Label
Reference: TNA LR 15/5
Collection: The National Archive
Material: Wax seal and ink on vellum
Stephen Jenyns died on 6th May 1523, and his final will was proved on 28th May. He had prepared three wills prior to his death: the one pictures here was his first, made in 1518, and his last one was written on 29th January 1522. At the bottom of the document is Jenyns's own seal, where we can see his merchant's mark pressed into the wax.
It is evident from the length of this document that Jenyns's estate was large, and was carefully divided by him between family and worthy causes. The contents of this 1518 will was largely defunct by his death in 1523. It contains details about his intended charity in the City, and the masses he wanted set up on his death, but most of his requests made in this document had changed by the time he wrote his final will in 1522.
In the 1522 will, Jenyns leaves to the ‘maister, wardeyns and commonialitie’ of the Merchant Taylors Company, a fine golden cup. This treasure is said by Jenyns to have a sapphire on it’s lid, and was made in the ‘almayn’ or German fashion. Such gifts were often made to Livery Companies, in order to preserve the memory of the donor amongst the Company members for the years to come. Although Jenyns’s sapphire topped cup is now lost to us, examples such as the Offley Rosewater Dish and the Maye Rosewater Dish survive in the Company Collection from the late 1500s. We remember who those Offley and May were, and their place in this historic community, through their enduring presence of their donations of precious silver.
The transcription below of the 1522 document tells us of Jenyns’s intention to disperse his money widely: City churches, local poor, hospitals, prisoners, and dowries for poor maidens all appear in his extensive list of beneficiaries. Much of this document is also given over to sums he left in order to pay for masses in churches and monasteries all over the City, so that these prayers might expediate the time his soul was to spend in Purgatory. Other key components of this final will are the bequests he makes to his friends, family, apprentices and colleagues – all to be administered by his executors: his ‘trusty and loving frendes’ John Nicholls, John Kyrton and John Baker.
Dr. Richard Asquith has transcribed the text from Jenyns's 1522 will (rather than this, outdated document) to help us better understand Jenyns’s final bequests:
In the name of god amen The xxixth Day of the moneth of January In the yere of our lorde god a thousande fyve hundred and xxj And the xiijth yere of the Reigne of kynge Henry the viijth I Stevyn Jenyns knyght Citezein and Alderman of London. being hole of mynde and in good and parfite memory lawde and praising be vnto almighty god make ordeyn and dispoase this my present testament and last will of all my goodes debtes and Catalles wares merchaundizes redy money plate and Juelles in the maner and fourme ensuyng that is to sey
ffurst and moost principall I bequeth and Recommende my soule vnto almighty god my maker and Redemer to the moost glorious virgyn his blissed moder our Lady saint Mary and to all the holy company of hevyn And my body to be buried in the Chapell on the Southside of the quere of the Conuentuall Church of the ffreres Minours of London vnder the Tombe that I haue there preparid for the same entent /
Item I will that myn executours vndernamed Immediatly after my decesse shall prouide and cause to be made xl tapers of wax short and thick eche of theym to waye thre pounde weight of the whiche tapers I will that xxiiij shalbe borne and holden aboute my Corps by xxiiij men Childern in Surplesshes at my buriall / and also at dirige and masse aswell at the day of my buriall as at my moneth day And I bequeth to euery of the same xxiiij Childern a conuenient surples with slevys of bokeram to be made for the same entent and xxij d in money to pray for my soule /
which xxiiij Childern I will shalbe pour mennes Childern suche as can say our Lady matens or the psalme of Deprofundis
And the residue of the said xl tapers I will shall brenne aboute my dede Corps and tombe togiders contynually during the moneth as the maner is
And Immediatly after the moneth Day I will the said xl tapers with their wast shall remayn in the said Church of ffreres Mynours to thuse of the same Church
Item I bequeth to thuse of the same churche to pray for my soul x li
Item I will that the fyve orders of ffreres in London. the prestes of the fraternities and [sic] Pappey and lx prestes. and company of the bretherhed of the parishe Clerkes of London. shall bringe and accompany my body to my sepulture
And I will that euery of the said prestes of the said fraternities of Pappey and lx prestes shall in all hooly after my decesse say placebo and dirige and masse of Requiem for my soule my wifes soules and all xpen soules /
And I bequeth to euery of them so doing for his labour viij d
And I bequeth to euery hous of the said fyve orders of ffreres for their labour and to singe placebo and dirige and masse of Requiem in their Covent Churches solemply by note for my soule and the soules abouesaid xl s sm s li.
