Will and administration of William Robertson, 1499/1500
Herts RO 2AR98
[translation from Latin] In the name of God amen. On 23 February 1499 I William Robertson of Wynslow, sound of mind but sick in body, make my will in this way. First I bequeath my soul to God the almighty father, the blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, and my body to be buried in the churchyard of the parish church of St Laurence of Wynslow. Item I bequeath to the mother church of St Albans iiij d. Item I bequeath to the high altar xx d. Item I bequeath to the light of the holy crucifix iiij d. Item I bequeath to the light of the blessed Mary iiij d. Item I bequeath to the torches iiij d. The residue indeed of my goods not bequeathed I give …
No more of the will was transcribed into the register, but the following grant of administration was included two entries later.
Richard Runham, bachelor in theology, Archdeacon of the exempt jurisdiction of the monastery of St Albans of this diocese, to our beloved in Christ Elizabeth Robertson of Wynslow of our jurisdiction, greetings. Whereas you have presented before us the will of William Robertson, deceased, while he lived of Wynslow, your husband, in which you were named executrix, and you did not dare to take it on yourself all the execution of the same, on account of the debt in which the same deceased was indebted at the time of his death, but refused it. We have entrusted the power to you, having been sworn on God's holy gospels, to seek, collect, levy and recover all and singular the goods of the said deceased and duly and faithfully to dispose of the same, and to pay the debt in which the said deceased was indebted at the same time of his death, as far as these goods and debts of his extend for it, (and the power) of completing a full and faithful inventory of all and singular the goods and debts of the said deceased, and presenting it to us, and also of rendering to us a plain and true account, calculation or reckoning in this matter, and we make and appoint you the administratrix of these goods and debts, through the present documents sealed with the seal of our office. Given at Wynslow aforesaid on 21 September 1500.