Inquisitions: 3 & 4 Philip and Mary (1556-7)

Balthasarus Gwercye, M.D.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 13 February, 3 and 4 Philip and Mary [1557], before Thomas Offeley, knight, Mayor and escheator, after the death of Balthasarus Gwercye, M.D., by the oath of Robert Rosse, Thomas Kendall, Robert Ussher, Thomas Blunt, Thomas Bullocke, William Cheke, Laurence Williams, John Kettehuodd, George Forman, Robert Dunkyn, Thomas Maye, Simon Burton, John Wysdome, William Androes, Thomas Howe, draper, and Richard Lodge, who say that

Balthasarus Gwercye was seised of 1 large messuage wherein he dwelt, and 1 small garden or waste land thereto adjoining, within the parish of St. Helen in the City of London, within the close of the late Priory of St. Helen within Bishopsgate, now dissolved; 1 entry on the west part of the said messuage leading to the iron grate or common sink within the said close, on the south part of the said large messuage up to the messuage within the said close, late in the tenure of Thomas Pope, knight; 10 messuages in the parishes of St. Mary Axe and St. Andrew Undershaft; 1 messuage commonly called "the howse of preistes of the brotherhed of the Holy Trinite" in the said parish of St. Helen; 3 other messuages in the said parish in the several tenures of Hugh Goodolphyn, Richard Edon and Thomas Kemysshe; 1 large garden, 1 stable and 3 rooms or buildings erected in the said garden in the said parish and close, to wit, between the garden called "Grosbyes gardeyn" on the west and the garden late of Alan Hawte on the east; and 1 tenement or cottage with a curtilage in the said parish of St. Mary at Axe, late in the tenure of John Welborn.

So seised, the said Balthasarus made his will 14 December, 1556, as follows [here given in English]: To Benedict Gwercy, my eldest son, my 11 messuages in the parishes of St. Mary Axe and St. Andrew Undershaft, and the ground, soil, and curtilage thereto belonging up to the pale on the west part thereof: to hold to the said Benedict and his heirs male; for default, the remainder thereof to Richard Gwercy, my youngest son, for his life; after his death, to his heirs male; for default, to the heirs of the said Benedict; for default, to the heirs of the said Richard; for default, to my 2 daughters Frances Polsted and Mary Gwercy and their heirs; for default, to the said Richard Gwercy and his heirs; for default, to Benedict Browne, Serjeant of His Majesty's Trumpets, for his life; after his decease, to the heirs of his body; and lastly for default, the remainder thereof to the right heirs of Richard Watkyns, late one of the Proctors of the Arches, for ever.

I give to the said Richard Gwercy my said messuage called the House of Priests with the gardens, stables, curtilages, etc., thereto belonging for the term of his life; after his decease, to his heirs male, with remainders as above. To my daughter Fraunces I give my 2 messuages in the occupation of Hugh Goodolphyn and Richard Eeden for her life, upon condition that if she marry again or obtain her dower out of the lands sometime of Thomas Polsted, deceased, her late husband, then her estate in the, said messuages shall utterly cease.

I will that my said son Richard and his heirs for ever shall enjoy all my messuages and lands, customary or copyhold, lying in Walthamstow or elsewhere within the Forest of Waltham in co. Essex.

The said large messuage and all other the premises in the said parish of St. Mary Axe, except the said cottage with the curtilage, are held of the King and Queen by the 20th part of a knight's fee, and by the yearly rent of 26s. 8d.; and are worth per ann., clear, 5s. The said 10 messuages in the parishes of St. Mary Axe and St. Andrew Undershaft are worth per ann., clear, £5 8s. 8d. The messuage called the House of the Priests is worth per ann., clear, 46s. 8d. The three messuages in the occupation of Hugh Goodolphyn, Richard Eden and Thomas Kemyshe are worth per ann., clear, £3 4s. 4d. The said cottage and curtilage are held of the King and Queen in chief by the 100th part of a knight's fee, and are worth per ann., clear, 12s.

Balthasarus Gwercye died 7 January, 3 and 4 Philip and Mary [1557]; Benedict Gwercye is his son and next heir, and is now aged 40 years and more.

Inq. p.m., 3 and 4 Philip and Mary, p. 2, No. 90.

William Wylde.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 3 June, 3 and 4 Philip and Mary [1557], before Thomas Offeley, knight, Mayor of the City of London and escheator, after the death of William Wylde, citizen and merchant tailor of London, by the oath of Robert Ussher, Thomas Bullok, John Pykering, John Kettlewoode, George Forman, Robert Dunkurk, Thomas Maye, Simon Burtone, John Wysdome, William Androes, Thomas Howe, draper, Richard Lodge, Henry Smythe, Richard Richardson, John . . . eterame and John Febrydge, who say that

William Wylde was seised of 3 messuages or tenements lying next St. Mary Spittell without Bishopsgate, London, in the several tenures of Christopher Keyes, William Hechin and — Isam.

