[1. Last will and testament].

The testament of Richard Whittington. In the name of God and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, amen. On 5 September 1421, in the ninth year of the reign of Henry V, I, Richard Whittington, citizen and alderman of London, being sound in mind and memory, make this my testament in the following manner. First, I leave my soul to almighty God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints, and my body to be buried in the church of St. Michael Paternoster Royal in London, that is, on the north side of the high altar of that church. It is my first and foremost wish that, before anything else, all the debts that I rightfully owe, to whomever I owe them, be paid in full. I bequeath £100 to cover the costs of my funeral expenses and for saying vespers after my death, the Placebo and Dirige, and on the following day a requiem mass; together with a monthly remembrance for my soul, the souls of my father, my mother, my wife Alice, and all those to whom I owe a debt of gratitude. I bequeath 1d. for every poor man, woman and child, to be distributed on the day of my funeral. I bequeath 100s. to the high altar of the aforementioned church for tithes or offerings unpaid due to forgetfulness or negligence; also, 6s.8d to each chaplain of that church, to pray for my soul and those of the others mentioned and to say the Placebo and Dirige every day for a month after my death. I bequeath 40s. to Thomas the present [parish] clerk of that church, if he is still its clerk at the time I die. I bequeath 100s. to be distributed in alms, at the discretion of my executors, among poor parishioners known to that church, so that they may pray for my soul and those of the others mentioned. I bequeath 40s. to dom. Thomas Kirton, lately rector of the aforementioned church, to pray for my soul and those of the others mentioned. I bequeath 100s. to John White, master of St. Bartholomew's hospital in the London suburb of West Smithfield, so that he may pray for my soul and the souls of the others mentioned. Also, 100s. to be distributed, at the discretion of my executors, among poor persons who are in that hospital. I bequeath 40s. towards the structural fabric of All Hallows church in Honey Lane and to the repair of the church ornaments, that they may pray for my soul and the souls of the others mentioned. I leave 100s. towards the structural fabric of the church of St. Margaret Lothbury and the repair of ornaments of that church, that they may pray for the soul of Roger one-time rector there, and my soul and the other souls mentioned. I bequeath 53s.4d towards the structural fabric of the church of St. Pancras, London, and the repair of ornaments of that church, that they may pray for my soul and the souls of the others mentioned. I bequeath £13.6s.8d for the alms [fund] of my craft gild of the mercers of London. I bequeath 100s. to each order of friars in London, to pray for my soul and the souls of the others mentioned. I bequeath 8d. to each stipendiary chaplain in London and its suburbs, to pray for my soul and the other souls to be remembered. I bequeath 40s. to be distributed, as my executors determine best, among poor people of the parish of St. Stephen Coleman Street, London. I bequeath 40s. [to be distributed], as my executors determine best, among poor people of the parish of St. Michael Bassishaw, London. I bequeath 40s. towards the structural fabric of St. Alphege church, London, that they may pray for my soul and those of the aforementioned. I bequeath 20s. to be distributed, as my executors determine best, among poor people of that parish. I bequeath 40s. towards the structural fabric of the church of St. Mary Staining and the repair of ornaments of that church, that they may pray for my soul and the aforementioned souls; also, £10 to be distributed, as my executors determine best, among poor people in the hospitals of St. Mary without Bishopsgate, St. Mary of Bethlem, and St. Thomas in Southwark, and among the lepers of Lock, Hackney, and St. Giles without Holborn. I bequeath 20s. to be distributed, as my executors determine best, among the poor brothers and sisters of the hospital of Elsing Spital. I bequeath 100s. to the monastic house at Burnham, that they may pray for my soul and the aforementioned souls. I bequeath 40s. to the monastic house at Cheshunt, that they may pray for my soul and the aforementioned souls. I bequeath 40s. to the monastic house at Rouney near Ware, that they may pray for my soul and the aforementioned souls. I bequeath 40s. to the monastic priory at Bromhale near Windsor, that they may pray for my soul and the aforementioned souls. I bequeath £100 for the marriage of virgins, [to be distributed] as my executors determine best. Also, for the repair and improvement of roads in bad condition, £100 [to be distributed] as my executors determine best, where the necessity is most felt. I bequeath for distribution among those imprisoned in Newgate, Ludgate, Fleet, Marshalsea, and the King's Bench 40s. each week for as long as £500 holds out. I leave to my executors named below the entire tenement in which I live in the parish of St. Michael Paternoster Royal, London, and all lands and tenements that I hold in the parish of St. Andrew, near Castle Baynard, London, and in the parish of St. Michael Bassishaw, as well as in the parish of St. Botolph outside Bishopsgate, in the same city; so that after my death they may sell them as soon as they may conveniently do so and distribute the proceeds for [the good of] my soul and the souls already mentioned, when they see a good opportunity to benefit my soul and please God – that is in the celebration of masses and other works of charity, and to fulfill this my testament. The remainder of all my possessions, wherever they may be, after the payment of my debts has been given priority and my bequests have been fulfilled, I leave to my executors to dispose of in works of charity for [the good of] my soul, such as they would wish me to do for their souls if our situation were reversed. I appoint as my executors of this my testament John Coventre, John White clerk, John Carpenter, and William Grove, and as their supervisor William Babyngton; and I bequeath to the same John Coventre £20 for his labour, to John White £13.6s.8d for his labour, to John Carpenter £40 for his labour, to William Grove £10 for his labour, and to the supervisor £20 for his labour. I do not wish any of my executors to have any administration or involvement whatsoever in anything concerning this my testament or my last will without all my executors approving, or three of them being present, or which three or four it is my wish that John Carpenter be one. I wish that my executors have in their custody a chest, secured with three locks, containing my goods and jewels, to be distributed for [the good of] my soul; and that none of those who are my executors remove anything from the same except in the presence or with the consent of all as a group. I further wish that my executors maintain and support my household together with meals for my personal servants for one year following my death, as they determine best. Also, I bequeath to the house of the Carthusians 100s., that they may pray for my soul and the other souls mentioned. In testimony to which matters I have set my seal to this testament. Drawn up at London, on the day and year indicated above.

