Wills: 1 Henry IV (1399-1400)

ANNO 1 HENRY IV.

Monday next before the Feast of S. Edmund, King [20 Nov.].

Smyth (Richard) de Walden.—To be buried in the churchyard of S. Christopher, London, where his children lie buried. Bequests to the said church and ministers thereof, and the fabric of the church of Bumsted Helyon, (fn. 1) co. Essex. The reversion of certain tenements in the parish of S. Andrew upon Cornhill to be sold, and one moiety of the proceeds to go to Margery his wife and the other to pay his debts. Dated London, Thursday the Feast of SS. Philip and James [1 May], A.D. 1399. Roll 128 (2).

Wynchecombe (Simon de), armourer.—Testament touching lands and tenements. To the chaplains of a perpetual chantry, founded by him in the church of S. Mary de Abbechirche with the King's licence, he leaves a certain annual rent issuing from a brewery called "le Welhous," a tenement called "le Caponhors," and other tenements in Candelwykstret and elsewhere in the parish of S. Mary aforesaid, together with the reversion of the said tenements. Dated London, 6 March, 19 Richard II. [A.D. 1395-6]. Roll 128 (14).

Wynchecombe (Simon), armourer.—Testament or last will touching his movable goods and chattels. To be buried in the church of S. Mary de Aldermanbury before the altar of S. Anne, which he purposes, God willing, to rebuild, and where the body of Johanna his last wife (ultime uxoris) lies buried. Bequests to the said church, the fabric of the old work of S. Paul's, the Master and Brethren of the house of S. Thomas de Acon, the ministers of the church of S. Mary de Colchirche, the hospitals of Elsyngesspetull, S. Bartholomew in Smethefeld, and S. Mary without Bisshopusgate, the priors and convents of Smethefeld and Charturhous, the convents of Clerconwell, Haliwell, Stratforde atte Bowe, Rouney, (fn. 2) and Chesthunte; the inmates of hospitals and prisons, the lepers at le loke near Seynt Georges barre, of S. Giles without Holburnebarre, and le Meselcotes (fn. 3) de Haconey, &c. To the alms of the Fraternity of S. John the Baptist of the Tailors of London forty shillings. Bequests to the abbey, parish church of S. Peter, and poor of Wynchecombe, (fn. 4) and also to the church of Stanwey, (fn. 5) wherein he was baptized, and to the poor of the parish. Bequests of various chattels, comprising tableknives in sheaths, gowns (epitogia) of coloured cloth furred with calabre (fn. 6) and Bever, costeres, bankeres, quissiens of Arras work, &c., which he leaves to John his son, a chaplain. To Amisia his sister forty shillings and a piece of silver worth twenty-six shillings and eightpence. Provision made for chantries in the churches of S. Thomas de Acon and S. Mary de Aldermanbury. To Richard Person his servant he leaves a gown of blue motlee furred with calabre, and another parted with murre, a flat piece of silver or two marks, according as his executors may elect, and six complete suits of harness of his armour, viz., six pairs of jambes, six habergeons of iron, six bacenettes of London make, with six aventailes, six pairs of vambras, six pairs of rerebras, six brestplates, and six pairs of gloves of plate; also his leasehold messuage in the parish of S. Margaret de Lothebury, and his implements of his craft as armourer, viz., a barell, anfeltz, Bicornes, (fn. 7) strakes, (fn. 8) hamours, tonges, sheres, &c. Alice his wife to have, by way of dower, such share of his goods as of right and by the custom of the City of London she ought to have, and no more. Dated London, 7 April, A.D. 1396. Roll 128 (17).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Agatha, Virgin [5 Feb.].

Starlyng (John).—To be buried in the midst of the chancel of the church of All Hallows at the Hay. Bequests to Sir William Batisford, the rector, and chaplains of the said church. To John his brother he leaves all his armour, with the exception of his Jacke. (fn. 9) His tenement called "le Sterre on the hope," together with his own mansion in Thamisestrete in the parish of All Hallows aforesaid, to be sold, and one moiety of the proceeds to go to the work of the said church, and the other to be devoted to pious and charitable uses. Dated London, Saturday, 12 April, A.D. 1399. Roll 128 (31).

Ensyng (Bartholomew), dyer.—To be buried in the church of All Hallows at the Hay by the side of Lucebetta (fn. 10) his late wife. To John his brother he leaves his entire tenement in Heywharflane in the parish of All Hallows aforesaid, except a certain chamber which Alice his sister is to have for life. Dated London, Saturday the last day of May, A.D. 1399. Roll 128 (36).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Valentine, Martyr [14 Feb.].

Giffard (Richard), fishmonger.—To Agnes his wife a life interest in three tenements in Distaflane and Oldefisshestrete; remainders to Thomas and John his sons, and Johanna his daughter, respectively, in several tail, with cross remainders; ultimate remainder in trust for sale for pious and charitable uses. Dated London, 10 March, A.D. 1397. Roll 128 (41).

