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me ante datam presencium factas et ordinatas, ac testamenta quæcunque per me priùs facta sive condita, et legata sive assignata in eisdem ante hæc tempora adimendo, purè et expresse, certis et legitimis causis me moventibus, revoco, exceptis certis legatis per me quibusdam personis diversis et jam in ultimo meo eulogio assignatis; quæ quidem legata sunt inclusa in quodam rotulo sigillo meo signato; et testamentum meum ac ultimam voluntatem condo, ordino, facio, et declaro in hunc modum. In primis commendo animam meam Deo Omnipotenti, Beatæ Mariæ, et omnibus Sanctis, corpusque meum sepeliendum ubi contigerit me decedere ab hac vitâ, vel ubi executores mei disposuerint illud sepeliri. Volo tamen quod corpus meum simpliciori modo, quo honestè possit, tradatur sepulturæ, ac quod omnia et singula debita mea seu debenda, racione ultimi vale mei, ipsi ecclesiæ, in quâ continget me hujusmodi ultimum habere vale integrè persolvantur. Item volo quod viginti libræ dentur duobus capellanis celebraturis pro animâ meâ animabusque patris mei et matris et omnium benefactorum meorum; et pro animabus omnium illorum pro quibus teneor, et sum oneratus exorare. Et volo quod Johannes de Midilton sit unus de prædictis capellanis ; et quod celebret, ut prædicitur, per triennium, ubicunque voluerit; capiens pro singulo anno c. de summâ viginti librarum prædictarum. Et volo quod alius capellanus celebret per annum integrum immeditatè post decessum meum ubi corpus meum fuerit humatum; capiens residuum summæ antedictæ. Item lego ad reparacionem quatuor Ecclesiarum, videlicet, Rudby, Sancti Rumaldi, Kyrkebyrawynswath, et Wyclyf, cuilibet illarum XL. Item lego cuilibet Moniali de Nunappilton 11'. Item lego pro.... seu ornamentis emendandis infra cancellum Ecclesiæ de Wyclyf XL. Item lego XxL3. distribuendos pauperibus infra parochiam de Wyclyff. Item lego ad reparacionem pontis de Rudby xx. Item lego cuilibet capellanorum stipendiariorum Rectoria de Rudby celebrantium ad capellas infra parrochiam de Rudby vis. VIII. Item lego cuilibet capellano et cuilibet fratri Hospitalis de Kepier vis. vII. Item lego cuilibet pauperi scolari sedenti ad skepham infra aulam prædicti Hospitalis 11. Item lego Emmotæ Mylner, Isotæ Sollay et Cristianæ Kendall, videlicet cuilibet illarum VI. VIII. Item lego cuilibet ordini Fratrum mendicancium, videlicet Allerton, Richemond et Hertilpole xx3. et Fratribus de Zarme xxvi3 VIIIa. Et lego cuilibet servienti meo transeunti ad carucam et custodienti averia mea, ultra sua salaria II. IIIa. Et residuum verò summæ centum librarum, de quibus condo testamentum meum, ac eciam omnium et singulorum bonorum meorum mobilium et michi de quibuscunque personis debitorum, do et lego executo

ribus meis, ut et ipsi inde provideant, faciant, et disponant, pro salute animæ meæ secundum quod eis melius videbitur expedire. Et ad hoc testamentum meum bene et fideliter perficiendum et implendum ordino et constituo Xp'oferum de Boynton, Henricum Nessefeld, Johannem de Midelton capellanum, et Thomam Nele, executores meos, et unicuique illorum XL. pro labore suo assigno. Et supervisores hujus testamenti mei ordino et constituo Johannem Langton militem manentem juxta Shirburne in Elmet, et Robertum de Eure com. Dunelm. In cujus rei testimonium huic presenti Testamento sigillum meum apposui, hiis testibus, Johanne Runkcorne capellano, Thomâ Tange et Roberto Berehalgh notariis publicis, Thomâ Morpath, et Alano Shireburn capellanis. Data apud Kepier supradict' die et anno Domini supradictis.

LI. TESTAMENTUM RADULPHI DE NEVILLE

COMITIS DE Westmorland,' etc.

