[Sidenote: 1459 / NOV. 3]
In the name and the wurship of the holy, blyssydfull Trynite [in the
year] of our Lord Jesu Crist, M^{l}CCCCLIX., and in the xxxviij. yeer of
[our souerayn Kyng] of Englonde and of Fraunce, Herry the Sexte, the
iij. day of the moneth [of] Novembre,[147.3] I, John Fastolf of Castre,
be Gret Jernemuth, of the counte of [Norfolk], Knyght, beynge in good
remembraunce, albeit I am sykly and thorwh age infeb[led], bryngyng to
mende and often revolvynge in my soule how this world is tra . . . and
how, amongs all e[r]thely thynges that is present or for to come, there
is noe thynge in this onstable world so serteyn to creature of man kende
as is departynge out of this world be dethe, the soule from the wrechyd
body; and noo thynge erthely so onserteyn as the oure and tyme of
deth--Therefore I, willynge and desyringe that of suche goodes of
substaunce worldly, mevabill and onmevable, that God of hise bounteuous
grace hathe sent me in my lif to dispose and ocupye, that they be
disposed as it may be thowght best for the helthe of my soule and to the
plessaunce of God, and also for the relyf, soccour, and helpe of the
soulez that I am most oblygid and bounde to purveye and doo . . . for,
as the soule of John Fastolf, my fadyr, Dame Mary, doutyr of Nicholas
. . . . . my modir, and the soule of Dame Milcent, my wiff, the dautyr
of [Sir Robert] Tibtot, knyght, and for the soulez of othyr of myn . . .
. . . . kynsefolke and speciall frendes here undir wretyn,--I ordeyn and
. . . . . this my last will in fourme and maner folwyng:--
[_First Draft._]
*[_Fyrst_, I will and ordeyne that, if it plese oure sovereynge lord
Kynge Herry the Sexte, or hese heyre Kynges, for the longe contynwyd
servise be me in the daye of strengthe and helthe of my body, to hym and
to the noble Kynge Herry the Forthe and Herry the Fifte, hise
progenitoris, and to hise noble uncles John Duke of Bedford, Thomas Duke
of Clarence, whill they were in the werrys of oure seyd sovereyng Lord
and hise noble progenitorys forseid, in Fraunce and Normandy as in
cuntreez and othyr placis, consederynge my many gret labourys, peynis,
and perilis in the seyd servise of oure sovereyn Lord and hise noble
progenitoris forseyd, and hise pleyntyuous grace withoutyn ony other
. . . . . of myn executores namyd in my testament, or ellys for a
resonable sume of [money] whiche oure seyd sovereyn Lord owith me, or in
othir wise, or be ony othyr meane, so as myn executores therein shall
accorde with oure seyd sovereyn Lord and hise counsell, or with hise
heire Kynges and here councell, to lycence and graunte to them that be
feffyd to myn use in my Lordshepis manerez, londes, tenementes, rentes,
servisez, with here appurtenaunces, or to here assigneez aftyr the
effecte and forme of the lawe, by the avyse of myn executores, to
ordeyne, founde, and stablishe, withinne the gret mancion or dwelynge
place late be me newe edified and motid in the town of Castre, be Gret
Jernemuth, in the counte of Norffolk, whiche mancion or dwellyng place I
was born in, a collage of a prioury of vj. religeous personis, monks of
the ordir of Seynt Benett, and to inmorteise and graunte to the seyd
priour and vj. religeous personis, or to here successorys, the forseyd
mancion or dwellynge place, with all the appurtenauncez and othir
suffecient and cleer lyflode of the forseyd lordshepis, maneres, londes,
and tenementes, rentes, and servisez, with here appurtenauncez, for the
sustentacion of the seyd priour and vj. religeous personys and here
successorys, and for here othyr chargys and reparacionis, and for vij.
