The Malpas Family
Elizabeth (Malpas) Cooke
Philip Malpas
Julyan (_____)
Malpas
Thomas
Cooke
Elizabeth is left bequests in the will of her father, Philip Malpas, dated
26 April 1469, held at The
National Archives (PROB 11/5/419).
Illustrations
of Jack Cade’s Rebellion pp8-11 (Benjamin Brogden Orridge,
1869)
Το Elizabeth
his daughter, the wife of Sir Thomas Cooke, Knt., he bequeaths 500 marks
of the 1000 marks, 100l., and 30l., of “ferme,” which the
said Sir Thomas was indebted to him, &c.; and to each of the four
sons of said Sir Thomas and Elizabeth be bequeaths 100 marks more of the
said amount owing him, each to have his part when he arrived at the age
of twenty-one years, with provision for remainder in event of their
respective decease.
... To
Sir Thomas Cooke and Elizabeth his wife he bequeaths all his great place
in which he was then dwelling, &c. situate in Cornhill and Lime
Street in the parish of St. Andrew Cornhill, &c., &c. He also
bequeaths to the said Thomas and Elizabeth all his lands and tenements
in the parish of St. Andrew Eastcheap; his shop in Bridge Street, in the
parish of St. Magnus; and all his lands and tenements, &c. in the
parishes of St. Olave and St. Mary Magdalen, in Southwark; to have and
to hold to them, and the heirs of their bodies, &c; provided always,
that in case the heir of John Tychborne will buy and have those lands
and tenements in Southwark, &c., and that he will pay for the same,
&c. 100l., then the said heir of John Tychborne, on payment
of said 100l., to have again the same lands, &c. To John
Foster and Johanne his wife (the daughter of Sir Thomas and Elizabeth
Cooke) he bequeaths all that his tenement called the “Cok,” lying in and
on the north side of Cornhill, in the parish of St. Peter, and in ward
of Lime Street, with remainder in default of heirs, &c. He also
wills that the said Sir Ralph Jocelyn, knt. have and hold for his life
the manor of “Chaldewell,” in the county of Essex, &c., and after
the decease of Sir Ralph the said manor to remain to Sir Thomas and
Elizabeth Cooke for term of their lives, and after their decease to
remain to Philip their son and his heirs, &c., with provisions for
remainder in default of heirs, &c. He also bequeaths to Sir Thomas
and Elizabeth Cooke, for term of their lives respectively, his place
called “Belle hous,” and the place called “Appultons,” “Porters’ ffee,”
and “Boyeles,” in the county of Essex, with all his meadows, &c. at
Stratford Langthorn, which he had before assigned and delivered to the
said Sir Thomas Cooke, the same to remain after the decease of said Sir
Thomas Cooke and Elizabeth his wife unto Thomas, William, and John,
their sons, each taking his third part, &c., &c.
Twice, when her husband was arrested, Elizabeth was removed from her home,
and commanded to live with the mayor.
The New Chronicles of England and France p656-7
(Robert Fabyan, reprinted in 1811 from Pynton's edition of 1516)
Anno Domini. M.iiii.C.lxvii.
sir Thomas
Cook, late maier, which before was pechyd of treason by a seruaunt of
the lorde Wenlokkis, called Hawkyns, and at the request of the sayd lady
Margarete, vpon suertie sufferyd to go at large, then was arrestyd and
sent vnto the Tower, and his goodes seasyd by the lorde Riuerse then
tresourer of Englande, and his wyfe put out of his house, and commytted
to the charge of the mayer, in whose place she laye a season after.
p662
EDwarde
the. iiii. before named, began agayne his domynyon ouer the realme of
Englande the. xiiii. daye of Apryll, in the begynnynge of the yere of
our Lorde. M.CCCC.lxxi.
... Whan kynge Edwarde hadde thus subduyd his enemyes, anone he sent
quene Margarete vnto London, where she restyd a season, and fynally she
was sent home into her countre. And the goodes of sir Thomas Cook agayne
ceasyd, and his wyfe put forth, and cōmaundyd to be kepte at the mayers.
Elizabeth received many bequests in the will of her husband, Thomas Cooke,
dated 15 April 1478, proved 1 June 1478. Some of it is on condition that she
does not "vex or annoy his executors".
Illustrations
of Jack Cade’s Rebellion pp17-20 (Benjamin Brogden Orridge,
1869)
... After his
burial and all his debts paid, he bequeaths the residue of all his
goods, &c. &c., whatsoever, to be divided into three equal
parts. The first part to Elizabeth his wife, the other part to Philip
his son, and the third part to be equally divided between John and
William his sons, when they arrive at the age of 24 years ... The
residue of his said dwelling place from the day of his month’s mind to
remain to Elizabeth his wife for term of her life, with remainder after
her decease to his son Philip, &c. To his wife Elizabeth he also
bequeaths for term of her life his “grete place,” with tenements and
appurtenances, in the parish of St. Margaret Lothbury, and also his
place called “grene gate,”* &c., in the parish of St. Andrew
Cornhill, on the condition that the said Elizabeth, nor any one on her
behalf, do not vex or annoy his executors, &c., with reference to
the distribution of his property, and after her decease the same to
remain to Philip his son ... He also bequeaths to John Forster and
Johanne his wife (whom he describes as his daughter) all those his
tenements which sometime belonged to John Maldy, &c. in the parish
of St. Olave, against the Bridge House in Southwark, and after the
decease of Elizabeth his wife all those his tenements, &c., in the
parish of St. Swithin, in London,
... To John his
son and his heirs he bequeaths all that his great place called the Swan
in Brentwood, in the county of Essex, and all other his tenements,
lands, &c., in the town and parish of Brentwood. The said John to
have, to him and his heirs, after decease of Elizabeth his wife, all
that his manor of Belhouse and his places called “Morells” and
“Boyeles,” and his lands called “Tyleherstes,” &c., in the county of
Essex; and also all his rent of assize and quit rent called Porter’s
Fee, in the county of Essex, with provision for remainder in event of
John dying without heirs. To William his son and his heirs, when he is
of lawful age, he bequeaths all his places and tenements in the town of
Colchester, in the county of Essex; and also his fishing wears within
the Colne Water, between St. Osyth’s and Colchester; also all that his
beer-house between the “Forthe of Stratford Bow and Stratford
Langthorn,” in the parish of Witham, in the county of Essex; also all
his messuages and tenements in the parish of Eastham. And to the said
William and his heirs, after the decease of Elizabeth his wife, he
bequeaths his place called “Appultones,” &c. in the parish of
Chigwell: also all his meadows, &c., in Stratford Langthorn,
&c., which late belonged to Philip Malpas
* Inherited from Philip Malpas.
Dictionary
of National Biography vol 12 pp94-5 (Leslie Stephen, 1887)
COOKE, SIR THOMAS (d.