Universis Sanctæ Matris Ecclesiæ filiis præsentes Literas inspecturis, Domini Officialis Curiæ Eborum Commissarius Generalis, Salutem in Domino sempiternam. Noverit universitas vestra, quod inspectis Registris testamentorum in Scaccario Reverendissimi in Christo Patris et Domini, Domini Johannis Dei gratiâ Eboracensis Archiepiscopi, Angliæ Primatis et Apostolicæ Sedis Legati, probatorum, comperimus testamentum recolendæ memoriæ Domini Radulphi Nevill nuper Comitis

1 Ralph Neville, Lord of Raby-Governor of Carlisle, and a Warden of the Marches, 1385-succeeded to his estates upon the death of his father, in 1388 -Constable of the Tower of London, 1397-Earl of Westmorland in 1398— Lord of the Honor of Penrith for life-Earl of Richmond (for life), and Earl Marshal of England in 1399-Governor of Roxborough Castle, 1401-at the Siege of Caen, in Normandy, 1409-founded the Collegiate Church of Staindrop-married, first, Margaret, daughter of Hugh Earl of Stafford, who died 9th June, 1370, and was buried at Brancepath-secondly, Joan, daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, widow of Sir Robert Ferrers, Knight, who survived him, and dying 13th Nov., 1440, was buried at Lincoln. The Earl of Westmorland himself died 21st Oct., 1425, and was buried at Staindrop, under the most splendid tomb of which the North of England can boast, but which has been removed from its original situation in the middle of the Choir, into an obscure and dirty corner behind the south door, where, in addition to other indignities, the heat of a stove, hard by, is rapidly pulverising the splendid alabaster work of one of its sides. Ought not such a tomb to have been most carefully preserved in its original situation, as one of the proudest memorials of the antient Lords of Raby? Who was the incumbent who consented to such a barbarous proceeding? Why did not the Ordinary interfere? There are elaborate engravings of this rich specimen of antient art in Gough's Sepulchral Monuments; in Surtees's History of Durham; and in Blore's Monumental Remains. Let the engraver perpetuate what may soon be a matter of history.

Westmorlandiæ defuncti, in dictis Registris registratum, eo, qui sequitur, sub tenore. In Dei nomine, Amen. Ego Radulphus de Nevill, Comes Westmerland', compos mentis et sanus corpore, condo ac facio testamentum meum in hunc modum. In primis do et lego animam Deo Omnipotenti, Beatæ Mariæ virgini et omnibus Sanctis; Corpusque meum ad sepeliendum infra Monasterium Conventuale S. Cuthberti Dunelmi, vel in Ecclesia Collegiatâ in Standropp. Item do et lego nomine Mortuarii mei, duos Equos cum apparatu secundum ordinacionem Executorum meorum, in die sepulturæ meæ, prout moris

est.

Item do et lego Johannæ uxori meæ, pro sustentacione suâ et liberorum nostrorum, terciam partem bonorum et rerum meorum mobilium, cum optimo cipho meo auri cum vj chargeours, xxiiij discis argenteis, et cum uno lecto de Arras operato cum auro, cum costeris eidem pertinentibus et concordantibus. Item do et lego prædictæ Johannæ uxori meæ centum vaccas, xxiiij Jumenta, mille oves, duas ollas argenteas deauratas, et iiij ollas argenteas albas. Item do et lego Richardo de Nevill'

Richard Neville, married Alice, only daughter and heir of Thomas de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury-created Earl of Salisbury and Lord Monthermer -Father of the Earl of Warwick, "the King Maker"-taken prisoner at the Battle of Wakefield, fighting on the side of the Duke of York, in 1460, and beheaded at Pontefract

We have pleasure in preserving four characteristic letters written by this illfated nobleman. The first, which will be read with great interest, must have been written soon after the 15th June, 1429, upon which day the Earl of Salisbury was appointed a Commissioner for the Borders. The postscript of this letter is in the Earl's own hand-writing, and the Prior would doubtless understand its meaning. The second and third are from France, the former in 1431, and the latter about the same period-the fourth, written after the Earl's return to his Castle of Middleham, refers to a dispute between Sir William Bowes and the Prior, relative to the estate of Osmondcroft, on the Tees.