pore men in the seyd collage in perpetuite, be the avise and discrecion
of myn executores forseid, to be foundyd and susteynid; and that thanne
the forseyd feffees or her assignees if they . . . . grauntes of othyr
havyng entresse in this be halve requisit lawefully shul make, founde,
and stablishe, or doo be made, founde, and stablishid in the seyd
collage, with the seyd priour and vj. religeous men, ever to endure, for
to prey for my soule and for the soulez of my fadir and my modir, and of
all my kynsefolk and good doeres, and for the soulez of the blissyd
memorye Kynges forseyd, Herry the Forthe and Herry the Fifte, and the
seyd noble Dukys, and for the good astat and prosperite of oure sovereyn
Lord durynge hese lyf tyme, and aftyr for hese soule, and for all
Cristeyn soules, therefor to synge and sey dayli devyne servise and
preyeris in perpetuite; and to be of the orderis, proffession,
obedyence, and governaunce of the ordyr of Seynt Benettes, and of the
same ordyr and profession as been the monkes of Seynt Benettes in Holme,
in the counte of Norffolk, and shalbe stablyshid be the good avyse of
myn executorys: And thoo feffeez forseyd, or here assygnez, inmorteyse
and graunte, or do been inmorteised and grauntid, feffe sufficiently
swyrly and lawfully to the seyd pryour and religeous, [and to their]
successores, the forseyd mancion and dwellynge place, with the
appurte[nances], . . . . sufficient, swyr, and cleer lyflode of the for
seyd lordshepis maneres . . . . rentes, servisez, with here
appurtenancez in Castre forseyd, and in all othir placis . . . . . lithe
next the seyd mancion or dwellynge place, for the sustenaunce [of the]
seyd priour and vj. religeous men and here successoris, here servauntis,
and the [seyd] vij. pore men: And for the chargys and reparacionis
forseyd, to the yeerly valew of thre hundryd markes starlyng over all
chargys; to have and to holde to the forseyd religeous men and to here
successoris for ever; providid alwey that the seyd priour and religeous
men and here successoris be bounden and compellabill suffeciently in
lawe be the discrecion of my seyd executoris, to susteyne the forseyd
vij. pore men contynwally, suffeciently, and convenyently in all thyngis
withinne the seyd collage for ever, and for to preye for the soulys
afore seyd.]*
[_Second Draft._]
_Firste_, Forasmyche as for the welfare of my soule and of the soules
forseyd, and for ese, support, and helpe of the pore inhabitantes in the
cuntre of Flegge, and for to avoyde that noo lord nor gret astat shuld
inhabit in tyme comyng withinne the gret mancion be me late edified and
motid in Castre forseid, I have of long tyme been in purpose to
stablishe and founde a collage withinne the seyd gret mancion, and soo
to purveye that suche as I lovyd and thought behoffefull for the seyd
cuntre, and that noon othyr, shulde inhabite in the seyd mancion with
the collagyens of the seyd collage: Therfor, and for the senguler love
and trust that I have to my seyd cosyn John Paston, [abov]e all othyr,
beyng in veray beleve that he will execute my will here in, I will and
ordeyne, as he and I have covinauntyd and been accordyd that he shall,
with inne resonable tyme aftyr my deseas, founde or do founde . . . .
and indewe withinne the seid mancion a collage of vij. religeous monkys
or pristes, to preye for the soules above seyd in perpetuite, of whiche
one to be cheif governour of hem, and he to have x_li._, and iche othyr
prist or monk [of the said co]llage x. marks yeerly for here sustenaunce
and fynding, clerly paid in mony, and that the seyd collagyens shull be
soo indewyd that be syde here seyd pencions for here propir levynge to
be grauntyd hem, they . . . . . inmorteysid to hem to fynde vij. pore
folke yeerly in perpetuite in the seyd mancion of Castre to preye for
the soulis above seyd in perpetuite. Of whiche pore folk iche of hem to
have xl_s._ a yeer or th . . . . ere levynge, fynding, and sustentacion;
and that the seyd John Paston shall ordeyne and make swyr to the seyd
collagyens, and to the seyd pore folke a suffecient summe, and a
competent and an esy dwellynge place . . . . . seid collagyens nor here
successorys beryng no reparacion there of, for whiche and for othyr
consyderacionis above seyd, I will, graunte, and ordeyne that the seyd
John Paston shall have in fee symple, to hy[m and his heirs] all the
manerez, londes, and tenementes in Norffolk, Suffolk, and Norwiche in
whiche the seyd John Paston or ony othyr to myn use are or were feffyd
in or have title to, and that all feffeez feffyd in the seyd manerez,
londes, and . . . er astat of the seyd manerez, londes, and tenementes
to suche personys, and at suche tymes and in suche fourme as the seyd
Paston, hise heyris or his assigneez, shall requyre hem, or ony of hem.
And the seyd John Paston . . . . . seyd collage shal bere and paye to my
behoff, towardes the paymentys of my dettes and othir thynges, be my
present will assygnid to be do, m^{l}m^{l}m^{l}m^{l.} [4000] mark, in
suche fourme and at suche tyme as in this my present will . . . . . . .
here aftir folwyng:--
[_First Draft._]
*[Item, I will and graunte that if outhyr the forseyd licence and
graunte of oure seyd sovereyn Lord, or of hise heyre Kynges, or the
licence or graunt of ony othyr . . . . entresse in this behalve be not
lawefully, swyrly, and suffeciently . . . . . . . that thanne my seid
executorys shall geve or do be gove to . . . . . . of the monastery of
Seynt Benettes of Holme for seyd, lyflode or mony competent . . . . .
seyd abot and covent or here successorys, and my seyd executores shal
accorde there in be here wise discrecionis, for the indewement and
sustentacion of vj. monkes in the seyd monastery and vij. pore men in
the same monastery, to prey for the soulys forseyd in perpetuite, to be
foundyd, susteynid, and kept, providid that the vj. monkes forseyd be
aumentyd abovyn the noumbre of monkes of here ferst fundacion, and over
the noumbre that they now use to kepe in the seyd monastery, and that
lawefull and agreable swyrte perpetualy be made be the avyse of myn seyd
executores, aswell for the augmentacion, susteyning, and kepynge of the
seyd vj. monkys, as for the convenyent and suffecient sustentacion,
fyndyng, and kepyng of the seyd vij. pore men in perpetuite, to preye as
is afore seyd.