Item I bequeth to the Comen boxe of the said ffraternitie of the said lx prestes xl s
And as towching my funeralles and funerall charges I hooly remitte the doing and ordering of them to the goode discrecion of myn executours and ouerseer vndernamed / And all suche thinges as they shal happen to doo in that behalf I ratifie and approue by this my present testament as though euery perticular thinge therof were playnly expressed and rehersed
Item I will that the priour and Couent of Elsing Spitell of London kepe in their Couent Church a solempne dirige and masse of Requiem for my soule for my wifes soules and the soules aforsaid Immediatly after my decesse
And I bequeth to the priour of the same place for his rewarde in that behalf vj s viij d And to euery other Chanon of the same place xij d
Item I will to the priour and Couent of saint Mary Spitell without Bisshoppesgate of London kepe a like dirige and masse of Requiem in their Couent Church for my soule and the soules aforsaid
And I bequeth to the priour there iij s iiij d And to euery Channon there viij d
Item I bequeth to the Abbot of ffeuersham for a like dirige and masse to be solemply songen in his churche by him and his Couent for my soule and the soules aforsaid vj s viij d /
To the priour there iij s iiij d And to euery other monk there viij d
Item I bequeth to the Rectour of Assherugge[?] for a like dirige and masse to be songen in his Church for my soule and the soules aforsaid iij s iiij d And to euery of his brethern viij d.
Item I bequeth to the Abbot of Boxley for a like dirige and masse to be songen in his Churche for my soule and the soules aforsaid iij s iiij d To the priour there xij d And to euery other monke there viij d
Item I geve and bequeth to the priour and Couent of the Charterhous beside London for a like dirige and masse to be songen in their Church for my soule and the soules aforsaid iij li vj s viij d
Item I bequeth to the Abbot of Stratford for a like dirige and masse of Requiem to be songen in his Church for my soule and the soules aforsaid vj s viij d and to euery other monke there xij d
Item I bequeth to thuse of the two places of ffreres obseruauntes at Grenewich and Richemount for like dirige and masse to be songen in their seuerall Churches for my soule and the soules aforsaid xl s that is to witt to euery of the same two places xx s.
Item I bequeth towarde the Releving of the sike people in the two lazarhouses that is to witt at kynges Lande and the Lock xiiij s iiij d that is to sey to either of the same two houses vj s viij d to pray for my soule and the soules aforsaid
Item I bequeth to the poure prisoners of euery of the prison houses of Ludgate Newgate the kinges benche and the Merchalsee x s sma xl s to be dispoased and distributed to and amonges the poure prisoners of the same iiij prisons in bread
Item I bequeth to the iij Anachorites that is to sey / at London wall Westm’ and at saint Botulphes without Bisshoppesgate to pray for soule [sic] and the soules aforsaid / x s / that is to wit euery of them iij s iiij d
Item I bequeth to the high awter of our Lady of Aldermanbury in London where I am parisshener for my tithes and oblacions by me forgotten or necligently witholden in discharging of my soule xl s /
Item I bequeth to the high awter of Alhalowen the more in Thamstrete of London where I was somtyme parishen for like tithes and oblacions by me forgotten yf any suche be in discharging of my consciens vj s viij d /
Item I bequeth to the mayntenaunce and supportacion of the beddes for the pour people in euery of the thre hosptalles of saint Bartilmewe in Westsmythfeld Saint Mary Spytell without Bisshoppesgate and saint Thomas in Southwerk xx s sma iij li to be bestowed by thouersight of myn executours
Item I bequeth towarde the Releving of the pouer and seke prisoners in Bethelem vj s viij d to theym to be gevyn in bred and mete
Item I bequeth xl s to be distributed amonges pouer housholders of the parishe of our Lady in Aldermanbury aforsaid by the discrecion of myn executours
Item I bequeth other xl s in likewise to be distributed amonges the pouer housholders in Lymestrete warde
Item I bequeth toward the Recouery of the patronage or gifte of the house of Bethelem without Bisshoppesgate of London xl li so that it be recouered in to thandes of the maire of the Commonialtie of the same Citie within the terme of thre yeres next ensuyng after my decesse And if it be not soo Recouered within the said thre yeres I will that then the said xl li Immediatly after the said yeres so expound shalbe dispoased in good werkes and dedes of charitie by the goode discrecion of myn executours and Ouerseer for the helth and comforte of my soule and the soules aforsaid
Item I bequeth towarde the mariage of lx pour maidens within the Citie and suburbes of London xx li that is to sey to euery of the same maidens vj s viij d
Item I bequeth toward the reparacion and amending of the foule broken and noyous high wayes where most nede shalbe nere London by the discrecion of myn executours and ouerseer x li
Item I bequeth to Symond Jenyns xx li
Item I bequeth to my sonne in lawe John Michell one of my four basyns and one Ewer siluer parcell gilt vj bolles and their Couer of siluer & gilt with Colombynes in the botoms and a pair of siluer saltes with the Couer all gilt /
Item I bequeth to my Cosyn Johane doughter of the same John Michell one hundred marc in money and a standing Cupp with a Couer to her to be deliuered whan she cometh to her full age of xxj yeres or before yf it fortune her before that age to mary or entre into Religion.
