The West Family

Alyce (_____) West

Married: James West

Children: Notes:
Alyce is mentioned in the will of her son, John West dated 24 July 1517 and proved 18 September 1517, held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/18/550).
Item I bequeath to the parish church of Millington in the countie of yorke where my ffather lyeth buried iij coopes a vestyment a gospell and a pystell of grene satteyn of Bruges thorfrayes redde satteyn of Bruges and to the parishe churche of Everyngham in the said countie where my mother lyeth buried a cope of lyke stuffe and goodes as is before ??? of thother iij coopes Item I wyll that the parishe preest of Millington, where I was borne have the soule of me the saules of James West and Alyce West, my ffadre and mother Sr John Browne John West Elizabeth my wif our childrens soules and all christian soules

Burial: Everingham, Yorkshire, England

Sources:

Bridget (West) Palmer

Father: John West

Mother: Elizabeth (Oliver) West

Married: Robert Palmer

Children: Notes:
Bridget, her brothers John and William, and her parents were left legacies in the will of Anne (Belwood) Browne (mother of Sir William Browne, mayor of London), dated 12 January 1503.
The National Archives PROB 11/14/71 - transcribed by Brian Hessick)
... Item: I bequeath to my cousin John WEST to pray for my soul, a ring of gold of the value of 20s; and to Elizabeth, his wife, another ring of the same value. ... Item: I bequeath to John WEST the younger, William WEST, and Bridget WEST, 20s, that is to say, to every of them 6s 8p.

Bridget is named in the will of her father, John, dated 24 July 1517 and proved 18 September 1517, held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/18/550). This will names her as the "wif of Robt Palmer mercer"
... I gyve and bequeath one equall part or portion thereof unto Elizabeth my wif And an other equall part of portion thereof I gyve and bequeath to my children Wyllyam John James and Katheryn And I will that if the same my childrens part and portions amount and be unto any of thing above the summ of cc marks then the ??? or surplusage thereof shallbe equally ??? and divided betweene my children afore named and Bridgytt their sister nowe wif of Robt Palmer mercer so that of the same surplus the same Bridgytt shall have her just part
... Item I bequeath to any of the persons folowing that is to saye Master Hosyer my cosen Pyke and his wif Master Mundy and his wife Robert Palmer and his wif Wyllyam John and James my sonnes and Katheryn my daughter Wyllyam Colshill Wyllyam ??? and my Brother ??? ?? yardes of blake cloth for a gowne
... Item I gyve and bequeath of my said part and portion unto the said Elizabeth my wif c li in mony And to any of my foresaid children that is to say Wyllyam John James Katheryne and Brygett xxli in mony And I bequeath to Elizabeth Palmer doughter of Robt Palmer ?? li ?? s ?? d. 
   

Robert and Bridget and their son Thomas are also remembered with yards of black cloth in the will of Bridget's stepfather, Sir Thomas Exmewe, dated 6 January 1528(9) and proved on 9 March 1528(9) (National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/23/55). Thomas also bequeathed  "to Maistres Palmer late my wifes doughter another lymned mattens boke covered with blewe velvet." (i.e. an illuminated matins book)

Robert and Bridget are remembered in the will of Bridget's brother-in-law, William Colshill, dated 28 March 1537 and proved 13 September 1540, held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/28/206) " I bequeith to either of Robert Palmer mercer and to his wif a blacke gowne"

Sources:

Catherine (West) Colshill

Father: John West

Mother: Elizabeth (Oliver) West

Married: William Colshill in 1517 or 1518

This marriage had not occurred by 24 July 1517 - the date of the will of Catherine's father, John West, but had occurred by 18 December 1518 - the date of the will of William's mother which mentions his wife.

Children: Notes:
Catherine is named in the will of her father, John, dated 24 July 1517 and proved 18 September 1517, held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/18/550).
... I gyve and bequeath one equall part or portion thereof unto Elizabeth my wif And an other equall part of portion thereof I gyve and bequeath to my children Wyllyam John James and Katheryn And I will that if the same my childrens part and portions amount and be unto any of thing above the summ of cc marks then the ??? or surplusage thereof shallbe equally ??? and divided betweene my children afore named and Bridgytt their sister nowe wif of Robt Palmer mercer so that of the same surplus the same Bridgytt shall have her just part
... Item I bequeath to any of the persons folowing that is to saye Master Hosyer my cosen Pyke and his wif Master Mundy and his wife Robert Palmer and his wif Wyllyam John and James my sonnes and Katheryn my daughter Wyllyam Colshill Wyllyam ??? and my Brother ??? ?? yardes of blake cloth for a gowne
... Item I gyve and bequeath of my said part and portion unto the said Elizabeth my wif c li in mony And to any of my foresaid children that is to say Wyllyam John James Katheryne and Brygett xxli in mony

William and Catherine are left legacies in the will of William's mother, Elizabeth, dated 18 December 1518 and proved 17 June 1519
Somerset Medieval Wills: 1383-1500 p195 (Frederic William Weaver, 1903)
...  To my sonne William Colshill is wif a bee of gold with stonys, and to the said William my two best salts of silver and gilt with the cover and oon of my best stondyng cuppis gilte and chased of oon sorte

William and Catherine and their son Thomas are also remembered with yards of black cloth in the will of Catherine's stepfather, Sir Thomas Exmewe, dated 6 January 1528(9) and proved on 9 March 1528(9) (National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/23/55). Catherine also received "a lymned mattens boke coveryd with crymsyn velvet" (i.e. an illuminated matins book)

