The Paston Letters Volume Vi Part 48

[Footnote 197-2: _vel per remanere_, repeated in MS.]

[[Porter, Veteri Bokenham et Bokenham Castell _text unchanged: error for "Potter"?_

per communem estimacionem _text reads "communen"_

sic incipientum 'Item ...

_text unchanged: error for "incipientem" or "incipiendum"?_]]

3

JOHN PYRKE[199-1]

WILL OF JOHN PYRKE, RECTOR OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. PETER'S, LONG STRATTON

[Sidenote: 1479]

Leaves to John Paston, Esquire, 'unam cistam rubram de sp ... . ,' and some other articles.

Executors, John Paston, Esquire, and William Martin of Long Stratton, each to have for his trouble vj_s._ viij_d._

Date of will, 8 Sept. 1479. Proved 13 Nov. 1479 by John Paston alone.

[Footnote 199-1: [Norwich Episcop. Reg., 16.]]

4

ROBERT PASTON OF WIVETON[199-2]

[Sidenote: 1482 / SEPT. 4]

In Dei nomine, Amen. Quarto die Septembris Anno Domini Millesimo CCCC^{mo}lx.x.xij^o, Ego Robertus Paston de Wyveton, compos mentis et sanae memoriae meae existens, condo testamentum meum sive ultimam meam voluntatem in hunc modum: In primis, lego animam meam Deo Omnipotenti et Beatae Mariae Virgini et Omnibus Sanctis, corpusque meum sepeliendum ubicunque Deus disposuerit. Item, lego summo altari de Weveton praedicto pro decimis meis oblitis et male compensatis, xx_d._ Item, Gildae Beatae Mariae ibidem, xij_d._ Item, Gildae Sancti Johannis Baptistae ibidem, xij_d._ Item, lumini super pelvem coram Crucifixo ibidem, viij_d._ Item, lego lumini de _le Torchys_ ibidem, vj_d._ Item, reparacioni capellae Beatae Mariae in cimiterio ibidem, vj_d._ Item, campanis in campanili ibidem, viij_d._ Item, reparacioni capellae Sanctae Trinitatis super Pontem, vj_d._ Item, volo quod Margaretta uxor mea habeat sibi et a.s.signatis suis meam partem cujusdam navis vocatae _le Gylys_, c.u.m omni apparatu praedictae parti navis pertinenti et praedictam partem navis praedicta Margareta sumptibus suis reparabit. Item, volo quod praedicta Margareta uxor mea habeat ad terminam vitae suae messuagium meum c.u.m omnibus pertinentiis, commoditatibus, utensilibus, et necessariis praedicto messuagio concernentibus; et post decessum praedictae Margaretae volo ut praedictum messuagium meum vendetur, et de pecunia inde proveniente volo quod Alicia filia mea ad conjugium s.e.m.e.n habeat v.

marcas: Et si contingat quod praedicta Alicia obiret antequam conjuncta fuerit, tunc volo quod praedictas marcas executores disponant in operibus caritatis in ecclesia Wyveton praedicto ... ... ... ... Item, volo c.u.m residua pecuniae de praedicto messuagio provenientis ... . .

... ad celebrandum in ecclesia de Weveton praedicta pro anima mea et anima dictae Margaretae [&c.] ... ... . . Et requiro in nomine Jesu feoffatos meos ut ipsi faciant legitimum statum ei vel eis qui messuagium praedictum adquirere voluerit aut voluerint sine contradictione sive impedimento aliquibus. Item, lego Willelmo Wynterton, iij_s._ iiij_d._ Item, lego negoti meo [_no name_] unam togam, unam deploidam, unum par caligarum ad disposicionem Margaretae uxoris meae.--The rest of his goods to be disposed of by his executors at their discretion for the good of his soul.

Executors--his wife Margaret and Edmund Shotery, clerk.

Proved at Cley, 9 Oct. 1482.

[Footnote 199-2: [Norwich Archdeaconry Reg., vol. i. f. 29, b.] [I do not know whether this Robert Paston was at all nearly related to the family, whose correspondence is contained in these volumes; but this will and the will of his wife Margaret, which follows, are interesting in themselves, and deserve a place, even on account of the testator's surname.]]

