Will of Lady Joane Hungerford
(1411)
“Will of Joane Lady Hungerford, February 1, 1411. My body to be buried in the Chapel of St. Anne, in the Parish Church of Farleigh, Hungerford, next to the grave of my husband. I Will that, with all possible speed after my decease, my executors cause three thousand masses to be said for my soul, and for the souls of all the faithful deceased. Also I desire on my burial day that twelve torches and two tapers burn about my body, and that twelve poor women, holding the said torches, be cloathed in russet, with linen hoods, and having stockings and shoes suitable. I Will that ten pounds be bestowed to buy black cloth for the cloathing of my sons and daughters, as likewise for the sons and daughters of all my domestic servants. I Will that the two hundred marks now in the hands of my son, Sir Walter Hungerford, be given to found a perpetual chantry of one chaplain, to celebrate divine service in the Chapel of St. Anne, in the north part of the said Church of Farleigh, for the health of my soul, and the soul of my husband, and for the souls of all our ancestors forever; to Katherine, the wife of my said son Walter, my black mantle furred with minever, and to Thomas his son a green bed, embroidered with one greyhound.”
Will of Richard Berne
(1461)
“Will of Richard Berne, of Canterbury, 28th April, 1461. My body to be buried in the aisle before the cross, in the south part of St. Paul’s, at Canterbury. To the rebuilding of the bell tower of the monastery of St. Augustine ix l. to be paid as soon as the said work shall be begun; to the prisoners of the Castle of Canterbury and of Westgate vi s. viii d. each; to the Prioress of the Church of St. Sepulchre, towards the works of her Church, xiii s. iv d.; to the repair of the highway leading towards Sandwich, by St. Martin’s Hill and the Fishpoole, x l.; towards the repair of the highway in the Winecheape, between Bircholle’s Place and St. James’s Hospital, x l.; to Joan, my wife, my furniture and my best cart, and my five horses fit to draw it, with all their harness; to the building of the new bell tower of Tenterden vi s. viii d.”
The Will of Thomas Windsor, Esq.
(1479)
“Item. I Will that I have brennying (burning) at my burying and funeral service four tapers and twenty-two torches of wax, every taper to contain the weight of ten pounds and every torch sixteen pounds, which I Will that twenty-four very poor men and well disposed shall hold, as well at the time of my burying as at my monethe’s minde (month’s remembrance).
“Item. I Will that after my monethe’s minde done, the said four tapers be delivered to the church-wardens, &c.
“And that there be 100 children within the age of 16 years, to be at my monethe’s minde to pray for my soul ... that against my monethe’s minde the candles bren (burn) before the rude in the Parish Church.
“Also that at my monethe’s minde my executors provide 20 priests to sing plucebo dirige, &c.”
The Will of Sir Richard Hamerton, Knt.
(1480)