Wills: 16 Richard II (1392-3)

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: 16 Richard II (1392-3)', in Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688, (London, 1890) pp. 295-301. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/court-husting-wills/vol2/pp295-301 [accessed 17 March 2024]

ANNO 16 RICHARD II.

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

Neve (William), son of Nicholas Neve, late "burler," (fn. 1) and of Johanna, wife of the same, daughter of Elias, son of Matthew le Chaundeller.—To be buried in the churchyard of S. Swithin de Candelwykstret. Bequests to the said church and ministers thereof. To Johanna Maykyn, formerly wife of John Hale, late "sherman," he leaves certain rents and reversions in the parishes of S. Clement near Estchepe and S. Michael de Crokedlane for life; remainder to Thomas Hale her son for life; remainder to the rector and churchwardens of the church of S. Swithin aforesaid, for the maintenance of a chantry in the said church. Dated London, 22 September, A.D. 1391. Roll 121 (71).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Andrew, Apostle [30 Nov.].

Waldegrave (John), "brewer."—Bequests to divers orders of friars in London; to the lepers at Hakeneye, at the loke without the bar of Suthwerk, and at the Hospital of S. Giles; the College of S. Laurence Pulteney; also to William, son of Robert Storald, Richard Wycok, his servants, and others. To the master of the hospital of Clotehale, (fn. 2) and to the church there, to buy a bell withal, he leaves forty shillings respectively. To Amicia his wife his tenement in the parish of S. Michael de Crokedlane for life; remainder in trust for sale for pious and charitable uses. Dated London, 14 May, A.D. 1387. Roll 121 (115).

Monday the Feast of SS. Fabian and Sebastian [20 Jan.].

Shiryngton (Richard), "jualer."—To be buried in the church or churchyard of S. Christopher, London. Bequests to the said church and ministers therein, also to poor inmates of hospitals and those lying on beds, the old and new work of S. Paul's, &c. The ordinaries to have ten shillings for probate of his will. Bequests to the rector and churchwardens of S. Christopher aforesaid for distribution among poor parishioners, for the repair of the church and ornaments, and for observing his obit. After the decease of Matilda his wife his tenements in the parish of S. Christopher aforesaid are to remain to John Pountfreyt and Katherine, wife of the same, in tail; remainder in trust for sale for pious and charitable uses. The residue of his goods and chattels, after payment of debts and legacies, he leaves to his wife by way of dower. Dated London, Thursday the Feast of Ascension [23 May], A.D. 1392. Roll 121 (122).

Shirreve (Roger), clerk.—To be buried in the church of S. Martin near Ludgate, to the high altar of which he leaves seventeen shillings in memory of the Ten Commandments and of the Seven Mortal Sins. (fn. 3) Bequests also to the chaplains of the same church, to the old work of S. Paul's, to various orders of friars in London, &c. Bequest of an annuity of fifty shillings to John Haket, charged on his tenement in Bowyerrowe in the parish of S. Martin aforesaid. His houses and shops in the said street and parish, as also a tenement called "Bell othe hope" in Bredestrete, to be sold within one year after his decease, and out of the proceeds five chaplains are to be maintained in the church of S. Martin for one year for the good of his soul, the souls of Simon Shirreve his father, Cicilia his mother, Adam Haket, and others, and two chaplains in the parish of All Hallows de Bredestrete. His manor of Northstede to be sold by his feoffees in trust for the purpose of fulfilling his testament. Also to the church of S. Martin aforesaid he leaves two missals, a Catholicon, (fn. 4) a Legend, (fn. 5) and a book called 'Pars Oculi'; (fn. 6) and to the church of "Quodam," (fn. 7) co. Kent, a vestment, chalice, &c. To Margery his kinswoman he gives all his vessels for her marriage, and any one who shall marry her and be willing to give one hundred and fifty pounds for the manor of Northstede above mentioned is to have it for that sum. Dated London, 26 November, A.D. 1392.

Roll 121 (125).

Monday next after the Feast of Conversion of S. Paul [25 Jan.].

Atte Feld (John), tanner.—To be buried in the churchyard of S. Sepulchre's without Neugate. Bequests to the said church, and to divers orders of friars for trentals of masses; also to Alice his daughter, Mabel his sister, and others. To Alice his wife he leaves a moiety of his lands and tenements in the parish of S. Sepulchre aforesaid for life; remainder to his aforesaid daughter. Dated London, 14 February, A.D. 1390.

