The Smugglers' City
Department of History, University of Bristol


Updated:
24-Mar-2003

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Probate Inventory of William Tyndall M.P., 1 January 1559

Source: Transcribed by Elizabeth England (2003)
Manuscript: University of Bristol, Special Collections, DM 127

This manuscript was transcribed by Elizabeth England, while preparing her third year Undergraduate Thesis 'Snapshots from the Grave: William Tyndall; Life as Shown through a Probate Inventory'. This was supervised by Dr Evan Jones.

Five metres long, this manuscript is the most detailed probate inventory surviving from sixteenth century Bristol. While most of the original inventory is legible, numerous later notes, presumably added by the executors, are difficult to read. Where the transcription is uncertain, the word is underlined. A glossary is added at the end.


The Inventary of all the
goods Plate Jewelles Dettes
Cattelles and Howsoldstuff

of William Tyndall late of the
Citie and Diocesis of Bristoll
Decessed takyn Valued & presed
By William Jones merchant John
Snygg marchant Nicholas Shee
Marchant and William pottell
Clothemaker the First day of
January in the yere of our lorde
God a thowsande fyve hundrethe
Fiftie and eight

 

In the hall

 

+Inprimis vii panes Smale and greate

viiis

+Item one long table burde with a frame

vis viiid

+Item one long forome

xvid

+Item a shorte table burde with a frame

iis

+Item hangynge of grene saye

iiis iiiid

+Item xii Joyned stooles

viiis

+Item cobert

iiiis

+Item ii peire of Almenrevettes

xls

+Item v glayves

vs

+Item a peire of Awndyrons

iiis

+Item a basyn and an Ewer of tyn

iiis iiiid

+Item iiii floure pottes

viiid

Suma

£iiii vs iiiid

 In the cownter
Joyninge to the hall

 

+Item vii loves of Sugur

ls

+Item broken Sugur in a bagge

xvs

+Item iiii holbardes

iis viiid

+Item iii bowes

iiiis

+Item a Sheffe of Arrowis

xvid

+Item ii glasen lantarnes

iis vid

+Item ii halfe hakes [added 'the ship sould them']

vis viiid

+Item ii bagges of ginger one
conteyninge in weight iii pters
£x the other iii pters £xviii which
amountethe iC iii pters besides
the bagge



£xix xiis

[added ? 'trip wen 1/4 las mon li baggs & all']

 

Suma

£xxiii xiiiis iid

In the parlor

 

+Item a frame table a forme & vii stooles

xxviiis

+Item a little frame foldinge table

iiis iiiid

+Item iiii Luxborne chaires

xvis

+Item v cusshions

iis viiid

Item the drapery about the parlor
Item a portall and doores


£x

+Item iiii olde carpettes

iis

Suma

£xii xiis

In the buttry

 

+Item ix chargers

xiiis vid [added '2']

+Item xiii platters

xiiis[added '4']

+Item one plate

xiid

+Item xii potyngers

viiid [added '4']

+Item xi potege dishes

vs vid [added '6']

+Item xviii sawcers

iiiiv vid [added '6']

+Item ii bole basyns

iis iiiid

+Item a basyn and an ewer

iis

+Item a great laver

iis

+Item iii pnte pottell pottes

vis viiid [added '1']

+Item ii pnte quarte pottes

iis [added '1']

+Item i pnte pynte pott

viiid

+Item ii ale pottes on a quart the other a pynte

viiid

+Item xv candelstyikes

xs viiid [added '3']

+Item ii spice morters with a pounder

iiiis

+Item a holy water pott & a strayner of latten

xiid

+Item iii chafynge dishis

iiis iiiid [added '1']

+Item iii dosen of trenchers

iiid

+Item one grater with iiii grates

iid

+Item ii mock awndyrons of latten

vs

Item ii bottels of lether

viiis

Item ii twigg bottes

vid

+Item viii floure pottes

iis viiid

+Item vi smale floure pottes

xviiid

+Item iii table knyves with their case 

iiis

Suma

£iiii xiiiis xiid

In the kytchyn

 

