Will of Henry Thomlyns, vicar, 1451
Herts RO 1AR63
[translated from Latin]
In, etc. 10 September AD 1451. I Henry Thomlyns, Vicar of Wynslow, sound of mind and of healthy memory, make my will in this way. First I bequeath to almighty God, the Blessed Mary and all the saints, and my body to be buried in the chancel before St Laurence of Wynslow. Item I bequeath to the light of St Laurence there 12d, and to the light of St Mary in the chancel there 12d, and two sheep to the light of the sepulchre there. Item I bequeath to the light of the crucifix in the same church 12d, and to each light in the said church 4d. Item to the monastery of St Albans 3s 4d. Item I bequeath to the fraternity of Buk(ingham) 6s 8d, and to the fraternity of Leygton 3s 4d. Item I bequeath to each order of friars of Oxon one quarter of barley, and to the order of friars of Aylysbury one quarter of barley. Item I bequeath to each son of Richard Ardryne of Addyngton 6 sheep, and to Joan wife of the said Richard my best fur[?] [penula] and to Agnes his daughter the second-best brass pot. Item I bequeath to Alice Adkyn of the same vill a piece of cloth for a gown. Item I bequeath to each of my godchildren [filioli] one sheep at the discretion of my executors. Item I bequeath to Henry Thomlyns my father my livery gown and to my mother my best gown. Item I bequeath to Richard Ardryne of Addyngton my [......] furred [penulata] gown and to Joan his wife my second-best gown. Item I bequeath to John my brother cloth for a gown and to Alice his wife my blue [blodia] gown with hood [cu(m) cap(ut)ico] and to Alice wife of William my brother one blue furred gown of mine with hood. Item I bequeath to Margaret daughter of John my brother my best bed and my best brass pot and my best plate and my plot (of land) which I bought from Marian lately wife of Walter Malter of Wynslow, surrendered into the hands of Robert Mylward for the benefit of the said Margaret daughter of John my brother if she comes to full age. And if she dies before she comes to full age, I wish that it should be sold by the hands of my executors and distributed in aid of my soul and of all friends and faithful Christians. And I bequeath to the said Margaret one very good basin with ewer. Item I bequeath to Joan Pontyfex my maidservant [famula] one brass pot, one basin and one plate. Item I bequeath to Robert Coryo() my servant [serviens] my blood-red gown with black hood, and to Richard Mylward my household servant [famulus] my green gown with black hood, and the everyday shirts [camisias seculares] and shoes to be divided between the two of them. Item I bequeath to Richard Maundwill my blue furred gown and my best long tunic. The residue indeed of my goods not bequeathed I give and bequeath for the necessary expenses in performing my burial and for paying my debts and legacies. And of this will I ordain and make Thomas Barlowe Vicar of Little Horwood, Henry Thomlyns of Wynslowe and Richard Ardryne of Addyngton to be my executors. With these witnesses: William Kyng of Wynslowe and Robert Mylward of the same vill, William Thomlyns and John Thomlyns. So that they, namely Thomas, Henry and Richard, should so act and perform my will as they will wish to answer for before God. Given at Wynslowe on the day and year written above.
Proved on 8 October [1451]. And administration was granted to Richard Ardryne, executor named within, sworn in form of law, but rights of administration were reserved to the other executors named within if they wished to take the administration on themselves. And consequently on the 12th of the said month administration of the goods of the same will was granted to Henry Thomlyn, another executor named within, sworn in form of law by Master William Wynselow and John Thomlyn his proxies in this matter. And he has discharge. And because no executor (ad)ministers[?] goods without consent of the others sworn on this, the oath however offered on the part of Henry Thomlyn by [..... .....] before the tribunal on the said day is completely remitted.
Notes
Henry's deathbed surrender in favour of his niece Margaret is recorded in the court books for 1452 (WMCB, pp.659-60): it consisted of a cottage with a plot of land 40 x 8 feet and 1 acre of land. Margaret was aged 12. Heriot was payable, so these were Henry's only holdings at his death. Robert Millward appears to have been the Bailiff. Henry, along with Richard Ardern bought the cottage, plot and 4 acres from Marian Malter in 1450 (p.650). Richard must have retained the other 3 acres. In 1454 John Malter (son of Walter Malter) brought a plea against Margaret and her father John about the holding, which was dropped in 1455 (pp.673, 685). In 1458 Margaret made a deathbed surrender of the holding to her father John (p.695).
In 1425, Henry Tomlyn paid 12d for licence to send his son Henry to be educated (WMCB p.485).
Thomas Barlowe can be added to Lipscomb's list of Vicars of Little Horwood.