Note 643 — LIII.—SITE OF THE HOSPITAL OF ST. GILES.

Considerable doubt seems to have existed on this point. Side by side with assertions to the contrary, there are plain statements that the mortgage was redeemed (see e.g., Chancery Decree Roll, 54, concerning a complaint by Jas. Mascall against Thomas Harrys and others). Nevertheless it is quite certain that the statement in the text is true, for (1) the recognisance accompanying the mortgage is not cancelled; (2) Blount’s son Charles (afterwards Earl of Devonshire) definitely stated that the manor was not redeemed (Chancery Proceedings, Elizabeth B. 15–52), suit of Charles Blount; (3) the steps by which the manor descended from the Brownes are known.