+Item vii pannes smale & grete

xxs

+Item a latten basyn

xiid

+Item xii Crockes small and greate

£iii

+Item ii posnettes

iis

+Item ii chafernes and ii pankyns

vis iiiid

+Item one small kettell

xiid

+Item a Shipp kettell

iiis iiiid

+Item ii frynge pannes & a drippynge pan

xvid

+Item ix brochis  [added '/ viii brochis/']

vis viiid

+Item ii peire of pofhoke & ii hangynge

xvid

+Item ii yrons

vid

+Item ii rackes and a peire of cobbarnes

iiis iiiid

+Item i paire of dogges ii peire of tonges
+and a fyer slyce


iis

+Item a fleshe hoke a tostynge yron
+a stonen morter & a choppynge knyfe


xiid

+Item a parynge yron a stand & a paile

vid

+Item a barge a busshell & a peck

xiid

+Item a trendell a joyned stoole a here seve

vid

Item a Crane of yron in the chymney

vs

Item a cubb for pultry

xiid

Suma

£v xviis xd

In napery

 

+Item a dosen of diaper napkyns of damaske work

xiis

+Item v dosen of burdeux napkyns

xxs

+Item ix fyne napkyns clowded

iis

+Item iii dosen of diaper napkyns

ix

+Item ii dosen et di of yrishe clothe

vs

+Item vi olde napkyns

vid

+Item iii bread napkyns of dowles

vis

+Item a longe table clothe & a short one of damask work

xs

+Item ii table clothes and ii towelles of diaper

vs

+Item ii table clothes and a towell of holand

xs

+Item vi table clothes of dowles

xiis

+Item iiii table clothes of canvas

viiis iiiid

+Item ii newetable clothes of fyne canvas

vis

+Item viii towelles iiii of dowles iiii of canvas

iiiis

+Item xxiii paire of shete xii of dowles xii of canvas

£iii vis viiid

+Item iiii curse pillowberes

iis

+Item iiii fyne shetes ii of holand & ii of callicow

xxxs

+Item vi fyne pyllowberes with seames of sylke

xiis

+Item iiii broad napkyns

xs

+Item a coverpayne & ii towelles of diaper

iiiis

+Item vi shirtes iiii of dowles & ii of holand

xiiis iiiid

Suma

£xii viis xd

In the chappell
Chambre

 

+Item the stayned clothes

vis viiid

+Item iii chestes

xs

+Item a seler and curtens of saye

vis viiid

+Item ii brushis

viiid

+Item a sworde a hanger & a dagger
['added, illegible comment '...gooe a gyft']

xxvis viiid

+Item a bedstede

vs

+Item a luxborne chayer

vs

Suma

£iii viiid

In the myddell
Chambre

 

+Item a trussynge bedd & a trocle bedd

xiiis iiiid

+Item vi pere of stayned clothes

vis viiid

+Item a spruce chest

xxs

[Added: illegible comment
+Item iiii curtens of buckeram

iis

Item a presse for clothes

xiiis iiiid

+Item vi small cofyrs
[Added comment 'res v coffers']

viiis

Suma

£iii iiis iiiid

In the broade
Chambre

 

+Item one olde chest

xxd

+Item ii lyttell table bordes

vs

+Item a chaire  of yron & a close stoole

viiis

+Item iiii curtens of bokeram

iis

+Item a standynge bedstede

xiis

+Item v fetherbedes v bolsters & v pillowis

£iiii

+Item iii coverletes

£iii

+Item ii old kenerletes & ii peire of blancketes

xvs

+Item a carpett

xliiiis

+Item a cobert clothe of calicowe peynted 

iiis

[added 'Item x boltes of canvas']

[illegible]

Suma

£xlii xs viiid

In the clothe loft

 

Item the hangynge of mattes

iis

+Item a chest and a cradle

iiiis

+Item a thowsand trynney naettes

xs

+Item ii bedstedes & a trocle bedd

xs

+Item an olde fetherbedd and an olde
flockbedd and iii yryshe Rugges


xs

+Item iii olde letherne cusshions

iiid

Suma

xxxvis iiid

his Apparell

 

