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

appsROGER FLORE (OR FLOWER), ESQ., OF LONDON, AND OAKHAM, RUTLANDSHIRE, 1424-5.

[Son Thomas to have all silver plate and household goods in Testator's Inn at London, and some at Oakham, with Towels, Cup, Pots, &c.;: also Carts, Ploughs, Horses & Gear. A large Maser to be an heirloom. Other plate, &c.; to heir and sons Robert, Roger, and John, and daughters Anneys and Joan. Wife Cecile to have the rest of silver plate and some other goods; residue to heir. Corn, malt, and live stock to go to purposes of the will. Milch Cows, half to Wife, ha. to heir. Best ambling Horse to Wife; next to son-in-law Sir H. Plesyngton; next to son Thomas: other riding horses to Wife and son Thomas. Furrd gowns among Children; other clothes among Servants. Armour to sons Robert and Thomas. Executors to keep children's money. Gold Rings, &c.; to women relativs. Beads, &c.; to the Master of Manton. Money to old Servants. Archt roof of Oakham steeple to be built. Portas, or portable Breviary, to son Thomas. For Will of Realty see p. 59.]

Luffenam, leaf 69.

[leaf 69]

Testament.

Testamentum Rogeri Flore. [In margin.]

In dei nomine Amen. Ego, Rogerus Flore, miser et indignus, de Okeham, compos mentis, laudetur altissimus, xvo die Aprilis, Anno domini Millesimo ccccmo xxiiijto, condo testamentum meum in hunc modum. [ [A leaf and 3 quarters of Latin testament follows, with appointment of Executors, on leaf 69 back, as follows:—]]

"Et ad istam execucionem bene et fideliter faciendam, ordino et constituo Iohannem Clerk de Wyssenden, Radulphum Humberstone de leicestria, Ricardum Hawey, Magistrum cantarie de Manton̄, & Willelmum Baxtir, custodem Hospitalitatis de Okeham, Executores meos, ad disponendum & exequendum testamentum meum. & voluntatem meam predictas, cum superuisione Henrici Plesynton̄ militis, prout velint coram summo Iudice respondere" ......

Codicil.

Codicillus eiusdem Rogeri. [In margin.]

[I. Testament of the Personalty.]

In þe name of almyghty god, fader and son̄ and holy gost, Amen. I, Roger Flore of Okeham [Oakham, a parish and market-town, in the soke of Oakham, county of Rutland, of which it is the chief town, 95 miles N.N.W. from London.—Lewis.] , declare my last wiƚƚ in þis bille, als

