Here are some brief extracts from various wills[174] which bear upon the subject.
In the Bury St. Edmunds Wills, Adam de Stanton, a chaplain, A.D. 1370, bequeaths one girdle with purse and knife valued at 5s., a considerable sum in those days. In the York wills, John Wyndhill, Rector of Arnecliffe, A.D. 1431, leaves an amber pair of beads, such as Piers Plowman says a priest ought “to bear in his hand, and a book under his arm;” and, curiously enough, in the next sentence, he leaves an English book of “Piers Plowman;” but he does not seem to have been much influenced by the popular poet’s invectives, for he goes on to bequeath two green gowns, and one of murrey, and one of sanguine colour, besides two of black, all trimmed with various furs; also one girdle of sanguine silk ornamented with silver gilded; and another zone of green and white, ornamented with silver gilded; and he also leaves his best silver girdle and a baselard with ivory and silver handle. John Gilby, Rector of Knesale, A.D. 1434-35, leaves a red toga furred with bryce, a black zone of silk with gilt bars, and a zone ornamented with silver. J. Bagale, Rector of All Saints, York, A.D. 1438, leaves a little basilard with a zone harnessed with silver to Sir T. Astell, a chaplain. W. Duffield, a chantry priest at York, A.D. 1443, leaves a black zone silvered, a purse called a “gypsire,” and a white purse of “burdeux.” W. Swerd, chaplain, leaves to H. Hobshot a hawk-bag, and to W. Day, parochial chaplain of Calton, a pair of hawk-bag rings, and to J. Sarle, chaplain, “my ruby zone silvered, and my toga furred with bevers;” and to the wife of J. Bridlington a ruby purse of satin. R. Rollerton, provost of the church of Beverley, A.D. 1450, leaves a “toga lunata” with a red hood, a toga and hood of violet, a long toga and hood of black trimmed with martrons, and a toga and hood of violet. J. Clyft, chaplain, A.D. 1455, leaves a zone of silk ornamented with silver.
The following extracts from wills of clergymen are full of points of interest, which want of space compels us to leave, without note or comment, to the reader’s discrimination:—
Roger de Kyrby, Perpetual Vicar of Gaynford, 1412, leaves his body to be buried in the choir of his parish church, near the altar, on the south side [where it still lies, with an inscription on a brass plate on the stone which covers his grave]. To a priest to celebrate for his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed for three years after his burial, £15. To the Abbot and Convent of Eglyston, 20s. To every priest of Castle Barnard present at his obsequies, 2s.; to every other priest present, 12d.; to be distributed on the day of his burial four marks. He leaves to the chapel of Castle Barnard a “Legenda Aurea” to Sir John Drawlace, junior chaplain, a book which is called “Gemma Ecclesiæ,” and all his other books he gives and bequeaths to William de Kirkby, son of Ada de Kyrkby, my late brother, “and this if it so happen that he shall have been made a presbyter, but if not they shall be sold and the price of them given for my soul,” as his executor shall think best. He leaves to Sir Thomas of Langton, chaplain, a toga of sanguine color furred; a chalice worth 40s., or 40s. of English money (monetæ Angliæ), to keep up the altar light of the blessed Mary of Castle Barnard. He leaves to William, his brother, a horse, viz. Bay, and 20s.; to Thomas de Kyrkby, his cousin (cognatus), 6 stone of wool and 2 marks; to Richard de Kyrkby, his cognatus, a cow, viz. the best, and a bed suited to his condition, and 4 stone of wool, with 20s.; to Elizabeth, his cognata, a younger cow, a basin and ewer and a bed suited to her, and 2 stone of wool, with 13s. 4d. To Thomas of Gedworth, his chamberlain, a grey horse, a cow, a red bed, and all his arrows, a best hauberk, a “brestplate,” and a pair of vambraces and also of rerebraces, a pair of “Whysshewes Grenyce,” a basinet with aventale, and a pair of gauntlets of plate, and 20s. He leaves to Henry Smyth 9 matrices (ewes?), with 5 lambs, or the price of them, and two pair of sheets, and 6s. 8d. He leaves to Thomas de Kyrkby, clerk, a green toga and 6s. 8d. To Alice Kyrkby, his brother’s widow, 12 best silver spoons worth 36s., and a covered piece of silver (unam peciam coopertam argenteam) ... and a best bed, with 4 marks of lawful money (monetæ legalis). He leaves to John Drawlace, junior, chaplain, a silver piece not covered, and 6 silver spoons, and a best toga. To Thomas Sowrale, chaplain, another toga, viz. of Sendry, and a piece not covered, and 6 silver spoons. The rest of all my goods he gives and bequeaths to the foresaid John Drawlace and Thomas Sowrale, chaplains. Inventory:—In told money (pecunia numerata), £36 13s. 4d.; 3 pieces of silver with covers, 11 marks, 6s. 