(_c_) Lepers, like other paupers, were admitted either at the patron’s will or at the warden’s discretion. The custody of the Crown hospital at Lincoln was at one time committed to the sheriffs, who were charged to notify a vacancy to the king or his chancellor “so that he might cause a leper to be instituted in place of the deceased, in accordance with the ancient constitution.” Later it was stated that they were admitted of the king’s gift, or by the presentation of the mayor. In some instances the right of nomination was held jointly. There were eight beds in the Hexham Spital, four being open to poor leper-husbandmen born within the Liberty, whilst the archbishop and prior might each appoint two tenants. A patron or donor often kept the nomination to one bed or more. Thus the founder of St. Sepulchre’s lazar-house, Hedon, reserved the right to present one man or woman, whole or infirm; he even made prudent provision to sustain any afflicted object allied to the patron within the fourth degree of blood. As early as 1180, a subscriber to St. Nicholas’, Carlisle, stipulated that two lepers from Bampton should be received. According to some statutes the candidate had also to be approved by his future companions; “without the consent and will” of the Colchester lepers, no brother could gain entrance, and the same rule obtained at Dover. The little Sudbury hospital maintained three lepers; when one died or resigned, his comrades chose a third; if they disagreed, the mayor was informed, and the selection devolved upon the vicar. An examination by the warden into the candidate’s condition and circumstances was sometimes ordered, as at Dover. At Harbledown sufficient knowledge of the simple formulas of the faith was required. [p131] To enter a leper-hospital in early days practically involved the life of a “religious,” especially in hospitals attached to monastic houses. The vow of an in-coming brother at St. Julian’s is given in the Appendix to Matthew Paris:— “I, brother B., promise, and, taking my bodily oath by touching the most sacred Gospel, affirm before God and all His saints . . . that all the days of my life I will be subservient and obedient to the commands of the Lord Abbot of St. Albans and to his archdeacon; resisting them in nothing, unless such things should be commanded, as would militate against the Divine pleasure. I will never commit theft, nor bring a false accusation against any one of the brethren, nor infringe the vow of chastity.” He goes on to promise that he will not hold or bequeath anything without leave; he will be content with the food, and keep the rules on pain of punishment, or even expulsion. The oath at St. Bartholomew’s, Dover, is found in the register:—