weƚƚ of my testament as of my land̛ þat standeȝ in feffeȝ [The final 'ȝ' is generally a contraction for es, so that 'feffeȝ' may be 'feffees'; but as both 'brerdes' and 'brerdeȝ' are uzed for the same thing below, 'ȝ' had better be read 'z' here. 'feffes' is on p. 60, as well as 'feffeȝ.'] handes. First I wille þat my testament be, witℏ the grace of god, fulfilled̛; and as touching my housholde, my wille is, þat appsThomas my sone haue aƚƚ my seluere vesseƚƚ þat I haue atte London, þat is to sey, a basyn and an Ewer̛ of syluere, too gilt peces flat couered, too peces of siluere whit [with.] lowe feet, þe oone couered̛ witℏ gilt brerdes, and þre goblettes of syluere, oone couered̛, and a poteƚƚ pot of syluere, and a syluere saler̛, and a doseyn spones of too suites, and four̛ chargeours, six disches, and six saucers of siluere merkid witℏ a sink foil vnder þe brerdeȝ. Also I wul he haue al myn other houshoold̛ þat I haue atte Londen̄, except my bed of Tapistree, þe whicℏ I wuƚƚ my welbeloved wife Cecile haue; þe whicℏ houshold̛ is in myn In, in keping of my seruaunt Rolleston by bille endented̛, of whicℏ þe oone bille is in my trussing [leaf 70] cofer̛. I wol also my sayd sone Thomas haue my paled bed of wursted̛, white and rede, witℏ þe costers þe whicℏ seruen for my chambre I lye Inne atte Okeham, and a rede bed of wursted̛ witℏ þe costers the whicℏ hengen in þe newe chamber̛ next my chamber̛; and I wuƚƚ he haue to þe oone bed a peyre fustyans, and to þe oþer a peyre blankettis, and to ilk of þe too beddis too peyre schetys goode, and a matras and a canvas; and I wuƚƚ he haue oon fetherbed; and I wuƚƚ he haue too seruauntes beddys for þe too said chambers. I wuƚƚ also he haue too fyne bordeclothes, þe one of werk, þe oþer playn, witℏ goode sanapes [ hand-napkins.] and wasshyngtowels, boþe for befor̛ mete and after̛. Also I wuƚƚ he haue my maser̛ of a vine rote, the whicℏ was my faders, and þe peces of syluere made in þe boþum like perles, and too pottis of bras, and too pannes, and too spytes, and a peyre rakkes of yryne, and to brandernes, and to doseyn of pewter vesseƚƚ, and too cors bordcloþes, and too peire cors sanapes, and þre candelstykes of laton̄. Also I wuƚƚ he haue my cartes and my plowes, and aƚƚ my hors þat longen to hem, whitℏ aƚƚ her̛ gere. also I wuƚƚ he haue my grete maser̛ þe whicℏ I calle ȝele [? MS. ȝole.] , for þe terme of his life, and so from heir̛ to heyr̛ lome: and no man merueil

þogℏ I do weƚƚ to him, for when almyghty god list to take me oute of þis wreched world to his mercy, þan shaƚƚ he be left faderles and moderles, grauntfaderles and grauntmoderles. And yf hit so befeƚƚ þat he died, leuyng̛ me, þan wuƚƚ I þat myn eldest sone þat ouereleuetℏ me haue hit [ hit = hit þat. what, the property which.] I haue be-qweythen my sayd̛ sone Thomas. More ouere I wuƚƚ þat Robert my son̄ haue my flat couered̛ pece whitℏ a sqware pomeƚƚ, and an oþer flat pece of þe suit þat were my faders, (of whos soule god haue mercye,) and six spones of syluere; and Iames my son̄ þe keuered pece þe whicℏ þe person̄ of Bereughby gaf me, and six spones of syluere; and Roger my son̄ þe keuered pece of syluer þe whicℏ was mayster Robertis Stoneham, and is pounces whitℏ a crane, and six seluere spones ouer þe other keuered̛ pece, þe whicℏ my lord̛ Le Ware gaf him whan he was cristned̛; and Iohn̛ my son̄ a keuered̛ pece and six spones of siluer̛; and I wul þat my said̛ son̄ Robert haue my best gilt pece keuered̛, and Roger my said̛ sone my gilt keuered̛ goblet þat was Camews. Also I wuƚƚ þat Anneys my doughter haue þe standing pece þat was my faders, keuered̛, and my gilt pece þat Steneby gaf me, and a quart pot of siluer̛, and six spones of siluer̛, and a basyn and an Ewer̛ of siluer̛; and my doughter̛ Iohn̛ a keuered̛ pece of siluer̛, þe which þe provest of Coderstoke gaf me, and six siluer spones; and I wul þat ilk of my said childre haue a bed, þat is to say, couerlide, tapite, blankettis, too peyre schetes, matras, and canvas. And þan wul I þat my welbeloued̛ wyfe Cecile haue alle þe remenaunt of my syluere vesseƚƚ, pottes, peces, and spones, basyn and Ewer̛ of siluere, powderbox and salers of siluere, beddyng̛, napery and pewter vesseƚƚ, brasse spytes, rakkes and brandernes of erne; and aƚƚ myn other howshold̛, saf suche as longetℏ to þe gamerye, I wul abyde to myn heyr̛. And I wul þat non of my corn̄, nor malt, ne quyk catel, be taken for houshold̛, but I wul it helpe to fulfulle my testament, saf þat I wul þat my wyf haf of my corn and malt als myche as hire nedetℏ, til newe come, by delyueraunce of myn Executours, if she wul holde houshold̛. And I wul my wyf haf half my mylche kye, and myn heyr̛ þe other̛ half. And after my appsprincipal is taken, I wul my wyf haf my best ambeler̛, and my sone, appssir Herre Plesyngton̄, wylk him likeþ best, after̛ preying

