Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-06-20
ANCIENT ENGLISH WILLS.

A curious volume on early English
Wills, just published in London, con-
tains much that is interesting in rela-
ton to domestic life at the time, (they
take in about fifty years from 1887 but
the characteristics that predominant in
all, with but few exceptions, is the sub
lection of the family feeling to the alb
sorbing interest in the future welfare of
the soul. The earliest of these wills
that of John Corn, in 1880 says:
81 bequeath my goods in two parts,
that is for to say, half TO me-"
John Corn reminds us of the miser
who, having been with difficulty per-
suaded to make will, left his property
to himself. His meaning. of course, was
that it should be spent in masses for his
soul, and in bespcaking the prayers of
religious persons and of the poor gener-
ally on his behalf.
John Pynchin, in 1892. leaves nothing
to his family or to his friends, but pro-
vides that "when men may espy any
poor man of religion, whether monk,
canon or friar," such poor man is to have
six-and- eightpence.
Lady Alice West, in 1895, after giving
her best beds and second-best beds to
her daughters and daughter in Law, pro-
Deeds to develop an elaborate scheme for
the benefit of the souls of Sir Thomas
West, of her relatives, and of all Chris
tian folk. Besides sum of fl4 los.
equivalent to about EGO of the present
money for forty four hundred masses,
there are nearly twenty requests of one
hundred shillings to various religious
bodies, such as "the Menouresses dwell
ing without Aldgate," "the Friars of
Newgate, pc the Friars of Ludgate," for
the same purpose. A bailiff or reeve
and sundry old servants, sre not forgot
ten, but they are of far less account than
the dispensers of purgatorial relief. IL
is characteristic of the prevailing feeling
of the time that only one secular priest
is found among the recipients Of Lady
Alice's bounty: the vicar of Newton Val
ance is to have forty shillings. This
noble lady, however, seems TO have had
the territorial instinct, and does not
ALLEVIATE her lands.
We find other testators more thorough
in their devotion to the same object.
Thomas Walwayne leaves the third of
the value of his land to 60 10 the build
| ing of the steeple of Marcle Church, and
after providing for the immediate say
ing Of a thousand masses, leaves land
for the founding OF chanfry, where
priest il to sing continually"
John Chelmeswyk goes far beyond
this. After many smaller requests for
| spiritual purposes, he gives go TO two
| priests to sing for seven years for his
soul. His manors of Hey and Tasley
are to be sold for the same purpose. and
| il he die childIess, his manor of Haver-
ton is to be similarly disposed Of. Here
q secular priest, the parson of Tasley,
comes in for nothing but the friendly
| gift of some bedding.
Richard Bokeland in 1896 provides for
q million masses at fourpence each; a
more liberal payment than Lady Alice
Vests, forty years before.
William Newlaud makes provision for
| pilgrimage to be made for his spiritual
benefit. His executors are 10 find man
who will 90 TO Jerusalem for fifty marks,
about eco of our money. Another ID
to 90 to Canterbury barefoot for ten shil-
lings, and a third TO the shrine of Sc.
James of Compostella for f5.
Another common characteristic of the
wills Of this period, and one which, BY
the way, We can find traces of in the
provisions of modern tsstators. is the
jealousy shown of wives. In one it Il
provided that the widow, as condition
Of holding the manors bequeathed Il
her, was 10 make solemn vow of chas
!, tity in the presence OF the bishop and
the congregation.