Burial: St Stephen Colman Street, London, England
In his will, dated 28 March 1537, Catherine's husband, William Colshill, requests that he is buried in the "church of Saint Stephyn in colmanstrete of London as nigh unto the grave there where the body of katheryne my wif lieth buried as may conveniently be"

Sources:

James West

Married: Alyce

Children: Notes:
James is mentioned in the will of his son, John West dated 24 July 1517 and proved 18 September 1517, held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/18/550).
Item I bequeath to the parish church of Millington in the countie of yorke where my ffather lyeth buried iij coopes a vestyment a gospell and a pystell of grene satteyn of Bruges thorfrayes redde satteyn of Bruges and to the parishe churche of Everyngham in the said countie where my mother lyeth buried a cope of lyke stuffe and goodes as is before ??? of thother iij coopes Item I wyll that the parishe preest of Millington, where I was borne have the soule of me the saules of James West and Alyce West, my ffadre and mother Sr John Browne John West Elizabeth my wif our childrens soules and all christian soules

The following extract incorrectly names John West's father as John West, not James, and his origin as Willington, not Millington, but hopefully the arms described are more accurate.
The pedigree of the ancient family of the Palmers of Sussex p16 (Roger Jenyns, 1867)
John Wesse, of Willington, in Yorkshire, Esquire.
Arms, azure three water bougets two and one or, or a chief of the last three torteaux .

Burial:
Millington, Yorkshire, England

Sources:

James West

Father: John West

Mother: Elizabeth (Oliver) West

Notes:
James is named in the will of his father, John, dated 24 July 1517 and proved 18 September 1517, held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/18/550).
... I gyve and bequeath one equall part or portion thereof unto Elizabeth my wif And an other equall part of portion thereof I gyve and bequeath to my children Wyllyam John James and Katheryn And I will that if the same my childrens part and portions amount and be unto any of thing above the summ of cc marks then the ??? or surplusage thereof shallbe equally ??? and divided betweene my children afore named and Bridgytt their sister nowe wif of Robt Palmer mercer so that of the same surplus the same Bridgytt shall have her just part
... Item I bequeath to any of the persons folowing that is to saye Master Hosyer my cosen Pyke and his wif Master Mundy and his wife Robert Palmer and his wif Wyllyam John and James my sonnes and Katheryn my daughter Wyllyam Colshill Wyllyam ??? and my Brother ??? ?? yardes of blake cloth for a gowne
... Item I gyve and bequeath of my said part and portion unto the said Elizabeth my wif c li in mony And to any of my foresaid children that is to say Wyllyam John James Katheryne and Brygett xxli in mony
... And I will also that after my said wifes decease all that my house and my Lands wt thapputenances ??? Wyllyam ??? ??? Golding and all the ??? and ??? wt their appurtenances shall remayne unto James West my sonne and to his heires forever 

James is named as an executor of the will of his brother, William West, dated 20 July 1518, and proved on 15 August 1518 (National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/19/127)).
... I give and bequeth to John and Jamys my brethren whom I constitute to be myn executours to see my detts paid and to see my funerall expenses contented and to see that my last will fulfilled And I constitute and ordeyn to be overseer of thys my last will my lady my moder And I will that she and myn executours afore rehersed have the ??? of thym a blak gowne     

Sources:

John West

Birth: about 1467, in Millington, Yorkshire, England

John obtained the freedom of the Mercers' Company, by servitude, in 1489 (Records of the London Livery Companies Online). Since apprenticeship was typically seven years and entered in to around the age of fifteen, John was likely born around 1467.

Father: James West

Mother: Alyce (_____) West

Married: Elizabeth Oliver

Children:

Occupation: Mercer
John was a mercer, of London. He obtained the freedom of the Mercers' Company, by servitude to John Browne, in 1489 (Records of the London Livery Companies Online). He was elected an Alderman of London, representing Queenhithe ward, on 23 October 1515 serving until his death in 1517.

The Aldermen of the City of London, Temp. Henry III.-1908 p191 (Alfred B. Beaven, 1908)
    QUEENHITHE WARD
October 23, 1515 [Sworn same day, Present July 14, 1517] John West, Mercer    ..  ..  ..
    [Nominated: R. Symonds, ex-Sheriff R. Smyth, T. Semer]
     The nomination of Aldermen Jenyns and Acheley, ex-Sheriff R. Smyth and R. Symonds had been rejected by the Court on October 19, and that of R. Symonds, ex-Sheriff R. Smyth, R. Dodmer and S. Pecocke on October 22 (Letter Book M, fo. 255; Rep. 3, ff. 51, 52).
     Died about August, 1517.


Notes:
John "and his children" were left a legacy of five marks in the will of Sir John Browne (Aldrman of London and father of Sir William Browne, mayor of London), dated 3 November 1496, so at least some of his children had been born by that date.
The National Archives PROB 11/11/307
... Item I bequeath to John West mercer and to his children to pray for my soule v mrē

John, his wife Elizabeth and children John, William and Bridget were left legacies in the will of Anne (Belwood) Browne (mother of Sir William Browne, mayor of London), dated 12 January 1503.
The National Archives PROB 11/14/71 - transcribed by Brian Hessick
... Item: I bequeath to my cousin John WEST to pray for my soul, a ring of gold of the value of 20s; and to Elizabeth, his wife, another ring of the same value. ... Item: I bequeath to John WEST the younger, William WEST, and Bridget WEST, 20s, that is to say, to every of them 6s 8p.