+Item a scarlet gowne faced with black damaske

£iii

+Item ii doblettes sleved with black satten

xvis

+Item ii coates [added '/had    for me/']

xxs

+Item ii jackettes of clothe

vs

+Item a cassoke of wosted [added 'answeryd /']

vs

+Item jacket of tawny chamblet

xs

+Item a jacket of black chamblet

xs

+Item ii fustian dobletes

vs

+Item iiii peire of hoosen [added 'ii geven']

xs

+Item ii clokes [added 'Robert per for them']

xs

+Item a black velvet jacket [added 'answeryd']

xxs

+Item a tawny damask doblet
with tawny sleves of velnet cutt


vis viiid

+Item a gowne of puke facid with
bugges and lyned with lame


xxvis viiid

+Item a gowne of puke lyned [added 'h swen']
with white lame and facid with bugges


xxs

+Item another gowne of puke furred with lame

xiiis iiiid

+Item a Somer gowne faced with black damask

xxs

+Item an olde jackett of clothe garded
withe black velvet


iis

+Item a spanyshe poche of krymsen velvet

vs

+Item iii cappis

vs

+Item a night capp of velvet

xiid

Suma

£xiii xs viiid

In the Seller
under the hall

 

+Item ii tones of oyle

£xxxviii

Item iii hoxedes of vynyger

xls

+Item lxxxx chesys

xvs

+Item ix empty barelles

iiis

Suma

£xl xviiis

In the garden
house

 

+Item a shorte Frame table

iiis iiiid

Item drapery and benchis

xs

Suma

xiiis iiiid

In the Seller
afore Streate

 

+Item a butt of Seck

£v

+Item di a pype of cute

£v

+Item vii Seck buttes & pypis & one hoxed

iiis vid

+Item v pece of resons

xxvs

+Item a presse to presse clothes

xxvis

Suma

£xii xiiiis vid

In marshe Streate

 

+Item a stock of planckes conteynynge
vii planckes Shettes and all beinge iiC xlvi foote


xiis

+Item another Stock of vi planckes
conteynynge iiC foote


xiis

+Item ii Stockes of planckes of xxvi
planckes conteynynge viC foote

xxxvis

+Item xiii planckes more conteynynge
iiC and a halfe

xiis vid

Suma

£iii xiis vid

In the store house
apon the key

 

Item one fyr planke

iiis iiiid

+Item a Shipp called the margaret withall
her takelynge abylymentes & ordinannces


iiC markes

+Item halfe a barke called the katheryne
with thappertenannces therunto perteynynge


£xv

+Item a lighter

£x

+Item a Shipp boate
[added 'which chamberlane must answer for this']

£iii

Suma

£Clxi xs

In the Shopp of
the keye pype

 

+Item iii tonns of yron

£xxx

Item pytche and Rasonne to the value of
[added: illegible comment]

£x

Item a peire of scalis & a beame
and iiiC weight in leade and a half
[added: illegible comment]


xls

Suma

£xlii

In plate

 

Item a nest of gylte goblettes with a
+ cover wayinge iiiixx unces at vis an unce
& a gylt Salt with a cover wayinge xx unce 



£xxx

+Item a standyng cupp parcell gylte
and an ale cupp with cover parcell gylt
and xxiiii Sponis at iiiis viiid the unce



£xii iis viiid

+Item a flatt white pece wayinge
xix vucis at iiiis iiiid the unce


£iiii iis iiiid

+Item a maser and a nutt gylt with the ii
Shettes wayinge in the hoale xxx unces


£vi

+Item iii Crewsis of Stone covered and
footid withe Sylver loble gylt beinge
in gage for



xxs

-Item iii old cuppis of sylver percell gylt waying xliii unces
[illegible comments added]


£x xiiid

Suma

£lxiii vs viiid

   

+Item in Redy mony

£Clxxxvi xvis iid

In the parsonage
At lyttelton

 

+Item a weye of wheate

lvis

+Item halfe a weye of Barly

xxs

+Item halfe a weye of oates

xiis

+Item ii quarters  of beanes

xvis

+Item the heye

xls

+Item a geldynge the prise

£iii

+Item a nagg the prise

xiiis iiiid

+Item a Cowe whiche is in bristol

xxs

Suma

£xi xviis iiiid

In the Cownter

 

[added line '+Item x boltes of horn pase']

£vi

+Item vi Reames of papur

xs

+Item ii papur bokes

xs

[illegible]