1478), lord mayor of London, was the son of Robert Cooke, of Lavenham in
Suffolk, by Katherine his wife. ... Cooke, though in sympathy with the
Yorkists, married Elizabeth, daughter and coheiress of Alderman Philip
Malpas, one the leaders of the Lancastrian party within the city. By her
he had one daughter and four sons, of whom Philip, the eldest,
afterwards knighted, was born in 1454.
... While awaiting his trial in the Tower his effects, both at his
town house and at Gidea Hall, were seized by Lord Rivers, then treasurer
of England, and his wife was committed to the custody of the mayor.
The Essex Review vol 20 pp201-8 (1912)
THE COOKES OF GIDEA HALL
BY
STEPHEN J. BARNS.
PART I.
... Malpas was expelled from the Court of Aldermen and Horne
‘comytted to warde.’ On the second day after Cade’s entrance into the
City the premises of these two eminent supporters of the Lancastrian
party were plundered. Fabyan’s account is that he went into the house of
Philip Malpas, draper and alderman, robbed and spoiled his house, and
took thence a great substance, but the draper was forewarned and thereby
conveyed away much of his money and plate, or else he had been undone
‘At which spoyling were many poore, redy to do harme’ There seems little
reason to doubt that Malpas received this friendly ‘forewarning’ from
Thomas Cooke, who at the time was courting his daughter Elizabeth, and
who naturally was averse to any distribution or spoiling of his future
father-in-law’s goods in which he did not share.
In 1453, three years after Jack Cade’s rebellion, Thomas Cooke
was elected Sheriff of London. About this time he must have married
Elizabeth Malpas, for in 1454 his son, Philip, named after his
father-in-law, was born.
... Thomas Cooke ... was at first
admitted to bail, but then re-arrested and sent to the Tower his effects
seized by Lord Rivers, then Treasurer of England, and his wife committed
to the custody of the Lord Mayor. Being brought to trial at the
Guildhall, he was acquitted, but was sent notwithstanding to the Bread
Street Compter, and from thence to the King’s Bench, where he was kept
until he had paid £8,000 to the King, and £800 to the Queen. Upon
release his wife found his house ‘in very evil plight, for the servants
of Lord Rivers and of Sir John Fagge (then under treasurer) had made
havoc of what they listed. Also at Gidea Hall, Essex, they had destroyed
the deer in his park, his conies and fish, and spared not brass, pewter,
bedding nor all they could carry away; for which never a penny was
gotten back in recompense.’ On 21st November, 1468, Sir Thomas Cooke by
the King’s command was discharged from his office of alderman, but
reinstated in October 1469.
Philip Malpas, his father-in-law, died in 1469. In his will,
dated 26th April and proved at Lambeth 8th May 1469, he bequeaths to
Elizabeth his daughter, the wife of Sir Thomas Cooke, Knt., 500 marks of
the 1,000 marks 100li and 30li of ‘ferme’ which the said Sir Thomas was
indebted to him, and to each of the four sons of the said Sir Thomas and
Elizabeth he bequeaths 100 marks more of the said amount owing him.
... To Sir Thomas Cooke and Elizabeth his wife he also bequeaths all his
‘great place’ in which he was then dwelling, situate in Cornhill and
Lime Street, in the parish of St. Andrew, Cornhill, and all his lands
and tenements in the parish of St. Andrew, Eastcheap; his shop in Bridge
Street in the parish of St. Magnus, and all his lands and tenements in
the parishes of St. Olave and St. Mary Magdalen, in Southwark. To John
Foster and Johanne his wife (daughter of Sir Thomas and Elizabeth Cooke)
he leaves his tenement called the ‘Cok’ on the north side of Cornhill,
and to Sir Ralph Jocelyn Kt. (his other son-in-law) his manor of
Chaldewell in Essex for life, with remainder to Sir Thomas and Elizabeth
Cooke, for their lives, and after their demise to Philip, their son, and
his heirs. He also bequeaths to Sir Thomas and Elizabeth Cooke, for
terms of their lives respectively his place called ‘belle hous’ and the
places called ‘Appultons,’ ‘Portersffee,’ and ‘Boyeles’ in the county of
Essex, with all his meadows, etc. at Stratford Langthorn, which he had
before assigned and delivered to the said Sir Thomas Cooke, the said to
remain after the said Sir Thomas Cooke and Elizabeth his wife, unto
Thomas, William and John, their sons, each taking his third part.
... King Edward returned in April, and Sir Thomas Cooke taking with him
his eldest son, fled for France, but was taken prisoner by a ship of
Flanders, and after being kept in prison there for many days, was
delivered up to King Edward. His goods were again seized, and his wife
put forth, and no doubt before regaining his liberty he was once more
heavily fined.
November 1484
Elizabeth's will was dated 15 November 1484, and proved on 23 November 1484.
In her will, Elizabeth requested to
be buried in the church of the Friars Augustine, London, England, beside the
tomb of her husband.
The will of Dame Elizabeth Coke dated
15 November 1484, and proved on 23 November 1484, is held at The
National Archives (PROB 11/7/165).
In the name
of god Amen the xviij day of November the year of our lord
m°CCCClxxxiiij And the seconde year of the reigne of King Richard the
iij I Dame Elizabeth Coke late the wyff of S Thomas Cok knyght daughter
and heyr of Philip Malpas late citezyn and draᵱer of london in full mynd
and ??? Will make and ordeyn my present testament and my last Will in
forme folowing First I bequeth my soule to almyghty god and lady saint
mary And all the company of hevyn my body to be buried at the ffrers
Austene of london by side the tombe of my good husband Also I will that
John Coke John Vavisour svant of the late John Foster esquyre Robert
Morton gentleman and John deVale and all other feoffes of and in all the
manors lordshippes and tenements wt their apputenances ??? of
??? ??? ??? and ??? with all their appurtenences of the which they stand
joyntly and severally feoffed and ??? ??? lying in the Countes of Essex
??? London Sussex and Chess?? which late were my said father Philipp
Malpas and Julyan his Wiffe my mother and eyther of them or Any of them
or to their use or unto ??? feofees to the use and behofe of me duryng
my lyffe naturall And after my decese to the use and behoff of John Coke
my son and to the heyres of his bodye lawfully begotyn For default of
yssue of the body of the said John Coke to the use and behoff of John
Forster esquyer my son in law and Johane my daughter his wiffe and to
the heyres of their two bodyes lawfully begotyn For default of such
yssue to the use and behoff of my said daughter Johane and to the heyres
of her body lawfully begotyn And for default of such yssue of the said
Johane that then all the said manors lordshippes landes and ??? ??? of
??? with the apputenances above rehersed be disposed by the advyse of
myn executors Also I will that my svant John deVale ??? ??? ??? and ???
have for time of hys liff after my decese the best of my two shoppes
lying and being in bridgstrete of London wtin the parish of
Saint Martyn? and saint margarete? notwithstanding my Will remaynder
aforsaid And after his decese to remayne according to my Will aforsaid
in forme aforsaid and of this my present testament I ordeyn and make myn
executors John Coke my son John Forster esquyer my son in law and Johane
my doughter his wiff and John deVale In the presence of John Forster
clerk parson of saint Peter the poor Robt Morton gent Thomas Hol?? ???
