Cases of true leprosy were now of rare occurrence. Probably leper hospitals were in the main only nominally such, as a testator hints in 1519, bequeathing a legacy “to every Alms House called Lepars in the Shire of Kent.” But although the social conditions of the country improved during the Tudor period, they were still low enough continually to engender pestilence. When Erasmus visited England, he was struck by the filthy habits which were prevalent; but the avengers of neglect of cleanliness were now plague and the sweating sickness. In some few cases old hospitals were [p046] utilized for the sufferers. The plague having lately raged in Newcastle, it was recorded in the Chantry Certificate of St. Mary Magdalene’s (1546) that it was once used for lepers, but “syns that kynde of sickeness is abated it is used for the comforte and helpe of the poore folks that chaunceth to fall sycke in tyme of pestilence.” The south-west corner of England was now the last stronghold of leprosy. St. Margaret’s, Honiton, had been refounded about 1530. A new leper-hospital was built at Newton Bushell near Exeter in 1538:— “for the releff of powre lazar-people, whereof grete nomber with that diseas be now infectid in that partis, to the grete daunger of infection of moche people . . . for lacke of conueayent houses in the county of Devonshire for them.” Even in 1580, none were admitted to St. Mary Magdalene’s, Exeter, except “sick persons in the disease of the leprosy.” About the same time it was reported that “for a long time there had been a great company of lazar-people” at Bodmin. A few of the old hospitals were kept up in different parts. In the first year of Edward VI (1547) it was enacted that all “leprouse and poore beddred creatures” who were inmates of charitable houses should continue in the places appointed, and be permitted to have proctors to gather alms for them. The Corporation MSS. of Hereford include a notification that year of the appointment of collectors for “the house of leprous persons founded in the worship of St. Anne and St. Loye.” Strype records similar licences granted to Beccles and Bury; and he also cites[32] “A protection to beg, granted to [p047] the poor lazars of the house of our Saviour Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene, at Mile-end [in Stepney], and J. Mills appointed their proctor” (1551). The sixteenth-century seal of this _Domus Dei et S. Marie Magd. de Myle End_ (figured below) shows a crippled leper and an infirm woman of the hospital. In 1553, £60 was given to the lazar-houses round London on condition that inmates did not beg to people’s annoyance within three miles. * * * * *