[1. The testament of Robert Hibburn]

In the name of God, Amen. I, Robert Hibburn, mayor of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne – turning my thoughts to the transitory nature of this world and to the threat of death hanging over me, given that I am sick in body but sound in mind, in which state we cannot cling to our worldly attachments but must look to our future – on 3 August 1415 at the town of Newcastle have set out my testament in the following manner. First, I bequeath my soul to God, the Blessed Mary, and all the saints, and my body to be buried in the church of All Saints of that town, before the altar of the chantry of St. John the Evangelist.

I give and bequeath to my wife Agnes the entire burgage that is my chief tenement with its appurtenances, situated in the town of Newcastle in the street called The Close, on the west side of the tenement of Robert Clyfforth, as per its established boundaries. Agnes is to have and to hold that tenement and appurtenances for the term of her life, from the chief lords of the fee by the services owed therefrom and rightfully due; with the proviso that after Agnes' death, the chief tenement and its appurtenances shall in their entirety remain to my son Thomas and his heirs and assigns in perpetuity, to be held of the chief lords of the fee by the services owed therefrom and rightfully due. I give and bequeath to my son Robert all my lands and tenements (or burgages) with appurtenances that are outside the gate of Sandgate, within the area of jurisdiction and suburbs of that town, as per their established boundaries. My son Robert and the legitimate heirs of his body are to have and to hold of the chief lords of the fee by the services owed therefrom and rightfully due. With the proviso that should it happen that Robert die without legitimate heirs of his body, then all those tenements (or burgages) outside the gate of Sandgate shall in their entirety remain to my son Thomas and his heirs and assigns in perpetuity of the chief lords of the fee by the services owed therefrom and rightfully due. I give and bequeath to my son Roger all my lands and tenements being in the town of Newcastle upon Tyne that I hold in fee from the master and friars of Wall Knoll upon the Quayside or in Pandon, as per their established boundaries. Roger and the legitimate heirs of his body are to have and to hold of the chief lords of the fee by the services owed therefrom and rightfully due. With the proviso that should Roger die without legitimate heirs of his body, then those lands and tenements with appurtenances shall in their entirety remain to my son Thomas and his heirs and assigns in perpetuity of the chief lords of the fee by the services owed therefrom and rightfully due.

I wish that all my goods and moveables, once my debts have been fully paid, be divided. So that one part go to my executors named below, to distribute for my soul, in whatever ways they consider most effective. Another part of the goods is to go to my wife Agnes, as her fair share. And the third part of the goods is to go to all my children named above, as their fair share, the said legacies notwithstanding. I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret £26.13s.4d in cash, provided however that she follow the advice and counsel of my below-named executors, Richard Dalton, and other of her brothers, as to whom she shall marry. If the above-mentioned fair share of the goods that happens to fall to Margaret exceeds the value of £26.13s.4d, I nevertheless wish that Margaret may have her share, if she marries with the approval of the afore-named; with the proviso that under all circumstances the £26.13s.4d be counted as part of her fair share.

The residue of all my goods I give and bequeath to my wife Agnes and my son Thomas to distribute for my soul and the souls of my parents, as they would wish to answer for it before God and his saints, and I appoint, make and name Agnes and Thomas as my executors, to make provision for my soul, and Richard Dalton to be supervisor of this testament. In testimony to which, I have set my seal to this testamentary document. Witnesses: John de Hall, John de York, Richard Willysby chaplain, John Brompton, John Alnewyk, and others.

[2. The testament of John Stokdale]

In the name of God, Amen. On 6 April 1416 I, John Stokdale, brasier and burgess of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne, being of sound mind and having it in mind to go overseas for purposes of commerce, have set out my testament in the following manner. First, I commend my soul to God, the Blessed Mary, and all the saints, and my body to be buried wherever God sees fit. By this document I wish and direct that my kinsmen, John de Wermouth chaplain and William Cayster, and their heirs and assigns, peacefully enjoy tenure and possession of all my lands, tenements, rents, and services with their appurtenances that are in the towns of Newcastle and Gateshead, and elswhere within the See of Durham, according to the terms, force and effect of certain of my charters concerning the same, previously made and delivered to them, without any challenge, claim or dispute from me or my heirs; for the purpose of fulfilling my wishes, as stated to them, concerning the lands and tenements. I wish and direct that the aforesaid John de Wermouth and William peacefully hold and possess all my goods and chattels, wherever they may be – whether on this side of the sea or overseas – as per a certain other document bearing my seal which I previously granted and delivered to them, according to the terms and effect of that other sealed document. Because there are various other goods and chattels, as well as debts, acquired by me subsequent to the issue of my said sealed document, and now in my possession, both on this side of the sea and overseas, I give and bequeath to John and William those goods, chattels and all kinds of debts owed to me from anybody whatsoever. Concerning all those goods, chattels, and whatever debts are now owed to me, by this document I make, appoint, and name John and William my executors, to make arrangements for my soul, as they would wish to answer for it before God and his saints. By this my current testament, I ratify and confirm, and for myself and my heirs approve as mentioned above, the right and possession of John de Wermouth and William in all of the aforementioned lands, tenements, rents and services, and all other goods in my possession at present or granted to them by my other sealed writing, taking into account the grants of possessions and the seisin of lands, tenements, rents and services with appurtenances, and the grant of all goods and chattels wherever they may be via my other previous document. In testimony of which I have set my seal to this testament. Witnesses: Emery Heryng, John Barker merchant, John de Moreton merchant, Robert de Wytton clerk, Robert Fletcher, and others.

