Medieval & Tudor Kent P.C.C. Wills Transcriptions by L. L. Duncan - Book 11 page 109

John Browne - Will 14 August 1488

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31. Milles

14 August 1488. John Browne of West Malling yoman. To be buryed in the churche of our Ladye of West Malling in the Chapell of our Lady on the southside of the said churche. I will that the wardens of ye said churche have toward the reparacions of the said Chapell for my grave there to be made x^s so that they clame of myn executours no thing ellis for the said grave there to be made. To the mayntennce of the brotherhode of our Lady in the said churche V marc. To the reparacons of the said churche xx^s. Toward the makyng of a newe sealing over the Rode lofte in the saide churche 46/8. But I will the said mony be not paide unto the time that the said newe sealing be in hand to be made and so to be concluded and finisshed.
   To Thomas nowe Priour of the Cathedrall Churche of Saint Andrewe in Rochester to pray for my soule and for all my frendes soulis x^s. To the Suppriour yt nowe is in the said Cathedrall churche 3/4 for to pray in like wise for my soule etc.
   Also I bequeth in like wise to Dane William Auncell and to Dane John Auncell to either of them 3/4.
   To every other monke being now a preste and professed in the said Cathedrall chirch to pray for my soule as is before reherced ij^s and to every novice being now in the said place xij^d.
   To Ser William Langley frier of Ailesford for to pray for my soule iiij yerds of cloth to the value of x^s. To the Priour and Brethren of the said Fryers of Aylesford x^s for a trentall.
   To the parisshe Clerk of West Malling over his wages 4^d and in likewise to the Sexten of the said Chirche other 4^d. To iiij men that shall fortune to bere me fro my howse to the chirch and so to my grave to every each oon of them vj^d.
   To Johane Shymmyng my goddoughter if she live to be maryed a pece of gold of 3/4 or els a ryng of gold to ye valewe or bettyr. To John Mellys squier my godsoon a Ring of noble gold callyd an hope to the
valewe of xl^s. To every other godsoon and goddoughter of myn xij^d and goddes blessing. To Johane Botlar if she lyve to be maryed 3/4.
   To Tho^s ?Stevn my second best gown and a pair of my best sheris and a two handed swerd and x^s. To John Busshopp my iij^d best gown and 6/8. To W^m my brother if he be a lyve if that he com hider or if that myn exors may here certainly where he is abiding and dwelling a newe paire of shone a new pair of hosen a newe sherte a new doblet a new gowne a newe bonet a newe hatte and x^s in money.
   Also I bequeth as moche to my brother Herry and in likewise if he be a lyve. To Thomas Parker a gowne and 6/8. Nicholas Leche my soon in lawe a gowne cloth price x^s and other x^s in money. To John Kynfare a paire of ?Jemewes of gold.
   Unto my Lady Abbes of Malling 6/8. Unto every professed Lady within the forsaid Abbay 12^d. To every unprofessed Lady 4^d. Unto Maister Tho^s Nevell vicar of Malling a paire of bedys of Calsydons the which that I did occupye my self. Also to Sir W^m Myllis Brother preste a paire of bedis of geate and xij^d to string them withall.
   To W^m Catellyn gentilman my goon of Iwn (sic). To Agnes Leche doughter of Nicholas Leche and of Alyson my doughter toward her marige a good fetherbed, bolster seler tester iij curtains two paire of blankellys my paire of shetes a coveryng for the same bed iij pillowes and a mataras with a bolster and a covering two great potts and a posnet of brasse two pannys and two cawdrons a more and a lesse a trevet and a gredeyron a greate spitte and a litill spit an anndeyron and halfe a garnesshe of pewter vessell vj kandestikkis a basen and an ewer a cuppebord and grete standard cheste which her fader gave me to the behofe of her and l marc in money and two table clothes two towellis vj napkins vj silver spones two saltselers of pewter a maser with a brode bande a table two trestellis two stoles of turnours werke an axe and a bill a pece of silver and a parte of every other stuff of houshold. I will also she have a long cheste that stondith in my grete chambre where I dwell a chafir of brasse another pewter and a chafing disshe.
   To Johan my wif uppon that condicion that she take upon her to lyve chaste and kepe her sole terme of her life naturall xl marc and after her discease I woll that Agnes Leche have my saltseler of silver kenered and a standing cuppe of silver with a foote and a covering and a flat pece of silver and a maser at her choyse.
   To the Churche of West Malling toward the makyng of a chales after my said wifis decease a flat pece of silver.
   Also after the discease of my said wif I will the said Agnes Leche have a cuppeborde with iij floris and a spruse cheste which I occupye my self and a grete corven cheste that stondeth in my parlour. And if Johanne my wif refuse to lyve sole then I will she paye to the Churche of West Malling xl^li or the tyme of her mariage that xx^li to the Reparacion of the said churche and xx^li to the fraternite of our Ladye.
