1467/68 John Smyth of Stratford, Suffolk, wrote his will on March 3. [1]
In the name of god Amen the thirde day of March in the yere of our lord a MCCCClxvij I John Smyth of Stratford in the Counte of Suff' hoole of mynde make my testament in this manner First I bequeth my soule to Almyghty god and to our blessid lady Seynt Mary and to alle the holy seynts of Hevyn And my body to be buryed in the church of Stratford afore: Also I bequeth to the high Aulter of the same church vj s viij d Also to the makyng of the Ile in the same church xxv marc which is in the handes of William Smyth and x marc to be payd in hand be side that Also I bequeth to a masse booke to the sayd Church v marc Also my best pece of silver to helpe make a chalice and xx s in money to the makyng of the church mille by the high weye sidys, And I will the wyndowe at the Auter of the Ile be made aftre the tenour I and Cristyn and Cicely my wifs be sette in the same wyndowe Also I bequeth to William Smyth my sonne my place at Stooke called hacches with alle the landes Rents and all other appurtenances therbelongyng so yat the sayd William my sonne fynd a prest for me by an hoole yere in the church of Stratford Also I bequeth to the iiij order of Freres of Ippewich and Colchester to everych of theym x s Itm to my Godsonne the son of William my sonne a salter of silver and to his yonge sonne vj silver spounes And if any of theym decesse eche to be others heyr And if they decese bothe thenne the fader of them to have his boythes part Also I will yat my place called towkebernce and moncles and the Ienters and my medowe in stoke and iij wudes at Maroolle brigge Wt alle thappurtenances it be longing be sold to the best availe yat it may be And I will yat the ledys and the lames be sold with all and of the money yt of comyng I will yat myn Executours hire an honest prest to pray for my soule and for the soules of my fader and my moder and for alle my good doers and for all cristyn soules in the church of Stratford as long as yt sayd money will endure And I will that the sayd prest have yearly for his salarye x marc Also I will yat myn Executour ordeyne for my sevynth day vj torches vj gownes of blak to vj pour menne Also I will yat every man that berith me to church have iiij d And I will that my body be cofered in a chist And I wille yat alle the power people that comyn thethir have mete and drinke and I peny Also I will that my my wif have alle the goodes that she brought to me moveable and unmoveable and xl s in money or money worth Also I will yat alle my brace and pewter be evenly departed bytwene William my sonne and Cicely my doughter Also I will that Cicely my doughter have xl s in money or moneyworth Also I will yat Thomas my Neve have a bed a matras a payr of shets a payre of blanketts and a coverlyd Also I will yat he have a blewe gowne Also I will yat Simond my Cosyn have my Ray gowne and Robert Smyth my mustie Avilour gowne and William Smyth my best gown and my best bed Also to every of my susters childrid yat be my godchildren vj s viij d Also to my godsonne yat is peckenetts xiij d Also to my wifes doughter a gowne Also I will yat William my sonne have my maser Also I bequeth to Hyghham church vj s viij d Also to stoke church vj s viij d The executours of this my testament I make William Smyth my sonne and John Churchawe and I will yt John Churchehawe have for his labor xx s Thise witnesse sir John parissh preste of Stratford John Lovehens Robert Legge John Churchhawe and other.
1468 The will of John Smith was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on October 2. [2]
[1] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[2] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].