XVIII. Communication of the Seal and Style of the Master and Chaplains of the Savoy Hospital in the Strand. By William Bray, Esq. Treasurer, in a Letter to Samuel Lysons, Esq. Vice President, &c. &c

Extract

The Savoy in the Strand was built by Peter de Savoy, uncle to Queen Eleanor, wife of Hen. III. and took its name from the builder. It belonged to Hen. VII. as Duke of Lancaster, and he began to build an Hospital here to provide lodging, food, fire, and attendance, for a certain time, for the poor, sick, lame, or travellers. Stow tells us, that this king died before he had finished it, but by his will provided for that purpose, and left it well endowed. It was completed by his son Hen. VIII. who perhaps spared it on the dissolution from respect to his father's memory. It did not escape so well in the time of his successor; King Edward's guardians seized it under an act which they got passed for suppression of Chantries. The estates were, however, applied to better purposes than many others were; the king gave them with Bridewell to the city of London, to found a workhouse for poor and idle persons, and to enable them to finish the hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark.