The Will of Cardinal Bourgcheir, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1486

( 244 ) THE WILL OE CARDINAL BOTJBGCHIEB, ABOHBISHOP OE CANTEBBUBY, 1486. EDITED BY LELAND L. DUNCAN, F.S.A. THE will of Archbishop Bourgchier, here printed, is entered in Register R of the muniments preserved in the Library of Christ Church, Canterbury. This Register contains the proceedings of the Prior and Chapter of Canterhury during the vacancy in the See caused by that Prelate's death, and also by that of each of his two successors. Cardinal Bourgchier was the third son of William Bourgchier, Earl of Eu. His mother was the Lady Anne Plantagenet, a daughter of Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, son of Edward the Third. The principal steps in his career are reflected in his will, and although that document cannot compare in general interest with the will of Archbishop Courtenay (Archceologia Oantiana, Vol. XXI I I . , pp. 55—67), it is nevertheless worthy of record. The will opens with the not uncommon soliloquy on the transitory nature of this life, and the consequent desire of the testator to arrange his worldly affairs. He then bequeaths his soul to The Father, The Son, and The Most Holy Spirit, the most blessed and glorious Virgin Mary, and to St. Alphege and St. Thomas of Canterbury. These two last he no doubt looked upon as his special protectors and " avoweries." He had obtained a grant from the Prior and Chapter of Canterbury of a burial-place on the north side of the high altar, and had prepared a tomb there for himself, and accordingly he requests that he may there be interred, and that his funeral should accord with his degree, hut not be on too lavish a scale, THE WILL OF CARDINAL BOURGCHIER. 245 To the Prior he leaves 66s 8d, to the Sub-Prior 40s, and to the various mouks, novices, and sundry persons about the church and monastery small sums for assisting at Mass of Requiem, both on the day of his burial and at his month's mind. He also arranges in case he die at a distance from Canterbury and his corpse require to tarry on the road thither either by night or day. His debts were to be paid, and £100 distributed by his executors amongst his poor tenants. The next portion of the will contains some interesting bequests. To the Prior and Chapter of his Church of Canterbury and their successors, in honour of the Holy Trinity and of St. Alphege and St. Thomas the Martyr, he leaves an image of the Holy Trinity of pure gold and precious stones, and a set of vestments of red tissue embroidered with pearls. To his successor he leaves £2000 in settlement of all claims for dilapidations—then, as now^ a very serious item. To the Cathedral Church of Worcester, his first episcopate, to which he was appointed in 1433, after a successful struggle by the English King against the Pope, he left an image of Our Lady standing in the Sun, with the Child in her arms, all of silver gilt, embellished with six pinnacles, on each of which was an angel with a thurible. The value, he adds, is £69 5s. In 1443 he was translated to Ely, and he accordingly left to that Cathedral Church 200 marks in jewels, vestments, etc. A previous step in his preferment had been the Deanery of St. Martin's-le-Grand, to which he was appointed in 1427. This Royal Ohapel was remembered by a gift of a set of vestments. The parish church of Haseley, in the diocese of Lincoln, enjoys the distinction of a special paragraph in the will, and is left two cloths for the altar, with an injunction that his soul and that of Sir John Collys, some time Rector there, may be remembered. Possibly he may have been connected with the parish in eaidy life. He also leaves a chalice and missal to the parish church of Thornebury in Worcester diocese. 