Roll 121 (131).

Monday next before F. of SS. Perpetua and Felicitas [7 March].

Boxford (Robert), draper.—To be buried in S. Paul's churchyard called "Pardounchirchehawe." One moiety of his movable goods he leaves to Clemence his wife by way of her share of his goods, and out of the residue he makes divers bequests to the fabric of S. Paul's and of the church of S. Vedast, to poor prisoners in Neugate and Ludgate, to the Prior, Canons, &c., of S. Mary de Overee in Suthwerk, the Master of the College of S. Laurence Pounteneye near Candelwykstrete, the ministers of the church of S. Mary Magdalen de Suthwerk; also for the repair of roads in the neighbourhood of London, and for distribution among the poor and infirm lying "bedreden" in the City and suburbs, &c. Bequests also to John Prentis his brother, John Gibbes, William Symme, and others. A certain rent issuing from a tenement called "le cok on the hoop" in the parish of S. Giles without Crepulgate to be sold to pay his debts. Dated at the priory aforesaid, the Feast of the Purification of V. Mary [2 Feb.], 16 Richard II. [A.D. 1392-3].—Also to old Thomas, the bellringer of the priory, three shillings and fourpence. Roll 121 (145).

Snypston (Nicholas).—To be buried near Johanna his wife in the church of S. Laurence de Polteney. Bequests to the chaplain of the college of the said church, to the parish priest and chaplain of the church of All Hallows the Less upon the Solars (super solariis), &c.; also for painting an image of the Blessed Mary therein, and to the pardon of S. Paul (ad perdonem Sancti Pauli). To Mabel his wife he leaves certain tenements in the parishes of All Hallows the Less in the Ropery and S. James de Garlekhithe for life; remainder to Johanna and Alice his daughters in several tail; remainder in trust for sale for pious uses. To William Prodhomme he leaves a basinet with aventall, a pair of plates with legharneys, vambras, and rerebras. To Edmund Oliver a barrel (barellam) for keeping linen (armour ?) and a fur of young otters (de juvenis otres). To Robert Steping a coat of mail and cetelhat; (fn. 8) and to John his servant his cotharmur. (fn. 9) Dated London, 1 March, A.D. 1391. Roll 121 (146).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Barnabas, Apostle [11 June].

Wyght (William), "stokfisshmonger."—To be buried in the cloister of S. Laurence de Pulteneye. To each of his daughters Agnes, Margaret, Beatrix, and Alice, fifty pounds sterling for their marriage or for entering a religious house; and to Nicholas, John, William, and Richard his sons respectively, twenty pounds sterling. The custody of his said children to be in the discretion of his executors. His lands, tenements, &c., in the vills and parishes of Cheyham, (fn. 10) Hedleigh, (fn. 11) and Leddrede, (fn. 12) and elsewhere in co. Surrey, to remain to his son Nicholas aforesaid. To Johanna his wife he leaves all his lands and tenements in the City of London for life. To John his son the reversion of a tenement called "le Vyne" in the parish of S. Peter upon Cornhull, and tenements in Minchonlane in the parish of S. Dunstan towards the Tower. To William and Richard his sons the reversion of tenements called "le Blakerente," adjoining Distaflane in the parish of S. Augustine near S. Paul's Gate. Also to the aforesaid Nicholas the reversion of mansions in the parish of S. Leonard de Estchepe. Thomas his brother appointed one of his executors. Dated London, Tuesday the Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord [25 Dec.], A.D. 1392. Roll 121 (200).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Botolph, Abbot [17 June].

Offham (John), apothecary.—To be buried in the church of S. Mary Magdalen de Milkstrete. Bequests of money and wax tapers to the said church as well as to his fraternity at Brokham and the churches of S. Peter at the Cross of Chepe and of Bassingeshawe. Bequests to his apprentices, who are to continue to serve Cecilia his wife; to a chaplain saying divine service in the church of S. Mary aforesaid for the good of his soul, the souls of Walter his father, Alice his mother, and others; to the Friars Minors of London, to Peter and Thomas his sons, and others. To Master Nigel Algar he leaves a silver cup with covercle having his sign. To Gregory Fanelore his grey horse (equum meum gray). To Robert Herlawe a piece of silver with a mark of an abbot. To William Ponk, formerly his apprentice, a sword, a pair of plates and a pair of gloves of plate, his best basynet, and a painted box. To Cecilia his wife he leaves all his tenements in London for life; remainder to Thomas and Peter his sons in successive tail; remainder to the maintenance of a chantry in the aforesaid church of S. Mary Magdalen. A certain house towards Canongate in the city of Chichester he leaves to the Sub-Dean of Chichester and his successors for ever for their prayers. Dated London, Friday next after the Feast of SS. Tiburcius and Valerian [14 April], A.D. 1361. Roll 121 (204).