5

MARGARET PASTON[200-1]

[Sidenote: 1484]

In Dei nomine, Amen. Ego, Margareta Paston de Weveton, vidua, bonae memoriae existens die Lune xx. post Dominicam in Albis[200-2] anno Domini nostri 1484^to, condo testamentum meum ac ultimam voluntatem in hunc modum. In primis, lego et commendo animam meam Deo Omnipotenti, Redemptori meo, Beatae Mariae Virgini, et Omnibus Sanctis celestis curiae, corpusque meum sepeliendum in cimiterio ecclesiae Beatae [_no name_] de Weveton praedicta, cujus summo altari lego pro decimis meis non solutis, xx_d._ Item, lego fraternitati Gildae Sancti Joannis Baptistae unum pannum le drapre. Item, lego pictuis (_sic_) porticae ejusdem ecclesiae, xiij_s._ iv_d._, quae summa remanet in manibus Johannis Andrews. Item, lego emendacioni ecclesiae praedictae, iij_s._ iv_d._ Item, reparacioni campanarum ibidem, vj_d._ Item, lego lumini Altaris, iiij_d._ Item, lumini _le Torchys_, vj_d._ Item, lego reparacioni capellae Beatae Mariae ibidem, vj_d._ Item, lego fraternitati Beatae Mariae de Salthous, xx_d._, et Summo Altari ibidem, xij_d._ Item, reparacioni campanarum ibidem, iiij_d._ Item, lumini Aratrub'm (?), iv_d._ Item, volo quod messuagium meum c.u.m omnibus terris dicto messuagio pertinentibus vendatur per meos executores, et summa pecuniae inde (_sic_) dispensatur per eosdem in celebratione missarum per bonum presbyterum scolarem celebratorem in ecclesia Beatae Mariae de Weveton praedicta pro anima mea et animabus omnium parentum et benefactorum meorum. Item, lego Aliciae b.a.s.t.a.r.d quinque marcas de dicto messuagio receptas. Et si contigerit ipsum Aliciam discedere ab hac luce, tunc volo quod Alicia filia mea habeat inde 33_s._ 4_d._, et residuum remaneat executoribus meis. Item, volo quod feoffati mei deliberent totam seisinam et possessionem de et in messuagio praedicto, c.u.m omnibus suis pertinentiis [_blot_] qui requisiti fuerint per executores meos. Residuum omnium bonorum meorum non legatorum do et lego et concedo meis executoribus ut ipsi ordinent et disponant pro salute animae meae et animabus benefactorum meorum, prout melius Deo Omnipotenti placeat, quos ordino et const.i.tuo Edmundum Shortere, cleric.u.m et Johannem Say meos executores et legitimos attornatos. In cujus rei testimonium praesentibus sigillum apposui.

Proved at Cley, 14 June, anno praedicto.

[Footnote 200-1: [Norwich Archdeaconry Reg., vol. i. f. 76, a.]]

[Footnote 200-2: So in MS., but the date would be more intelligible without the numeral 'xx.' _Dominica in Albis_ means sometimes Whitsunday, sometimes the Sunday after Easter. The Monday following would in the one case be 7 June, in the other 19 April, in 1484.]

[[corpusque meum sepeliendum _text reads "corpus quemeum"_]]

6

DAME ELIZABETH BROWNE[201-1]

[Sidenote: 1487 / MAY 18]

In Dei nomine, Amen. The xviijth' day of the moneth of May in the yere of Our Lord G.o.d m^{l}cccclx.x.xvij. and in the secund yere of the reign of King Henry the vij. I, Dame Elisabeth late wife of Sir George Brown, Knyght, being of hoole mynde and in good memorye, thanked be Allmyghty G.o.d, make and ordeign this my present testament and last will yn maner and forme folowing, that is to say:--

First. I bequeith my soul to Allmyghty G.o.d, Our Lady Saint Mary and to all the Holy Company of Hevon; and my body to be buried withyn the churche of the Blak Freris within Ludgate with my forsaid housband Sir George; to the whiche place I bequeith xxj_li._ for my said housbandes soul and myne, our fadres and modres soules and for all Cristen soules to be praid for. And for xiij. trentalles of Saint Gregory to be said and songyn for us and thaym by the freris of the said place, as in diriges and ma.s.ses with all other observaunces belonging to the same, in maner and forme folowing; That is to wete, in the day or morow after my discesse vij. trentallis; and every weke folowing unto my monthes mynde oon trentall, and iij. trentalles at my monthes mynde biside the solempne dirige and ma.s.se that is to be requyred for me at that tyme.

