By Ellie Jones, Cathedral Archivist
This fine example of a medieval will was made by Henry de Berbilonde in 1296. Berbilonde was one of the Vicars Choral at the Cathedral who carried out many of the daily services on behalf of the Canons, and he was evidently a man of good means. The neat Latin text is densely packed, and in just over 41 lines nearly 90 bequests are specified.
The will begins, as was common in medieval wills, with his wishes for the perpetual care of his body and soul. His final resting place was “to be buried where my friends shall best provide”, and a sum of money was allocated for prayers to be said annually on the anniversary of his death. He also made bequests to the upkeep of several churches including the Cathedral, Holy Cross Crediton, and St Nicholas Priory. St Mary Major would receive a candle weighing one pound, and the parish church at Silverton was to receive a set of vestments provided they supplied “a pair of worn vestments in which I may be buried”. The bridges at Bishop’s Clyst, Exeter, Stoke Canon, Thorverton and “on the other side of the Creedy towards the house of Sir William Herbert” were also to benefit.
On the day of his burial his fellow vicars were to receive 3d, and the boy choristers 2d, and 12d each was to be distributed among the poor of the hospital of St John, to the lepers of the Blessed Mary Magdalene, and to the prisoners of Exeter.
After those concerns of Christian burial and charity were dealt with, the will moves on to distributing his property and possessions. His property included a house in Exeter (on the Close, leading to High Street), and property at Woodbury, Politmore, and Landscore. The chief beneficiaries were to be his nephew William Podyng and his wife Margery, who received land, household vessels and utensils, a chest, wagons “and other rural implements”. Other family members are named. One of several nephews was Hamo, who was to receive “20 shillings and one blanket with one sheet” and his aunt Clar’ would get “one surcoat of white bluet with a hood, and one silver candlestick and one blanket with one linen sheet”. Members of his extended family and friends, including the de Lask, Tytinge and de Sechevil families were to receive money and goods and, Richard son of Alan de Yhivelegh, was allocated 40 shillings “to help him that he may be instructed in some craft”. Berbilond’s servants were also provided for, receiving either three shillings or 6d, whilst to Margaret “my laundress, two hangings and two sheets”.
The will was purchased at auction in 1991 by The Friends of Exeter Cathedral, with the support from the Museums and Galleries commission and Victoria and Albert Purchase Grant fund and is one of several documents that will be included in a workshop on Historic Wills in the Cathedral Archives on Tuesday 29 October.