subscriptions from throughout England. It was flourishing by 1146 when it started to found cells in other parts of the country to cope with the spread of leprosy brought back by soldiers and pilgrims returning from the crusades. The largest donor is supposed to have been the Norman landowner Roger de Mowbray who himself took part in the Second Crusade from 1147 to 1148; his lion rampant coat of arms was adopted by the hospital alongside the Order of St Lazarus' normal green cross. He made a generous donation of two carucates of land (c.), a house and two mills to the Order in 1150 and his family continued their support for many generations. Burton St Lazarus was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and St Lazarus and consisted of a Master and eight brethren, who all followed the Augustinian rule, and varying numbers of lepers and injured knights. The brethren (and sisters) wore habits and were not afraid to beg for alms. They had the use of a chapter house, a burial ground and were assisted by lay priests and servants. Other early donors include Simon, Earl of Huntingdon and his wife Alice daughter of Gilbert de Gant, Earl of Lincoln who gave the churches of Great Hale, Heckington, and Threckingham; William Burdett of Loseby who gave the churches of Haselbech in Northamptonshire and Loseby and Galby in Leicestershire; William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby who gave Spondon in Derbyshire; and Henry de Lacy who gave the church of Castleford in Yorkshire. In 1180 King Henry II confirmed the above grants by charter and gave the hospital 40 marks per annum of his own. Subsequent Kings and Popes granted further privileges such as exemption from royal and papal taxes and the right to sell indulgences for the profit of the Order. The Hospital survived a great fire in the 1300s caused by a plumber. General Commander of the Order of St. Lazarus in England The Master of the hospital was not only in charge of the hospital at Burton but also of the Order's lands and hospitals throughout the entirety of England and was known as "General Commander of the Order of St. Lazarus in England". He was answerable to no-one but the Master of the Order at Jerusalem. The Master of Burton Lazars travelled throughout the country visiting other Lazarite houses performing administrative duties and correcting faults. Although