1540 will missing words

[goldie61]

Hi everyone
At least it is still in English! 

A few lines from a 1540 will of Nicholas Chadwych of Alstonfield.
“ …in maner & forme folowing First I bequeath my sole to god almighty to the
?? & to the holy company of ? & mi body to be beyreed in sayid parish church of Alstonfield Item I bequeath to sayid ??
of ? & sayid ? of Alstonfield ? iiijd Item “

Many thanks

[horselydown86]

"...the holy company of heyven [=heaven]..."

There's a word missing before the above section in your transcript.  I'm not sure yet what it is.

I think it is "...saynt pet(ers) church of alstonfeld..."

Is the left margin of the image the margin of the page?  There seems to be more, which would help with line 2.

Edit:  The missing word may be "all" - "...all the holy company..."

[Alexander.]

Line 2: "the virgen M[ar]ye mother of m[er]cy & to all the holy company of heyven & my body"

Alexander

[goldie61]

Many thanks horsleydown and Alexander.
I’ve not come across the ‘Mary mother of Mercy ‘phrase before – it’s usually ‘god almighty my saviour and redeemer and through the passion of Jesus Christ’ etc, or some such.

The left hand side of the page of the clipping is of the edge of the will – so no more words off to the left. And I think you’re right with Saint Peter’s church horselydown.
But it’s not the same on the last line and the end of the line before.
Looking at it again, it looks as if he leaves money to two other churches –

‘…………………………..I bequeath to saint  ? ? ?
of A?   & saint   ?   adds of   ?field each of  ? ? iiijd’

Any ideas? 

ADDED The second one has to be 'St Chad's of Lichfield' 

[horselydown86]

Hi goldie,

I agree about the bequests to the two churches but can't make out the first one.  Saynt Chaddes is right and I see Lichfeld now you have pointed it out.

The phrase after Lichfeld is:  "...eyther of them - iiijd"

I think the reference to Mary reflects Catholic belief.  1540 was very early in the separate existence of the C of E.

[goldie61]

Thanks horseydown
Still can't make out the second church - been through all the neighbouring parishes  - ah well, not to worry. More of it to try and decipher.
Cheers

[Alexander.]

I think it's "saynt M[ar]ye hausse of cove[n]t[ry]" - St Mary's House of Coventry.

Alexander

[goldie61]

Gosh thanks Alexander!
I could see the 'M', had got as far as 'usse' at the end, and couldn't make out why there was a 'v' in the middle of the place name.
It's those old abbreviations again!I know you're very good at working them out. Many thanks. A*