[Sidenote: 1487 / MAY 18]
In Dei nomine, Amen. The xviijth’ day of the moneth of May in the yere
of Our Lord God m^{l}cccclxxxvij. and in the secund yere of the reign of
King Henry the vij. I, Dame Elisabeth late wife of Sir George Brown,
Knyght, being of hoole mynde and in good memorye, thanked be Allmyghty
God, make and ordeign this my present testament and last will yn maner
and forme folowing, that is to say:--
First. I bequeith my soul to Allmyghty God, Our Lady Saint Mary and to
all the Holy Company of Hevon; and my body to be buried withyn the
churche of the Blak Freris within Ludgate with my forsaid housband Sir
George; to the whiche place I bequeith xxj_li._ for my said housbandes
soul and myne, our fadres and modres soules and for all Cristen soules
to be praid for. And for xiij. trentalles of Saint Gregory to be said
and songyn for us and thaym by the freris of the said place, as in
diriges and masses with all other observaunces belonging to the same, in
maner and forme folowing; That is to wete, in the day or morow after my
discesse vij. trentallis; and every weke folowing unto my monthes mynde
oon trentall, and iij. trentalles at my monthes mynde biside the
solempne dirige and masse that is to be requyred for me at that tyme.
And I charge myne executours to see that the premisses be done and
performed, and also the said freris to feche me from the place where I
die unto thair said place where I have lymyted afore to be buried. Also,
I wull that as sone as my body is buryed and th’expenses therof done and
paid that myn executours provide and see that my dettes be contented and
paid. Also, I bequeith to the vicar of the church of Dorking in the
county of Surrey for my forsaid housbandes soul and myne, our faders and
modres, and for all the soules that we be bound unto, to be praid for
within the yer after my discesse, as in diriges and masses to be said or
song by hym or his deputie and to have us specially in remembraunce in
thayr memento by oon hole yer, xx_s._ Also, I bequeith to the reparacion
of the forsaid churche of Dorking xx_s._ Also, I bequeith to the parson
of Saint Albans in Wodstrete within London for diriges and masses to be
said or song by hym or his deputie, in like wise as the vicar of Dorking
is charged, as is afore rehersed, xx_s._ Also, I bequeith to the
reparacion of the stepull of the said churche of Saint Albane xx.
solidos. Also, I bequeith to the prisoners of Newgate and Ludgate,
Kinges Bench and Marshallsee, to every of those places to be praid for,
xx_d._ Also, I bequeith to bedred folkes and other pour householders,
aswell men as women, dwelling within London and without in the suburbis
of the same, and moste specially souche as have knowen me and I thaym,
xl_s._, as by the discrecions and advises of myne executours it shall be
thought best to be done. Moreover I geve and biqueith to my doughter
Mary, to the promocion of her mariage, all my plate and other juelles,
with all myne hole apparell, and all my stuff of houshold being within
my dwelling place or any other within the citee of London or suburbes of
the same, that is to say:--First, a standing cupp of silver gilt, chaced
with plompes, weyeng with the cover, knoppe and devise xlij. unces _et
dimidium_. Item, a standing cupp of silver and gilt, chaced with
flowres, weying with the cover, the knopp and devise, xxvij. unces _et
dimidium_. A playn standing cupp of silver gilt, weing with the cover,
the knopp and the devise xxx. unces. A standing cupp of silver and gilt,
chaced with half plompes, weying with the cover, knopp and devise xx.
unces and _dimidium_. A playn standing cupp of silver gilt weying with
cover and the knoppe and the devyse xxvij. unces and an half. A standyng
cuppe of silver and gilt, weyng with the cover, the knoppe and the
devyse xxvj. unces. A saltseler of sylver and gilte, weyng with the
cover, the knoppe and the devyse xxiij. unces. A saltseler of sylver and
gilt, without a cover, weying xxij. unces and an halfe. A litill
saltseler of sylver and gilt, weying with the cover and the knoppe and
the devyse xv. unces and an half. A litell saltseler of sylver and gilt,
without the cover, weying viij. unces and an halfe. And vij. bolles of
sylver, parcelles gilt, weying iiij.^xx. xviij. unces. And ij. peces of
sylver with a cover weying xlviij. unces. A dosen and a half of silver
sponys weying xxiij. unces, and iij. sponys of silver and gilt weying
iij. unces and iij. quartrons, and a long spone of sylver and gilt for
ginger, weying j. unce and iij. quartrons. Item, a chafing disshe of
sylver weying xxvj. unces. And ij. litell crewettes of sylver, weying
viij. unces. A chalese of sylver and gilt with the paten, weying xj.
unces. An haly water stok of silver with the lid, handill, and
spryngill, weying xij. unces. An Agnus with a baleys iij. saphires, iij.
perlys with an image of Saint Antony apon it. And a tablet with the
Salutacion of Our Lady, and the iij. Kingis of Collayn. A bee with a
grete pearl. A dyamond, an emerawde, iij. grete perlys hanging apon the
same. A nother bee with a grete perle, with an emerawde and a saphire,
weying ij. unces iij. quarters. A pece of the Holy Crosse, crossewise
made, bordured with silver aboute; iij. brode girdilles, oone of tawny
silke with bokill a pendaunt, another of purpill with bokyll and
pendaunt, and the iij^de. of purpill damaske with bokell and pendaunt.
