England, Elizabeth

Jones, E T

The last will and testament of William Tyndall M.P., merchant of Bristol, written 13 September 1558, died before 20 October 1558

Explore Bristol Research

                          England, E., & Jones, E. T. Will of William Tyndall, merchant of Bristol, 13September 1558Peer reviewed versionLink to publication record in Explore Bristol ResearchPDF-documentUniversity of Bristol - Explore Bristol ResearchGeneral rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the publishedversion using the reference above. Full terms of use are available:http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pure/about/ebr-terms.htmlWilliam Tyndall’s will, 13 Sept 1558  TNA:PRO, PROB 11/42B, fo. 51  1 Elizabeth England and Evan T. Jones (eds.), ‘Will of William Tyndall, merchant of Bristol, 13 September 1558’, The National Archives: Public Record Office, PROB 11/42B, fo. 511  fo. 51r.  In the name of god Amen the thirten daye of Septembur in the yeare of oure lorde god a thowsand fyve hundreth fiftye and eight/  I Wyllyam Tyndall of the cytye of Bristoll merchante whoale of mynde (god be thanked) doo ordayne and make thys my laste will and testament in maner and fourme followying/  Inprimis2 I gyve and ~ bequeth my sowle to allmighty god my maker and Redemer trusting stedfastly by the merytes of hys gloryous passyon to have everlasting lyfe  moste humbly besechyng hys gloryous mother and all the hollye Saintes in heaven to praye for me and withe me to my Savyor that his wrath whiche I have justely deserved maye be pacyfyed and hys mercye extended3  And my bodye to be buryed at the discrecyon of myne exectutors and overseers/  Item I bequeth and gyve unto the poore people wythin the cyte and suburbes of Bristoll twenty poundes to be distrybuted unto them wythin on month nexte after followying after my departing out of thys wourlde  Item I gyve and bequeth unto Jane my wyfe all that my howse in marshestreate4 wythe thappurtenaunces5 wherein I dwell / To have and enjoye the same during her lyfe wythe oute any paying of rente therfore/  And I will that noe syling portall tables chayres hanginges batylments coffers bedsteads or stoales6                                                          1 This will was originally transcribed and printed in: Elizabeth England, ‘Snapshots from the grave: William Tyndall: life as shown through a probate inventory’ (unpublished BA thesis, University of Bristol, 2003). The thesis was supervised by Evan Jones, who subsequently corrected and annotated the transcription of the will.  Unusually, there are two copies of this will in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury records, the other being: TNA:PRO, PROB 11/41, no. 60, fos. 161-2. The earlier copy was proved on 20 October 1558, which indicates that Tyndall had died by that time.  In the earlier copy probate was granted to Jane Tyndall (William’s wife), during the minority of Thomas Tyndall (William’s son and second-named executor) until such time as Robert Tyndall (William’s brother, business partner and primary executor) returned from Spain.  The later copy (proved 27 April 1559) was recorded as part of the process of transferring probate from Jane to Robert, following the latter’s return.  The two copies of the will itself are identical, bar differences in spelling and a few omissions that are noted in the annotations below.  The following conventions were employed when transcribing this document: the line spacing, spelling, capitalization and punctuation follow the manuscript; reconstructions of suspensions are in italics, editorial comments in squared brackets.  I would like to thank Margaret Condon (University of Bristol) for her advice and assistance on the translation of the probate clauses and on aspects of the transcription.  be removed out of the sayd howse during her naturall lyfe yf she contynew wydowe/ And yf yt happen that my sayd wyfe do marrye she to have and enjoye the aforesayd Tenement or howse wythall the drapery sylings portall duringe  2 ‘Inprimis’: firstly. 