Will of Sir Thomas Mirfyn

Written 2 Sep 1523, proved in London 15 Oct 1523, Reg. Bodfelde

Abstract published in Fasciculus Mervinensis, by Sir Rd Wm Drake, F.S.A., privately printed, London 1873

In the Name of God Amen The secunde day of the moneth of Septembre in the yere of our Lorde God a thousande fyve hundred and xxiij And in the xv yere of the reigne of our soueraigne Lorde King Henry the viijth by the grace of God of Inglonde and of Fraunce Kynge defender of the feith and lorde of Irlonde

I Thomas Mirfyn Citizein and Alderman of the Citie of London being of hole and parfite mynde (&c.), for the welth of my soule and the proufit of my wife my childern and other my lovers and frendes make ordeyn and decalre my testament and last will. My body to be buried in the Charnel house in Paulis Churchyarde in London where the body of Dame Alice late my wife lieth buried and there where my tombe is made. And I will that I be honestly buried after and according to my degre. And where for mariage to be had betweene me and Dame Elizabeth my wife doughter of Aungell Donne late Citezein and Alderman of London and Anne his wife decessed wiche Anne sir Robert Dymmok knyght after the deth of the said Aungell Donne hir first husbonde was maried vnto, a writing was made remaynyng with the said sir Robert subscribed as well by the said Robert as by me the said Thomas Myrfyn; the tenour wherof ensuyth in these wordes. The xvth day of Octobr the xjth yere of the Reigne of Kynge Henry the viijth It is covenanted and agreed betwene Thomas Mirfyn maire of the Citie of London of the one partie and Robert Dymmok knyght on the other partie That the said Thomas shall w^t the grace of God mary and take to wife Elizabeth Donne doughter and heire to Aungell Donne late Alderman of London and the said Thomas Mirfyn on thisside the fest of the natiuitie of our lorde that shalbe in the yere of our lord god M1Vcxxijti shall cause a sure and a laufull astate to be made after the sure forme of the lawe vnto the said Elizabeth Donne of londes rentes and tenementes to the yerely value of xlii clere ouer and aboue all charges for terme of lyfe of the said Elizabeth; ffurder the said Thomas promyseth that he shal leve vnto the said Elizabeth his wife yf God fortune hir to lyve after him the doble that she brought to him which sume of hir porcion amounteth M1ccclxxxiiij ^li iiij ^s viij ^d and x ii gevyn to hir by hir grandam which doble shall amount M1M1Cxlviij ^li ix ^s iiij ^d And also the said Thomas hath promysed that the said Elizabeth shalbe at hir choise to chose to haue the thirde parte after the custume of the Citie or the some abouewriten. Also the said Thomas promyseth that if the said Elizabeth decease afore him that she shalhaue C ^li to distribute and make her will of beside all hir apparell and Juelles And the said sir Robert promiseth that he shalbe bounde to paye in three yeres next and immediatly folowing to the said Thomas M l xxiiij ^li iiij ^s viij ^d by evyn porcons Also the said Thomas promyseth that the said sir Robert shalhaue in his house at saint Margaret patens parishe the lodging that Alice Stamford did lye in with free entre and yssue and at all tymes to haue licence to cary awaye suche stuffe as apperteyneth to the said sir Robert wtout contradiction of the said Thomas and Elizabeth yf there be any thinge that wantes from in the premisses it to be amended by maister Broke Sergeaunt at the lawe accordinge to the true entent And after this I the said Thomas and the said Elizabeth were maried togider And where the said sir Robert and other persones at his request were and yet stonden bounden to the Chambreleyn of London and his successours by recognisaunce vpon condicion for the payment of the sume of M l lxxiiij ^li iiij ^s viij ^d to Edward Donne and Frances Donne the childern of the said Aungell, then orphanes of the said Citie, which childern ben all decessed except my said wife at the day of the said writing made and mariage betwene me and my said wife soo that all the said hole sume of M l lxxiiij ^li iiij ^s viij ^d was then to thuse of my said wife by the survivor of hir said brethern accordinge to the lawe and custume of