Transcription exercise

Alan G Thomas

Robard Turner de ho Mvsden anno d[omi]no m^l quin^mo xxx [?] xxv

John Smyth will Esq. his will Dat 12^o Dec 1480: 18^o Ed. 4

In dei no[min]e Amen. In the name of .god. Ame[n] I John Smyth of Bury Seynt Edmund Esquyer the xij day of *[n.1] December the ye[a]r of o[ur] lord god ML CCCCXXX beyng in good & holle mynde make ordeyne & c[on]stitute myn testament & last wyll in this man[ner]. First I bequethe & comend myn soule to almyghty god to his most blyssyd mod[er] our lady seynt Marie & to all the seynts of hevyn and myn body to be buryed in the Churche of o[ur] lady in the towne of Bury befor[e] seyd in the Northele before the dor[e] of the awhgter of Seynt John and as for myn wylle or testament be me made befor[e] the dat[e] of this my last wyll & testament I uttyrly revoke & annulle them & wyll not that ony man take any befyer be them but they be utt[er]ly voyde & of non effect Also I bequethe to the high Aughter[e] of the *[ n.2] Churche of o[ur] lady befor[e]nseyd for myn oblac[i]ons and tythis forgote & not payd XX. s. Also I bequethe & *[ n.3] geve to the Pryo[r] of Bury befornseyd & to his suc cessoures myn best Stondyng Cups of Sylver & gylt Also I bequeth to the Secrysteyn of the seyd monast[er]ie *[n.4] XX s. Also I bequethe to eidy[?] b[r]other of the Covent *[n.5) be seyd these p[er]sonez that be p[re]s[t]es VI s VIII d. & to all other[es] that be no p[re]stes [?] s IIII d also I be queth to the ffryrez of Babwell Xiiij [?] Also I be queth to the ffryerz of Subbury XX s It[e]m I be *[n.6] queth to the ffryerz of Clare XX s Also I bequeth to eche hous of the ffryerz in Thetford XX s also *[n.7]

[margin notes in a different hand:] *n.1 Dat 12 Dec 1480 18.Ed. 4 *n.2 To y^e high alter 20[o] *n.3 To y^e Pryor a silver & gold [?] *n.4 To y^e sacrist 20 [?] [margins partially obscured] *n.5 To eidy[?] ^monke prist 6^s to eidy monk no preist [??] To y^e Pryor of Babw[ell] 14 [?] *n. 6 To y^e Fryeres of Sudbury 20[o] *n.7 To Thetford Fryers 20

[N.B. The page seems to have suffered water damage in places, and in others creases, which make the handwriting difficult to decipher. increasingly difficult to read at bottom of page.]

The /2^d will of Mr John Smyth

ȝaxle have myn meese[?] w[ith] all the Londes ten[emen]ts rents & ordinances[?] the which I or othir to my use hav in the joining & felds & pakynh[a]m callyd Red Castell to hym & to the eyrs of his body lawefully begotyn & for the fawte of sw eche issue the remandyr therof to the next Eyr of the seyd Richard for ever. And I wyll that unto the seyd fest of michilmesse my execut have & receyve alle the issues & p[ro]fytes of all the seyd mese londs & rents & othir p[ro]miss[??]. Also I wyll that John myn sone immedyatly aft[er] my decesse *[n.1] have all my messuages lond[e]s ten[ement]s rents & o[rdinance] lying in the tounys & felds of thorpe Mores*[n.2] Felsam geddyng & Ratlysden to him *[n.3] & to his eyrs of his body lawefully begoty[n] *[n.4] & for the defaicte of suche issue I wyll that all the mesuages lond[e]s & te[nemen]ts w[ith] thappurte *[n.5] n[u]nc[e]s remayne to Rob[er]t ȝaxle the secund sone of the seyd Richard ȝaxle to have to hym [???] of his liff and affte[r] his disese I wyll that the seyd messee be egally departed & so severabely to remayne to Alyce & Philyp dowters of the seyd Richard & to theire eyrs of bodyes lawfully begotyn And if it happ[en] any to deye before oon havyng

margin notes n.1 To John Smyth his sonne n.2 his landes in Thorpe Morie n.3 Felsham Geddinge n.4 Ratlesden in tayle[?] n.5 Rem to Rob yaxly

