APPENDIX TO CHAPTER III

THE WILL OF THOMAS CROMWELL.

R.O. Cal. iv. 5772 (1).

In the name of god Amen The xij^th Daye of Iulie in the yere of our lorde god MCCCCCxxix^ti [87] and in the xxj^ti yere of the Reigne of our Souereigne Lorde king Henry the viij^th I Thomas Crumwell of london gentilman being hole in bodie and in good and parfyte memorye Lauded be the holie Trynytee make ordeyn and Declare this my present testament conteyning my last will in maner and ‹fourme› Folowing. Furste I bequethe my Sowle to the grete god of heuen my maker Creatour and Redemer beseching the most gloryous virgyn our blessed ladie Saynct Mary the vyrgyn and Mother with all the holie companye of heuen to be Medyatours and Intercessours for me to the holie trynytee So that I may be able when it shall please Almightie god to call me out of this miserable worlde and transitorie lif to inherite the kingdome of heuen amongst the nomber of good christen people. And whan so euer I shall departe this present lif, I bequethe my bodie to be buryed where it shall please god to ordeyn me to die and to be ordered after the discression of myn executours vndernamed And for my goodes which our lorde hathe lent me in this Worlde I will shalbe ordered and disposed in maner and fourme as hereafter shall insue. Furst I gyue and bequethe vnto my Soon Gregory Crumwell Syx hundreth threscore Syx poundes thirten shelynges foure pens [88] of lawfull money of Englonde With the Whiche Syx hundreth threescore Syx powndes xiij^s foure pens [89] I will myn executours vndernamed ymediatlye or assone as they conuenyently may after my Decesse shall purchase londes tenementes and hereditamentes to the clere yerelye value of xxxiij^li vj^s viij^d [90] by the yere aboue all charges and reprysys to thuse of my saide Soon Gregorye for terme of his lif And after the Decesse of the saide Gregorye to the heyres Males of his bodie lawfully to be begotten And for lacke of heires Males of the bodie of the saide Gregory lawfully to be begotten to the heires generall of his bodie lawfully begotten. And for lacke of suche heires to the right heires of me the saide Thomas Crumwell in Fee. I will also that ymedyatly and assone as the saide londes tenementes and hereditamentes shalbe so purchased after my deth as is aforsaide by myn executours that the yerelie proffytes thereof shalbe hollie spent and imployed in and aboutes the educacyon and fynding honestly of my saide Soon Gregory in vertue good lerning and Maners vntill such tyme as he shall cum to the full age of xxij yeres. During Which tyme I hertely desir and require my saide executours to be good vnto my saide Son Gregory and to see he do lose no tyme but to se him verteously ordered & brought vp according to my trust Item I gyue and bequethe to my saide Soon Gregorie When he shall cum to his full age of xxiiij yeres Twoo [91] Hundreth poundes of lawfull ynglissh money to order then as our lorde shall gyue hym grace and discression Which cc^li I will shalbe put in suertie to thintent the same may cum to his handes at his saide age of xxiiij^ti yeres. Item I gyue and bequethe to my saide Soon Gregory of such houseold stuf as god hathe lent me Three [92] of my best Fetherbeddes with thayr bolsters ij^o the best [93] payre of blankettes of Fustyan my best Couerlet of Tapistrye and my Quylte of yelow Turquye Saten, x payre of my best Shetes foure [94] pillowes of downe with iiij payre of the best pillowe beres foure [95] of my best table clothes, foure of my best towelles Twoo dosen [96] of my Fynest Naptkynnes and ij^o dozen of my other Naptkynnes, ij^o [97] garnyssh of my best vessell, iij of my best brasse pottes, iij of my best brasse pannes, ij^o of my best kettilles, ij^o of my best Spittes, My best ioyned bed of Flaunders wourke with the best Syler and tester and other thappurtenaunces therto belonging My best presse caruen of Flaunders wourke and my best Cupbourde caruen of Flaunders wourk with also vj Joyned Stoles of Flaunders wourke and vj of my best Cusshyns Item I gyue and bequethe to my saide Soon Gregorye A Bason with a Lewer parcell gilte my best Salt gilt my best Cup gilt, Three [98] of my best goblettes gilt three other of my best goblettes parcell gylt, Twelue of [99] my best Syluer spones, Three of [100] my best Drynking ale potes gilt. All the which parcelles of plate and houseold stuf I will shalbe savelye kept to thuse of my saide Soonne Gregorye till he shall cum to his saide full age of xxij^ti yeres and all the which plate household stuf Naperye and other the premisses I will myn executours do put in saufe keping vntill my saide Soon shall cum to the saide yeres or age of xxij^ti. And if he die before the age of xxij^ti [101] Then I will all the saide plate vessell and houseold stuf shalbe sold by myn executours And the money thereof cummyng to be gyuen and equallie Deuyded amongst my poure kynnesfolkes. That is to say amongst the children as well of myn owne Susters Elizabeth and Katheryn as of my late Wyffes Suster Johane Wif to John Willyamson, And if it happen that all the children of my saide Susters and Suster in law Do dye before the particyon and deuysion be made and none of them to be lyuyng Then I will that all the saide plate vessell and houseold stuf shalbe solde and yeuen to other my poure kynnesfolkes then being on lyue and other poure and indigent people in Deades of charytee for my Sowle my Father and Mother their Sowles, and all Christen Sowles [102] Item I gyue and bequethe vnto my Suster Elizabeth Wellyfed Wif to Wyllyam Wellyfed xl^li [103] iij Goblettes without a Couer [104] a Macer, And A Nutt Item I gyue and bequethe to my nephew Rycharde Wyllyams [105] lxvj^li xiij^s iiij^d [106] sterlinges my best [107] gowne Doblett and Jaquet Item I gyue and bequethe to my nepue Christofer Wellyfed my nephe xl^li [108] my v^th gowne doblett and Jaquett Item I gyue and bequethe to