Wills: 15 Richard II (1391-2)

Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1890.

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'Wills: 15 Richard II (1391-2)', in Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688, (London, 1890) pp. 289-295. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/court-husting-wills/vol2/pp289-295 [accessed 17 March 2024]

ANNO 15 RICHARD II.

Monday next after F. of Trans. of S. Edward, K. and C. [13 Oct.].

Marion (Gilbert) de Meldebourne.—To be buried in the chancel of the church of S. Mary de Abbechirche in the same tomb with Cristina his former wife. Bequests to Sir William Kyngesley, the rector, and other ministers of the said church; to John Berford, rector of the church of S. Ethelburga within Bisshopesgate, and to the clerk of the same for tolling the bell, as well as to divers orders of friars in London. To Gilbert his son he leaves the reversion of a messuage and rents in the parish of S. Mary de Abbechirche in tail, after the decease of Isabella his wife; remainder to William his son, Alianora, Philippa, and Johanna his daughters, in successive tail, with further remainders to John Chambre, fishmonger, and Hugh de Basyngbourne, fishmonger. To William his son certain leasehold houses in Bisshopesgatestret in the parish of S. Ethelburga. To Isabella his wife his hostel in the same parish for life; remainders to his aforesaid children; ultimate remainder in trust for sale for the maintenance of a chantry in the church of S. Ethelburga aforesaid as directed; in default the property to go to the Mayor and Wardens of London Bridge in trust to maintain the said chantry. His tenement at the corner of the churchyard of the church of S. Laurence Pulteneye he leaves to Robert Witherdeley, the Master of the College of S. Laurence, and certain parishioners, for the maintenance of a chantry in the said church for the good of his soul, the souls of William Staneford, Johanna, wife of the same, Thomas their son, Elena, wife of the said Thomas, and others; in default the same to go to the Mayor and Wardens of London Bridge as above. A messuage and houses in the parish of S. Botolph without Bisshopesgate to be sold to pay his debts, and the residue to go to Isabella his wife. To Roger Blythe, "malemaker," (fn. 1) and to Mariota, wife of the same, he leaves a tenement in the parish of S. Brigid de Fletestrete for their lives; remainder to his aforesaid daughters and sons in successive tail. Bequest of ten marks to buy two silver candelabres for the church of S. Peter upon Cornhull. Dated London, Thursday the Feast of S. Laurence [10 Aug.], A.D. 1391. Roll 120 (1).

Leycestre (fn. 2) (Walter).—To be buried in the church of S. Peter, Westminster. His friends and kinsfolk to have of his money and clothes as his executors may direct. Alice his wife to have a life interest in all his rents in the City of London and suburbs; the same to be sold after her death for pious and charitable uses. Mention made of another testament, which is still to be valid, except so far as it is altered by the present testament. Dated within the Castle of Farnham, 5 April, A.D. 1391.—And although he had directed his tenements to be sold after the decease of Alice his wife, yet, inasmuch as he desires his soul's speedy health, he wills that his executors sell the reversion of the aforesaid tenements as soon as possible, and dispose of the proceeds for the good of his soul.


Whereupon came the aforesaid Alice, John Wakele, vintner, and Matilda, wife of the same, and put their claim upon the aforesaid testament as to certain shops in the parish of S. Edmund de Lumbardestrete, because they say the aforesaid Walter and Alice lately acquired the same from Richard Chadesley, as appears by deed enrolled (fn. 3) at the Husting for Common Pleas held on Monday next after the Feast of S. Katherine, Virgin [25 Nov.], 37 Edward III. [A.D. 1363]; that the said Alice at the death of her husband acquired the fee thereof jure accrescendi, which she disposed of, by deed enrolled (fn. 4) at the Husting for Pleas of Land held on Monday next after the Feast of Translation of S. Edward, King and Confessor [13 Oct.], 15 Richard II. [A.D. 1391], to the aforesaid John and Matilda; and that the said John and Matilda reconveyed the same to the said Alice for life by another deed enrolled (fn. 5) at the same Husting.

Roll 120 (9).

