St John's Hospital originated as a small building erected towards the end of the 12th century by Hugh Eldcorn, with the agreement of the town of Cambridge and on land probably donated by Henry Frost, burgess of Cambridge, as a shelter for the poor. It was granted an oratory and burial ground, as well as income from the church of Horningsea, by the Bishop of Ely, and the bishops of Ely were recognised as its patron. The right to appoint the Master of the Hospital was contentious. Various grants of rights and privileges, as well as small grants of land, in the first decade of the 13th century, indicate that it was formally established then. In 1228, Pope Gregory IX took it into papal protection. In 1250, Pope Innocent IV confirmed the rule drawn up for the brethren by the Bishop of Ely. In c 1266 it was damaged by fire and by rioters rebelling against the King. In 1280 the Bishop of Ely obtained letters patent establishing scholars in the Hospital alongside the brethren, with the scholars living according to the statutes of Merton College, Oxford. The arrangement was unsuccessful and the two communities separated in 1284, with the scholars leaving and being given a share of the Hospital's endowments. These included St Peter's Church (now Little St Mary's), which was a significant loss for the brethren, and hostels which formed the basis of Peterhouse College, founded in 1284. The Hospital continued to be supported by the townspeople and to acquire small amounts of land and property throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, ownership of which was transferred to St John's College when the Hospital was dissolved in 1511.
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Medieval archive of documents relating to the accounts, property, leadership, organisation and eventual dissolution of the Hospital of St John the Evangelist which preceded the College on the same site.
Cataloguing is ongoing: please ask the archivist for more information
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Cataloguing of this section is ongoing: please ask the archivist for more information
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Royal protection and pardons; papal indulgences and absolution; episcopal inspeximi concerning more than one church or right. Cataloguing of this section is ongoing: please ask the archivist for more information
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Cataloguing of this section is ongoing: please ask the archivist for more information
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Cataloguing of this section is ongoing: please ask the archivist for more information
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Includes the Cartulary of the Hospital of St John and its original boards
The cartulary was repaired in 1933.
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The cartulary is a volume of 90 parchment folios. It was produced in the middle of the period of the the Hospital's greatest territorial expansion: a majority of the deeds included record transactions between c.1220 and c.1280; also includes a folio of kitchen accounts from 1344.
The volume was repaired and rebound in 1933 when new beech boards were used to replace the earlier boards of the same material. The use of four thongs entering the original boards via grooves may suggest a first known binding date in the second half of the 13th century. (See G. Pollard 'Describing medieval bookbindings', in JJG Alexander and MT Gibson, eds., "Medieval learning and literature, essays presented to Richard William Hunt. (Oxford, 1976). pp57, 65.)
The old boards had been rebound in tooled-leather covers by Nicholas Spierinck, c.1525, and this binding was re-used in 1933.
The cartulary has been published as a calendar with some transcripts by M.G.Underwood, 'The Cartulary of the Hospital of St John the Evangelist Cambridge' (Cambridge,2008).
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Original wooden boards which were replaced in 1933
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Photographs of the cover of the Cartulary of St John's Hospital before restoration
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Not of land or revenues from land. Including gifts of rights (not royal or papal) and serfs.
Cataloguing of this section is ongoing: please ask the archivist for more information
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1280-1340, with one c 17th century copy of the 1339 submission of the Master and Scholars of Peterhouse to the arbitration of the Bishop of Ely in their dispute with the Master and brethren of St John's Hospital.
Cataloguing of this section is ongoing: please ask the archivist for more information
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Settlements and agreements between St John's Hospital and St Radegund's Priory concerning parochial rights, particularly burial and chapel rights
Documents concerning agreements relating to estates are in SJHO/4
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This was found in a tin box with items (former refs. given here pending completion of cataloguing) D98.156-169 in 1974 by archivist, Dr Malcolm Underwood. The tin box was marked 5 and at the time was in what was then called the new muniment room
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16th century copy of settlement made by bishop Eustace of Ely (1198-1215) and confirmed by bishop Hugh Northwold (1229-1254), re parochial rights of St John's Hospital and St Radegund's priory following a hearing before papal judges delegate.
Celebration of divine service is allowed to the hospital with the reservation that the sacrament shall be taken four times a year by its staff in the church of All Saints, that baptisms shall only take place in the hospital chapel when absolutely necessary, and that the offerings shall continue to be paid in the parish and tithes (other than those claimed on hospital buildings and benefactions) continue to be received. The hospital is allowed free right of burial. Witnesses include Master Alan de Welles.
This copy is taken from an unknown original (not former ref. D98.41)
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Documents agreeing on and then arranging the dissolution of St John's Hospital to enable the foundation of St John's College, to 1511. Parties to the agreements and charters are the Bishop of Ely and Lady Margaret Beaufort's executors; also including royal letters patent, a copy of a Papal Bull, and a small number of letters to the brethren of the Hospital.
Post-16th century documents are copies of earlier documents
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Agreements for the dissolution of St John's Hospital and the foundation of a College, including drafts, contemporary copies, and one later copy. All but one of the documents dated 1509 to either Dec 1510 or 1 Jan. 1511
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Beginning with the necessity of obtaining an apostolic dispensation and the Bishop transferring the right of foundation to the Countess
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Beginning with the necessity of obtaining an apostolic dispensation and the Bishop transferring the right of foundation to the Countess
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Beginning with the necessity of obtaining an apostolic dispensation and the Bishop transferring the right of foundation to the Countess
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With the confirmation of the Prior and Convent of Ely, given on 12 March following
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Copy of indenture of agreement between the Bishop of Ely and the Executors of Lady Margaret Beaufort for the dissolution of the Hospital of St John and foundation of a College
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Contemporary copy of indenture between James, Bishop of Ely, and the executors of Lady Margaret Beaufort for converting St John's Hospital into St John's College. With the confirmation of the Prior and chapter of Ely. Original indenture dated 7 March 1510
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First part deals with the suppression of the Hospital, then moves on to its replacement with a College. With the confirmation of the convent of Ely
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First part deals with the suppression of the Hospital, then moves on to its replacement by a College. With the convent of Ely's confirmation
Rolled manuscript
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Also giving power of attorney to Richard Henryson, clerk, John Wode and John Burgoyne, gentlemen. With the confirmation of the Prior and Convent of Ely
Two seals
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Initial 'H' not drawn and dates in first line left blank. At Otford, 7 August 1 Henry VIII [1509]
With Great Seal (green wax, well preserved)
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Headed 'To the kyng our soueraigne lord' and below, 'Please it yor highnes of yor most noble and habundaunt grace to graunte unto yor humble grauntdame yor gracious litteres patentes under yor grete Seall in dewe fourme to be made accordynge to the tenour and effect ensuyng' etc. With a superscription in King Henry VIII's hand, to signify his granting of the request.
At the manor of Greenwich, 20 July 1 Henry VIII [1509]
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Copy made by Matthew White, discipulus (scholar)
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Henry Hornby, London, to the brethren of St John's Hospital, about their refusal to consent to the alteration of their house into a college
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James Stanley, Bishop of Ely, to the fellows (sic) of St John's Hospital, asking them to surrender their title and interest in St John's Hospital and promising pensions.
Undated, but probably 15 December 1510
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James Stanley, Bishop of Ely, to the brethren of St John's Hospital "that came from Cambridge (Cantybrig)", sending wine with which to still his aqua vitae
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Henry Hornby, London, to the former brethren of St John's Hospital now living at Ely, asking them to come to London at the order of the Archbishop of Canterbury