3 The inclusion of a clause requesting the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the saints in heaven to pray for William’s soul implies a public acceptance on the testator’s part of England’s return to Catholicism under Queen Mary. 4 ‘marshestreate’: Marsh Street, Bristol. The house probably lay a 41-2 Marsh Street: R. E. Leech (ed.), The Topography of Medieval and Early Modern Bristol, Part 1, (Bristol Record Society Publications, Vol. 48, 1997), p. 89. 5 ‘thappurtenaunces’: the appurtenances. 6 ‘syling portall tables chayres hanginges batylments coffers bedsteads or stoales’ – i.e. [paneled] ceilings, doors, tables, chairs, hangings, battlements [architectural decoration], coffers, bedsteads or stools. William Tyndall’s will, 13 Sept 1558  TNA:PRO, PROB 11/42B, fo. 51  2 her naturall lyfe and she to kepe the sayd howse drye and suffycyently repayred during her tyme/  and after her tyme I gyve and bequeath the sayd howse wythe thappurtenaunces wythe all sylinges portalls Batyllmentes hanginges chayres stooles formes7 doores coffers and bedsteades whiche shalbe in the howse at my departinge (other then such as I shall bequeath in thys my testament) shall remayne8 to my sonne Thomas Tyndall hys hayres9 and assignes forever/  Item I gyve and bequethe to Thomas my sonne on hundreth markes10 in money/. And to Johan my daughter on hundreth markes in money and to Faith my daughter on hundreth markes in money/.  Allso I gyve and bequethe unto my sayd thre children all suche plate11 and ~ howshould stuff as remayneth in my sayd howse the daye of my death as was myne before I maryed wythe my wyfe as dothe appeare by an inventary herunto annexed/ All whiche legacyes to be delyvered unto them at the daye of mary- age of every of them or at the adge of on and twentye yeares.  And yf yt happen any of my sayd children to departe thys wourlde afore thyre maryage or adge of one and twenty yeares/ That then I will there parte or partes to Re- mayne to the other that dothe lyve And yf yt please god to call for them afore the tyme before appointed/ Then I will all there legacyes to be dystrybuted as hereafter ys declared (That ys to saye) the thirde parte thereof to be equally dvy- dyd emongste the chyldren of my brother Rychard Tyndall and my brother Thomas Tyndall and my sisters Anne and ysabell I meane the chyldren of them fowre that remayne in Lincoln Shire wyth or aboute theire parentes & theother two thirde partes to be bestowed upon the buyldinge of one howse for twelve adged poore people to dwell in rente free whiche howse I will to be buyldyd at my grownde in Lewans meade12 late the churche of the gray fryers wythin the cytye of Bristoll by thone syde of lewans meade towardes the gardayne whiche Mystres Jaye holdeth / Allso I wyll that all my childrens legacyes aforesayde shall remayne in the custody of Jane my wyfe duringe theire nonadge13 yf she doo contynewe unmaryed and will kepe my sayde chyldren Thomas to schoole, Johan and Faythe to doo servyce in the howse and to use there nedells, finding them meate drinke and clothe wyth other thinges necessarye untyll they be of the adge of sexten yeares / At whiche tyme I will that Thomas shalbe bound prentyce to suche mystery or scy- ence14                                                          7 ‘formes’: benches.  as he shalbe moste apte, or els kepte to hys lernynge in oxforde yf he be apte and have mynde therunto and my two daughters to be at the appointment of my oversears by the counsyle of my wyfe yf she be not mynded styll to have them wythe her/ And yf my sayde wyfe happen to marye, or that she will not be soo contente to use my chyll- dren gyvinge good suertyes to the mayor of bristoll for the tyme beinge and to my executors and John wyllye 8 ‘remayne’: remain – i.e. a property or legal title granted to a person as a ‘remainder’ (OED). 9 ‘hayres’: heirs. 10 ‘on hundreth markes’: one hundred marks (£66 13s. 4d.). 11 ‘plate’: silverware. 12 ‘Lewans meade’: Lewin’s Mead, Bristol. 13 ‘nonadge’: nonage – i.e. minority. 