Will of William Colsell (abt.1485-bef.1540)
This is a transcription of the register copy of the Will of William Colsell of London, England. It was written on 28 March 1537 and proved at London on 13 September 1540. ^[1][2]

Transcription conventions:
Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the original document.
Crossings through have been included struck out
Paragraph breaks at change of bequest, and bold text are my own for ease of reading.
Where present, the obsolete letter Thorn has been rendered as th, and ff has been rendered as F.
Abbreviations and breviographs have been expanded in [square brackets]
The image quality was good and the writing very legible.
Non standard spelling as per usual for this time period, which has been transcribed verbatim.

Persons mentioned

• William Colsell, mercer of the Citie of London
• Katheryne, first wife, deceased
• p[ar]ishe church of Saint Stephen
• Johanne, wife
• Thomas Colsell, eldest son, Executor
• John Colsell, son
• George Colsell, son
• James Colsell, son
• Robert Colsell, son
• Nicholas Colsell, son
• Blanche Colsell, daughter

• m^r Richard Reynolds and to Blanche his wife
• Thomas Deberam of saint Mary Offerty in Devon
• Edward Morton Grocer of London, Executor, and his wife
• John Buller of Executor?
• will[ia]m wey? of Listithiall in Cornwall
• Edward Crocker of Listithiall
• Nicholas Bakon me[rc]er and his wife
• Richard Moreton of Ludell?
• Robert Frannces of Ludell?
• Richard Danhm of Bursby in Devon
• Robert Nicolls and his wife
• Thomas Syketh? otherwise callyd Thomas Scrogge? of Patmerhalle? in the countie of hertf
• John Curtes Letherseller of London
• Thomas Jake of Barkhymsted in the countie of hertff
• John Westgate ???
• Thomas house, servant
• Will[ia]m Carkeke? Scrivener
• Thomas ayaney? of my kechyn

Transcription

[Page one]
Will[ia]m Colsell
London def?

In the name of god amen the xxviijth day of the month of Marche the yere of o^r Lord god a thousand fyve hundreth thirty
and sevyn and the xxviij yere of the Reign of o^r sowuerain lord king henry theight I Will[ia]m Colsell Citizen and mercer of the Citie of
London being of hole mynde and in good and perfict remembrannce · laude and prayse be vnto almyghtie god · make and ordeyn
this my present testament conteynyng herin my last will in man[ne]r and forme following that is to say First and Principally
I com[m]end my sowle vnto allmyghtie Jhu my maker and redemer in whom and by the merites of whose blessed passion is all my
hole trust of clere Remission and forgiveness of my synnes And my body to be buried within the p[ar]ishe church of Saint
Stephyn in colmanstrete of London : as nigh vnto the grave there where the body of Katheryne my wif lieth buried as may
conveniently be

Item I bequeith to the high aulter of the said p[ar]ishe church of saint Stephen where I am nowe a p[ar]isher for my
tithes and oblat[i]ons by me forgottyn or negligently witholden if any suche be in dischardge of my soule and conscience vjs viijd

