11-0009-214_SirThomasBodley_1492
In dei nominee Amen the 27th day of the month of November the year of our Lord God 1491 and in the 7th year of the reign of King Henry VII, I Thomas BODLEY citizen and tailor of London being in my good and whole mind thanks be God make ordain and dispose this my pure testament containing my last will in manner and form following: that is to mortal stuff I bequeath and recommend my soul to almighty God my maker and saviour to his blessed Mother Mary the Virgin and to all saints; and my body to be buried in the Parish Church of Saint Bololph beside Billingsgate of London where I am parishioner in the chapel of the Trinity there. ITEM; I bequeath to the works of the Cathedral church of Saint Paul of London five shillings; ITEM; I bequeath to the high altar of the said parish church of Saint Botolph for my tithes and obligations forgotten or negligently withheld in discharging of my soul thirteen shillings and fourpence; ITEM; I will that Johanne my wife the day of my burying ordain and buy ten new torches of wax to fire and burn about my body the same day and on the morrow after at Mass and that day I bequeath two torches of them to fire at the high altar of the said parish church to the pleasure of God while they will endure. ITEM; I bequeath other two of the same torches to the high altar of our Lady in the said parish church, and the residue of the said ten torches I will that the said Johanne my wife distribute them according to my mind as I have showed unto her. ITEM; I bequeath to John and James my sons to them to be delivered when they shall come to their lawful ages that is to wit to either of them fifty pounds sterling and either of them the goods which late were my mother’s four pounds. ITEM; I bequeath to Elizabeth my eldest daughter to her to be delivered when she shall come to lawful age or marriage fifty pounds and five pounds in old nobles of my said mother’s bequest. ITEM; I bequeath to Denys my daughter to be delivered in likewise when she shall come to her lawful age or be married fifty pounds sterling and four pounds of the bequest of my said mother; and if any of my said children die before they come to their lawful age or marriage then I will that the part of him or her so decreasing remain to [those] of them then being alive and [so] of any of them; and if all my said children die before they come to their lawful age or be married then I bequeath the one half of all the said sums of money to my said children afore by me bequeathed to the fore said Johanne my wife there with to do her so well and the other half of the said sums of money I will that the said Johanne my wife distribute and dispose it in deeds of charity and pray for my soul. ITEM; I will that Master Thomas Driffield priest sing for my soul in such place or places in London as maybe about London by the space of two years next suing after my decease and I bequeath to him for his salary for either of the said two years eleven marks and if the said Master Thomas refuse to sing for my soul then I will that the said Johanne my wife ordain and find an honest priest to sing and pray for my soul in such place or places as the said Johanne my wife shall assign him by the space of the said two years taking for his salary by the year eleven marks. ITEM; I bequeath to every of my apprentices and covenant servants being with me the day of my death as well mankind and womankind so that they be diligent and do their services according as they ought to do forty shillings. ITEM; I bequeath to Master John LECHE priest my Mass book vestment super-altar candle sticks altar cloths and all the apparel of my altar. ITEM; I bequeath to every child of Richard BODLEY my late brother six shillings and eight pence. ITEM; I bequeath to every alms man and alms woman within the alms houses of Walden in the County of Essex to pray for my soul twelve pence. ITEM; I bequeath to William Arnold of Southwark my tawny gown [singlet] and my doublet of red [chambelet]. ITEM; I bequeath to Philip Elyott the wife of Christopher Elyot and to her children forty shillings. ITEM; I bequeath to the said Christopher Elyot my blue gown furred with shanks and my hood to the same and twenty shillings in money. ITEM; I will that the foresaid Johanne my wife have all my lands and tenements rents and fines with the appurtenances which I have in the burgh of Southwark in the foresaid county of Surrey or elsewhere within the realm of England to have and to hold for the same Johanne my wife to her heirs and assigns for evermore so that the same Johanne my wife peaceably suffer Elizabeth LECHE her mother to have and to hold to her assigns during her life all that my tenement in the parish of Saint Margaret in Southwark aforesaid. The residue of all my goods chattels and debts whatsoever they be after my debts paid the costs of my burying done and this my present testament containing my last will in all things fulfilled wholly I give and bequeath to the foresaid Johanne my wife therewith to do ordain and dispose her free will; which said Johanne my wife of this my present testament containing my last will I make and ordain my executrix; and her overseers I make and ordain the foresaid Master John Leche and Christopher Elyot. In witness whereof to this my present testament containing my last will I have set my seal given the day and year above said.
Proved at Lambeth on the first day of August [no year stated specifically for the probate but believed to be 1492]