Item I bequeth to my Cosyn Margaret Stalworth doughter of my doughter Elizabeth one hundred marces and a standing gilt Cupp with a Couer to her to be deliuered in like maner
And if it happen any one of the said Johane and Margaret to decesse before she come to hir said laufull age or mariage or entre into Religion. I will that then that she of them that survivith shalhaue the said parte and bequest of her that so decesseth And yf both the said Johane and Margaret happen to decesse before that one of them come to hir said age or mariage or entre into religion as god defende. I will that than one of the said standing Cuppes with the Couer and l marc parcell of the said two hundred marces shall remayn as my bequest to Margaret Goodrick / And that than also thother standing Cupp with the Couer and l marc another parcell of the said CC marc I will shall remayn in likewise to Margaret Leek And I will that than also the hundred marc residue of the said two hundred marc shall remayn and equally be deuided to and amonges thother Childern of John Kirton and Xpofer Rawson
Item I bequeth to my seruaunt John Bonde xx li
Item I bequeth to my seruaunt William Smyth xx li
Item I bequeth to Stevyn Kyrton myn apprentice xx li
Item I bequeth to John Wethers myn apprentice xx marc
Item I bequeth to euery other of my seruauntes afore not named aswell men kynnes as women kynnes dwelling or being with me in seruice the tyme of my decesse xl s
Item I bequeth to John Raynes sumtyme my seruaunt x li
Item I bequeth towarde the mayntenaunce supportacion and contynuauns of the devoute Resurreccion within the Church of saint Nicholas in the Towne of Caleis viij li
Item I bequeth to the Roode light in Caleis vj s viij d
Item I bequeth to the maister Wardeyns and Commonialtie of the ffraternitie of saint John Baptist of the merchaunt Taillours of London my litle Cupp of gold with the Couer having a saphire vpon the knopp therof and my standing Cupp with the Couer of siluer and gilt made after almayn faccion
Item I bequeth to sir William Dawson prest conuenient and sufficient blak Cloth to make him a gowne and a hoode and xl s in money
Item I bequeth to ffrere Robert Dawson sufficient blak Cloth to make him a Coop and xx s in money
Item I bequeth to William Barnes sumtyme my seruaunt x li
Item I bequeth to Nicholas Rutlande iiij li
Item I will that all my gownes shalbe gevyn to and amonges my frendes lovers & kynnesmen by the discrecion of myn executours and ouerseer / Prouided alweys and forseen that notwithstanding any bequest or legacie by me in this my present testament to any persone or persones made or assigned It is my full mynde will and entent that of here after in my lyfe tyme it happen me to pay and deliuer any of the same bequestes to any such persone or persones vnto whom suche bequests so made / that then Immediatly and fromthensforth all suche bequestes and legacies in this my present testament conteyned / and so by me in my lyfe tyme contented to be taken and reputed in the same my testament vtterly voide and of noon effect
Also it is my full will and entent that yf any persone or persones Riche or poure at any tyme hereafter evidently prove that I in any maner wise heretofore pryvely or apartely haue wronged hurt or disceyved him or theym in bying or selling or otherwise That than all and euery such persone or persones so by me wronged hurte or disceyved vpon suche saide proofe made shalbe sufficiently recompensed and satisfied of and with my goodes by myn executours or their executours of and for all and euery the same suche hurtes wronges and disceytes so by me doon or comitted without any contradiction or delaye
The Residue of all and singuler my goodes debtes Catalles wares redy money plate Juelles by me in this my present testament not bequethid or assigned I geve and bequeth to myn executours vndernamed / they to doo and dispoase the same in goode dedes and workes of pitie and charitie to the pleasure of god for the helth and comforte of my soule my said wifes soules our frendes soules and all xpen soules by their good discrecions as effectuously as they wolde I shulde doo for theym in caas like /
And I vtterly renounce Revoke and anull all and euery other testament by me at any tyme before the Day of the Date herof made or declared willing and desiring that if any suche testament of former Date sealed or vnsealed happen herafter to be founde or to be forthcomyng that noo maner credens be gevyn to theym or any of theym / but oonly vnto this / I confesse approue Ratifie and afferme to be my very true and Last testament /
And of the same my present last testament I make and ordeyn myn executours that is to sey my trusty and loving frendes John Nychill my sonne in lawe and John Kyrton gentilman And their ouerseer of the same I make and ordeyn my trusty frende John Baker Gentilman
And I bequeth to eueryche of the said John Nechyll John Kyrton and John Baker for his diligent labour and busynes herin to be had xx li sma lx li/.
In witnesse wherof to this my present testament and Last will I the said Stephyn Jenyns haue sett my seal These being witnesse that is to sey William Bowry priour of the house of the Crossed ffreres in London sir William Dauson prest Thomas Nychell Iremonger Richard Conhill John Benet John Reynes merchaunt Taillour and Nicholas Rutland Scryvener and Notary publick wretyn and gevyn the Day and yere abouesaid /
