Posted by e.m.vine@exeter.ac.uk
1 July 2025Will Johnson, Barbara Tearle, Emily Vine
This edition of our ‘Will of the Month’ series is a very special one. It’s the fruit of a collaboration: the research and transcription were completed by Zooniverse volunteers Will Johnson and Barbara Tearle, and this blog post is a collaboration between us all. It untangles not only the details of a complex and fascinating will, but also the process of undertaking this type of historical research. As a collectively written and researched endeavour, we’re also ‘showing our working’ by providing links to research notes; Barbara’s spreadsheet of bequests, and Will’s biography, tally of objects, and glossary [link here].
Edward Fetiplace the Castle Keeper
As in our previous blog post, this month we’re exploring the will of an individual who had connections to the Tudor court.[1] Edward Fetiplace (d. 1549)[2] had come from a family of Berkshire gentry who had long been in service to the Royal Family.[3] He served as treasurer to Henry VIII’s brother-in-law, the Duke of Suffolk, in 1527, and began to benefit from many seized monastic properties.[4] By 1535, Fetiplace was keeper of the Duke’s Donnington Castle, and was criticised by Thomas Cromwell for the way he had the run the estate in a letter pressuring the Duke to give the Castle to the King, which, in 1536, he did.[5] Fetiplace was also identified as one of the gentlemen ‘appointed to attend upon the King’s own person’.[6]
In 1539 he was a member of the party that greeted Anne of Cleves on her arrival in England.[7] On leaving Donnington in 1540, he was rewarded with lands and a pension.[8] He appears elsewhere in the historical record when writing letters; a complaint to Cromwell,[9] and another explaining to Sir John Williams that he could not meet because he had to muster soldiers and had ‘been long sick of a sore leg’.[10] In 1543 he leased the manor of Prior’s Court in Chieveley, the home of another of this blog’s featured testators, William Denton, and in 1545 married Elizabeth, widow of John More.[11]
A Tudor Bread Bin
Fetiplace’s will is long and detailed – he takes 6800 words to set out his intentions with great care, and much of the document relates to the disposal of property in Berkshire, Hampshire, London and Somerset. The most interesting features come at the end of the will: the household furnishings left to his young stepsons, Thomas and Richard More, are listed in two schedules ‘hereunto annexed’, the latter of which inventories goods room by room. These lists are respectively titled ‘Householde stuff geven by me Edwarde Fetiplace Esquyer to Thomas More’ and ‘The plate devysed by Edwarde Fethyplace Esquyer unto Richarde More’ but in practice both lists contain plate and ‘householde stuff’, as well as textiles and kitchen utensils. A huge number of bequests were listed and divided between the two stepsons, including 400 sheep, 30 pieces of dornyx cloth, 15 featherbeds, 14 cushions, 13 pigs, 12 candlesticks, 11 chairs, 10 curtains, 6 brass pots, 3 tables, and 1 ‘byn for to putt in breade’.
In these two schedules, Fetiplace lists a great variety of textiles, including 9 carpets, 11 hangings, and 10 curtains. In this era, carpets were usually used to cover furniture, although since the mid fifteenth century, they had been used by English royalty and aristocracy for the floor, especially around beds[12] and in ladies’ chambers.[13] In the will, he specifies six carpets for a cupboard, two for a table, and one with the King’s Arms listed amongst bed items, which perhaps was used by the grandest bed, as well as four bed coverlettes of carpet work.
Ornate Tapestries
Wall hangings acted as insulation against extremes of temperature, as well as decoration.[14] Subjects for hangings could be battles, hunts, medieval tales and romances, religious imagery of Jesus, Mary, the Saints, and biblical stories.[15] Verdure tapestries were popular, of a green dominant theme, depicting trees or foliage, with animals, including fantastical beasts such as griffins or unicorns which often symbolized Christ.[16]
Fetiplace’s will mentions two ‘verders work’ or verdure items with religious or heraldic imagery: ‘A Counterpoynt [a quilted cover] of Imagery verders woorke of Saynte George / A Carpett of verders woorke with the kinges Armes in the myddest’. Tapestries of the fifteenth and early sixteenth century often included mille-fleurs; thousands of tiny flowers interspersed with animals and heraldic designs. This example of a coarse weave tapestry from the Victoria & Albert Museum shows naively depicted animals; horses or dogs, perhaps, and birds amongst the flowers.[17]
In the 1520s, large leaf and flower verdure tapestries began to emerge, with more naturalistic depiction of foliage inspired by new world plants, with giant leaves and half hidden birds and animals.[18] An example can be seen at Cotehele, depicting a griffin, hind and birds amongst large-leafed flowering plants, with a dragonfly and a snail beneath. In many bequests of textiles, there is a count of the pieces, parts or panes, which may have been deemed prudent to ensure that servants, relations or those dealing with the will did not cut off or remove anything.
In the will, Fetiplace describes the patterns or imagery adorning his tapestries, carpets, and quilt covers. This may have been to ensure that items went to the intended beneficiary, but it provides the modern reader with an insight into a broad range of decorative textiles that have not survived to the twenty-first century. Other ‘counterpoint’ covers included one decorated with a lion, and one with imagery associated with St John the Baptist, while another carpet was ‘of Tapstrey woorke with flowers and the lylly pott in it’. Other intriguing textile items included ‘vj quysshons of tapstre worke with flowers and ij dogges feightynge for a bone’.
Dogs played an important part in Tudor society, as hunting dogs, dogs for retrieving, guarding and herding, the lap dogs of the ladies of court and even dogs which drove the turn spit in the kitchens. They were often depicted in breviaries, bestiaries and tapestries, and at the feet of royalty and the upper classes on their tomb brasses and effigies.[20] The imagery of two dogs fighting over a bone probably alluded to a proverb known in Tudor England, recorded in Chaucer’s The Knight’s Tale, and in Thomas More’s Dialogue of Comfort (1534), concerning the idea that when two stronger parties were fighting over something, an opportunity was created for a weaker party to make off with the spoils.
Although it is unlikely the textiles which Fetiplace lists still exist, the Victoria and Albert Museum does possess an ornate embroidered cushion cover that belonged to a related family. It was made for the marriage of Susanna Yate, sister of Edward’s brother-in-law James Yate, to John Warneford c.1540.[21] It depicts their coats of arms encircled by a wreath of honeysuckle and cornflowers with a heraldic rose above and a lovers’ knot below, with flowering plants and frogs, snails, dragonflies and moths.