John, his wife and his sons William and John were also left legacies in the will of Sir William Browne, Lord Mayor of London, dated 29 May 1514 and proved 1 July 1514. John is named an overseer of the will.
The National Archives PROB 11/17/1514  - modern spelling transcript ©2013 Nina Green)
... Item, I bequeath to my cousin, John West, mercer, a ring of gold of the value of 20s, and to my cousin, his wife, another gold ring of the value of 40s;
  Item, to my godson, William West, their son, £3 6s 8d;
  Item, to John West, brother of the same William West, 40s;
...
  Item, I bequeath to Sir Thomas Lovell, knight, to th’ intent it may please him to be one of th’ overseers of mine executors of this my testament £10;
  And to Richard Broke, serjeant at law, for like intent, other £10;
  Item, to the said John West, mercer, for the same intent, 5 mark;

The will of John's grandson, Thomas Colshill of Chigwell, Essex, dated 23 April 1593 and held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/85/243) contains a description of a standing cup once owned by John West.
... Item I give and bequeath to Jasper Leeke my sonne in lawe one standinge cupp of silver and gilte with a cover which was my grandfather Westes conteyning fortie seaven ounces or there aboutes to be delivered unto hym within one half yeare after my decease.

The pedigree of the ancient family of the Palmers of Sussex p16 (Roger Jenyns, 1867)
John Wesse, of Willington, in Yorkshire, Esquire.
Arms, azure three water bougets two and one or, or a chief of the last three torteaux .
... John Wesse, son of aforesaid.
Arms, Wesse impaling Oliver.

Death: 1517

John's will held at National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/18/550) extracted at Publications of the Surtees Society vol 116 p275 (1908) was dated 24 July 1517 and proved 18 September 1517, so death was between these dates; John's successor as Alderman of London representing Queenhithe was sworn in on 1 September 1517

