Duties of the Infirmary Attendants at St Andrew’s Priory, Rochester, c.1235
Translation
Concerning the infirmary attendant: what he ought to do: In the household of the infirmary: Humphrey Costard, William Blundus and Graffard. When Graffard was rejected, Ethelstan son of Athelard advanced by means of simony through Bishop Ascelin.1 At this time, there came a certain legate, Ymarus, bishop of Tusculum, who corrected many injuries inflicted upon the monks by the very same Ascelin. Among other things, mention was made of how Graffard was expelled, contrary to the wishes of the monks, from his service to the infirm brothers. Moreover, calling forth the bishop, the legate decreed, in obeying virtue, that he would remove the aforesaid Ethelstan. And immediately in front of all those present Graffard was restored. Moreover, the legate said to the bishop that for the sake of his crosier2 he ought not to have done this. After Graffard, the monks took William son of Freode of the brewery, and set William in place of Graffard; and in place of William they set in the brewery Eilred, brother of Jordon the sub-prior. And it will be noted that at that time they were not, however, permitted to serve permanently. After William Freode the monks took Robert Spicard from the laundry, at the request of the monk Osbern of Sheppey, in whose place in the laundry they put Hamo Pinel. After Robert Spicard, Matthew Peccator succeeded. After Mathew, William of Westerfield; after William, Robert Melcsop. He must always be busy serving in the house of the sick, and he will sleep there. He will never stay outside at night unless by the permission of his master, and even then he must always be available, so that if something has pleased or displeased anyone of the sick brothers, he can, if there is no mention beforehand, make it known to the master of the infirmary. He must serve all who live there from the kitchen, and he will have as daily sustenance one of the remaining loaves. Likewise, among the little ones he will serve in an orderly fashion, thus adeptly, that no one need ask for anything, and especially then he will guard the door against members of the laity entering, that no one may enter without the permission of his master. When someone of the sick needs service or help requiring two people to lead or carry, the cellarer shall find one servant and the chamberlain another. Note that one will always be from among the lads of the tanning house. If someone has his last rites, he will have, from that time, nothing of food or drink unless he himself asks with words or signs upon recovering. At this day or hour anyone serving the sick will have an allowance from the cellar and two candles from the sacristy for visiting the sick. But when he is close to the end and his body is stretched upon a haircloth, then he [the attendant] will remain next to the patient and carefully observe him until that one surrenders his spirit, and then immediately he will close the eyes of the deceased one and raise his chin.3 He will not wash anything of the deceased because he serves the healthy at mealtime. He serves the monastery with water for washing their hands. If in winter it freezes, servants from the laundry will supply hot water and carry it to the refectory wash-basin. When those from the world come to the monks, the attendant of the sick will have their boots and shoes.4 His wage is 5 shillings.
Footnotes
1 Ascelin (Anselm): Bishop of Rochester 1142-48. In addition to the scandal outlined above, he was also sued by the monks of Canterbury for appropriating some of their manors for his own use. An agreement about this was reached in 1145 in the presence of Ymarus and Archbishop Theobald: Ascelin renounced his claims in exchange for 100 marks. Everett U. Crosby, The King’s Bishops: The Politics of Patronage in England and Normandy, 1066–1216 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013), p. 148.
2 For the sake of his crosier: Latin, pro baculo suo. The crosier, or staff, is in this context the symbol of the bishop’s office.
3 Raise his chin: i.e. close his mouth.
4 Will have their boots and shoes: probably meaning the infirmary attendant is responsible for cleaning the footwear of all visitors.