‘Corne and grayne’ and things in ‘The kechyn’
Striking textiles such as the ones described in Fetiplace’s will appear to be ornate items befitting a gentleman of his standing. But Fetiplace’s will doesn’t just set out fashionable textiles or decorative furnishings, it also includes more mundane and practical household goods and produce. He leaves his stepson Richard ‘one half of all the corne and grayne remaynynge and beynge in the barnes of Priorscourt’, and also itemises cooking implements, including frying pans, kettles, brass ladles, flesh hooks, a colander, a mortar and pestle of wood, and another of iron.
The contents of 14 different rooms are mentioned including ‘The Chamber over the parler next the bottrie’, ‘The Parler next the Courte’, ‘The kechyn’ and ‘The Hawll’. Two rooms have andirons for fireplaces, and the kitchen has cobirons with many hooks for different levels for the spit or broche for roasting.[22] For every ‘Carpett of verders woorke with the kinges Armes’ mentioned, there is also a pewter pot made of tin. This methodical document acts as both will and partial inventory of the contents of many rooms in Prior’s Court.
As Edward Fetiplace strove to be thorough in itemising the worldly goods and household possessions that he intended for his stepsons and wife, so have the researchers who worked together to find out more about his life, to transcribe his long and exceptionally detailed will, and to itemise and also gloss some of the dozens of bequests made.
In the spirit of collaboration and openness about the level of work that can go into unpicking just a single Tudor document, we are sharing our research notes in this Google Drive folder.
A version of this transcription with line numbers is available in the google drive folder above.
Will of Edward Fetiplace of Priorscourt, Berkshire, esquire 1550, TNA PROB 11/33/177
Page 1
In dei nominie Amen The xxijth day of August In the yere of our Lorde god A
Thousande Fyve hundreth fourtie and Nyne I Edwarde Fethyplace of Pryorscourte with
in the Countie of Berk[shire] Esquyer beynge of hoolle mynde and perfecte rememberaunce knowinge
and consyderynge the mutabilitie of this transytorye worlde and unstable condycyon and caduke
frayeltie of mannes estate and that death to all humayne creatures ys a thinge moost certeyn
consyderynge and callynge to mynde the contencion and stryf whiche dooth dayly insurge and
growe by reason of ygnoraunce of the perfecte intent and determynate will of persons deceassed
wyllynge and myndynge therfore playnely and evidently to explicate declare and sott furthe my
resolute wyll and determinate intent in all thinges necessary to be declared and testamentary
And to sett and appointe soche ordre disposicion and dyreccion therin that all dissencion & controversye
may therby be avoyded after my decease doo to the honor of Allmyghtie god to the welth of my
soule and to the quyetnes of my frendes Constytute ordeyne and make this my present testament & last
wyll Firste concernynge my goodes and catteylles personalles Secondaryly concernynge my leases &
chattellis realles / Thirdely concernynge the disposicion and use of my londes and heredytamentes in maner
and forme followynge That ys to saye Firste and chieflye I bequeith my soule to Allmyghtie god
our Lady Saynt Marye and to All the hoole company of heaven / Also I will that my body be buried
within the Churche of the parysshe where yt shall fortune me the said Edwarde to decease / Also I will
that their shalbe bestowed and spent upon my buryall obsequyes funeralles blacke garmentes to my
wyf and to others in a bylle mencyoned and almes to the poore and soche other thinges necessary and
convenyent at the discretyon of myne executours / Item I wyll my sayd executours shall distrybute
to the poore people accordynge to their discretyon within one moneth next ensewynge my death three
hoggesheddes of bere and bredd accordyngly and one carkas of beiff / Itm I wyll that Elisabeth
nowe my wyf yerely durynge the tyme that she shall tarye and dwell at Priorscourte at the
the [sic] feaste of the Natyvytie of our Lorde god shall geve and destrybute to the poore people there
aboutes one lode of breade and beere half one beiff accordynge to the usage that I have used and
kepte in tymes past at the feast of the Nativitie of our Lorde god / Itm I geve and bequeith to
Elisabeth nowe my wyfe all my hackeney geldynges and mares where soever they be excepte one bay
geldynge whiche I gyve to William Somer to be delyvered by the sayd Elisabeth / And also I gyve unto her
all those myne oxen kyne shepe beddynges ymplementes of howseholde stuff and also all other goodes and
catteylles moveable and unmoveable that shall remayne contynewe or be at the tyme of my deceasse
within the mancyon house of me the sayd Edwarde and Elisabeth at Scherfeilde within the Countie
of South[amp]t[on] or in or uppon my londes tenementes or hereditamentes within Scherfeilde aforsayd or elles where with
in the parisshe of Scherfeld aforsaid or in the house of me the sayd Edwarde at Savoye within the
Countie of Midd excepte soche goodes and cattaylles hereafter wylled devysed or appointed to any
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other person yf the same goodes and cattelles at the tyme of my decease shall chaunce to be in or uppon the
premisses / Itm I wyll devyse and bequeith to the said Elisabeth all my shepe above the nombre of iiij
hundreth / Itm I wyll devyse and bequeith that myn executours shall delyver to Thomas More eldest
sonne of the sayd Elisabeth my wyf and of John More deceassed ymedyatly after that he shall
accomplisshe the Age of xxj yeres or before yf he be maryed to his owne propre use and behof
the goodes and ymplementes of householde conteyned in a bylle hereunto annexed so that before he
be bounde to my sayd wyff in soche somme as shalbe devysed by myne executours uppon condycyon
that he shall eyther then confirme the said Elisabeth estate in all soche landes and tenementes as she holdeth
by way of Joynter or otherwyse of John More gyfte for terme of her lyf orelles suffre her peasably
and quyetly withoute any acte or other thinge to be attempted procured or doon by hym to have enioye
and occupie all soche landes and tenementes accordynge to the mynde and wyll of the sayd John More
and also doo marye by the consent of my sayd wyf and of my nephewe John Yatte / And yf
yt shall fortune the sayd Thomas More to dye before he shall accomplysshe thage of
xxj yeres and not maryed or doo otherwyse then ys afforsayd / Then I wyll and devyse that