my nephew Wyllyam Wellyfed the Yonger xx^li [109] Item I gyue and bequethe to my nece Alice Wellyfed to her Maryage xx^li And if it happen her to Dye before maryage then I will the saide xx^li shall remayne to her brother Christofer And if it happen him to Dye the same xx^li to remayne to Willyam Wellyfed the yonger his brother. And if it happen them all to Dye before their lawfull age or maryage, then I will that their partes shall remayne to Gregory my Soon. And if it happen him to Dye before them then I will all the said partes shall remayn to Rychard Wylliams and Water Williams my nephews [110] And if it happen them to Dye then I will that all the said partes shalbe Distributed in Deades of charytee for my Sowle my Father and Mothers Sowles and all christen Sowles. Item I gyue and bequethe to my Mother in law Mercye Pryour xl^li of lawfull ynglissh money and her chaumber with certen houseold stuf, That is to saye A Fetherbed, a Bolster ij pillowes with their beres vj payre of Shetes A payre of blankettes, A garnyssh of vessell, ij^o pottes, ij^o pannes, ij^o Spyttes with such other of my houseold stuf as shalbe thought mete for her by the Discression of myn executours And suche as she will reasonablye Desire not being bequethed to other vses in this my present testament and last will. Item I gyue and bequethe to my said mother in law a lytill Salt of Syluer a Maser, vj Siluer Spones and a drinking pot of Syluer And also I charge myn executours to be good vnto her duryng her lyffe. Item I gyue and bequethe to my brother in law Willyam Wellyfed xx^li my thurde gown Jaquet and Doblet. Item I gyue and bequethe to John Wyllyamson my brother in law c markes [111] a gown a Doblet and a Jaquet, A Fetherbed, A bolster vj payre of Shetes ij^o table clothes, ij^o Dozen Naptkynnes, ij^o towelles ij^o brasse pottes, ij^o brasse pannes, a Syluer pott A Nutte parcell gilt, and to Iohane his wyf x^li [112]. Item I gyue and bequethe to Johane Wyllyamson their Doughter to her maryage xx^li and to euery other of their children vj^li xiij^s iiij^d [113]. Item I bequethe to Walter Wyllyams my nephue [114] xx^li Item I gyue and bequethe to Rafe Sadleyer my seruaunte cc [115] Markes of lawfull ynglissh money my Seconde [116] gowne Jaquet and Doblet and all my bokes Item I gyue and bequethe to Hugh Whalley my Seruaunt vj^li xiij^s iiij^d. Item I gyue and bequethe to Stephen Vaughan sumtyme my seruaunte c markes [117] a gowne Jaquet and Doblet. Item I gyue and bequethe to Page my Seruaunte otherwise called John du Pount vj^li xiij^s iiij^d [118] and also to Thomas Auerey my seruauntt vj^li xiij^s iiij^d [119]. Item I gyue and bequethe to John Horwood vj^li xiij^s iiij^d [120] Item that the rest of myn apparell before not gyuen ne bequethed in this my testament and last will shalbe yeuen and equally Departed amongst my Seruauntes after the order and discression of myn executours Item I will also that myn executours shall take the yerely profyttes aboue the charges of my Ferme of Canberye and all other thinges Conteynyd within my sayd lease of Canberye in the Cowntye of Middelsex [121] And with the proffytes thereof [122] shall yerelie paye vnto my brother in law William Wellffe‹d› and Elysabethe his wyffe myn onlye Suster Twentye powndes duryng thayr lyves and the longer of them and after the discease of the sayd William and Elysabeth the proffettes of the sayd Ferme ouer and aboue the yerlye Rentt to be kept to the vse of my Son gregorye tyll he Cum to the age of xxij^ti and at the yeres of xxij^th the sayd lease and Ferme of Canberye I do gyue and bequethe to my sayd Son gregorye to haue the same to hym his executors and assignes [123] and if it Fortune the saide Gregorye my Soon to dye before he shall cum to the age of xxij [124] yeres My sayd bruthuren in lawe and syster being dede Then I will my Cosyn Rychard Williams shall ‹haue› the Ferme with the appurtenaunces to hym and his executors and assignes and yf it happen my sayd Brother in law my Suster [125] my Son gregorye and my sayd Cosyn Rycharde to dye before the accoumplyshement of this my wyll touchinge the sayd Ferme then I wyll myn executors shall Sell the sayd ferme and the moneye therof Cummyng to Imploye in dedes of charyte to praye [126] for my Sowle and all Christen Sowles. Item I will that myn executours shall conducte and hyre a pryest being an honest person of contynent and good lyuyng to Syng for my Sowle by the space of vij [127] yeres next after my deth and to gyue him for the same Fortye Syx powndes thertene shelinges Foure pens that ys to saye vj^li xiij^s iiij^d yerlye for his stypend [128]. Item I gyue and bequethe towardes the making of high wayes in this Realme where it shalbe thought most necessary [129] xx^li to be Disposed by the Discression of myn executours. Item I gyue and bequethe to euery of the v orders of Freers within the Cytee of London to pray for my Soule xx^s [130]. Item I gyue and bequethe to lx poure Maydens Maryages xl^li [131] That is to saye xiij^s iiij^d [132] to euerye of the saide poure Maydens to be gyuen and Distributed by the Discression of myn executours. Item I will that there shalbe Delt and yeuen after my decesse amongst poure people howseholders to pray for my Sowle xx^li [133]. Item I gyue and bequeth to the poure parochians Suche as by myn executors shalbe thowght most needffull of the paroche Where god shall ordeyn me to haue my dwelling place at the tyme of my Deth x^li [134] to be trewlye Distributed amongst them by the Discression of myn executours [135] Item I gyue and bequethe to the poure prysoners of Newgate Ludgate Kynges benche and Marshall See to be equallye Distributed amongst them x^li Wylling charging and desiring myn executours vnderwrytten that they shall See this my Will perfourmed in euery poynte according to my trew meaning and intente as they will answer to god and discharge their consciences.