*[It]em, I will and ordeyne that all and singuler lordshepis, maneres,
londes, and tenementes, [ren]tes, and servisez, with here
appurtenauncez, in whiche ony persone or personys are feffid in or have
astat and possession to myn use, in whiche sum ever counteez or townez
the said lordshepis, maneres, londes, and tenementes, rentes, and
servisez bein withinne the ream of Englond; and that all the forseyd and
senguler lordshepys, manerez, tenementes, rentes, and servisez, with
here appurtenaunce, in whiche ony person or personys been intitlyd to
myn use be the lawe, shull be sold be my seyd executoris, except
manerez, londes, and tenementes, rentes, and servisez, with here
appurtenauncez, as shall be morteysyd to the seyd collage, if the
fundacion thereof take effecte: And that the mony of the sale or salys
comynge be disposed be my seyd executores in executyng of thys my last
wyll and testament, and in othyr dedes of almesse as my seyd executores
be here discrecion shal seme best to plese God for the helthe of my
soule and for the soulys forseyd: And that happe the fundacion of the
seyd collage to take to noon effecte, nor the seyd collage foundyd, that
thanne the lordshepis, londes, and tenementes, rentes, and servise, with
here appurtenancez, whiche shul bee assygnid to the seyd morteysyng,
also shull be sold [be my]n executores, and the mony thereof comyng to
be disposed be [myn] executores in executyng and parformynge of my will
and testament, and in othyr dedes of mercy, pite, and almesse as shal
seme best to my seyd executores for the soulez afore seyd and the soulys
undyr wretyn.]*
[_Second Draft._]
Item, I wyll, ordeyne, and graunte that all othir lorshepis, manerez,
londes, and tenementes, rentes, and servisez, with here appurtenaunce,
in whiche ony persone or personis been feffid in, or have astat or
possession, or be in titlid to myn use be the lawe, except the seyd
manerez, londes, and tenementes, rentes, and servisez, with here
appurtenauncez, in the shirez of Norffolk, Suffolk, and Norwiche, in the
article next presedent specified, shull be sold be the seyd John Paston
and Thomas Howys, ij. of myn executoris. And I will, graunte, and
ordeyne that the seyd John and Thomas, and noon othir while they leve,
shall have the sengler rewle, sale, and disposecion of all my londes
forseyd, except before except, and execucion of this my last will and of
every article there in; and I will that the seid John and Thomas shall
have all the profitez and avaylez and emolwements of the seyd maneris,
londes, and tenementes, rentes, and servisez, with all othir comoditeez
thereof comyng, til be them they be sold, and the mony of the profites
and salis thereof comynge, be them to be disposed for the welfare of my
soule and of the soulez forseyd duryng the lyf of the seyd John and
Thomas; and in cas this my will be not executyd in theyre [liv]es, that
thanne the execucion be thereof doon be othyr myn executores that aftyr
hem too shal have the mynistracion of my goodes.
[_First Draft._]
*[Item, I will and ordeyne that my seyd executoris shull take and have
all the issews, avaylez, profitez, and emolwementes of all and senguler
lordshepys, manerez, londes, tenementes, rentes, and servisez forseyd,
with here appurtenaunce, excepte before except, to be geve to the seyd
collage, on to tyme they be sold feithefully and trewly be my seyd
executores; and on to tyme that they that shull be purchasorys be
feithefull and trewe bargeyne thereof made be twene hem and my seid
executorys, shull take and have the issewes, profitez, avayles, and
emolwementes, withoute fraude or male ingyne. And also I wyll and
ordeyne that my forseyd executores shull take and have all the issewys,
profitez, avayles, and emolwementes of all and senguler aforn except l
. . . . . londes, tenementes, rentes, servisez, with here
appurtenauncez, on to tyme . . . . . and vj. religeous men or here
successoris, if the forseyd admynistracion . . . . . . shull have and
take lawefull and feithfull estat beforce of the seyd inmorteys[yng], or
ellys that they be feithfully and trewly accordid with my seid
executorys for the takyng and havyng of the issewes, profitez, and
avayles, and emolwementes withoute fraud or male ingyne. And if the seyd
inmorteysyng take noon effecte, I will and ordeyne that my seyd
executores shull have and take all and senguler issewys, profitez,
avayles, and emolwementes of the forseyd except lordshepys, londes,
manerez, and tenementes, rentes, and servicez, with here appurtenaunces,
tyl they be feithefully and trewly sold be my seyd executores, unto tyme
that they that shalbe purchasorys thereof, be feithefull and trewe
bargayne be twene them and my seyd executores thereof made, shull take
thoo issewys, profitez, and avaylez, and emolwements thereof, withoute
fraude or male ingyne. And I will and ordeyne that my seyd executores
shull dispose all and senguler issewys, profitez, avaylez, and
emolwementes afornseyd for my soule, and for the soulys aforn rehersyd,
as they shall seme beste to the plesure of God.]*
Item, forasmyche as it is seyd that dyverse personis of dyverse desentes
pretende . . . . . . at this day to be next heneritere [_inheritor_] to
me aftyr my deseas, where . . . . . . . . . . . . knowe that no creature
hathe title or right to inheryte ony . . . . . . . . . . . londes and
tenementes, rentes, and servisez that ever I hadde, or ony persone or
personys . . . . . . have to myn use; therfor I will and ordeyne that no
persone nor personis as hey . . . me for no douteful or obskure materes
conteynid in this my present will, nor for noon othyr, shall take ony
maner of avauntage, benefice, or profit be ony manner meanys or weyes,
of ony manerez, lordshepis, londes, tenementes, rentes, servisez,
goodes, or catellys that were myn at ony tyme.