hym to be gode maystre to my children; and þen wul I þat my son̄ Thomas haf þe best next; and þe remenaunt of my rode horses I wul be departyd̛ betwene my wyfe and my son̄ Thomas; but I wul my wyf chese first. Also I wul þat my gownes for my body, þe whicℏ ben ffurred̛ whitℏ pelure, be dalt amongis my childre, to ilke after here degre and age, so þat Thomas and Anneys haue four̛ [leaf 70 back] of þe best. And I wul þat þe remenaunt of my cloþes for my body be dalt amonges my seruauntes,—of þe whicℏ I wul that Thomas Campion̄ be þought on—to ilke after þeyr degrees. And .I. wul þat Robert my son̄ haue oon of my swerdes, and one of my basilardes harneysed̛ witℏ siluere, and one of my siluere girdeles. And I wul þat Thomas my sone haue myn oþer siluere girdeƚƚ, and myn oþer wepen and armerur̛. Also .I. wul þat Thomas my sone haue my termes þat I haf of appsWestminster in þe personage of Okeham. Also I wiƚƚ þat þe money þe whicℏ I haue be-qweþen to my childre to [? read 'be.'] putte in sure keping be myn Executours, so þat þey mowe haue þat is be-qweþen hem when þei come to ȝeres of discrecion, if þey lif so longe; and elle þat it mowe be disposyd by myn Executours as I haue ordeyned by my testament, requirynge my seid̛ Executours, as þey wul onswere to god, þat þey (for no fauour) put hit but as þey suppose and truste be her̛ consciens it shal be sure. And I wul þat Anneys Samon̄, my wyfes moder, Margeret Spriggy, and Alys Rowele and Ionet Humberstone, Beatrice Swetenham, myn aunte, and my cosin Sithynge, half ilk of hem a gode goldringe, or a broche of gold̛, or a good peyr̛ of bedys, for a remembraunce of me. And I wil þe Maister̛ of Manton̄ haf my pair̛ of bedys þat I vse my self, witℏ þe x aues of siluere, and a pater noster ouer-gilt, preying him to haue mynde of me sumtime whan he seitℏ oure lady sawter on hem. Also I wil þat Iohn̄ Br̛igg and William Lewes haf, ilke of hem, xl. s'. for here oold seruice; and Robert Martfeld̛ .xiij. s', iiij d̛; and appskoc kook [ Cock, the cook (?).] a noble, and Toume [so] Campion̄ a noble. and if þe voute [Voulte: f. a vault or arch; also, a vaulted or embowed roofe. 1611.—Cotgrave. ] of Okeham stepil be not made in my lif, þe whicℏ I haf made couenaunt of witℏ Thomas Nunton̄, Mason̄, to gif him .v. mark for þe werkmansshipe,