£vii

[added: illegible comment]

 

In the house wherin
johan olde dwellithe

 

Item a table with ii trestylles

iiis iiiid

Item a rounde table

xxd

Item drapery in the parlor

xs

Item saies Redd & grene

vs

Item a presse & a bedsteade

viiis

Item the Sylynge in the chambre

vs

Suma

xxxiiis iiiid
['iiii' crossed out]

Detts Pers by the ______ [illegible]

 

In primis for a butt of seck & lxxxxviii bushells
sallt


£xxii iis ixd

Itm recs of the sword beares wyffe for a rynge

£l xvis xd

Itm of wyllyiam plevy of tewsbery

£viii

Itm of william Handcoke Baker

£ii xviis iiid

Itm of Samson amersley for rentt

£i vis viiid

Itm of Edward persons by his bill

£x vxs vid

Itm of patrick of rippley

xis viiid

Itm of erumdale for rent

vis viiid

Itm recs of thomas Redward and deapt

£i vis viiid

Itm recs of richard Careyk for rent

xvis

Itm recs of thomas asbuche of ludlowe

£ii

Itm of richard uppwillams bysis bill

£ii vis iiiid

Itm recs of James murley of London

£xxvi

Itm recs of my lady Baynton

£x

Itm recs of mychell of beymynham

£xix iis iiiid

Itm recs of Olyver Bryks

£xx xvis

Itm recs of water tayler of ludlowe

£iiii

Itm recs of christoffer Price

£iii xs

 

£XXiCxxxvii viiis viiid

Suma totalis as aperith 

£viiC lxxi iis vid

William Tyndall
wherof moche are
desperat

 

Item Thomas Tazon owithe

£ix xd

Item Thomas whetley of coventry

-------

-Item gylbart Robartes

xxxs

-Item Arthur Smythe

£ix vs

-Item william balard owithe

£xlix

-Item John Thomas tayler owithe

£xviii xiiis iiiid

Item Thomas hobbes maryner

£ii vs

Item Roger Ambler of welles

£xv xs viiid

Item MasterJohn Banam

iiiis

Item Thomas gregory of laffordes gate

xxs

-Item John hiskockes of Sodbery

£v

Item nicholas weykes esquier

£iiii iis id

-Item Thomas Smythe of Sodbury

£iii xiis

+Item John ball vintener [to left inscription 'E.n.']

£iii xs

Item Richard Sherche fyshmonger

xxviiis iid

Item John prynne owithe

xxxviis vid

Item Silvester woode of Dowster

£v xixs vd

++Item william Colmer of Bremicham

£xxxviii iis vid

Item Thomas mastall of webley

£vi

-Item harry walton cardemaker

xxs

Item Thomas Typper tucker owithe

xs

Item william myrryck tucker

xvis iiiid

Item william mashe tucker owithe

£ii vis viiid

Item more for woode

£ii

Item patrike gunghe owithe

£iiii

Item gregory williams wever

£ii vis viiid

+Item george cornishe of batcombe [illegible comment]

£vi xiiis

+Item John cornyshe clothier of batcombe

£ii xiiiis

+Item walter george of batcombe

£ii xis

-Item william venabulles of Saint tyvis

£ix iis viiid

+Item Thomas lucas dyer owithe [added to left 'E.n.']

£ii xiiiis

Item John kurvis merchant

£vii xs

Item william Symons

£ii xiiis iiiid

Item John faye grocer

xxiiiis viiid

-Item Thomas wekes gens

xxxs xd

Iem davy williams [added 'fenether in wales']

xixs id

Item John harther merchant

xvs

Item Fraunces Codryngton

xxvis viiid

Item Syr Thomas Swetta parson of Syston

xxvis viiid

Item Robert Ashe merchant of Bristoll

£v xxd

Item Master Wekes esquire

£ii iiiis

Item william hykocke maryner

£ii xs

+Item Robert lowes of the christofer [to left 'r']

