Chapter VII: 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 Thom_a_s 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 p_re_sent testament conteyning my last will in man_er_ and ‹fourme› Folowing. FURSTE I bequethe my Sowle to the grete god of heuen my maker Creato_ur_ and Redemer beseching the most gloryous virgyn o_ur_ blessed ladie Saynct Mary the vyrgyn and Mother w_ith_ 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 eu_er_ 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 good_es_ which our lorde hathe lent me in this Worlde I will shalbe ordered and disposed in man_er_ 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 W_ith_ 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 lond_es_ tenement_es_ and hereditament_es_ 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 lond_es_ ten_emen_t_es_ and hereditament_es_ shalbe so purchased after my deth as is aforsaide by myn executours that the yerelie proffyt_es_ thereof shalbe hollie spent and imployed in and about_es_ the educacyon and fynding honestly of my saide Soon Gregory in vertue good lerning and Maners vntill such tyme as he shall cu_m_ 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 v_er_teously ordered & brought vp according to my trust It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to my saide Soon Gregorie When he shall cu_m_ to his full age of xxiiij yeres Twoo[91] Hundreth pound_es_ 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 cu_m_ to his hand_es_ at his saide age of xxiiij^{ti} yeres. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to my saide Soon Gregory of such houseold stuf as god hathe lent me Three[92] of my best Fetherbedd_es_ w_ith_ thayr bolsters ij^o the best[93] payre of blankett_es_ of Fustyan my best Couerlet of Tapistrye and my Quylte of yelow Turquye Saten, x payre of my best Shet_es_ foure[94] pillowes of downe w_ith_ iiij payre of the best pillowe beres foure[95] of my best table clothes, foure of my best towell_es_ 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 Spitt_es_, My best ioyned bed of Flaunders wo_ur_ke w_ith_ the best Syler and tester and other thapp_ur_ten_au_nc_es_ therto belonging My best presse caruen of Flaunders wo_ur_ke and my best Cupbourde caruen of Flaunders wo_ur_k w_ith_ also vj Joyned Stoles of Flaunders wo_ur_ke and vj of my best Cusshyns It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to my saide Soon Gregorye A Bason w_ith_ a Lewer p_ar_cell gilte my best Salt gilt my best Cup gilt, Three[98] of my best goblettes gilt three other of my best goblettes p_ar_cell gylt, Twelue of[99] my best Syluer spones, Three of[100] my best Drynking ale pot_es_ gilt. All the which p_ar_cell_es_ of plate and houseold stuf I will shalbe savelye kept to thuse of my saide Soonne Gregorye till he shall cu_m_ to his saide full age of xxij^{ti} yeres and all the which plate household stuf Naperye and other the p_re_misses I will myn executo_ur_s do put in saufe keping vntill my saide Soon shall cu_m_ 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 cum_m_yng to be gyuen and equallie Deuyded amongst my poure kynnesfolk_es_. That is to say amongst the children as well of myn owne Susters Elizabeth and Katheryn as of my late Wyff_es_ 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 kynnesfolk_es_ 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 _Christ_en Sowles[102] Item I gyue and bequethe vnto my Suster Elizabeth Wellyfed Wif to Wyllyam Wellyfed xl^{li}[103] iij Goblett_es_ w_ith_out a Cou_er_[104] a Macer, And A Nutt Item I gyue and bequethe to my nephew Rycharde Wyllyams[105] lxvj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d[106] sterling_es_ my best[107] gowne Doblett and Jaquet It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to my nepue _Christ_ofer Wellyfed my nephe xl^{li}[108] my v^{th} gowne doblett and Jaquett It_em_ 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 _Christ_ofer 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 part_es_ shall remayne to Gregory my Soon. And if it happen him to Dye before them then I will all the said p_ar_t_es_ shall remayn to Rychard Wyll_ia_ms and Water Will_ia_ms my nephews[110] And if it happen them to Dye then I will that all the said part_es_ shalbe Distributed in Dead_es_ of charytee for my Sowle my Father and Mothers Sowles and all christen Sowles. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to my Mother in law Mercye Pryo_ur_ xl^{li} of lawfull ynglissh money and her ch_a_umber w_ith_ certen houseold stuf, That is to saye A Fetherbed, a Bolster ij pillowes w_ith_ their beres vj payre of Shet_es_ A payre of blankettes, A garnyssh of vessell, ij^o pott_es_, ij^o pannes, ij^o Spyttes w_ith_ 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 p_re_sent testament and last will. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to my said mother in law a lytill Salt of Syluer a Maser, vj Silu_er_ Spones and a drinking pot of Syluer And also I charge myn executours to be good vnto her duryng her lyffe. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to my brother in law Willya_m_ Wellyfed xx^{li} my thurde gown Jaquet and Doblet. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to John Wyllyamson my brother in law c m_ar_k_es_[111] a gown a Doblet and a Jaquet, A Fetherbed, A bolster vj payre of Shet_es_ ij^o table clothes, ij^o Dozen Naptkynnes, ij^o towell_es_ ij^o brasse pott_es_, ij^o brasse pannes, a Sylu_er_ pott A Nutte p_ar_cell gilt, and to Iohan_e_ his wyf x^{li}[112]. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to Johane Wyllyamson their Doughter to her maryage xx^{li} and to eu_er_y other of their children vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d[113]. It_e_m I bequethe to Walter Wyllyams my nephue[114] xx^{li} It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to Rafe Sadleyer my s_er_u_au_nte cc[115] Mark_es_ of lawfull ynglissh money my Seconde[116] gowne Jaquet and Doblet and all my bok_es_ It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to Hugh Whalley my Seru_au_nt vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to Stephen Vaughan sumtyme my s_er_u_au_nte c m_ar_k_es_[117] a gowne Jaquet and Doblet. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to Page my Seru_au_nte otherwise called John du Pount vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d[118] and also to Thom_as_ Auerey my s_er_u_au_ntt vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d[119]. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to John Horwood vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d[120] It_e_m 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 Seru_au_ntes after the order and discression of myn executours It_e_m I will also that myn executours shall take the yerely profytt_es_ aboue the charges of my Ferme of Canberye and all other thing_es_ Conteynyd w_ith_in my sayd lease of Canberye in the Cowntye of Middelsex[121] And w_ith_ the proffyt_es_ thereof[122] shall yerelie paye vnto my brother in law Will_ia_m 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 Will_ia_m and Elysabeth the proffett_es_ of the sayd Ferme ou_er_ _and_ aboue the yerlye Rentt to be kept to the vse of my Son gregorye tyll he Cu_m_ 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 cu_m_ to the age of xxij[124] yeres My sayd bruthure_n_ in lawe and syster being dede Then I will my Cosyn Rychard Will_ia_ms shall ‹haue› the Ferme w_ith_ the appurten_au_nc_es_ 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 touching_e_ the sayd Ferme then I wyll myn executors shall Sell the sayd ferme and the moneye therof Cummyng to Imploye in ded_es_ of charyte to praye[126] for my Sowle and all _Christe_n Sowles. It_e_m I will that myn executours shall conducte and hyre a pryest being an honest p_er_son 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 pownd_es_ thertene sheling_es_ Foure pens that ys to saye vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d yerlye for his stypend[128]. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe toward_es_ 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. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to eu_er_y of the v orders of Freers w_ith_in the Cytee of London to pray for my Soule xx^s[130]. It_e_m I gyue and bequethe to lx poure Maydens Maryages xl^{li}[131] That is to saye xiij^s iiij^d[132] to eu_er_ye of the saide poure Maydens to be gyuen and Distributed by the Discression of myn executours. It_e_m I will that there shalbe Delt and yeuen after my decesse amongst poure people howseholders to pray for my Sowle xx^{li}[133]. It_e_m I gyue and bequeth to the poure p_ar_ochians Suche as by myn executors shalbe thowght most needffull of the p_ar_oche 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] It_e_m 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 executo_ur_s vnderwrytten that they shall See this my Will p_er_fourmed in euery poynte according to my trew meaning and intente as they will answer to god and discharge their consciences.