(of þe whicℏ I haue paied him a noble on ernest,) I wol þe same couenaunt be fulfillid̛ of my good after my decesse as sone as myn necbours wul ordeyn for þe stuffe þat shaƚƚ go þer-to, of þe whicℏ stuffe Richard̛ Oxenden haiþ paied̛ to Fairchild̛, quarriour, xiij s' and iiij d̛ for freestone. More-ouer I wuƚƚ þat Thomas my son̄ haue my portoos, charging him, on my blessing, that he kepe hit, terme of his lif, so that god wuƚƚ her-after̛ sende him deuocion̄ to sey his seruice þer-on̛, as I haue done, þat þenne he may haue sucℏ a good honest boke of his owne; and if god ewre [ ? ure, destine. Fr. heur: m. Hap, lucke, fortune, chaunce.—Cotgrave .MS. may be 'cwre.'] him to dye or me, I wul þanne my eldest son̄ haue it to þe same entent. And I pray to þe blessed Trinite that of his endles mercye and goodnesse he sende my children grace to be gode men and wommen, and to ȝelde him gode soules, þorougℏ þe helpe and praier of oure lady seint Marye, and of aƚƚ þe seyntes of heune. Amen.

[II. Will of the Realty.]

[2 Lincolnshire Manors to Wife for life, while sole; then 1 to son Thomas, and 1 to son James, in tail. If Wife marries, her estate to go to sons Robert and Thomas. If not, Robert to have Oakham and Masthorpe lands for his mother's life, with remainder to son Thomas in tail. Brantoft land to son Roger in tail. Halton lands to son John in tail. Other Rutland and Leicestershire lands to son Thomas in tail. Dwelling-place to Wife for a year; then to son Thomas. Feoffees to make these Settlements by Indentures. Heirs' deeds to be kept in a coffer in Oakham Almshouse, and given to each when he's of age. Other children's deeds to be copied for the eldest son. Each child under age to have his rents for maintenance. Testator's Ward, T. Dale, either to marry Testator's daughter Anneys—in which case her portion is to be reduced—or the right of his marriage to be sold.

Codicil. Oct. 1425, p. 63. Son James to hav an Annuity of £5 out of Leicestershire land while his mother stays sole; also part of his brother Robert's land, if Robert turns priest; in which case his brother William is to have the estates given to Robert for his mother's life. The whole Will and Codicil written by Testator.]

And moreouer, for als mykyl as at diuerce feffementes þat I haue mad to diuerce men of certeyn part of my lond̛, to þe entent þat þey shulde do my wylle lyke as in sum wrytynges and condicions vpon þe same feffementes it is more pleynly conteyned̛, And also for als

mykel as diuers men haf ioint astate whit me in diuerce of my purchace be wey of truste for to fulfylle my wille whan I required̛ hem, or declared̛ it to hem, Nowe I declare here my laste wille, als wel to my saide feffeȝ as to my ioint feffes: First I wul and ordeyne that my ioint feffeȝ of my maners of Stenby [Stenby is Stainby, near the Leicestershire border; 9 miles South of Grantham.—E. Peacock.] and Braceby, [Braceby, a village 7 miles East of Grantham.—E. P.] witℏ here appurtenaunces, in Lin[c]olne-shire, suffre my wyfe Cecile haue þe profiteȝ of þeim aƚƚ þe while she lyveþ sool witℏoute husbond̛. And if she take þe mantel and þe rynge, and avowe chastite, than wul I þat fortℏ-whitℏ my said̛ ioint feffes make her astate, for terme of hir̛ lif, of þe same too lordshipes, vp condicion þat she lyve sool, withoute husbond̛; the remaindre of þe maner of Steneby, witℏ þe appurtenaunces, to Thomas my son̄ and heir̛, and to þe heires of his body comynge; and for defaute of heires of his body comynge, to þe heires of my body comynge; and for defaut of issu of my body comynge, to my right heires. And þe remaindre of þe said̛ maner of Braceby, wiþ þe appurtenaunces, to Iames my son̄, and to þe heires of his body comynge; and for defaute of heires of his body comynge, to þe heires of my body begetyn; And for defaute of issu of my body begetyn, þe remaindre to my right heires. And if my said̛ wif take hir̛ an husbond̛, þanne wul I þat my said̛ ioint feffeȝ make astate to Robert, my son̄, of my said̛ maner of Steneby witℏ þe appurtenaunceȝ for terme of his moder lyf Cecile / the remaindre of þe said̛ manere whitℏ þe appurtenaunceȝ to my son̄ Thomas, and to the heires of his body comynge, and so fortℏ, as hit is declared̛ a-fore. And if hit so be þat my said̛ wif take þe manteƚƚ and þe appsrynge, avowe chastite as hit is said̛ [leaf 71] before, and þer-vpon̄ haue astate of my said too maners for terme of hir̛ lif, þe remaindre forth as hit is before declared̛, þan wul I þat my ioint feffeȝ of my landes and tenementes þat I bought of Richard̛ Oxenden in Okeham, and also þat my ioint feffeȝ of my land̛ and tenementeȝ in appsMastorpe, And also my ioint feffeȝ of the burgate in þe newgate of Okeham, þe whicℏ I bought of Richard̛ Milner̛, make astate of þeim to Roberd̛ my son̄ a-fore-said̛ for terme of the lyf of his moder̛ Cecile; þe remaindre of þeim to my son̄