And I charge myne executours to see that the premisses be done and performed, and also the said freris to feche me from the place where I die unto thair said place where I have lymyted afore to be buried. Also, I wull that as sone as my body is buryed and th'expenses therof done and paid that myn executours provide and see that my dettes be contented and paid. Also, I bequeith to the vicar of the church of Dorking in the county of Surrey for my forsaid housbandes soul and myne, our faders and modres, and for all the soules that we be bound unto, to be praid for within the yer after my discesse, as in diriges and ma.s.ses to be said or song by hym or his deputie and to have us specially in remembraunce in thayr memento by oon hole yer, xx_s._ Also, I bequeith to the reparacion of the forsaid churche of Dorking xx_s._ Also, I bequeith to the parson of Saint Albans in Wodstrete within London for diriges and ma.s.ses to be said or song by hym or his deputie, in like wise as the vicar of Dorking is charged, as is afore rehersed, xx_s._ Also, I bequeith to the reparacion of the stepull of the said churche of Saint Albane xx.

solidos. Also, I bequeith to the prisoners of Newgate and Ludgate, Kinges Bench and Marshallsee, to every of those places to be praid for, xx_d._ Also, I bequeith to bedred folkes and other pour householders, aswell men as women, dwelling within London and without in the suburbis of the same, and moste specially souche as have knowen me and I thaym, xl_s._, as by the discrecions and advises of myne executours it shall be thought best to be done. Moreover I geve and biqueith to my doughter Mary, to the promocion of her mariage, all my plate and other juelles, with all myne hole apparell, and all my stuff of houshold being within my dwelling place or any other within the citee of London or suburbes of the same, that is to say:--First, a standing cupp of silver gilt, chaced with plompes, weyeng with the cover, knoppe and devise xlij. unces _et dimidium_. Item, a standing cupp of silver and gilt, chaced with flowres, weying with the cover, the knopp and devise, xxvij. unces _et dimidium_. A playn standing cupp of silver gilt, weing with the cover, the knopp and the devise x.x.x. unces. A standing cupp of silver and gilt, chaced with half plompes, weying with the cover, knopp and devise xx.

unces and _dimidium_. A playn standing cupp of silver gilt weying with cover and the knoppe and the devyse xxvij. unces and an half. A standyng cuppe of silver and gilt, weyng with the cover, the knoppe and the devyse xxvj. unces. A saltseler of sylver and gilte, weyng with the cover, the knoppe and the devyse xxiij. unces. A saltseler of sylver and gilt, without a cover, weying xxij. unces and an halfe. A litill saltseler of sylver and gilt, weying with the cover and the knoppe and the devyse xv. unces and an half. A litell saltseler of sylver and gilt, without the cover, weying viij. unces and an halfe. And vij. bolles of sylver, parcelles gilt, weying iiij.^xx. xviij. unces. And ij. peces of sylver with a cover weying xlviij. unces. A dosen and a half of silver sponys weying xxiij. unces, and iij. sponys of silver and gilt weying iij. unces and iij. quartrons, and a long spone of sylver and gilt for ginger, weying j. unce and iij. quartrons. Item, a chafing disshe of sylver weying xxvj. unces. And ij. litell crewettes of sylver, weying viij. unces. A chalese of sylver and gilt with the paten, weying xj.

unces. An haly water stok of silver with the lid, handill, and spryngill, weying xij. unces. An Agnus with a baleys iij. saphires, iij.

perlys with an image of Saint Antony apon it. And a tablet with the Salutacion of Our Lady, and the iij. Kingis of Collayn. A bee with a grete pearl. A dyamond, an emerawde, iij. grete perlys hanging apon the same. A nother bee with a grete perle, with an emerawde and a saphire, weying ij. unces iij. quarters. A pece of the Holy Crosse, crossewise made, bordured with silver aboute; iij. brode girdilles, oone of tawny silke with bokill a pendaunt, another of purpill with bokyll and pendaunt, and the iij^de. of purpill damaske with bokell and pendaunt.