£ii

Item Edward tynle owithe

xs

Item william blaston merchant owithe in leade

£iC & xxxviii

Item maude harrys wydowe

xxiiis iiiid

Item edmad smythe of yate

£v xxiid

Item Roberte corry of portbyrry

xxvis viiis

Item Robart white coferer

xxiiiis

Item Thomas sheward draper owithe

xxxis vid

Item Robert yonge merchant owithe

xxxs

Item nicholas parvy

£xi viiis iiiid

Item master Thomas Sylk canon

£iiii iis vid

-Item John corbet maryner

£ii xiis iid

Item Thomas chester

xvs

Item william barret

xxvis

Item Alexander Case merchant

xxviis vd

Item John galle of Eston maryner

£ii

Item Edward welche hoper

xvis

Item Thomas Donne hoper

vis viiid

Item Richard clarke of petherton

£ii xiiiis vd

Item Richard Direck of beryngton

xxxiis

+Item John bocher of cowly [added 'Cwsse']

£iii xiiis vid

+Item nicholas morton Roper

iiiis xd

Item Richard pynson of sodbery

ixs viid

Item John hart of chorchyll

xxiiis vid

Item John snygg merchant owethe
wherfor his Ringe lyethe to gage


xs

Item davy dryll coferer

xs viid

Item Robart Butler merchant

£xv xvs xd

++Item Master michell of Bremycham

[ deleted, 'iiiis id']

-Item katheryne hamlyn owithe

£ii xs

Item harry erell of sherhampton

£vi vis

Item Thomas castell

£ii

Item John griffythe tayler

£v

Item John stanger of warmester

£iiii vis viiid

+Item Lady baynton owithe

[deleted ]

Item Thomas palmer

£iiii viiis viid

Item lady gmonthy of bronck

£vii

Item Richard gybbes of Brigwater

£viii

Item Frances Firkett

£xiii vid

Item Thurston palid of bewdeley

xxiiiis id

Item Richard wallyn brewer

£iiii

Item John stranger of warmister

£viii xviis vid

++Item James olde vintener owithe

£ii xiiiis

Suma

£CCClxxxxix xviiis iiiid

   

[signed]
By me William
Johnes
John Snyg
By me william pottell
Nicolas Shee

 

