Wills: 13 Richard II (1389-90)

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: 13 Richard II (1389-90)', in Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688, (London, 1890) pp. 273-278. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/court-husting-wills/vol2/pp273-278 [accessed 26 April 2024]

ANNO 13 RICHARD II.

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

Leuesham (Thomas), skinner.—To be buried in S. Mary's Chapel in the church of S. Michael upon Cornhull. His executors are directed to enfeoff Agnes his wife of all his tenements in the parish of S. Michael aforesaid for life, and to make a sufficient estate in the reversion to John Langhorn, brasier, his heirs and assigns. His wife to have her dower of all his movable goods and chattels. Dated London, 24 April, A.D. 1389.

Roll 118 (1).

Salesbury (fn. 1) (Idonia, formerly (quondam) wife of Robert), late (nuper) wife of Geoffrey Puppe, "stokfisshmonger."—To be buried in the church of S. Laurence de Pulteney, to the college of which she, as executrix of Robert Salesbury, leaves all her lands and tenements formerly belonging to him in the parishes of All Hallows the Less upon the Solars (sic), S. Michael de Crokedlane, and S. Olave near the Tower, for the maintenance of a chantry in the aforesaid church and keeping her obit. To John Gravesende, draper, a tenement in Thamisestret in the parish of S. Martin Orgar. To Idonia, daughter of Thomas Pyk, her goddaughter, she leaves a coverlet with tester "steyned" (fn. 2) with the story of Idonia and Amedas. To Cristina, wife of Thomas Pyk, her new gown of scarlet with fur and hood. To Sir John Norwiche, sub-master of the College of S. Laurence, a chalice and paten, and to each of the chaplains a sum of money. Bequests also of money or chattels to Dame Emma Seint Omere, a nun of Kilbourne, her goddaughter; Elizabeth, wife of William Parker, and to the said Elizabeth's sister, wife of John Bentham; her chaplain, servants, and others. Dated London, 26 November, A.D. 1386.


And because the Court was given to understand that the above John Gravesende, to whom a tenement in the parish of S. Martin Orgar had been devised, had married the testatrix after she had made her will, by which the said devise would be void according to the custom of the City, the enrolment of the will was postponed, &c. Afterwards, on the Monday aforesaid, when the will was enrolled, the same John Gravesende came into the full Husting and renounced altogether the aforesaid legacy, and said that neither he nor his heirs would make any claim by reason of it; the other provisions of the testament remaining in force.

Roll 118 (6).

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

Philippot (fn. 3) (John), Knt.—To be buried in the church of the Friars Minors, (fn. 4) London, near Johanna his late wife. To Margaret his wife (fn. 5) he leaves all his lands, tenements, &c., within the City of London, as well in reversion as in demesne, for life, charged with an annual payment of ten marks to the Prior and Convent of S. Pancras de Lewes, (fn. 6) so that they maintain a chantry for the good of his soul, the souls of Johanna his late consort, Richard late Earl of Arundell, (fn. 7) and others. In case of default, the Mayor and Recorder of the City for the time being to distrain for the same. The said Margaret charged with the payment of an annual rent of five marks to the Vicar of Gylyngham, co. Kent, in aid of a chantry in the chapel of the manor of Grenge, co. Kent. To the monks of Hurlee, co. Berks, an annual rent of one mark for keeping his obit, &c. Bequests to thirteen poor people in honour of the five wounds of Jesus Christ, the five joys of the blessed mother Mary, (fn. 8) and of the Holy Trinity, the selection of the recipients to be made by Margaret his wife during her lifetime, and afterwards by the Mayor and Recorder of the City for the time being. After his wife's death certain tenements in the parishes of S. Mary Wolnoth and S. Mary Wolchirche are to remain to Edward and John his sons in successive tail, and certain other tenements in the parish of S. Augustine near Poulesgate, in the street called "le Oldechaunge," to Margaret his daughter and to John his aforesaid son in successive tail. Tenements formerly belonging to John de Stodeye he leaves to his child (if any) en ventre sa mère; remainder to Thomas Birlyngham and John, brother of the said Thomas, sons of Margaret his aforesaid wife. The reversion of all his lands and tenements not otherwise disposed of he leaves to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of London to the use and behoof of the City as most needed, for the making of conduits, common latrines, &c., reserving to themselves the sum of 36l. 4s. 4d. for discharging legacies to the house of S. Pancras at Lewes, the Vicar of Gilyngham, and others mentioned above, after the decease of Margaret his wife, and also an annual payment to the Abbess of Deneye, (fn. 9) co. Cambridge, for the use of Thomasina his daughter, a nun in that house. If necessary, all his aforesaid lands and tenements are to be sold by the Bishop of London and the Mayor and Recorder of the City for the time being, at the best price obtainable, and the proceeds distributed as directed. Another testament relating to his movable goods mentioned. Dated London, Monday next after the Feast of S. Edmund, Archbishop [16 Nov.], A.D. 1381. Three codicils (fn. 10) follow, to the effect:—