Item, I will and ordeyne and graunte that myn executoris [before namyd],
or the more part of them[152.1] and noon othir, shall have the
decleracion and interpretacion of all and senguler articles, chapetris,
clausis, whiche and wordes in this my last will hadde and wretyn, in
whiche articlis, chapetris, clausis, and wordes ony doute or doutez,
dirknesse or dyversite of undirstondyng shall falle or happe to be
founde, and that no persone or personys be reson of suche articlys,
chapetris, clausys, or wordes, have or take ony profit or avauntage
othyr wise thanne aftyr the maner and fourme of declaracion and
interpretacion of my seyd [too namyd][152.2] executors.
Item, I will, ordeyne, and comaunde that all my dettes that is owynge
[be] me be dewe examynacion be fully payd and contentyd to the
creditoris, which can be foundyn dewe that is owynge be me; and also
that all wronges, trespacis, offencis, and grevys be me doon or
comyttid, if ony bee, that ony maner persone hathe been hyndryd or
damagid wrongfully, if ony suche bee that can suffeciently and lawefully
be previd and knowe, I wyll fyrst be fore all othyr thinges it be speed
that myn executores do make amendes, restitucion, and satisfaction to
thoo personys or to here executorys by me damagyd and hyndred as
concience and good feithe requyreth.
Item, I will and ordeyne that in every town in which I or ony to myn use
have lordshepys, manerez, londes, and tenementes that the pore pepyl of
the tenure of the seyd town have ij. yeer to gethyr in reward after
theyre afferaunt and quantite of the x. part of oon yeerly valewe and
reveneuse of the seyd [lor]dshepis, manerez, londes, tenementes, and
rentes, halfe to be departyd to . . [par]ishe cherchis for werkys,
ornamentes, and othyr thynges necessarye to the seyd chyrchis, and half
to be departyd amonges the seyd pore pepil that be tenauntes[152.3] of
the seid lordshepis, maneres, londes, and tenementes soo to be disposed
aftyr the discrecion of myn executores [before namyd],[152.4] aftyr my
will approvid, and my dettes payd.
Item, I will and ordeyne that the pryour of the prioury of the parishe
cherch of Jernemuth for the tyme beynge, and hese covent and hise
successorys, observe and kepe yeerly and perpetualy to endure an
annversary in the seyd parishe cherche for to preye for the soule of my
fadyr, John Fastolf, Squyer, that lythe buryed there in the seyd
chyrche, with _placebo_ and _derige_ and messe, be note the vigyl and
day of hese obit, with the noumbre of prystes and clerkes accordyng in
such a cause; and for to susteyne the kepyng of the seyd annversary,
I will that be the avise of myn executorys [before namyd][152.4] that
londes or teneme[ntes] . . . . . . . . . . ordeynid to the yeerly valewe
of xx_s._, and that to be inmorteis . . . . . . . . swyr to the seyd
prioury or parishe chyrche, oonly to susteyne and bere . . . . . and
chargys of the perpetuall kepyng and susteyning of the seyd annversary.
Item, I will and ordeyne that if I have ony reliquis of Seyntes, also
suche ornamentes for the chirche, that I have left as vestmentes,
garlementes of sylke or velwet, of robis, and my gownys, that parcell of
hem be yovin to the seyd monastery cherche of Seynt Benettes, where I
shal be buryed, to remayne for ornament of the chapell there be me late
edified; and also part of hem to be distrubited amonges the parishe
chyrchis that be in suche townes that I have ony lordshipis, manerez,
londes, tenementes, and rentes, provided that a resonable and a
competent part of the seyd reliquis and ornamentes be kept and govyn to
the seyd collage to be made at Castre, and this to be doon be the avise
of myn executores be fore namyd.[153.1]
Item, I will and ordeyne that suche of my consanguinite and kynred
whyche be pore and have but litil substaunce to leve by, that they be
relevyd of my goodes . . . . . havyng consederation to thoo that be
nerrest of my kyn and of . . . . . Also of here good disposecion too God
ward and to me in here . . . . . othir of my kyn, that a consyderacion
be hadde and yovyn to the relyf and prefer[ment] of my cosyn Robert
Fitzraf, for hese good, trewe and long servise to me doon and contynwyd,
and alsoo be reson of my consanguynite and kynred.
Item, I will and ordeyne that if ony persone make ony compleynt to myn
executores that I have purchasyd ony taylid londes be this my will
ordeynid to be sold,[153.2] and that thoo personys that so compleyne doo
suffeciently and evydently prove and shewe withoutyn ony collucion,
fraude, or male ingyne suche londes taylid; thanne I will that the right
heyris purchase as be suche taylid londes, if ony be in my possession or
in my feffeez handes, and that for a . . . . . . is thanne ony othir
persone after the avyse and discrecion of the seid John Paston and
Thomas Howis, clerk, and where there be no lawefull answere nor debarre
of the tayle.[153.3]
Item, I will and ordeyne that the holy place of monastery and abbathye
of oure Ladyiz chirche of Langley, in the diocise of Norwiche, for my
soule to be more specialy recommendyd, and also for to kepe and
susteyne, one day in the yeer, myn annversary solempnely be note the
_derige_ and messe of requyem for ever to endure for the helthe of my
soule and for the soule of Dame Milcent, my wif, the doutyr of Sir
Robert Tibetot, Knyght, whiche was of the consanguynite and kyn to the
foundorys of the seyd monastery, and she owyng a senguler affeccion and
love of devocion to the preyeris of that place, that the Abot and Covent
have a reward and a remuneracion of my mevable goodes aftyr the
discrecion of myn executores before namyd.
