Benefactors included not only men eminent in church and state, but “others of divers estates,” clerical and lay commoners. Foremost of these stands RAHERE, born of low lineage, but court-minstrel and afterwards priest. In obedience to a vision, he determined to undertake the foundation of a hospital. He sought help from the Bishop of London, by whose influence he obtained from Henry I the site of St. Bartholomew’s, Smithfield. While many founders are forgotten, men delight to honour Rahere. The chronicler, who had talked with those who remembered him, records how he sympathized with the tribulation of the wretched, how he recognized their need, supported them patiently, and finally helped them on their way. Rahere’s character is delightfully portrayed in the _Book of the Foundation_:— “whoose prouyd puryte of soule, bryght maners with honeste probyte, experte diligence yn dyuyne seruyce, prudent besynes yn temperalle mynystracyun, in hym were gretely to prayse and commendable.” Other clerical founders include William, Dean of Chichester (St. Mary’s), Walter the Archdeacon (St. John’s, Northampton), Peter the chaplain (Lynn), Guarin the [p078] chaplain (Cricklade), Walter, Vicar of Long Stow, etc. HUGH THE HERMIT was reckoned the founder of Cockersand hospital, which grew into an abbey:— “Be it noted that the monastery was furst founded by Hugh Garthe, an heremyt of great perfection, and by such charitable almes as [he] dyd gather in the countre he founded an hospitall.” The leading townsfolk of England have long proved themselves generous. GERVASE of Southampton is in the forefront of a line of merchant-princes and civic rulers who have also been benefactors of the needy. Gervase “le Riche” was evidently a capitalist, and it is recorded that he lent moneys to Prince John. His responsible office was that of portreeve; it may be that while exercising it, he witnessed sick pilgrims disembark and was moved to help them. Certainly, about the year 1185, Gervase built God’s House (Pl. VII) beside the quay, and his brother Roger became the first warden. Leland’s version is as follows:— “Thys Hospitale was foundyd by 2 Marchauntes beyng Bretherne [whereof] the one was caullyd Ge[rvasius] the other Protasius. . . . These 2 Brethern, as I there lernid, dwellyd yn the very Place wher the Hospitale is now. . . . These 2 Brethern for Goddes sake cause[d] their House to be turnid to an Hospitale for poore Folkes, and endowed it with sum Landes.” Among other citizen-founders of this period may be named Walter and Roesia Brune, founders of St. Mary’s, Bishopsgate, London; Hildebrand le Mercer, of Norwich; and William Prodom and John Long, of Exeter. [p079] [Illustration: _PLATE VII._ GOD’S HOUSE, SOUTHAMPTON] THIRD PERIOD (1272–1540)