Enrollment of wills, 8-22 Richard II

(C.) Extracts from the Roll (8–22 Richard II.) of Enrolments of Wills.

(1.) The Will (Testament) of Margaret Frenhge, widow:—

In the name of God Amen. On the eleventh of the kalends of May, in the year of the Lord 1352, I, Margaret, formerly the wife of John Frenhge of good memory, make my testament in this manner. In the first place I commend my soul to God Almighty and my body to be buried in the church of St. Margaret of Lenn beside the body of the aforesaid John formerly my man, And I leave forty shillings of silver for the expenses of my funeral, to be done according to the disposition of my executors, And I leave forty shillings of silver for my forgotten tithes to the high altar in the church of St. Margaret aforesaid, and vis. viiid. to the fabrick of the same church, also iis. to the fabrick of the chapel of St. James of Lenn, iis. to the fabrick of the chapel of St. Nicholas of Lenn, xiid. to the fabrick of the church of All Saints of Lenn, vis. viiid. to the Friars of the order of St. Augustine tarrying in Lenn. and vis. viiid. to the Friars Preachers there, five marks of silver to the Friars Minors of Lenn for celebrating one anniversary office for my soul and the soul of the aforesaid John de Frenghe formerly my man, and for souls for whom we are bound within the first year after my death, and five marks of silver to the Friars Carmelites of Suthlenn to celebrate in like manner one anniversary office, Also I leave five marks of silver to Friar Richard de Depedal of the order of the Carmelites to celebrate one anniversary office for my soul and the aforesaid John my man in the year next after my death if the same Friar Richard be living, Also I leave xiid. to the poor people of the Hospice of St. John of Lenn, also xiid. to the hospice of lepers of St. Mary Magdalen on the calcetum (causeway), also xiid. to the lepers of Herdewyke, and xiid. to the the lepers of Cougate. Also I leave to my daughter Elen and the heirs lawfully issuing of her body all that tenement with its buildings and appurtenances in the burgh of Lenn which from ancient time is called Palmerstede, lying between the tenement formerly of Alan de Lindesey on the west and the tenement of Robert le Countour on the east which extends itself with the common flete which is called Pufflet towards the south even to the common gutter of Lenn northwards, to be held of the chief Lord of the fee for the sum pertaining to the said tenement, And if the said Elen shall die without an heir lawfully issuing of her body, then I will that the whole of the aforesaid tenement with all its buildings and appurtenances be sold by my and her executors, a yearly rent of twenty shillings being reserved therefrom to my daughter Margaret, a nun of Blakeburgh, for all her life, to be yearly received of the said tenement for her necessities, according to the tenor of a certain writing made respecting the same to the same Margaret and signed with my seal, And I leave all the money raised from the tenement thus sold to be spent, for my soul and the soul of the aforesaid John my man and the soul of the aforesaid Elen and the souls to which we are bound, in the celebration of masses, distribution for the relief of the poor and other works of charity to be done in the town of Lenn at the discretion and disposition of my executors and the executors of the said Elen, Also I leave all that tenement with its edifices and appurtenances in the town of Lenn, opposite to the Friars of the order of St. Augustine of Lenn, which lies between the tenement of Ralph Ferrour on the north and the tenement formerly belonging to William Whetacre and the tenement formerly belonging to Roger Wyth and the tenement of the heirs of Thomas de Sadilbowe on the south, and lies along the common way called Listeresgate from the tenement formerly belonging to William de Whetacre and Simon Burel eastward even to the tenement formerly belonging to Robert de Bouden and the land formerly belonging to Godfrey Fraunces on the west, to be sold by my executors for the payment of my debts and fulfilment of this my present will, Also I leave thirteen shillings and four pence of yearly rent, to be received annually to my daughter Elen for the whole term of her life, together with the reliefs escheats homages and all other its appurtenances of all that tenement, which formerly belonging to John Merlawe and lies at Cresmarkete between the tenement of John Cokesforde on the south and the tenement formerly belonging to Robert de Bougham on the north, and extends itself along the king's common way eastward even to the common gutter westward, to whosesoever hands the aforesaid tenement with its appurtenances shall come, and I will that after the death of the aforesaid Elen the yearly rent of thirteen shillings and four pence together with the reliefs escheats homages and all its appurtenances be sold by my executors and that the money thence coming be distributed by my executors, for the soul of Walter de . . . . and for the soul of his wife Agnes and for the souls to which we are bound, in the celebration of masses and relief of the poor and other works of charity, Also I leave to my daughter Elen ten marks of silver and also one sistern and all my vessels and utensils of lead iron and wood within that tenement, formerly belonging to John Frenghe my man, being in Stokfishrewe, and one brass pot of four flagons, and two brass plates for melting, and a plate for friture, and a vessel for washing linen, and a grain-measure, and a hanging vessel for washing linen, And I leave forty shillings to my maid servant Beatrice, Also I leave xiid. to each holy nun in Blakeburgh, Also I leave xxs. to my daughter Margery a nun of Blakeburgh, Also I leave to my daughter Elen and her heirs and assigns one moiety of a messuage formerly belonging to my father at the chapel of St. James with all its appurtenances as it lies in length and breadth, Also I leave the residue of my goods, my debts being fully paid and the execution of this will being altogether fulfilled, to be expended for my soul and for the soul of John de Frenghe my man, and for the souls to whom we are bound, in celebrations of masses and the relief of the poor and other works of charity, at the disposition and discretion of my executors as they shall see best to hasten the same to the aid and health of my soul. Moreover I appoint my executors, viz. Robert Braunche, Henry de Estderham chaplain, and Stephen Cock of Tilney and I leave xxs. to each of them. Dated at Lenn on the day and year abovesaid.