Item, I will and ordeyne that be the avise of myn executorys before
namyd, that prevecion and ordenaunce be made that the obit and
annversary may be yeerly inperpetuite kept with _placebo_ and _derige_
and messe of requiem benote for the soule of Dame Mary, my modir, in the
chirche of Attilburgh, *[and a fundacion of a messe there, or in othyr
convenyent place to be morteysid, for ever to seye and preye for here
soule and for here auncetryez aftyr the discrecion of myn executorys.]*
[_Second Draft._]
* and that oon of the monkis or pristes in the collage be me ordeynid in
the mancion of Castre forseid shall synge specialy in perpetuite for the
soule of my modir and all here auncestryez, and good dooerys.
[_First Draft._]
Item, I will and ordeyne that it be provided by myn executores before
namyd a reward as a yefte be made to the chapell of Seynt Jorge in the
Castill of Wyndishore, and to the collagyens of the same collage for to
have my soule recomendid amonges . . . . . with an annversary to be kept
yeerly and perpetualy amonges hem with _placebo_ and [_derige_ and]
messe of requyem be note.[154.1]
Item, I will, ordeyne, and comaunde that myn [executores and][154.2]
feffeez* porsewe lawfully my right and title that I have in xxv. marke
of yeerly rente, with all the areragis that of right and concience is
dewe to my feffeez feffyd there in to myn use to dispose for my soule
helthe chargyd and payable out of a maner in Hiklyng, callid
Nethyrhalle, with the priour and covent of Hiklyng for the tyme beyng,
be bounden and astrict be wryting undyr here covent sealys to paye
yeerly. And on lyke wise I wyll that pursewt be made be Parlement or
othyrwise lawefull for redressyng of the wrong doon to me in the maner
of Bradwell, in the hundrid of Lodynglond in Suffolk, whiche I purchasid
trewly, and hadde a lawefull astat in the same maner, as myn evydence
woll shewe of record, xl. yeer past; and for to redresse the wrong full
entre doon . . . . . my feffeez in the maner of Dedham Nethirhalle by
Willyam, late Duke of Suff[olk], as well as for the wrongfull entre
eftsonys and late made upon serteyn personys feffyd to myn use in the
seyd maner, now of latter tyme; And that myn executores doo dewly here
deligence aboute the recovery and getyng ageyn of the seyd manerez,
lond[es], and tenementes and rentes above seyd of my goodes to be born.
[_Second Draft._]
* be the avise of myn executores before namyd
[_First Draft._]
Item, I will and ordeyne that the wardeyn and the procutoris for the
tyme beyng of the parishe chirche of Seynt Oloff in Suthewerk, be London
Brege, beyeng to the use of the seyd chirche of Seynt Oloff, be
preferryd, in beyeng and purchasyng of myn executorys before namyd,
a tenement with a warff thereto longyng, set be the seyd chirche, callyd
the Bukheed, before ony man, and for a lesse valewe than it is worthe
withine the sum of xx_li._
Item, I will that a convenyent stoon of marbill and a flat fygure, aftyr
the facion of an armyd man, be made and gravyn in the seyd stoon in
laton in memoryall of my fadyr, John Fastolf, Squyer, to be leyd upon
hese toumbe in the chapell of Seynt Nicholas, in the parishe chirche of
Jernemuth, and with my skochonys of armys of hym and hese auncestryez,
with a scripture aboute the stoon makynge mencion the day and yeer of
hise obite.
Item, I will that in semblable wise a marble stoon of a convenyent me
. . . . . . . . . . made to be leyd upon the toumbe of Dame Mary, my
modyr, in the . . . . . . . . foundid in the parishe chyrche of
Atilburgh, and that a figure . . . . . . . . . . of a jentilwoman with
here mantil, with a scripture made of laton in on . . . . . . . iiij.
skochonys of armys of here iij. husbondes, as the skochon of Thomas
Mortimer, Knight, [John] Fastolf, Squyer, the seconde husbonde, and of
John Farwell, Squyer, the thridde husbonde, auncetryez in the seyd
toumbe, and the day and yeer of here obite to be wretyn aboute.
*[Item, I will that a provecion be made for swerte of the maner of
Cowlynge in Suffolk, accordyng to the last wyll of Dame Marget Braunche,
my sustir, in whiche maner I stond enfeffed in to here use, and serteyn
londes in the seyd Cowlynge that Dame Mary, my modir, purchasyd to here
and to hire heirez, that Herry Braunche, my neweu, here son . . . . seyd
maner, provided that he be oblygid to preye for hise fadir, Sir Philip
Br[aunche, and his] modir, Dame Marget, serteyn preyeris and messez,
with a prist, to be contynw[aly] seyd [be] the discrecyon of myn
executorys.]*
[_Second Draft._]
Item, that myn executores before namyd helpe that the maner of Cowlynge
be disposed and guydid aftyr the will of Dame Marget Brannche, my
sastir, if my executoris thynke it be to doo.