Burial: St Mary Magdalen Milk Street, London, England

Will: The will of John West, Mercer and Alderman of London, dated 24 July 1517 and proved 18 September 1517, is held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/18/550). A rough transcription is:
 In the name of god Amen. The xxiiij daye of July The yere of our Lord god ?? ?? ??? And the ixth yere of the Reigne of kyng henry the eighth I John West citizen and mercer of London and ??? of the Aldermen of the same being hole of mynde and in good memorie lawd and prayse be unto allmighty god make ordayne and despoase this my present testament conteynyng my Last will in manr and forme folowing that is to saye ffirst I bequeath and recommende my soule unto allmighty god my maker and redemr to the moost glorious Virgyn his mother our Lady mary the Virgin and to all the holy company of heaven And my body to be buried in the chauncell of the parishe churche of Saint Mary Magdelen in milk strete of London in or nere the place where the body of Sr John Browne Late my master was buried And after my body so buried then I will that all such debts as I owe unto any personne or personnes of right or in conscens be well and truly contented and paid. And I will that in convenient tyme after my decease my executors underwritten cause a stone of marble in the image of me my wif and children wt scriptures con?? graveyng Lattyn to be layd uppon my tombe or grave  Also I will that my Executors and overseers underwritten as soon as they may goodly after my decease make or cause to be made an equall partition of all my goodes catelles and debts to me due and belonging at the time of my decease unto three equall partes or portions after the Laudable customs of the Citie of London Whereof according unto the same customs I gyve and bequeath one equall part or portion thereof unto Elizabeth my wif And an other equall part of portion thereof I gyve and bequeath to my children Wyllyam John James and Katheryn And I will that if the same my childrens part and portions amount and be unto any of thing above the summ of cc marks then the ??? or surplusage thereof shallbe equally ??? and divided betweene my children afore named and Bridgytt their sister nowe wif of Robt Palmer mercer so that of the same surplus the same Bridgytt shall have her just part And the thyrd part or portion of my sayd goods cattalls and debts I ???  towards my self thereof to pform and fulfyll my Legacies and bequests hereunder wrytten. Whereof I bequeath to the pson of the parish churche aforesaid for my burying in the chauncell aforesaid to be had and for my tythes and oblations forgotten or neglygently wtholden in discharging of my soule xxy s ??? d  Item I bequeath to the said pson and to the churchwardens of the same church to ??? of the said church and the holi body of the parishe ??? for the mayntenance of godds ??? oon Saucer of silver and gilt of the same weyht and value of the Saucers nowe remaynyng in the said church and in mony xx marks Item I bequeath to the Blake ffriars in London to thintent that ?? treyntalls of masses be done and said wtin their conventuall church for my soule and all christian soules in convenyent tyme after my decease xxl And I bequeath to the ffriars of the house of Chelmsford for ??? treyntalls of masses wtin their conventuall church ?? ??able ??? to be do??  xl s. and I bequeath to the prior of the same house to pray for my soule a cope of blake ??? . And I bequeath to any of the ?? Ordres of ffriars in London to thintent that they sing dirge and masse of Requiem for my soule in any of their conventuall churches as soon as they may goodly after my decease x s. And the crossed ffriars of London for lyke intent x s.And I bequeath for the ???? poore prisoners out of the prison houses of Newgate Ludgate Marshalsey and the Kyngs Bench to pray for my soule xx? Also I bequeath xx? to be bestowed in canvas of ??? the ??? and shirts and smocks thereof to be made ??? shirts and smocks I wylle disposed and distributed amongst poore house ??? persons and other poore folkes by the discretion of my Executours underwritten Item I bequeath to any of the persons folowing that is to saye Master Hosyer my cosen Pyke and his wif Master Mundy and his wife Robert Palmer and his wif Wyllyam John and James my sonnes and Katheryne my daughter Wyllyam Colshill Wyllyam ??? and my Brother ??? ?? yardes of blake cloth for a gowne Item I pdon and forgive unto Thomas West and Robert West all such debts and summes of mony as they or eyther of them owe unto me the daye of makyng hereof  Item I bequeath to the parish church of Millington in the countie of yorke where my ffather lyeth buried iij coopes a vestyment a gospell and a pystell of grene satteyn of Bruges thorfrayes redde satteyn of Bruges and to the parishe churche of Everyngham in the said countie where my mother lyeth buried a cope of lyke stuffe and goodes as is before ??? of thother iij coopes Item I wyll that the parishe preest of Millington, where I was borne have the soule of me the saules of James West and Alyce West, my ffadre and mother Sr John Browne John West Elizabeth my wif our childrens soules and all christian soules ??? recommended unto god and comitted to the prayers of the ??? there any Sonday in the yere for ??? And I will that the same preest for the tyme being shall have for his Labour yerely ??? for the space of fyve yeres Item I bequeath to Adam Hyll and Robt Hyll and to their children x markes equally amongst them to be divided Item where there remayning in my chest in my ??? a byll of payment closed and ensealed of lxxxli I will that the same lxxxli be part of my said part to the ??? ??? of Sr John Browne Late Citizen and Alderman of London in x yere next after my decease Item I gyve and bequeath of my said part and portion unto the said Elizabeth my wif c li in mony And to any of my foresaid children that is to say Wyllyam John James Katheryne and Brygett xxli in mony And I bequeath to Elizabeth Palmer doughter of Robt Palmer ?? li ?? s ?? d. Item I bequeath to any of my Servants that is to say Mari?? Elizabeth twenty shillings in mony Item I ??? and forgyve unto Martyn ?? yeres of his apprenticeship Item I bequeath to any of the Spyttalls of Saint Bartholomew in Lond. Saint Thomas in Southwarke and Saint Mary in Shoredythe xij pair of shets and to any of the Spytall aboute London ?? pair of shetys.  ffurthermore as to the disposition of all my Lands and tents Lying in the parrishe of Hackney in the countie of Midl. ??? where ??? Realm of England I will that Elizabeth my wif shall have and hold to his and her assigns for term of her lif naturrall all my lands and tents with their appurtenances therein thereof makyng nither ??? ?? ???  And after her decease I will that my place in Hackney aforesaid with thappurtnances ??? Thomas North now holdyng remayne to John West my sonne to have and to hold to hym and his heires for ever.  And that the house and land that John ??? now holding in hackney aforesaid shall remayne after my said wifes decease unto Wyllyam West my son to have  and to hold to the same Wyllyam amd to his heires for ever And I will also that after my said wifes decease all that my house and my Lands wt thapputenances ??? Wyllyam ??? ??? Golding and all the ??? and ??? wt their appurtenances shall remayne unto James West my sonne and to his heires forever  And the residue of all my foresaid part of all my goods cattalls and debts what soever they be my debts ??? ??? payd my funerall expenses fully done the Legacies conteyned in this my present testament and all other thyngs ??? the sale fully performed and done I holy and freely give and bequeath unto the foresaid Elizabeth my wif whiche Elizabeth my wif of that my present testament and Last wyll I make and Ordayne my sole executrixe And hir Overseers of the same I make and ordayne the foresaid John Mundy and Robert Palmer And I bequeath unto either of them for his labour in the ??? to be hadd ??? sterling  These wittenes John Temple parrishe preest of Saint Mary Magdalene in mylkestrete John Hosyer Henry Hyll Thomas Neest  ??? ??? Robt Sedge of ??? per me Johann Temple ??? per me  Robert Palmer mercer per me John West mercer per me William Colshill mercer   

Publications of the Surtees Society vol 116 p275 (1908)
  24 July, 1517. JOHN WEST, citizen and mercer, of London, Alderman. To be buried in the chancel of St Mary Magdalen, Milk St. Wife Elizabeth, children William, John, James, Katheryne, Bridget, now wife of Robert Palmer, mercer. To the parish churche of Millington in the Countie of York, where my father lyeth buried, iij cupes, a vestyment, a gospell, a pystell of grene satteyn of Bruges, thorfrayes redde satteyn of Bruges, and to the churche of Everyngham, where my mother lyeth buried, a cope of lyke stuffe, and I wyll that the parisshe priest of Millington, where I was borne, have the saule of me, the saules of James West and Alyce West, my fadre and mothre, Syr John Browne, John West, Elizabeth my wif, our childern. Pr. 18 Sept., 1517 (Holder, 33).

Sources:

John West

Birth: 1496
John was admitted to the Mercer's Company by patrimony in 1517 (Records of the London Livery Companies Online). This admission usually occurred when the new member reached the age of 21 (see City of London Livery Companies' Commission vol 1 p69n) indicating John's birth in 1496.

