Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1557–8

Philip and Mary, 8 March 1557, Greenwich

Whereas the king and queen have it in their thoughts to make it known to the world that as by the best right they profess themselves defenders of the faith, so in very act and deed they are defending and fighting for the faith; and remembering that before the dissolution of the hospital of St John of Jerusalem in Ireland a great part of its possessions and revenues was wont to be allotted by the prior and brother knights to the defence of Christians and to fighting Turks, infidels and others who openly attacked the Catholic faith, they desire to restore the hospital and adorn it with all its ancient possessions which have come to their hands and have asked from Cardinal Pole, papal legate de latere, apostolic authority for so doing; and he has asserted and instituted the priory and hospital under the title St John of Kilmainam which it had before the dissolution and has appointed Oswald Massingberd to be prior.

Philip and Mary, 2 April 1557, Greenwich

Whereas the king and queen, desiring to be in very deed defenders of the faith and remembering that the hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England, which was dissolved by Henry VIII and whose possessions are now in their hands by hereditary right, devoted a great part of its reserves to the defence of Christians and fighting against Turks and infidels, have asked Cardinal Pole, papal legate de latere, to restore the hospital to its ancient state, which he has done and erected it under the title of St John of Clerkynwell which it had before its dissolution and has ordained Thomas Tresham, knight, to be prior and Richard Shelley, turcopolier, commander of the commandery of Slebiche and Halston, Peter Felizes De La Nuca, bailiff of the bailiwick of Aquila, Cuthbert Laithen of Newland, Edward Browne of Templebruer and Oliver Starkey of Quenyngtono be commanders or preceptors.