Wills: 17 Edward IV (1477-8)

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: 17 Edward IV (1477-8)', in Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688, (London, 1890) pp. 575-577. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/court-husting-wills/vol2/pp575-577 [accessed 26 March 2024]

ANNO 17 EDWARD IV.

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

Bracy (John), chandler.—To be buried according to directions contained in his other testament touching his movables. To Agnes his wife all those tenements in the parish of S. Michael de Pater-noster-chirche in the Riole which he acquired jointly with others from the late Master and Wardens of the Commonalty and Mistery of the Cutlers of the City of London, and also his tenement called "le Nonne" in the parish of S. Mary de Wolchirchehawe, to hold the same for life. To the Master and Wardens of the Commonalty of the Mistery of Talughchaundelers of the City of London he leaves the reversion of the last-mentioned tenement and an annual rent of six shillings and eightpence issuing from the aforesaid tenement in the parish of S. Michael, on condition they keep his obit for the good of his soul, the souls of Margaret his late wife, Agnes his present wife, and John Chesham her former husband, in the church of S. Mary aforesaid, and distribute twelve quarters of coal annually among the poor of the parish in manner as directed. The reversion of the aforesaid tenements in the parish of S. Michael he leaves to Henry Wyche, "iremonger," and Margery, wife of the same, daughter of John Mader and of Matilda his wife, the testator's daughter, in tail, charged with the payment of the aforesaid annual rent of six shillings and eightpence to the Master and Wardens of the Mistery of Talughchaundelers for the above pious and charitable objects; remainder over to the said master and wardens. In case of default made in carrying out the terms of his will, the tenements and rent aforesaid to go over to the rector and churchwardens of the church of S. Mary aforesaid for similar uses. Dated 10 June, A.D. 1467.
Roll 207 (13).

Monday next after the Feast of S. James, Apostle [25 July].

Hunt (Walter), grocer.—Testament touching the disposal of all his lands and tenements in the City of London, viz. le counter Aley in le Pultree (fn. 1) near lez Stokkes which he leaves to the Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London absolutely. Dated 10 August, A.D. 1475.
Roll 207 (17).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Luke, Evangelist [18 Oct.].

Colyn (Alice, relict of William, "talughchaundeller").—To be buried in the churchyard of the church of S. Dunstan in the East called "Pardon Chirchehawe," (fn. 2) near the tomb of her late husband. Bequests to the said church and to the Fraternity of the B.V. Mary therein. Thirty masses to be said for her soul and the soul of her late husband. To Johanna her daughter, wife of Robert Seton, her best feather bed and bolster, a flat basin of latten (de auricalco) and a large brass pot. To William Harries her kinsman, Agnes Bigges, and Robert Morley divers household goods, comprising a chest, a spruce desked cofer, gown of blue colour lynyd with blak bokeram, a ship chest, and a pilowe of downe a yard long. To John Haugh, gentleman, and William de la Ware,"tyler," rents issuing from tenements formerly belonging to Richard Cawston, mercer, in the parish of S. Margaret Patyns, in trust for sale for pious uses for the good of her soul. Dated London, 13 August, A.D. 1477.
Roll 207 (18).

Monday the Feast of S. Chad, Bishop [2 March].

Stafford (William), sole surviving trustee of lands and tenements formerly belonging to John Reynewell, (fn. 3) late Alderman of the City of London, which he devises according to the will of the said John Reynewell, dated 18 September, A.D. 1443.—To the Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London and their successors, viz., an annual rent of twenty shillings issuing from a stone house used as a vestry for the church of S. Botolph near Billyngesgate; also tenements and wharves in Wirehalelane in the parish of S. Mary at Hill, and tenements in Wendegaynelane in the parish of All Hallows the Great in the Ropery, and elsewhere in the City of London, as well as property at Calais. The same to be held by the said Mayor and Commonalty under the following conditions:—that they keep the said tenements in repair; pay certain annuities to William his (i.e., Reynewell's) son, Cristina his sister, and Fridiswida his daughter, a Minoress nun; maintain a chantry in the chapel above the Charnel-house in S. Paul's churchyard for the souls of Henry Barton, late Alderman, and Johanna, wife of the said Henry, the souls of John Reynewell, William his father, Isabella his mother, and others; pay certain specified sums for the relief of the inhabitants of the wards of Billyngesgate, Douegate, and Algate, on the occasion of exactions of fifteenths for the King; pay into the King's Exchequer the annual sum of ten pounds due from the Sheriffs of London for the ferm of Suthwerk; (fn. 4) also pay to the same Sheriffs an annual sum of eight pounds, in order to exempt poor denizens (not foreigners) from payment of toll for goods and merchandise at the great gate of London Bridge, and at the bridge called "le drawbridge," provided always that the said citizens so entering the City and making purchases there shall not leave the same without licence of the freemen; and lastly they are to pay to the wardens of the church of S. Botolph near Billyngesgate an annual sum of thirteen shillings and fourpence towards keeping the obit of the said John Reynewell, and perform other conditions as set out in his will. Dated London, 25 October, 37 Henry VI. [A.D. 1458].
Roll 207 (31).


[No will entered on Roll 208.].

Footnotes

  • 1. 1 See note supra, p. 501.
  • 2. 1 See note supra, 115.
  • 3. 2 Comparatively little is known of John Reinwell or Raynewell. Of what ward he was Alderman is uncertain, but we know he served as Sheriff in 1412. His will was not enrolled in the Court of Husting, and its contents are chiefly to be gathered from this will of William Stafford, one of his feoffees in trust. The Charity Commissioners in their report made in 1822, touching Reinwell's will, say: "It does not appear that any of the payments to be made under it were connected with any charitable purpose, except it may be that which is said to be made to the Sheriffs for the ancient fee farm of the Borough of Southwark, and which is paid to them in reimbursement of a like sum, payable by them to Bromley College. The receipts given by the treasurer of Bromley College for this payment are delivered to the Chamberlain and kept among the Corporation vouchers" ('Endowed Charities of the City of London,' a reprint 1829, p. 466). The City Records contain an order made anno 25 Henry VIII. [A.D. 1533], that Reinwell's will touching the relief of the wards mentioned therein should be translated into English, fairly written out on parchment, and hung up openly in the Guildhall, "So that it may be perfytly knowen whan the wardes of Byllingesgate, Dowgate, and Algate shalbe relevyd for the payment of fyftenes or any other charge to be graunted to the Kynge our soueraigne lord" (Letter-Book P, fol. 16 b). It was also agreed a few years before (viz., anno 20 Henry VIII.) to send two persons to Calais, at the discretion of the City Chamberlain and Comptroller, to look after the City's interests in the property in that town devised to the Mayor and Commonalty by Reinwell (Letter-Book O, fol. 84). Stafford's will is printed in Appendix C of Cooper's Report on the Foedera (p. 22) from an exemplification under the hand of "Dunthorn" (Town Clerk), at one time among the archives of Hamburg.
  • 4. 1 Jurisdiction over the vill of Southwark had been granted and confirmed to the Mayor and Commonalty by charters of Edward III. and Edward IV.