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

Maykyn (Johanna, relict of John, late vintner).—To be buried before the little cross in the church of S. Dunstan near the Tower, in the same tomb with her late husband. Directions as to wax tapers, distribution of cloth to the poor, and other particulars of her funeral. Bequests to the aforesaid church and ministers thereof, as well as for maintenance of chantries and observance of obit therein; also for the maintenance of the light of the fraternity in the church of S. Katherine near the Tower, the repair of the highways between London and Braynford, and London and Acton, &c. To Agnes, wife of William Scantilon, her sister, Hugh Sprot, and others, she leaves divers sums of money and household goods. Bequeaths a vestment and chalice to the use of the church of S. Dunstan aforesaid. To Richard her son, among other chattels, a best chest and two tables of Prussian work (de opere Prucie), two forcers (fn. 11) bound with iron, a ferpanne, (fn. 12) an iron plate for fire, all her andirons, and the armour belonging to her late husband; a boat called "lighter," with all its apparel, and her estate in a tenement and wharf in Thames Street. Her executors to cause a S. Gregory's trental to be said for her soul, and to provide some one to make a pilgrimage on her behalf to S. James in Galicia, as well as a chaplain to celebrate for the space of one year in the church of S. John Lateran in the city of Rome, during which time the said chaplain is to make the circuit of the said city once every week for the good of her soul and the soul of her aforesaid husband. Also to her aforesaid son she leaves all her lands and tenements in the parishes of All Hallows de Berkyngcherche, S. Olave, and S. Mary atte Hull, for life; remainder to the rector and parishioners of the church of S. Dunstan aforesaid, on condition that they maintain a chantry as directed, otherwise the said property is to go to the Wardens of London Bridge, subject to the maintenance of a similar chantry, the residue of the profits being devoted to the use of the bridge. Dated London, 26 August, A.D. 1386. Roll 128 (74).

Monday the Feast of S. Petronilla, Virgin [31 May].

Blounville (Richard), "stokfisshmongere."—To be buried in the churchyard of S. Michael de Crokedlane. To Emma his wife a tenement with two shops in the lane and parish of S. Michael de Crokedlane, and a tenement in the lane and parish of S. Martin Orgar near Candelwykestrete, for life, so long as she remain unmarried; remainder to John his son in tail; remainder in trust for sale for charitable uses. His tenements in the parishes of S. Michael upon Cornhull, S. Katherine Colman, and S. Katherine in the churchyard of Crichurche, together with rents in Minchonlane and Sevedenlane in the parish of All Hallows de Berkyngchurche, are also to be sold for like purposes. His feoffees of a tenement in the parish of S. George de Suthwerk are directed to make a good estate of the same to John his son in tail. Dated London, 5 March, A.D. 1398. Roll 128 (76).

Burton (William), Esquire.—Bequests to the church of S. John upon Walbrook and ministers therein, including his legende and antiphoner. To his servants he leaves sums of money and his wearing apparel. Releases Richard Strykyll, John Topclyf de Kent, and others, their respective debts. To Thomas his son all his lands and tenements in the City of London, and his leaseholds in the parish of S. John upon Walbrook. The residue of his movable goods to be divided into three parts, two parts whereof he leaves to Johanna his wife, and the remaining third to his aforesaid son, who is to have all his armour and array appertaining to his body. Dated London, 20 May, A.D. 1400.

Roll 128 (78).

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

Bromholme (Matilda).—To be buried in the church of S. Dionisius de Bakechirch. Bequests to the said church, the church of S. Mary de Fanchirch, and the chapel of S. Mary called "Berkyngchapell," for lights, &c. To the Prior and Convent of the Church of S. Mary de Overey in Suthwerk, the Monastery of Werdon, (fn. 13) and the nuns of Kylbourne she leaves divers chattels, comprising a note with covercle, a plain silver cup called "Byker" with covercle and a pommel at the top, a mazer cup on the bottom of which are figures of SS. John and James, and another coupe with covercle, on the bottom of which is a figure of S. John, &c. To Sir William Calsely, rector, and the churchwardens of the church of S. Dionisius aforesaid, a tenement and shops in the parish of S. Botolph without Busshopesgate, on condition that they maintain a chantry for the good of her soul, the souls of John Bromholme her late husband and others; and observe her obit and the obits of Henry and Juliana her parents. Dated London, 5 December, A.D. 1398. Roll 128 (86).

Hedyngham (John), "hatter."—To be buried in the church of S. Martin within Ludgate in the place where Thomas his brother lies buried. Bequests to the said church, its chaplains, clerks, &c.; also to Roger his son and John his younger son. To Robert Bernewell and Philip Edmyngton his executors he leaves all his lands and tenements in the City of London and suburbs and the custody of his children. Dated London, 9 April, A.D. 1400.

Roll 128 (87).