[2. Ordinances for the almshouse].

To all true Christians who witness or hear about matters covered by these documents, John Coventre, John Carpenter, and William Grove, executors of the testament of the respectable and famous merchant Richard Whittington, late citizen and mercer of the city of London and sometime mayor of that city, send greetings in our Lord God everlasting. The strongest desire and greatest preoccupation of a prudent, wise, and devout man should be to plan ahead and make provision for the state [of his soul] and the termination of his short life, through acts of compassion and benevolence. In particular, to provide for those poor people who have been crushed by severe hardship and cruel misfortune and who do not have the means to earn a living through a craft or manual labour. So that, at the day of the Last Judgement, he will find a place with those who are saved. Having given serious consideration to this, that respectable and famous merchant Richard Whittington, who while he was alive gave large handouts liberally to people who were poor and in need, gave strict instructions on his deathbed for we, his executors, to establish after his death an almshouse for the perpetual support of the type of poor people indicated above. He fully expounded to us his wishes in this regard; and we wish to do whatever we can to fulfill the commendable intent and beneficial wishes expressed in his will, as is our duty. First, we have founded with official approval, in the church of St. Michael Royal in London where are buried Richard and Lady Alice his wife, a college of priests and clerics to perform divine services there daily for [the souls of] Richard and Alice. We have also founded, in response to his wishes, an almshouse for 13 poor people as a perpetual residence and place of sustenance for them and their successors. This house has been built upon land that we recently bought for the purpose in St. Michael's parish; that is, situated between that church and the wall enclosing a vacant plot to the rear of the high altar of the church, on the south side, and our great tenement that was until recently the home of Richard Whittington, on the north side, and stretching [westwards] from the residence of the master and priests of the college mentioned above. Which [residence] we had built recently on the east side, on a large empty plot of our land; from which we intend, with God's help, to have within a short time a churchyard lawfully consecrated to serve the church, on the west side [of the college]. Calling to our aid the power of the Father, the wisdom of his Son, and the goodness of the Holy Ghost, we have next set out ordinances giving specifications for the foundation and establishment of the almshouse and its poor men.

