than two centuries from its foundation, the revenues assigned for the
annual fulfilment of the founder's wishes, were grossly misapplied.
They had increased in value, and the masters and brethren of
the hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, who were guardians and
administrators, seized the surplus and put it into their own pockets.
Bishop Wykeham, who was appointed to the see of Winchester, in 1366,
set about the reform of these abuses, which he was enabled to do by his
canonical jurisdiction:--"he determined that the whole revenue of the
hospital should be dedicated to the poor, as was the intention of the
founder, and having in vain tried admonition and remonstrance, summoned
the four masters to appear before him and answer for their stewardship.
They were bold enough to set Wykeham at defiance, and availed themselves
of all the subtleties of the law, and of all manner of evasion, by
appeal and otherwise, to thwart and throw him. The upright bishop
persisted--he called them to the severest account--had them fined, and
till they made restitution, excommunicated--and finally restored the
whole endowment to its primitive purpose."[4]

The propriety and good effects of Wykeham's restoration were so
apparent, that his successor, Cardinal Beaufort, having determined
to engage in some permanent charity, resolved rather to enlarge this
institution, than to found a new one. "He therefore endowed it for the
additional support of two priests, and thirty-five poor men, who were to
become residents, and three hospital nuns, who were to attend upon the
sick brethren: he also caused a considerable portion of the hospital to
be rebuilt."[5] Of the present establishment we shall presently speak
in detail. "The hospital," says Lowth, "though much diminished in its
revenues, by what means I cannot say, yet still subsists upon the
remains of both endowments."