[3. The testament of William Esyngton of Newcastle]

In the name of God, Amen. On 15 March 1416 I, William de Esyngton, burgess of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne have made and set out my testament in the following manner. First, I give and bequeath my soul to Almighty God, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints, and my body to be buried wherever God sees fit. I give and bequeath to the high altar of my parish church, for tithes and offerings I neglected, £20. I give and bequeath £30 to the fabric of the church of St. Nicholas in that town. I give and bequeath £3.6s.8d to the fabric of the chapel of St. John in that town. I give and bequeath 13s.4d to each order of friars mendicant. I give and bequeath 6d. to each pauper who is, due to infirmity, confined to bed within the town.

I give and bequeath to my son Nicholas and to the legitimate heirs of Nicholas' body all my lands and tenements, with all their appurtenances, revenues, produce, and easements, however defined, both within the town of Newcastle and outside it. Should it happen that my son Nicholas die without legitimate heirs of his body, then I wish that all those lands and tenements with all appurtenances, revenues, produce, and easements be sold, without any fraud or deceit, and [the proceeds] distributed for my soul and the souls of my wife Alice, our children, and all the faithful deceased, and for the souls of those to whom we owe a special and genuine debt of gratitude – through the performance of both divine services and other pious works, as my executors identified below think most beneficial and effective. I give and bequeath to my son Nicholas all my chief possessions in my chamber, hall, pantry, kitchen, brewhouse, alehouse, and stable, together with all my arms and armour, both offensive and defensive. All the remainder [of my possessions] – that is the utensils – I give and bequeath to my aforementioned son Nicholas, and my alleged sons Henry and William, to be divided equally amongst them. I give and bequeath to my alleged son Henry £40 and to William his brother £40. I give and bequeath to my son Nicholas all my jewels and ornaments for adorning both the head and the body of a woman, together with the bags in which they are kept, which my wife Alice directed should go to our daughters Elizabeth and Ellen in her last will. I give and bequeath £6.13s.4d to my sister Matilda. I give and bequeath £200 for priests to celebrate divine services for the souls of myself, my wife Alice, our children, and all the faithful deceased. As for the residue of all my goods, not otherwise bequeathed above, I give and bequeath it to my son Nicholas, to dispose of for my soul, as seems most effective to him after he has taken good advice.

So that this testament may be faithfully carried out, I make and appoint these as my executors: viz. the aforesaid Nicholas my son, dom. John de Etall chaplain, Richard Forester clerk, and William de Cornford. To which executors, for their labour in seeing the entire testament fulfilled, I give and bequeath £13.6s.8d to be divided equally amongst them, exclusive of all other expenses and costs incurred in carrying out my testament. In testimony to which, I have set my seal to this testamentary document. Witnesses: William Redmershell, John Whyt draper, John Pontfreit cordwainer, John Cosson glover, and others. Drawn up at Newcastle on the date above.

[4. The testament of Roger Thornton senior]