[136]Item I gyue and bequeth to William brabason my seruaunt xx^li sterling A gowne A dublett A Jaquet and my second gelding.

Item I gyue and bequeth to John averey yoman of the bottell with the kynges highnes vj^li xiij^s iiij^d, and doublet of Saten.

Item I bequeth to thurston my Coke vj^li xiij^s iiij^d.

Item I gyue and bequethe to William bodye my seruauntt vj^li xiij^s iiij^d.

Item I gyue and bequeth to Peter mewtes my seruauntt vj^li xiij^s iiij^d.

Item I gyue and bequeth to Rychard Swyft my seruauntt vj^li xiij^s iiij^d.

Item I gyue and bequeth to george Wylkynson my seruauntt vj^li xiij^s iiij^d.

Item I gyue and bequeth to my Frend Thomas alvard x^li and my best gelding.

Item I gyue and bequeth to my frend Thomas Russhe x^li.

Item I gyue and bequeth to my seruauntt John Hynde my horsekeper iij^li vj^s viij^d.

Item I wyll that myn executors shall Saluelye kepe the patentt of the Manour of Rompney to the vse of my Son gregorye and the money growing therof tyll he shall Cum to his lawfull Age to be yerely Retayned to the vse of my sayd Son and the hole revenew therof Cumyng to be trewlye payd vnto hym at suche tyme as he shall Cum to the age of xxj yeres.

The residue of all my goodes catalles and debttes not bequethed my Funeralles and buryall perfourmed which I will shalbe Don without any erthelye pompe and my Dettes payed, I will shalbe sold And the money thereof cummyng to be Distributed in wourkes of charytee and pytee after the good Discression of myn executours vndernamed whom I make and Ordeyn Stephyn Vaughan [137] Rafe Sadleyer my seruaunttes and John [138] Wyllyamson my brother in law. Prayeng and Desiring the same myn executours to be good vnto my Soon Gregorye [139] and to all other my Frendes poore kynsfolkes and Seruaunttes before named in this my testament And of this my present testament and last Will I make Roger More myn Ouerseer Vnto whom and also to euery of the other myn executours I gyue and bequethe vj^li xiij^s iiij^d [140] for their paynes to be taken in the execucyon of this my last will and testament ouer and aboue suche legacies as herebefore I haue bequethed them in this same my testament and last will. In Wytnes Wherof to this my present testament and last will I haue sett my hand in euery lefe conteyned in this Boke the day and yere before lymyted

per me Thomam Crumwell [141]

Endorsed. Thomas Crumwell a Copy of my Master his Will And bookes of debtes owinge to him.