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

descriptionOpen pageLADY ALICE WEST, OF HAMPSHIRE, 1395.

Will

[Of Hinton Marcel, Hampshire. Gives her son Thomas, her best Bed and Seat, his father's ring, &c.; Her daughter-in-law Joan, her second best Bed, a silver Basin and Chafer, her Books, Chapel Vestments and silver fittings, with a Chair and Chariot. Her daughter Lady Alianore Clifton, a Bed, silver Basin, &c.; Her sister, Lady Lucy Fitzherbert, Prioress of Shaftesbury, £40. Bequests to her servants and poor tenants. Many gifts to Nuns, and Friars, and Recluses, for Masses and Prayers. Burial to be at the Priory of Christ-Church, Hampshire.]

[Latin prologue as to the proof of the Will on Sept. 1, 1395, by Sir Thomas West and John Thurston, two of the Executors named in it.]

(Rous. (Prerogative Court) sheet 4, leaf 29 back.) [sheet 4, leaf 29 back] [Testamentum Domine Alicie West (in margin)]

Tenor vero dicti testamenti sequitur in hec verba:

In dei nomine, Amen. On thursday, that is to sey, the xv day of the monetℏ of July, In the yer of the incarnacioun of our̛ lord ihesu crist, a thousand and thre hundred and foure score and fiftene, .I. Alice West, lady of descriptionOpen pageHyntōn Marcel, in hool estat of my body, and in good mynde beynge, make my testament in the maner̛ as hit folwetℏ here after. In the begynnyng̛, I bequethe my soule to god almygℏty and to his moder seynt Marie, and to al the seyntis of heuene, and my body to be beryed in Criscℏercℏ in the Priorie of the Chanones in Hamptschire, by the Newe forest, where-as myne Auncestres liggetℏ. Also I deuyse to descriptionOpen pageThomas my sone, a bed of tapicers werk, witℏ alle the tapites of sute, red of colour, ypouthered witℏ chapes and scochon̄s, in the corners, of myn Auncestres armes. witℏ that .I. bequethe to the same Thomas, the stoffe longyng̛ therto, that is to seye, my beste fetherbed, and a blu caneuas, and a materas, and twey blankettys, and a peyre schetes of Reynes, witℏ the heued shete of the same, and sex of my best pilwes, wicℏ that he wol chese, and a bleu couertour of menyuer, and a keuerlet of red sendel ypouthered witℏ Cheuerons .. Also .I. bequethe to the same Thomas

my sone, an Halle, with docere, descriptionOpen pagecosters and bankers, of sute of that forseyde bed. Also y bequethe to the same [leaf 30] Thomas my sone, a peyre Matyns bookis, and a peire bedes, and a descriptionOpen pagerynge witℏ whicℏ y was yspoused to god, [? vow taken after she became a widow.] whicℏ were my lordes his faderes. Also .I. deuyse to Iohane my dougℏter, my sone-is wyf, a bed paled blak̘ and whit, witℏ the tapites of sute, and the stoffe of the bed, that is to seye, my secunde best fetherbed, witℏ caneuas materas, twey blanketes, a peyre shetis of Reynes, witℏ the heued shete of the same, and a blu couertour of grys, and .iij. the beste pilwes after choys of the forseyde Thomas my sone. Also .I. bequethe to the same Iohane a basyn of siluer̛ witℏ boses apon the brerdes, and a chaufour of siluer longyng̛ ther-to. Also .I. bequethe to the same Iohane, a masse book, and descriptionOpen pagealle the bokes that .I. haue of latyn, engliscℏ, and frenscℏ, out-tak the forsayd matyns bookis that is bequethe to Thomas my sone / Also I bequethe to the same Iohane alle my vestymentz of my chapeƚƚ, witℏ the towailes longynge to the auter̛, and my tapites whit and rede paled, and blu and red paled, witℏ alle my grene tapites that longetℏ to my chapeƚƚ forsayd, and witℏ the frontels of the forsayd auter̛, and witℏ alle the rydelles and trussynge cofres, and alle other apparaile that longetℏ to my chapelle forsayd. Also to the same Iohane my doughter .I. bequethe a descriptionOpen pagechales and a paxbred̛, and an haliwater pot, witℏ the sprengls, twey descriptionOpen pagecruetis, twey chaundelers, twey siluer̛ basyns for the auter, witℏ scochōn̄s of myne auncestres armes, and a sacrynge belle, and alle of seluer, Also a tablet depeynt of tre. Also .I. bequethe to the same Iohane, my chare, and that I haue longyng therto; Also a chariot with twey standardes heled witℏ lether, whicℏ that seruetℏ for myn harneys. Also .I. bequethe to Sir Nichoƚ [s for f; Clifton.] Cliston knygℏt, and to Alianore his wif̘, my doughter̛, and to Thomas [s for f; Clifton.] Cliston̄ here sone, Cxx ƚi, euenliche to be departed betwix ham thre. And if Thomas here sone forsayd dyetℏ or he haue age of discrecioun, to ordeyne of his part of that moneye, I. wol that it torne to profet of his fader and his moder̛. Also .I. deuyse to the same Alianore my doughter, a tawne bed of silk̘, witℏ hool celure and four curtyns of sute, and a

