This Bishop Northburgh left 2000_l._ for
the completion of the house of the Carthusians (Charter House) in
co-operation with Sir Walter Manny. He also left 1000 marks to be put
into a chest in the Cathedral Treasury, out of which any poor layman
might, for a sufficient pledge, borrow 10_l._, the Dean and principal
Canons 20_l._ upon the like pledge; the Bishop 40_l._; other noblemen
or citizens 20_l._ for the term of a year. If at the year's end the
money was not repaid, the preacher at Paul's Cross was to notify the
fact, and to announce that the pledge would be sold within fourteen
days if it were not redeemed, and any surplus from the sale would be
handed to the borrower, or his executors. If there were no executors
then the money was to go back to the chest, and be spent for the
health of his soul. There were three keys to the chest, one was kept
by the Dean, another by the oldest Canon-resident, and the third by a
Warden appointed by the Chapter.
One keeps on finding benefactions of this sort. In 1370 one John
Hiltoft's executors handed over some money which the Chapter employed
in repairing some ruined houses; but they took care to establish a
chantry of one chaplain to celebrate Divine service daily in St.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133