[136]It_e_m I gyue and bequeth to Will_ia_m brabason my s_er_u_au_nt xx^{li} st_erling_ A gowne A dublett A Jaquet and my second gelding.

It_em_ I gyue and bequeth to John averey yoman of the bottell w_ith_ the kyng_es_ highnes vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d, and doublet of Saten.

It_e_m I bequeth to thurston my Coke vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d.

It_e_m I gyue _and_ bequethe to Will_ia_m bodye my s_er_u_au_ntt vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d.

It_e_m I gyue _and_ bequeth to Peter mewtes my s_er_u_au_ntt vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d.

It_e_m I gyue _and_ bequeth to Rychard Swyft my s_er_u_au_ntt vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d.

It_e_m I gyue _and_ bequeth to george Wylkynson my s_er_u_au_ntt vj^{li} xiij^s iiij^d.

It_e_m I gyue _and_ bequeth to my Frend Thomas alvard x^{li} _and_ my best gelding.

It_e_m I gyue _and_ bequeth to my frend Thom_a_s Russhe x^{li}.

It_e_m I gyue _and_ bequeth to my s_er_u_au_ntt John Hynde my horsekep_er_ iij^{li} vj^s viij^d.

It_em_ I wyll that myn executors shall Saluelye kepe the patentt of the Mano_ur_ of Rompney to the vse of my Son gregorye and the money growing therof tyll he shall Cu_m_ 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 Cu_m_ to the age of xxj yeres.

The residue of all my good_es_ catall_es_ and debtt_es_ not bequethed my Funerall_es_ and buryall p_er_fourmed which I will shalbe Don w_ith_out any erthelye pompe and my Dett_es_ payed, I will shalbe sold And the money thereof cu_m_myng to be Distributed in wo_ur_k_es_ of charytee and pytee after the good Discression of myn executours vndernamed whom I make and Ordeyn Stephyn Vaugh_a_n[137] Rafe Sadleyer my s_er_u_au_ntt_es_ 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 Frend_es_ poore kynsfolk_es_ and Seruaunttes before named in this my testament And of this my p_re_sent testament and last Will I make Roger More myn Ouerseer Vnto whom and also to eu_er_y 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 ou_er_ and aboue suche legacies as herebefore I haue bequethed them in this same my testament and last will. In Wytnes Wherof to this my p_re_sent testament and last will I haue sett my hand in eu_er_y lefe conteyned in this Boke the day and yere before lymyted

p_er_ me Thomam Crumwell[141]

_Endorsed._ Thomas Crumwell a Copy of my M_aster_ his Will And bookes of debt_es_ owinge to him.