First, as a result of a licence granted by the authority of the noble and powerful prince and present lord king of England and France, Henry VI, and by the consent and wish of the reverend lord and father in Christ Henry, by the grace of God Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of England, and legate of Rome, under whose immediate jurisdiction are the church and parish mentioned above, and after obtaining the necessary agreement of each and every man who had any title or interest in the property, we wish and ordain that from this time forward there be admitted to reside and obtain sustenance in the almshouse 13 poor people, either men alone or men and women together, according to the best judgement and decision of the overseers identified below and conservators of that house. Who shall every day forevermore at a proper and convenient time pray for all those who are now living and for those who have gone to God, particularly those whose names are identified in the statutes written below.

Of which poor people we wish that there always be one who is the principal, given more authority and respect than the others, and called the tutor. The responsibility and duties of that tutor shall be to administer well and truly the goods of the almshouse that come into his hands, gathering together again any goods that are dispersed. And to take care of those goods which, through his efforts, are gathered together, for the use and support of the almshouse. All almshouse-related matters that he is in a position to oversee he is to manage through decisions and actions, taking care to foster and build charitable and peaceful relations among his fellows, and in all matters to set an example of cleanliness and virtuous behaviour, both in word and deed.

We wish and ordain that the poor people of the almshouse, present and future, are to be upright in their intentions and obedient to the tutor in all matters in which he has authority or that concern the good reputation or benefit of the house.

We wishing to realize the intent of the foundation and above ordinances providing for the almshouse and the 13 needy and devout poor people, well-behaved and of honest character, have now put into operation that intent by designating the poor people who are to be maintained in the almshouse. Of whom one that we consider most suitable and capable to be in authority, by the name of Robert Chesterton, we have appointed and ordain to be tutor of the poor people and the almshouse, as mentioned.

And we have granted and by the tenor of this present document, thanks to the aforementioned licence and grant of the king, handed over to the tutor and the poor people of the almshouse that same almshouse which we founded and recently had built; with all free entrances and exits to the house via the street and the church adjacent, together with the openings, windows, gutters, eavestroughing, chimneys, privies, well and each and every other appurtenance, convenience and easement whatever, as fully and completely as they existed and were built at this present time, even though they open onto our great tenement, lately the residence of Richard Whittington, or in whatever manner they have been built on or overhang any part of that residential property. To have and to hold the entire almshouse, together with the free entrances and exits of the house, the openings, windows, gutters, waterfalls, chimneys, privies, well, and each and every other appurtenance, convenience and easement, by the tutor and poor people and their successors as their residence in perpetuity, without any reclaiming or hindrance from ourselves, our heirs, or our assigns, no matter whoever they be of the chief lords of the fee, in regard to the services due therefrom or the customary rights therein.

We wish and ordain that this house be forever known as God's House, or Almshouse, or the Hospital of Richard Whittington, and that Richard and his wife Alice be considered and credited by everyone forevermore as the true principal founders of that house and hospital.

Furthermore, we wish and ordain that the present mayor of the city of London and his successors who are mayors or wardens of the city are to be overseers of the [administration of] the almshouse; and that the present wardens of the community of the craft of mercery in London, and their successors as wardens of that craft, shall forever be and be known as conservators of that almshouse.

We wish and ordain that each one of the tutors and poor people, and their successors, should have within the almshouse a place to himself. That is, a cell or little house with a chimney, a privy and other necessaries, in which he shall lodge. So that he may in solitude, without the interference of anyone else, give himself over to the contemplation of God, if he wishes. And we wish that the present and future tutors and and poor people, when they are in their houses or cells as well as in the cloisters and other parts of the almshouse, behave in a quiet and peaceable manner so as not to disturb their fellows with noise, and that they occupy themselves in prayer, or reading, or manual labour, or some other respectable activity.