Father: John West

Mother: Elizabeth (Oliver) West

Occupation: Mercer and later a monk, being a Friar Observant of the Franciscan order at Greenwich, and an agent of Cardinal Wolsey (History of the Reformation of the sixteenth century pp823-4 (Jean Henri Merle D'Aubigne, translated by Dr. H. White, 1856)

Notes:
John, his siblings William and Bridget, and his parents were left legacies in the will of Anne (Belwood) Browne (mother of Sir William Browne, mayor of London), dated 12 January 1503.
The National Archives PROB 11/14/71 - transcribed by Brian Hessick)
... Item: I bequeath to my cousin John WEST to pray for my soul, a ring of gold of the value of 20s; and to Elizabeth, his wife, another ring of the same value. ... Item: I bequeath to John WEST the younger, William WEST, and Bridget WEST, 20s, that is to say, to every of them 6s 8p.

John, his brother William, and his parents were also left legacies in the will of Sir William Browne, Lord Mayor of London, dated 29 May 1514 and proved 1 July 1514.
The National Archives PROB 11/17/1514  - modern spelling transcript ©2013 Nina Green)
... Item, I bequeath to my cousin, John West, mercer, a ring of gold of the value of 20s, and to my cousin, his wife, another gold ring of the value of 40s;
  Item, to my godson, William West, their son, £3 6s 8d;
  Item, to John West, brother of the same William West, 40s;


John is named in the will of his father, John, dated 24 July 1517 and proved 18 September 1517, held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/18/550).
... I gyve and bequeath one equall part or portion thereof unto Elizabeth my wif And an other equall part of portion thereof I gyve and bequeath to my children Wyllyam John James and Katheryn And I will that if the same my childrens part and portions amount and be unto any of thing above the summ of cc marks then the ??? or surplusage thereof shallbe equally ??? and divided betweene my children afore named and Bridgytt their sister nowe wif of Robt Palmer mercer so that of the same surplus the same Bridgytt shall have her just part
... Item I bequeath to any of the persons folowing that is to saye Master Hosyer my cosen Pyke and his wif Master Mundy and his wife Robert Palmer and his wif Wyllyam John and James my sonnes and Katheryn my daughter Wyllyam Colshill Wyllyam ??? and my Brother ??? ?? yardes of blake cloth for a gowne
... Item I gyve and bequeath of my said part and portion unto the said Elizabeth my wif c li in mony And to any of my foresaid children that is to say Wyllyam John James Katheryne and Brygett xxli in mony
... ffurthermore as to the disposition of all my Lands and tents Lying in the parrishe of Hackney in the countie of Midl. ??? where ??? Realm of England I will that Elizabeth my wif shall have and hold to his and her assigns for term of her lif naturrall all my lands and tents with their appurtenances therein thereof makyng nither ??? ?? ???  And after her decease I will that my place in Hackney aforesaid with thappurtnances ??? Thomas North now holdyng remayne to John West my sonne to have and to hold to hym and his heires for ever. 

John is named as an executor of the will of his brother, William West, dated 20 July 1518, and proved on 15 August 1518 (National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/19/127)).
... I give and bequeth to John and Jamys my brethren whom I constitute to be myn executours to see my detts paid and to see my funerall expenses contented and to see that my last will fulfilled And I constitute and ordeyn to be overseer of thys my last will my lady my moder And I will that she and myn executours afore rehersed have the ??? of thym a blak gowne     