keuerlit of selk̘ ypoynet in that on side tawne, and in that other side blu; and the stoffe of the bed ther-wytℏ. that is to seye, my thridde beste fetherbed̛, witℏ caneuas materas, twey blankettes, a payre shites of reynes, witℏ an heuedshite of sute, and iij pilwes. Also I deuyse to the same Alienore, a round bassin of siluer̛, whicℏ hatℏ a scochon̄ of my lordes armys and of myn Iparted. Also I deuyse to my suster̛ dame luce fitz-Herberd, Priorisse of Shaftebury, .xƚ. ƚi. Also .I. bequethe to my suster̛ Thomase Blount, Menchon̄ [Monk-en (cp. vix-en), monkess, nun.] of Romeseye, xl Marc̘. Also I deuyse to Margerie Salford̛ xx. ƚi. Also I bequethe to Beatrice Wareyn̛ xl Marc̘, and a bed couenable for a gentel womman. Also I bequethe to Alison Hynton̄ x ƚi, and a bed couenable for her̛ estat. Also .I. bequethe to litel Perrot .x. Marc̘, and a bed couenable to the same perrot. Also I. bequethe to Idkyne my chambrer̛, xx. ƚi. and a bed couenable for her̛ estat. Also I bequethe to Thomme of the warderobe .C. s'. Also I bequethe to litel Reignold̛ xl. s. and a bed couenable for his estat. Also .I. bequethe xl. ƚi. to be departed among̛ alle my seruantz, men and wommen of myn houshold̛, as to tℏilke that ben entendant for Thomas my sone, as for me, and as wel to hem that I haue eny thyng̛ bequethe to in this testament, as to hem that I haue nothyng̛ bequethe to: and I wole that it be departed trewely to euery man and womman̄, after his degre. Also .I. bequethe xl. ƚi. to be departed among̛ my pouere tenauntes oueral where I haue lordschipe, that is to seye, to hem that haue most nede. Also I bequethe xviij ƚi. and .x. s for to synge and seye MMMM ƚƚƚƚ and CCCC Masses [4400 Masses.] for my lord sir̛ Thomas West-is soule, and for myn, and for alle cristene soules, in the most hast that it may be do, withynne xiiij nygℏt next after my deces. Also .I. bequethe xl. ƚi to do make a vestiment, after deuys of my forsayd sone, to the cops [ ? meaning: Copes (as Mr. W. G. Stone suggests), or Brethren, Monks, or the like.] of the hows of Crischerche wher̛ my body schal ligge, to bidde, and to rede and synge for my lordes soule forsayd, and myn, and for alle cristene soules while the world̛ schal laste. and .I. wol that the same vestiment be mad and deliuered to the same hows of Crischerche witℏynne twelf monetℏ next after my

