This “Complaynt of Cresseid” is affecting in its description of the lamentable lot of a woman whose high estate is turned into dour darkness: for her bower a leper-lodge; for her bed a bunch of straw; for wine and meat mouldy bread and sour cider. Her beautiful face is deformed, and her carolling voice, hideous as a rook’s. Under these sad conditions, Cresseid dwells for the rest of her life in the spital.[73] FOOTNOTES: [62] Surtees Soc., Vol. 20, pp. 376, 432–3, 456–7. [63] Chron. and Mem., 67, i. 428–9. [64] Chron. and Mem., 36, iv. p. 413. [65] Close 8 Edw. II, m. 35 _d_. [66] Pat. 8 Ric. II, pt. ii. m. 22; 9 Hen. IV, pt. ii. m. 14. [67] Close Rolls _passim_. [68] P.R.O. Chanc. Misc. Bundle 20, No. 10. [69] Pat. 21 Hen. VI, pt. i. m. 35, pt. ii. m. 16; 12 Edw. IV, pt. ii. m. 6; 17 Edw. IV, pt. i. m. 1. [70] P.R.O., Early Chancery Proceedings, Bundle 60, No. 93. [71] Pat. 20 Hen. III, m. 13; 17 Ric. II, pt. ii. m. 14. [72] H. M. Weber, _Metrical Romances_, II, 269. [73] R. Henryson, _Testament of Cresseid_ (Bannatyne Club). [p106] CHAPTER VIII HOSPITAL DWELLINGS “_He_” [_Lanfranc_] “_built a fair and large house of stone, and added to it several habitations for the various needs and convenience of the men, together with an ample plot of ground._” (Eadmer’s History.) The Canterbury monk mentions the foundation of Archbishop Lanfranc’s two hospitals. The lepers’ dwellings on the hill-side at Harbledown were merely wooden houses. The architecture of St. John’s was more striking: _lapideam domum decentem et amplam construxit_. The edifice (_palatium_) was divided in two parts, to accommodate men and women. As Eadmer was living until 1124, he saw the hospital shortly after its erection. He may even have watched the Norman masons complete it, and the first infirm occupants take up their abode. Before considering the plan of hospital buildings, it will be of interest to learn how they impressed men of those days. The twelfth-century writer of the _Book of the Foundation_ betrays his unfeigned admiration of St. Bartholomew’s. The hospital house was at a little distance from the church, which was “made of cumly stoonewerke tabylwyse.” The traditional commencement of the work was that Rahere playfully acted the fool, and thus drew to himself a good-natured company of children and servants: “with ther use and helpe stonys and othir thynges profitable to the bylynge, lightly he gaderyd to [p107] gedyr,” until at length “he reysid uppe a grete frame.” When all was finished and he had set up the sign of the cross “who shulde not be astonyd, ther to se, constructe and bylyd thonorable byldynge of pite.”