Thomas and to þe heires of his body; and for defaute of issu of his body, þanne to þe heires of my body; and for defaute of issu of my body, þe remaindre to my right heires, so þat my ful wiƚƚ is, þat if my said̛ son̄ Robert haf not Steneby, þat þanne he haf þese other þinges as hit is a-fore declared̛. More-ouere my wiƚƚ is, þat my ioint feffeȝ of my landes and tenementes in Branntoft [Branntoft. I think this is Bratoft, 5 miles East of Spilsby.—E. Peacock.] in Lyndeseye make astate of þeim to Roger my son̄, and to þe heires of his body comynge; and for defaute of [issu of] his body comynge, þe remaindre to my son̄ Thomas and to þe heires of his body comynge; and for defaute of issu of his body comynge, to þe heires of my body comynge; and for defaute of issu of my body, þanne to my right heires. Also I wul þat my ioint feffeȝ of my landes and tenementes, whitℏ her̛ appurtenaunces, in Halton in Lyndesey, [Halton, East, in the East Division of the Wapentake of Yarborough, Parts of Lindsey, co. of Lincoln .. 11 m. N.W. from Great Grimsby. Halton Holgatein the East Division of the Soke of Bolingbroke, Parts of Lindsey, co. of Lincoln .. 1 1/2 m. E.S.E. from Spilsby. Halton West in the N. Division of the Wapentake of Morley, Parts of Lindsey .. 7 m. S. by E. from Settle.—Carlisle ] make astate of þeim to Iohn̄ my son̄, and to þe heires of his body comynge; and for defaute of issu of his body, þe remaindre to þe heires of my body; and for defaut of issu of my body, forþ to my right heires; so þat my wyƚƚ is, þat þe remaindre of aƚƚ my landes and tenementes þat I ordeyn to myn other children̄ fro myn heir̛, abide, for defaute of issu of þeim, to myn eldest son̄ and heir þat ouer lyuetℏ hem, and þanne fortℏ as hit is a-fore declared̛. More-ouer my wyƚƚ is þat aƚƚ myn enfeffeȝ of oþer diuerce of my landes and tenementes in Roteland̛ and Leycestre-shire, als wel þo þat stande enfeffed̛ by me, as þo þat ben ioint feffed̛ witℏ me, make astate of þeim to my said̛ son̄ Thomas and to þe heires of his body comynge; And for defaute of issu of his body comynge, þe remaindre to þe heires of my body; and for defaut of issu of my body, þe remaindre to my right heires, saf þat I wul þat myn enfeffeȝ of my place þat I wone Inne, suffre my wyf wone þer-Inne a ȝere after my decesse, if she wille, so þat she take no husbond̛ in þe mene tyme; And after þat, I wul þat my said̛ enfeffeȝ make astate þerof to my said̛ son̄ Thomas, as of þe remenaunt it is a-fore declared̛. And if hit so befelle þat my said̛ son̄ Thomas died̛ to-fore þise astates afore-said̛ .