all the same premisses shalbe delyvered by myn executours unto Richarde More seconde sonne
of the sayd Elisabeth and John ymedyatly after that the said Richarde shall accomplysshe
thage of xxiiijti yeres to thonely propre use and behof of the sayd Richarde forever / And yf yt
fortune the sayd Thomas to dye at any tyme havynge a wyf / Then the same premisses shall
be delyvered and gyven to his sayd wyff ymmedyatlye after his deceasse / Itm I wyll and devise
that myn executours shall delyver or cause to be delyvered to the sayd Richarde More ymmedyatlye
after that he shall accomplysshe thage of xxti yeres to hys awne propre use and behouf these parcelles
of my plate and also all thies goods ^& cattelles^ followynge that ys to say Twoo sylver bolles with one cover beyng
all parcell gylte / and one sylver basyn and Ewer parcell gylte, ij sylver saltes with one cover all gylte
my best dossen of sylver spones orelles the price therof as yt shalbe praysed accordinge to the
valuacion at the eleccion of the sayd Elisabeth and Richarde / Also I gyve to the sayd Richarde
foure Hundreth of good and sounde shepe wherof three hundreth be wethers and the resydewe
ewes / And also vj oxen and an Iron bounde carte and all the apparell therto belongynge xij good
and sounde kyene and one bulle Twelve hogges and one bore / All whiche thinges with other more
nowe are uppon my Farme of Pryourscourte and within the parisshe of Cheveley within the Countie of
berk[shire] / And also I gyve to the same Richarde all and synguler the beddynge carpettes quysshons
and other stuff conteyned and specyfyed in one cedule hereunto annexed / And for lack of the said
sheepe kyen hogges householde stuff and other the premisses I wyll the sayd Richarde shall have
the Just valewe therof as yt shalbe praysed or the sayd premisses at his owne elleccion / Also
I wyll and gyve to the sayd Richarde the moitie and one half of all the corne and grayne
remaynynge and beynge in the barnes of Priorscourt and of the parsonage of Wynterborne the
same to be delyvered at the tyme that the sayd Richarde shall have ryght or be intytuled to enter
and to have or possede the Ferme of Pryorscourte and the parsonage of Wynterborne afforsayd
by force of this my last wyll as yt dooth appere and the moitie of all the corne and grayne
that shall growe in or uppon the said ferme and the groundes and londes parcell of the same as it
shall then appere And also the moytie of all the tythe corne and grayne of the sayd parsonage of
Wynterborne tythed and growen the season last past before the tytle of entre or ryght of the same
farme and other the premisses accrued and comen to the sayd Richarde by force of this present testament
whether yt be owte of the barnes afforsayd or not / And that yt shalbe laufull to myne executours
to staye and prohibite the sale and convayaunce of the same corne and grayne from the said barnes
or otherwyse / And to avoyde all fraude or covyn that myght be practysed for the staye and
hynderaunce of the delyverey of the same corne and grayne to the sayd Richarde at the tyme
afforsayd and to doo every soche laufull thinge or thinges that they can or may doo for the
preservacion of the same and delyvery therof to the sayd Richarde at the tyme afforsayd / Also
I wyll and bequeith that the said Richarde shall have myn Indentures of Wynterborne
and the resydewe of the yeres therin yett to come when he shall accomplysshe thage of xx yeres
And also myne executours shall delyver or cause to be delyvered to the said Richarde at the time
afforsayd all the moitie and one half of all the croppe and grayne that shalbe growynge
in or uppon the feildes landes and demeanes of Pryorscourte at the tyme of his sayd right
tytle or interest to the same ferme of Pryorscourte and other the premisses to hym accrued
and comen and no more but thonely moitie as ys last sayd and the other moyte it shalbe
laufull to Elisabeth my wyf and to her executours and assignes to perceive and take to her
use / Furthermore I wyll and ordeyne that myn executours shall delyver or cause to be delyvered
Page 3
to Margery More ymediatly after that she shall accomplysshe the age of xviij yeres usynge her selfe
accordinge to the contentacion of her sayd mother to be levyed and receyved of the rentes landes and tenementes
hereafter appointed for the payment of my debtes and legacyes to her owne propre use and for and
in a full recompence and satisfaccion of her father John Mores Legacyes and bequestes and of my
gyfte Threescore poundes sterlinges And yf yt fortune the said Margery to dye before she shall
accomplysshe the age of xviij yeres Then my mynde and intent ys that my sayd executours shall
employe the same threescore poundes to thuse of thother of the doughters of the sayd Elisabeth &
John to be delyvered to them equallye and indifferently at the severall tymes of their mayriages
or otherwyse as to their mother and myn executours shalbe thought convenyent / Itm I wyll & myn
intent ys that my sayd executours shall levye perceive and take of the landes tenementes rentes and other
revenewes hereafter expressed and appointed for the payment of my deibtes and legacyes the somme of
one Hundreth and Twenty poundes whiche I geve to Agnes More Rose More Dorothe More & Blanche
More doughters of the sayd John and Elisabeth that ys to wete to every of them the sayd Agnes
Rose and Dorothe xxxli and to Blanche xxxli in full recompence of their father bequest the same
to be delyvered them the day of their severall maryages / And yf yt fortune any of the sayd foure
systers before mencyoned and named to dye before they shalbe intitled to have the said sommes
delyvered unto theym / Then my mynde and intent ys that my sayd executours shall delyver to
her or them so survyvynge at the tyme of her or their maryages and to her or thar owne propre
use and behof the parte and porcion of her and them so deceassynge / Itm I wyll and bequeth
that yf the sayd Fyve doughters shall fortune all to dye before they shall accomplysshe the said
ages / That then the hoole sommes aforsayd to remayne to thuse profett and behof of the sayd
Richarde / And yf Richarde be not then lyvynge then to remayne to Thomas / And for lacke of
Richarde and Thomas the same to be yeven in dedes of charytie / Itm I wyll my mynde and
intent ys that myne executours shall delyver or cause to be delyvered to Robert Fethiplace sonne
unto my brother Anthony Fethyplace deceassed after that he shall accomplisshe the age of xxtiiiij
yeres usynge hymself to the contentacion of my nephewe John Yatte and my syster Elenore
