There was a large division of the quadrangular building set apart for the priest who was to say these masses; and to watch over the well-being of the bedesmen.

In process of years the origin and primary purpose of the hospital had been forgotten by all excepting the local antiquaries; and the place itself came to be regarded as a very pleasant quaint set of almshouses; and the warden's office (he who should have said or sung his daily masses was now called the warden, and read daily prayers and preached a sermon on Sundays) an agreeable sinecure.
Another legacy of old Sir Simon Bray was that of a small croft of land, the rent or profits of which were to go towards giving to all who asked for it a manchet of bread and a cup of good beer.

This beer was, so Sir Simon ordained, to be made after a certain receipt which he left, in which ground ivy took the place of hops.

But the receipt, as well as the masses, was modernized according to the progress of time.
Philip stood under a great broad stone archway; the back-door into the warden's house was on the right side; a kind of buttery-hatch was placed by the porter's door on the opposite side.

After some consideration, Philip knocked at the closed shutter, and the signal seemed to be well understood.