1. TO THE REU'ENT FADER IN GODE & MY RIGHT TRISTY frende the PRIOR OF DURRESME.

Reu'ent ffader in gode and my Right tristy frende I grete you of tymes wele alwey desiryng to wete of yr welefair the which I praye gode eu'more be as gude as yhe kan best desire thonking you right hertly of all kyndenes shewed to me a for this py'ing you eu'more of yor gude contynuaunce And for as mich as me behoues be at ye Estm'chez at yis day of Conuen'con be twein us & ye Scottis wt a grete noumber of men & I as yhitt a yong housband & noght all redy p'ueid ne stored of all at wer nedefull nor noght might be lik as I hadd p'posed for ye grete costages & exp'nces at I haue hadd now of late as for ye sute of my landes I pray you right hertly & as my singuler trist is in you yat yhe will do me this ease at this tyme as to len me yor chariotr wt yr chariott & ye chariott hoses to truaill wt my harneys to warde ye m'ches agayns ye said day & sall gar ordeyn yat thei be seen to as reason will Also I pray you for as mich as me stondes right grete nede of horses at yis tyme & for as mich as yhe haue oon gude corser ye which yf it like you to sell hym I will gif you as mich for hym as he is worth vppon reson p'ying you yt if ye so will do yt ye will c'tifie me wt ye berer herof And if it lik you noght to sell him I pray you wi

filio meo ij Chargeours, xij discos, et j pelvim cum j Ewer argenti, et unum lectum de arras, cum costeris paled de colore rubeo viridi et albo, qui solebant pendere in magnâ Camerâ infra Castrum de Sherifhoton. Item do et lego dicto Richar

all my hert yat yhe will lenn me hym at yis tyme and I sall gar see at he be wele doon to in ye meyn tyme & at yhe haue hym saue & suyrly delyu’ed agayn This matr at I write to you for at yis tyme I pray you effectually take to hert & help yt I myght be speed yr of as my trist is gretely in you And yf ther be any thyng at I may do to yr worship p'fitt & ease & yhe will make hale knawledge yr of I sall p'forme it at my power yat knoweth allmighty gode whome I beseeche eu'more for his m'cie have you in his g'cious kepyng both body and saule Written at Middelham [Castle, in Yorkshire,] the iij day of

Juyn.

İ pray yau as my trewst is in yow yt ye will tender thys materes as I may do oght yt may lyk you

II.

[Of this postscript we give a Fac-simile.]

R. SALISBURY.

Reu'ent Sr in God I grete you oftymes wel and thanke yow wt al myn h'te, yt ye and my right welbelovid your brethren and myne haue had me so tend'li in good Remembrances and devout praiers as yt I am enformid ye haue had through which I trust u'railie I spede and haue fare ye bettr And touching tidinges in this pt'ies of ye kings our sou'ain lords notable coronacion at his good towne of paris ye xvj dai of decemb'r & his worthi welcom'yng to ye same wt his remewying and disposic'on towards his Rewme of England and myn also to ye same I haue charged ye berar of this to c'tfie yow mor at large Biseching our Lord eu' to haue you in his blest keping written at Rouen ye viij day of Januer [1431-2.]

To the Reu'ent Sr in God
the Priour of Duresme

RICHARD ERLE
OF SALUSBURY

III. Reu'ent S in God and Right trusty frende we grete you oftymes well And dest for our singuler comfort and gladnesse to wit of yor wellfare. And as of oure disposic'on at makying of thies we weren in good heel thonked be our lorde as ye berer of thies can reporte yow with such t'dinges in a cedule made of hem as weren in thies p'ties at his dep'ting praying yow with al our h't to haue us for tend'rly recom'endid in yor good praiers as our ful trust is in yow and our lorde haue you in kepying Writen at ye seige afor Chambreis the xxviij day of Juyn

RICHARD ERL OF SALISBURY
YOUR TREU FRENDE

IV. TO THE REU'ENT S. IN GOD AND OUR RIGHT WELBELOUED THE

PRIOR OF DURHAM.

Reverent S. in god and right welbeloued we grete you often times wel thanking yow allway of the gode chere and kyndnesse yt ye haue shewde vnto vs and namely at our last being with yow at Durham and for as muche as at yat tyme we behighte vnto you for to write be our l'res vnto Sir William Bowes youre entent and desir for ye gode supportac'on of ye conuent of Seynt Cuthbert of youer Kirk of Duresme we lete you wite yat we haue not written vnto hym in as moche as he was hymself in his own p'son here at Midelham with us a Monday was a vij night at whiche tyme we com'uned with him of ye said

I pray par van as my soll as in von y whe will coudy the mate900 may he

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as of may do oght

FAC-SIMILE OF THE HAND-WRITING OF RICHARD, EARL OF SALISBURY, IN 1429.

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