Preston (Richard de), citizen and grocer (fn. 6) of London, and burgess of the vill of Cales.—To be buried in the church of All Hallows at the Hay, near Deonisia his former wife. To Agnes his wife he leaves all his lands and tenements in the City and suburbs for life, for maintaining a chantry in the aforesaid church for the good of his soul, the souls of Richard his father, Isabella his mother, Deonisia and Alice his wives, Stephen de Preston and Cristina, wife of the same, and others; remainder as to a tenement called "Beaurepair," and others in the parish of All Hallows aforesaid, to the rector, churchwardens, and parishioners of the said parish, for the maintenance of a chantry at the altar of S. Katherine in the said parish church for the good of the souls just mentioned, and for divers payments to the rector and chaplain for keeping his obit as directed, and others. In default of the chantries being maintained as directed, the property is to go over to the Wardens of London Bridge, under the name of "the Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London and their successors to the use and maintenance of the said bridge," for providing a chantry in the aforesaid church. All his lands and tenements in the vill of Cales and neighbourhood to be sold to fulfil his other testament touching his movable goods, saving to Alice his wife one third of the proceeds by way of dower, excepting the proceeds of the sale of his lands and tenements at Sandgate. His feoffees in trust of lands and tenements, water-mills, &c., in co. Kent and elsewhere, are directed to enfeoff Agnes his wife of the same, excepting a certain grange and wharf in the vill of Estgrenewych, which are to go to Richard Rowe and Alice, wife of the same. Dated London, 26 April, A.D. 1391.

Roll 120 (16).

Monday next after the Feast of Purification of V. Mary [2 Feb.].

Harsham (Richard), "ferrour."—To be buried in the church of S. Sepulchre without Neugate. Bequests to Sir John Hayward, vicar of the said church, and for the maintenance of a chantry therein. To Emma his wife he leaves a certain tenement in the parish of S. Andrew in Holbourne for life; remainder to the aforesaid vicar and churchwardens in aid of a chantry. To John his servant, of co. Hereford, a sum of money and a gown of sangwyn. (fn. 7) Dated London, 21 December, A.D. 1391.

Roll 120 (62).

Power (William), called "Wodehous," skinner.—To be buried in the church of S. Christopher, London, where lie the bodies of his wives. Bequests to the said church and ministers thereof, and provision made for torches for the elevation of the Host, funeral expenses, &c. To the Fraternity of Skinners in aid of its chaplains he leaves one hundred shillings. Pecuniary bequests also to Agnes, Emma, and Margaret his daughters; William, son of Adam Haket; Custance, wife of John Duk; William, Thomas, and John, sons of Thomas Provendre, mercer, and others. To Thomas his son he leaves one hundred pounds, and all his implements and goods, both raw and tanned. His silver vessels and ustilments appertaining to his hall, chamber, pantry, and kitchen to be divided into three parts, one part to go to Agnes his wife, another to Thomas his son, and the third to be distributed among his other children, his wife also receiving her dower according to justice and law. To Sir William Bergh, rector of the said church of S. Christopher, and parishioners of the same, he leaves certain rents in the parish of S. Michael upon Cornhull, so that they maintain thereout a chantry for the good of his soul, the souls of Johanna, Anselina, and Alice his former wives, and others, within the said church of S. Christopher. In default the said rents to go to the rector and parishioners of S. Michael's upon Cornhull for like purposes. To Agnes his wife his tenements called "Leggesaleye" in the parish of S. Bartholomew the Less for life; remainder to Thomas his son in tail; remainder to Emma, Agnes, and Margaret his daughters in equal portions. Also to Thomas his son tenements in the parishes of S. Michael le Quern and S. Michael upon Cornhull in tail; remainder to his aforesaid daughters. To Thomas Provendre and Emma, wife of the same, the testator's daughter, he leaves a brewery called "lez thre Nonnes" in the parish of S. Christopher in special tail, with remainders over; and similarly to John Shirbourne, vintner, and Agnes, wife of the same, another daughter of the testator, a tenement in Cornhull, parish of S. Michael. Dated London, Monday next before the Feast of Annunciation of V. Mary [25 March], A.D. 1388. Roll 120 (69).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Valentine [14 Feb.].

Pykeman (Andrew), fishmonger.—To be buried in S. Mary's Chapel in the church of S. Botolph near Billyngesgate, to the rector and churchwardens of which he leaves certain shops in Thamysestret, so that they maintain thereout a chantry in the aforesaid chapel for the good of his soul, the souls of Johanna and Johanna his wives, Richard his father, Margaret his mother, Robert Pykeman and Sabine and Johanna, wives of the said Robert, Robert Furneux, and others; also that the said rector and churchwardens provide tapers on occasions specified. In default the same to go over to the Mayor or Warden and Commonalty of the City of London and their successors, for the use and maintenance of a chantry in Guildhall Chapel. To Margaret, daughter of John Sibille and of Cecilia, late wife of the same, and daughter of the testator, he leaves lands and tenements in the parishes of S. Mary atte Hull and S. Margaret de Breggestrete. Dated London, Sunday the Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord [25 Dec.], A.D. 1391.—Also he wills that his feoffees in trust of lands and tenements in the vill of Suthwerk, and in the parishes of Newenton and Camerwelle, co. Surrey, enfeoff the aforesaid Margaret, daughter of John Sibille, of the same as soon as she come to the age of fourteen years. Roll 120 (71).