Fethyplace or of the longyst lyver of them Tenne poundes sterlinge / And in case he sholde fortune
to dye before he shall accomplysshe the sayd age orelles yf he shoulde not use hym selfe
accordynglye / Then I wyll that the sayd Tenne pounde shalbe geven unto Dorothe Fethyplace
hys syster for the further avauncement of hyr maryage / And yf the sayd Robert & Dorothe
shoulde fortune to dye before they accomplysshe the sayd ages orelles yf they use not theym
selfes accordingly / Then I wyll that the sayd xli and also other xxli whiche I have geven by
deide unto the sayd Dorothe shall remayne unto the poorest of my kynne Furthermore as
concernynge my leases of my landes and Chattellis realles my mynde and intent ys as here
after ys declared / that ys to say / Where as I the sayd Edwarde have to me and myne
executours and assignes a good and sufficient lease of the farme of Priorscourt afforsayd
and of dyverse other tythes landes pastures and tenementes lyenge and beynge in the parysshe
of Cheveley and of dyverse tythes revenewes proffittes commodities and advauntages in the parishe
of Cheveley and Hamsteid for and durynge the terme of many yeres yet to come as by
the Indentures and assuraunce therof made more at large dooth appere for dyverse good consyderacions
I devyse and wyll that Elisabeth my wyf shall have to her owne use unto thage of the sayd Richard
More of xx yeres yf she so longe lyve the occupacion and possessyon of all and synguler the premisses
and all other landes tenementes rentes revercions and servyces that I have for terme of yeres within the sayd
parisshe of Cheveley and also all soche ymplementes of householde and soche other thynges as be
conteyned in a bylle hereunto annexed subscrybed with my hande whiche parcelles my wyf having
the use therof untylle the sayd Richardes age of Twentie yeres yf she lyve so longe / I wylle
that the same parcelles and every parte therof shalbe Justly and trewly praysed ymedyatlye
after my decease by my executours and other honest persons and theruppon delyvered to my sayd
wyf by bylle Indented to be made betwene her and my executours and she to be bounde to
my sayd nephewe in dowble the somme of the parcelles praysed That yf she marye before thage
of the sayd Richarde of xxti yeres that then before her maryage she and he that shall
marye her with ij other suffycyent suerties shalbe bounde in lyke somme to my sayd Nephewe &
for lack of hym to the survyvor of my sayd executours for the redelyverynge of the said parcelles
or the sommes of money therfore praysed to the sayd Richarde at his sayd age at thelleccion of
the sayd Richarde And yf he dye before / Then to the sayd Thomas More at hys age of xxxti
yeres at his lyke ellection / And yf he be not then lyvynge / Thein I wyll my sayd wyf shall have
Page 4
the sayd parcelles to do therwith as yt shall please her / And further I wyll that my said wyf shall also
be bounde in lyke somme to the same persons uppon condycyon that yf she dye before thage of the said
Richarde of xx yeres that then her executours ymedyatly after her decease shall also delyver the said
parcelles or the sommes of money therfore praysed to my said nephewe And for lack of hym to the said
survyvor of my executours for the behof of the said Richarde / And for lack of hym to the said Thomas
at hys sayd age / And for lacke of hym I wyll the sayd ymplementes of householde and plate or the Just
valewe therof praysed to my sayd nephewe and the parcelles of cattelles or the Just valewe therof I will
to be distributed to the poorest of my kynne / Further I wyll and geve to the sayd Richarde More all
my Indentures and leases of the ferme of Priorscourte afforsayd and of all other londes tenementes
pastures tythes revenues and proffyttes lyenge and beynge in the parisshe of Cheveley and Hamsteid
afforsaid for and durynge the tyme terme and interest that I the sayd Edwarde have in the
said premisses or in any parte therof uppon Condycion that yf he dye at any tyme durynge the
tyme and terme of the yeres comprised in the said Indentures unmaryed / Then his estate therin
to ceasse / And then I wyll and gyve the sayd Indentures and other the premisses for the yeres
therof then to come to the said Thomas at his ^said^ age uppon condicion that yf he dye durynge
the tyme and termes therof / That then his astate and interest shall ceasse / And then I will
that soche tyme and terme of yeres that then in the sayd Indentures shalbe to come shalbe to
my wyf uppon condycion that yf she dye before thende of the yeres that then hyr astate and
terme therin shall ceasse / And the yeres then to come and the Indentures I wyll shall remayn
and be to my sayd Nephewe and to hys heyers / And also yf my sayd wyf dye before ^the said^ Richardes
age of xxti yeres, Then I wyll that the occupacion and possessyon of my sayd wyf to her appointed
in the premisses as ys abovesayd shall ceasse / And then I wyll that my sayd Nephewe and
his assignes in the behalf of the said Richarde shall enter in the premisses and occupie the
same to thuse avauntage and proffytt of the sayd Richarde More unto his sayd age and
delyver yt then to hym / And for lack of hym to the sayd Thomas and for lack of hym to be
distrybuted in deedes of Charytie / Itm I wyll that my sayd nephewe shalbe bounde to my
sayd wyf so to doo / Furthermore I wyll devyse and bequeth to the sayd Elisabeth my wyff
all soche astate terme tytle ryght possessyon and interest as I have or of ryght ought to have
for terme of certeyn yeres yett endurynge of in and to a certeyn chamber A closett a garrett with
other therto belongynge, sett and beynge within the Hospitall of Savoye afforsayd with all and
synguler ther appurtenances easementes and commodities to the same belongynge / To have holde &
enioye all and synguler the same premisses to the sayd Elisabeth her executours & assigneis
for and durynge all the terme in or to the same / Itm I wyll devyse and bequeith to the
said Elisabeth the revercion of the messuages called Lancelevey in Sherfeld afforsaid and the
revercion of all the landes tenementes meadowes lesuez Pastures woodes and commens with all and
synguler thappurtenances demysed by me the sayd Edwarde unto one William More Esquyer
by one certeyne Indenture owte of and for the same / And all soche astate ryght tytle terme
possessyon and Interest as I the sayd Edwarde have or ought to have in the same premisses
together with thoccupacion of soche goodes stuff and cattelles as shalbe conteyned in a cedule here