Item I will that all suche debts and dueties as I owe of right or of conscience to any parsonne or parsonnes be well and truely contented
and paied by myne executours hereafter namyd orels ordeynyd for so to be paied without any delay or contradiction
and after my debts paied and my Funerall expenses performyd I will that all my goodes Catalls and debts shalbe devyded into
three egall parts whereof I will that Johanne my wif shall have one egall parte to her owne proper vse in the name of her
purpart and reasonable part to her of all my said goodes Catalls and Debts after the laudable custume of the Citie of London
belongyng And the second egall part of all my said goodes Catalls and Debts I bequeith to Thomas Colsell John Colsell
George Colsell, James Colsell Robert Colsell Nicholas Colsell and Blanche Colsell my children equally amongest them
to be devyded and to be delyvered vnto them when they shall accomplishe and come to thair lawfull ages or els be maried
and if it fortune any of my said vij children to decesse before they accomplishe thair said ages and before that tyme be not
maried then I bequeith his parte or her part of them so decessyng to thother of my said children than survyving egally
amongest them to be devyded and to be delyv[er]ed vnto them when they shall accomplishe thair said ages or els be maried
And if it fortune all my said children to decesse as god it desennde, before they accomplisshe thair said ages and before that
tyme be not maried
And the thirde egall parte of all my said Catalls and debts I resjne vnto my self and to myne Executours hereafter namyd
therwith to performe my Leagcies hereafter sp[ec]ified · that is to say First I bequeith towards the reparat[i]ons of the body of the
said churche for my sepulture there to be hadd ten pound
Item I will that myne executours shall prouyde and ordeyn twelue
convenient Torches and foure tapers to breen and sjne at my dirige and masse of requiem to be done for me within the
foresaid perishe churche of Saint Stephyns by note with asmany prests and clercks as my said Executours shall seme
convenient by their discretions · and that sextene poore men shall hold the same torches and Tapars and eny of them having
for his Labour in that behalf viijd And after that my said dirige and masse of requiem shalbe done and ended as is aforesaid
then I will that the said twelue torches and foure tap[er]s shalbe distributid by myne Executours in man[ne]r and forme following
that is to saye to the perishe church of Saint Stephins in Colmanstrete aforesaid foure torches to the p[ar]ishe churche of
all saints in hony Lane foure torches to the p[ar]ishe church of saint mary Magdalene in mylkstrete twoo torches and to the
p[ar]ishe church of our Lady at Bowe other ij torches And I will that the said foure tapers shalbe transposed and made into three
tapers whereof I bequeith one to bren afore the Roode within the said p[ar]ishe churche of saint Stephens in Colmanstrete three
to sjne and borne at tyme of dyvyne service aslong as it shall therunto endure an other Taper to the said perishe church of
all halowen in hony Lane to lyke entent and the thirde taper I will shalbe sett before the Image of saint Stephyns in Colmans
strete aforesaid aslong as it will therunto endure

Item I bequeith to and for a recreasion or a dynner for suche of the wardens
and Felysshyp of mercers of the Citie of london as shalbe in thair lyveries at the tyme of my exequies six pounds & thirtene shillings
and foure pence

Item I bequeith to any o^rder of the fyve orders of Freers withing the Citie of london · that is to say the Freers
prechers, Mynours, Carmelytes, Augustynes and Crossed Freers · to thentent that they shall come and brynge my body to
my buriall and saye Trentall of masses in eny of thair Covent Churches shortly after my decesse for my soule and for the
soule of the said Katheryne and for the soules of our faders moders chyldren benefactours and all [Christi]en soules twenty
shillings Som? fyve pound

Item I will that assone after my deceas as conveniently it may be done that myne executours
shall cause a solempne dirige and masse of Requiem by note to be song in the p[ar]ishe churche of saint Patricke within the Citie
of Exetour for my soule and the soules above rehersed and that eny prest inhabyting within the said Citie, and beyng
at my said dirige and say masse there for my soule and all [Christi]en soules shall haue eight pence and any Clercke beyng
there and helpyng to the same iiijd And I will that myne executours shall distribute or cause to be distributed to
and amongest poore people there comyng to my said obite accordyng and after thair discretions sex pound thirtene
shillings and foure pence

Item I will that my said executours shall provyde and ordeyn viij torches and foure tapers
and xij poore men to hold the said torches and Tapers there Duryng the tyme of my said dirige and masse eny of
them to haue for his labour in that behalf iijd. And I will that after my said dirige and masse done as is aforesaid

[Page two]

the said torches and tapers shall remayne to thuse? of the said perishe church of saint Patricke there to be occupiede in
tyme of dyvyne service aslong as they will therunto endure

Item I bequeith to the prior and convent of the Black Freers
in Exeretour to thdentent that they shall sing dirige and masse of Requiem solemply by note in thair Covent church and
also a trentall of masses for my soule and the soules above rehersed twenty shillings

Item I bequeith to the Grey Freers
within the said Citie of Exetur to lyke entent twenty shillings

Item I will that myne Executours shall cause to be
distributed to and amongest the poore people beyng in the Lazarhouses of saint Mary Magdalene at the Townesend
of Executour aforesaid twenty shillings

