APPENDIX
[The Testament of Henry de Colebi of Lincoln (fn. 1) ]
[Muniment Room of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln, D ij, 76/1,
no. 15.]
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti Amen. Hoc est
testamentum Henrici de Colebi (fn. 2) in Lincolnia. qui licet infirmus
corpore bona tamen et sana memoria constitutus nesciens quid
ipsum contingere posset humanitus ac (fn. 3) sciens et considerans quia
nichil est certius morte nichil incertius hora mortis (fn. 4) et nolens
decedere intestatus ipsum condidit in hunc modum. ¶ In primis
animam suam Deo et corpus suum ecclesiastice sepulture in cimiterio
ecclesie beate Marie de Wikefordia. sue parrochialis et tradi voluit et
commendari. et eidem ecclesie pro suo principali meliorem pannum
suum dedit et legauit. ¶ Item voluit et precepit ut equi sui. vacca.
porci et vtensilia venderentur et inde debita sua acquietarentur. et si
quod residuum fuerit solutis debitis. de illa pecunia ; illud reliquit
vxori sue et Johanni filio suo. ¶ Item legauit Johanni filio suo
vnum ensem meliorem [tr (fn. 5) ] de tribus. ¶ Item Thome Makait vnum
ensem de Scocia. ¶ Item Johanni nepoti Rogeri filii Benedicti
vnum ensem. ¶ Item legauit Willelmo fratri suo sigillum suum
argenteum. ¶ Item legauit Johanni filio suo libros suos omnes
excepto libro bucolicorum quem legauit Johanni Bacheler. ¶ Item
vxori Johannis Poult de Coleby (fn. 6) vnum tapetum rubeum quod
inpignoratur. ¶ Item Matilde Bacheler aliud tapetum rubeum.
¶ Item Juliane tunicam suam de viridi ¶ Item voluit et precepit vt
omnes domus sue preter eam quam inhabitat venderentur et
inde pro anima sua in quantum extendi poterit quod pro eis capietur
secundum disposicionem executorum distribueretur suorum.
¶ Cetera etiam bona mobilia vniuersa et singula que in hac cedula
non continentur ; nec cuiquam [sunt (fn. 7) ] legata ; ordinacioni suorum
executorum reliquit. ut per eos deum pre oculis habentes pauperibus
amicis suis et consanguineis necnon et aliis piis locis quibus
fuls[erint (fn. 7) ] opera misericordie karitatiue erogentur. Rogauit atten
cius dilectos sibi Willelmum de Coleby fratrem suum Thomam
Makait (fn. 8) de Lincolnia. et vxorem suam ipsos executores istius sui
testamenti siue vltime voluntatis sue constituens ut officium quod
vltimum elogium siue testamentum habere decet affectu quo possent
maiori secundum Deum studerent fideliter perimplere. Hiis ad hoc
vocatis Johanne de Coleby Matilda de Coleby ut huiusmodi (fn. 9) rei
geste si necesse esset testimonium perhiberent. Anno domini.
M°. CC°. septuagesimo primo die sabbati proxima ante festum
natiuitatis beate Marie fuit istud confectum testamentum. [11 x 4½
inches. Two strips for seals, the lower one having been torn off:
below the strips a narrow ribband.]
Translation
+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, Amen. This is the testament of Henry de Colebi in
Lincoln, who, though weak in body, was nevertheless of good and
sound mind, ignorant of what might befall him after the manner of
men, and knowing and considering, that 'nothing is more certain
than death, nothing more uncertain than the hour of death,' and
being unwilling to die intestate, made it in this manner. First he
willed that his soul be delivered and commended to God and his
body to burial after the manner of the Church in the churchyard of
his parish-church of the blessed Mary of Wykeford. And to the
same church for his mortuary he gave and bequeathed his best
garment. Also he willed and enjoined that his horses, cow, pigs and
utensils should be sold, and his debts be discharged therefrom; and
if there should be any residue of that money after the payment
of his debts, he left it to his wife and to his son John. Also
he bequeathed to his son John one sword, the best of three. Also to
Thomas Makait one sword from Scotland. Also to John grandson
of Roger son of Benet one sword. Also he bequeathed to his
brother William his silver seal. Also he bequeathed to his son John
all his books except the book of bucolics, which he bequeathed
to John Bacheler. Also to the wife of John Poult of Coleby one red
coverlet which is in pawn. Also to Maud Bacheler another red
coverlet. Also to Juliana his tunic of green. Also he willed
and enjoined that all his houses, except that in which he dwells,
should be sold, and that that which shall be received for them,
should be distributed for his soul as far as it will extend, according
to the disposition of his executors. The rest moreover of all and
singular his moveable goods which are not contained in this paper,
nor bequeathed to anyone, he left to the disposition of his executors
in order that by them, having God before their eyes, they may
be expended on his poor friends and kinsmen and also on other
religious places which may be distinguished for works of mercy and
charity. Most urgently he begged his beloved William de
Coleby his brother, and Thomas Makait of Lincoln, and his wife,
appointing them executors of this his testament and his last
will that they, with the greatest possible goodwill, according to the
will of God, might be zealous faithfully to fulfil the observance
which a last will or testament ought to have. These being called
hereto, John de Coleby and Maud de Coleby, in order that, if need
be, they may bear witness. This testament was made in the year of
the Lord one thousand, two hundred, and seventy-one, on the
Saturday next before the feast of the nativity of the blessed
Mary [5 September].