made, þenne wille I þat like astate be made to myn eldest son̄ þat þanne ouer-lyuetℏ him; and my wille is, þat alle þe astates beforesaid̛ be made by dede endented̛, to þat entent þat one of þe dedys mow be deliuered̛ to him þat þe gyft shal be made to, and þe oþer to myn heir̛, because of þe remaindre. And I wul þat myn heires dedys be kept whiþ þe remenaunt of my dedys in þe same cofer̛ þat my dedys beþ kept in nowe, and so delyuered him to his vse; And I wul þat þe oþer parties of þe dedys endentyd, witℏ þe remenaunt of þe dedys þat longen to myn oþer children, be put in þe cofre þat Thomas Audeby gaf me, in þe whicℏ my seluer vesseƚƚ is now kept, til ilk childe come of age to receyve þat longes to him; And þat [þat = who that, he who.] last shal receyue his dedes, I wil þat he haf þe cofre whit-aƚƚ; so þat I wil þat þey haue no lyuere of þeir̛ dedys til þey come til ȝeres of age and discrecion to resceyue hem. And if þey died or þei came to sucℏ age, þanne his dedes þat so died were deliuered̛ to myn heir̛. And I wolde þat þe substanciaƚƚ [original.] dedes of myn oþer childre were copied, and þe copies put amonge myn heirs dedes for a remembraunce. and if it myght godely, I wolde alle þe giftes aforesaid̛ were done by fyn, [That Fines were to be levied by the 'Enfeffeȝ' in favour of the several Devisees.] for more suerte, on my cost. And my wil is, þat þise astates be made al so sone as þei mowe godely after my decesse, and þat my said̛ children haue ilk of hem þe profit of þaire lande þat I ordeyn hem, fortℏwhitℏ anone after my dirige. And I wul þat þe said cofre that myn other children dedes shul be kept in, be kept in appsþe Almeshouse of Okeham, vndre þre keyes, too vnder keping of myn Executours, and þe þridde vnder þe keping of an ouerseer of my testament, [ Sir Harry Plesyngton is named as Overseer, in the Latin Testament: see p. 55] . so þat þei mow make deliueraunce to my childre of her̛ dedes, as hit is seid before. I write nomore atte þis time, but þat I prey to almyghty god als entierly as any synful man may [leaf 71 back] prey, þat of his endeles mercy and grace, þorough þe preier̛ of oure lady seint Marye and alle þe seintes of heuen, he haf mercy of my synful soule, and bring hit to his blis, and gyf myn Executours grace to make good ende of my testament and wille, and my feffeȝ also of my feffementes, Amen.

writen witℏ myn owne hand̛ þe xviij. day Apriƚƚ, þe ȝere specefied in my said̛ testament. And as touching þe warde and mariage of Thomas Dale, my wiƚƚ is, but if he and my doughter̛ Anneys mowe acorde by þe asseynt of hire moder Cecile, elles I wul þat þe warde and mariage of him be sold̛ to my profit þer̛ hit may be to his worshipe. And I wul þat þe profit, þat comeþ þer-of, helpe to fulfylle my testament and wille, if hit nede be, and elles be done for my soule by myn Executours. And if my said̛ doughter Anneys and he acorde of mariage, þan wul I gyf hire þe mariage, abatyng for hir̛ C ƚi that I haf beqweþen hire be my testament, x. ƚi [? does this mean that her Portion is to drop to £40 or to £60?] , þe whicℏ I wil, helpe to fulfilling of my testament and wil, if it nede, and elles be done by myn Executours for my soule and for alle cristen soules. And also I wil þat Ioℏn Ondeley haf a coueryd pece of siluer, price of xl. s', or elles xl .s' to bie one whitℏ, of my cost, for a remembraunce of me. my wille is also þat my newe vestment þat I made [? = cauzd to be made.] last, be deliuered̛ to myn Auter̛ in þe kyrke, þer to serue and abide in remembraunce of me while it wul endure, to þe wurshipe of god; and Iℏc [Jesus] mak gode ende.

