La carte de Londres au temps des Tudor
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source : The life in Elisabethan England
a compendium of common knowledge

THIS IS THE LASTE WILL WRITTEN and disposition of me Sir Thomas Gresham of the cittye of London knighte, concerninge all my mannors, landes, tenementes, and hereditamentes, mentioned and conteyned in one quadripartite indenture, made betweene me the said Sir Thomas Gresham and dame Anne my wife on the one partye, and Phillippe Scudamore gent. and Thomas Celey on thother partie, [20] dated the 20 day of May, in the seaventeenth yere of the raigne of our soveraigne lady queene Elizabeth. FIRST, concerninge the buildinges in London, called the Roiall Exchainge, and the pawnes, and shoppes, sellors, vawtes, messuages, tenementes, and other whasoever myne hereditamentes, parcell or adjoyninge to the said Roiall Exchainge, I will and dispose, that after the expiration and determynation of the particuler uses, estates, and interestes for life and entayle thereof, lymitted in the said indenture, bearinge date the 20 of May, I will and dispose, that one moitye thereof shall remayne, and the use thereof shalbe, unto the maior and cominalty and cittezens of London, by whatsoever especiall name or addition the same corporation is made or knowne, and to theire successors, for tearme of fiftye yeres then next ensuinge, upon truste or confidence, and to thintente, that they doe performe the paiementes and other intentes, in these presentes hereafter lymitted, thereof by them to be done and performed. AND the other moitye of the said buildinges, called the Roiall Exchainge, pawnes, shoppes, cellors, vawtes, messuages, tenementes, and other myne hereditamentes, with thappurtenaunces thereunto adjoyninge, shall remayne, and the use thereof shalbe, to the wardeins and cominalty of the mystery of the mercers of the cittye of London, viz. to the corporate body and corporation of the company of mercers in London, by whatsoever especiall name or addition the same corporation is made or knowne, and to theire successors for tearme of fifty yeres next ensuinge, upon truste and confidence, and to the intente, that they doe performe the paiementes and other intentes, in these presentes hereafter lymitted, thereof by them to be done and performed. AND I will and dispose, that after such tyme as the one moitye of the said Roiall Exchainge and other premisses, according to the intente and meaninge of these presentes, shall come to the said maior and corporation of the said cittye, and from thence so longe as they and their successors shall by any meanes or tytle have, hould, or enjoy the same, they and theire successors every yere shall give and distribute to and for the sustentation, mayntenaunce, and findinge foure persons from tyme to tyme to be chosen, nominated, and appointed by the said maior and cominalty and cittezens and theire successors, mete to read the lectures of divynitye, astronomy, musicke, and geometry, within myne nowe dwellinge house in the parishe of St. Hellynes in Bishopsgate streete and St. Peeters the pore in the cittye of London (the moitye whereof hereafter in this my last will is by me lymitted and disposed unto the said maior and cominalty and cittezens of the said cittye) the somme of two hundred pounds of lawfull money of England, in manner and forme followinge, viz. to every of the said readers for the tyme beinge the somme of fifty pounds of lawfull money of England yerely, for theire sallaries and stipendes, mete for foure sufficiently learned to read the said lectures; the same stipendes and sallaries , and every of them, to be paid at two usuall tearmes in the yere yerely, that is to say, at the feastes of thannunciation of St. Mary the Virgin and of St. Mighell tharchangell, by even portions to be paid. AND further, that the said maior and cominalty and cittezens of the said cittie and [21]theire successors, from thenceforth, and so longe as they and theire successors shall by any meanes have, hould, or enjoy the said moity before in these presentes to them disposed, shall give and distribute the somme of fiftye three poundes six shillings and eight pence of lawfull money of England yerely, in manner and forme followinge, viz. unto eight almes folkes, whome the said maior and cominalty and cittezens, or theire successors, shall appoint to inhabite my eight almes houses in the said parishe of St. Peters the pore, to every of them the said almes folkes the somme of six poundes thirteen shillings and four pence, to be paid at foure usuall tearmes in the yere yerely, that is to say, at the feast of St. Mighell the Archangell, the nativity of our Lord God, thannunciation of the blessed