Of the lands and houses above-mentioned, only the last four were in the parish of St. Giles, and three of them have already been dealt with. The Vine was on the north side of High Holborn, and its site, with that of the close behind, is now marked by Grape Street, formerly Vine Street.
Very shortly afterwards, Sir Thomas Legh, the notorious visitor of the monasteries, made a determined effort to gain possession of the Hospital of Burton Lazars,[[623]] and obtained from Thomas Radclyff, then master, the next advowson of the Hospital for his life. This was confirmed in March, 1536–7, by Letters Patent.[[624]] In 1539 the Hospital was dissolved, and its possessions reverted to the Crown. Legh, however, for several years continued to hold the property, and enjoy the profits, spiritual and temporal, until on 6th May, 1544, the King granted to Sir John Dudley, Viscount Lisle, the Hospital with all its possessions in Leicestershire, St. Giles-in-the-Fields, and elsewhere. Very naturally, this resulted in “contencion, varyence and stryfe” being “reysed, stirred and dependyng betweene the said Viscount Lisle ... and the said Sir Thomas Legh ... of for and aboute the right, tytle, interest, occupation and possession of the seyd late Hospytall,” and the Lord Chancellor, Lord Wriothesley, was appointed arbitrator to settle the matter.
In the course of the same year (1544) Wriothesley gave his award, dividing the property between the two claimants, but as the arrangement was never completed it is not necessary to give details here.[[625]]
It appears that when the award in question was being obtained, Lord Lisle was absent from the country, “beinge occupied in the parties beyond the see in and aboute the Kynges Majesties affaires concernynge his warres,” and on his return refused to carry out the decree, claiming that “the veray trewe and hoole tytle of the seyde Viscounte of and in the premysses” had not been disclosed. On 24th November, 1545, Sir Thomas Legh died,[[626]] leaving as his sole heir a daughter, Katherine, aged five years. His widow, Joan, pressed for the execution of the award, and eventually on 8th March, 1545–6, a further decree[[627]] was made modifying the former. In accordance therewith an indenture[[628]] was on 24th March drawn up between Lord Lisle and Dame Joan Legh, providing for the transfer to the latter during her life, with remainder to Katherine, of the undermentioned property.
“All those messuages, houses, and buyldinges, landes and tenements callyd the Spyttell howses, with all the orchards, gardens thereunto adjoyning.”
A close called St. Giles’ Wood.[[629]]
The Chequer.[[630]]
4 cottages in the occupation of John Baron.
11 cottages in the occupation of William Wilkinson.
The Maidenhead,[[703]] with a garden.