[III. Codicil. Oct. 1425. Abstract on p. 59.]

And for asmoche as .I. Roger Flore, ouerseying my testament and wille, haue conceyued̛ þat I haue not ordeyned what Iames my son̄ shulde haue during his moder lyf, soole, whithouten husbonde, þerfore my wille is, þat my ioint feffeȝ of my purchace of Leesthorpe [Leesthorpe, in the hund. of Gartree, though locally situate in the hund. of Guthlaxton, Co. of Leicester; in the Parish of Pickwell ... It is 4 m. S.E. by S. from Melton Mowbray.—Carlisle] in Leicestreshire, graunte by her̛ dede, to Iames my said̛ sone, an annuite of .C s' of my said̛ purchas of Leesthorpe, to haue hit for terme of his moder lif Cecile, if she lyue sool, so þat, after her̛ decesse, or if she take hir̛ an husbond̛, he mowe haue þe remaindre of Braceby, like as I haue ordeined̛ for him in my wiƚƚ, so þat whanne þe remaindre falleþ to him, þat þanne þe saide annuite of an C s' sese. And I wul þat þe said̛ graunte of þe said̛ annuite be graunted̛ witℏ clause of destresse paieable atte too termes, þat is to say, at Esterne and

Michelmesse. Furthermore my wiƚƚ is, þat if Robert my son be a prest in time to come, seyng þat þanne my lande þat is tayled̛ to him in Leicestre, Whyteweƚƚ [Whitwell in the Hundred of Alstoe. The Flores held an estate there under the Prior of St. John of Jerusalem.—J. H. R.] and Litel Hamildon̄ [ Little Hambledon, in the Hundred of Martinsly. The Flores held the Manor under the Ferrers family.—J. H. R.] shulde descende to þe said̛ Iames, þat þanne þe remaindre of Braceby a-fore said̛ be til William my sone after þe decesse of his moder̛ Cecile; or if she take hire an husbond̛, as hit is rehersyd a-fore. More-ouer̛ my wiƚƚ is, þat if my said̛ son̄ Robert be here-aftir̛ prest, as hit is said̛ before, þanne wul I, if he haf any benefice of holychirche or prebende, þat þanne þe astate þat I ordeigned̛ þat ioint feffeȝ of my londes and tenementes þat I bought of Richard̛ Oxenden̄ of Okeham, and also of my burgage þe whicℏ I bought of Richard Mylnere in þe Newgate of Okeham, and my ioint feffeȝ of my landes and tenementes in Masthorpe, shulde haf made to Robert my sone for þe terme of his moder lif in sucℏ manere and forme as hit is declared̛ in my former̛ wiƚƚ, þat þanne þay shaƚƚ make astate of þe said̛ londes and tenementes to my said̛ sone William in sucℏ manere and fourme as þei shulle haue made to my said̛ sone Robert, wiþ þe remaindre as hit is in my former wille declared̛. In witnes of whicℏ þis my writyng̛ of myn own hond̛, I haue annexed̛ þis my wille witℏ my testament and former wille, vnder my seal of myn armes, affermyng̛ my said̛ testament and former wille except þat [ what, that which.] is chaunged in þis my last wille. writen at Okeham þe Fryday a-fore þe fest of þe aposteles, Seint Simon and Iude, [Oct. 28.] þe ȝere of oure lord̛ a þousand̛ foure hundred̛ and xxv. and þe ȝere of þe reigne of [leaf 72] King Herry þe sext after þe conquest, þe fourte. And I prey my feffeȝ þat alle þese astatys, by þe avys of a wel lerned̛ man of þe lawe, of my cost, to be paied by myn Executours. Almyghty god make good ende! Amen.