the said Citie of London by which mariage the said bonde made to the said Chamberleyn of London was and is to the vse of me and my said wife And howbeyt I haue ben alwey redy to haue made a sure astate of londes and tenementes of the yerely value of xl ^li ouer and aboue all charges and reprises to the same dame Elizabeth my wife for terme of hir lyfe and all the residue in the said bill specified on my parte to be executed; I was content yf the said sir Robert wolde haue made payment to me and my said wife of the said sume of M l lcciiij iiij ^s viij ^d or wolde haue ben bounden for the payment therof at daies reasonable in the said writing conteyned by vs to haue ben appoynted or at reasonable other daies sith the said thre yeres expressed in the said writing by the said sir Robert and me to haue ben appoynted; And theruppon I and my said wife of the same recognisaunce wolde haue discharged the said Sir Robert and thother persones named and bounden by the same recognisaunce for the payment of the said M1lxxiiij ^li iiiij ^s viij ^d and wolde haue caused the said recognisaunce to haue ben made frustrate voide and cancelled, which premisses to do the said Sir Robert on his part and behalf hath refused not only contrary to his said promyse in the said writing specified but also contr'y to the condicion of the said Recognisaunce. Wherfor my will and mynde is yf the said sir Robert or his executours by thassent and agrement of my said wife by her writing make payment to myn executors witin six monethes next after my death of the said sume of M1lxxiiij ^li iiiij ^s viij ^d , that then I will that my said wife for terme of hir lyfe shalhaue all my houses landes and ten'tes of Merditche and Wrayttes w^t thappurten'nces in the parish of Hornechurch in the countie of Essex my manor of Downe w^t thapprten'nces in the countie of Kent and those my londes and ten'tes lying in the parishes of Fanchurch and Aldermary and of saint Petyr in Cornehill w^t thappurten'nces whiche ben of the clere yerely value of fourty poundes over and aboue all charges and reprises and better as the thirde parte as well of all my goodes catalles and dettes and of the said sume of M1lxxiiij ^li iiiij ^s viij ^d after my debtes paide funeralles and ordynary charges born and allowed after and according to the lawe and custume of the said Citie orelles at the libertie of my said wife to haue of myn executours the said some of M1M1Cxlviij ^li ix ^s iiij ^d the doble that she brought wit her, and that I shulde haue had of the said somes to hir belonging and to haue ben paide vpon hir mariage according to the true meanyng of the said writing, she than making a Relees to myn executors of all accions suyttes and demaundes which in any wise she myght haue demaunde or clayme ayenst myn executours by the custume and lawe of the said Citie as shalbe reasonably aduised by myn executors. And yf she refuse to haue the said some of M1M1Cxlviij ^li ix ^s iiij ^d And will holde hir to the said thirde part of my goodes catalles and debts in fourme beforsaid accurding to the lawe and custume of the said Citie then she to make a Release to myn executours of all accions suyttes and demaundes which in any wise she myght or then may haue ayenst them by reason of any promyse agreament or graunt conteyned in the forsaid writinge the said promyse and graunt of the said Manors londes and tentes that she shuld haue for terme of hir lyfe oonly except And yf the said sir Robert and his executours pay not nor content ne paye to myn executours or their executors the said M l lcciiij iiij ^s viij ^d wtin vj moneths next after my decesse but refusith the same to doo, then my mynde and will is that my said gifte and bequest to my said wife as well of the said Manors landes and ten'tes be vtterly voide and noon effect as of the said some of M1M1Cxlviij ^li ix ^s iiij ^d the doble that she brought wit her when I toke hir to my wife And if the sajd sir Robert or his executors content and paye within vi monethes next after my decese the said some of M l lcciiij iiij ^s viij ^d , then I will and my mynde is that all the premisses be doon and executed in suche wise and fourme as before it is expressed.