We ordain that every tutor of the house, within a month of having been appointed to take charge of the administration of the almshouse, is to associate with 2 of the most sensible of his fellows (appointed by nomination of the conservators) to make an honest and accurate inventory of all the communal goods of the house. This inventory, to be made without dawdling or delaying, is to be delivered to the then conservators and fellows of the almshouse. At the end of every year, or whenever a tutor is about to resign his post, he is to do the same and render an honest account for the entire period of his administration, before the overseer and one of the conservators and the fellows of the house at that time, so that all men are fully informed in what condition the tutor received, maintained, and left the house during his term.

We have ordained, and ordain, that henceforth within 20 days immediately following a vacancy at the almshouse in the office of tutor, due to a death or any other reason, a member of that house who is suitable and qualified – or someone from outside the almshouse, if one capable of governance cannot be found inside the almshouse at that time – is to be selected and appointed as tutor of the house by we the executors, for as long as we live or the longest-lived among us. After our deaths, [the tutor] is to be appointed by the conservators of the almshouse; that is, the wardens of the craft of mercery in London then in office. If after our deaths the conservators are negligent in choosing and appointing such a tutor, as indicated above, within the deadline set them of 20 days as mentioned, then we wish and ordain that whenever the 20 days have passed the selection and appointment of the tutor [fall] to the overseer of the house – that is, the mayor or warden of London then in office – but only in the event of those special cases, with the proviso that this provision in no way prejudice any rights of the conservators in other selections and appointments of such tutors on future occasions. The provision and appointment of other poor people to places in the almshouse, as often and under whatever circumstances that they become vacant henceforward, we the executors reserve particularly to ourselves, for as long as we live or the longest-lived among us. We wish and ordain that after our deaths the specified provision and appointment belong to the conservators and the master of the college mentioned above, and their successors in perpetuity, in the following form. That is, that on the first occasion after our deaths of a vacancy in the almshouse the master of the college shall provide and appoint a suitable poor man to the vacant place; and in the same way the conservators of the house, on the next 6 occasions when there are vacancies, shall provide and appoint 6 other poor people to fill the vacancies. Thereafter, [the selection] reverts again to the master of the college, and then the next 6 times the selection belongs to the conservators, as indicated previously. And so on in this way we wish that it be done by, and between, the master and the conservators and their successors whenever there are vacancies. With the sole, perpetual exception of the place and office of the tutor. For fear that the place of any such poor man of the almshouse be vacant for a long time – which God forbid – we wish and ordain for perpetuity that he or they to whom after our deaths the provision and appointment, in the form written above, belongs or shall belong be obligated to provide and appoint a suitable poor man to that place within 15 days from the time that any such vacancy becomes common knowledge. If at any future point the master, when it is his turn, or the conservators, when their turn, fail to make the provision within the 15 day deadline assigned them, then we wish and ordain that every time when such a default occurs the provision and appointment of poor people to such vacancies be devolved to the overseer of the house then in office, as often as this situation shall arise, in perpetuity. Reserving to the master and conservators and their successors their right to make the provision and appointment at other times of vacancy thereafter, according to the specifications given above.

We wish and ordain that every poor person who shall be provided, appointed, and admitted to the almshouse, or any place therein, is to be a man mild in manners, destitute of worldly goods in other locations (from which he might be able to make a satisfactory living even if he were not of the fellowship of the almshouse), physically chaste, and known to be of good character. All those to whom, by these our ordinances, it shall after our deaths fall to provide any poor man to the almshouse, or any place in that house, we humbly and earnestly beg and also direct, as respectfully as we can – as they will answer for it to God at the dreadful day of judgement – that they ignore any especial friendships, or influential requests, or gifts made to them, and do not in any way provide or appoint anyone other than suitable and dutiful poor men to vacancies, as indicated above.

