The Will of Adam of UskAuthor(s): Edward OwenSource: The English Historical Review, Vol. 18, No. 70 (Apr., 1903), pp. 316-317Published by: Oxford University PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/549468 .

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316 THE WVILL OF' ADAM OF USK April

The WT'ill of Adawt of Usk. THE followinig interesting will of the chronicler Adam of Usk is preserved in the Probate Registry, Somerset House (13 Lufinan). It was evidently not known to Sir Edward. Maunde Thompson when he prepared his edition of Adam's chronicle for the Royal Society of Literature (1876). The copy of the Polychronicon which the testator bequeathed to his kinsman, Edward ap Adam, is no doubt that which immediately precedes Adam's own chronicle, now part of the British Museum Additiolnal MS. 10104. The will was proved on- 26 March 1430. EDWARD OWEN.

In Dei Nomine Amen. Vicesimo die mensis Januarii anno domini Mlillesimo ceccco vicesimo nono Ego Adam Usk legum doctor compos et sanus memorie, timens mortis periculum Michi evenire, condo testa- mnentum meum in hunc modum:

In primis lego animam meam Deo et beate Marie Virgini ac omnibus sanctis eius corpusque meum ad sepeliendum in ecclesia parochiali de Usk coram ymagine beate Marie virginis.

Item, lego ecclesie parochiali unum librum appellatum Racionale Divinorum.

Item, lego domino Iohanni vicario de Usk iij s. iiij d. Item, lego cuilibet moniali prioratus de Usk xx d. Itenm, lego fratribus minoribus de Kerdeff unum Trentale, et tantum

fratribus predicatoribus eiusdem ville. Item, lego fratribus Augustinentibuis de Newport unum Trentale. Item, lego ecclesie cathedrali Landavensi iij s. iiij d. Item, lego Edwardo ap Adam consanguineo meo unum librumr

vocatum Policronica. Item, lego Philippo Went c s. Item, lego fratri meo xl s. Item, lego Griffino et I Guyllym xl s. Item, lego Meric ap Ieu[a]n ap M' et uxori sue iiij Ii. Item, lego Iohanne sorori mee xl s. Item, lego Iohanni vab Ior' 2 XXS.

Item, lego iiij filiis dicti Griffini cuilibet illorum unum nobilem. Item, lego domino Griffino Vachan capellano iij s. iiij d. Item, lego domino Iohanni ap Guyllym xl d. Item, lego Thome WVent de Castell Come ' xX s. Item, lego Iohanni ap David ap Griff' xx s., quas sibi accommodavi. Item, lego Thome ap M' v nobiles. Item, lego Wenllyan V3 4 David ap Gr' v nobiles. Item, lego Alic' v3 David ap Gr' v nobiles. Item, lego lor' 2 ap Hopkyn v nobiles. Item, lego M' ap Ior' v nobiles. Residuum vero omnium bonorum meorumn non legatorum lego dicto

lEdwardo et sue dispositioni, quenm ordino facio et constituo ad exequendum -presens testamentum meum executorem.

I Apparently for ' ap.' 2 4 Iorwerth ' ? 3 I.e. ' Cwm.' 4 ' Verch,' daughter.

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1903 THE TWILL OF' ADAM1 OF USK 317

In cuius rei testimonium huic presenti testamento meo sigillum meum apposui. Hiis testibus dicto Iohanne filio Willelmi, Iohanne Bays, et Thoma ap lor', ac multis aliis. Dat' apud Usk die mense annio supradicto.

A Let/er of Sir John Norris, I585.

THE following letter, of which the autograph original is nlow in tile possession of George Pritchard, Esq., of Poole, Dorset, was written by Sir John Norris immediately after his arrival in the Nether- lands, on 24 Aug. 1585. His expedition was prepared for the relief of Antwerp, then besieged by the duke of Parma. But tidilngs of the opening of negotiations for the surrender of the city reached England on 14 Aug., before Norris sailed.' It was rumoured that the burgomaster, St. Aldegonde, had hurried on the capitulation because of his dislike of English help,2 and the refer- ence to him in Norris's letter expresses the general opinion at that moment of the part he was playing. The force under Norris n1 umbered about 4,000 horse and foot, and, as usual, it was said to

be badly provided.3 Ostend and Sluys4 are specially mentioned, perhaps because it was suggested that these towns should be placed in the queen's hands as guarantee for the money she was about to spenid on the campaign. The words italicised in the last paragraph of the letter, originally in cipher, have been kindly written out by Mr. F. H. Blackburne Daniell; but two ciphers remain unsolved. RACHAEL POOLE.

Yt may please yor most Excellent Matie; I haue receaued of late from Mr Secretary Walsingham, certaine

instructions signed wtll yor Highenes gracious hand, for my better direction & procedinge in these seruices; the wch I will carefully endeuor to obserue, & see put in execution from time to time, as shall beste become me to doe; desiring noe thinge more in this worlde, then soe to cary my selfe in this charge committed vnto me, as may be to yor Matieo good liking & contentation.

Since my arriuall here, the Councell established in this towne for the generall states, dealt wth me very earnestly, to place certaine of yor Matie's trouppes wthin the towne of Ostend, being aduertised, that the spaniard mynded to attempte that place very shortely: at the first, not knowing hlow well the same was prouided, to Wth stande the spaniardes attempt, and fearing yf it shold be loste, it might be said they had by violence, wrested it out of yor Maties handes, I refused there demaunde: but after.

I Calendar of State Papers, Spanish, 1580-6, p. 543; Motley, United Netherlands, i. 332.

2 Ibid. p. 264. 3 Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1581-90, p. 261. 4 Motley, United Netherlands, i. 325. The betrayal by sale of the town of Sluy&

was expected on 21 Aug. (Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, p. 261).

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