4. The 2^d will of

non issue than euerche[??] to be othirs eyr[e] ovyrlevyng & to the Eyr[es] of hir[e] body lawfully be gotyn. and if bothe the seyd Alic[e] & philipp dey w[i]t[h] oute issue tha[n] I wyll that alle the seyd Mesuag[e] lond[es] & ten[emen]t[es] remayne to John ȝaxle sone & Eyr[e] of the seyd Richard. & to his Eyr[e] for eu[er]. It[em] I bequethe to [1] Raff Duke vj s viij d. It[em] I bequethe to Elizabeth [2] Tyllott myn c[re][...]t .v. marc[es] and qwer[e] also I the seyd John Smyth afor[e] this tyme handmade & [3] declaryd my[n] wyll of all myn mesuag[es] lond[es] ten[emen]t[es] rent[es] & [...] in the Tounys & feld[es] of Bury Aboueseyd Fornh[a]m seynt Martyn Rough[a]m & Nowton be syde Bury w[i]t[h] all thapp[ur]tenau[n]c[es] being in feoffez hand[es] that all the issues & p[ro]fit[es] comyng [4] & growing of the seyd mesez lond[es] & ten[emen]t[es] shuld [5] be houly conuertyd & applued to the use & p[ro]fyt[es] of thynhabitaunt[es] of the seyd toun of Bury and of their successorez for euer to discharge certeyn yposic[i]ons & charg[es] wont to be both be the seyd inh[ab]itauntez & that feoffament[es] shuld be made fro tyme to tyme what the case shuld requir[e] [6] to the same intent as in certeyn indenturez trip[ar]tite indentyd comp[ri]syd the seyd wyll in eu[er]y article werof the Date as the x day of the monyth of August the yer[e] of our[e] lord god Mcccc. lxxiij wher[e] it mor[e] pleynly apperith and I the seyd John Smyth wyllyng

[1] Raph Duke 6s 8d [2] Eliz Tyllott 5 m[ar]ks [3] All his messuages Lands ten[emen]ts at [crossed out: Baxton] in Bury Farnhm Martin Rougham Nowton [4] [pentrial?] [5] to þe use & p[ro]fitt of þe Inhabitants & þr sucessors for euer To discharge certein Impositons & [...] will [6] Dat of þi will 1473 10 Aug

Joh. Smyth Esq: 5

the seyd wyll in ev[er]y article to take pleyn effect & not in any wyse her[e]aft[er] to be revokyd but p[er]pe tually to stand. ferme & stabyll the same wyll so made of the seyd mesez londs & ten[emen]ts and wher[e] as I also the seyd John Smyth have ordeyned & declaryd my[n] wyll of [???] man[or] in hepworth callyd *[n.1] Breccs be feoffez hands[?] to thentent to fulfylle that same my[n] wyll for the sustentacen[ce] of a chapelyn *[n.2] p[er]petually to synge for my soule & for the soule of Anne my wyff. and for alle Crysten soulys accor dyng to the tenom[?] & effect of my[n] seyd wyll t[ri]p[ar]tite indentyd that the Collac[i]on of my[n] seyd chauntery wha[n] it shal happyn in any man[ner?] wyse for to be voyde that tha[n] the P[ri]our of the Monast[r]ie of Bury befor[e]seyd shuld have the gyft & collac[i]on of the same as in the same indentures mor[e] pleynly is declaryd. I indow[?] the seyd John Smyth for dyv[er]ce causez & co[n]siderac[i]ons cheuyd on to me wyll ordeyne & declare by this my p[re]sent testament & last wyll that wha[t]soev[er] the collage of p[rei]st of Bury be in corporat & have a mast[er] *[n.3] or othir reuler that tha[n] the seyd mast[er] p[re]sydent or othir reuler w[ith] my othir chauntery p[rei]st syngyng at Seynt Mary awght in the seyd churche of our lady and the chapeleyn of the gyld of the holy name of J[o]hn have the collac[i]on of the seyd chauntry to the[m] & to their successorez forev[er]. And mor[e]ovyr I wyll that wha[n]soeve[r] the seyd Collage be so

margin notes * n.1 Hepworthe mannor of Hepworth called Breke n.2 for a chaplain or chantry priest n.3 college of preist

