1473 will, 1st bit - COMPLETE

[grantleydawn]

I need help to resolve two words in the following segment of a 1473 Will.

Can anyone help me please?

Regards
Grantley

for the peple there being sufficient Also I wull [will] that my detts first and specially be paied Also I
wull [will] that myn executores lett ordeiyne A chaleys to the channtrye of saint Kat’eryn of Ilmystre of the value of xl. s [40 shillings]
or bettir that I may be praied for and Elizabeth my wife w^t my Anncesters Also I wull [will] the Church of Branke=
scomb have xx^ti Ewen of the best of my ground and manar of Egge to the store of the same Church while it

[franh1946]

a chalice to the chantry of

[franh1946]

that I may be prayed for

[grantleydawn]

Thankyou franh1946,

I totally missed the "I".

Regards
Grantley

[Roger in Sussex]

Hi Grantley,

Could it possibly be "or bette"? I have an 1896 dictionary which cites two 16th Century poets - Edmund Spenser and George Gascoigne - as using this form for "better". So presumably that was still in use in the 15th Century.

I would feel more confident about this suggestion if it didn't look to me more like "or bettie".

On the other hand, it seems very sensible to specify a minimum amount to be paid for the chalice, while allowing for a greater sum if necessary.

Roger

[grantleydawn]

Hi Roger & thankyou.

I have had a good look at the whole document and I am confident that you are spot on.

The last character, being an “e” is the only hesitation that I have. That ending character style is rare, in this document.

It could possibly be “bettir”. The last character being similar to the last character of what I guess is “Sir” in the following section.

He is naming his executors.
I haven’t come across a “Sir” being a “parson”, before.
"Suysmor" doesn't seem correct.
“Silverton” isn’t mentioned elsewhere in any of my research. My focus areas being Branscombe & Ilminster in Devon.

Regards
Grantley

hande and sealed and to dispose for my soule the remaynder of my gods [goods] nott bequethed Sir John
Suyfmor p[ar]son of Silverton my broper [brother] William WADEH^AM Cristofer COKE John MOORE of Colompton

[veeblevort]

I haven’t come across a “Sir” being a “parson”, before.

'Sir' was a title of respect given to Knights, Priests, Graduates, and Esquires,
who were ranked in that order, except that if a priest were a doctor of law or
divinity, then he ranked above an ordinary knight.

vv.

[grantleydawn]

Thankyou vv,

That makes me feel more comfortable.

Regards
Grantley

[veeblevort]

"Suysmor" doesn't seem correct.

The large curl on the end of the word suggests a contraction mark.

Maybe 'Suysmore' for 'Sizemore'

vv.