The following charters in the muniment of the Dean and
Chapter relate to the property devised in the foregoing will.
[D ij, 76 1, no. 16. A copy is given in the Registrum, folio 143d.,
no. 1011.]
Let [men] know present and to come that I, John son of
Robert le Norreis of Beverley have given, granted and by this
my present charter have confirmed to Henry de Coleby, clerk, all
that my land with the buildings and all its appurtenances, which
was once of Agnes Matfray, my aunt (amite), lying between the land
of Richard de Trowell' on the north side and the land of Robert son
of William Badde on the south side, in the parish of St. George,
Lincoln; to have and to hold of me and my heirs to the aforesaid
Henry and his heirs or his assigns, freely, quietly and unencumbered,
with all its appurtenances, liberties and easements to the same land
belonging. Rendering therefor yearly to me and my heirs one penny
at the nativity (fn. 10) of the Lord; and nevertheless rendering therefor to
the dean and chapter of the mother church of Lincoln one mark
of silver at two terms of the year, to wit half a mark at the feast of
St. Michael and half a mark at Easter, for all secular service,
custom and exaction and for all demands. And moreover I the
aforesaid John and my heirs or my assigns will warrant, acquit and
defend the aforesaid land with all its appurtenances, as is aforesaid,
to the aforesaid Henry and his heirs or his assigns for the aforesaid
services against all men for ever. In support and witness whereof
I have to this present charter set my seal. These being witnesses,
William de Holgate, then mayor of the city of Lincoln; John
de Kirkestede and Gernegan de Neuport, then bailiffs (balliuis)
of Lincoln; John de Paris; William Brid' (fn. 11) ; Martin le Cordewaner;
Peter the Tailor (Parmentario); Geoffrey son of Adam de Botewer (fn. 12) ;
Nicholas the Carter (le Caretario); Robert le Gaunt'; Alan Brun;
Alexander Clouelec; Hugh the Clerk; and others. Endorsed:
Lincoln, in the parish of St. George [13th century].
[Circa 1260–70. 7¾ x 5½ inches. Seal on tag—a fragment, dark
green, a shield charged with a bird; . . . . . RAIS DE . . . . . . .]
[Dij, 76/1, no. 14. A copy is given in the Registrum, folios 143d.,
144, no. 1013.]
To all the faithful of Christ who shall see or hear the present
writing William de Coleby, Thomas Makehayt and Claricia wife of
the late Henry de Coleby, the executors of the testament of the same
Henry, eternal greeting in the Lord. Let the whole body of
you know that we, according to the last will of the said Henry
deceased with respect to his houses in the parish of St. George,
which were late William Matefrey's, with all their appurtenances,
have appointed and have for ever released and quitclaimed them
with the whole plot (placea) adjoining, which extends in length from
the king's street on the west side to the wall of the lord the king on
the east side, with its whole breadth, to the lords Richard the dean
and the chapter of the church of Lincoln, for a certain sum of
money which they have given to us. So that neither we henceforth
in the name of executorship, nor any one hereafter in the name of
inheritance, shall at any time be able to assert or demand any right
or claim in the aforesaid land. Now in order that we may give
them all the security we can in this behalf, we have delivered to the
same dean and chapter the aforesaid Henry's charter of feoffment,
which he had in respect of the aforesaid land, together with his
testament in which he gave us full power to sell the same and
to make an appointment concerning it, as in it is more fully
contained. And the same dean and chapter have remised to us all
the arrears which were due to them in respect of the aforesaid land.
In witness whereof and in support of our release and quitclaim we
have to this writing set our seals. Witnesses, Sir William de
Holgate, then mayor of the city; Matthew Doggenek' and Robert
le Tanur, then bailiffs (prepositis) of the same; Osbert son of Giles;
Jordan his brother; Thomas son of Robert; James of the Bridge
(de Ponte); Hugh de Len; and others. Endorsed: To the dean
and chapter [13th century].
[a.d. 1273–4. 6¾ x 4½ inches. Three tags for seals.]