unto annexed so that the same Elisabeth yf yt shall fortune her hereafter at any tyme
to dwell and inhabite in or uppon the same premisses wyll and shall permytt and suffre
her heyer apparante to kepe house inhabite and dwell at their free wyll and pleasure
in or uppon the mansyon place at Sherfeld afforsayd wherein I the said Edwarde and
Elisabeth doo nowe inhabite and other the londes medowes lesures pastures and tenementes
commenly reputed or taken to be parcell or belongynge to the same / Itm where as I the sayd
Edwarde by sufficyent assuraunce and conveyaunce have and Inioye for terme of certein
yeres yett endurynge oon certeyn yerely rent of xxxvjli sterl[ing] goinge oute of certeyn londes &
tenementes lyenge in Wosprynge within the Countie of Somerset nowe or late in the tenure
or occupacion of John Sepperde or his assignes my wyll mynde and intent ys that myne
executours shall receive perceive and take the said somme of xxxvjli durynge the sayd yeres
that I the sayd Edwarde have or ought to have in the same towarde the paymentes
of soche dettes and legacyes as I have appointed my sayd executours by this my present testament
and last wyll to pay / Itm where as by sufficient assuraunce I have and enioye for terme
of certeyn yeres yet endurynge one yerely rent of Syxtene poundes sterl[ing] goynge owte of
certeyn landes tenementes and heredytamentes lyenge and beynge within the parisshe of Bucklonde
within the Countie of Berks[hire] my wyll and intent is and by these presentes I wyll and ordeyne
Page 5
that myne executours shall yerely receyve perceive and take the said yerely rent of xvjli for
and durynge the onely terme of yeres whiche I the said Edwarde have or ought to have in the
same towarde to and for thexpenses of my funeralles paymentes of my dettes perfomynge of my
legacyes and bequeistes afforsaid and fullfyllynge of my wyll mynde and intent conteyned declared
and specyfied in this my present testament and last wyll and for other thinges necessary concerning
the same / Furthermore where by sufficient conveyaunce I have and enioye for terme of certeyn
yeres yett endurynge one certeyne yerely rent of ixli sterling goinge oute of a mylle called Bagnor
and certeyn other rentes and heredytamentes lyenge within the parisshe of Speyne [probably Speen] within the said countie
of Berks[hire] my wyll and intent ys that my wyf shall receyve perceive and take the yerely rentes
therof towarde to and for thexpenses and chardges for the fyndynge of Richarde More at the
schole untyll he come to thage of xx yeres yf he so longe lyve / Also I gyve unto Edwarde
More my servante oute of the sayd cleare yerely revenewes and rentes of the sayd parsonage xls
sterlinge by the yere durynge his naturall lyff to be payd by the takers of the rentes therof
at the ij usuall feastes in the yere for an annuytie in recompence of his service whiche he hath
doon me for the whiche I wyll that he shall distreyne as often as yt or any parte therof be
unpayed / Also I wyll bequeith and gyve to the sayd Richarde More to his propre use and
behof the Indenture or lease of the sayd parsonage and the yerely rentes therof appon condycyon that
yf yt fortune the sayd Richarde to dye unmaryed durynge the tyme terme and interest that I
the sayd Edwarde have in the same premisses / That then the state and interest of and in the
same premisses before appointed unto the said Richarde shall ceasse and be utterly voyed and
then I wyll and devyse that all the terme tytle ryght and interest then endurynge shall
hoolly remayne be accrue and come to the said Thomas More to his propre use and behof
And yf yt fortune the sayd Thomas to dye havynge no wyf then I wyll the said Edwarde
More one Annuitie of xls sterl[ing] more yerely durynge his lyf of the sayd clere yerely rent
therof to be payed as ys afforsayd / and the rest of the clere yerely proffettes for the yeres therof
I geve to Fraunces Fethyplace sonne of my brother Anthony to be payed to the said Fraunces in
maner and forme as the sayd Edwarde More Annuitie ys to be payed / And the rest of the yeres
of the said parsonage for lack of Richarde More and Thomas More as ys afforsayd I wyll
and gyve to my nephewe Thomas Yatte uppon condycion that he shall pay the severall annuities
aswell to the said Edwarde More as to the sayd Fraunces Fethyplace / And as concernynge
the distribucion use ordre and estates of the manor of Langley within the Countie of Berk[shire] and
of all the landes tenementes rentes revercions and services and hereditamentes in Langley afforsaid with
all and synguler thappurtenances in the tenure possessyon and occupacion of Gregory Smyth and of
his assignes whiche premisses William Willascotte late of Tydmersshe in the Countie of Berk[shire]
gent deceased recovered agaynst me the sayd Edwarde by wrytte of entre in the post for
the assuraunce of an Indenture of lease for terme of yeres therof made to the sayd Gregory by
the same William as by the same Indenture yt appereth whiche said William Wyllascote dyed
before soche estates therof made as he shoold have executed as may also appere by reason
wherof thastates and assuraunce of the premisses remayneth nowe to be executed by William
Willascote gent sonne and heyer of the said William wherof nowe my verey mynde & intent
ys and I wyll and devyse by these presentes that the said William Willascote sonne of the said
William the father and hys heyers or any of them whiche shall firste accomplisshe and be of hys
laufull age of xxj yeres by thadvyse of Edmonde Plowden gent and my nephewe John Yatte
and the Survyvor of them and of his heyers and their lernyd Counsell / yff I the said Edwarde
happen to dye before the full age of the same William or of his heyer of xxj yeres / shall after
hys or their full age assure or cause to be assured unto the sayd Elisabeth my wyf the said
Manor londes tenementes rentes revercions services and heredytamentes with thappurtenances To have and to
holde the same premisses to the same Elisabeth for terme of her naturall lyf In full recompence
and satisfaccion of Dower of all soche londes tenementes and heredytamentes as I the sayd Edwarde
heretofore have purchased / The remaynder therof after the decease of the sayd Elisabeth
to the sayd Richarde More sonne of the same Elisabeth and of John More gent deceassed and
to soche wyff and wyffes as the sayd Richarde shall marye for terme of the lyf and lyffes of
the same wyff and wyffes and to the heyers of his body laufully begotten / And for defaulte
of soche yssewe the remayndre therof to the said Thomas More eldest sonne and heire of the
