The Grey Friars in Oxford

by A. G. Little

(Feb. 19). Comparuit coram nobis eodem die Ricardus Leke, et conquestus est de fratre Johanne Haruey, gardiano fratrum minorum, de et super quodam contractu indentato inter eos pro quodam gardino et expensis factis circa idem infra precinctum fratrum predictorum: et post multa communicata amicabilia inter partes predictas, tandem compromiserunt se expectare laudum, arbitramentum, et determinacionem Johannis Cokkes, legum doctoris, et Willelmi Balborow, utriusque juris bachularii, in alto et in basso, in omnibus causis, negociis, et querelis, motis vel mouendis, inter predictos fratrem et Ricardum, concernentibus se et conuentum suum, pro predicto gardino, edificio murorum, et occasione eorundem, a principio mundi usque in presentem diem; ita quod feratur sentencia siue laudum per predictos arbitros citra festum annunciationis B. Virginis ... (fol. 212^b).

16

Extracts from the will of Richard Leke, A. D. 1526.

Prerog. Court of Canterbury, Register Porch, quire 9.

In the name of God amen. In the yere of our Lorde god a Thousand fyve hundred twenty and six; The first day of May, I Richard Leke, late Bruer of Oxford, beying of hole and perfite mynde and sike of body, make my testament and last wille in this maner and fourme folowing, ffirst I bequethe my soule to almighty god to our blissed lady saint marye and to all the holy company of hevyn, my body to be buried w^t in the graye ffreres in Oxford before the awter where the first masse is daily vsed to be saide.... Item I will that my body be first brought to the Church of saint Ebbe, and there dirige and masse to be songe for me. Item I bequeth to two hundred prestes two hundred grotes to say dirige and masse at saint Ebbys and at the gray freres with other parishe Churches the day of my burying.... Item I bequeth to euery gray frere being prest w^tin the gray freres in Oxford iiij^d, and to euery gray frere there being noo prest ij^d, to dirige and masse for my soule the day next after my burying. Item I bequeth to the said gray freres vj^s viij^d to make a dyner in their owne place, and also other vj^s viij^d to the wardeyn of the same gray freres to prouide for the premisses. Item I bequeth to the said wardeyn of the gray freres xx^s to prouide the awters to be prepared and ornated w^t apparell for prestes to say masse w^tin the said freres. Item I bequeth to euery oon of the foure orders of freres in Oxford x^s to be paid after the maner and fourme folowing, that is to say, at my burying iij^s iiij^d, at my monethes mynde iij^s iiij^d, and att my yeres mynde iij^s iiij^d. And also to bringe me to Churche I woll the foresaid iiij orders, and there to synge dirige and masse for my soule and to receyue their money after the manner aboue expressed....

The will was proved on the 26th of July, 1526.

17

An ex-warden called to account, A. D. 1529.

Acta Curiae Cancellarii, EEE, fol. 124 b.

(Secundo die Sept.) Comparuit coram nobis (sc. Commissario) Johannes Bacheler ordinis minorum Oxon’ vicegardianus eiusdem ordinis, qui petiit, nomine gardiani eiusdem domus, a patre Johanne Harwey S.T.B., eiusdem ordinis et loci dudum gardiano, quosdam fideiussores produci ad reddendum compotum super omnibus et singulis que eidem obicientur ex parte gardiani moderni; qui pater Johannes in fideiussores produxit Willelmum Symcokes et Willelmum Plummer Oxon’, qui pro predicto Johanne Harwey fideiubebant in summa x librarum sterlingorum, dicto gardiano et ordinis prefati conuentui soluendorum, si dictus Johannes Harwey citra festum Pasche proximum legittime compotum non reddidit secundum formam petitionis prefati gardiani, cum ab eo requisitus et licite monitus.