And vj. barres of silver and gilt, and iij. brode harnysed girdilles,
oone white tisshew, another red tysshew gold, and the iij^de a playne
grene coorse. A muskeball of gold weying halfe an unce, and ij. bokilles
and ij. pendauntes of gold, oone playne and the other pounsyd, weying an
unce and a quarter. And a harnysed girdill enameled with rowsclare,
weying halfe an unce. A dymysoynt[203-1] with a rubye and an amatyste
weying j. unce and an halfe. An harnysed girdill of golde of damaske
with a long pendaunt, and a bokill of golde chekkyd, weying j. unce. A
grete bed of a state of verdure, and a counterpoynt to the same. And
iiij. curteyns of grene tartron. A grete federbed, a bolster, and vj.
fetherbeddys over woren, vj. bolsters. And iiij. mattarasses, lytyll
over woren, xij. pellowes of downe, v. newe carpettys of ij. ellys in
lengeth and yarde and halfe brode, iij. fyne pelow beres, and a grete
counterpoynt of tapstery werk of v. yardes and a quarter longe and iiij.
yardes brode. A hanging for a chamber of grene say borduryd with acrons
of xxxv. yerdes longe; a whyte spervyour; ij. counterpoyntes, an hanging
bed, with a lyon thereupon; and the valence white, grene, and red, and
iiij. blew courtens to the same. And two coverlettes with lyons; a blak
testour for a bed, with iiij. blak curtens, and vj. pecys of blak
hanging to the same; ij. cusshens of blak velvet; a cusshyn of blak
damask; a cusshen of grene worstede; a long cusshen of blewe saten
figure. A blak coveryng for a bed of borde alisaunder. And xj. peces of
grene saye, borduryd with acorns, to hang with a chambre. A vestment of
blak velwet with orfrayes, browderyd with my saide husbondys armes and
myne; an awbe; j. chesyppill, with a stole, and all that belongeth
therto; ij. corporas casys of cloth of gold; j. olde vestment; an awbe;
an awter clothe wyth the image of Our Lorde; a corporas case of blewe
cloth of golde. A nother of blewe saten and russet. An awter clothe of
staynyd werke. And iij. stenyd clothes with imagis in them to hang a
chapell. ij. awter clothes of white sylke with red crosses, and ij.
curtens with white frengis and red. And iiij. curtens, ij. of rayed
sarsenet, and two of grene. An awter clothe; a litell pece of grene
tartron; a payer of fustyans of iiij. breddys iij. yerdys iij. quarters
long. A paire of fyne shetys overworne of iiij. yerdes brede. An hede
shete and iij. payer of newe shetys of iij. levis, of iij. ellys and an
half long. And two payer of shetys of ij. levis and an half long. And
iij. hed shetys of ij. bredys, and vj. paier of shetys over worne of ij.
levis. And vj. paier of houshold shetis. And two paier of wollen
blankettes. And a violet gowne, furryd with martrons. A blak gowne
furryd with gray. A blak gowne furryd with white. A blak gowne furryd
with martrons. And a nyght gowne of blak furryd with martrons. A kirtill
of tawny chamlet. A purfill of ermyns of ij. skynne depeth, and iij.
yardys and an half long. A purfill of martrons of j. skynne depeth, and
iiij. yardis long. A purfill of shankes of ij. skynne deppeth, and iiij.
yardis long. A bonet of poudrid ermyns. And a pece of cloth of golde
with dropis, which was of a duplade. And a dosen of diaper napkyns of
flour de lyce werke and crownes. And a dosen and a half of naptkyns of
playne clothe with blew pelowers, and a pece of clothe of diaper werke
to make with a dosen naptkyns. A bordecloth of floure de lice werk and
crownes of x. yardis and an half long, and iij. yardis brode. And a
nother bordecloth of flour de lyce werk and crownes, viij. yardes and a
half long, ij. yardes and a quarter brode; a towell of diaper of flower
delice werke and crownys of xx^ti yardys long, and iij. quarters brode.
Another towell of flower delice werke and crownys of iij. quarters brode
and xviij. yardes long. A nother of latise werke and diaper of iij.
quarter brede xiiij. yerdes di’ long. Another towell of iiij. greynys,
and a fret of viij. yerdes di’ long. A nother towell of latise werk and
crownys vj. yerdes and di’ long and iij. quarters brede. And two
towellis of great diaper werke, iij. yerdes and a quarter long and iij.
quarter brode. And a pece of new creste clothe conteygnyng xxiij. ellys.