1. That Margaret his daughter is to have all the lands and tenements formerly belonging to John de Stodeye, after the decease of Margaret his wife; but she is to forego her right to take under his testament touching his movables.

2. That Margaret his wife is to enjoy a life interest in his place called "Hull Almilesende," (fn. 11) in the parish of Stebenhethe, (fn. 12) co. Middlesex; remainder to John atte Hale, junior, of the county of Dorset, and to Margaret his daughter, about to become the said John's wife, to hold in tail. Also that the place called "Hoggeston," (fn. 13) co. Middlesex, be his wife's for life; remainders to Thomas and Edward his sons in successive tail.

3. That the commune of London, after the decease of his aforesaid wife, shall have (among others) all his rents, tenements, &c., at or near Lambardeshull, in the parishes of S. Mary Magdalen near "Holdefisshstrete" and S. Peter the Less near Pouleswharf, in Brigestrete and Puddynglane, as well as in the parish of S. Michael, Queenhithe, and elsewhere. Roll 118 (30).

Silkeston (Laurence), skinner.—To be buried in the church of S. Dionisius Bakchirche. To Ralph his son the reversion of a certain tenement in the parish of S. Dionisius aforesaid after the decease of Albreda his wife, as well as the following household goods, viz., doseris, bankers, kusschonis, bordis, trestelis, basinys, lavours, bordidbed, furmys, stolis, chestis, a ferplate, a peutrelavour, &c. The residue of his goods he leaves to his said wife. Dated London, 1 April, A.D. 1387. Roll 118 (38).

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

Betaigne (Richard), goldsmith.—To be buried in S. Paul's churchyard called "le pardon chirchehawe," near the tomb of Matilda his late wife. Bequests to the church of S. Mary de Colchirch, its rector and chaplains, and also to the chaplains in the chapel of S. Mary de Conyhop. To William, Thomas, and Richard his sons, Johanna his daughter, Alice Holdon, and others, he leaves sums of money and chattels, comprising mazer cups, silver spoons, half a dozen of peautrevessel, a bed with leopards' heads, a red bed, viz., coverlit and tester, powdered with roses, &c. His jewels and instruments appertaining to his craft are to be appraised and sold. To Robert his son and heir he leaves his entire rents in Chepe in tail male, with similar remainder to Thomas and Richard his other sons. Dated London, 2 August, A.D. 1389. Roll 118 (42).

Rous (Robert), Knt.—To be buried in the Abbey of Tarent "loci sancti Ricardi episcopi." (fn. 14) To Simon Aleysham or Aylesham all his tenements in S. Clement's Lane near Candelwykestret for life; remainder in trust for sale for pious uses. Also by a codicil enclosed in his original will he desires his houses in London to be sold after the decease of Simon Aleysham, and the proceeds to be divided equally among the Friars Minors, Preaching Friars, Augustinian and Carmelite Friars. (fn. 15) Dated Monday next after the Feast of Invention of H. Cross [3 May], A.D. 1383. Roll 118 (43).