sayd John and Elisabeth and to soche Wyf and Wyffes as the sayd Thomas shall marye
Page 6
for terme of the lyfe and lyffes of the same wyff and wyffes and of the heires of his body laufullye begotten
And for defaulte of soche ysshewe and after the deceasse of the same severall wyffes the remaynder therof to my said
nephewe John Yatte and to his heyers forever any artycle covenante or agreement comprised or specyfied in thindentur
tripartite made betwene me the sayd Edwarde and William Willascotte deceassed and the sayd Gregorye in any
wyse to the contrary therof notwithstondynge / Furthermore I the sayd Edwarde Fethyplace wyll gyve and
devyse unto the sayd Elisabeth my wyf all and synguler my landes tenementes and heredytamentes in Westcompton
in the sayd Countie of Berk[shire] with all and synguler thappurtenances / And also all my landes tenementes rentes revercions and
heredytamentes in the parisshe of Cheveley in the sayd Countie with thar appurtenances which I purchased of John
Hochyns / To have and to holde all the sayd premisses in Wescompton and Cheveley afforsayd to the
sayd Elisabeth for terme of her naturall lyff / The remaynder therof after her deceasse to the sayd
Richarde More and to hys wyff and wyffes as ys afforsayd and to the heyers of his body laufullye
begotten / And for defaulte of soche yssewe the remaynder therof after the decease of the sayd Elisabeth and
of his wyff and wyffes to the sayd Thomas and to his wyff and wyffes as ys afforsayd And to the heiers
of his body laufully begotten / And for defaulte of soche yssewe the remaynder therof after the deceasse
of the sayd Elisabeth and of the sayd wyff and wyffes to the sayd John Yatte and to his heyers forever
And yf yt happen the said Elisabeth to dye before the sayd Richarde shalbe of his full age of xx yeres
Then I wyll that my sayd Nephewe John Yatte and his assignes shall receive perceive and take the Issues
reveneues rentes and proffittes of the said premisses devysed to the sayd Richarde / and also of the premisses
to be assured to the said Richarde as ys afforsayd unto the full age of xxty yeres of the same Richarde towarde
thadvauncement of his maryage and bryngyng upp in lernynge / And yf he dye before thaccompte therof
made then asmoche as shall remayne of the sayd Issues and proffettes of the same premisses I will be delyvered
to the sayd Thomas More to whome I geve the same / And yf he be not then lyvynge, then I wyll the
same to be delyvered amongest the doughters of the sayd Elisabeth and John More whiche then shall
have most nede by the discretyon of myne executours / And over this I wyll and by these presentes doo
geve and devyse to the said Elisabeth my wyf all my landes tenementes and hereditamentes in Preston Candover
in the Countie of South[hamp]t[on] with thappurtenances together with all my Indentures of leasses for terme of yeres there
To have to her unto thage of the said Richarde More of xxti yeres, towardes the fyndynge of
the Chyldren of the sayd Elisabeth / The remaynder therof after the sayd yeres to the sayd Richard
and to the heyers of hys body laufully begotten / And for defaulte of soche yssue the remaynder
therof after the sayd yeres to the sayd Thomas More and to the heyers of his body laufullie
begotten / And for defaulte of soche yssue the remaynder therof after the sayd yeres to the sayd Elisabeth
for terme of her lyff and after her deceasse the remaynder therof to the ryght heyers of the said John
More forever / And moreover I wyll that my sayd leasses of Presto and the yeres therin shall
remayne and be to the sayd Richarde at his said age and for lack of hym to the sayd Thomas &
for lack of hym to the said Elisabeth and for lack of her to the ryght heyers of John More
forever / And also I the sayd Edwarde Fethyplace doo by these presentes gyve and devyse all my
landes tenementes and heredytamentes in Harteley Waspaull with their appurtenances in the said Countie of
South[hamp]t[on] and the evydences and the wrytynges therof to the said Thomas More and to soche wyf as
he shall fyrst marye for terme of her lyf and for parte of her Joyntour and to the heyers of
his body laufully begotten So that he the same Thomas doo mary as ys afforsaid and suffer
my said wyff accordinge to the Will and mynde of hys father John More withoute any acte or other
thinge to be doon procured or attempted by hym or by any other by hys meanes, durynge her lyff
peaceably and quyetlye to have possede and enJoye all soche landes and tenementes as John More gave
her and as she holdeth by waye of Joyntour in Sherfeld in the sayd Countie of South[amp]t[on] / And yf the
said Thomas doo not marye as ys afforesaid and also suffre the sayd Elisabeth to inioye the premisses
as ys afforsayd / Then I wyll and devyse his sayd estate and wyffes shall ceasse and be voide
and that then ymedyatly the sayd premisses shall remayne growe and be to the sayd Richarde More
and to the heyers of his body laufully begotten / And for defaulte of soche yssewe the remaynder
therof to the said Elisabeth my wyf for terme of her lyf / The remaynder therof after her deceasse
to the ryght heires of the sayd John More forever / And further my wyll my mynde and intent ys
that yf yt shall happen any umbyguytie dowte or questyon to growe aryse or be in or aboute any of
my legacyes devises or bequeistes afforsayd or for or concernynge any legacye devyse article clause
sentence mattier thinge or thinges conteyned or specyfyed in this my last wyll and testament, that
then the same and every of them shalbe explaned and expounded by the Chief Justice of Englonde
for the tyme beynge / and by my executours and overseer or by the more parte of them / And as they
or the more parte of theym shall explane and Judge yt / The same to be of effecte and takynge
any thinge herein conteyned to the contrarye therof in any wyse notwithstondinge / And all other my
goodes and cattelles unbequethed and not geven awaye by me in my lyf tyme my dettes and legacyes
paied I wyll and gyve to the said Elisabeth my wyff / And I ordeyne and make and by these presentes
appointe my sayd nephewe John Yatte and my lovynge frende Edmonde Plowden gent to be myne
Page 7
executours of this my my [sic] present testament and last wyll And my Welbeloved Frende Mr John
Pollarde Sergeaunte at the lawe I wyll to be my overseer / And to eyther of them for his laboure I
gyve iiij poundes sterl[ing] to be levyed by theym of my rentes of my fermes / And over this I wyll that