Brandon (Nicholas), "stokfisshmonger."—To be buried in the church of S. Magnus near London Bridge, to which he leaves divers sums of money for fabric, ministers, Fraternity of Salve, &c. Bequests also to the work of S. Paul's, to each of the four orders of friars in London, to the poor on beds and in various hospitals, the lepers in the three houses around London, to the inmates of Neugate, Ludgate, and the two Marshalseas; also to the churches of Clare, co. Suffolk, of All Saints, Walsyngham, (fn. 8) and of Wighton near Walsyngham, &c. To Agnes his wife he leaves certain rents issuing from a tenement called "le lamb on the hoop" in Thamysestret, parish of S. Magnus. His feoffees in trust of lands and tenements at New Wyndesore are instructed to deliver the same to his aforesaid wife; and similarly his feoffees of lands and tenements at Wighton aforesaid are to enfeoff Robert Wych his uncle and Johanna his sister of the same. Provision made for chantries in the churches of S. Magnus and of Wighton respectively. Certain sums of money to be divided among his poor neighbours upon London Bridge and the porters of Thamysestret. His wife to be put in possession of certain rents issuing from his tenement called "le Mayde on the hoop" in Suthwerk, on condition that she forego her dower of tenements at Wighton. Dated London, 4 November, A.D. 1391. Roll 120 (73).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Dunstan, Bishop [19 May].

Daudeley (fn. 9) (Nicholas), lord of "Rouge Chastell" (fn. 10) and "Helegh." (fn. 11) —To be buried in the chancel of the church of his Abbey of Hulton (fn. 12) near his father's tomb. Directions as to burning of tapers, torches, and morterez, (fn. 13) and other particulars relating to his funeral. To the Abbey and church of Hulton he bequeaths, among other things, two large gilt chalices with stones, two patens, a large ivory image of Our Lady, a silver censer, and a gold cross with the bastons of four pieces and relics. His executors to purchase lands to the value of thirty livres by the year with which to endow the said abbey. To Elizabeth Daudeley his wife (compaigne) he leaves two thousand marks of silver, his entire wardrobe, and his vessels of silver and gold, buckles, rings, &c. Bequests of money to Roger Mortymere, Henry Haggley and Alice, wife of the same, William Nassh, and John Marsshall; also to "Seyntoweyn," "Brodok," "Hekoc del Pantre," "Colyn del Pantre," and others; also to the friars of Hereford, Salop, Stafford, Chester, and New Castle under Lyme, and to twelve poor gentlewomen for marriage portions. The residue of his goods and chattels in England and "Gales" (fn. 14) he leaves to the aforesaid Elizabeth. Dated at his Castle of Helegh, Wednesday next before the Feast of Translation of S. Thomas the Martyr [7 July], 15 Richard II. [A.D. 1391]. Roll 120 (125).

Capelle (John), cordwainer.—To be buried in the churchyard of S. Dionisius Bakchirche. To Alice his wife he leaves certain shops in the parish of S. Dionisius aforesaid for life; remainder to John his son and Alice his daughter in successive tail. To William his son a shop in the same parish, a piece of silver, and silver spoons. To Isabella his daughter twenty shillings. Dated London, 9 August, A.D. 1390. Roll 120 (126).

Footnotes

  • 1. 1 A maker of males (mails) or travelling bags. Riley draws a distinction between malemonger and melmakere, taking the latter to mean possibly a maker of mallets or hammers ('Memorials,' Introd., p. xxii).
  • 2. 2 Described elsewhere as the King's Sergeant-at-Arms.
  • 3. 1 Roll 91 (168).
  • 4. 2 Roll 120 (17).
  • 5. 3 Roll 120 (18).
  • 6. 4 Grossarius, i.e. wholesale dealer. In the will of Agnes his wife (enrolled infra Roll 130 [115]) he is described as late citizen and merchant (mercator).
  • 7. 1 Cloth of crimson or blood colour.
  • 8. 1 Co. Norfolk.
  • 9. 2 Or De Aldithley, son of James de Aldithley, who fought at the battle of Poictiers. He died, according to Dugdale, on the Feast of S. Mary Magdalen [22 July], 15 Richard II. [A.D. 1391].
  • 10. 3 Red Castle, co. Salop.
  • 11. 4 Co. Staff.
  • 12. 5 Or Hilton, co. Stafford, where Henry de Audley erected an abbey for Cistercian monks in 1223.
  • 13. 6 See notes supra, pp. 49, 152.
  • 14. 1 Wales.