Virgin Marye, and nativitye of St. John Baptiste, by even portions. AND further, that the said maior and cominalty and cittezens of the said cittye and theire successors, from thenceforth, and so longe as they and theire successors shall by any meanes have, hould, and enjoy the said moitye before in these presentes to them disposed, shall give and distribute, at the termes aforesaid, to the reliefe of the pore persons and prisoners in the prisons and places called or knowne by the names of Newgate, Ludgate, the Kings bench, the Marshalsea, and Counter now kepte in Wood streete, and wheresoever the same prison hereafter shalbe kepte, fifty poundes of lawfull money of England in money, or other provission and necessaries for them, viz. to every of the same five prisons or places tenne poundes, at the foure usuall feastes or tearmes of paiementes of rentes within the same cittye of London most accustomed, or within twenty eight daies next after, by even portions. AND as concerninge the other moity, before in this my presente last will disposed to the said wardeins and cominalty of the corporation of the mercers, I will and dispose, that after such tyme as the same moitye, accordinge to the intent and meaninge of these presentes, shall come to the said wardeins and corporation of the mercers, and from thenceforth, so longe as they or theire successors shall by any meanes or title have, hould, and enjoy the same, that they and theire successors every yere yerely shall give, and pay, and distribute to and for the findinge, sustentation and maynetenaunce of three persons, by them the said wardeins and cominalty and theire successors from tyme to tyme to be chossen and appointed, meete to reade the lectures of law, phissicke, and rethoricke, within myne nowe dwellinge house in the parrishe of St. Hellyns in Bishopesgate streete and St. Peters the pore, in the said cittye of London (the moitye whereof hereafter in this my presente last will is by me appointed and disposed to the said corporation of the mercers) the somme of one hundred and fifty poundes of lawfull money of England, in manner and forme followinge, viz. to every of the said readers for the tyme beinge the somme of fiftye poundes, for theire sallaries and stipendes, mete for three sufficeintly learned to reade the said lectures, at two usuall tearmes in the yere, that is to say, at the feast of thannunciation of the blessed Virgin Marye and of St. Mighell the Archangell, by even portions to be paid. AND that the said wardeins ans corporation of the mercers and theire successors, from henceforth [22] and so longe as they and theire successors shall by any meanes have, hould, or enjoy the said moity before in these presentes to them disposed, shall yerely bestowe and expende one hundred poundes of lawfull money of England, in manner and forme followinge; that is to say, severally at foure severall tearmes in the yere, in and aboute the expences and charges of a feast or dinner for the whole company of the same corporation, to be had and made in the mercers haull in the said cittye of London, and in every theire quarter day, the somme of twenty five poundes. AND that further the said wardeins and corporation of the mercers and theire successors, form thenceforth, and so longe as they and theire successors shall by any means have, hold, or enjoy the said moity before in these presentes to them disposed, shall every yere give and distribute to the relief of the pore persons and prisoners in the hospitals, prisons, and places called or knowen by the names of the hospitalles of Christ or Christes church late the Gray friors in London, the hospitall of St. Bartlemewes nere Smithefield in London, the spittle of Bedlem nere Bishopsgate streete, the hospitall of the poore in Southwark, and the Counter nowe kepte in the Poultry, and wheresoever the same prison hereafter shalbe kepte, fiftye poundes of lawfull money of England in money, or other provisions and necessaries for them, viz. to every of the said five hospitalls, prisons, or places, tenne poundes, at foure most usuall feastes or tearmes of paiements of rent within the said cittye of London, accustomed, or within twenty eight daies next after, by even portions. AND as touching my eight almes howses scituate in the parishe of St. Peters the poore, at the backside of the said mansion house, in the saide citty of London, I will and dispose, that after the expiration and determynation of the particular uses, estates, and interestes for lief, and entayle thereof limitted in the said indenture quadripartite, dated the 20 of May, that the same eight almes houses shall remayne, and the use therof shalbe, unto the said maior and cominalty and cittezens of