their costes and chardges be borne of my rentes yf they or any of theym be troubled for any cause
concernyng this my wyll / Also I wyll that all soche sommes of money as be conteyned in a byll
subscrybed with my hande and all other dettes be payed / In witnes wherof to this my present
last wyll and testament subscrybed with my owne hande I have putt to my seale thies being witneses
By me Edwarde Fethyplace / Elynor Fetyplace John Yate Thomas More Peter Skargill
Edwarde Snowdam Edwarde More Gyles Langeley vycar of Chyveley John Dankester John
Parson
Householde stuff geven by me Edwarde Fetiplace
Esquyer to Thomas More
In Primis vj fetherbeddes with iij bolsters / A Counterpoynt of Imagery verders woorke of Saynte
George / A Carpett of verders woorke with the kinges Armes in the myddest / A testure of Tawny velvett
and tawny satten / An other testure of blewe and grene damaske / A longe Pyllowe of Downe and a
shorte pyllowe of Downe / Itm xv peces of Dornyx of grene and yellowe / Itm xj peces of Dornyx of
blewe and yellowe / Itm iiij peces of Dornyx of blewe grene and yellowe / Itm a paynted hangynge / Ite
ij Frenche coffers / Itm a garnysshe of pewter vessell / Itm a basyn and an ewer of Tynne / Itm
vj candelstyckes / Itm ij brasse pottes / Itm one brasse panne / Itm a broche and a payre of Cobyrons /
Itm a brasyn morter with a pestell / All whiche parcelles remayneth nowe in thandes of Elisabeth
More his mother for the whiche she to stande bounde for the redelyverey therof when the said Thomas
shall accomplisshe the age of xxj yeres in soche reasonable bonde as myn executours shall thinke
good and convenyent
The plate devysed by Edwarde Fethyplace
Esquyer unto Richarde More
First ij sylver bolles with one cover beynge all parcell gylte / Itm one sylver bason and an Ewer
beynge all parcell gylte / Itm ij sylver saltes with one cover all gylte Itm the best dosen of sylver
spones / Cattelles / Itm xij kyne and a bulle / Itm foure hundreth shepe wherof three hundreth
wethers and one hundreth ewes / Itm xij hogges one bore / Beddynge Carpettes qyysshons
with other householde stuff / The Greate chamber over the parler / Itm blewe and grene hangynges
xxvij partes of Dornyx / Itm a testure of Cloth of golde and crymosyn velvett / Itm iij curteyns
of white sarcenett and redde / Itm one trussynge bedde ij pyllowes of Downe / Itm one coverlett of
Imagery arres / Itm one fetherbedde of Downe one bolster of Downe one payre of fustyan blankettes
one mattres of fustyan / Itm a fetherbedde for a pallett / A fether bolster / A coverlett of carpet work
Itm ij cupborde carpettes of Tapstre woorke / Itm ij chaires ij Andyrons a fyershovell / Itm one Joynid
stoole / ij quysshens of black velvett and tawny damaske / Itm one frenche coffer / Itm ij hangynges for
a wyndowe of blewe buckeram / The chamber next the greate chamber over the lytell parlor / Itm a hole
hangynge of blewe and grene Dornyx of xxij panes / Itm one trussynge bedde / Itm one counterpoint
of Arres of St John Baptist / Itm one cupbourde cloth of Tapstre worke / Itm one testure of velvett
and tawny Damaske / Itm iij curteynes of blewe and yellowe sarcenett / Itm one fetherbedde with ij pillowes
and a bolster of Downe / Itm ij chayres / Twoo Inner chambers / Itm ij fetherbeddes ij bolsters ij
coverlettes of carpett woorke / Itm ij testures of Saye redde and grene / Itm ij trussynge beddes / The
Chamber over the hall / First one hole hangynge of blewe and grene Dornyx of xlij panes / Item
one trussynge bedde one testure of black velvett and black satten frenged with purple sylke & white sylver
Itm iij curteyns of yellowe and redde sarcenett / Itm one fetherbedde one bolster ij pyllowes of Downe
A Counterpointe of Arres with a lyon in the myddest / Itm a carpett for the cupborde of Tapstre worke
Itm a Joyned stoole / The Chamber over the parler next the bottrie / Itm one hole hangynge
of redde and grene saye of xxxiij panes / Itm one trussynge bedde / A testure of black satten and
cremeson damaske / Itm a fether bedde a bolster ij pyllowes / Itm one curteyne for the wyndowe
of redde and grene saye / A chaire / The Maides chamber over the kechyn / Itm a mattress a flock
bedde ij bolsters iij coverlettes the one with blewe and white flowers an other with tapstree woorke the other
of Dornyx grene and blewe / The Greate parler / Itm a longe table with a Joyned frame ij Joyned
foormes / Itm a carpett for the Longe table of Tapstrey woorke with flowers and the lylly pott in it
Itm ij carpettes for the cupbordes of tapstre woorke of the same / Itm vj quysshons of tapstre worke
with flowers and ij dogges feightynge for a bone / Itm one hole hangynge of Dornyx of grene and blewe
Page 8
conteynynge xxviij panes / Itm iij Joyned chaires / The hawll / Itm one hoole hangynge of redde and
grene saye of xliij panes / Itm ij longe tables withJoyned Frames ij longe Joyned formes / The lyttell
parler next the botrey / First an hoole hangynge of redde and grene saye conteynyng xlj panes / Itm
twoo Andyrons / A longe borde with a Joyned Frame A Carpett of Tapstrewoorke ij chaires vj quisshens
of Arres a fyer pronge / The Parler next the Courte / Itm a hangynge of blewe and grene dornix
of xxvij panes / A trussynge bedde / A fetherbedde a bolster ij pyllowes / A coverlett of Tapstreworke
Itm a Carpett for the cupborde of Dornyx / A Chaire / The Inner chamber within the parler / A
trussynge bedde A testure of Redde and grene saye / A Fetherbedde / A bolster / A coverlett of
carpettwoorke / The kechyn / Itm a garnysshe of Pewter vessell of the best makinge / Itm v
broches one bygger then the other / A fryenge panne ij dryppinge pannes one Skommer A Colender
of Pewter / A brasyn morter with a pestell of Iron iiij brasse pottes / Itm a brasyn ladell A flesshe
hooke one kettell one panne ij payre of hookes iij potthangers one stone morter with a wood pestell
A barre of Iron to hange the pottes on / ij Grydeyrons one Skellett iij dressynge knyves / The
Botre / Itm one bason one ewer of Tyn / ij pewter pottes of Tyn vj candelstyckes / A byn for to
putt in breade / Itm a coffer to putt in Naprey / By me Edwarde Fetyplace /
[Summary of the Latin Probate clause]
Date of Probate: 26 April 1550
Place of Probate: Newebery [Newbury, Berkshire not in London as was normal]
Executor: John Yate, one of the executors; power reserved for the other
executor
Court official: John Cooke
Transcribed by Barbara Tearle
February 2025; checked by Will Johnson and Barbara Tearle, May and June 2025
[1] PROB 11/33/177, Will of Edward Fetiplace of Priorscourt, Berkshire, esquire, 26 April 1550.