And vj. barres of silver and gilt, and iij. brode harnysed girdilles, oone white tisshew, another red tysshew gold, and the iij^de a playne grene coorse. A muskeball of gold weying halfe an unce, and ij. bokilles and ij. pendauntes of gold, oone playne and the other pounsyd, weying an unce and a quarter. And a harnysed girdill enameled with rowsclare, weying halfe an unce. A dymysoynt[203-1] with a rubye and an amatyste weying j. unce and an halfe. An harnysed girdill of golde of damaske with a long pendaunt, and a bokill of golde chekkyd, weying j. unce. A grete bed of a state of verdure, and a counterpoynt to the same. And iiij. curteyns of grene tartron. A grete federbed, a bolster, and vj.

fetherbeddys over woren, vj. bolsters. And iiij. mattara.s.ses, lytyll over woren, xij. pellowes of downe, v. newe carpettys of ij. ellys in lengeth and yarde and halfe brode, iij. fyne pelow beres, and a grete counterpoynt of tapstery werk of v. yardes and a quarter longe and iiij.

yardes brode. A hanging for a chamber of grene say borduryd with acrons of x.x.xv. yerdes longe; a whyte spervyour; ij. counterpoyntes, an hanging bed, with a lyon thereupon; and the valence white, grene, and red, and iiij. blew courtens to the same. And two coverlettes with lyons; a blak testour for a bed, with iiij. blak curtens, and vj. pecys of blak hanging to the same; ij. cusshens of blak velvet; a cusshyn of blak damask; a cusshen of grene worstede; a long cusshen of blewe saten figure. A blak coveryng for a bed of borde alisaunder. And xj. peces of grene saye, borduryd with acorns, to hang with a chambre. A vestment of blak velwet with orfrayes, browderyd with my saide husbondys armes and myne; an awbe; j. chesyppill, with a stole, and all that belongeth therto; ij. corporas casys of cloth of gold; j. olde vestment; an awbe; an awter clothe wyth the image of Our Lorde; a corporas case of blewe cloth of golde. A nother of blewe saten and russet. An awter clothe of staynyd werke. And iij. stenyd clothes with imagis in them to hang a chapell. ij. awter clothes of white sylke with red crosses, and ij.

curtens with white frengis and red. And iiij. curtens, ij. of rayed sa.r.s.enet, and two of grene. An awter clothe; a litell pece of grene tartron; a payer of fustyans of iiij. breddys iij. yerdys iij. quarters long. A paire of fyne shetys overworne of iiij. yerdes brede. An hede shete and iij. payer of newe shetys of iij. levis, of iij. ellys and an half long. And two payer of shetys of ij. levis and an half long. And iij. hed shetys of ij. bredys, and vj. paier of shetys over worne of ij.

levis. And vj. paier of houshold shetis. And two paier of wollen blankettes. And a violet gowne, furryd with martrons. A blak gowne furryd with gray. A blak gowne furryd with white. A blak gowne furryd with martrons. And a nyght gowne of blak furryd with martrons. A kirtill of tawny chamlet. A purfill of ermyns of ij. skynne depeth, and iij.

yardys and an half long. A purfill of martrons of j. skynne depeth, and iiij. yardis long. A purfill of shankes of ij. skynne deppeth, and iiij.

yardis long. A bonet of poudrid ermyns. And a pece of cloth of golde with dropis, which was of a duplade. And a dosen of diaper napkyns of flour de lyce werke and crownes. And a dosen and a half of naptkyns of playne clothe with blew pelowers, and a pece of clothe of diaper werke to make with a dosen naptkyns. A bordecloth of floure de lice werk and crownes of x. yardis and an half long, and iij. yardis brode. And a nother bordecloth of flour de lyce werk and crownes, viij. yardes and a half long, ij. yardes and a quarter brode; a towell of diaper of flower delice werke and crownys of xx^ti yardys long, and iij. quarters brode.

Another towell of flower delice werke and crownys of iij. quarters brode and xviij. yardes long. A nother of latise werke and diaper of iij.

quarter brede xiiij. yerdes di' long. Another towell of iiij. greynys, and a fret of viij. yerdes di' long. A nother towell of latise werk and crownys vj. yerdes and di' long and iij. quarters brede. And two towellis of great diaper werke, iij. yerdes and a quarter long and iij.

quarter brode. And a pece of new creste clothe conteygnyng xxiij. ellys.

