Will of Nicholas Stone, Rector of Northfleet Church, 1393

A translation into English by Duncan Harrington from a Latin abstract made by Leland L. Duncan.

3 Rous PROB 11/1 folio 19v Prerogative Court of Canterbury will register at National Archives

24 September 1393 Nicholas Stone Rector of the church of Northflete [Northfleet]. To be buried where it shall please God. I bequeath to the shrine of St Thomas Canterbury 3s 4d. To the shrine of Sir Richard Cicester [Shrine in Chichester Cathedral. See Cross, Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (1993) p. 1185] 3s 4d. I wish that on the day of my burial not to let it be a 3s 4d.
   I wish that on the day of my burial not to let it be a congregation of powerful persons but of priests and paupers and to distribute between the paupers 30s , that is to say, to each of them 1d. And that about my body five wax-tapers each weighing two pounds of wax. I wish that with festival after my death, as my executors shall cause to be celebrated one thousand masses for my soul and my kin
   To Nicholas Stone my father and Lucy his wife all my moveable goods and cattle being within the county of Dorset.
I bequeath to John Stone senior one bay horse. To my lord Dom Richard Bishop of Chichester my best horse and three silver cups with one cover in recompense of any offence or wrong doing which to him ever made and for his revenue which was received unjustly and to my use had or kept back.
   I bequeath to the church of Hanefeld [Henfield] one vestment of the value of two marks. To the church of Northflete twenty shillings and one book called Pars oc[u]li sac[er]dotes
   Likewise to John Stone junior all my weapons, bastard sword and sword. To lord John Cary knight one sword with the harness of gold. To Dom John Benet and Robert Busshe two long gowns of red fur with a hood and ?
   I wish that my executors distribute all my vestment clothes to poor priests and others just as to them would seem most expedient. I bequeath to Roger my servant my whole bed in which I now lye. I bequeath to the enclosed monks of Westminster 2s 6d. I bequeath to William Charnell all the debts that he owes me by virtue of the same obligation being in my custody. The residue I bequeath to the aforesaid Nicholas Stone and Lucy and my forebears.
   Executors Dom Robert Bussche chaplain and William Charnell of London saddler and the reverend lord Dom. Richard Bishop of Chichester supervisor. Given at London the day and year above said.
   On 28 October 1393 in our manor house of Maghfeld probate was granted of the testament of Dom Nicholas Stone late rector of the parish church of Northflete within our immediate jurisdiction, to our beloved Dom. Robert Busshe chaplain and William