??? and others
Calendar of the Patent Rolls 1476-1485 p520
(1901)
1485. Jan.
8.
Westminster.
Commission to Robert Percy, knight, William Ryder, ‘gentilman,’
William Scotte, esquire, Roger Phylpot, Richard Higham and William
Nynge to enquire what lands Elizabeth Coke, widow, tenant in chief,
late the wife of Thomas Coke, knight, held in the county of Essex,
what they are worth, on what day she died, and who is her heir, and to
take the lands into the king’s hands.
- Stated in her will at National
Archives, Kew (PROB 11/7/165); Dictionary of National Biography vol 12 p94
(Leslie Stephen, 1887); The Essex Review vol 20 p201
- Stated in her will at
National
Archives, Kew (PROB 11/7/165); Dictionary of National Biography vol 12 p94
(Leslie Stephen, 1887); The Essex Review vol 20 p205
- Elizabeth's will, held at
the
National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/7/165), was dated 15 November
1484, and proved on 23 November 1484
- As requested in
Elizabeth's will, held at the
National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/7/165)
- Elizabeth Malpas
Julyan (_____) Malpas
Philip Malpas
Julyan is named in the will of her husband, dated 26 April 1469 (The
National Archives (PROB 11/5/419)), in which she is described as
deceased.
Illustrations
of Jack Cade’s Rebellion pp7-11 (Benjamin Brogden Orridge,
1869)
By his
will, dated 26th April in that year, he describes himself as Philip
Malpas, merchant, citizen and draper, of the city of London, &c.
After the usual bequest of soul to Almighty God, the blessed Virgin,
&c., he desires his body to be buried in the parish church of the
Holy Apostle St. Andrew, upon Cornhill,‡ of which parish he describes
himself a parishioner. To the high altar of the same church he leaves
for offerings forgotten, &c. 20s.; and to the body of the
same church for his burial there, &c., 10 marks. He also wills that
a priest be provided to read and sing divine service daily in the said
church for two years next ensuing after his decease, for his soul, the
soul of Julian his late wife, and the souls of their fathers and
mothers, and Philippa his daughter, late the wife of Sir Ralph Jocelyn,
Knt., &c.
‡ Now known as St. Andrew Undershaft, Leadenhall Street.
She is also named in the will of her daughter, Dame Elizabeth Coke, dated 15
November 1484 (The
National Archives (PROB 11/7/165)_.
I Dame Elizabeth Coke late the wyff of S Thomas
Cok knyght daughter and heyr of Philip Malpas late citezyn and draᵱer of
london ... will that John Coke John ??? ??? of the late John Foster
esquyre Robert Morton gentleman and John deVale and all other feoffes of
and in all the manors lordshippes and tenements wt their
apputenances ??? of ??? ??? ??? and ??? with all their appurtenences of
the which they stand joyntly and severally feoffed and ??? ??? lying in
the Countes of Essex ??? London Sussex and Chess?? which late were my said
father Philipp Malpas and Julyan his Wiffe my mother and eyther of them or
Any of them or to their use or unto ??? feofees to the use and behofe of
me duryng my lyffe naturall
Julyan was deceased by the time of her husband's will, dated 26 April 1469 (The
National Archives (PROB 11/5/419))
Philip Malpas
Julyan
Draper, Alderman and Member of
Parliament
Philip was sheriff of London in 1439-40, and represented the City in the
Parliaments of 1432 and 1442. He was an alderman for Lime Street Ward from
1448 to 1450. In his will, Philip describes himself as "merchant, citizen
and draper, of the city of London".
The Aldermen of the City of London, Temp. Henry
III.-1908 p244 (Alfred Beaven Beaven, 1908)
REJECTIONS
OF NOMINATIONS BY THE COURT OF ALDERMEN.
...
2 .. February 22, 1448 .. .. Lime Street
[T. Beaumond, ex-Sheriff Malpas, W. Dere,
C. Warter, (“because it doth not seem that everyone of the aforesaid
persons is fit for the office aforesaid”)]
p174
LIME
STREET WARD.
April 1, 1448 [Sworn same day.] Philip Malpas, Draper ..
.. .. (S. 1439-40.
Elected in accordance with the King’s recommendation.
[Nominated: T. Beaumond, W. Dere, C. Warter]
The nomination of the same persons with Malpas had been rejected
by the Court, February 22, 1448 (Journal 4, fo. 208 b).
Discharged on petition of the Common Council, June 26, 1450
(Journal 5, fo. 38 b).
p271-2
ALDERMEN
OF LONDON IN PARLIAMENT.
...
1432
(Return dated March 10).
JOHN GEDNEY [Coleman Street]
WILLIAM MELRETH [Broad Street]
John Levyng, Ironmonger.
Philip Malpas.
1442
(Elected January 15).
SIR WILLIAM ESTFELD
[Cripplegate]
John Bowys, Recorder.
Philip Malpas.
William Cottesbroke, Grocer.
The robbery of Philip Malpas by Jack Cade during his rebellion in 1450 was
recorded by Robert Fabyan.
The New Chronicles of England and France p624
(Robert Fabyan, reprinted in 1811 from Pynton's edition of 1516)
And the
capitayne, the selfe same daye, went vnto the hous of Philip Malpas,
draper and alderman, and robbyd and spoyled his house, and tooke thens a
great substance; but he was before warnyd, & therby conueyed moche
of his money & plate, or ellys he hadde ben vndone. At whiche
spoylyng were present many poore men of the cytie, whiche at suche tymes
been euer redy in all places to do harme, where suche riottes been done.
p638
Duryng
which treaty, dyuerse cytezyns auoydyd the cytie and lande, amonge the
whiche, Phylyp Malpas, whiche, as before is shewyd in the. xx. and.
viii. yere of this kynge, was robbyd of Iacke Cade, whiche Malpas and
other was melte vpon the see with a Frensheman namyd Columpne, & of
hym taken prysoner, and after payed, iiii. thousande marke for his
raunsome.
Some particulars of Alderman Philip Malpas, and
Alderman Sir Thos. Cooke, K.B. pp3-6 (Benjamin Brogden
Orridge, 1868)
Philip Malpas,
Draper, was Sheriff of London in 1439-40, and represented the City in
the Parliament of 1441. A search made by me in the civic archives has
disclosed some curious facts relative to his election as an Alderman. On
the 26th February, 1448 (26th Henry VI.), the Commonalty of the Ward of
Lime Street presented to the Court of Aldermen Philip Malpas and three
other persons, one of them, according to the custom of the time, to be
chosen to be Alderman of that Ward; but the nomination was rejected
because the Court of Aldermen affirmed that they wore all unfit for the
office! It may be inferred from this decision that the majority of the
Court of Aldermen were, even at that early period, opposed to the
Lancastrian interests, and therefore desired to exclude Malpas from
their body. If it were so, their opposition to him was rendered nugatory
by the personal intervention of the King; for on the 1st of April
following, it is recorded that, “on contemplation of divers Royal
Letters, upon the fitness, and special recommendation of the person of
the said Philip Malpas, to the Mayor and Aldermen directed, the same
Philip Malpas was elected by them as Alderman of the said Ward, and
sworn, as is meet,” &c.; but the following salvo is added to the
entry, viz.: “So that this admission of the aforesaid Alderman be in no
wise held as an example to expel the Mayor and Aldermen for the time
being in future from the liberty to elect any Alderman whomsoever,”
&c.