[_First Draft._]
Item, I will and ordeyne that the executores of John Wellys, aldreman of
London, whiche hadde gret goodes of myne in hise governaunce whil I was
in the partyez of Fraunce and Normandye, and hadde never opyn
declaracion to whos handes of my resseyvoris atturnyez, or servauntes of
myne the seyd goodes were delyvered particlerly, and for that cause to
be aserteynid of the trouthe in this be halve, as well as for the
dyscharge of the seyd John Wellys soule, his executores and attornyez
may yeve accompt, soo declaryng of my seyd goodes accordyng to the
trouthe and concience.
*[Item, to be providyd, if it be thowght comodiously that it may be doon
be myn executores, that a chauntry may be foundyd in the chyrche of
Seynt Oloff, be London Brege, in Southewerk, to prey for my soule
perpetualy.]*
Item, I will and requyre that it be knowyn to all pepill present and for
to come that where afore thys tyme whil I dwellyd and excersysed the
werrys in Fraunce, Normandye, Angoy, and Mayne, as in Gyen, havyng undir
the Kyng, myn sovereyn Lord, officez and governauncez of cuntreez and
placis, as of castilys, fortreys, citeez, and townes be xxx. yeer and
more contynwed, be reson of whiche officez . . . . . many sealis of myn
armys gravyn with my name wretyn aboutyn . . . . . . . . . . . course
(?) in the seyd castilys and fortreycez that my lef tenauntes and
. . . . . officerz beyng in dyverse suche placis ocupied undyr me the
sealys and sygnettes to seale saf conduytez and billettes of saf gardes,
and othyr wrytinges of justice longyng to suche officez of werre; and I
doutyng that summe of the forseyd sealys of armys or sygnettes remayne
stille amonges myn officeres or personys not delyvered to me ageyn, and
that with the sealys of armys and signettes ony monwements, chartrys,
dedes, letterys patentes, blankes chartrys in parchemyn or paper, or
othyr evydence forgyd and contryved withoute my knowynge or assent,
myght soo be sealyd ageyn all concience and trouthe and ryghtwisenesse;
and for these causez, and for doute of ony inconvenyent that myghte
falle be this my wrytinge, I sertefie for trouthe and afferme on my
soule, I swere and proteste that sethe I cam last out of Fraunce and
Normandye, xix. yeere passed, I never sealyd wrytinge of charge, yefte,
nor graunte with noon othyr seal of armys nor sygnet thanne *[with this
same seal of armys and sygnet . . . . . . . . . this my present will and
my last testament],* and overmore that I have enselyd no [charge] yefte,
nor graunte be the space of xix. yeer with noo seal nor sygnet, of noo
lordshype, maner, nor manerez, annuite, reversionis, nor of no yiftes
nor grauntes of goodes and cattellys, mevable and on mevable, nor mony,
excepte suche as I have made opynly to be knowyn, executyd, and put in
pocession be fore this day. Wherfore I requyre . . . . . . all Cristyn
peple to yeve noo feithe nor credence to ony pryvat wryting not opynly
declarid nor provid in my lif tyme, nor to blanke chartrys sealyd in my
. . . . . . . whereof I remembre me well that oon John Wyntir, Esquyer,
late my servaunt, hadde (?) in kepyng a blanke letter in parchemyn
ensealyd ondyr my seal, and never delyvered it me ageyn, but seyde he
hadde lost it at hyse confecion, as wryting ondyr hise owyn hande maketh
mencyon or he deyde.
[_Second Draft._]
* I have usyd this ij. yeer day last passed.
[_First Draft._]
Item, I will and ordeyne that myn houshold be holdyn and kept with my
menyal servauntz be the space of half yeer aftyr my deseas, soo as they
wyll be trewe to me and obedyent to myn executorys, and here wages for
that tyme payd, and that in the meane tyme they purvey hem for othyr
servise as they lyke best to avise to leve in trouthe; and if ony
servaunt be well governyd and holde ageyns my . . . or ageyn myn
executorys to breke my good disposecion, I wy[ll that he shall be?]
remevyd, and that he abyde noo lenger among the fel . . . . . . . . . .
trewly avoydid withoutyn ony reward of me or of myn ex[ecutores].