14 ‘mystery or scyence’: a trade or craft. William Tyndall’s will, 13 Sept 1558  TNA:PRO, PROB 11/42B, fo. 51  3 chamberlayne John Sprinte Niycholas Crosbye oversears15 as well for the usinge of my sayd chyldren in manner aforesayd as the fullfillinge of my legacyes/ Then I will that ymmedyatly after she shall happen to marry or refuse to kepe my chyldren being wydowe/ She shall delyver my sayd childrens porcyons unto my executors and oversears/ and to suche as they shall appointe to retayne yt so that he or they whiche shall have the govornaunce thereof shall  put in suffycyent Suertye16 to the mayor of bristoll for the tyme being for the saulfe delyveringe of the said legacy in manor aforesayd / and for the well usinge of my sayde children as ys aforesayd / And Further for the performance  of thys my laste will and testament / I will that my sayde wyfe shall have and enjoye duringe her lyfe my stabell in marshaestreate wyth theappurtenaunces / The lease whereof I bought of willyam Donynge, wythout paying any rente therefore / Allso I will that all my landes and tenementes here in Bristoll after my wyves tyme shall re mayne as hereafter followeth / That ys to saye / The howse upon the keye17 wherein Robarte Taylor nowe dwellythe wythe the shopp and lytell vaulte therunto belonging that I doo nowe occupie / I gyve and bequeath to Johan my daughter and the hayres of her bodye lawefully begotten18 and for lacke of suche haires to Thomas my sonne and hys hayres / And for lacke of suche hayres to Faythe my daughter and her hayres / And for lacke of suche haires to the haires lawefully begotten of my brother Robarte Tyndall here in thys realme of England19 / And for lacke of suche hayres To my righte hayres forever / And my howse in christmas Streate20 whiche Sampson hamersley nowe dwellithe in I gyve unto faythe my daugter and the hayres of her body lawefully be gotten / And for lacke of suche hayres  to re mayne to Thomas my sonne and hys haires / And for lacke of suche hayres to Johan my daughter and her hayres And for lacke of suche hayres to my brother Robarte and hys hayres as ys aforesayd / And all that my stoore howse  wythe the two dwellinge howses one towarde the kaye and the other towarde marshestreate wythe my stabell in marshestreate and thappertenaunces my two howses in cristmas streate nowe in severall tenures of willyam yonge  merchaunte and John Erothe hoper21 / wythall that my growndes by lewans meade sometyme the graye Fryars wythe that my howse in fysher lane nowe in the tenure of Julyan moorte22                                                          15 ‘oversears’: overseers – persons appointed to supervise and assist the executors of a will.  wydowe / And all that my lease  of a certayne grownde in marshestreate whyche I hould of maister Pary for certayne yeares yet to come I gyve and bequeth to Thomas my sonne and the hayres of hys bodye lawefully begotten / And for lacke of suche hayres To remayne unto my daughters in suche maner and fourme as ys aforesayd / And for lacke of suche hayres to remayne unto my brother Robarte Tyndall and hys hayres as ys afore declared / Item I gyve and bequeth to Johan my daughter 16 ‘Suertye’: surety – i.e. a legally-binding bond, usually entailing a financial obligation. 17 ‘keye’: the Quay in Bristol. 18 ‘the hayres of her bodye lawefully begotten’: the heirs of her body lawfully begotten – i.e. legitimate children. 19 This suggests Robert might have had children abroad. 20 ‘christmas Streate’: Christmas Street. Now Christmas Steps, Bristol. 21 ‘hoper’: hooper. 22 ‘Moorte’: recorded as ‘Moore’ in TNA:PRO, PROB 11/41, no. 60. William Tyndall’s will, 13 Sept 1558  TNA:PRO, PROB 11/42B, fo. 51  4 all that my lease of a gardayne in saincte michalls paryshe whiche I houlde of the Batylinewes for certayne yeares yet to come Allwayes provydyd that Johan Olde my kinswoman have yt tyll my daughter do marry  fo. 51v.  