Fifty earliest English wills in the Court of Probate, London : A. D. 1387-1439 : with a priest's of 1454 / copied and edited from the original registers in Somerset House by Frederick J. Furnivall

JOHN BROUNE, OF HEN. V.'S CHAMBER, AND OF FULHAM, MIDDX., 1418. (PROOVD, 1420.)

[Wife to be in care of her Father and Mother. They to live in his place at Hardington, Somerset, or out of its rents. Sister to be provided for. Debts and Bonds to be lookt to.]

[[Will made at Rouen. The earliest in the 3rd Person.]] [A Latin will of Jn. Broune, made 4 May, 1417, and a 'Codicillus' or 'vltima voluntas' of the same date, are on leaf 73, before the English will.]] (More, 3 Com. Court of London, lf. 73 bk.) [lf. 73 bk.]

This ys the appoyntement of the wil and gouernauns of Ioℏn Broune, of þe chambre of oure lord̛ the kyng̛, made the ix dav of October, the vj yere of his regne. [A.D. 1418]

In the ferste, he wille that his wif be in the gouernauns of here fadir and here moder, vnto the tyme of his commyng hom in to Englond̛.

Also he wiƚƚ that she haue the money þat is reised̛ in Lyncolne Shire be his patent, to fynde hir witℏ.

Also he wiƚƚ that Richard̛ his brother haue his place at Herdyngton̛ [ Hardington, Somersetshire, 3 miles from Yeovil. Hardington, Somers N.W. of Frome Selwood.—Gazeteer But the quan, qwiche, of the Will are Midland.] yn gouernauns, and fynde his fadir, and his modir, and his sister, witℏ the profitȝ of the place, as ferre as they wille strecche, vnto the tyme of the commyng̛ of the forsaid̛ Iohn̛ Broun. And that Iohn̛ Brond̛ see the reckenyng̛ atte yere Inde.

Also he wiƚƚ that, ȝif it like to his fadir and to his moder, to be atte Hardyngton̄, and see the husbandery, and occupie hym þer as long̛ as them lest for þere owne Ese and disport.

Also he wiƚƚ, þat ȝif it like not his fadir forto be þere, or ellys whan quan hem lest to remeve þens, That thanne þei be in sum place nerhande holichyrche, þe whiche is an honest place to serue god yn̄, and there forto abide, and be gouerned̛ & foundyn̛ witℏ the proffittes of his place, as is before seid̛.

Also he wiƚƚ that Elene his Suster be put in sum honest place, and also be founde of the place be-fore seid̛, vnto the tyme of commynge of the forseid̛ Ioℏn̛, or elles [MS. eƚƚ] þat she be maried̛.

Also he wiƚƚ that Ioℏn̛ Fray be payd .xv ƚi. of þe money þe qweche Oliuer hatℏ in his hand, be þe handys of Iohn̛ Brond̛.

Also he wiƚƚ that the money þe qwiche is resseyued̛ of his patent in Oxenford̛ Shire be kepid to-gider.

Also he wiƚƚ þat the xl. ƚi þat Margrete Stranstone hatℏ, þat it be kepid̛ to-gider be þe sight of the forsaid̛ Iohn̛ Brond̛, and þat he haue ouersiȝte of aƚƚ manere thynges.

Also he wiƚƚ þat the xxiiij [= 80] mark̘ þe whiche is in Thomas Harwodes hand̛, be paid̛ vnto þe forseid̛ Iohn̛ Brond̛, and also that it be put in a bagge, & asselid̛, and safly kepid̛.

Also he wiƚƚ that Iohn̛ Spyke be agreed̛ witℏ resonabli for his labour and travaille.

Also he wiƚƚ þat the obligacions the whiche þat his wife hatℏ in kepyng̛, that they be reised̛ be þe avise of his counseiƚƚ, witℏ aƚƚ þe remenaunt of his dettes, in aƚƚ the haste they may be.

Also he wiƚƚ that William Tropneƚƚ, & Ioℏn̛ Brond̛, & Richard̛ his brother, be the ouersighte of William Oliuer, ben his executours to dispose and ordeyne for his soule In maner̛ and forme as is comprehendyd̛ In his laste wil. Into witnesse of the whicℏ, the forseid̛ Iohn̛ Broune hatℏ put his seal. Wrete atte Rone þe yere & þe day before seid̛.

Memorandum quod Probatum fuit testamentum Iohannis atte Grove de Fulham, coram nobis &c c̘ Commissario generali, Quarto, Non̛ Marcij, Anno domini Mo CCCCmo XXmo Et commissa est administracio &c c̘ Cristine, Relicte dicti defuncti, et Thome Atte Grove, Executoribus &c c̘.

[In margin:] Fulham. T Iohannis at Grove. habent acquietanciam.