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The Hospital of St John the Baptist, at Arbroath, Scotland, was founded in the early 14th century by the monastic community at Arbroath Abbey. The exact date for the foundation is uncertain, but it is first recorded in 1325 during the time that Bernard of Kilwinning (1324–c.1328) was Abbot of Arbroath.〔 The 1325 date appears in a document ''Inquisicio facta de domo elimosinaria'', from Reg. Nig. Fol. 59/ Regal.fol. 99. (see ). A further reference is found in a later document, ''Assedatio terrarum de Spedalfeilde facta Reginaldo de Dunbradan et Hugoni Macpessi'', from Regist. Nig. F. 14/ Regist. Regali f 16. (see ).〕 The Abbey itself was founded in 1178 by King William the Lion for a group of Tironensian Benedictine monks from Kelso Abbey. It was consecrated in 1197. It is possible that the hospital was used by travellers, as a chantry or possibly almshouse. The only visible remains of the medieval hospital are a left hand door arch which has been incorporated into the 19th-century Hospitalfield House. 〔 Some doubt on the authenticity of the door arch has been expressed. It is possible that it may be a 16th Century doorway as it has similar characteristics as mouldings on apertures at Melgund Castle, Brechin. 〕 In the nineteenth century a chance location of about 120 skeletons in shallow graves near Hospitalfield House suggests the site of a medieval burial ground. Hospitalfield House is now an arts centre, and inspired the fictional location "Monkbarns", the home of Jonathan Oldbuck, title character of Sir Walter Scott’s novel, ''The Antiquary''. ==History== The history of the Hospital of St John the Baptist, ''"iuxta Aberbrothoc"'' (Arbroath ), is not certain. Miller (1860) in his ''History of the Abbey at Arbroath'' provides a workable framework. He writes: This chapel (St John the Baptist ) stood near the mansion-house of Hospitalfield, a mile to the westward of Arbroath, and was erected in connection with the hospital or infirmary of the Abbey, established at this healthy spot at such a distance from the parent monastery as to relieve it from the risk of danger from contagious diseases. He dates the hospital as being: ...in existence previous to the year 1325, when Abbot Bernard leased the lands of "Spedalfeilde, belonging to the hospital of Saint John Baptist, near Aberbrothoc," to Reginald de Dunbradan and Hugo Macpeesis, for five years, at a rent of forty shillings, payable to the Almory of the monastery; and took them bound to build two sufficient husbandry houses—namely, a barn forty feet long, and a byre of the same length, within one year from their entry, and to leave the same in good order on the lands at the end of their lease—a noticeable instance of progress in the management of lands, and the wisdom of the Abbot's administration.〔 Miller states that the hospital was connected with the "Eleemosynary of Arbroath": that is, a charitable foundation. He continues with the history: In an inquest, made on 22nd November 1464, regarding the nature of the foundations of the Almory and Infirmary, the jury stated that "Spitalfelde" and this chapel were not distinct from the property of the monastery, and that the Monks of the Almory received annually two merks from these lands. The chapel was consecrated, and the altar of it dedicated, on 23rd August 1485, by the Bishop of Dromore.〔 The Bishop of the time was Georgios Vranas, a Greek by birth, who was Bishop of Dromore from 1483–1499. Miller gives one further notice, which he states is the last mention of the chapel in the Abbey register: On 4th December 1490, the Abbot let the teinds of the church of Abernethy to John Ramsay of Kilgour, for a yearly rent, and a sum advanced for the repair of the chapel of the infirmary, which is described as in danger of falling into ruin.〔 An obligation for the payment of annates due from this hospital was made 30 June 1519. Also, a charter of 1543 that details the lands and holdings of this hospital is in the possession of the Trustees of Hospitalfield House.〔Derek Hall, c2002.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hospital of St John the Baptist, Arbroath」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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