[2] J Renton Dunlop, F.S.A., ‘The Family of Fettiplace – Pedigree III & IV’ in A.W. Hughes Clarke ed., Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, Vol. II, Fifth Series, (London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1916-17), pp. 186-7
[3] J. Renton Dunlop, “The Fettiplace Family” in Transactions of the Newbury and District Field Club, Vol. V (1895-1911) (Newbury: Blacket Turner & Co.,1911), pp.1-16.
[4] ‘Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Poughley’, in P H Ditchfield and William Page eds. A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 2, (London: Victoria County History, 1907), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol2/pp85-86
[5] F. N. Macnamara, ‘Historic Houses – ‘Donnington Castle and its Ancient Lords’, in The Berks, Bucks, and Oxon Archaeological Journal, Volume IV (1897), pp. 59-60 & 70; 1130 Cromwell to Richard Ryche, 29 July 1535, in James Gairdner ed. Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII, Volume 8I, (London: Longmans & Co, 1885), p.443.
[6] James Gairdner ed. Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 11, (London: Longmans & Co, 1888), https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol11/pp221-257 6-10 October 1536, pp.221-257.
[7] James Gairdner and R H Brodie eds. Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII Volume 14 part 2 (London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1895)https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol14/no2/pp196-208 21-25 November 1539, pp.196-208.
[8] ‘Shaw-cum-Donnington’ in P H Ditchfield and William Page eds. A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 4, (London: Victoria County History, 1924), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol4/pp87-97
[9]‘1527 13 Jan. EDWARD FETYPLACE to CROMWELL’ ‘Appendix: 1524-1527’, in J S Brewer ed. Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530, (London: Longmans & Co, 1875), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp3079-3129 pp.3079-3129.
[10] SP 1/223 f.26, Edward Fetyplace to Sir John Williams, Treasurer of the Court of Augmentations, Aug. 4, 1546 in James Gairdner and R H Brodie eds. Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII Volume 21 part 1, (London: Longmans & Co, 1908),https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol21/no1/pp697-714 pp.697-714.
[11] Joseph Foster and Joseph Lemuel Chester eds. London Marriage Licences, 1521-1869, (London: Bernard Quaritch, 1887), p. 1052
[12] C.M. Woolgar, The Great Household in Late Medieval England, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999) p. 72 ‘Tiles were, however cold to the feet, and by the mid-fifteenth century some carpets were used on floors in chambers, especially around beds’, pgs. 98-99 ‘Arrangements for royal births under Henry VII are documented in his household ordinances of 1493. The room where the Queen was to be delivered was decorated with rich hangings, sufficiently lit, and furnished with a royal bed, a carpet on the floor, and a pallet-bed’.
[13] Edward Hall, The vnion of the two noble and illustrate famelies of Lancastre [and] Yorke • 1st edition plus variant, (1 vol) (London, 1548) ‘On a carpett in a laydes chamber’ Richard III f. lvjv, ‘A prelate, more mete for a ladyes carpet, than for an ecclesiasticall pulpet’, Edward IV f. ccxxxiiii.
[14] Katherine L. French, Household Goods and Good Households in Late Medieval London: Consumption and Domesticity After the Plague, (Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2021), p. 81.
[15] G F Wingfield-Digby, The Tapestry Collection: Medieval and Renaissance, (London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1980), ‘Introduction’ pp. 5-9
[16] Louis Charbonneau-Lassay, The Bestiary of Christ, English translation (New York: Parabola Books, 1991) ‘The Unicorn’ pp. 365-375, ‘The Griffin’ p. 397
[17] G F Wingfield-Digby, The Tapestry Collection: Medieval and Renaissance, (London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1980), ‘No. 40 Mille-Fleurs verdure’, p. 49. https://archive.org/details/tapestrycollecti0000vict/page/48/mode/2up
[18] G F Wingfield-Digby, The Tapestry Collection: Medieval and Renaissance, (London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1980), ‘Nos. 48-50 Group of Large-leaf verdures’, p. 54. https://archive.org/details/tapestrycollecti0000vict/page/54/mode/2up
[19] H E J Cowdrey, ‘Towards an Interpretation of the Bayeux Tapestry’, in Richard Gamesoned. The Study of the Bayeux Tapestry, (Woodbridge: Boydell, 1997) pp.93-111 at 99.
[20] Ria Hörter, ‘Dogs in Medieval Art’, February 2014, pp.294-302 https://riahorter.com/index_htm_files/Medieval%20Dogs.pdf; Laura D. Gelfand, ed. Our Dogs, Our Selves – Dogs in Medieval and Early Modern Art, Literature, and Society, (Leiden: Brill, 2016) p.14, pp. 243-302.
[21] W. Harry Rylands ed., The Four Visitations of Berkshire, 1532, 1566, 1623, 1665-66 Vol. I, (London: Publications of the Harleian Society, 1907), ‘Yate of Buckland’ p. 60, pp. 148-9
[22] Francis W Steered., Farm and cottage inventories of mid-Essex, 1635-1749, (London: Phillimore, 1969) ‘Preparing, Cooking and Eating of Food’ pp. 24-29; Phillips V Brooks, Kitchen utensils: names, origins, and definitions through the ages, (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004) ‘Fireplace and Fireplace Tools’ pp. 62-85, ‘Household’ pp. 86-135, ‘Cooking’ pp. 142-163.
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