1414: John Neuton and the Re-Foundation of York Minster Library

Marie super Bischophill unam casulam uiridem auratam cum alba stola et manipulo eiusdem secte ac eciam unum psalterium quod quondam emi de quodam presbitero eiusdem ecclesie. Item do et lego ecclesie parochiali de Wyuerthorp unam capam albi et blodii coloris ac eciam unam casulam eiusdem secte cum alba stola et manipulo ad eandem pertinentibus, insuper et duos pannos depictos pro decore et ornamento summi altaris eiusdem. Item do et lego ecclesie parochiali de Bischopburton unam casulam uiridem, cum alba paruris stola et manipulo eiusdem secte ac eciam duos pannos depictos pro summo altari eiusdem. Item do et lego ecclesie prebendali de Muskham unam casulam uiridem cum alba stola et manipulo ad eandem pertinentibus. Item do et lego magistro Willielmo Waltham unam peluim argenteam cum magna littera M  in fundo. Item do et lego domino Thome Haxey unam peluim concauam in superiori parte nodosam.

Item do et lego Ricardo de Norton unam cuppam deauratam quam olim habui de domino Cantuarensi. Item do et lego magistro Iohanni Gilby unum ciphum argenteum coopertum et deauratum atque alium ciphum coopertum argenteum ac eciam decem marcas argenti. Item do et lego domino Thome de Garton unam ollam argenteam et duas pecias coopertas, unam scilicet deauratam et aliam albam ac eciam unum ciphum murreum cum pede et cooperculo deaurato. Item do et lego domino Nicholao Ackeld, senescallo meo, decem marcas argenti. Item do et lego domino Henrico Thorlethorp unam peciam albam coopertam. Item do et lego domino Willielmo Neuton unum ciphum de murro cum pede deaurato. Item do et lego domino Willielmo de Flaxton unam peciam cum cooperculo insculptis litteris S. Item do et lego domino Roberto de Sutton uicario meo unum de habitibus meis. Item do et lego domino Iohanni Brawby uicario meo unum ciphum deauratum et unum de habitibus meis.

Item do et lego Iohanni sacriste unum paruum psalterium quod nuper habui ab eodem. Item do et lego cuilibet domui Fratrum mendicancium infra ciuitatem Eboracensem situate XL solidos. Item uolo quod dominus Walterus capellanus meus celebret Eboraci per triennium pro anima mea et animabus parentum et benefactorum meorum omniumque fidelium defunctorum, capiendo per singulos annos pro salario suo C solidos. Numerum uero aliorum capellanorum qui pro me erunt celebraturi, committo discrecioni et ordinacioni executorum meorum. Ita uidelicet quod in ecclesiis thesaurarie spectantibus, secundum quantitatem bonorum meorum, sint capellani celebrantes pro anima mea et animabus omnium fidelium defunctorum ubi ad officium diuinum deuocius exequendum curamque uicariorum meorum melius supportandum poterit conuenire. Et si contingat me in uita mea legata uel aliquos legatorum in presenti testamento conferre siue contulisse, uolo quod tunc cesset omnino peticio legati siue legatorum totaliter collati seu collatorum. Reliqua uero bona mea mobilia et debita quecumque, uolo ut in releuacione pauperum tenencium parochianorum thesaurarie, ac firmarum capituli michi assignatarum et per me occupatarum, ac eciam domesticorum famialiarum meorum, per superuisum uenerabilium confratrum meorum magistri W. Waltham et domini T. Haxey atque honorabilis uiri Ricardi de Norton executorum meorum et ad disposicionem magistri Iohannis Gilby et domini Nicholai Acckeld executorum eisdem adiunctorum integraliter conuertantur, et fideliter expendantur, exceptis semper donacionibus et assignacionibus certarum rerum mearum certis personis uel usubus antea per me factis aut per me imposterum faciendis, quibus per presens testamentum nolo quomodolibet derogari. Executores uero meos facio, ordino et constituo reuerendos uiros et confratres meos magistrum Willielmum Waltham,

Mary on Bishophill one gilt green robe with white stole and maniple cut from the same cloth, and one psalter that I once bought from some priest of the same church. Likewise I give and bequeath to the parish church of Weaverthorpe one robe of white and blue colour, as well as one robe cut from the same cloth with a white stole and a maniple belonging with it, and furthermore two painted garments for the decoration and ornament of its high altar. Likewise I give and bequeath to the prebendal church of Bishop Burton one green robe with a white stole paruis and a maniple cut from the same cloth, as well as two painted garments for its high altar. Likewise I give and bequeath to the prebendal church of Muskham one green robe with a white stole and a maniple belonging with it. Likewise I give and bequeath to Master William Waltham one silver basin with a large letter M at the bottom. Likewise I give and bequeath to Sir Thomas Haxey one concave basin with knots in the superior part.

Likewise I give and bequeath to Richard of Norton one gilt cup which I once had from the lord of Cambridge. Likewise I give and bequeath to Master John Gilby one lidded and gilt silver vessel and another lidded silver one and also ten marks of silver. Likewise I give and bequeath to Lord Thomas of Garton one silver jar and two lidded cups, one gilt and the other white, as well as one reddish vessel with a gilt base and lid. Likewise I give and bequeath to Sir Nicholas Ackeld, my seneschal, ten marks of silver. Likewise I give and bequeath to Sir Henry Thorlethorp one lidded white cup. Likewise I give and bequeath to Sir William Neuton one vessel of myrrh with a gilt base. Likewise I give and bequeath to Sir William of Flaxton one lidded cup with with the letters S engraved on it. Likewise I give and bequeath to my vicar Sir Robert of Sutton one of my garments. Likewise I give and bequeath to my vicar Sir John Brawby one gilt vessel and one of my garments.

Likewise I give and bequeath to my sacristan John one small psalter which I once received from him. Likewise I give and bequeath to each house of the mendicant friars within the city of York forty coins. Likewise I wish that my chaplain Sir Walter will celebrate in York for three years for my soul and the souls of my parents, and benefactors and of all my faithful departed, receiving each year as his salary one hundred coins. Indeed, I entrust to the discretion and decision of my executors, moreover, a number of further chaplains who will celebrate for me. It is thus evident that in the churches pertaining to the treasury, according to the quantity of my wordly goods, there will be chaplains celebrating for my soul and the souls of all my faithful departed where it might be suitable to celebrate more devotedly the divine office and to support better the care of my vicars. And if it happens that I should bestow or have bestowed my bequests or anything of the bequests in the present testament, I wish that the petition of the bequests completely collected ceases altogether then. I wish that my remaining movable goods and credits will be completely given over to the support of the poor tenant parishioners of the treasury, of the farms of the chapter assigned to me and occupied by me, as well as of the servants of my household, under the supervision of my venerable brethren, Master W. Waltham and Sir T. Haxey, and the Honourable Richard of Norton, my executors, and at the disposal of Master John Gilby and Sir Nicholas Acckeld as adjunct executors, and that they shall faithfully spend it, excepting always the donations and assignations of some property of mine to some persons, or uses made by me previously, or to be made by me in the future, which I do not wish to be diminished in any way with this testament. I make, arrange and appoint as my executors the venerable men and my brethren: Master William Waltham,