We also ordain and forbid that the conservators of the almshouse provide and admit as a fellow of that house any man who is, has been, or shall be of the livery of the mercers' craft, or the livery of any other craft of the city; for which poor men of such liveries the wardens and community of the craft should find sustenance, from lands and tenements given and bequeathed them, under special licence from our sovereign lord the king, or in other ways. Should it happen otherwise than we wish and ordain, then all such provisions and admissions are to be completely invalid. In such a circumstance it is permitted to the mayor or warden of the city of London then in office, as overseer of the house, to remove completely and expel from the house any such man so provided and admitted, and to provide and appoint another poor person in the place of he who is expelled from the house.

Nevertheless, we intend and so ordain that it henceforth be established and respected that poor citizens of London – notably poor infirm men of the mercers' craft who have not been of the livery of the mercers and for whom the community of mercers is not obligated to provide [support], as well as poor and infirm clerics and lower ministers of the college mentioned above who have given long, faithful and commendable service in the college – are to receive preferential treatment in provisions and appointments to any vacancies among the fellows of the almshouse. The present tutor of the almshouse and his successors as tutor are likewise obligated by their duty, through the authority of this document, to admit all types of suitable poor people, as specified above, who are provided and appointed to each of the places of the house when they are vacant, after a certain period (to be set by decision of the conservators) of probation and trial of the suitability and character of those men, if they prove suitable.

Furthermore, we wish and ordain that the present tutor and poor people and their successors in perpetuity shall have and hold in peace and may have and hold without harassment or hindrance from any man the seats that we have assigned for them in the church and college mentioned above. In which college and church it is our wish that the tutor and the poor people be obliged to be in attendance to hear matins, mass, evensong, compline and the recital of other divine offices there, and to give prayers to God there for all those whose names are written next in the statutes. That is, first and foremost for the souls of Richard and Alice Whittington, the founders. Also for the souls of Sir William Whittington knight and Lady Joan his wife, and the souls of Sir Ivo FitzWaren and Lady Maud his wife, the parents of Richard Whittington and his wife Alice. Next, for the souls of the worthy princes King Richard II, king of England and France, and Sir Thomas of Woodstock, late Duke of Gloucester, the particular lords and patrons of Richard Whittington, and for Anne and Eleanor the wives of that king and duke. Furthermore [they are to pray] for the good health and prosperity of the present lord king and lord archbishop, and the conservators and benefactors of the house, while they are alive, and for our prosperity while we live and for their and our souls when they and we have departed this world. And generally for those to whom Richard Whittington and Alice were indebted in any way during their lifetimes, and for all Christian souls. Furthermore, we ordain that each of the tutor and poor people and their successors, every day – first when they get out of bed, and secondly when they are about to go to bed – kneeling on their knees say a paternoster and an Ave Maria, with particular and heartfelt commendation of Richard Whittington and Alice to God and our blessed lady the Virgin Mary. Also that each of the tutor and poor people, at other times of day when each is most likely to have a moment of leisure or when it is the most convenient time, is to say two or three prayer rounds to Our Lady for the well-being of all the souls mentioned above – that is, at least three times an Ave Maria with 15 Paternosters and 3 Creeds – unless he is excused by reason of infirmity or some other reasonable cause.

We wish and ordain that the present tutor and poor people and their successors shall whenever possible at least once a day – that is, after mass or when compline is over – gather together in the college around the tomb of Richard Whittington and Alice; and those who can shall recite, for the souls of all Christian people, the psalm De profundis with the versicles and orisons that are part of the same. Those unable to shall say three Paternosters, three Ave Marias, and one Creed. After this is done, the tutor or one of the eldest of the men shall say in English for all to hear "God have mercy on our founders' souls and all Christians"; and the other standing around shall respond "Amen".

We wish and ordain that the present tutor and poor people and their successors in the future, each and every one of them, be obliged to live and to stay continually within the almshouse and its boundaries, just as other poor people in similar almshouses or hospitals typically reside or are obliged to stay. And that every day, both at dinner and supper, they take their meals within the almshouse, unless they are excused for a good reason.

While they are at dinner or supper, we wish that they will avoid idle and self-centered conversation as much as they can; if they want to talk about any subject it should be one serious and productive.