Glossary

ALMENREYETTES Almain rivets - a light armour originally from Germany made with moveable plates.
AWNDYRONS Handirons, large fire-dogs or cobirons having hooks at various levels from which cooking spits were supported over a fire.
BARGE A barge-board, a panel, often ornamented, attached to the outside rafter of the roof.
BROCHIS A spit
BUCKERAM. Buckram; a coarse cloth of linen or hemp, stiffened with size or glue, used in garments to keep them in the form intended, and for wrappers to cover merchandise. It was also used for wearing apparel.
BUGGES Budge a type of expensive lamb's wool.
BURDEUX Bordeaux
BUSSHEL Grain measure equal to 8 gallons
COCKET A receipt given for money received by customs officers
CROCKES Crock - commonly a small earthenware pan although in south-west England the word also applied to metal pots. Modern term 'crockery'.
CHAFYNGE DISHIS Chafing dish - dish fixed above a small transportable brazier and used for keeping food hot. The ancestor of the modern hot-plate.
CHAFERNES See chafing dish
CRANE OF YRON Chimney-crane; a rectangular bar of iron moving on a pivot fixed to the back of a fireplace for the purpose of suspending cooking vessels over the fire.
CUBB Bin
CHARGER Meat-dish.
COBBAROUS Cob iron - long bars with hooks used for supporting a cooking-spit over a fire. They rested at an angle at the back of the fire place and the ends of the spit were placed on two of the hooks.
CLOWDED Clouted, a piece of cloth containing a certain number of pins or needles.
COFYRS Wooden box or chest used for storing clothes and other valuables. More specifically - 'money box'
CALLICOW Fine cotton cloth
COBERPAYNE Cob iron, long bars with hooks on which spits were turned.
CASSOKE Cassock
CHAMBLET A camel hair cloth mixed with wool, silk and cotton, and having a watered appearance.
CUTE Sweetened new wine
DIAPER Twilled linen cloth usually woven with rhomboidal or other geometric figures; mainly used for napkins, table cloths or towels.
DICKER Ten hides
DAMASKE Rich silken fabric originally made in Damascus but later applied to figured materials of wool, linen or cotton. In particular, a twilled linen fabric figured in the weaving with designs shown up by opposite reflections of light from the surface often with patterns of flowers and animals and used chiefly for table draperies.
DIAP See 'DIAPER'
DI A half
DOGGES Fire-dogs or andirons.
DOUGH TROUGH Circular tray or trough in which dough was mixed before baking
DOWLES Coarse type of calico which took its name from the town of Daoulas in Brittany
DOBLET Doublet. Close fitting jacket or tunic.
EWER A ewer / container.
FACTOR A merchant's agent or representative abroad
FRAME Legs and cross-rails of a table which were always appraised independently from the flat top or board.
FOROME A bench.
FORME A bench
FLESH HOKE Flesh hook - long bar with two or three hooks on one end. Used for getting meat out of a pot or cauldron.
FUSTIAN Cloth with a linen warp and a cotton weft.
GELDYNGE A castrated horse
GLAYVES Glaive a type of polearm.
HERE CEVE Hair-seive or SEARCH
HOLBARDE Or 'holberd' being a combined battle-axe and spear
HOXEDE Measure of ale, beer or cider containing 54 gallons, as a wine measure it contained 52½ gallons
HOOSEN Fitted tights covering the lower part of the body, supported on top with puffed material covering the upper thighs and waist often slashed and branded.
JOYNED Jointed by the use of mortice and tenon joints. This demonstrates a new development in woodwork technique.
JOYNED STOOLE Jointed by the use of mortice and tenon joints.
KENERLETE Coverlet, or sheet
LAYER Laver, a stone washing basin.
LUXBORNE Lisbon
LATTEN Latin - alloy of copper and zinc similar to brass.
LAME. Lamé, a rich fabric with gold or silver threads.
LIGHTER A small ship
MORCERS WITH A POUNDER Pestle and mortar.
MASER (MAZEREEN) Pie-plate
NAGG A small horse
ORDINANCE Weaponry of shipping for example guns or artillery.
PIPE Half a tun, 126 gallons
PORTALL Portal - a moveable corner-cupboard.
PLATTER Large flat plate or dish of wood or metal occasionally glass.
POTYNGER Pottage dish, dish or bowl with ear shaped handles for making porridge or soup.
POTEGE See POTYNGER.
POTTELL Pottle, a small pot containing 4 pints.
POSNETTES Small metal cooking pot with a handle and three short feet which enabled it to stand on a fire. Forerunner of the modern saucepan.
PANKYNS. Earthenware.
POFHOKE Probably pot hooks.
PAIKES A pick similar to an andiron.
PARYNGE YRON Trimming knife.
PYLLOWBERE Pillow-case
PECK Two-gallon container for dry goods.
PUKE Dirty brown colour, one of only a few colours made in England, during one time in the year 1522 by the order of King Edward VI.
POCHE Pouch or purse
PARCELL A considerable quantity of anything.
WEYE Measure of thirteen to fourteen stone
PAPUR Paper
QUARTE , QUARTER Eight bushels of wheat or 28 lbs of Spanish iron, or QUARTON 31½ gallons of wine.
RESONS Raisins
SAIES (SAY) Fine serge, a material made of twilled worsted
SALT Salt-cellar
SAYE Fine serge, a material made of twisted worsted.
SEARCH Seef with a fine hair mesh.
SEARGE A twilled worsted cloth
SECK 'Sack' wine
SEEF Sieve
SELER Container
SERK Serge. Material made of twilled worsted.
SLYCE Fire shovel used particularly for getting the ashes out of a baking oven. The end was shaped like a spade or 'paddle'.
SPRUCE A name given to items originating in Prussia.
STAYNED CLOTHE Painted cloth used as a wall-hanging, being cheaper then tapestry
SYLYNGE Ceiling, notable for its wood panelling.
TRENCHER Trenchar - a wooden platter.
TRENDELL Alternative name for a DOUGH TROUGH or a kiving vate.
TROCLE BEDD [TRUNDLE BED] Low bed on casters which could be put away beneath a high standing bed during the day time
TRUSSYNGE BEDD Made of TRUSSERS
TRUSSERS Strong heavy benches or tables.
TWIGG Made of twigs or wicker-work.
WEY Six quarters of wheat / 48 bushels
WOSTED Worsted cloth


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