And then also I will and my mynde is that my sonne Edward Mirfyn immediately after the death of my said wife shall haue all my howses or ten'tes of Merdith or Wraittes with thappurten'nces in the parishe of Hornechurch in the Lordship of Havering at Bowre in the Countie of Essex my houses londes and tenementes in the parishe of saint Mary Fanchurch, those two newe houses in Bogerrowe lying in the parishe of saint Antonyne and of saint Johns in Walbroke whiche I late buylded, to haue to him and to his heires of his body laufully begotten. And for default of such issue to be and remayn to Mary my doughter and to the heires of hir bodye laufully begotten. And for default of such issue to remayn to Fraunces my doughter and to the heires of hir body. And for default of suche issue to remayn to my right heires foreuer.

Also I give and bequeth to Mary my doughter my Manor londes and tentes w^t thappurten'nces of Down in the countie of Kent; to haue and to holde immediatly after the deathe of my said wife, to my said doughter and to the heires of hir body laufully begotten. And for default of such issue to remayn to my said sonne Edward and to the heires of his body laufully begotten. And for default of such yssue to reamyne to my said doughter Fraunces and to the heires of her body laufully begotten. And for default of such yssue to be and remayn to my right heires for euer.

Also I geve and bequeth vnto the said Fraunces my doughter that my ten't lying in the parishe of Aldermary in London, and that my ten't lying in the parishe of saint Petir in Cornehill, to haue and to holde immediatly after the death of my said wife to my said doughter ffraunces and to the heires of hir body laufully begotten. And for default of such Issue to be and remain to my said daughter Mary and to the heires of hir body laufully begotten. And for default of suche Issue to be and remayn to my said sonne Edwarde and to the heires of his body laufully begotten. And for default of such Issue to be and remayn to my right heires foreuer.

And in caas yf the said sir Robert nor his executours pay not nor doo not to be paid to thexecutours of me the said Thomas Myrfyn nor their executours the said M1lxxiiij ^li iiiij ^s viij ^d witin vi monethes next after my death, that than my will is as before is saide, that my saide wife shall not haue the said meas'es londes and ten'tes and other the premisses nor any parcell therof, but then I will my said childern shall immediatly after my death and the vi moneths expired and past have the said meas'es londes and ten'tes to theym in suche wise and w^t like remaynders as I before haue declared and will theym to haue after the death of my said wife yf the said sir Robet or his executours had paide the said M1lxxiiij ^li iiiij ^s viij ^d to myn executors wtin vj monethes next after my deth; and my said wife then to haue noon of my said landes nor of my goodes catalles and dettes but oonly after my dettes paid my funeralles and ordynary charges and expenses concernyng the same contented and paide She to haue the thirde parte of that shall then remayn And my said childern a nother thirde parte of the same Remaynder And the other thirde parte, all the residue, to be myn executours for the perfourmance of my last wille after and according to the lawes and custumes of the said Citie

Also I geve and bequeth to the high awter in the parishe Churche of saint Antonyne (&c. &c. &c.)