deces. Also .I. bequethe to the Religiouse wommen, the Nonnes of the hows of seynt Eleynes of london̄, and to the prestes that longetℏ to the same Hows, C. s'. to be departid among̛ hem by euene porcion̄, for to synge and rede diuine seruice, and to praye for my lordes soule, Sir̛ Thomas West, and for myn, and for alle cristene soules, and for the estat of Thomas my sone, and Iohane his wif̘, and for her̛ childern. Also I. bequethe to the Religiouse Wommen the Menouresses dwellyngge witℏoute algate of london̄, C. s. to be departed amonge [hem] by euene porcion̄, for to synge and rede and to praye diuine seruice for my lordes [leaf 30 back] soule Sir Thomas West, and myn, and for alle cristene soules, and for the estates of Thomas my sone, and Iohane his wyf, and for her children. Also .I. bequethe to the Religiouse Wommen, Menchouns of the Hows of Shaftebury, and to the prestes longynge to the same Hows, C. s. to be departed amonge hem by euene porcion̄, for to synge and rede diuine seruice, and to preye for my lordes soule Sir Thomas West, and for myn, and for alle cristene soules, and for the estatz of Thomas my sone & Iohane his wif, and her children̄. Also .I. bequethe to the Religiouse wommen, the Menchouns of the Hows of Romeseye, and to the prestes longynge to the same Hows .C. s... [Here follow like bequests of 100 s. each to "the Religiouse wommen, Menchon̄s of the Hows of Wilton" and its priests; "to the Freres Menours within Newegate of london"; "to the freres prechours witℏynne ludgate of london̄"; "to the freres carmes in Fletstret of london̄"; "to the freres Augusteyns withynne Bisshopesgate of london̄"; "to the freres prechours of Wynchestre"; "to the freres Menours of Wynchestre"; "the freres Menours of Southampton̄"; "the freres prechours of Salesbury"; "the freres Menours of Salesbury"; "the freres Menours of Bristowe"; "the freres prechours of Bristowe," all to pray for the Souls of Sir T. West, the testatrix, all Christians, and her Son and his family.] Also I. bequethe to the Reclus frere Thomas, atte seynt Iames in the Holte .xl. s. for to preye for my lordes soule forsayd̛, and myn, and for alle cristine soules, and for [leaf 31] thestat̘ of my sone forsayd, and Iohane his wif̘, and her̛ children̄. Also .I. bequeth to the Hospitaƚ of seynt Marie

Maudeleyne aboue Wynchestre xl. s. to preye for my lordes soule forseyd, and myn, and for alle cristene soules, and for the stat of my sone forseid, and Iohane his wif, and her̛ childern. Also .I. bequethe xl. ƚi to do make ther-witℏ my forseyd lordes tombe, Sir Thomas West, and myn also. Also I bequethe to Elizabetℏ Rogers wif Newe, whicℏ that was my seruaunt somtyme .C. s'. Also I bequethe to Iuliane Arny, and to Ioℏn Arny her hosebonde, of dudlynton̄ .C. s. Also .I. bequethe to Richard̛ Forstrer, whicℏ is a blynd man dwellynge in Hanefeld̛, that was somtyme seruaunt with my forsed lord̛ Sir Thomas West, xx Marc̘. Also I bequethe to Roger, my parkere, of Ewhurst .C. s. Also I bequethe to Iohn̄ Smart that was somtyme my forseyd lordes baillif, Sir̛ Thomas West, atte Hempston .C. s. Also .I. bequethe to Ioℏn Smyth, my Reue of Trestwode .C. s. Also I. bequethe to the vicar̛ of the Chercℏ of Newenton̄ Valnce that now is .xl. s. to preye for my lordes soule Sir̛ Thomas West, and myn, and for alle cristene soules, and for thestatz of Thomas my sone and Iohane his wif, and her children̄. An al the residue of my godes, after the dettys that I owe, ben quyt, and after my testament is parfourned̛ .I. bequethe to the forsayd Thomas my sone. Also I wol and deuyse that, ware that euer I deye, my body be caried to the forsayd̛ Priorie of Crischercℏ, pryuelicℏ and witℏ rigℏt litel cost, and ther-to beried att the ferst masse, witℏ a taper of v pound of wax stondyng and brennyng̛ att my heued, and another taper̛ of .v. pound brennyng̛ atte my fet, with-out any other cost or solempnite ydo afterward̛. This is myn hool wil, that this be parfourned̛ as hit is writen her-before. An ther-to .I. make my chef executor, Thomas my sone forsayd̛, and executrice Iohane his wif. Mo executoris to hem I make Sir Ioℏn Colman, prest, Thomas Remys, steward̛ to the lady Bemond̛, and Ioℏn Thurston̄. Also .I. wol and ordeyne that myn executours be rewarded after the helpe that they dotℏ of tℏis whicℏ that is my testament, and after the goode discrecion̄ of the forsayd Thomas my sone, and after that they travaille diligently witℏ her̛ gode wille, to helpe fulfelle thes present testament; and therto .I. charge my sone Thomas forsaid vpon my blessyng̛ to parfourne holelicℏ and trewlicℏ this present testament whicℏ that is my laste wil. In witnesse of