So seised, the said William made his will 1 June, 4 Edward VI [1550], and thereby declared that his executors should receive the rents of the said premises and be seised of the same for 20 years for the payment of his debts and other charges.

The said premises are held of the King and Queen in chief by knight's service, to wit, by the 20th part of a knight's fee, and are worth per annum, clear, £4.

William Wylde died 1 August, 4 Edward VI [1550]; Nicholas Wylde is his son and next heir, and is now aged 30 years and more.

William Cooke as executor of the said William Wylde has taken the profits of the said premises from the death of the said William up to the present time.

Inq. p.m., 3 and 4 Philip and Mary, p. 2, No. 101.

John Crymes.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 10 October, 3 and 4 Philip and Mary [1556], before William Garret, knight, Mayor and escheator, after the death of John Crymes, citizen and clothworker of London, by the oath of John Longe, Richard Forde, William Sutton, Robert Crypes, John Mascall, Thomas Ebden, Richard Bradbury, Richard Adhams, Stephen Walden, John Huchenson, Thomas Lytton, Oliver Daubney, Ralph Davey and John Lacey, who say that

John Crymes was seised of 5 messuages lying in the parish of St. Michael at Quenehyth; 1 messuage in St. Laurens Lane; and 9 messuages at Bassieshaw.

So seised, the said John Crymes made his will 2 July, 1550 [here given in English, commencing "This is the last wyll trypartite Indentyd of me John Crymes"]: I give all my lands, tenements, etc., in the parish of St. Michael at Quenehyth to Mary my wife for her life, she keeping the same in repair; and after her decease I give the same to Rowland Crymes and Edward Crymes my sons and their heirs male, on condition that they do not sell or by "Craft polycey wayes or meanes put away the same": if they die without heirs male or break the said condition, then the said premises to remain to Henry Crymes my son and his heirs male, on the like condition: if he die, then the same to remain to my daughters Alyce Sudlowe and Joan Ryckhorne and their heirs, on the like condition; for default of such heirs, the said premises to remain to my right heirs for ever.

I devise my messuage in St. Laurens Lane wherein I now dwell to my said son Rowland Crymes and his heirs male: if he die or sell the said tenement, then to my son Edward Crymes and his heirs male; for default of such heirs, then to my son Henry Crymes and his heirs male; for default, then to my said two daughters Alyce Sudlowe and Joan Ryckhorne and their heirs; and for default, to my right heirs for ever.

To my son Edward and his heirs male all my lands and tenements lying in the parish of St. Michael at Bassieshawe on the above condition, with remainder successively to my said sons Rowland and Henry in tail male, to my 2 daughters, and to my right heirs for ever.

Whereas I am seised of the lordship or manor of Wetton in co. Stafford, of the clear yearly value of £36, which is held of the King in chief: I now bequeath one moiety whereof to Henry Crymes my eldest son and heir, and the other moiety to Mary my wife for her life, and after her decease to my said son Henry and his heirs male, with remainder successively to my sons Rowland and Edward in tail male, to my said daughters, and to my right heirs for ever.

All the said premises are held of the King and Queen in free burgage: the messuage at Queenhith is worth per ann., clear, £7 13s. 4d. the messuage in St. Laurence Lane £14; and the messuages at Bassieshaw £8 11s. 4d.

John Crymes died 14 July, 1 and 2 Philip and Mary [1555]; Henry Crymes is his son and next heir, and is now aged 24 years and more.

Inq. p.m., 3 and 4 Philip and Mary, p. 2, No. 108.

Edward Mynne, gentleman.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 30 March, 3 and 4 Philip and Mary [1557], before Thomas Offeley, knight, Mayor and escheator, after the death of Edward Mynne, gent., by the oath of Robert Rosse, Thomas Kendall, Thomas Blunte, Thomas Bullok, William Cheke, George Forman, Robert Dunkyn, Simon Burton, John Wysdome, William Androes, Thomas Howe, Richard Richardson and John Febrydge, who say that

Before the death of the said Edward Mynne, one John Mynne, deceased, and Alice his wife, who still survives, father and mother of the said Edward, were seised of 1 capital messuage, with 4 tenements thereto adjoining, situate in the parish of St. Botolph without Aldrichegate, London. The said Alice survived the said John and is still seised of the said premises, which are held of the King and Queen in chief, by the service of the 20th part of a knight's fee, and by the yearly rent of 8s., and are worth per ann., clear, £3 12s. 0d.

None of the said premises, beyond the reversion of the same after the death of the said Alice when it shall happen, came into the hands of the said King and Queen by the death of the said John Mynne, by reason of the minority of the said Edward Mynne.

Edward Mynne died 14 July, 5 Edward VI [1551]; George Mynne is his brother and next heir, and was aged 21 years on St. Valentine's day last past.

Inq. p.m., 3 and 4 Philip and Mary, p. 2, No. 114.