Or come to the adge of one and twentye yeares paying the rente therefore Allso I gyve unto Thomas Tyndall sonne to my brother Rychard Tyndall syxe poundes thirten shillinges fower pence Allso I gyve unto James olde and hys wyfe all that my lease of the howse wherin he nowe dwellyth during the yeares which I have yet to come wythall sylinges portalles hanginges and other ymplementes of howsholde whiche I have in the sayd howse / Item I gyve and bequeath unto Jane my wyfe all and singuler suche plate and stuffe of howshould as the broughte wythe her from Tewkysbury and allso on pece of goulde of twentye duckettes23 whyche I sente her for a token / Item I gyve to my sayde wyfe two hundreth markes in money upon thys condycyon that she doo make a juste accompte payment and delyvery to my executors of all suche money as is in my howse as appeareth in an ynventary hereunto annexed / Allso I wyll that myne executors shall dyscharge her of all legacyes due by her husbandes Testament and her father in lawe ys Testament / Item I bequeth to the cathedral churche of bristoll fyve shillinges / Item to maister hughe Joanes my goastely father24 fyve shillinges  The Resydue of  all my goodes lease and leases shippes and all other goodes whatsoever they be not bequethed I gyve unto Robarte Tyndall my brother and Thomas Tyndall my sonne whome I do make my executors of thys my laste wyll and  Testament  Excepte onlye the price of wynes25 that James Old had whyche I will that my cosyn Johan Old shall have during my yeares thereupon payinge as her husband James payde gyvinge suffycyent Suertyes for the payemonte so that she be rulyd by the counsaill of my executors and oversears concerninge her maryadge / And I doo appointe name and constytute John Willy of Bristoll chamberlayne to whome I do gyve fyve pounds for hys paynes &26 John  Sprinte to whome I doo gyve my beste gowne that I made in London for hys paines and Nycholas Crosbye to whom I doo gyve three yardes of clothe that I boughte in London for hys paines Oversears of thys my laste will and Testament In wytness hereof maister Thomas Silke prebondary of the cathedrall churche of Bristoll maister hughe Joanes27 parson of Saincte Stephans my goastly father / Robert Taylor my brother in lawe marchaunt / per me Thomas Silke clericum28 per me hugonem Jones clericum / Item I gyve and bequeath to Jane my wyffe the three alle cuppes parcell gilte29                                                          23 ‘on pece of goulde of twentye duckettes’: one piece of gold worth twenty ducats – i.e. c.£6 6s. 8d.  to 24 ‘goastely father’: ‘ghostly father’ – i.e. a confessor or spiritual director. 25 ‘price of wynes’: prise / prize of wines – i.e. the right to collect prisage on wine. Prisage was a form of royal purveyance but, by this time, was commonly farmed out and, in effect, amounted to a tax levied on ships importing wine belonging to Englishmen. 26 ‘to’ is added here in TNA:PRO, PROB 11/41, no. 60. 27 ‘Joanes’: recorded as ‘Jones’ in TNA:PRO, PROB 11/41, no. 60. 28 ‘per me Thomas Silke clericum’ –‘by me, Thomas Silk, cleric’. This is where the witness signatures would have been in the original document. 29 ‘three alle cuppes parcell gilte’: three ale cups parcel-gilt – i.e. partly gilded. William Tyndall’s will, 13 Sept 1558  TNA:PRO, PROB 11/42B, fo. 51  5 doo wythe them what she will and the fowre poundes of money whiche Sancte Stephans churche owethe me / Item I gyve to my cosyn Johan James Olde is wyfe my lease upon the pryse wynes during the yeares upon the same  pay inge the somes of money specyfyed in the sayde lease and no more whiche lease ys in my compter30 and I will yt be delyvered her incontynent31[The will was proved on 27 April 1559]  upon my death finding suertyes for payment accordingly / Allso I gyve to my sayd cosin Johan tenne poundes in money whiche I promysed her husband and her for to paye for the dyner and chardges of ther weddinge / In wytnes hereof hughe Joanes clerke my goastly father and Jane Tyndall my wyfe                                                              30 ‘compter’: counter – i.e. counting-house. 31 ‘incontynent’: incontinent – i.e. immediately / straight-away.  

Will of William Tyndall, merchant of Bristol, 13 September 1558

https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/files/3020489/TyndallWill2011.pdf

Will of William Tyndall, merchant of Bristol, 13 September 1558

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Explore Bristol Research