Item I bequeith to redeme suche the poore prisoners oute of prison as lye in Ludgate
for debt vnder the some of fourty shillings twenty pound

Item I bequeith ten pound to be distributed and given by the discretion
of myne Executours in breade deyncke and C..les and the same to be dystributed to and amongest the poore prisoners
beyng in eny of the prison houses of Newgate the kingesbenche and marshallsee

It[e]m I bequeith to the Mariage of twenty
poore maidens sex pound thirtene shillings and foure pence that is to say to eny of them vjs viiijd

Item I will that my said
Executours shortly after my decesse shall cause dirige and masse of Requiem to be solemply songe by note for my soule and the
soules aforesaid within the perishe churche of muche hadhm? in the countie of hertff by the prests and clercks of the same perishe
and eny prest and Clercke beyng and helpyng at the said obite to haue for his labour viijd And also I will that myne executours
shall distribute to and amongest the poore householders of the said p[ar]ishe ^^fyve marks sterling according and after the discretion of the
parson and Church wardens of the said p[ar]ishe churche for the tyme beyng And I will that my said dirige shalbe so there kept the next
sonday or holyday after my decesse if it may conveniently be done or assone after in a Sunday or holyday as maybe And I will that myne
Executours distribute twenty shillings by the discretion of the said Churchwardens in breade ale and Chese and all the same breade ale and
chese to be distributed on a recreation after dirige done for the perishens and others comyng to the said dirige after the discretion of the
said Churchwardens And that either of the said Churchwardens shall haue for his Labour in that behallf xijd

Item I will and bequeith
forty shillings to bye breade and drynke and the same? to be distributed to and amomgest the poore prisoners beyng in the ij Counties
of London accordyng and after the discretion of myne executours

Item I will that myne executours shortly after my decesse
shall provyde and by a hundreth Shirts and a hundreth Smocks and the same to be given by the discretion of myne executours
to and amongest poore men and women.

Item I will that myne executours shall distribute to and amongst the poore householders inhaby=
ting within the said p[ar]ishe of saint Stephens in Colmanstrete within the said Citie of London where I nowe dwell, on the day of my
buriall after thair discretions sex pound thirtene shilling and four pence

Item I will that myne executours shortly after my decesse
distribute and dispose xiijli vjs viijd in suche workes or mercye and pitie as they shall thinke most convenient for the helth of the soules
of such parson or parsons to whom I en? haue offended, hurtid or vexed And if that be not sufficient then I beseche them hartily
all of forgiveness

Item I will that myne executours, as shortly after my decesse as they may shall cause ___ Ryngs of Fyne gold
eny of them to be the value of twenty shillings sterling a pece And I will that eny of the same ryngs shalbe made at my coste and
chardge and graven with this verse ex memory ayseremini mei saltem vos amici mei with the said Ryngs and shalbe given
and distributid in the forme following that is to say one to m^r Richard Reynolds and to Blanche his wif iche of them a ryng of gold and to Thomas
Deberam of saint Mary Offerty in Devon a Ryng of gold · And Edward Morton Crotes? of London and his wiff
either of them a Ryng of gold one ryng to John Buller of Executor? oon ryng to will[ia]m wey? of Listiithiall in Cornwall, one
Ryng to Edward Crocker of Listithiall and to either of Nicholas Bakon me[rc]er and his wif a Ryng of gold one Ryng of gold to
Richard Moreton of Ludell? oone Ryng to Robert Frannces of Ludell? one Ryng to Richard Danhm of Bursby in Devon and to either
of Robert Nicolls and his wif one Ryng. oon ryng to Thomas Syketh? otherwise callyd Thomas Scrogge? of Patmerhalle?
in the countie of hertf and a blacke gowne so that he pay to myne executours all suche somes of money debts and duets as
he owith to me one Ryng to John Curtes Letherseller of London To Thomas Jake of Barkhymsted in the countie of hertff one Ryng,
one ryng of gold to John Westgate ??? and a black gowne and to Thomas house my servant a Ryng of gold and a blacke gowne
and to Will[ia]m Carkeke? Scrivener oon Ryng

Item I bequeith to Thomas ayaney? of my kechyn ten pound to be paid and delyvered vnto
the same Thomas by the discretion of mne executours