246 THE WILL OF CARDINAL BOURGCHIER, Of conventual churches, Thetford receives a gift of vestments ; Walden an image of the Blessed Virgin standing in the Sun, with images and two angels with thuribles. Several churches and houses in his Kentish diocese receive bequests—Maidstone College an antiphonary; Wyngham, Cranbrook, Northfleet, and Reculver all receive vestments. Each house of friars and tbe convent of St. Sepulchre at Canterbury and the convent of Davington receive xls . The church of Maghfield in Sussex two copes. The Archbishop is generally stated to have studied at Nevill's Inn, Oxford. This house is not mentioned in his will, but he leaves the College of All Souls a chasuble, two dalmatics, and three copes of black velvet. He also gives directions for founding a chest in St. Mary's, Oxford, to be called "The Chest of Thomas Bourgchier, Cardinal and Archbishop of Canterbury," for the benefit of poor scholars, who were to be allowed to borrow therefrom in the hour of need. A similar chest was also to be founded in the University of Cambridge. Bequests to the Archbishop's kindred fill the next portion of the will. To Henry, Earl of Essex, his nephew, he left a vessel with a cover of pure gold, which he states was commonly known as " The gret bolle of gold." This was to be considered as an heirloom, and handed on from father to son, reverting, in the event of failure of heirs male, to the next heir of the name of Bourgchier. To his nephew, Sir Thomas Bourgchier the elder, he left jewels, etc., to the value of 100 marks. To Sir Thomas Bourgchier the younger he left his manors of Eynesford and Halsted in Kent, and to Edward Bourgchier, his son, a gold vessel with a sapphire set in the top. To John Nevyle, his kinsman, he left £100 in money and ornaments. Two of his esquires, William They and John Brymston, receive sums of money, and his servants are remembered in the customary way. The Royal College of St. Mary and St. Nicholas in Cambridge, the Abbot of Boxley, and the Prior and Convent of Rochester, all apparently in his debt, receive acquittances. ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, 1486. 247 The Archbishop names as his executors John, Bishop of Worcester ; John, Bishop of Ely ; and John, Bishop of Lincoln, together with Sir William Hussey and Sir Thomas Bourgchier, knights j William Pykenham, LL.D.; Edmund Lichefeld, clerk; John Brummpston, Thomas Garth, William Tey, John Judde, and John Rotheman, "gentilmen." The will is dated at "Knol l " (Sevenoaks) 27 March 1486. The Archbishop was then seriously ill, and three days later he died. The preamble of Register R contains a record of his death, and may be reproduced here. It runs :— " Registrum venerabilium virorum dominorum Prioris et Capituli Ecclesie Christi Cantuariensis sede ibidem vacante per obitum bone memorie Thome Bourgchier Cardinalis Arohiepiscopi Qui Moriebatur apud Knoll penultimo die mensis Marcii Anno Domini Millesimo CCCC. lxxxvjto." He was buried, as he requested, on the north side of the high altar, where his tomb still exists. The full text of his will is as follows:— TESTAMENTUM DOMINI CARDINALIS BOURGCHIER ANNO DOMINI M0CCCCLXXXVIT0.* [Register R, Christ Church, Canterbury, folio 36a.] In nomine sancte et individue trinitatis patris et filii et spiritus sancti ac glorisissime Virginis et matris Sancte Marie et tocius Curie celestis Amen. Ego Thomas miseracione divina tituli Sancti Ciriaci in thermie Sacrosancte Romane ecclesie presbiter Cardinalis Cantuariensis Archiepiseopus tocius Anglie primas et Apostolice Sedis legatus gracias deo compos mentis et sane memorie ac in sincentate Catholice fidei integer et indnbius existens considerans interiori acie mentis mee quam f allax quam transitoria mutabilis et inmutabiliter celduca sit hee vita quam pocius vmhram que cito evanescit aeu spectaculum fore conspicio quam perhennitatem dieriun Idcirco volens cum dei paciencia bona mea terestria in celestia eommutare et eadem bona mea que michi divina disposicione collata fore cognosco pro salute anime mee in pios vsus disponere presentem testamentum meam ultimam voluntatem comprehendens condo f acio et ordino in hune modum. * I desire to express my thanks to Mr. M. Beazeley, F.R.G.S., Hon. •Librarian of the Cathedral, for Ms kindness in comparing my transcript witli too original, and aiding me with his suggestions on doubtful points.