Moreover, we ordain that the outer garments of the tutor and poor people of the almshouse be of a dark brown colour, not a bright one that will attract attention, and of modestly-priced cloth commensurate with their station.

Furthermore, we wish and ordain that neither the present tutor nor any of his successors as tutors of the almshouse for any reason absent themselves from the house in the future for more than 12 days, whether consecutively or discontinuously, without permission from us or from one of us, while we live, or without permission from the overseer or one of the conservators of the house, after our deaths. [The travel] should then be for some necessary cause and to some reputable destination. Nor should any of the other poor people of the house be absent from the house for any reason for a whole day, or go beyond the parish boundaries, without permission from he then tutor of the almshouse, if he is present, or in his absence the permission of his substitute or deputy; [and then] not unless there is a very pressing reason that demands it, or there is some other good reason which is enquired into and approved by the tutor or his deputy. We also wish that the tutor, whenever he goes out into the town or anywhere else, appoint one of his fellows to take over his responsibilities until his return.

Furthermore, we wish and ordain that those of the almshouse who have their strength and health – especially of the women, if there are any – take care of the residents who are sick or feeble and help them with their basic needs, as often as they are in need of help and support.

We wish and ordain that the tutor and poor people have a communal chest and a common seal. In which chest they are to keep the seal, along with their charters, letters, grants, writings, and valuables of their house, and any other things which seem to the tutor and poor people advisable, for the benefit of the community. Which chest we wish to be placed in a secret and secure location within the boundaries of the almshouse. This chest is to have 3 different locks, with 3 different keys; of which one shall always remain in the possession of the tutor, another be kept by the oldest resident, and the third be kept by one of the other residents, chosen anew each year by us, while we live, and after our deaths by the masters of the mercers mentioned above. No man is to presume to have possession or keeping of all three keys under his control at once; nor is anything to be sealed with the common seal without permission and consent of the overseer and conservators of the house at that time. We also wish and ordain that every year all the remaining money and revenues from rents and their communal goods, after the accounting given by the tutor for the expenses of the house, are to be kept in that chest, along with the precious objects belonging to the house that are not for everyday use.

Moreover, we wish and ordain that none of the present or future tutors or poor people dare in any way to waste, use up, give away, or pawn unnecessarily the possessions, or any part of the possessions, belonging to the house. But that all of them do their utmost to devote their thoughts and energies towards preserving and increasing those possessions. When one departs this world, he is to give or bequeath all his personal possessions – or a significant part thereof – to the almshouse.

We wish and ordain that the tutor and poor people of the house, and their successors, are to receive in perpetuity from the rents and funds of the house certain weekly pensions or allowances for their food, drink, and other necessaries, as follows. That is, the tutor shall have every week for his allowance, 16d. And each of the other 12 poor people shall receive weekly as their portion 14d. They are to be satisfied with those amounts, and are not to beg in that location or elsewhere – those who are incorrigible in doing so will suffer the penalty determined and written below.

We wish and ordain that no leper or lunatic, nor anyone else who is constantly plagued by an incurable illness, be admitted into the almshouse. Should it happen in the future that any person who is admitted to the house goes mad or crazy, or becomes infected with leprosy or any other such incurable illness, then we wish and ordain that each such person be expelled from the house, to avoid him infecting his fellows. He is to go to some other place where he can be admitted; where, it is our wish, he be given the same 14d. for his livelihood and necessaries that he would have in the almshouse and that he be counted as one of the house and of the number of the 13 poor people, throughout his lifetime.

We ordain also that in the event that any of the poor people, after their admittance to the house, happens to prosper or have his situation improved through an inheritance or some other means by an income to the value of £3.6s.8d annually, that person is to be expelled from the house and the number of the 13 poor people, and another is to be received and admitted in his place. If anyone of the house, after his admission, prospers likewise through an inheritance or other incidental income to an annual value of less than £3.6s.8d, then we wish and ordain that an even half of that sum every year (without fraud or deceit) be deposited and kept in the communal chest for the profit of the community; and the other half shall be received by the person so fortunate, along with his own allowance from the house – with which it is our wish that he be satisfied. In the event that he does not comply but acts contrary to this ordinance, then we wish that he be permanently expelled from the house, and someone else be chosen to take his place.