whicℏ thyng̛, to this testament ich haue set my sel. This was yeve and writen in the lordes In of Cherlton withoute Newgate, in the paroscℏ of seynt sepulcre in the suburbe of london̄, in the day and the yer before ysayd̛. More forthere, in the same day and in the yer̛ of the Incarnacioun of our̛ lord ihesu crist bifore sayd.

Codicil

[Codicil. Revokes her gifts of goods to her Son and Daughter-in-law if they won't act as Executors [As Sir Thos. West proved the Will (with Jn. Thurston), he and his Wife would keep their beds, books, &c] ; and gives money to the other Executors who do act.]

.I. Alice West, lady of Hynton̄ Marcel befornemed, hool of my body and in good mynde, beynge mor folly avised to dispose of this testament and my laste wil, .I. wol that, if it so be that Thomas my sone forseyd, and Iohane his wif, wolle nogℏt take the charge to be myne executors, and to parfourne the administracion of this testament, whicℏ is [my] laste wil, as it is wrete her̛-before, thanne .I. wole that alle the godis whicℏ that .I. haue deuysed to the forseyd Thomas my sone and Iohane his wif in this testament, be solde by myn executours whicℏ wol take the charge herof, and trewely ydo to charitable werkes for my lordes soule, Sir̛ Thomas West, and for myn, and for al cristene soules. Also my wil is, that if eny of myne other̛ executours forsaid, that is to saye, sir Ioℏn Colman̄, Thomas Remys, and Iohn̄ Thurston̄, wol take the charge, and be myn executour by hem self, to parfourne this testament, if so be that non of myne other̛ executours wol take the charge witℏ hem, thanne .I. wole, that after Thomas my sone forseyd, and Iohane his wif haue forsake to be myn executours, that he that taketℏ the charge to be myn executour, haue .xx.ƚi for his orwene [for owene.] trauayle; and if tweye of hem that ben myne executours forseyd wol take the charge to-gederes of executours to parforn trewely this testament, thanne .I. wol that after Thomas my sone and Iohane his wif haue forsake to be myne executours, that they tweye that taketℏ the charge to be myne trewe executours, have xx Marc̘ for her̛ trauaylle, that is [to] seye, eyther of hem x Marc̘. And if so be that sir̛ Iohn̄ Colman, Thomas Remys

and Ioℏn Thurston̄, myne executours forseyd̛, wolle take charge to-gederes to administre and to parfourne trewly this testament as hit is writen here before / thanne .I. wole that after Thomas my sone forsayd̛ and [leaf 31 back] Iohane his wif haue forsake to be myne executours, that the forseyd̛ Sir Ioℏn Colman̄, Thomas Remys, and Ioℏn Thurston̄, haue .xx. ƚi for her̛ trauaille, that is to seye, euerycℏ of hem x Marc̘. Also, for hit was for-yete byfore in this testament, .I. bequethe to the Reclus of Shirbourn̄, whos Surname is Arthour, xl. s. for to do and to preye as othere Reclus forseyd̛ Shulletℏ don and preye. Accepta sunt hec, coram dicto Reuerendissimo presidente & domino Archiepiscopo, & per eum prout suprascribuntur & recitantur. Anno, Indictione, pontificatu, Mense, die & loco, predictis. Presentibus venerabilibis & discretis viris, Magistris Adam de Mottrun, Archidiacono Cantuarensi in decretis, & Waltero Gybbes in legibus licenciatis, testibus ad premissa vocatis specialiter & rogatis. [ See an Abstract of this Will in Nicolas's Testamenta Vetusta, 1826, i. 137; Collins's Peerage, v. 378; and an extract in Dugdale's Baronage, ii. 139. It was printed in the Illustrated London News of descriptionOpen page(?). ]