John West was commissioned by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and sent first to Antwerp in August 1528 and then on to Cologne in September 1528, in an attempt to find and arrest William Tyndale, author of the first English translation of the Bible, and his assistant in that task, Observant Friar William Roy, considered by Wolsey to be heretics and traitors.
History of the Reformation of the sixteenth century pp823-4 (Jean Henri Merle D'Aubigne, translated by Dr. H. White, 1856)
  It was a catholicity of another sort that Wolsey desired to uphold. He did not reject certain reforms in the church, particularly such as brought him any profit; but, before all, he wished to preserve for the hierarchy their priviliges and uniformity. The Romish Church in England was then personified in him, and if he fell, its ruin would be near. His political talents and multiplied relations with the continent, caused him to discern more clearly than others the dangers which threatened the popedom. The publication of the Scriptures of God in English appeared to some a cloud without importance, which would soon disappear from the horizon; but  to the foreseeing glance of Wolsey, it be tokened a mighty tempest. Besides he loved not the fraternal relations then forming between the evangelical Christians of Great Britain and of other nations. Annoyed by this spiritual catholicity, he resolved to procure the arrest of Tyndale, who was its principal organ.
  Already had Hackett, Henry's envoy to the Low Countries, caused the imprisonment of Harman, an Antwerp merchant, one of the principal supporters of the English reformer. But Hackett had in vain asked Wolsey for such documents as would convict him of treason (for the crime of loving the Bible was not sufficient to procure Harman's condemnation in Brabant); the envoy had remained without letters from England, and the last term fixed by the law having expired, Harman and his wife were liberated after seven months' imprisonment.
  And yet Wolsey had not been inactive. The cardinal hoped to find elsewhere the co-operation which Margaret of Austria refused. It was Tyndale that he wanted, and everything seemed to indicate that he was then hidden at Cologne or in its neighbourhood. Wolsey, recollecting senator Rincke and the services he had already performed, determined to send to him one John West, a friar of the Franciscan convent at Greenwich. West, a somewhat narrow-minded but energetic man, was very desirous of distinguishing himself, and he had already gained some notoriety in England among the adversaries of the Reformation. Flattered by his mission, this vain monk immediately set off for Antwerp, accompanied by another friar, in order to seize Tyndale, and even Roy, once his colleague at Greenwich, and against whom he had there ineffectually contended in argument.
  While these men were conspiring his ruin, Tyndale composed several works, got them printed, and sent to England, and prayed God and day to enlighten his fellow-countrymen. “Why do you give yourself so much trouble,” said some of his friends. “They will burn your books as they have burnt the Gospel.” They will only do what I expect,” replied he, “if they burn me also.” Already he beheld his own burning pile in the distance; but it was a sight which only served increase his zeal. Hidden, like Luther at Wartburg, not however in a castle, but in a humble lodging, Tyndale, like the Saxon reformer, spent his days and nights translating the Bible. But not having an elector of Saxony to protect him, he was forced to change his residence from time to time.
  At this epoch, Fryth, who had escaped from the prisons of Oxford, rejoined Tyndale, and the sweets of friendship softened the bitterness of their exile. Tyndale having finished the New Testament, and begun the translation of the Old, the learned Fryth was of great use him. The more they studied the word of God, the more they admired it. In the beginning of 1529, they published the books of Genesis and Deuteronomy, and addressing their fellow-countrymen, they said: “As thou readest, think that every syllable pertaineth to thine own self, and suck out the pith of the Scripture.” Then denying that visible signs naturally impart grace, as the schoolmen had pretended, Tyndale maintained that the sacraments are effectual only when the Holy Ghost sheds his influence upon them. “The ceremonies of the law,” he wrote, “stood the Israelites in the same stead as the sacraments do us. We are saved not by the power of the sacrifice or the deed itself, but by virtue of faith in the promise, whereof the sacrifice or ceremony was a token or sign. The Holy Ghost is no dumb God, no God that goeth a mumming. Wherever the word is proclaimed, this inward witness worketh. If baptism preach me the washing in Christ's blood, so doth the Holy Ghost accompany it; and that deed of preaching through faith doth put away my sins. The ark of Noah saved them in the water through faith.”
  The man who dared address England in language so contrary to the teaching of the middle ages must be imprisoned. John West, who had been sent with this object, arrived at Antwerp; Hackett procured for him as interpreter a friar of English descent, made him assume a secular dress, and gave him “three pounds” on the cardinal's account; the less attention the embassy attracted, the more likely it would be to succeed. But great was West's vexation, on reaching Cologne, to learn that Rincke was at Frankfort. But that mattered not; the Greenwich monk could search for Tyndale at Cologne, and desire Rincke to do the same at Frankfort; thus there would be two searches instead of one. West procured a “swift” messenger, (he too was a monk,) and gave him the letter Wolsey had addressed to Rincke.
  It was fair-time at Frankfort, and the city was filled with merchants and their wares. As soon as Rincke had finished reading Wolsey's letter, he hastened to the burgomasters, and required them to confiscate the English translations of the Scriptures, and, above all, to seize “the heretic who was troubling England as Luther troubled Germany.” “Tyndale and his friends have not appeared in our fairs since the month of March 1528,” replied the magistrates, “and we know not whether they are dead or alive.”
  Rincke was not discouraged. John Schoot of Strasburg, who was said to have printed Tyndale's books, and who cared less about the works he published than the money he drew from them, happened to be at Frankfort. “Where is Tyndale?” Rincke asked him. “I do not know,” replied the printer: but he confessed that he had printed a thousand volumes at the request of Tyndale and Roy. “Bring them to me,” continued the senator of Cologne. “If a fair price is paid me, I will give them up to you.” Rincke paid all that was demanded.
  Wolsey would now be gratified, for the New Testament annoyed him almost as much as the divorce; this book, so dangerous in his eyes, seemed on the point of raising a conflagration which would infallibly consume the edifice of Roman traditionalism. Rincke, who participated in his patron's fears, impatiently opened the volumes made over to him; but there was a sad mistake, they were not the New Testament, not even a work of Tyndale's but one written by William Roy, a changeable and violent man, whom the reformer had employed for some time at Hamburg, and who had followed him to Cologne, but with whom he had soon become disgusted. “I bade him farewell for our two lives”, said Tyndale “and a day longer.” Roy, on quitting the reformer, had gone to Strasburg, where he boasted of his relations with him, and had got a satire in that city printed against Wolsey and the monastic orders, entitled The Burial of the Mass : this was the book delivered to Rincke. The monk's sarcastic spirit had exceeded the ligitimate bounds of controversy, and the senator accordingly dared not send the volumes to England. He did not, however, discontinue his inquiries, but searched every place where he thought he could discover the New Testament, and having seized all the suspected volumes, set off for Cologne.
  Yet he was not satisfied He wanted Tyndale, and went about asking every one if they knew where to find him. But the reformer, whom he was seeking in so many places, and especially at Frankfort and Cologne, chanced to be residing at about equal distances from these two towns, so that Rincke, while travelling from one to the other, might have met him face to face, as Ahab's messenger met Elijah. Tyndale was at Marburg, whither he had been drawn by several motives. Prince Philip of Hesse was the great protector of the evangelical doctrines. The university had attracted attention in the Reform by the paradoxes of Lambert of Avignon. Here a young Scotsman named Hamilton, afterwards illustrious as a martyr, had studied shortly before, and here too the celebrated printer, John Luft, had his presses. In this city Tyndale and Fryth had taken up their abode, in September 1528, and, hidden on the quiet banks of the Lahn, were translating the Old Testament. If Rincke had searched this place he could not have failed to discover them. But either he thought not of it, or was afraid of the terrible landgrave. The direct road by the Rhine was that which he followed, and Tyndale escaped.
  When he arrived at Cologne, Rincke had an immediate interview with West. Their investigations having failed, they must have recourse to more vigorous measures. The senator, therefore, sent the monk back to England, accompanied by his son Hermann, charging them to tell Wolsey: “To seize Tyndale we require fuller powers, ratified by the emperor. The traitors who conspire against the life of the king of England are not tolerated in the empire, much less Tyndale and all those who conspire against Christendom. He must be put to death : nothing but some striking example can check the Lutheran heresy.—And as to ourselves,” they were told to add, “by the favour of God there may possibly be an opportunity for his royal highness and your grace to recompense us.” Rincke had not forgotten the subsidy of ten thousand pounds which he had received from Henry VII. for the Turkish war, when he had gone to London as Maximilian's envoy.
  West returned to England sorely vexed that he had failed in his mission. What would they say at court and in his monastery? A fresh humiliation was in reserve for him. Roy, whom West had gone to look for on the banks of the Rhine, had paid a visit to his mother on the banks of the Thames; and to crown all, the new doctrines had penetrated into his own convent. The warden, father Robinson, had embraced them, and night and day the Greenwich monks read that New Testament which West had gone to Cologne to burn. The Antwerp friar, who had accompanied him on his journey, was the only person to whom he could confide his sorrows; but the Franciscans sent him back again to the continent, and then amused themselves at poor West's expense. If he desired to tell of his adventures on the banks of the Rhine, he was laughed at; if he boasted of the names of Wolsey and Henry VIII., they jeered him still more. He desired to speak to Roy's mother, hoping to gain some useful information from her; this the monks prevented. “It is in my commission,” he said. They ridiculed him more and more. Robinson, perceiving that the commission made West assume unbecoming airs of independence, requested Wolsey to withdraw it; and West, fancying he was about to be thrown into prison, exclaimed in alarm: “I am weary of my life!” and conjured a friend whom he had at court to procure him before Christmas an obedience under his lordship's hand and seal, enabling him to leave the monastery; “What you pay him for it,” he added, “I shall see you be reimbursed.” Thus did West expiate the fanatical zeal which had urged him to pursue the translator of the oracles of God. What became of him, we know not: he is never heard of more.

