Francis Hunt's Patent of Admission 1 December 1616
Warwickshire County Record Office, CR1600/LH19/1
The best surviving sources for the brethren’s social backgrounds comes from their patents of admission. These formal documents were issued by the patron when a new brother entered the almshouse. Nearly all of them bear the Sidney Earl of Leicester’s signature and seal. The patents record the reasons each man was admitted and name the brother he was replacing.
The earliest surviving patent is for Francis Hunt, dated 1 December 1616. He succeeded brother Thomas Parsons. Hunt came from Long Marston in Warwickshire, and he was admitted to the hospital on the grounds that he was ‘unable to undergo any bodily labour for his livelihood’. To reassure the master of his respectability, the patent emphasised Hunt’s ‘orderly conversation and behaviour’.
Hunt remained at the hospital for 32 years until April 1648, when he was succeed by brother George Hartcourt. The length of Hunt’s stay at the Lord Leycester suggests that he was not particularly elderly when he was first admitted, though it is possible that he suffered from an injury that prevented him from working.
To Mr Samuel Burton clerk master of the hospital, called the hospital of Robert late earl of Leicester within the town and borough of Warwick.
Whereas I am given to understand, that Thomas Parsons, one of the poor brethren of the said hospital is lately deceased know you that I Robert Lord Viscount Lisle, Lord Sidney of Penshurst, Lord Chamberlain to the queen’s majesty, and knight of the most noble order of the garter, intending with my best care, the continuance of so memorable and religious work of almighty God, and performance of the duty therein required. And have had good information of the orderly conversation and behaviour of Francis Hunt of Marston near Warwick together with his poor estate, whereby and the age he is unable to undergo any bodily labour for his livelihood. In consideration whereof I have freely elected and nominated to the said room being now void the said Francis Hunt; and for his sure enjoying thereof I have given and granted and by these patent do give and grant to the said Francis Hunt the room and lace of a poor brother within the said hospital. To have and to enjoy the same with all rights profits [?] fees and duties and duties thereunto belong from the day of the death of the said Thomas Parsons for the term of the life of the said Francis Hunt in as large and beneficial manner as the said Thomas Parsons or any other heretofore hath had enjoyed the same or of right ought to have and perceive according to the purport & true meaning of the said right honourable founder by virtue of that foundation: these and therefore to will and require you in execution of this my grant and invitation to admit enter and receive the said Francis Hunt into the said society of the said hospital, and this shall be your sufficient warrant in that behalf. Given at Castle Baynard this first day of December in the fourteenth year of the reign of the sovereign Lord James by the grace of God king of England France and Ireland defender of the faith and of Scotland. 1616.
R. Lisle.