And two towellys of great diaper werkes of xiij. yerdes long and iij.

quarter in brede. And vij. grete cofers, v. chestis, ij. almaryes like a chayer, and a blak cofer bounden with iron. vj. yoyned stoles, iiij.

kaskettys, v. litell joynyd stoles. A litill table, ij. yerdes long. A rounde table, ij. trestelles, ij. garnysshe and di' of pewter vessell counterfete, wherof j. garnysshe and di' is newe; and vj. great kandelstikkis newe of laton, and iiij. newe bellyd kandelstikkis, ij.

litill kandelstikkis, vij. basens of pewater, and v. bra.s.se pannys, of the which oon is xvj. galons, and two of them of viij. galons a pece, and the other ij. more lesse. A grete standing chafer of laton with a lyon apon the lydde, ij. chafers of bra.s.se, and ij. litill bra.s.se pottys, ij. grete cobardys, and ij. other cobardys more and lesse, ij.

fyer pannys, a lityll skelet. A ladill and a scomer of laton, ij.

colondyrs, ij. spyttys, ij. dreping pannes of iron, iij. dressing knyfys, ij. lechyng knyfys, ij. choppyng knyfys. A tryvet. A brasen morter with a pestell of iron, ij. stone morters, ij. gredyrons, j.

payer of potte hokys, a flesshe hoke, and a kolerake. Provydid alwey that myn executours by the advyse of myn overseers ordeigne and put in safegarde to be kept after my discease in to som religious place unto the day of my said doughters mariage, and to the behofe and promocyon of the same, all and every part of the forsaid plate and juelx with all other stuffe of houshold by me to her, as is abovewritten, yoven and bequethed, except souche stuffe as canne not be kept from mowghtes, which I will she have the rule and governaunce of for the safegarde of the same and for her wele. And if my saide doughter Mary dye unmaryed, then I yeve and bequethe all the forsaid plate with all other stuffe of housholde to my soon Mathewe her brother. And if it fortune that he dye unmaryed, as G.o.d forfende, then I yeve and bequeth all and every part of my forsaid plate, juelx, and stuffe of housholde unto my soon Sir Edward Ponyngis. And yef it fortune the said Edward to dye, as G.o.d defende, that then all the forsaid juelx and other stuffe above written, except a playne standing cuppe of sylver and gilt, with the cover, the knoppe, and the devyse of the same with gryffons hede in the botom wrought apon blewe asure, weying xxvj. uncis, which I geve to my doughter in lawe, Dame Isabell Ponyngis, to be dyvydyd by th'advice of the overseers of this my present testament and last wille, and evynly to be departed unto Antony Browne and Robert Browne, my brethern in lawe, they to do with it thair fre wille. And as touching myne Agnus, tablettes with dyamondys, saphires, perlys, grete and small crosses, gurdillis, dymyseyntes, gownys, with all other thingis longing to myne apparayle, as is above written, yef it fortune my said doughter Mary decease, I geve and bequethe all and every part of it to my kynnyswoman Margaret Ha.s.slake.

And if the said Margaret dye, that then all the said apparell particularly written before remaigne to my said doughter-in-lawe Dame Isabell Ponyngys. Also xx. marc which I lent unto my son Sir Edward Ponynges, I woll that it be distributyd by the discrecion of myn executours and overseers among souche as been knowen my servauntys at the day of my discease. The residue of all my singuler goodes, catallys, and juellys after my dettys payde, and my bequestes performyd and fulfyllyd, and burying done, I geve and fully bequeth to my sonnys, Ser Edward Ponyngis and Mathew Browne, and theym to dispose and do theire fre wille, to pray and to do for my soule as they wolde I sholde do for them, as they will aunswer afore G.o.d. And of this my testament and last wille I make and ordeigne myn executours my forsaid sonnes, Ser Edward Ponyngys and Mathew Browne, and theire supervysours Humphrey Conyngesby and Richard Tuke. And I bequeth to every of myne executours for thair labour lx_s._, and to every of myne overseers for thair labours xl_s._ In Wittenesse hereof, I the said Dame Elizabeth to this my present testment and last wille have put my seale. Yoven at London, the day and yere abovesaide.

Probatum fuit suprascriptum testamentum coram domino apud Lamehith xxvj^to die mensis Junii, anno Domini supradicto, ac approbatum &c. Et commissa fuit administratio &c., Matheo Browne, filio ejusdem et executori &c. de bene &c. Ac de pleno inventario &c., citra festum Sancti Petri quod dicitur _ad Vincula_, reservata potestate committendi &c., Edwardo Ponynges militi, executori &c.

[Footnote 201-1: [Register Milles, 12.]]