8d.; 2 pieces without covers, 12s.; a silver-gilded zone, 5 marks; another silver zone, 10s.; 3 silver basilards, 2s. 4d.; a pair of bedes of amber and an Agnus Dei, 10s.; two beds of red colour covered with tapestry, 20s.; two beds sanguine, 10s.; a little bed of sanguine worstett, 6s. 8d.; a white bed, 3s. 4d.; 2 coverlets (coopercla), 6s.; a whylt with 4 materesse, 6s. 8d.; 14 “lodices,” 14s.; 19 pair of sheets, 31s. 8d.; a mantle of red “fresed,” 20s.; 3 furred gowns, 40s.; a “pylche of stranlion,” 20s.; 3 togæ singulæ, 13s. 4d.; 4 ells of woollen cloth, viz. of sendry colour with a web of russet, 26s. 8d.; “armatura,” 26s. 8d.; 8 lb. of wax, 4s.; a pair of trussyngcofers, 4s.; a wyrehatte, 5s.; total, £62 6s. 8d. In the hall, 2 dorsors with a banwher (banker),[175] 13s. 4d.; 12 whysshynes (cushions), 12s.; 2 tables with trestles, 12s.; a cupboard (coppeburd), 6s. 8d.; 2 basins and ewers, 4s. In the cellar, a napkin (mappa) with 1 towel newly made, 3s.; 10 old napkins with 3 towels, 2s. 6d.; 38 ells of linen cloth, 11s. 1d.; 3 pair of silver knives, 6s. 8d.; 9 ells of linen cloth of lake, 4s. 6d.; 2 barrels and 4 stands, 2s. In the kitchen, 7 brass pots, 7s.; 4 griddles (patellæ), 2s. 6d.; 1 “veru ferreum,” 8d.; 2 “dresshyng knyves,” 7d.; one lead (unum plumbum) containing 32 bottles (lagenas), with 3 small leads, 8s.; 2 dozen vasorum de electro, 20s.; a dozen of old vasorum, 6s. 8d.; 5 plates (perapsides) and 10 dishes (disci), 2s.; a frying-pan, 6d.; a Rostyngiryn, 4d. In the stable, 2 grey palfreys, £4; 2 horses, 26s. 8d.; a mare, 4s. 4d.; 5 saddles with 4 bridles, 16s. 8d.; a cart bound with iron with all fittings (omni apparatu), 16s.; 3 cows, 20s.; 15 pigs with 5 little pigs, 30s.; 1 boar, 6s. 8d. Granary, 10 quart’ of malt (brasii mixti), 33s. 4d.; wheat, barley, oats and peas not ground, £8. Owing to him, £10 10s.; 10 stone of iron, 5s.; other utensils, 10s.; sum total, £99 11s. 3d.[176]
Peter de Bolton, Rector of Scrayngham, diocese of York (1414), leaves 2½ silver marks to the glass windows on the south side of the chancel of his church. To the poor parishioners of Howshom and Scrayngham, 20s. between them. For wax to be burned around his body on the day of his burial, 10 lb. in 5 wax candles and 2 torches; to the chaplain celebrating Divine service for one year in the said chancel for the safety of his soul, 100s. “if my goods amount to such a sum when my debts are paid.” To the foresaid church of Scrayngham a chalice and a white vestment (vestimentum) with a chasuble (casula) powdered with red roses, and with albe, amice, stole, and fanula (maniple), and corporal, with “singulo” and frontal of the same work, and towell (tuall’) annexed to the frontal, with another tuall’ for the altar; provided that the parishioners of the said church of Scrayngham grant to him an old chasuble (casula), in which I intend to be buried. He leaves to John Haydok 40s. for his support at the schools; to William Bugdeyn 6s. 8d.; to Alice Laycester, of York, a toga talarem, long, reaching to the ancles of tawny; to his clerk a hauberk (lorica), with ventaled basenet, a pair of vanbraces and a pair of rerebraces, and a pair of gauntlets of plate; to Robert Rokesby, servant of Master Robert Ragonhyll, 6s. 8d.; to the said Master Robert Ragonhyll, 13s. 4d.; to Thomas Byrkdale, my cousin, a basilard ornamented with silver and 6s. 8d.; to the wife of William Bugden, 40d.; to Robert Saundby, 2s.; to Master John Stanton, 6s. 8d.; to Sir Gilbert Haydok, knyght, all my vessels of pewter; the rest to my executors.[177]
Stephen le Scrop, Archdeacon of Richmond (1418), leaves, to the high table of the altar of the church of St. Peter of York, my great jewel, ordinatum pro corpore Xti. (to be appropriated to the Pyx?), and three silver chargers of the best of my vessels, and a gold crucifix, and an entire vestment of red cloth of gold with two copes of the same suit.... To the fabric of the said church, £20; to each residentiary canon with the precentor of the said church present at my obit, 6s. 8d.; to each parson, 2s.; to each vicar, 20d.; to each deacon, sub-deacon, and thuribularius of the said church present at my obit, 12d.; to the sacrist, 10s.; to the clerks (clerus vestibuli) of the said church, 10s.; to the “mumdator,” 2s. To each of my churches of Esyngwald, Knaresburgh, Thorntonsteward, Clapham, Bolton, Arlecden, and Tallagham 10 marks, or a vestment of the value of 10 marks; to my church of Horneby, 5 marks; to my church of Bishophill, 5 marks, or a vestment at the discretion of my executors. To the monastery of the blessed Mary of York, 40s., provided they ring and celebrate my obit; to the friars of St. Leonard of York, 20s., provided they ring and celebrate my obit; to the house of Monkton, 100s., and 2 pieces of silk