Wills: Edward VI (1547-53)

ANNO 5 EDWARD VI.

Monday next before F. of SS. Tiburcius and Valerian [14 April].

Hill (fn. 1) (Sir Rowlande), Knt., Alderman of the City of London. —Directions for the establishment of a school in his town and manor of Drayton in Hales, co. Salop, (fn. 2) in a hall of a messuage commonly called "Saint Marie Halle." The churchwardens of the parish church of Drayton to receive from the Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London an annual sum of sixteen pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence, out of which the schoolmaster is to have a yearly salary of ten pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence and the usher five pounds six shillings and eightpence, the residue being kept in a chest and to be bestowed when necessary on repairs. In case of default made in keeping up the school at Drayton it is to be removed, together with its endowments, to the town of Salopp' [Shrewsbury], and again in case of default to Mayor and citizens or head of the Corporation of the city of Westchester. Dated 6 April, 5 Edward VI. [A.D. 1551].
Roll 246 (23).

ANNO 6 EDWARD VI.

Monday next before the Feast of S. Scolastica, Virgin [10 Feb.].

Trigges (John), draper.—To be buried in the churchyard of S. Martin Orgar. Bequests to the poor of the parish of S. Martin aforesaid. Hugh Bancroft his apprentice to enter upon the shop of his dwelling-house and take his cloth at cost price, and to enjoy the same during the lifetime of Jane his wife, paying to the said Jane yearly twenty-six pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence. After the decease of his said wife the said Hugh is to pay to her executors the value of the aforesaid cloth. To Jane his wife he leaves all his other tenements, &c., together with his goods, chattels, plate, jewels, &c., for life; remainder to the aforesaid Hugh. Dated 5 December, A.D. 1551.
Roll 246 (61).

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

Barker (Christopher), alias "Garter Knight, principall Kinge at Armes of Englisshemen," residing in the parish of S. Faith.—After expressing a pious hope that his soul may be received into Abraham's bosom he directs that his "wretched corps and carcas" be buried in a vault which he had prepared in the long chapel next S. Faith's Church in Paules. To William Hunnynges his cousin certain lands and tenements in Stratford Langthorne, co. Essex, in return for the surrender of certain bonds. To Edith his wife all his other freeholds, also his copyhold lands and tenements in the counties of Essex and Middlesex, houses in Paternoster Rowe, Lymestrete, and elsewhere in the City, a mansion house and lands at Wansted, Westham, and Barkinge, &c., for life. To the "companye" (fn. 3) of the Vintners of London he leaves the reversion of his tenements in Lymestrete aforesaid for their maintenance. (fn. 4) To Edward Boyce, draper, his brother, the reversion of his house in Paternoster Rowe. To Edward Tumour he gives three "Kyen" and a "heffer" at Wansted, so that the said Edward give his wife milk for her house when she lieth at Wansted, "the saide kyen beinge then mylche." Among other bequests he gives to Nicholas Wethers a helmet and a sword, and to William Colbarne "a litlee baye geldinge." Dated 31 December, A.D. 1549.
Roll 246 (70).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Leodegarius, Bishop [2 Oct.].

Middleton (William), mercer.—To the Mayor, Commonalty, and citizens of London he leaves a tenement called "the crowne" in the City of London, which he had acquired from Robert Chertsey, Alderman (fn. 5) of London, to the only use and behoof of the Mayor, &c. Dated 1 July, A.D. 1551.
Roll 246 (97).

ANNO 7 EDWARD VI.

Monday next before F. of SS. Tiburcius and Valerian [14 April].

Charley (John), "cowper" of London.—To the Master and Wardens or Keepers of the Commonalty of the Freemen of the Mistery of Cowpers (fn. 6) of London and of the suburbs of the same he leaves a messuage and wharf called "the Olde Wollekey," in the parish of All Saints, Barking, which he held in trust for fulfilment of the will of Nicholas Gibson, late grocer of London, "accordinge to the laudable custome of the Citie of London"; to be held by the said master and wardens charged with the maintenance of a "mete and learned man in the letters of grammer" to teach grammar and the knowledge of grammar, and also to instruct little children in the A B C, and such learning as should be most convenient, in the school or school-house erected at Radclyffe, co. Middlesex, (fn. 7) by the aforesaid Nicholas, and also with the maintenance of an usher learned in Latin and grammar, and subject to other conditions as set out in a certain copy of Court Roll of the Manor of Stebbunhuth. (fn. 8) The master and wardena aforesaid are also, among other things, after the decease of Dame Alice Knyvet, widow, sometime wife of the aforesaid Nicholas, to maintain fourteen poor men and women in the almshouse near the aforesaid school, seven of which are to be poor inhabitants of the parish of Stebbenhuth, and the other seven to be poor persons of the Mistery of the Cowpers or their wives, and to give to each of them yearly the sum of twenty-six shillings and eightpence. The tenements to be surveyed twice a year, and at each survey the master, wardens, &c., are to have a "potacioun" among the men of the mistery. Dated 21 March, A.D. 1552.
Roll 246 (130).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Alphege [19 April].

Alleyn (Jasper), draper.—To be buried in the church of S. Nicholas Acon if he chance to die in the parish, otherwise in the parish church where he may happen to die, "withoute anye pompe or pride of vaine glorie." To Katherine his wife he leaves one third of his goods and chattels, according to the laudable use and custom of the City of London; to John, William, and Margery, and his infant en ventre sa mère, another third; and the residue he reserves to himself for payment of debts, legacies, &c. Thirteen sermons to be preached on as many Sundays next after his burial, to be paid for at the rate of six shillings and eightpence each. Bequests of money, clothes, coals, &c., to the new hospital lately founded by King Henry VIII., (fn. 9) to various prisons and for redemption of prisoners, to poor householders in the parish of S. Nicholas aforesaid, and others. To Peter Alleyn his brother he leaves ten pounds, for buying some honest office for the maintenance of the said Peter, rather than that the bequest should be paid in ready money; also his "halyedaie gowne of puke (fn. 10) furred with budge." To his mother, late wife of Roger Chaloner, deceased, to both his aunts in Yorkshire, to Johane, daughter of William his brother, to Richard Sodaye his brother, to his sister Hawke, late the wife of Thomas Hawke, and others, he makes divers bequests, comprising gowns, rings, &c. To John Robyns his factor in Andolozea a gown and a ring of gold with his name graven in it. To the Company of Drapers he leaves twenty shillings. His house in Fanchurchestrete in course of erection is to be finished with the residue of his third part. Dated 4 November, A.D. 1548.— By a codicil he leaves to Katherine his wife his new house just mentioned for life; remainder to John his son. His other two houses are to go to his other two children forthwith.
Roll 246 (134).