6 The 2^d will of

in Corporat & have lycence of the kyng to purchas to them & to their successerez than I wyll that alle my[n] feoffez in the seyd man[er] of hepworth vpon due request to them by the seyd mast[er] p[re]sident or ruler & phelaschepp of the seyd Collage make Delyver onto them asur[e] & suffycient a state of and in the seyd man[er] w[i]t[h] thappa[r]tenau[n]c[es] to haue to them & to their successorez for the sustentac[i]on of the seyd Chauntry p[re]st for evyr. and wher also I the same John Smyth by indentur[e] haue chevyd notyfied & declaryd [1] my[n] mend wyll & intent vpon a feoffament made to herry hardman Clerk. William Duffeld. Clerk. & othir specifyed & named in a dede of my[n] man[er] [2] Callyd Swyftys w[i]t[h] thappurtenau[n]c[es] whiche I wyll [3] be Conuertyd to thuse of the seyd Collage to remayne in feoffez hand[es] on to suche tyme as the seyd Collag[e] as is aboue sayd be in Corporate & haue lycence of the kyng as is aboveseyd & than the seyd feoffez to make a state therof to the mast[er] p[re]sident or othir reuler & felashepp of the seyd Collage for the tyme being for the sustentac[i]on of a p[er]petuall Chapeleyn to syng at seynt Mary aughter in the seyd Chirche of our[e] lady for the soule of me the seyd John Smyth & Anne my wyff & other and for othir Charg[es] & Chargeable dedys to be don[e] as in the seyd inden turez mor[e] largely it is conteyned I the seyd John Smyth nev[er] wyllyng my[n] seyd wyll mynd & intent so be me pubblysshed notyfyed & declared vpon the seyd feoffament in any man[er] wyse

[1] To ye College of Preistes [2] ye manner of swiftes [3] to ye use of ye College

Joh Smyth: esq[uire] 7

be changed lessed or reuokyd but firmaly w[ith] out any intterrupc[i]on to be holden so that it ner no p[ar]cell therof be conuertyd to noon othir use. and for the mor[e] fermete & stedefastnes therof and that it p[er]petually shuld indur[e]. I the seyd John Smyth by this my p[re]sent testament & last wyll my seyde wyll mend and intent so made shewyd & declared be the seyd in denturez. approue retifye & conferme & wyll & ordeyne that the collac[i]on of the seyd chauntery at seynt mary aughter in lyke wyse belongyng on to the seyd p[ri]our unto suche tyme as the seyd collage in lyke wyse be in corporat and than the seyd mast[er] p[re]side[n]t or othir ruler w[ith] the chapeleyn of myn chauntry at seynt John is aughter & the seyd chapeleyn of the gyld of Ih[es]u haue the collac[i]on of the seyd chauntery to them & to their successorez for eu[er]. And mor[e] ovyr I wyll & geve full pover to my execut[or] & sup[er]visor of this myn testament to Funde & stablysse my[n] seyd chaunterez. and to make rulys constituc[i]ons & ordin[a]ncez. for the rule gou[er]n[a]nce & good co[n]tinuaunce of the same. and mor[e] over I wyl ordeyne & declar[e] by this my[n] seyd testament that if my[n] sone John or ony p[er]sone or p[er]sonez. named in the same testament and last wyll & to whom I made any legat or gyft int[er]rupt my[n] executourez so that they may not peseably execute the same or othirwyse vexe troble or lett the[m] in p[er]formaunce of my[n] last wyll or any article therof that tha[n] he or they so lettyng vexing or trobelyng to lese & forfete his seyd legate and I wyl and

