Cely Papers: Robert Cely

Date: [unknown] to about 20 Feb 1485
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Cely pre-1500

Father: Cely, Richard
Mother: Andrew, Agnes

Siblings:
Cely, Richard
Cely, George

Biography

Probably the eldest son of Richard Cely, being already married in 1474^[1]. By the time of his father's death in 1482 he was effectively disinherited^[1].

Probably learnt the wool trade by serving an apprenticeship to either his father or Thomas Kesten^[1].

Timeline

• 1474 Jul 05 Cely Letter: Recipient; from father, Richard; at Calais; Had sold almost all his fells; Notified of a letter of payment for £40 received from Grace, a mercer; informed his wife thinks he should write, and not to be slothful^[2]
• 1476 Apr 13 Cely Letter: Author; to brother George; at London; notification of a double exchange for £12 with Wylliam Eston in Antwerp and London; received £12 in London and to pay at Antwerp at the Sinksen market the 24th day of June, for every noble of 6s 8d sterling, 7s 10d Flemish; as Robard^[3]
• 1476 Sep 28 Cely Letter: by William Maryon to brother, George; mentioned as having given vernicles to St. Tolow's church (St. Olave's, Hart Street); as Roberd^[4]
• 1480 May 03 Cely Letter: by father, Richard, to brother, George: I fele Robard Cely ys at Bregys for fere of fytyng at Caleys in to Beschpys Corte for the lude mater of Jonne Harthe the weche ys meche adoe for at London the frendes of here hath spoke wyt me for that mater but all they wyll not grant a grote for zeve them were for I have sayd to them I wyll not zeve them a peny of my good werefor I understand sche wyll falle of for to have all the zetys that Robard hathe delyverd her and to have all Robard Cely hathe of herys and I understande Sir John the pryste hathe promysyd for to make thys ende but and Robard Cely were wyse and wyll avysyd all thys wyll be layd aperte wyll noe for ys undoe and he wede her^[5]
• 1480 Jun 02 Cely Letter: by brother Rychard to brother George; I have resayvyd ... lettyrs ... whon of howr brother Robarde and ther in whos of hys own hande contanyng iiij li starlyng payabull the iiij day of <blank> I pray God send ws good payment^[6]
• 1482 May 13 Cely Letter: by brother, Rychard, to brother, George; howr ... brother ... ar in goode heyll^[7]
• 1485 Feb 20 Death:^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} The Cely Letters 1472-1488, edited by Alison Hanham, Early English Text Society, 1975; Introduction - The Cely Family
2. ↑ SC 1/53/2; The National Archives, Kew, London
3. ↑ SC 1/53/3; The National Archives, Kew, London
4. ↑ SC 1/53/4; The National Archives, Kew, London
5. ↑ SC 1/53/40; The National Archives, Kew, London
6. ↑ SC 1/53/46; The National Archives, Kew, London
7. ↑ SC 1/53/119; The National Archives, Kew, London