ROMENALE, in Kent.

FIRST founded by Adam de Cherrings in honour of the blessed Mar∣tyrs St. Steven, and St. Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, and by him endow'd with Lands, Rents, and Possessions for the maintenance of cer∣tain Lepers, and one Chaplain. But in process of time this Hospital be∣coming decay'd and neglected, by reason, chiefly, that no Lepers could be found to inhabit here for many years, Iohn Franceys Patron of this Hospi∣tal, An. 37. Edward the III. in order to revive and restore the same, made divers Orders, viz. That in lieu of the Lepers that used to be here, there should for the future be two Priests to celebrate for the Founders and [ 406] Benefactors, one of which to be Custos or Master, to be instituted and inducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to be Resident, which two Priests shall celebrate daily in the Chappel of this Hospital, Matins, and the Canonical hours; that upon the death of the Custos, the Patron to present another to the Archbishop of Canterbury to be admitted Custos, within the space of two Months, or in default of the Patron, the Jurates of the Town of Romenale, or the major part of them, &c.