the said citty of London and theire successors, for and duringe the tearme of fifty yeres from thence next followinge fully to be compleate and ended, upon trust and confidence, and to thentente, that they doe performe the paymentes, and other intentes, in these presentes hereafter lymitted thereof by them to be done. And my trust and confidence, will, intente, and meaninge ys, that the said maior and cominalty and cittezens and theire successors, after such tyme as the same almes houses shall by vertue of this my presente last will come unto them the said maior and cominalty and cittizens, or to theire successors, and from tyme to tyme, so longe as they or theire successors shall have, hould, or enjoye the same by any title or meanes, shall place or put eight poore and ympotente persons into the said eight almes houses, viz. into every one of the said almes houses one person; and shall from tyme to tyme suffer the said eight persons, that shalbe so by them or theire successors there placed and put, to have, occupye, and enjoye the same, without any fyne or other thinge yeilded therefore ; and shall also pay unto every of the said persons, that so shalbe by them placed and put into the said almes howses, the somme of six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence of lawfull money of [23] England, in manner and forme before in these presentes expressed. AND AS concerninge my said mansion house, with the gardeins, stables, and all and singuler other the appurtenaunces, in the said parishe of St. Hellyns in Bishopsgate streete and St. Peters the poore, in the citty of London, I will and dispose, that after thende, determynation, or expiration of the particuler estates, uses, interestes, and entayles therof lymitted by the said indenture quadripartite, dated the said 20 day of Maie, the same my mansion house, gardein, stables, and other the appurtenaunces, shall remayne, and the use thereof shalbe, to the maior and cominalty and cittezens of the said cittye of London, by whatsoever name or addition the same is made or knowne, and to theire successors; and also to the wardeins and cominalty of the mistery of the mercery of the citty of London, viz. to the corporate body and corporation of the mercers of London, by whatsoever name or addition the same corporation is made or knowne: to have and to hould in commen for and duringe the tearme of fiftye yeres, from thence next followinge full to be compleate and ended, upon trust and confidence that they observe, performe, and keepe my will, intente, and meaininge hereafter in these presentes expressed. AND my will, entente, and meaninge is, that the said maior and cominalty and cittezens and theire successors, and that the said wardeins and cominalty of the mercery and theire successors, after such tyme as the said mansion house, gardein, and other the appurtenaunces, shall by vertue of these presentes come unto them, and from thenceforth so longe as they and theire successors, or any of them, shall have, hould, or enjoy the same by any title or meanes, shall permitte and suffer seaven persons, by them from tyme to tyme to be elected and appointed in manner and forme aforesaid, meete and sufficiently learned to reade the said seaven lectures, to have the occupation of all my said mansion house, gardeins, and of all other thappurtenaunces, for them and every of them there to inhabite, study, and daylie to reade the said severall lectures. And my will is, that none shall be chossen to reade any of the said lectures, so longe as he shall be married, nor be suffered to reade any of the said lectures after that he shalbe married, neither shall receave any fee or stipend appointed for the readinge of the said lectures. AND moreover I will and dispose, that if the said maior and comynalty, viz. the chiefe corporation of the said cittye, and the said wardeins and comynaltye of the mercers, viz. the corporation of the mercers of the cittye aforesaid, before the end of the said fiftye yeres to them in forme aforesaid lymitted, shall procure and obteyne sufficiente and lawfull dispensations and lyssaunces; warrante and authority had and obteyned, shall have and enjoy the said Roiall Exchainge, messuages, shoppes, pawnes, vautes, houses, and all other the premisses, with thappurtenaunces, for ever, severally by such moities, rates, and other portions, and in such manner and forme, as before in these presentes is lymitted, upon trust and confidence, and to the entente, that they severally for ever shall doe, maynteyne, and performe the paymentes, charges, and other intentes and meaninges thereof before lymitted and expressed, accordinge to the intente and true meaninge of these presentes. And [24] that I doe