—L. L. D. 248 THE WILL OF CARDINAL BOURGCHIER, In primis animam meam spiritum peccatricem quanto devotius potero lego et commendo omnipotenti deo patri misericordie et ejusdem patris vnico filio Christo Ihesu redemptori ac salvatori meo ac vtriusque patris et filii Sanctissimo spiritui et beatissime et gloriosissime virgini matrique Marie Sanctis Alphego et beate Thome Martin Cantuariensi glorioso ac omnibus Sanctis suppremi et celestis Collegii Corpus que humandum in ecclesia mea Cathedrali Cantuariensi in eo videlicet loco quem in choro ejusdem ecclesie mee ex parte boriali magni altaris ibidem pro sepulcro et sepultura mea elegi et assignavi. Item volo quod sumptus f unerales non minus sumptuosos sint aut superfiuum vel excessum tempore exequiarum mearum sed secundum statum in quo deus voluerit me decedere adeo moderati quod sint divitie aut hahundancie solacia sed pocius egentibus et debilibus recreacio et refeccio. Item lego priori ecclesie mee Cantuariensis predicte in die sepulture mee et xxx0 die presenti in exequiis meis vsque ad complecionem earumdem et in missa de Requiem lxvj3 viijd. Item \ suppriori ibidem sub eadem forma xl3 . Item cuilibet monacho 1 sacerdoti ecclesie simili modo presenti seu infirmitate prepedit de superiori choro xs. [Folio 36b .] Item cuilibet monacho sacerdoti inferiori chori vjs viija et cuilibet comonacho diacano aut subdiacano v8. Item cuilibet novico aut converso in eadem iij8 iiijd. Item lego Vigariis et ministris ejusdem ecclesie presentibus et pulsantibus tempore exequiarum et missarum de Requiem diebus sepulture et trigintalie mee xl3. Item volo quod distribuantur dictis diebus sepulture et trigintalie mee Cu pauperibus ibidem congregandis aut majus aut minus juxta discrecionem executorum meorum Et si contingat me obire in aliquo loco distante ah ecclesia mea Cantuariensi predicta volo quod vltra sumptus necessarios pro conducto corporis mei ad locum sepulture mee distribuantur dietim xiij3 iiijd aut majus vel minus secundum discretionem executorum meorum pauperibus elemosina petentibus Et si contingat corpus meum pronoctare in aliquo loco volo quod pro anima mea fiant exequie mortuorum de nocte et missa de requiem de mane in ecclesia vbi sic continget corpus meum pro ilia nocte quiescere per capellanos et clericos capelle mee Eb volo quod quilibet alius capellanus missam ibidem pro anima mea devote celebrans habeat pro suo lahore viijd Et quod offeratur in singulis ecclesiis hujusmodi vnius pannus aureus de meis propriis maj oris vel minoris precii juxta discrecionem executorum meorum secundum exegenciam locorum ac ofEerantur ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, 1486. 249 in missis in dictis singulis ecclesiis per dictos executores meos aut per unum ipsorum xxd . Item volo quod preshiteris et clericis venientibus et interessentibus exequiis meis et misse in predicta ecclesia mea Cathedrali executores mei distribuant prout bonum et honestum visum fuerit. Item volo quod executores mei omnia debita mea plenarie et fideliter persolvant Et si quem contra deum et consciam bonam per me aut meos indebite offendi per in persona aut rebus cognita veritate juste querentibus satisfaciant. Item volo quod inter ministros Capelle mee exequiis meis die trigintalis mei et deportacioni corporis mei vsque ad locum sepulture interessent distribuatur summa xx1' secundum discrecionem executorum meorum. Item volo quod per executores meos vel deputatos ant deputatum per eos distribuantur C11 de bonis inter pauperes tenentes meos infra domina mea commorantes secundum eorum exigenciam juxta discrecionem executorum meorum ad orandum pro anima mea infra tres menses immediate post mortem meam. [Folio S7\] Item do et lego priori et capitulo ecclesie mee Christi Cantuariensis et eorum successoribus ob honorem Sancti Trinitatis Sanctorum Alphegi et gloriosi Thome Martiris vnam ymaginem sancte trinitatis de puro auro cum le dyademe et xj balasseri x saphiris et xliiij gemmis nuncupatis perlys vnum vestimentum integrum de panno aureo ruheo vocato rede tissue pyerled videliter