This is the letter written by John West to the English ambassador, John Hackett from Antwerp on 2 September 1528.
Letters and Papers Henry VIII vol 4 part 2 pp2037-8 (1872)
2 Sept. R.O.
4693. JOHN WESTE to JOHN HACKET.
  Master Governor saw yesterday Ric. Harman's letters from England, with four letters of certain persons: two from London, and two from Cranebroke in Kent, where Harman was born. The first is from Ric. Hall, ironmonger, of London, dated 14 Oct., desiring two books of the New Testament in English. The second is from John Saddelere, dated 3 Sept. 1526, stating that the news in England was that the English Testaments should be put down and burnt. The third is from Thos. Davy, of Cranbrook, urging Harman to have patience in the true faith in Christ, and stating that no man may speak in England of the New Testament in English on pain of bearing a faggot. The fourth is from John Andrews, of Cranbrook, dated 20 Feb. 1527, about the New Testament. The said Andrews is in prison in the Fleet. The Governor tells him that those who have the custody of Harman's letters “made many great cracks to Master Governor, and many high words, and Richard's wife also.” Advises him to get a letter from the lady Margaret to have the letters delivered.
  The priest that is in prison is sick of the ague, and has no refreshing of meat or drink. Therefore I pray you that he may have some, for I would he should not die here. By a letter of your hand to the Margrave, I trust to catch another priest come out of England, called Constantinus, who dresses like a secular. Will send them both to England. I have spoken to Francis Brykman, bookbinder, of this town, and he tells me that Petygnele, Roye and Jerome Burlowe, friars of our religion, and Hucthyns, otherwise Tyndall, made the last book that was made against the King and my lord Cardinal; and that John Scott, a printer of Straysbourg, printed them. There is a whole pipe of them at Frankfort; and he desired me to write him a letter whether he should buy them or not. If so, he intends to send Roye with the other two to Cologne, to receive the money for the books, where I and Herman Ryng, of Cologne, shall take them. Our convent at Antwerp, 2 Sept. 1528.
  P.S.—Mr. Crane took shipping for England on Tuesday se'nnight.
  Hol., p. 1.  Add.

John West and another monk from his order, Friar Flegh, set off from Antwerp for Cologne on 11 September 1528, as related in this letter from Hackett to Wolsey.
Letters and Papers Henry VIII vol 4 part 2 p2051 (1872)
12 Sept. Galba, B.IX. 186. B.M.
4725
.  JOHN HACKETT to WOLSEY
... Yesterday after dinner Friar West and Friar Flegh,, an Englishman of his order, set out for Collen, with a true man for guide, to whom Hackett has given money for their costs. Will furnish West with what money he requires to execute Wolsey’s commission. Trusts he will bring it to a good perfection. He intends at Collen to change his raiment.