Probata fuerunt presens testamentum & codicillum coram Magistro Iohanne Lyndefeld̛, Commissario &c, xx die mensis Iunij, Anno domini Millesimo ccccmo vicesimo octauo, & commissa est administracio omnium bonorum dicti defuncti dicto Ricardo Hiwey, & domino Willelmo Baxter, Executoribus in eodem testamento nominatis, Reseruata potestate, &c̘.

Notes

• p. 55. Roger Flore: Son of William Flower, alias Flore, Sheriff of Rutland 6 Ric. II. Was Knight of the Shire 20 Ric. II; 1, 4, 6 Hen. IV; 2 Hen. V; and 1 Hen. VI; and Speaker of the House of Commons. He was patron of the old Hospital of St. John and St. Anne in Oakham (called 'þe Almeshouse of Okeham,' p. 62, l. 23-4), in right of his wife Catherine, daughter and heiress of William Dalby of Exton, its founder.—J. H. R.
• p. 56, l. 3. Thomas my sone: Thomas Flore of Oakham, Esq., mar. Agnes, daughter and heiress of Peter Saltby of co. Linc. He was Sheriff of Rutland 9, 20, 29, 35 Hen. VI. and 5, 10 Ed. IV; buried at Oakham 1483. This must have been a subsequent wife, not mentioned in the Flore pedigree. —H. R.
• p. 57, l. 34; p. 120, l. 10. my principal. The Principal (sometimes calld Mortuary, Corse-present, or Foredrove) was the deceast person's best horse, which followd the corpse at the funeral, and became the property of the priest. A survival of the custom may be seen at State funerals.
• p. 57, l. 35. Sir Herre Plesyngton: Sir Henry Plessington, Knt., of Burley, co. Rutland (1 m. N.E. of Oakham), Knight of the Shire for Rutland 1 and 3 Hen. VI, and Sheriff 5 Hen. VI. He married a daughter of testator. —J. H. R.
• p. 58, l. 14. Westminster: The Abbot of Westminster was Patron of Oakham.—J. H. R.
• p. 58, l. 30. koc kook. Perhaps Cokok: there are three or four early wills of men of that name.
• p. 5, l. 3. A Widow's Wedding to God. p. 60, l. 24; p. 61, l. 5: And if she take þe mantel and þe rynge, and auowe chastite.—The form of the Ceremony —Benedictio Vidue—is given in the Liber Pontificalis of Edmund Lacy, Bp. of Exeter (appointed A.D. 1420, ed. R. Barnes, 1847, p. 122-6. Between the Epistle and Gospel, the Widow kneeling during Service, before the Bishop (who sits on a faldstool), is askt whether she wishes to be the spouse of Christ, and give up the lusts of the flesh. She then puts in the Bp.'s hands the following Profession: 'I. N., Wedow, avoue to God perpetuell chastite of my body from henceforward, and in the presence of the honorable fadyr in God, my Lord N., by the grace of God, Bishop of N., I promytt stabilly to leve in the Church, Wedow. And this to do, of myne own hand, I subscribe this wrytyng. (And after, let her make the sign of the Cross.)"
  The Bishop then prays, and blesses the Mantle and puts it on the Widow. Then he blesses the Ring, sprinkles it with holy water, and puts it, as the sign of her marriage to Christ, on the Widow's finger, saying:
  "Accipe, famula Christi, anulum, fidei signum, connubii indicium, quem devota deferas, casta custodias, quoad amplexus divini sponsi coronanda pervenias. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Oremus."
  He says 3 Prayers accordingly, and the matter is ended. Miss Mary Lambert kindly referd me to this Pontifical.
• p. 60, l. 30. Mastorpe. There's a Martinsthorpe in Rutlandshire.—H. R.
• p. 62, l. 23. Þe Almeshouse of Okeham: This is the Hospital named in the note on p. 55, Roger Flore, p. 139, above.—J. H. R.