The 2^d Will of

Charge my execut[ors] that they and eny of them utt[er]ly[?] kepe restayn from hym or them ther legate & by questio[n] to them made notw[i]t[h]stondyng any feoffament state or possessyon takyn by fo[rn] in any goods that ar[?] my[n] or wer myn and mor[e]ovyr I requir & charche all feoffez in the seyd manerez londs rents & ten[amen]ts to release to my[n] executorez q[?] wan they be required be them and if suche case fortune to happe & for the due execuc[i]on & p[er]formans of this my[n] testament & for the playn & true dysposic[i]on of my[n] goods & catall I will & streytly charge all suche of my[n] executorez as shall take upon them the charge of the same as they wyll answer afor god that they ner non of them ministr[e] or dyspose any of my seyd goods by them self w[i]t[h]oute the comon assent of alle ther coexecutourez & that alle suche of my goods as shal come to any of ther handys whethir it be in detts or in any othir thyngs I wyll & charge that they immediatly aft[er] the reseyte therof be brought in to the toun of Bury & ther[e] by the comon assent of all my[n] sey execut be put in a place be them ther for to be ordeyned & assigned wher they alle ioyntly may have recurse therto ther safly to be kept by them to suche tyme that by alle ther assents they be fully distribute and dysposyd for the weell of my sowle and hartyly I p[ra]y & desyr the

John Smyth Esq.

ordenary a for[e] whom this my testament shawe p[re]byd and also the sup[er]visoires of this my seyd testa ment that the seyd executoure[z] be there solempne othez among othir thyngs be speciall[y]? charged and sworn to fulfylle & kepe thentent of this myn article and last wyll & that he or they that wyll refuse to make the seyd othe or all[?] afterward to do contrare of the same I wyll that he or they be dyscharged of any ferthe dealyng of the seyd testament. And also to be compelled by the seyd ordenare & by the sup[er]vysoure[z] to make restituc[i]on of all suche goods kept contrare to thentent of this my seyd article & last wyll It[em] I desire & require my cofeoffes that thei delyn[?] .otate in all my manerez landes &ten[amen]ts unto myn execute whatsomever they be desiyed[?] be them. The residue of all my goods & catall *[n.1] not bequethed. I give and bequethe on to myn execut[..]? thei for to dyspose them for the helthe of my sowle & for all the sowlys that I am be holden for to p[ra]y for as they thynke may be most plesur[..] to god & welfare of myn sowle. Off this my testament & last wyll I putt & ordeyne execute[..] Sere[?] Thomas ampe Adam Nowhawe & Raff Duke *[n.2] sup[er]vision of this my testament I put & ordeyne the priour of the monastrie of Bury afornseyd.

margin notes: 1. re.... of his goods 7 chattels to his executors to be disposed of for y health of his soule & such soules as he is beholden to 2. his executors

Copia testamenti ac ultime voluntatis Margarete Odom Jentilwoman de Bury.

IN dei nomine amen. This p[re]sent wrytyns indentis made at Bury Saynt Edmu[n]d the xij.the day of January the ?ere of the regne of Kyng Edward the iiij.the aft[er] the conquest of Yngland xvij.the Witnessith that this is the p[er]fitt and last will of me Margaret late the Wiff of John Odeh[a]m of Bury Seynt Edmund above said in my pure wydowed made of alle the londe w[i]t[h] an hows sett in Bury forsaid in p[rimae] Glynid rawe the which londis lyen in the felde of Bury aforsaid that is to sey in the Est feld Sowth felde and west felde and in p[rimae] feldis of Ferton be side Bury Jn the fel dis of nowton hornyuggysherthe the lesse hornyuggysherthe the more and Westle the which londis lying in thes places rehersid with the hows in the ??ynner rawe above said J giff to water Thurston alderman of the town of Bury Seynt Edmund Robert Gardener Will[ia]m Thwytes. senior Thom[a]s Edon? Clement Clerk. John Forster Symond Clerk Tho mas Funnyng John Mey. senior Thom[a]s Emmys. John Gowty Will[ia]m Copynger Laurens Smyth. Robert Cryppyng John Salman Will[ia]m Thwaytes jun[io]r John Salter John heniston Will[ia]m Sygo John Sereway goldsmiyth. Reygnald Chardero