Continued Wednesday 30th April 1783

he appropriated by a Dead of Gift which is still
Extant all his Lands in the Parish of St. Botolph
without Bishopsgate being the spot now known by
the name of Old Bethlem to the foundation of a Priory
The Prior, Canons, Brothren and Sisters for whose
maintenance he provided were distinguished by a
Star upon their Mantles and were especially directed
to received and entertain the Bishop of St. Mary of
Bethlehem and the Canons Brothers and Messengers
of that their Mother Church as often as they might
come to England. Such was the Original Design of
this Foundation, a Design as far short of the Uses to
which it has been since Converted as the Contracted
Views of Monkish Hospitality are exceeded by the
more Enlarged Spirit of Protestant Benevolence.

We hear but little more of this House for the
Space of two Hundred Years. When the vast fabric
of papal Superstition in England began to lotter
and the Volaries Rome were expelled from their
ancient Retirements. it was seized by Henry the
Eighth who in the Year 1547 Granted the Hospital
of Bethlem with all its Revenues to the Mayor
Commonally and Citizens of London from which time
it became an Hospital for the Cure of Lunatics.

It is most probable that the City of London
had felt great Inconvenience form the want of a proper
Receplade for those unhappy Objects who were afflicted
by the most deplorable Calamity incident to Human frame
The retired situation of the Hospital of Bethlem and