vnam capsulam [sic] duas dalmaticas cum toto apparatu et vnam cappam ejusdem secte cum gemmis preciosis in le orfres infixis et garneizatis et xxvj capas de rubio tissue cum orfres completis ad serviendum deo in eadem ecclesia pro perpetuo. Item lego successori meo quem deus ordinavit pro dilapidacione ecclesie mee et maneriorum meorum in plenam recompensacionem dilapidacionis hujusmodi de bonis meis videlicet in Jocalibus vasis argenteis vestimentis libris et in aliis MM1". Item do et lego ecclesie Cathedrali Wigornensi vbi primo steti episeopus vnam ymaginem beate Marie de argento et deaurato in sole stantem super pedem cum ymaginibus et sex angelis cum thuribilis super sex pinnacula et dicta ymago habens puerum in manu sua in valore lxix" vs. Item do et lego ecclesie Cathedrali sancte Etheldrede Eliensis vbi eciam steti Episeopus ducentes marcas in Jocalibus vestimentis et in pecunia in plenum satisfactionem omnium denariorum per me eis quomodolibet debitorum. 250 THE WILL OF CARDINAL BOURGCHIER, Item do et lego ecclesie conuentuali de Notley Lincolniensi diocesi vnam capsulam ij dalmaticas cum toto apparatu orfreised de ruheo panno aureo et vij capas ejusdem secte. Item do et lego Capelle Regie sancti Martini magni Londiniensis vnam capam vnam capsulam ij dalmaticas cum toto apparatu de blodio damaske panni aurei. Item vj capas de blodio tartureum de bawdkyn le orfres de rubio bawdkyn. Item lego ecclesie conuentuali de Thetford Norwicensi diocesi vnam capsulam ij dalmaticas cum toto apparatu et iij capas de albo damaske puluerizatas cum angelis de auro. Item lego ecclesie parochiali de Haseley Lincolniensi diocesi duos pannos pro altari de albo tartareo puluerisatos cum garteris ad orandum pro anima mea et anima domini Johannis Collys [Folio 37b] quondam Rectoris ibidem et vnum simplex vestimentum secundum discrecionem executorum meorum. Item do et lego ecclesie parochiali de Thornebury Wigorniensi diocesi meum optimum calicem de argento deaurato et vnum missale. Item lego ecclesie conuentuali Monasterio de Waldenensi Londiniensi diocesi secundariam ymaginem meam beate Marie stantem in sole cum imaginibus et ij angelis cum thuribilis de argento et deaurato ad orandum pro anima mea et animabus parentum meorum. Item do et lego Collegio animarum omnium fidelium defunctorum in Vniversitate Oxon vnam capsulam ij dalmaticas cum apparatu de nigro velueto orfreised cum panno aureo de tissu et iij capas ejusdem secte ad orandum pro anima mea etc. Item do et lego ecclesie Collegiate de Maydeston vnum de Antiphonariis meis. Item do et lego ecclesie Collegiate de Plesshy 1 marcas. Item do et lego ecclesie Collegiate de Wyngham vnam capam vnam capsulam et ij dalmaticas cum apparatu de viride bawdekyn, Item do et lego ecclesie parochiali beate Marie de Lamehith . . . . \blanlc]. Item lego cuilibet domui fratrum mendicorum in civitate Cantuariensi et extra infra diocesem meam Cantuariensem xla . Item lego priorisse et Conuentui Sancti Sepulcri extra muros Civitatis Cantuariensis xls . Item lego priorisse et Conuentui de Davyngton xl8. Item do et lego ecclesie parochiali de Cranebroke vnam Casulam ij tunicas et j Capam de viridi damaske cum apparatu. Item do et lego ecclesie parochiali de Northflete iij Capas de viridi baudekyn orfreised cum nigro skerid. Item do et lego ecclesie parochiali de Maghfeld ij capas cum solis de viridi baudekyn orfreised cum motle. Item do et lego ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, 1486. 