Sewale (John) de Coggeshale.—Directs that his feoffees in trust to execute his last will should sell his tenement called "le Newehalle," situate at the new port (novum portum) of Colchester, a tenement called "le Colhawe," and other tenements, &c., in the parishes of S. Rumbald and S. Peter, also in Croucherchelane called "Maldonelane," and elsewhere in Colchester, as well as a messuage at Gepeswic (fn. 16) at le Kay there, and the moieties of two ships called "le hoolygoost" and "Eleyne" of Herwich. Dated 24 May, A.D. 1389.

Roll 118 (44).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Dunstan [19 May].

Cornewaille (Andrew), draper.—To be buried in the church of S. Augustine near S. Paul's Gate. Bequests to the fabric and high altar of the said church. To Isabella his wife a tenement wherein he lived in Watlyngstrete in the parish of S. Augustine aforesaid for life; remainder to Thomas and John his sons in successive tail; remainder to Johanna, Custance, and Alice his daughters, and the heirs of their bodies, with cross remainders. If all his children die without any heir of their bodies, the same is to be sold by the rector and certain parishioners of the church of S. Augustine aforesaid, and the proceeds devoted to pious and charitable uses. Dated 28 November, A.D. 1389.

Roll 118 (119).

Footnotes

  • 1. 1 The will is given in the margin as that of Idonia, formerly wife of Robert Salesbury, and not under the name of her second or that of her third husband.
  • 2. 2 In imitation of tapestry.
  • 3. 1 A fishmonger by trade (Higden's 'Polychron.,' ix. 30). Sheriff in 1372; Mayor in 1378. He was appointed joint treasurer with William Walworth of the subsidy granted to Richard II. on his accession (Stubbs's 'Const. Hist.,' ii. 444, 567). Walsingham records his patriotic conduct when Mayor in fitting out a fleet at his own expense, with which he sailed to attack a pirate who had long infested the English coast. His expedition proved completely successful, and he returned in triumph to the City, not without exciting, however, considerable jealousy ('Hist. Angl.,' i. 370). He was knighted in 1381, together with Walworth, Brembre, and others, for assisting the King against Wat Tyler.
  • 4. 2 His wishes appear to have been carried out, although from an inscription on his monument in the church of the Grey Friars quoted by Stow ('Survey,' Strype's ed., 1720, bk. iii. p. 133) it would appear that his first wife was the Lady Jane Stamford.
  • 5. 3 A daughter of Richard de Croydon, fishmonger. See his will enrolled supra, Roll 103 (10).
  • 6. 4 A Cluniac priory was founded in the old church of S. Pancras at Lewes, co. Sussex, in 1078.
  • 7. 5 Richard Fitz-Alan, eighth Earl of Arundel, ob. 1376.
  • 8. 6 Also called the "joyful mysteries." They are (1) the Annunciation, (2) the Visitation, (3) the birth of Christ, (4) His being carried as a baby to the Temple, (5) the finding of Him there when a boy among the teachers (Rock's 'Church of our Fathers,' vol. iii. pt. i. p. 324).
  • 9. 1 An abbey founded by Mary de St. Paul, Countess of Pembroke (Part I. p. 637n.).
  • 10. 2 These are in French, the will being in Latin.
  • 11. 3 Mile End. It was here that the insurgents under Wat Tyler foregathered in 1381 and held parley with the King.
  • 12. 4 Stepney.
  • 13. 5 Hoxton.
  • 14. 1 Or Tarrant Kaines, co. Dorset. Known as Kaineston or Kingston; also as Locus Benedictus Reginæ super Tarent or Locus Reginæ super Tarent. Richard Poor, Bishop successively of Chichester, Salisbury, and Durham, founded a Cistercian abbey here (his native place), circ. 1230, in honour of the Blessed Virgin and All Saints (Tanner's 'Notit. Monast.,' p. 107).
  • 15. 1 The codicil is in French.
  • 16. 2 Ipswich.