About two years after this election, the insurrection under the
command of Jack Cade took place, which appears to have been originally
designed to promote the interests of the York faction, in opposition to
the Lancastrian party, to which Malpas evidently belonged; and it is in
connection with this outbreak that we meet with the name of Thomas
Cooke, Draper. In the 5th Vol. of Dr. Hook’s “Lives of the Archbishops
of Canterbury” (p. 162) Cade is described as an unknown Irishman, who,
in order to give a political significance to the insurrection, assumed
to be Sir John Mortimer, brother to the Earl of March. His bearing, it
is said, was princely, and to a commanding figure he added “a pregnant
wit.” He had served in the French wars, and was well qualified to act
the part of a demagogue. The main object of the insurrection (Dr. Hook
says, pp. 163, 165) was not a change of dynasty, but to effect such a
change in the ministry as would place the Court under the control of the
Yorkists. “Jack Cade encamped on Blackheath, between Eltham and
Greenwich, on the 1st of June, 1450. Here, while he subsisted his people
by pillaging the country, he opened a communication with the City,
styling himself the Captain of the Commons. All business was transacted
in an orderly manner. Passports were duly signed, and Thomas Cooke,
of London, Draper, was constituted the Captain’s agent. He was
required to tax the foreigners—the Genoese, Venetian, and Florentine
merchants. They were to be duly convened, and were required to supply
‘us the Captain’ with 12 harnesses of the best fashion, 24 brigandines,
12 battle-axes, 12 glades, 6 horses, with saddle and bridle completely
harnessed, and a thousand marks in ready money. That the demand was met
is inferred by Stow from the fact that when the rebels entered the City
no foreigner was molested.” The documentary proofs of these facts are to
be found in Holinshed’s Chronicles.
It may be assumed that Cooke had previously attained a position
of some influence and note in the City; for he was one of the four
Wardens of the Drapers’ Company in 1439, when they obtained a Charter of
Incorporation from Henry VI., and a Grant of Arms from Garter King of
Arms.
We are told by the chronicler that Cade and his followers were
admitted into the City with the concurrence of the Court of Common
Council, who were too much divided to withstand him. After
committing several murderous acts, he on the second day wreaked his
vengeance on Alderman Malpas and Alderman Horn (who had opposed his
admission). Fabian’s account is that he “went into the house of Philip
Malpas, Draper and Alderman, and robbed and spoiled his house, and took
thence a great substance; but he was before-warned, and thereby conveyed
much of his money and plate, or else he had been undone.”
Whether or not Malpas owed this friendly warning to Thomas Cooke
does not appear, but one thing is clear, that very shortly afterwards,
the daughter of Malpas is known to have been the wife of Cooke, and that
her son, who was named after her father, Philip, was born in 1454, the
year after Cooke’s shrievalty.
The next trace we have of Alderman Malpas is in the year 1461,
when, notwithstanding the battle fought at St. Alban’s left the
Lancastrian party victorious, the young Duke of York, being favourably
received by the Londoners, assumed the regal authority of Edward IV.
During this state of insecurity (according to Fabian, p. 638) “divers
Citizens avoided the City and Land, among the which, Philip Malpas,
which, as before is shewed, was robbed of Jack Cade, which Malpas and
others were met upon the sea with a Frenchman, named Columpne, and of
him taken prisoner, and after paid four thousand marks for his ransom.”
How long Malpas survived this calamity is uncertain, as the date
of his death is not known. Stow, however, states that he was buried in
the Church of St. Andrew Undershaft, which is within the Ward of Lime
Street, of which Ward it will be remembered he was the Alderman. The
house in which he lived, and where he was robbed by Cade, was in the
same Ward, and was known by the name of the “Green Gate.” To this
account of Malpas may be added the following statement of his charities,
as mentioned by Stow, viz.: “He gave by his testament £125 to relief of
poor prisoners, and every year for five years 400 shirts and smocks, 40
pairs of sheets, and 150 gowns of frieze, to the poor. To 500 poor
people in London, every one 6s. 8d.; to poor maids’ marriages 100 marks;
to highways 100 marks; 20 marks a year to a graduate to preach; £20 to
preachers at the Spital, on the three Easter holidays,” &c.
The Essex Review vol 20 pp201-8 (1912)
THE COOKES OF GIDEA HALL
BY
STEPHEN J. BARNS.
.... It is evident that the
Corporation of the City of London were more than favourably inclined to
the Yorkists, for the Court of Aldermen in 1448 rejected the nomination
for alderman, by the Commonalty of the Ward of Lime Street, of Philip
Malpas, draper, who had served the office of Sheriff in 1439 and
represented the City in the Parliament of 1441. His name was presented
with three others, but the court affirmed that all were unfit for the
office, the object being to exclude Malpas, who was known to be
favourable to the Lancastrian interests. The King personally intervened,
and as a consequence of the Royal letters Malpas was elected an Alderman
and duly sworn, but did not retain the office long:
‘At a Common Council held the 26 June, 1450 a petition was
presented from the Commonalty that Philip Malpas should be exonerated
from his office of alderman, and the request of the petitioners was
conceded to them.’
... Malpas was expelled from the Court of Aldermen and Horne ‘comytted
to warde.’ On the second day after Cade’s entrance into the City the
premises of these two eminent supporters of the Lancastrian party were
plundered. Fabyan’s account is that he went into the house of Philip
Malpas, draper and alderman, robbed and spoiled his house, and took
thence a great substance, but the draper was forewarned and thereby
conveyed away much of his money and plate, or else he had been undone
‘At which spoyling were many poore, redy to do harme’ There seems little
reason to doubt that Malpas received this friendly ‘forewarning’ from
Thomas Cooke, who at the time was courting his daughter Elizabeth, and
who naturally was averse to any distribution or spoiling of his future
father-in-law’s goods in which he did not share.
... Fabyan, who, describing the state of insecurity following
this action, says
‘Dyuerse cytezyns auodyd the cytie and lande, among tke whiche
Phylyp Malpas which as before is shewyd was robbyd of Jacke Cade, whiche
Malpas and others were mette vpon thesee with a Frensheman naymd
Columpne, and of hym taken prysoner, and after payed iiij. thousand
marke for his ransom.’
