Continued Thursday 25th. Novr. 1779.

Saint Thomas the Apostle for ever and should have
one Common Seal for the Use of the Hospitals with power
to make such Ordinances Statutes and Rules as might
be necessary for the Good Government of the said Hospitals.

That upon an Inspection of the Books or Records
belonging to the said Hospitals respectively it Appears
that soon after the foundation of the said Hospitals
respectively and until in or about the Year 1557 the Affairs
of such several Hospitals were managed and transacted
by or under the Direction of certain of the Aldermn. of the said
City and of some other Persons who appear to have been
appointed or admitted governors of the said Hospitals at
Courts or Committees held for such Hospitals respectively
and that in or about the said Year 1557 the said Hospital
of Saint Bartholomew was united to the rest of the said
Hospitals and such Hospitals from thence forth continued
under the direction of such certain Alderman and other
Persons as governors until in or about the Year 1564 in
which Year it Appears by the Court Books belonging to
Christ Hospital aforesaid that at a Court then holden on
the 21st. day of September (being Saint Matthews day)
a President treasurer and other governors were chosen
for such Hospital respectively And it also Appears
by such last mentioned Court Books that an Annual
Election of governors was continued at Subsequent Courts
holden in Christ Hospital aforesaid till in or about the
Year 1587 from which time until in or about the Year
1655 the like Courts for such Election as aforesaid Appear
by the same Court Books to have been several times held
but not Yearly or in the same regular manner and it doth
not Appear by any of the Court Books belonging to the
aforesaid Hospitals or any or either of them That such annual
Elections on Saint Matthew's Day was kept up or observed
after the said Year 1655 from which time or soon after