of red and green colour, for the high altar; to every house of monks (monalium), and to each house of friars within my archdeaconry, 20s.; to the friars of St. Robert of Knaresburgh, 40s.; to his lady mother, a golden covered ciphum (cup) with the inscription on the cover Good zere to his brother William, 12 best silver dishes (discos) and 12 best silver “saucers;” to his sister Matilda, 10 marks and a covered silver ciphum with the inscription BENEDICTUS QUI VENIT IN NOMINE DOMINI, and a tablet of ivory of two leaves bound with silver; to Master John Ermyn, his official, a covered silver ciphum with the inscription CUJUS FINIS BONUS TOTUM IPSUM BONUM, and a silver salt cellar (salsarium) not covered; to Sir William Bamburgh a covered silver cipum with the name Jesus on the top; to Master Peter Meland, a covered silver ciphum with knop on the top; to the Hall of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary, in Cambridge, in which habitavi his Catholicon, etc., and a tall silver-gilt covered ciphum with a long foot and signatum with “ivyn leves” (ivy leaves); to Brian of Plumpton, £10 and a covered silver ciphum, with the arms of Yvo Souche on the top; to William Normanvyle, 10 marks and a best ciphum not covered.... To John Semer, his chamberlain, his best scarlet robe with armilansa, tabard, hood, and their pumates, and fur trimmings, and 100s., Stephen del Courte, armiger, John Hewet, his clerk, William Heth, Henry of the Kitchen, Robert del Myre, William of the Chamber, Peter of the Kichen, William Lynne, Walter Flette, his clerk, Godfrey the Cook, John Percy, Robert of the Bakehouse, John Brod, Robert Walton, Robert Scolle, page of his chamber, Thomas Baker; and whatever day of the year he may die that the fees or wages of his servants be paid in full for that whole year. Also he leaves a silver-gilt chalice cup, with a long foot, with a knop at the top, a homiletorium and pair of gold beads, a pair of beads of coral ornamented with gold and knops of perrle, 2 silver-gilt covered ciphum of a suit, viz. chalice cups with knops of azure; 6 dishes and 6 “saucers” of silver, with his arms, to John Newhouse, chaplain; 8 marks a year for 5 years to celebrate at the altar of St. Stephen,[178] in the Church of York, for the souls of himself, his parents, brothers, sisters, his lord the archbishop, William Plumpton, his friends, his servants, and of all the faithful departed, and that he say daily the exequiæ defunctorum. Also to William Tadcaster, chaplain, the same sum for the same duties. 10 marks to the poor at his burial. He leaves books of Sextum and the Constitutions of Otho and Othobon, with John Aton, Decretales, Decreta, Hostiensis, to friends for life, and afterwards to the Library of York.
Thomas Hebbeden, Dean of the collegiate church of St. Andrew, of Aukland, leaves to John Holhom, his nephew, his best sword and unam integram armaturam.[179]
Sir Richard Towgall, priest, 1441 (apparently a chantry priest at one of the altars in Gateshead Church), leaves “unto Sir Johane huchinson, my sister’s soone, my best govne, and another govne that was Sir Will’m Goolands, my best tippett, the best bonet, ... a rachytt, a hangher, a mesbooke, a manuall, a doseyn aum’ beids with a gyemis ring, and all my books, with my bedde, that is to know a ffedour bedde, a bowster, 2 codds ... blankets, 2 coverletts, 2 scheyts.... To Robert huchinson my second gown, two dovbletts, and my hose. To the aforesayd Robert’s wyfe, a govn whiche I ware on Sondays, and to bessy chawmere, my blake govne. I give unto Jennet appelbe a yron chimnaye, a coffer, and a mantil. Unto Marg, his sistar, a counter and a pair of amber (avmer) bedys garded with silver gardis. To St. Cuthbart’s gilde, if it shall go on, 2 westments with ther albs, 2 altare cloythes, 1 towell, 2 candlesticks, 1 antiphonal, 1 prosessiner, a dirige book, and a pax. To Jennet Wawton 111d. and my dayly govne. My chalys unto the chirche of this condition, and if it please God that thair fawll a chantre within this forsayth chirche beyinge at the p’oshinars gyfte, and the p’oshinars be so good unto my cousinge, Sir Johane, as to gyve and promote hym beforr another, this doven, than this chalys to stand as gyft, and if not, to go to my executors.”[180]
By his will, dated 1491, Sir John Newys, Vicar of Tillingham, makes various bequests to his church, and leaves £6 8s. 4d. for a priest to sing for his soul for a year; he gives to Sir Richard Mortimer, his parish priest [i.e. his assistant curate], his portuous, and his long gown of musterdeviles with the hood; he leaves, besides, to different people, his best gown, his two red doublets, and best pair of hozen, his satten doublet, his new furred gown, his long green gown, and his long russet gown, and his old hozen.[181]