Clenhond (John).—To be buried in the church of the Carmelite Friars near Cecilia his former wife. Bequests to the convent of the same, and for glazing a window in the aforesaid church; also to ministers of the church of S. Bartholomew the Less for saying every night after Salve Regina, and on the morrow after mass of Salve Sancta Parens, a De Profundis with prayer Inclina Domine, with the clause "pro anima famuli tui Johannis," and for paving the said church, and for painting an image of the Blessed Mary, &c.; to the work of S. Paul's, and the churches of S. Katherine towards the Tower and of All Hallows de Berkyngcherche, the church of Munden, co. Herts, the nuns of Stratford, the Prior and Convent of la Charthus near London, &c. To the rector of the church of S. Michael de Crokedlane, Friar Robert Yvory, provincial of the order of Carmelite Friars, Thomas Brandon, formerly living at Bruges in Flanders, Agnes, daughter of Nicholas le Fuller, and others, he leaves sums of money and chattels, comprising mazer cups, Bykers, tablecloths, quart pots, pint pots (mensure unius pynti), towels of Amyas (fn. 13) work, &c. To Idonia his wife he leaves two hundred pounds and all his silver vessels not otherwise disposed of, and everything appertaining to the chamber, hall, butlery, and kitchen, or in the alternative five hundred marks without these goods, according as she may elect, provided she accept the same by way of dower. To John, Thomas, and William his sons his tenements in the parishes of All Hallows de Berkyngcherche and S. Michael upon Cornhull in several tail; remainder in trust for sale for the repair of London Wall, London Bridge, the Conduit, the College of Guildhall, &c., at the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen, as well as in aid of the works and ornaments of the said parish churches. His wife to have the charge of his aforesaid sons and of their property during minority, she giving security at the Guildhall for the purpose according to the custom. Dated 14 June, A.D. 1390. Roll 121 (211).


And next his schert an aketoun, And over that an habergeoun For persyng of his hert; And over that a fyn hauberk Was all iwrought of Jewes werk, Full strong it was of plate; And over that his cote-armour As whyt as is a lily flour In which he would debate. 'Tale of Sir Thopas,' 149-157.

Footnotes

  • 1. 2 Bureller.
  • 2. 1 Clothall, co. Herts.
  • 3. 2 (1) Pride, (2) Covetousness, (3) Lust, (4) Gluttony, (5) Anger, (6) Envy, (7) Sloth. Also called the Seven Capital Sins.
  • 4. 1 An Eastern name for the collected general epistles.
  • 5. 2 Or Legend of the Saints; a book of the acts of the saints read throughout the year on certain days in the offices of the Western Church.
  • 6. 3 See Part I. p. 607, note 1.
  • 7. 4 Cowdham (the name is variously spelt Codeham, Cudham, and Coldham), co. Kent (Hasted's 'Hist. of Kent,' vol. i. p. 118).
  • 8. 1 Vambrace and rerebrace; armour plates for the front and back of the arm.
  • 9. 2 A helm most probably made of leather; cf. a palet. It is, however, probable, says Way ('Prompt. Parv.'), that the name was likewise given to the chapel de fer or capellus ferreus used from the time of Edward II. until the sixteenth century, the form being at all times nearly the same, and from the wide projecting brim bearing much resemblance to a cauldron. Among bequests made by Sir William Langford in 1411 are the following:—"Also a basynet with a ventaile, a pare of vambrace and rerebrace, a pair of legge herneys......Also to Henre my son an aburioun, a ketil hatte" ('Earliest English Wills,' ed. by Dr. Furnivall, Early English Text Society, p. 19).
  • 10. 3 Coat-armour; a linen covering worn over the armour on which was emblazoned the bearer's coat of arms. This usage became necessary for purposes of identification at a time when the features were concealed by the aventaille; but it was not generally adopted till the time of Henry III. Chaucer thus describes the various articles of a knight's apparel:—
  • 11. 1 Cheam.
  • 12. 2 Headly.
  • 13. 3 Leatherhead.
  • 14. 1 Amiens.