*[Item, I will and ordeyne that amonges othyr lordes, frendes, and
kynesmen that I desyre, [for] the discharge of my concience, be put in
remembraunce of preyeris for the [good] affeccion I hadde on to them
that I desyre shuld be preyed fore, is the soule of that blyssyd prynce,
Thomas Bedford,[156.1] late Duke of Excestre, the soulys of the Lord
Tibtot, Rauff, Lord Crumwell, Sir John Radclife, my brothyr-in-lawe, and
Dame Cisly, late hyse wiff, my sustyr, whiche lithe buryed at Burdeux;
Sir Philip Braunche, Knyght, my brothyr-in-law, that deyde and was slayn
in Fraunce, and Dame Marget, late hyse wif, my sustyr, buryed at
Cowlynge; also John Farwell, Squyer, my fadyer-in-lawe; Sir Herry
Inglose, Knyght, of my consangwynite; Sir Hewe Fastolf, Knyght, that
deyde in Cane in Normandye; Sir Robert Harlynge, Knyght, my neveu, that
was slayn at the sege of Seynt Denys in Fraunce; John Fitzraf, Squyer,
my neveu; Cisly, late the wif of Herry Fylongley, my nese, also late
desesyd; Dame [_Dan_] Willyam Fastolf, of my consanguynite, prophessyd
in the monastery of Seynt Benettes, and aftyr Abot of Fescamp in
Normandye, whiche deide at Parys; Mathew Gowgh, Squyer, Thomas Gower,
Squyer, John Sak (?), marchaunt of Paryse, my trusty frend and servaunt,
and for the soule of John Kyrtlyng, parson of Arkesey, my right trusty
chapeleyn and servaunt domysticall xxx. wynter and more, Thomas
Hoddeson, a trusty servaunt of myne, John Lyndford, and William
Gunnour.]*
[_Second Draft._]
Item, I will and ordeyne that amonges othir that I have put in
remembraunce be this my will to be preyed fore that suche as shalbe
bounden to preye for me, and be rewardid of myn almesse, shalbe chargid
be myn executoris be fore namyd to preye for the welfare of m[y]
soverayn Lord the Kyng, and for the soulys of all my good lordes and
kynsefolk, and of thoo I am b[ounden] to preye fore or doo preye fore,
and for hem that I have hadde ony goodes of.
[_First Draft._]
Item, I will, ordeyne, and streyghtly charge myn executorys that noon of
hem shall [give] quyetaunce nor rellesse in no wise be hym self, nor be
noon othir, to noon of my detorys, nor to dettour of myn executoris, of
what so ever of astat or condecion that he be of, withoute the
*[knowynge, plessaunce, and assentynge of all myn executorys, or the
more part of hem.]*
[_Second Draft._]
* full wyll and assentynge of the seyd John Paston and Thomas Howys,
clerk.
[_First Draft._]
Item, I will, ordeyne, and streightly charge that none of myn
executorys, be him self, nor be noon othyr, in ony maner or condecion
cautelous, colour . . . . . . . shall sell, nor doo selle, alyen, nor
doo alyen, withdrawe, or do be [withdra]we, my londes and tenementes,
jowellys of gold or sylvir, dettes or cattelys, vesselys or vestmentes
of sylke, lynen, or wollyn, or ony othyr utensylez, to my persone or
houshold perteyning, nor noon othyr goodes of myne, mevable or on
mevablys, quyk or ded, generaly or specialy, withoute *[the knowyng,
plessaunce, and assentynge of all myn executorys, or the more part of
hem; and if it be soo that ony of myn executores attempte maleciously
the contrary in effecte, he fallith in the centense of excommunicacion,
doyng the contrary to my last will.]*
[_Second Draft._]
* the very will and assentyng of the seyd Paston and Howys, and that
noon othyr attempte there in nor in noon othir cause in this my will to
doo the contrarye to hem in effecte I require hem in Goddes be halve.
[_First Draft._]
Item, I will, ordeyne, and streyghtly charge that all my feffeez feffyd
of trust on to myn use of and in all my manerez, lordshepis, londes,
tenementes, and rentes, and servisez, and profitez, be me or othyr to
myn use purchasyd *[in all maner of counteez, citeez, or burghes or
townes with in the ream of Eng[lond] . . . . . ]* they that have astat,
pocession, or tythe to myn use, with all the goodly haste, . . . . and
withoute delay aftyr they be requyred be myn executores* aftyr my
deseas, that they shall feffyn and make lawefull astat in fee symple
*[of and in all maner lordshipys, londes, tenementes, meswages, rentes,
servisez, and profitez forseyd, or of every parcell of the same]* to
that persone or personys to whom or to whiche *[my seid executores in
accomplisment of my last will, the said maneres, lordshepys, londes,
tenementes, mecis, rentes, and servisez, or ony parcell of the same,*
shall sell, or doo sell aftyr the declaracion of this my last will * for
the helthe of my soule, *[Dame Milcent, my wif, with all my
progenitorys, cosynes, and benefactorys, and all my frendes.]*
[_Second Draft._]
* except before except, be me grauntid to the seyd John Paston or hese
assygnes.
* before namyd.
* the seid John Paston and Thomas Howys.
* except before except.
* to dispose.
* and for the soulis above seyd.