   If the said Agnes Leche discease then a good honest preest being a quereman be hired by the space of v yeres to sing in the parisshe churche of West Malling for the helth of my sowle my wifis sowle the said Agnes sowle and all cristen sowles and Residue to charitable workis of ?.
   To every preest being at my masse dirige and burying at my monthes mynde for to pray for my sowle x^d and to every clerke that is a singar iij^d to every childe j^d and to every pore man and pore woman being at my beryng and monethes mynde of the Contrey j^d. Also I will my extours ordeigne a covenable and a honest preste being a Quereman and of good counsacion rewle and guyding to sing in the parisshe churche of West Malling by the space of iij yeres and have yerely for his salary and wages X marc.
   Also I will that myn executours ordeigne a good honest stone of marble with imagery of later made therapon of my self my wif and my iij children to be laide upon my grave after my discease and in every corner of the said stone I wold have graven in later a paire of taylours sheris. Also ij tapers to stond uppon my grave by the space of a hole yere either taper of Vlb waxe and that they brenne every halidage durying the time that dyvyne service be a doing in the said churche and that the said two tapers be renewed as often as it shalbe nede full. At my xij monthes mynde every preste than there being at dirige and masse x^d to every pore man and woman j^d and to every childe a lofe of brede.
   Executours Johane mhy wife, W^m Myllys the elder and Ser W^m Myllis at Malling and Maister Tho^s Nevell vicar of West Malling oversear and yf myn exors do no thing without the Counsaill and advise of him and if so be that he go or ryde for any debate that shalbe betwene them orels at thaire prayer or desier that he have well and reasonably for his labour and costis of them.
   This is of all my landes tenements etc. in the parisshes of West Malling and Riershe. Furst I wille that yf Johane my wife kepe herselfe sole that she have the profites etc. of all my landes and tenements durying her life provyded she kepe yerely in the said parish churche of West Malling an obite for the helth of my sowle to the valewe yerely of x^s. 
   And if she refuse than she have no profittes but it be resceyved by myn executors and disposed in maner and forme following that is to say Furst I will that a good Cope of silke be bought and goven to the parisshe churche of West Malling and all the residew I will that the wardens of the brotherhode of our lady have it to the maynteninces of ther fraternyte to pray for my sowle and all my benefactours and welwillers tyll the time the forsaid Agnes come to the age or be maried as is before reherced and then to the said Agness all my said landes etc durying her life and after the discease of the said Agnes if it fortune her to take souche a man to hus- bond that may be of habilite to bye the reversion of the landes and tenements that I will the said husband have the londs within the price of any other parson by xx^li marc. And if he refuse than I will that John Mellis squier my godsoon bye the said reversion and if he refuse than it to be sold to the moost profite and the money be disposed in maner and fourme following Furst a preest being a Quereman be heyred with parcell of the money to sing in the parishe churche of West Malling for the helth of my sowle etc. within the space of V yeres and the wardens of the churche of West Malling that tyme being have xx^l toward the buying of a sewte of vestments that is to say a vestment two ?tunycles and a cope. Also the wardens of the brotherhede of our
   Lady in West Malling church have V marc so that they cause my name to be enscribed in thaire bedrolle oon the awter there and so to be praid for every Sundaye.
   Also that the parisshons of Ryersshe have then toward the Reparacions of thaire Churche xx^s.
   Also that there be bestowyd toward the Reparacion of the high waye in Shicburn Lane V marc and remnaunt to pore maydens mariages of the Towne of West Malling and in and for clothing to be bought and geven to the pore peopill of the same Towne.
   I will the tenements with the gardens and landes set in the said townes of West Malling and Ryersshe which wer somtime Thomas Langele be disposed according to the wille of the said Thomas. Also I wylle that the mease with a garden lying in West Malling which was somtyme John Hekstaple remayne to Isabell late wif of the said John and after her discease to the right heires of the said John.
   Probate 31 Oct 1488 by Mag^r Tho^s Nevill Vicar of West Malling and D^m W^m Millis cap^rn and com to Johane relict.

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