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen. On 22 December 1429 I, Roger Thornton senior, have made and set out my last will and testament in the following manner. That is, I commend my soul to God's mercy and my body to be buried beside my wife in All Hallows church, Newcastle. I wish that every secular priest who attends my interment have a noble to pray for my soul and attend my dirge and coming forth. I wish that £100 be spent and distributed at my interment, at the directions of my son Roger. I give 100s. to the vicar of St. Nicholas' church for forgotten tithes. To the church of St. Nicholas for repairs and ornaments, £26.13s.4d. To All Hallows church for the like, £20. To St. John's church, 4 fothers of lead. To St. Andrew's church, 2 fothers of lead. To the chapel of St. Thomas on the Tyne bridge, 6 fothers of lead. Towards the repair of West Spital, 2 fothers of lead. To the Wall Knoll [friars] for the repair of their church, 2 fothers of lead. Towards the repair of the The Nuns of Newcastle, 2 fothers of lead. To the leper-men of Newcastle, 40s. Towards the repair of Newcastle's Tyne bridge, £66.13s.4d, if the mayor and community will agree to release me from any lawsuits – I who never caused them any problems, nor owe them anything as far as I know, but I desire this [commitment] so as to avoid any controversy. To the Maison Dieu dedicated to St. Katherine, which I founded, £20 for its ornaments. To my chantry dedicated to St. Peter in All Hallows church, £10 for its ornaments. To the chapel of Witton by the water, £4. To every almshouse dedicated to the bedridden in Newcastle, 13s.4d; which is to be part of the amount [assigned] to be spent on my interment. Towards the repair of those tenements that I have given to the aforementioned Maison Dieu and chantry, £10. I wish that 30 priests sing for me, for two years following my death; each priest having as his salary £5.6s.8d. I wish that the £266.13s.4d owed me by the prior and convent of Hexham be spent upon the building of their church, if they will put up satisfactory surety that such will be the use made of it. I give to the house of Blanchland 2 fothers of lead. To Brinkburn, 2 fothers of lead. To Coketland, 1 fother of lead. Towards the repair of Farnland, 1 fother of lead. To the nuns of Holystone, 1 fother of lead. To each of the four mendicant orders in Newcastle, to pray for my soul, £6.13s.4d, to be divided among each friar, at the direction of my son. I wish that the hermit of Newcastle and dom. Henry Fenwyk and dom. Henry Lincoln, priests, be among the 30 priests for 2 years; after those two years, I wish the three to sing for me, each of the two secular priests receiving £5.6s.8d annually and the hermit £4. Up to £66.13s.4d is to be spent on this, if they live that long; failing that, it is to be spent for [the good of] my soul, at the direction of my son. I pardon £30 of the debt that the house of Gisburn owes me (besides the £100 that I have given them at an earlier time), on condition they find a priest to sing for me in their house in perpetuity, as we have agreed upon. I wish that my poor tenants – those who have difficulty paying [their rent] – be pardoned £66.13s.4d, at the direction of my son. I give to the convent of Yarm and the convent of Hartlepool £6.13s.4d each to pray for my soul, to be divided among them [i.e. the residents] at the direction of my son. I give 1 fother of lead towards the repair of the steeple of Durham minster. To every monk of Charterhouse at Mountgrace to pray for my soul, 6s.8d. To every monk of Tynemouth, 6s.8d. To every monk of Whitby, 6s.8d. I give 100s. to dom. Thomas Pityngton, vicar of Hartburn. To dom. John Fenwyk, £10. To dom. William Harwod, 20s. To my servant Margaret "in penny and in pennyworth", £86.13s.4d; also, for her lifetime, the house in Broad Chare in which Nicholas Baxster resides. To Roger Corbet, £4; also, for life, the almshouse of the Maison Dieu, on condition he not reside there. To my servant Hawlay, 40s. To John Gofden, 20s. To my servant Robert Hall, 40s. [pardoned] of the debt he owes me. To John Desburgh, £4 of the debt he owes me. To my former servant Thomas, 6s.8d. To Agnes Hume, 20s. To Agnes Ward, 20s. To Ellen Ward, 20s. To Marion Wan, 20s. To old Gillot, 20s. To Janet Pryddowe, 20s. To Sir Henry Lincoln, 13s.4d. To William Mawe, if he renders account honestly, 20s. To Thomas Gentylman, 20s. To John Tynmouthe, 20s. To Emery Heryng, 100s. To William Desburgh, 100s. To Henry Thornton, 100s. To John Wharnowe, 50s. out of his debt. To Robert Barker, 13s.4d To Thomas Skynner the skinner, 4s. To John Sharp, 15s. To John Moreton, 20s. To William Walker, 20s. To Chirnsid, 6s.8d. To John Felton, his house free [of rent] for his lifetime (he to keep it in repair) and a corrody in St. Katherine's for his lifetime. I pardon John Whelewryght 20s. of his debt. I give 13s.4d to Thomas Croxton. I wish that £40 be at the disposition of my son for the following purpose: if any poor labourer or other person claim any debt that I owe, he may use his discretion in doling the money out to pay them, to remove the burden from my soul, as he will answer to God for it. I give 100s. to Gerard Mitford. To John Robynson of Thornton, if he renders an honest account, 100s. To young John Robynson, his son, 100s. To John Brompton, 40s. To my servant Cok, 20s. To my servant George, 13s.4d. To Margery Corbet, 40s. To Margaret Dalton, 20s. To my servant Alison, 6s.8d. To Robert Killingworth, 13s.4d. All these bequests I wish my son to fulfill, as he will answer to God for it. All the remainder and residue of my goods, moveable and non-moveable, together with all my lands in which I or anyone else in my name or to my use are enfeoffed (except the lands assigned to my Maison Dieu and my chantry), I give fully, freely, and with clear title to my son Roger and to his heirs and assigns in perpetuity. To fulfill this, my last will and testament, I make and appoint that same Roger my son to be my executor, in the presence of dom. John Fenwyk, Emery Heryng, and my servant Margaret, sealed with my own hand on the day and year indicated above.