Wills: 1-2 Richard III (1483-5)

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: 1-2 Richard III (1483-5)', in Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688, (London, 1890) pp. 585-588. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/court-husting-wills/vol2/pp585-588 [accessed 24 April 2024]

In this section

ANNO 1 RICHARD III.

Monday the Feast of S. Faith, Virgin [6 Oct.].

Patsyll (Walter), mercer.—To the Prior and Convent of the House of the Salutation of the Mother of God of the Carthusian Order near London a tenement or hostel called "le Fawcon super le hoop" in the street of Graschirche in the parish of All Hallows de Graschirche. Dated London, 24 November, A.D. 1479.
Roll 213 (15).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Benedict, Abbot [21 March].

Langwith (Elena, relict of John, tailor).—To be buried near her late husband in the church of S. Mary de Abbechirche. To the Master and Wardens of the Fraternity of Tailors and Armourers of Linen Armour of S. John the Baptist in the City of London, and their successors, certain lands and tenements for merly belonging to John Bedell in Candelwykstrete and in Shirbouruelane, otherwise Shetbouruelane, in the parish of S. Mary de Abechirche, situate near the place called "Drapers Hall" (fn. 1) charged with keeping the obit of her late husband on the 18th of July in the church of S. Mary aforesaid, with religious observances and charitable gifts of coal, &c., in manner as directed. In case of default the property is to go over to the Master and Wardens of the Mistery or Craft of Cutlers of the City of London on like conditions. Dated London, 9 February, A.D. 1467.
Roll 213 (30).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Alban, Martyr [22 June].

Dun (John), mercer.—To Henry Perveys, draper, son of John Perveys, late Alderman, certain lands and tenements in the parishes of S. Martin Ottewiche, S. Benedict Fynk, and S. Margaret in Briggestrete, which he acquired from John Horn, gentleman; to hold the same for life, with remainder to John Perveys, son of the said Henry, in tail; remainder to Thomas, brother of the said John, in tail; remainder to Elizabeth, wife of Richard Ive, gentleman, sister of the aforesaid John; remainder in trust for sale for pious uses. Dated London, 16 May, A.D. 1476.
Roll 213 (37).

ANNO 2 RICHARD III.

Monday next after the Feast of S. Leonard, Abbot [6 Nov.].

Wright (Alice), widow.—To be buried in the church of S. Margaret in Briggestrete. To Elizabeth Chircheyerd her servant a green gown lined. The residue of her goods, after payment of debts and funeral expenses, she leaves to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Wright, late fishmonger, together with her tenement in the parish of S. Margaret aforesaid. Dated the Vigil of Feast of SS. Simon and Jude [28 October], A.D. 1483.
Roll 214 (18).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Gregory, Pope [12 March].

Stok (John), skinner.—To be buried in the Salters' Chapel in the church of All Hallows in Bredstrete, (fn. 2) where Isabella his late wife lies buried. To Agnes his daughter a sum of money, two parys(pairs?)peces of silver parcel gilt, and a dozen silver spoons; and to Johane his daughter a standing gilt cup covered, two parys peces of silver parcel gilt, and a dozen silver spoons. To Thomas his son a sum of money for his customary portion, to be delivered to him percelmele (fn. 3) as he shall need for sustenance and array for his body. To the Fraternity of Corpus Christi of his Craft of Skinners of London one of his best standing cups covered and gilt and his three best saltes of silver and gilt with one cover. To the Fraternity of Corpus Christi of the Craft of Salters of London another of his best standing cups covered and gilt. Pecuniary legacies to the Fraternity of Our Lady of his Craft of Skinners, the Fraternity of S. John Evangelist in the church of S. John in Watlyngstrete, to divers orders of friars in London, to Alice his sister, his servants, apprentices, and others. The residue of his goods he leaves to Elena his wife, together with a life interest in a certain tenement in the parish of All Hallows aforesaid, subject to a quitrent, and charged with the observance of his obit in the said parish church, with lights, ringing of bells, &c., in manner as directed. The necessaries of the said tenement, as cisterns, glasses, standards, presses, warbordes, dressours, shelves, crestes, benches, &c., not to be removed while they may endure. In case of default the property to go over to Thomas Bourn and Johane his wife, the testator's daughter, in tail; remainder to the parson and churchwardens of the church of All Hallows aforesaid to the use of the said church. Dated London, 12 August, A.D. 1483.
Roll 214 (34).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Margaret, Virgin [20 July].

James (Bartholomew), Knt., Alderman (fn. 4) and Mayor of the City of London.—To the Wardens, Brethren, and Sisters of the Fraternity or Guild of H. Trinity and the B.V. Mary in the parish church of S. Augustine at Hakeney he leaves certain lands, tenements, &c., in the parish of S. Nicholas at the Shambles, for the maintenance of a chantry in the aforesaid church for the welfare of the lord the King and of Elizabeth the Queen Consort, the souls of the testator, Alice his wife, and others. Dated London, 23 October, A.D. 1480.
Roll 214 (45).

[No will entered on Roll 215. (fn. 5) ].

Footnotes

  • 1. 1 As to the situation of the Drapers' Hall in early times, and the probable identity of its site with that of the house once occupied by Henry Fitz Eylwine, of London Stone, the first Mayor, see note to the will of Henry Eburton, infra, Roll 226 (10).
  • 2. 1 The first hall of the Salters was situate in the parish of All Hallows, Bread Street (Herbert, 'Livery Companies,' ii. 560).
  • 3. 2 One of a number of words in which the Anglo-Saxon mael, part, occurs in composition. We still retain the word "piecemeal," but the rest, e. g., drop-meal, inch-meal, &c., are wholly obsolete
  • 4. 3 Walbrook Ward.
  • 5. 1 The absence of wills in this Roll may be accounted for by the visitation in 1485 of what is commonly known as the "sweating sickness." This disease, which is spoken of by a chronicler as "a great death and hasty," would appear to have allowed little time for citizens to execute wills, and we know as a fact that within a very short space of time it carried off two (if not three) Mayors and six Aldermen. A similar disease visited London in 1517 and again in 1528, and speedily decimated the citizens; but we do not find any increase in the number of wills enrolled in the Court of Husting, such as took place in 1349, the year of the Black Death.