eve for ever; and on the 11th Feb. 1704, Mr. William Stables, by his will also, gave a farther sum of twenty shillings out of the above tithes.

April 4, 1748, Mr. William Stables, having sold the said tithes to Lord Gallway free from the above incumbrances, he by deed in lieu of and in full satisfaction for the said fifty shillings, granted and conveyed to the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, and their successors, a yearly rent of fifty shillings, issuing and payable out of certain closes, called Baghill Closes, in Pontefract, free from all Deductions whatsoever, in trust nevertheless for the poor of St. Nicholas' hospital, to be paid yearly at Christmas, with power to distrain on nonpayment.

Also a reserved rent of fifteen shillings per annum, paid by the vicar out of the rents and profits of a close at Darrington, exchanged with the Reverend Mr. Drake for a house near St. Giles' church, now pulled down.

June 8, 1673. Mr. Thomas Sayle, of Pontefract, chandler, by his will gave one hundred pounds towards rebuilding and reedifying this hospital, which was done soon after.

Lazar House.

In the fourteenth of Edward I, 1286, Henry de Lacy built a Lazar House here, and dedicated it to St. Mary Magdalene. The order of St Lazarus, of Jerusalem, seems to have been founded for the relief and support of lepers and impotent persons of the military order.

Archbishop John Romain granted an indulgence to all those who contributed to the relief of the lepers therein.

It appears probable that the hospital called Frank's Hospital is either the Lazar House, or has been built on the site of it. The figure of a knight, cut in stone, in the wall, nearly as big as life, seems to justify this conclusion. This figure is now much defaced; the arms have been broken off and the head nearly destroyed.

Knolles', or Trinity, Hospital and College.

This hospital and college was founded in the reign of the unfortunate Richard II. by Sir Robert Knolles, a gentleman as illustrious for his valour and military achievements, as for his liberality to the indigent, and his regard to the claims of piety*. According to Leland, he had

* This family is of Saxon origin, and the name derived from the term Knoll, a hill, where some of the race resided. In the reign of Edward III. Robert Knolles was considered as one of the best generals of the age, and the honour and glory of the country. In 1350, he was sent into France with an army, where he drove the French before him like sheep, overwhelming their towns and cities in such numbers, that years after the sharp points, and gable ends of overthrown houses, cloven asunder with instruments of war, were commonly called Knolles' mitres. The French styled him Le veritable Demon de Guerre, or the true thunderbolt of war. He was made Senescal of Guienne, by Edward, and commissioned to assist John de Montfort, in, the duchy of Bretagne, in which service he was completely successful: and poined Lieutenant of Bretagne, and rewarded with a fine estate in the duchy by Mont'ort. He assisted the Black Prince in the conquest of Aquitain. He afterwards joined the Prince of Angaulesine, and drove the French to the gates of Paris.

was ap

In the midst of all his successes, a combination of young noblemen, who envied his renown and talents, was formed against him; and all the arts of intrigue, calumny and misrepresentation, were made use of to withdraw the favour of the prince from him. False accusations were brought against him

intended to erect it on his manor of Scoulthorp, three miles from Walsingham, but influenced by the desire of his lady, he changed his intention, and to do her the greater honour, erected it on the very spot where she was born.

Whatever might be the respect and honour Sir Robert intended to confer on his lady by this act of piety, the above mentioned historian has left a stain on her memory, by describing her as a woman of mean birth, of loose morals, of unchaste and dissolute conduct. Meanness of birth is not imputable to any one as a crime; nor can descent from respectable ancestors be considered as a virtue; it can only properly be accounted a blessing. A lady destitute of the virtues of modesty, chastity and rectitude, justly forfeits the respect due to her sex; and however elevated her rank, her vices will cover her name with reproach. Let us hope the historian has retailed scandal, and that the meanness of Lady Robert Knolles' birth, gave occasion to a censorious world to charge her with crimes of which she never was guilty.

The charter of the foundation of this house for embezzling the public property, and which, by the inquiry instituted, tended more to his fame and his honour, than to his disgrace.

After being covered with glory as a conqueror, he retired to his family residence, and on the accession of Richard II. he was honoured with the order of the garter. In the tumult excited by Watt Tyler, which threatened to subvert the government, Sir Robert was one of those, whose prudence, courage, and good conduct, contributed essentially to preserve the king, and to subdue and disperse the enraged populace. The city of London enfranchised him a member thereof, in expression of their gratitude for the service he had rendered on this occasion. KIMBER'S Baronetage.

was granted on the 30th April, 1385. It is called a chantry or college, and intended to contain seven chaplains or fellows, one of which to be appointed warden. Also an almshouse or hospital adjoining, dedicated to the Holy Trinity and Blessed Virgin Mary," for two clerks and thirteen poor persons, so made by mischance or scarcity, and two servitors to attend them."

In consequence of the charter and licence of King Richard II. Sir Robert Knolles and Constance his wife, obtained a like licence of John, King of Castile, and Duke of Lancaster, Lord of the Soil, to purchase of Thomas Shirwood one messuage in Pontefract, on the site of which this collegiate house was built, and dedicated to the honour of the Holy Trinity.

The founders liberally endowed the college and the hospital. They granted to the custos, master, or warden, the sum of twenty marks per annum, ten to each of the seven chaplains, and five to each of the clerks, for their maintenance and support. The sum of thirty-four pounds four shillings and fourpence halfpenny was allotted to the thirteen poor persons, and the two servitors in the hospital; and it was ordered that every one should receive out of this sum three halfpence per day, for his support. They also appointed fourpence to be paid to each of the said poor, and their servitors, on each of the ten principal feasts.-The feasts of the Holy Trinity, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, All-Saints, and the five feasts of the Blessed Virgin.

The founders, not satisfied with providing for the comfortable subsistence of the poor, granted Ddd

ten marks per annum, for their clothing and other necessaries, to be equally divided among them. They allowed to the two servants, for their attendance, the sum of twenty-five shillings and eight pence per annum.

They assigned for the endowment of this house, after the decease of either of the said founders, one hundred and two pounds. ten shillings, issuing out of their lands and tenements in London; appointing the residue of the value of these lands and tenements, to be yearly ap propriated to the use of this house, in repairs and buildings.

They also ordained, that the master, chaplains, clerks, the poor and their servants should receive a pittance of six shillings and eightpence, on the day of either of their anniversaries.

Also they willed that the prior and canons of Nostal, and their and their successors should enjoy the right of presentation to the wardenship of this college; and that they should present on every vacation a fit chaplain within the space of fifteen days.

It was likewise appointed that the master should have a seal appropriated to his office, whereon should be engraven a rose, and the image of the Holy Trinity. This ordination was confirmed by Richard, Archbishop of York, on the 5th Oct. 1404.

This college and hospital was built in a style suitable to the purposes for which it was intended. A considerable part of the buildings still remain, and give some faint idea of what it once was. The place now called the galleries was the residence of the master of the col lege and the six chaplains. Each had his sepa