Furthermore we wish and ordain that all statutes and ordinances that are made for the improvement of the house and the welfare of the poor people, after our deaths, by the conservators with the agreement of the overseer, be upheld and observed by the tutor and poor people; so long as those statutes and ordinances are reasonable and not in conflict with the statutes and ordinances that we have made. In the event that any uncertainty or disagreement arises through misunderstanding of the statutes, then we wish that the statutes that are misunderstood be clarified, revised and reformed by the mayor or keeper of the city of London then in office.

We also wish and ordain that none of the poor people of the house who are of lesser status than the tutor should sleep overnight outside the house, in the city or its suburbs, without a good reason to be discussed with and ruled upon by the tutor. We also wish that none of the poor folk be habitually drunk, gluttonous, or quarrelsome with his fellows, haunting taverns, indulging in lechery, or wandering the streets of the city or suburbs by day or by night without a good reason, to be discussed with and a wise decision made by the tutor or conservators of the house. Whoever among the poor people is well known or commonly believed to be guilty of such faults or other similar vices is to be pointed out by the tutor or one of the fellows and punished , on the first two occasions, by withholding part or all of his allowance (according to the judgement of the tutor); which withheld allowance is to go [back] into the communal chest of the house. If any of the poor people who has been thus twice warned, reprimanded, and punished for such vices and faults as indicated above, or others similar, is found by ourselves while we live or by the tutor and conservators of the almshouse after our death, to be at fault a third time, then we wish and ordain that every such misbehaving person be considered incorrigible and insufferable, and be utterly expelled from the house and from any benefits or advantages he would have therein, by us, while we live, and by the tutor and conservators after our deaths. And another suitable person is to be chosen to take his place. Moreover, if any of the poor people is, in our presence while we live or that of the conservators of the house after our deaths, openly accused of despoiling or wasting excessively the possessions of the house, or of being a lecher or a fewterer or worse, and by our or their judgement is found guilty of the same, then we wish and ordain that upon the first conviction of each such person he be utterly expelled from the house. In the event that such a person wishes to protest or appeal [the decision], after our deaths this is to be done to the overseer of the house only, not to anyone else.

We wish and ordain that any faults or offences of the tutor of the house then in office be subject to correction and punishment by ourselves, while we live, and whichever of us lives longest, and after our deaths by the conservators and overseer of the house, in the following manner. That is, one option is to withhold the tutor's allowance to an extent commensurate with the gravity of his offence, to be assessed by the judgement of ourselves or he of us who lives longest, and after our deaths by the determination of the conservators and overseer mentioned. Another is to deprive the tutor of his post, his pension, and his place in this almshouse, should he be guilty of an offence that warrants it.

Furthermore, we wish and ordain that this foundation document, and each and every chapter and statute of its ordinances, be read out and explanined in the presence of the tutor and poor people of the house at least once every quarter of the year. And that the tutor and the poor people have available to them in their house a copy of the statutes, in order that they can read the chapters of the ordinances when they wish and so better keep them in mind.

Finally, we urge and earnestly entreat the tutor and poor people, present and future, to live together in harmony with each other, serving God, and praying devoutly for the souls mentioned, as this document intends. They are to be upright in behaviour and live together in this poor house in such a manner that, at the close of their lives, they may attain the kingdom of heaven, which God by his own words has promised to poor people. We reserve to ourselves, under the force of this document, full power over all matters relating to the almshouse for as long as any of us shall live; that is, to change the ordinances, should there be any need to reform, clarify, or suspend them, to make new statutes, or to revoke those that we have now made, in the event that we consider this advisable, the present document notwithstanding, for as long as we are alive. In witness to which, we have put our seals on this document, drawn up at London on December 21, 1424, in the third year of [the reign of] King Henry VI.