Item I bequeth vnto my sonne dane George Mirfyn Monk at Westmr xx ^li to be paid him euery yere iiij ^li by thandes of my executours. I bequeth vnto Margaret Pargetour the wife of Thomas Pargetour a blak gown and to hir husbonde a nother and in money to theym x li. Also I bequeth to euery child that she in lyve whan they shall come to laufull age xl ^s a pece. I bequeth vnto Gilbert Hardeg.... v ^li and vnto euerych of his childern xl ^s to be paid wtin a yere after my decesse. Item, I bequeth to my suster Agnes Loke the wife of Mighel Loke x li. I bequeth vnto Elizabeth the wife of Elyot v ^li and vnto euery Childe that she hath xl ^s. Also I bequeth vnto John Story the sonne of Robert Story xx li. Item I bequeth to Mighel Loke my sister's sonne xl ^li and vnto euery childe that he hath a lyve v li. Item I bequeth vnto John Baude beddill of the Crafte of Skynners to pray for my soule a blak gowne and in money xl ^s. Also I bequeth vnto John Broun Clerk of our Lady Company of the said Crafte of Skynners a blak gowne and in money xl ^s. Also I bequeth vnto the Chapel of Barwey in the Countie of Cambridge where I was bron and cristened in the honor of God and of saint Nich'as a vestment and an aube with thapparell thereunto belonging for a prest to synge in of the value of xl ^s (&c., &c.) Also I geve and bequeth towardes the rep'acions and mayntenyng and supporting of the said Chapell to pray for my soule my fader and moder soules my wife soule and all my children soules xl ^s. Also I bequeth vnto saint Mary Church Yely where my fader lieth buried on whose soule Jhus haue mercy, a vestment w^t an awbe with all thir belonging vnto a prest of the value of xl ^s, ij awter clothes price iiij ^s a corporas and a caase of the price of iij ^s iiij ^d a masse boke price x ^s, ij newe torches price xij ^s, ij awter clthes of red and yelowe silke one aboue the other for byneth and ij curteyns sutable of the value of xl ^s which forsaid auter clothes and curteyns I will shalbe orderid and hangid in the North Ile of the same Church by the quyre door to thentent prestes may synge and sey masse there and to pray for my soule the soules of George and Kateryn my fader and moder my wife soule my childern soules and all x'pen soules. Also I bequeth to the maister wardeyns of the guylde of corpus Cristi of the Crafte of Skynners of London and to their successors a C... vestments (&c., &c.) I bequeth vnto the parishe church of saint Antonyne in Bvgierrowe in London an hole sut... vestments (&c., &c.) And I will that the churchyarde on the south side of saint Agnes chapell of the said Church of saint Antonyne shalbe pavid w^t Brabant stone that is to sey from the Est ende vnto the West ende of the said chapell and a faire stone of marble to be laide in the myddes of the said churchyarde with all my Childerns names to be graven and sett on the same stone of marble that is to seyd Thomas, John, George, Thomas, John, Fraunces, Richard, John, Robert, Edward, Batilmewe, Margaret, Mary, and Fraunces, and that this be doon within one yere after my decesse. I bequeth vnto Fraunces Pouter the sonne of Richard Poulter Esquire dwelling in the countie of Northt'.... that he by his sufficient dede release all his right and title which he shalhaue to the maner of Downe w^t thappurten'nces in the countie of Kent as his fader hath doon before him in such wise as it shallbe advised by the counceill lerned of my executours and to suche persones as my said sonn Edwarde, Mary and Fraunces my doughters shall name lxvj ^li xiij ^s iiij ^d . Also I bequeth vnto Elizabeth my wife two of my best saltes w^t couer, my best standing Cup gilt with a couer, also a nother standing Cup gilt w^t a couer with chekers in the botom, xiiij gilt spones, and all hanginges in my house, reseruyng suche hanginges hangen in the parlor our the strete w^t the fore chambers our strete which said hanginges I will Edwarde my sonne haue and ij fetherbeddes and a matrasse. Also I bequeth to Mary my doughter ij gilt saltes w^t a cover which were maister Martyns and a doseyn of siluer sponys a standing Cup w^t a pellican. Also I bequeth vnto dane George my son being monk in Westmr a salt with sonbemes w^t a couer and half a doseyn spones knopped wjth lions and a gilt Cup. Also I bequeth vnto Edward my sonne two square salt... parcell gilt with a couer and a standing cup w^t an akorne on the knop and a doseyn spones. Also I bequeth vnto Fraunces my doughter a standing Cup w^t a maydens hede which I will shall be kepte to her .. And yf she fortune to dye I will that it shall goo remayn and be to the said Crafte of Skynners And I will that it shalbe in the custodye and keeping of the same crafte till she come to lawfull age orelles to be maried. Also I bequeth vnto John Judde gentilman iiij ^l vj viij ^d and to his wyfe a Ryng of golde price xx ^s and to either of theym a blak gowne.

The residue of all and singuler my goodes I will shalbe equally deuided in two partes and porcions, wherof I will the one moytie shalbe truely deuided to and amongest the forsaid Edward, Mary, and Franceis my childern; and the other moytie therof to be dispoased in charitable dedes for the weale of my soule and all the soules abouesaid at the discrecions of myn executours. And I ordeyn and make Edward Myrfyn my sonne and Andrew Judde my sonne in lawe myn Executours, and Ouerseers of the same my present testment and last wile I ordeyn and make the right reurende fader God Cutbert, Bishop, of London, and sir Richard Broke knyght. And I bequeth vnto either of theym for labour aide and good counceill to be gevyn in the execucion of this my present testment and last will twenty poundes sterlinges.

Proved in London 15 Oct 1523 by the executors named in the will.

The copies I obtained miss some letters in the margins; in those places, I have just inserted dots.

There are serious problems with this line as usually sketched - including here on my own pages.

Thomas Merfyn's will 1523 identifies Andrew Judde as his son-in-law. Mary Mirfyn must be Andrew's first wife, not his third. (They were both named Mary.)

DNB Missing Persons says Andrew married Mary Mirfyn in 1537. Was Mary engaged to Andrew when she was an infant? Need to find a marriage contract. Otherwise - Mary is dau of first wife Alice. Alice Marshall? Alice Squire?

Tho Merfyn's dau Frances married Richard Williams als Cromwell.

Frances is said to be dau of Eliz Donne rather than of Alice, but Eliz's children would be born only 1519-1523.

Frances is reported to have died in 1533. She was buried at Stepney 20 Feb 1533 (=1533/4?)

Yet she is reportedly the mother of Henry and Francis Cromwell. Henry (who married Joan Warren) was admitted to Lincoln's Inn only in 1557.