Item I give and bequeith towardes the mainten[a]nce of the salve? within
the perishe church of our Lady at Bowe fourty shillings

Item I hereby remytt release and forgive to John huchyns of mothe
hadhm in the countie of hertf all suche debts and dueties as he dothe owe and shall owe vnto me at the tyme of my dethe never
to be demanded of hym by myne executours nor any other parson ne parsons for them nor in the name of any of them
And I bequeith to either of Robert Palmer mercer and to his wif a blacke gowne

Item to either of Richard Gressham Alderman
and his wif a blacke gowne

Item I bequeith to either of the said Richard Raynolds and to his wif a blacke gowne

Item I
bequeith vnto either of the said Edward Moreton and to his wif a blacke gowne

Item I bequeith vnto Thomas Howes
Bruer a blacke gowne

Item I bequeith ten pound towardes the mendyng of the high waye betwene the mylk wiffe Brydge
and homberton in the perishe of hackney by the discretion of myne Executours

Item I bequeith to the mariage of Margaret
Johns my Late mayden vjli xiijs iiijd And I will that the said Nich[ol]as Bakon and his wif shall haue the said
Margaret with her said Legacie

Item I bequeith my cousyn Will[ia]m Colsill of lyonsJune? a blacke Gowne

Item I
bequeith to Thomas Nicolls myne apprentice thre pound six shillings eight pence and I remytt and release vnto hym three
yeres of his termes of apprenticehode. And I bequeith to Richard Colsyll myne apprentice ten pound and I pardon and
remytt hym three yeres of his termes of apprenticehode

Item I pardon and remytt unto Edmond _____ myne apprentice
one yere of his termes of apprenticehode.

Item I bequeith to the said Nich[ol]as Bakon and his wiff Fourty pound to the
entent he shalbe assistant good and helpyng to my Children. And also in procuryng and obteynyng of my Debts to
the best that he can. And I will and my mynde and entent is that the said Nich[ol]as Bakon shall haue the custody and
occupyng of the moitie or one halff of my said Childrens portions untill they shall come to thair said Ages he

[Page three]

puttyng in good and sufficient suerties to be bound to the Chamberlain of the Citie of London for the tyme being for the sure
payment therof accordyng to the Laudable Custome of the said Citie

The residue of all my goodes Catalls and debts after
my debts paid paied my Funerall expenses performyd and these my Legacies conteynyd in this my present testament
fullfyllyd I holy give and bequeith to my said seven children to thair owne propoer vses egally to be devyded amongest
them and to be delyvered vnto them after such man[ne]r and forme as I have above willyd and declared that thair own
portions shalbe And of this my present Testament I make and ordeyn the said Thomas Colsyll my sonne and Edward
moreton Grocer myne Executours. And I bequeith to the said Edward Moreton for his Labour in that behalf
thirtene pound sex shillings eight pence. And of thexecution of the same I make and ordeyn the said Richard Raynolds
overseer and I bequeith to the said Richard for his Labour in that behalf ten pound. And I vtterly revoke and adnull all
eny other former testaments wills legacies bequests Executours and overseers by me in any wise before this tyme made
namyd willyd and bequeithed, And I will that this my present testament shall Stand togethere with all the Legacies
bequestes executours and overseers by me herein made namyd willyd and bequeithed and none other nor otherwise. In
witnes whereof to this my present testament I the said Will[ia]m Colsyll haue sett my Seale yeven the day and yere
first above writen per me Willi[a]m Colsell sigill subscript et deliberat per prefat Willi[a]m Colsell in putia mei Wili[a]m
darkeke ??? ... regis no ???

Probatum fuit suprascriptum testamentum coram Dno apud London decimo tertio die mensis Septembris anno dm
Mill[es]imo Quingentesimo Quadragesimo

Research Notes

• Listithiall = Lostwithiel, Cornwall

Sources

1. ↑ Will of William Colsell
   Reference: PROB 11/28/206

   Description: Will of William Colsell, Mercer of City of London

   Date: 13 September 1540

   Held by: The National Archives, Kew</li>
2. ↑