require and charge the said corporations and chief governors thereof, with circumspect diligence and without longe delay, to procure and see to be done and obtayned, as they will answere for the same before Almightye God. For if they, or any of them, should neclecte the obteyninge of such lyssaunce or warrante, which I trust cannot be difficult (nor so chargable, but that the overplus of my rentes and proffites of the premisses herein before to them disposed will soone recompence the same) because to so good purpose in the common wealth noe prince nor councell in any age will deny or defeate the same (and if conveniently by my will or other conveyaunce I might assure it, I would not leave it to be done after my death) then the same shall reverte to my right heiress; whereas I do meane the same to the common weale. And then the defaulte thereof shalbe to the reproach and condempnation of the said corporations afore God. AND FURTHER, in consideration that such charges of wardship, leverye, and primer seisin, as by my death shall fortune to be due to the queenes majestie, of or for all my landes, tenementes, and hereditamentes, accordinge to the lawes and statutes of this realme, shalbe paid and borne by Sir Henrye Nevill knight, and by theires males, which he hath begotten on the body of Elizabeth his late wife deceased, doughter of my brother Sir John Gresham knight deceassed (while she lived my cosen and heire apparante) theire heires males, executors or assignes; I do will and dispose, as concerning my mannors of Maighfield and Wadhurst with thappurtenaunces, and all my landes, tenementes, and hereditamentes in the countye of Sussex or else where, used, or reputed, or belonginge to the said mannor or mannors of Maighfield and Wadhurst, that after the expiration of the particuler uses, estates and interestes for lif and entayle thereof lymitted in the said indenture, the same shall remayne, and the use thereof shall be, unto my cosen Sir Henrye Nevill, and to theires males of dame Elizabeth his wife my neece. And if my said cosen Sir Henrye Nevill knighte, or theires males begotten by my said nece, shall not within certeyne tyme after my death beare, or cause to be borne, the charges of wardshippe, livery, or primer season, accordinge to the intente and meaninge of these presentes; that then such gifte, lymittation, and disposition, as I have herein made to my said cosen Nevill, and theires males of my neces body, shalbe utterly void to all intentes and purposes, as if they and every of them had not bene mentioned in these presentes. And then I will and dispose, that the same premisses at Maighfield and Wadhurst aforesaid, or to the same belonginge, shall remayne, and the use thereof shalbe, in such sorte as the residue hereafter lymitted shall be. AND AS concerninge all the residue of all and singuler my mannors, landes, tenementes, and hereditamentes, whatsoever they be, after the expiration and determynation of the particuler uses, estates, and interestes for yeres, life, or entayle thereof lymitted int the said indenture, and in these presentes, I doe will and dispose, that the same shall remayne, and that the use thereof shalbe, unto my said faithfull lovinge wife dame Anne Gresham, and to her heires, and assignes for ever, and she to use and dispose the same at her pleasure, as she shall think meete and [25] conviniente. Requiringe amongst all other thinges, that all my debtes, legacies, and other duties whatsoever by me due, given, lymitted, ot bequeathed to any person, or withhould from any person, shall be fully performed, satisfied, and paid, and recompenced, as the case in law, righte, equitye, or conscience shall require. In which behaulf I doe wholly put my trust in her, and have noe doubt, but she will accomplishe the same accordingly, and all other thinges, as shalbe requisite or expedient for both our honesties, fames, and good reportes in this transitory world, and to the proffitte of the commen weale, and relief of the carefull and true poore, accordinge to the pleasure and will of Almighty God, to whome be all honoure and glorye for ever and ever, Amen. IN WITNES whereof I the said Sir Thomas Gresham have written this will all with myne owne hand, and to each of the eight leaves have subscribed my name ; and to a labell fixed there unto all the eight leaves have setto my seal with the grashopper, the 5 day of July, in the seventeenth yere of the raigne of our soveraigne lady queene Elizabeth, and in the yere of our Lord God, ann. 1575.

By me THOMAS GRESHAM

Witnesses to this last will and testament of the said Sir Thomas Gresham the persons whose names be subscribed, PH. SCUDAMOR, THOMAS BILLINGFORD, HENRY NOWELL.

Ex. Per MANWOOD ^a