That Thomas Cooke had something to do with this maritime adventure, or
was thought to have had, is made clear by a reference in Malpas’s will,
quoted hereafter;
1469
Philip's will was dated 26 April 1469, and proved on 8 May 1469.
In his will, Philip requested "to be
buried in the parish church of the Holy Apostle St. Andrew, upon Cornhill"
which church was later known as St. Andrew Undershaft, Leadenhall Street.
dated 26 April 1469, and proved at
Lambeth on 8 May 1469, held at The
National Archives (PROB 11/5/419).
Illustrations
of Jack Cade’s Rebellion pp7-11 (Benjamin Brogden Orridge,
1869)
We may
infer, from the date of his will and the time when probate was granted,
that Malpas died either the latter end of April or the beginning of May
1469.
By his will, dated 26th April in that year, he describes himself
as Philip Malpas, merchant, citizen and draper, of the city of London,
&c. After the usual bequest of soul to Almighty God, the blessed
Virgin, &c., he desires his body to be buried in the parish church
of the Holy Apostle St. Andrew, upon Cornhill,‡ of which parish he
describes himself a parishioner. To the high altar of the same church he
leaves for offerings forgotten, &c. 20s.; and to the body of
the same church for his burial there, &c., 10 marks. He also wills
that a priest be provided to read and sing divine service daily in the
said church for two years next ensuing after his decease, for his soul,
the soul of Julian his late wife, and the souls of their fathers and
mothers, and Philippa his daughter, late the wife of Sir Ralph Jocelyn,
Knt., &c. He also bequeaths to each of the poor householders in the
parish of St. Andrew 6s. 8d. to pray for his soul, and to
the most needful poor people of the said parish, every week for five
years next after his decease, 6d.; and every year for five years
after his decease, he directs wood and coal to the value of 100s.
to be purchased and distributed among the poor of the said parish; and
to every poor householder of the said parish of St. Andrew, once every
year for five years, 2s. to pray for his soul. To the Prioress of
St. Helen’s he bequeaths 20s.; and to “Dame Alice Woodhows,” nun
there, 20s., and also to every other nun professed in the same
house 6s. 8d. to pray for his soul. To relieving the poor
people in the Hospital of “Bedelem” without Bishopsgate he bequeaths 100s.
&c.; also 5 marks for making a window of glass in the church of the
priory of St. Mary Spittal, “late brent;”* and 100s. to be
bestowed in linen and woollen clothes for the poor people in the same
spittal. To the repair of the highway without Bishopsgate 5 marks, and
the highway without Aldgate 100s. To the poor people in the lazar
houses of the “loke”† at Kingsland and St. Giles without London, to each
house he bequeaths 40s.; and to the poor almspeople of his craft
or fellowship of Drapers, being in their almshouses, yearly, during five
years next after his decease, 40s. To his brethren the
Commonality and Fellowship of the same craft he bequeaths “a stonding
cup co͠ued of sil͠u and gilt.” To the reparation of Rochester Bridge 40s.
And every year for five years, in bread to the poor prisoners in
Newgate, Ludgate, the King’s Bench, and Marshalsea, he bequeathed 25l.
He also leaves yearly for five years 400 shirts and smocks, 40 pairs of
sheets, and 150 gowns of frise to be distributed among the most needful
poor people in and about the city of London. To the marriage of poor
damsels in the city of London, “of good name and fame,” 20 marks yearly
for a term of five years, to be distributed as 40s. to each. He
also bequeaths 20 marks yearly for five years to making of highways
where most needed; and 6s. 8d. each to 500 poor
householders in London, to pray for his soul. He also desires that there
be found of his goods a priest, “a good honest man, graduat in Scoles,”
to go about for a year to preach the Word of God devoutly to the people,
exhorting them to pray for his soul, &c., and for his salary to have
20 marks, &c. He also bequeaths 20s. yearly to be prayed for
at St. Mary Spittal, the three preaching days in Easter week, during
twenty years next after his decease; and he further desires his soul to
be prayed for every Sunday at Paul’s Cross during a term of ten years.
Το Elizabeth his daughter, the wife of Sir Thomas Cooke, Knt., he
bequeaths 500 marks of the 1000 marks, 100l., and 30l., of
“ferme,” which the said Sir Thomas was indebted to him, &c.; and to
each of the four sons of said Sir Thomas and Elizabeth be bequeaths 100
marks more of the said amount owing him, each to have his part when he
arrived at the age of twenty-one years, with provision for remainder in
event of their respective decease. Then follows a very curious passage,
which I give verbatim:—
“Also where as it hath been demed and surmysed by the said
sir Thomas Cooke heretofore þat I the said Philip Malpas was the cause
of tarying and taking of the goodes of the said sir Thomas Cooke, which
were takin in a Ship which I was in vppon the see, whan I last passed
o͠ver the see, I the said Philip Malpas, for myn acquitall and discharge
in that behalf, say and declare verely vpon my conscience þat I was
never the cause of suche said tarying or taking of the said Ship and
goodes of the said sir Thomas Cooke therin, and that the same
Ship with goodes was never so taried nor takyn in my cause or defaute,
as I woll answer vnto God.”
This no doubt refers to the matter mentioned by Fabyan, and
quoted in p. 6, in which it appears Malpas was taken prisoner by a
Frenchman named Columpne.
But, to proceed with the will, he bequeaths to “Maister
John Chambre,” clerk, 10l.; to “Robert Chambre,” 20l.; and
to Thomas Ram, whom he describes as his “suster’s doughter’s sonne,” he
bequeaths 46l. 13s. 4d.; and to each of the three
sisters of the said Thomas Ram on their marriage he leaves 60l.
&c. To Robert Brykkesworth, his servant, 40l. and one of his
best “bourd” clothes, one of his best towells, and 100 marks of the best
debts that are owing to him. He also bequeaths to John Brandon his
servant 20 marks; to John Cary, his servant, 10 marks; to “Johanne” his
servant 40 marks; and to Elizabeth his other servant 20l.; and to
each of the same Johanne and Elizabeth so much of his best “sil͠͠u
wessell” as will amount to 10l.; and to the same Johanne and
Elizabeth, to be evenly divided between them, all his “beddyng and
napery,” and other clothes of his household linen and woollen, &c.
