CHAPTER IX THE CONSTITUTION
“It is agreed amongst men of religion that order be observed, because without order there is no religion.” (Rules of St. John’s, Nottingham.)
WE now turn to the inner working of the hospital and inquire how the lives of inmates were ordered.
Early charitable institutions were under a definite rule, either that of the diocesan bishop or of the monastic order with which they were in touch. In the Constitutions of Richard Poore of Sarum (circa 1223), one clause is headed: “Concerning the Rule of Religion, how it is lawful to found a xenodochium.” Persons desiring so to do shall receive a form of government from the bishop, “since too great diversity of forms of religion brings in confusion to the church of God.” Laymen therefore applied for an episcopal constitution; the burgesses of Nottingham, for instance, charged Archbishop Gray with the drawing up of an “Ordination” for St. John’s (1231–4). Even when a community was under a monastic house, the diocesan was often asked to compile statutes, as Grossetête did for Kingsthorpe and Bishop Stratford for Ilford; but the abbot of St. Albans drew up his own code for St. Julian’s. There was apparently a definite Anglican Rule, for “The Statutes of St. James’ according to the Use of the Church of England” were promulgated at Canterbury in 1414. p127
Founders and patrons also had a voice in the matter, sometimes drawing up the rule and submitting it to their Father in God; thus the Ordinances of St. Mark’s, Bristol, made by the patron and “exhibited to the Bishop” (1268) are entered in the registers.
Most hospitals followed a definite system, at least in theory, as to admission, observation of regulations and penalties for disobedience.