25 1 ecclesie parochiali de Reculver vnam Capam de panno aureo j Casulam et ij tunicas de albo baudekyn orfreised de Setwork. Item volo quod executores mei fundent ordinent et stabiliant vnam Cistam in ecclesia Sancte Marie in Universitate Oxoniensi que vocabitur Cista Thome Bourgchier Cardinalis et Archiepiscopi Cantuariensis pro perpetuo duratur et reponant in eadem Cista C11 de bonis meis ad intencionem et effectum [Folio 38a] quod pauperes scolares et alii indigentes gradus cuiuscunque in dicta vuiversitate valeant mutuari de illis pecuniis in dicta Cista vt prefertur reposit ad summam x marcarum et quamlibet summam minorem secundum exigenciam personarum. Provisa semper quod custodes Ciste predicte recipient sufficiencia pignora pro hujusmodi summus vt prefertur mutuatur et eis certum diem appunctuent quo hujusmodi summe sic mutuate ad cistam meam antedictam reportentur subpena et cum momencionibus secundum consuetudinem vniversitatis in aliis cistis simili modo reposit. Item volo quod executores mei simili modo fundent et stabiliant vnam similitatem cistam pro perpetuo eciam duraturo iu vniversitate Cantabrigia cum summa C1'. Et volo quod dicti scolares mutuantes tempore aperturia cistaruni hujusmodi dicant de profundis cum precibus consuetis sequentibus pro anima mea et animabus parentum meorum. Item do et lego domino Henrico Comiti Essex nepoti meo vnum Ciphum cum coopertorio de puro auro vulgariter nuncupatum the gret bolle of gold habendum sibi ad terminum vite sue et quod post ejus decessum remaneat heredi suo inasculo et sic de herede in heredem masculum imperpetuum Et si contingat quod absit quod prefatus comes seu aliquis heres inasculus de linea et stripite sua sine herede masculo hujusmodi decedat quod tunc volo quod hujusmodi Ciphus remaneat proximo heredi suo de nomine Bourgchiers imperpetuum pro signo memoriali. Item lego Thome Bourgchier seniori militi in Jocalibus et ornamentis et aliis C marcas. Item do lego et confirmo Thome Bourgchier juniori militi maneria mea de Eynesford et Halsted cum suis pertinentibus Habendum sibi et . . . , [blank] uxori sue et heredibus ipsius Thome imperpetuum in partem valoris octoginta librarum. residuum vero dicte summe in pecuniis jocalibus vel ornamentis etc. Item do et lego Johanni Nevyle consanguineo meo in pecunia vasis et ornamentis C1 _ Item do et lego Willelmo They armigero diligenti servitori meo C" in jocalibus et in pecunia. Item do et 252 THE WILL OF CARDINAL BOURGCHIER. lego Johanni Brymston armigero quingentas marcas. Item volo quod omnes seruientes mei mecum tempore mortis mee f amiliariter commorantes in vno loco per excutores meos assignando de bonis meis exhibeantur in esculentis et poculentis vnacum [Folio 38b] vadus consuetis per vnum quartum anni post obitum meum si ipsi tandem expectare voluuntur et pasciflce et honeste se habuerunt erga executores meos. Item quod nepos meus dominus de Essex habeat ad comodum efc vtilitatem suam Ward et maritagium et custodiain corporis sui prout in quadein donacione per me sibi facta signata euideneionis apperet. Item do et lego Edwardo Bourgchier filio et heredi domini Thome Bourgchier junioris militis nepotis mei vnum ciphum planum de auro cum coopertorio in cujus sumitate ponitur saphirus. Item remitto et pardono preposito et sociis Collegii regalis beate Marie et Sancti Nicholai de Cantebrigia omnes summas pecuniarum quas debent michi et in quibus obligantur ad soluendum michi et assignantibus meis Et volo quod obligaciones eorum eis reddantur pure sponte et libere vt ipsi libencius orent pro anima mea Et similiter modo remitto abbati et monachis de Boxley et Priori ac conuentui de Rouchestre omnimodo summas pecuniarum quas ipsi aut aliquis eorum debent michi et volo quod obligaciones eorum eis reddantur. Item volo quod servientes mei remunerentur secundum aduisamentum et discrecionem executorum meorum. Residuum vero omnium bonorum meorum supernis non legatorum committo discrecionem fidei et bone consciencie executorum meorum quos facio ordino et constituo dominos et fratres meos Episcopos Johannem Wigornensem Johannem Eliensem Johannem Lincolniensem quorum vnicumque assigno pro suis laboribus xl marcas et dominum Willelmum Hussey dominum Thomam Bourgchier juniorem milites Magistrum Willelmum Pykenham legum doctorem Magistrum Edmundum Lichefeld Clericum Johannem Brummpston Thomam Garth Willelmum Tey Johannem Judde et Johannem Rotheman gentilmen quorum eciam vnicumque assigno et lego xx11. In cujus rei testimonium Sigillum Archiepiscopatus mei presentibus apponi feci Datum in manerio meo de Knoll xxvij0 die mensis Marcii Anno Domini M. CCCCLXXXVI et anno Regni Regis Henrici VII. primo.