And two towellys of great diaper werkes of xiij. yerdes long and iij.
quarter in brede. And vij. grete cofers, v. chestis, ij. almaryes like a
chayer, and a blak cofer bounden with iron. vj. yoyned stoles, iiij.
kaskettys, v. litell joynyd stoles. A litill table, ij. yerdes long. A
rounde table, ij. trestelles, ij. garnysshe and di’ of pewter vessell
counterfete, wherof j. garnysshe and di’ is newe; and vj. great
kandelstikkis newe of laton, and iiij. newe bellyd kandelstikkis, ij.
litill kandelstikkis, vij. basens of pewater, and v. brasse pannys, of
the which oon is xvj. galons, and two of them of viij. galons a pece,
and the other ij. more lesse. A grete standing chafer of laton with a
lyon apon the lydde, ij. chafers of brasse, and ij. litill brasse
pottys, ij. grete cobardys, and ij. other cobardys more and lesse, ij.
fyer pannys, a lityll skelet. A ladill and a scomer of laton, ij.
colondyrs, ij. spyttys, ij. dreping pannes of iron, iij. dressing
knyfys, ij. lechyng knyfys, ij. choppyng knyfys. A tryvet. A brasen
morter with a pestell of iron, ij. stone morters, ij. gredyrons, j.
payer of potte hokys, a flesshe hoke, and a kolerake. Provydid alwey
that myn executours by the advyse of myn overseers ordeigne and put in
safegarde to be kept after my discease in to som religious place unto
the day of my said doughters mariage, and to the behofe and promocyon of
the same, all and every part of the forsaid plate and juelx with all
other stuffe of houshold by me to her, as is abovewritten, yoven and
bequethed, except souche stuffe as canne not be kept from mowghtes,
which I will she have the rule and governaunce of for the safegarde of
the same and for her wele. And if my saide doughter Mary dye unmaryed,
then I yeve and bequethe all the forsaid plate with all other stuffe of
housholde to my soon Mathewe her brother. And if it fortune that he dye
unmaryed, as God forfende, then I yeve and bequeth all and every part of
my forsaid plate, juelx, and stuffe of housholde unto my soon Sir Edward
Ponyngis. And yef it fortune the said Edward to dye, as God defende,
that then all the forsaid juelx and other stuffe above written, except a
playne standing cuppe of sylver and gilt, with the cover, the knoppe,
and the devyse of the same with gryffons hede in the botom wrought apon
blewe asure, weying xxvj. uncis, which I geve to my doughter in lawe,
Dame Isabell Ponyngis, to be dyvydyd by th’advice of the overseers of
this my present testament and last wille, and evynly to be departed unto
Antony Browne and Robert Browne, my brethern in lawe, they to do with it
thair fre wille. And as touching myne Agnus, tablettes with dyamondys,
saphires, perlys, grete and small crosses, gurdillis, dymyseyntes,
gownys, with all other thingis longing to myne apparayle, as is above
written, yef it fortune my said doughter Mary decease, I geve and
bequethe all and every part of it to my kynnyswoman Margaret Hasslake.
And if the said Margaret dye, that then all the said apparell
particularly written before remaigne to my said doughter-in-lawe Dame
Isabell Ponyngys. Also xx. marc which I lent unto my son Sir Edward
Ponynges, I woll that it be distributyd by the discrecion of myn
executours and overseers among souche as been knowen my servauntys at
the day of my discease. The residue of all my singuler goodes, catallys,
and juellys after my dettys payde, and my bequestes performyd and
fulfyllyd, and burying done, I geve and fully bequeth to my sonnys, Ser
Edward Ponyngis and Mathew Browne, and theym to dispose and do theire
fre wille, to pray and to do for my soule as they wolde I sholde do for
them, as they will aunswer afore God. And of this my testament and last
wille I make and ordeigne myn executours my forsaid sonnes, Ser Edward
Ponyngys and Mathew Browne, and theire supervysours Humphrey Conyngesby
and Richard Tuke. And I bequeth to every of myne executours for thair
labour lx_s._, and to every of myne overseers for thair labours xl_s._
In Wittenesse hereof, I the said Dame Elizabeth to this my present
testment and last wille have put my seale. Yoven at London, the day and
yere abovesaide.
Probatum fuit suprascriptum testamentum coram domino apud Lamehith
xxvj^to die mensis Junii, anno Domini supradicto, ac approbatum &c. Et
commissa fuit administratio &c., Matheo Browne, filio ejusdem et
executori &c. de bene &c. Ac de pleno inventario &c., citra festum
Sancti Petri quod dicitur _ad Vincula_, reservata potestate committendi
&c., Edwardo Ponynges militi, executori &c.
[Footnote 201-1: [Register Milles, 12.]]
[Footnote 203-1: A metal facing for a girdle.]
[[v. newe carpettys of ij. ellys in lengeth and yarde and halfe brode,
_text has “brode.”_
souche stuffe as canne not be kept from mowghtes, which I will
_text has “mowghtes.”_]]
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