.) ii. 136.

Simpson's Arch. Essays, ii. 113 et sq.

Froisart's Chron. of England etc., by Lord Berners (London 1812) i.

19.

A large number of other authorities are quoted by Simpson. Notes and

Queries, 7th S viii. 108, 217.

[x] See Notes and Queries, 7th S. viii. 108. Lingard's H. of England (1st ed.) iii. 315.

Rapin's H. of E. (ed. Tindal) ii. 185. Sharon Turner H. of E. ii. 272.

d.u.c.h.esne's Hist. d'Angleterre, (Paris 1614) p. 1010. Strickland's Lives of the Queens of England iii. 114, and others quoted by Simpson, late Professor Thorold Rogers in Notes and Queries 7th S. viii. 278.

[y] Notes and Queries 7th S viii. 277.

[z] Notes and Queries 7th S viii. 363.

Leprosy was sometimes called Meselrie and Spiteluvel in the Middle Ages, see Catholicon Anglic.u.m, a Leper, elefancia, missella, mesel.

_ibid._ also Promptorium Parvulorum.

APPENDIX B.