except such parcels thereof as his executors should like to divide
between the said Robert Brikkesworth and Thomas Ram “oute of” his “grete
standard chiste, beyng in” his “grete chambre and except” his “gownes
and the ffedder bed of” his “bed in the said grete chambr, and the grete
matras thereof, with co͠ulit, celour, testo’, and curteyns of the same
bed, and the crosters hanging aboute the same chambr, with the Standard
bed and Standard chest for the said Chambr þat nowe ther stonde, willing
alle the same stuf shall remayne and belef to the said place; the said
Johanne to have first choice of such goods. To Thomas Michell his child
he bequeaths 10 marks, to be delivered to him when of the age of 21
years, &c. To “Thomas Alyn’” his cook 10 marks, and “alle the
Vessell and necessaries longing to” his “Kytchyn, of peautre and bras,
Iren, treen, and stonen remeveable.” Of his gownes furred and lined he
desires John Brikkesworth to have two thirds, and the remaining third
part to be sold, and the money received for same to be expended for the
good of his soul. To “Ka͠tyn” the daughter of William Denton, to her
marriage, he bequeaths 5 marks; and to John Foster and Johanne his wife,
to either of them, “a cup of siluer co͠ued,” &c.; and to “maister
Thomas Eboralle” he bequeaths 10l. and “a cup co͠ued of sil͠u and
gilt, and a potell potte of siluer.” To John Lucy, haberdasher, dwelling
in “Powles Chirchawe,” he bequeaths 5l.; to Thomas Marsburgh,
bowyer, 20s.; John Bird, chaundler, 20s.; and Thomas,
servaunt with “maister Adam,” 6s. 8d. He further desires
that . . . . Compton, of “Brkynsfeld,” a poor blind man, have 10s.
yearly for life. To Sir Ralph Jocelyn, knt. he bequeaths 100 marks; and
to Thomas Fermory, 20l. The residue of all his goods, debts,
&c. after all his debts paid and his will fulfilled, to be disposed
in deeds of alms and charity for his soul, &c.; and he makes and
ordains Sir Ralph Jocelyn and Thomas Fermory his executors.
To James Smith, fishmonger, and Johanne his wife, the sister of
the before-mentioned Thomas Ram, he bequeaths and grants an annual rent
of 40s. for term of their lives, out of a shop situate in Bridge
Street, in the parish of St. Magnus, &c. To Sir Thomas Cooke and
Elizabeth his wife he bequeaths all his great place in which he was then
dwelling, &c. situate in Cornhill and Lime Street in the parish of
St. Andrew Cornhill, &c., &c. He also bequeaths to the said
Thomas and Elizabeth all his lands and tenements in the parish of St.
Andrew Eastcheap; his shop in Bridge Street, in the parish of St.
Magnus; and all his lands and tenements, &c. in the parishes of St.
Olave and St. Mary Magdalen, in Southwark; to have and to hold to them,
and the heirs of their bodies, &c; provided always, that in case the
heir of John Tychborne will buy and have those lands and tenements in
Southwark, &c., and that he will pay for the same, &c. 100l.,
then the said heir of John Tychborne, on payment of said 100l.,
to have again the same lands, &c. To John Foster and Johanne his
wife (the daughter of Sir Thomas and Elizabeth Cooke) he bequeaths all
that his tenement called the “Cok,” lying in and on the north side of
Cornhill, in the parish of St. Peter, and in ward of Lime Street, with
remainder in default of heirs, &c. He also wills that the said Sir
Ralph Jocelyn, knt. have and hold for his life the manor of
“Chaldewell,” in the county of Essex, &c., and after the decease of
Sir Ralph the said manor to remain to Sir Thomas and Elizabeth Cooke for
term of their lives, and after their decease to remain to Philip their
son and his heirs, &c., with provisions for remainder in default of
heirs, &c. He also bequeaths to Sir Thomas and Elizabeth Cooke, for
term of their lives respectively, his place called “Belle hous,” and the
place called “Appultons,” “Porters’ ffee,” and “Boyeles,” in the county
of Essex, with all his meadows, &c. at Stratford Langthorn, which he
had before assigned and delivered to the said Sir Thomas Cooke, the same
to remain after the decease of said Sir Thomas Cooke and Elizabeth his
wife unto Thomas, William, and John, their sons, each taking his third
part, &c., &c.
This will was proved at Lambeth, the 8th day of May, 1469.
‡ Now known as St. Andrew Undershaft, Leadenhall Street.
* Burnt.
† Lock.
The Essex Review vol 20 pp201-8 (1912)
THE COOKES OF GIDEA HALL
BY
STEPHEN J. BARNS.
... Philip Malpas, his father-in-law, died in 1469. In his will, dated
26th April and proved at Lambeth 8th May 1469, he bequeaths to Elizabeth
his daughter, the wife of Sir Thomas Cooke, Knt., 500 marks of the 1,000
marks 100li and 30li of ‘ferme’ which the said Sir Thomas was indebted
to him, and to each of the four sons of the said Sir Thomas and
Elizabeth he bequeaths 100 marks more of the said amount owing him.
There is also the passage before referred to, which runs:
‘Also whereas it hath been demed and surmysed by the said sir
Thomas Cooke heretofore that I the said Philip Malpas was the cause of
the tarying and taking of the goodes of the said sir Thomas Cooke, which
were taken in a Ship which I was in vppon the see, when I last passed
ouer the see. I, the said Philip Malpas, for myn acquittall and
discharge in that behalf, say and declare verely vpon my conscience that
I was never the cause of suche said tarying or taking of the said ship
and goodes of the said sir Thomas Cooke therin, and that the same ship
with goodes was never so taried or taken in my cause and defaute, as I
woll answer vnto God.’
To Sir Thomas Cooke and Elizabeth his wife he also bequeaths all
his ‘great place’ in which he was then dwelling, situate in Cornhill and
Lime Street, in the parish of St. Andrew, Cornhill, and all his lands
and tenements in the parish of St. Andrew, Eastcheap; his shop in Bridge
Street in the parish of St. Magnus, and all his lands and tenements in
the parishes of St. Olave and St. Mary Magdalen, in Southwark. To John
Foster and Johanne his wife (daughter of Sir Thomas and Elizabeth Cooke)
he leaves his tenement called the ‘Cok’ on the north side of Cornhill,
and to Sir Ralph Jocelyn Kt. (his other son-in-law) his manor of
Chaldewell in Essex for life, with remainder to Sir Thomas and Elizabeth
Cooke, for their lives, and after their demise to Philip, their son, and
his heirs. He also bequeaths to Sir Thomas and Elizabeth Cooke, for
terms of their lives respectively his place called ‘belle hous’ and the
places called ‘Appultons,’ ‘Portersffee,’ and ‘Boyeles’ in the county of
Essex, with all his meadows, etc. at Stratford Langthorn, which he had
before assigned and delivered to the said Sir Thomas Cooke, the said to
remain after the said Sir Thomas Cooke and Elizabeth his wife, unto
Thomas, William and John, their sons, each taking his third part.
Philippa (Malpas) Jocelyn
Philip Malpas
Julyan (_____)
Malpas
 |
|
Ralph Jocelyn
Drawing of a portrait of Sir Ralph Jocelyn that used to be in a
stained glass window in the church at Aspenden, Hertfordshire
|
|
|
Ralph Jocelyn
Stained glass window in Holy Trinity church, Long Melford,
Suffolk, depicting Ralph Jocelyn
|
Ralph Jocelyn
Ralph was the son of Geoffrey Jocelyn, of Hide Hall, Sawbridgeworth,
Hertfordshire, and Katherine, daughter of Thomas, Lord Bray. He was a
draper, mayor of London in 1464 and 1476, and made a Knight of the Bath in
1465. He married, firstly, Margery, probably the widow or daughter of Thomas
Aylesby, and thirdly, to Elizabeth Barley. Ralph died on in October 1478,
and was buried in the church of St Swithin's London Stone, London, in a
"fair tomb" that was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. A
memorial brass for Ralph was erected in his native church at Sawbridgeworth.