On the fifth of the Ides of June in the year of our Lord one thousand three hundred and fifty-two, the present will was proved before us the Venerable Father Lord William by God's grace bishop of Norwich in the liberty of the jurisdiction of the Official of the town of Lenn, and administration of all goods touching the said testament was committed to Henry de Estderham chaplain and Stephen Kokes de Tilneye the executors named in due form in the said will, Power being reserved to us to grant administration of all goods touching the same will to Robert Braunche, when he shall come and wish to undertake the charge of the administration. In testimony of which thing we have put to these presents the seal which we use in our office. Dated on the day and in the place and year above said.

And we John Waryn, Mayor of the town of Lenn, on the twentythird day of the month of June in the eighth year of the reign of King Richard after the conquest the Second, proclamation of this testament having made many times, and the same testament having been proved before us and our community according to the law and custom of the aforesaid town, in the ways and manner agreed upon in respect to the tenements and rents bequeathed in the said testament, no one in this matter contradicting nor reclaiming, we ratify and approve the same testament, signed with the appendant seal which we use in the office of our Mayoralty and enrolled in the rolls of testaments of the Guildhall.

(2.) The Will (testament) of John de Grantham, Burgess of Lenn. In God's name Amen. On the day of Mars in the vigil of the Exaltation of the Sacred Cross, in the year of the Lord one thousand three hundred and eighty-four, I John de Grantham, Burgess of Lenn, of my same purpose and composed mind, make my will in this manner. In the first place, I recommend my soul to God Almighty, the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints, and leave my body to be buried in the parish churchyard of St. Margaret of Lenn aforesaid,—Also I leave xls. as well for my forgotten tithes as for my offerings to the High Altar of the same church,—Also I leave iiis. iiiid. to the fabrick of the same church,— Also I leave iis. to the fabrick of the church of St. James of the same town of Lenn,—Also I leave iis. to the fabrick of the church of St. Nicholas of the same town of Lenn,—Also I leave xls. to the convent of the Friars Carmelites of South Lenn,—Also I leave iiis. iiiid. to each of the other convents of the orders of Mendicant Friars of Lenn,—Also I leave vis. viiid. to the convent of the nuns of Shouldham,—Also I leave vis. viiid. to the nuns of Blakeburgh,—Also I leave vis. viiid. to the nuns of Crabhouse,—Also I leave iiis. iiiid. to each house of the seven houses of lepers about Lenn,—Also I leave to my son John "unam mappa', unam tuall', unam pelvem" with a vessel for washing clothes in, xii silver spoons, two silver cups with the two covers one of which is wrought to the fashion of a chalice, and the other of which I bought of Thomas de Honton,—Also I leave to my same son John "ii len'os integros, i archam et totam armaturam meam cujuscunque generis seu operis fuerit," and if it shall happen he shall die before receiving the said goods bequeathed to him by me, I will the same goods to be sold my executors, and I leave the money coming therefrom to be expended at the disposition of my executors in works of charity and alms for my soul and the souls to which I am bound and of the said John and all who have died in the faith,—Also I leave xxs. to Thomas Baret,—Also I leave xiiis. iiiid. to Richard son of Geoffrey de Frangham and xs. to each of the three brothers of the same Richard,—Also I leave xxs. to Katherine the daughter of Thomas Drewe,—Also I leave all that my tenement with its appurtenances in Bishop's Lenn, lying between the north angle of the lane which leads to Wyngate, formerly belonging to Laurence Keppes, to be sold by my executors, and the money coming therefrom I bequeath and assign to pay my debts and funeral expenses, and then to works of piety and alms at the disposition of my executors for my soul and the soul of Isabella long since my wife and the souls to whom I am bound and the souls of all who died in the faith. Moreover I leave the residue of all my worldly goods wholly (integraliter) to my wife Matilda. Of this my testament I constitute my executors Geoffrey de Frangham, Thomas Drewe and John Lokes burgesses of Lenn aforesaid, and I leave xxs. to each of them for his labour. In testimony of which thing I have put my seal to the present testament.—Dated &c.

This will was proved before us the Official of the Liberty of the town of Bishop's Lenn on the second day of the month of October in the year of Lord one thousand three hundred and eighty-four. And administration of all goods touching the said will was given to the executor named in the said will, sworn in lawful form. In testimony of which thing we have put to these presents the seal of our office. Dated &c.

And we Thomas de Conteshale, Mayor of the town of Lenn on 22 January 1387 A.D., proclamation having been made and this will proved according to the law and custom of the town of Lenn aforesaid, in the ways and manners agreed upon, no one in this matter opposing, we ratify and approve the present testament, signed with the pendent seal which we use in the office of the mayoralty, and enrolled in the Rolls of Testaments of Lenn aforesaid.

In connection with this Wills Roll (8–22 Ric. II.), mention may be here made of a collection of fourteen wills (with probate), viz.: of Richard de Geyton, burgess of Bishop's Lenn, dated 1276 A.D.; of Robert Langham, burgess of Lenn, proved 1313 A.D.; of . . . . de Keteliston, burgess of Lenn, widow; of John de Lenn mercer, burgess of Lenn, proved 1372 A.D.; of Margaret Grym of Lenn widow, proved 1375 A.D.; of John Wace, burgess of Lenn, proved 1399 A.D.; of William Bechecroft, dated at Methwold 1421 A.D.; of Robert Salesbury, burgess of Lenn, dated 1429 A.D.; of William Silisden, burgess of Lenn, proved 1430 A.D.; of Gilbert Watson, burgess of Lenn, proved 1479 A.D.; of Thomas Dawson of Lenn, proved 1539 A.D.; of William Plane, of Lenn yoman, proved 1582 A.D.; of John Turner of King's Lynn, proved 1744 A.D.; and of Ann Barsham of King's Lynn, widow, proved 1751 A.D.