[_First Draft._]
*[Item, I will, ordeyne, and streightly charge, aftyr be the grace of
God I be desesed out of thys world, also myn executores willynge in
effecte to accepte the charge upon hem of execucion of my testement and
of mynistracion of my last will, all the articlis there in conteynid
they shall ransakyn besyly and discussyn soo discretly in here
remembraunce, that both in will . . . . . . . . shal not omyttyn for to
complishe the seyd articles in . . . . . . . . . . Seynt Poule the
Appostyll seithe he that is ignoraunt . . . . . . . . God Almighty shall
hym not knowyn to hise savacion[158.1] . . . . . . this article to
otherys that ignoraunce shuld not been on to myn execu[torys] in
hurtynge of my soule, occacion of trespacynge, nor God offendyng.]*
*[Item, I wyll, I ordeyne, and hertely desyr, that if it soo be be the
grace of the Holy Gost, or of my good Aungill, or ellys be the verteuous
devocion of ony good man, or be lyberte of fredam of myn owyn will, it
happe ony good werkes and profitable to the helthe of my soule
necessarye or avayleable to come be favour or swetnesse in to my
remembraunce, as oftyn as I wryte or doo wryte suche thyngs worthy to be
remembryd in ony codicill or codicilles for to be conyoinid to my
testament or to my last will, thanne I will and preye with gret
instaunce of al myn executorys that alle thoo poyntes or articlys be me
expressyd and conteynid in the seyd my codicill or codicillys that they
may have strengthe and vertwe of observaunce in effecte, as if the hadde
be wretyn in the code of my testement and my last will.]*
*[Item, I will, I ordeyne, and I hertely desyre, sethe that every
mortall creature is soget to the lymitez or merkys of mutabelyte and
chaungeableness, and mannys levynge in frelte and condecion is caduke
and casewell, therfor on the behalve of Almyghty God, and be the weye of
entyer charyte, I exhorte, beseche, and preye all myn executorys, in the
vertwe of oure Lord Jesu Cryst, and in the vertwe of the aspercion of
Hise holy blood, shed out graciously for the savacion of all man kende,
that for the more hasty delyveraunce of my soule from the peynefull
flawmes of the fyre of Purgatory, on suche maner and wise they dele and
departe my goodes feithfully be here discrecion and prudence and
polytik,]* the yeer of my buryeng, in exspence of myn entyrement and
othyr almesse, the same yeer, and dedys of pyete (?) for the holsum
estat of my soule amonges pore peple and nedy to [be p]artyd and
distributid plenteuously and hastely, the sum of m^ll marke *[. . . . .
. . . the space of v. or vij. yeer immediatly folwyng by yeer
Dxxxiij_li._ vj_s._ viij_d._ in almessefull deds and charitable wirkys,
with all goodly possibelyte that they shall soo dispose my goodes in
effecte feithefully that my soule, vexid in peynefull angwyshis, with
holy Job, be not compellyd to sey with gret lementacion and mornyng,
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, namely yee that my frendes shuld
bee, for the hande of Goddes punysshynge hathe grevously touchyd me.
These be the articlys, xxxj. be noumbre, concernith the intent and
purpose of my last will be the handes of myn executores, whiche I charge
hem streytly, prey hem, and beseche hem enterly feithefully to execute,
as they will have helpe of God and of hise holy Gospell. And soo I
requyre hem as wysdam, justice, and concience to doo for me as they
wolde I shuld doo for hem in cas lyche. In tokene and witnesse whereof,
to this my last will I, Sir John Fastolf, above[160.1] . . . . . . . .
. . .]*
[_Second Draft._]
* Item, I wyll and ordeyne that John Paston and Thomas Howys, clerk,
geve and dispose.
* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the salis of my londes and my goodes
be my will . . sygnid to be sold, be fully disposid for the well of my
soule in almessefull dedes [and] charitable werkes with all goodly
possibelite.
[_The following new clause at the end._]
Item, I will and ordeyne that the seyd John Paston, for the payment of
iiij. m^ll. marke forseid, shal bere and paye to the seyd Thomas Howys,
clerk, or to suche as shall aftyr them have the mynistracion of my my
goodes, the seid sum [of] viij^c. marke iche othyr yeer of the forseyd
yeerrys in whiche that sum is ordeynid to be distributid til he . . .
. . be tho paymentes born and payd the seyd sum of iiij^ml markes, and
that soo paid to be disposed be the seyd [John Pa]ston and Thomas Howys,
or be hem that shal aftyr them have the mynistracion of my goods in
executyng [my] will in awmesse full dedes in fourme afore seyd soo that
my mevable goodes be mean of that . . . . . . . shall the lenger indure
in dedis of almesse.
[Footnote 147.2: [From Paston MSS., B.M.] This document is
printed from the original draft, in which a great part of the
text has been crossed out, and other paragraphs substituted in
the margin. The passages thus cancelled are enclosed within
brackets with asterisks. Those substituted for them or inserted
in a later hand are printed in a parallel column on the right.
The passages bracketed without asterisks, and also the dotted
spaces, are lost by mutilation.]
[Footnote 147.3: The date was originally ‘the xiiij. day of the
moneth of June.’]
[Footnote 152.1: _Or the more part of them._--These words are
crossed out. The words ‘before namyd’ are an interlineation
substituted for them by the second hand.]
[Footnote 152.2: Interlineation by second hand.]
[Footnote 152.3: ‘fermors’ inserted in a different hand.]
[Footnote 152.4: Interlined by second hand.]
[Footnote 153.1: _be fore namyd._--These words are an
interlineation by another hand.]
[Footnote 153.2: _be this my will ordeynid to be sold_,
interlined by another hand.]
[Footnote 153.3: _after the avyse--tayle._--These words are an
interlineation by the second hand.]
[Footnote 154.1: _with an annversary--note_, erased.]
[Footnote 154.2: Erased.]
[Footnote 156.1: Beaufort.]
[Footnote 158.1: _See_ 1 Cor. xiv. 38. The translation of this
verse in the Vulgate-- ‘Si quis autem ignorat ignorabitur’
--conveys a materially different sense from that of our English
version.]
[Footnote 160.1: The original draft ends with this word at the
bottom of the page. Apparently the last few words of the draft
were written on a flyleaf, which is now lost.]
386