Ralph is mentioned in, and was named as an executor of, the will of his
father-in-law, Philip Malpas, dated 26 April 1469 (held at The
National Archives (PROB 11/5/419)).
Illustrations
of Jack Cade’s Rebellion pp7-11 (Benjamin Brogden Orridge,
1869)
He also wills
that a priest be provided to read and sing divine service daily in the
said church for two years next ensuing after his decease, for his soul,
the soul of Julian his late wife, and the souls of their fathers and
mothers, and Philippa his daughter, late the wife of Sir Ralph Jocelyn,
Knt., &c.
... To Sir Ralph Jocelyn, knt. he
bequeaths 100 marks; and to Thomas Fermory, 20l. The residue of
all his goods, debts, &c. after all his debts paid and his will
fulfilled, to be disposed in deeds of alms and charity for his soul,
&c.; and he makes and ordains Sir Ralph Jocelyn and Thomas Fermory
his executors.
... He also wills that the said Sir Ralph
Jocelyn, knt. have and hold for his life the manor of “Chaldewell,” in
the county of Essex, &c., and after the decease of Sir Ralph the
said manor to remain to Sir Thomas and Elizabeth Cooke for term of their
lives, and after their decease to remain to Philip their son and his
heirs, &c., with provisions for remainder in default of heirs,
&c.
The New Chronicles of England and France p655
(Robert Fabyan, reprinted in 1811 from Pynton's edition of 1516)
Anno Domini. M.iiii.C.lxiiii.
... And in this
mayres yere, and begynnynge of the5. v. yere, that is to
saye, ye. xxvi. daye of May, that yere Whytsonday, quene
Elizabeth was crowned at Westmynster with grat solempnytie. At the
whiche season at the Tower, the nyght before the coronacion, amonge many
knyghtes of the Bathe there made, was as of yt company sir
Thomas Cook, sir Mathewe Philip, sir Rauffe Iosselyne, and sir Henry
Wauyr, cytezeins of London, than and there made knyghtes.
A
Survey of London, written in the year 1598 p84 (John Stow,
1842)
The said
parish church of St. Swithen standeth at the south-west corner of this
lane. ... Ralph Jecoline, mayor, a benefactor, buried in a fair
tomb.
Ancient Fvnerall Monvments Within The Vnited Monarchie
Of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Islands Adiacent pp549-50
(John Weever, 1631)
Sabridgworth vulgarly Sabsworth.
... Hic iasent Galfredus Ioslyne & Katherina, ac Ioanna vxor
eius, qui obiit ii Ianuar. M. cccc lxx.
Orate pro anima Radulphi Ioslyne quondam militis, et bis
Maioratus Ciuitatis London, qui obiit xxv. Octob. M. cccc. lxxviii.
This Sir Raph Ioslyne, or Iosceline, was the
sonne of the foresaid Geffrey Iosceline here interred. He was
inuested knight of the Bath with Sir Thomas Cooke, Sir Mathew
Philip, and Sir Henry Weauer, Citizens, at thc Coronation
of Queene Elizabeth, the wife of King Edward the fourth,
in the yeare 1465. The first time of his Maioraltie was in the ycare
1464 the other not long before his death. He was a carefull corrector of
the abuses vsed by Bakers and Victuallers of the Citic of London; and by
his diligence the walls of the said Citie were repaired. This name (as I
was told) doth still flourith in this tract.
Illustrations
of Jack Cade’s Rebellion pp90-2 (Benjamin Brogden Orridge,
1869)
SIR RALPH JOCELYN
Sir Ralph Jocelyn, K.B. citizen and draper, was the son of Geoffry
Jocelyn, of Sawbridgeworth. His first wife was Philippa, daughter and
coheiress of alderman Philip Malpas. He was Sheriff of London in 1458,
Mayor in 1464, and again in 1476. Sir Ralph Jocelyn was made a Knight of
the Bath at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, the consort of Edward the
Fourth, in the year 1465, together with his brother-in-law Sir Thomas
Cooke (mayor 1462), Sir Matthew Philipp (mayor 1463), and Sir Henry
Weever (sheriff 1465). He was M.P. for London, and executor to the will
of his father-in-law Philip Malpas. He was a careful corrector of the
malpractices of bakers and victuallers in the city of London, and by his
diligence the walls of the city were repaired. He died in 1478, and was
buried at St. Swithin’s London Stone. His portrait and that of his
second wife Elizabeth (daughter and heiress to William Berkley) is in
one of the windows of Melford church, Suffolk. It was also at Aspeden
church, Hertfordshire; and H. Chapman, in his Survey of Aspeden Church,
published in 1783, mentions having fortunately made a note of this
portrait in the chancel window on his first visit to the church, for on
going there again a few days after he found the glass broken, but
succeeded in recovering—from the wreck outside—the head unbroken, and
made an accurate drawing of it, an engraving of which accompanies the
Survey, of which the annexed Plate is a fac-simile; he also states that
underneath was the inscription—
pro bono statu Radulphi Jossil.
No record is to be found in the corporation archives of his
election as an alderman.
From an Inquisition post mortem taken at Bekynsfeld, in the
county of Buckingham, 2nd Nov. A.D. 1478, 18 Edw. IV. 1
it appears that by virtue of a certain feoffment Sir Ralph Jocelyn was
with others seized of the manors of Lynchelade and Southcote in that
county, and that he died on the 12th of October then last past, and that
the said manors were valued beyond reprisals at 10 marks.
From another Inquisition post mortem taken at Stratford
Langthorn, in the county of Essex, on Thursday next after the feast of
All Saints, A.D. 1478, 18 Edw. IV. it appears that
Philip Malpas, citizen and alderman of London, was seized in fee of the
manor of Chaldewell, and of certain lands with appurtenances lying in
the parish of Westham, and being so seized, by his charter demised the
said manor and lands to the said Ralph Jocelyn and Philippa then his
wife for the term of their lives and the life of the longest liver of
them, and after their deaths the said manor and lands to remain to
Elizabeth late wife of Thomas Cooke, knt., daughter of the said Philip
Malpas, and her heirs for ever. The said manor was valued at 40 marks
per annum beyond reprisals, and the lands at 40 shillings per annum.
This Inquisition also sets forth that Sir Ralph Jocelyn died on Monday
next after the feast of Saint Edward the King and Martyr last past,
without heirs of his body, and that George Jocelyn his nephew (son of
his brother Thomas Jocelyn,) was found to be his next heir and of the
age of fifty years and more.
Another Inquisition post mortem was taken at Waltham Cross, in the
county of Hertford, on Thursday next after the feast of All Saints, A.D.
1478, 18 Edw. IV., from which we glean, that, before the death of Sir
Ralph, Christopher Chadwyll clerk, rector of the church of Aspeden, and
Roger Morice of the same yeoman, being seized in fee of the manor of
Aspeden Hall, in Aspeden aforesaid, and of certain lands and tenements
situate in the parishes of Buntingford, Layston, Throcking, Widdial,
Wakely, and Westmill, in the county of Hertford, by their charter, dated
at Aspeden, 4th April A.D. 1478, 18 Edw. IV. did demise
the same unto Sir Ralph Jocelyn and Elizabeth his wife, for the term of
their lives, and after their decease to remain to John Say, knight, (who
is stated to have since deceased,) William Barke, and John Clopton
esquires, Thomas Rygby, Robert Molyneux, William Dunthorn, gentlemen,
William Bulstrede, Robert Godewyn pannar’, and Henry Wodecok, and their
heirs and assigns for ever, which is stated to fully appear by the last
will of Sir Ralph as well as by the said charter. Sir Ralph died seized
of the said lands by virtue of this demise, and his wife Elizabeth
survived him and was solely seized of the same; and the said manor was
valued at 20 marks per annum beyond all reprisals, and the lands at 40
shillings per annum. This Inquisition also sets forth that Sir Ralph
died without heirs of his body, and that George Jocelyn, his nephew, was
found to be his next heir.
It is evident from the information afforded by these inquisitions
that the family of Earl Roden does not descend from Sir Ralph Jocelyn.
It is also evident that he did not die intestate; but although a careful
search has been made for his will, it has been without success.
The New England Historical and Genealogical Register
vol 71 pp239-40 (1917)
GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH IN ENGLAND
Contributed by Miss ELIZABETH FRENCH
JOSSELYN
SIR RALPH, Knight, b. at
Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts; d. s.p. 25 Oct. 1478; m. (1) MARGERY
――;§ m. (2) PHILIPPA MALPAS, who was
living 28 Jan. 1450/1, when her husband bought the manor of Aspenden
Hall, co. Herts, dau. of Philip, Lord Mayor of London in 1448; m. (3) ELIZABETH
BARLEY, dau. of William or Henry of Aspenden, co. Herts.
Elizabeth (Barley) Jocelyn m. (2) Sir Robert Clifford of Brakenborough,
Knight, third s. of Lord Clifford, and d. between 1 May 1525 and 20 July
1526. The church at Long Melford, co. Suffolk, contains a fine, old,
stained-glass window representing Sir Robert Clifford, his wife
Elizabeth, and her first husband, Sir Ralph Jocelyn. Sir Ralph is first
of record in 1433, as of Aspenden, being mentioned as one able to spend
£10, perhaps in anticipation of a royal loan. He was a member of the
Company of Drapers of London, was elected alderman from Cornhill Ward 29
Nov. 1456, was master of the Company of Drapers in 1457-8, sheriff in
1458-9, auditor in 1464, lord mayor in 1464-5, and was created a Knight
of the Bath by Edward IV at the coronation of his queen Elizabeth
Woodville 24 May 1465 He was a member of Parliament for London in 1467,
and was again elected lord mayor in 1476.¶ In his mayoralty Sir Ralph
had the wall of London repaired between Aldgate and Aldersgate and the
Fleet Ditch cleaned. He also corrected the abuses of the bakers and
victuallers. In 1471, in the Wars of the Roses, when the Kentish levies
under Thomas Neville, the Bastard of Fauconbridge, attacked Bishopsgate
and Aldgate, London, in an attempt to rescue Henry VI from his
imprisonment in the Tower, Sir Ralph raised forces and sallying forth,
defeated Neville and his men. From the point of view of public service
he was certainly the most prominent man of the family. He was bur. in
St. Swithin’s Church, London, of which he was a benefactor, in “a fair
tomb,” which was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666.* A memorial brass,
no longer in existence, was erected to his memory in the church at
Sawbridgeworth, co. Herts, bearing the following inscription: “Orate pro
anima Radulphi Joslyne quondam militis et bis Maioratus Ciuitatis London
qui obit xxv Octob. M. cccc. lxxvii.Ӡ Because of this brass some
writers have stated that he was bur. in the Sawbridgeworth church. The
inquisition post mortem on his estate shows that he died seised of the
manors of Lynclehade and Southcote in co. Bucks; the manor of Chadewell
in Chadewell, Thurrock, East Tilbury, and West Tilbury, the manor of
Bursted, and lands and tenements in West Ham, all in co. Essex; and the
manor of Aspenden Hall in the parishes of Buntingford, Layston,
Throcking, Wyddial, Wakeley, and Westmill, and the manor of Anstey, all
in co. Herts; and that his heir was George Josselyn, aged 50 years and
more at the death of the said Ralph, s. of his brother Thomas.
§ Hitherto all writers have agreed in assigning to Sir Ralph
Jocelyn but two wives, Philippa and Elizabeth; but Geoffrey Chittock,
citizen and draper of London, in his will dated 16 July 1478, endows a
chantry in the church of St. Swithin, London Stone, and directs that the
chantry priest shall pray for the souls of Thomas Aylesby, late draper
of London, John and Joan, parents of the said Thomas, Ralph Joscelyn,
Knight, alderman and draper, Margery and Phillip, late wives of the said
Ralph, and Elizabeth, his present wife [and others] this endowment being
made at the instance and request of the said Ralph. (Wills in the Court
of Hustings, vol. 1, p. 584.) Perhaps Margery, first wife of Sir Ralph
Jocelyn, was identical with the Margery, widow of Thomas Aylesby, with
whom and with others, executors of the will of the said Thomas, Sir
Ralph Jocelyn in 1444 and 1446 sued the creditors of the estate of the
said Thomas. (Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1441-1446, pp. 215, 387.) Or
perhaps Margery, the first wife of Sir Ralph, was a daughter of Thomas
Aylesby.
¶ Cf. Beaven’s Aldermen of the City of London.
* Stow’s Survey of London, 1598.
† Weever’s Ancient Funeral Monuments of Great Britaine, Ireland
and the Ilands Adjacent, p. 549.
Philippa was deceased by the time of her father's will, dated 26 April 1469
(held at The
National Archives (PROB 11/5/419))
Illustrations
of Jack Cade’s Rebellion pp7-11 (Benjamin Brogden Orridge,
1869)
He also wills
that a priest be provided to read and sing divine service daily in the
said church for two years next ensuing after his decease, for his soul,
the soul of Julian his late wife, and the souls of their fathers and
mothers, and Philippa his daughter, late the wife of Sir Ralph Jocelyn,
Knt., &c.
before 26 April 1469, the date of her
father's will (held at The
National Archives (PROB 11/5/419)) in which she is mentioned as
deceased.