Having failed to locate William Tyndale or William Roy, John West returned to England bearing a letter dated 4 October 1528, from Herman Rinck to Wolsey.
Letters and Papers Henry VIII vol 4 part 2 p2083 (1872)
4 Oct. Vit.B.XXI.43 B.M.
4810
.  HERMAN RINCK to WOLSEY
  Received on . . . Sept., at Frankfort, his letters, dated Hampton Court, Aug. 5, sent by Friar John West, an Observant, concerning buying up English books, and arresting Roy and Huckynck (Tyndall). Neither they nor their accomplices have been seen at Frankfort since Easter. John Schott, of Strasburg (Argentinensis), their engraver, knows nothing of them. Heard that their books, full of heresy and slander of Wolsey and the King, had been pledged to Jews at Frankfort. Obtained from the senators and judges, by gifts, power to collect them; and believes he has them all, except two, which John West asked for. It was intended to send them packed in bales of linen to Scotland and England. Thinks few or none have been sent. The magistrates have promised that they shall not be reprinted, and the engraver will send him the copy. Will do all he can to arrest Roy and Huckyng, as West, Herman Rynck, his son, and John Geilkyrche, his servant, will testify.

In this letter, dated 17 December 1528, possibly to Sir Brian Tuke, John notes the restrictions being placed on him at his monastery and that his warden was attempting to have his commission from Wolsey revoked.
Letters and Papers Henry VIII vol 4 part 2 p2194 (1872)
17 Dec. Vit. B.x. 171. B.M.
5043
. Friar JOHN WESTE to [TUKE ?]
    “Right Worshipful Sir,”
  The father minister and father William Robinson, warden of Greenwich, went yesterday or today to complain of him to my lord’s Grace, that my Lord should take away his commission. They will not let him come to London to inquire where Roy was when he was in England with his mother, and to do the rest of his commission. Many of them are guilty of Lutheranism, and they speak ill of the King and Wolsey, and do all they can to put him to trouble for reproving them. They have taken away his f[ellow who] came with him from beyond sea, and sent him in . . . in a ship alone without a fellow, “and all because that I . . . . about none of my business, but they will know it . . . . will not obey the King’s broad seal.” Begs him to a[ssist] him with the dispensation as soon as possible, and if it cannot be done before Christmas, to get him a [letter] of an obedience under my Lord’s broad seal for himself and his fellow Cornelius Hewtssam, a Dutchman, whom West intends to take, as he knows little English, so that West will be able to act with more secrecy. He can get the letter of obedience from Mr. Steward, master of my Lord’s faculties. They will put him in prison, unless he helps him to see Wolsey at Greenwich. At our convent, 17 Dec. 1528.
  Asks him to send a letter of comfort by the bearer.
  Hol. pp. 2.

John West wrote a letter on 8 February 1528(9) to Cardinal Wolsey in which he complains that Thomas Exmewe, his stepfather, withheld rightful inheritance from him and his sister Catherine.
Letters and Papers Henry VIII vol 4 part 3 pp2323-4 (1876)
8 Feb. R. O.
5275. JOHN WEST, Friar Observant, to WOLSEY.
   As touching Ric. Harman’s matter, it is time I were gone. The last day is Friday fortnight, 26 Feb., as John Hacket writes, when Harman will be delivered, and Hacket cast in the costs; a great encouragement to Lutheranism. My father-in-law, Sir Th. Exmew, died Saturday last, 6 Feb., and held from me and my sister, Kath. Colswell, certain evidences of lands in Middlesex, which I sold her and her husband William at the death of my mother, lady Eliz. Exmew, who died 14 Feb. 1528. He also withheld from my sister 20l. sterl., also a chalice and vestment, a chain of gold of 42 oz., 6 rings of gold set with stones, and 5l. 6s. 8d. bequeathed me by Wm. Browne, late alderman of London. My father-in-law, Exmew, promised that my sister and her husband should be his executors; but his executors, Th. Kyttson, mercer, and one Brokett, goldsmith, retain all his goods. Greenwich, 8 Feb. 1529.
  Hol., p. 1. Add.: To my lord legate of England's grace. Endd.

This letter was written by John West to Cardinal Wolsey about 28 March 1529.
Letters and Papers Henry VIII vol 4 part 3 p2374 (1876)
Cott. App. XLVIII. 48, B.M.
5402. JOHN WEST, Friar Observant, to WOLSEY.
  Asks him to make ready the letters and articles following, “for the tyme drawythe nere off exspyration and the tyme drawythe nere off Frankford Martte,” which begins on the Annunciation.
  Information and instructions of the treason touching Ric. Harman; letter to Mr. John Hakett of the same; to Hakett and Sir John Stylle, governor of the [Eng]lyshe merchants beyond sea, to send Wm. Claye, mercer of London, and Wm. Dawnsye, with a sure guard, as rebellious fugitives; Claye has taken 1,000l. belonging to John a Poole, mercer of London, keeps company with Harman, and rails on the Pope, Wolsey, and the whole Church, with Lutheran opinions and opprobrious words; to Harman Ryncke, of Colleyn, with a bill for the payment of the books, 63l. 4s.; to the bp. of Colleyn, for the delivery of heretics; to the bp. of Maguntia, for the delivery of W. Roye and W. Hutchyns, otherwise Tendalle, traitors and heretics; two to the card. bp. of Lucke, otherwise called Le . . . . . from Wolsey and the Legate Laur. Campecy[us, who] is here now in England, about the delivery of Ric. Harman; to the lady Margaret and the Emperor’s council, with one from the King for the same, and others to the lord of Barowe, as Harman will be at Passe Marte at Barow now at Easter.
  “I praye your Gracce to dyspencce with . . . .  . that I schall see necessarye for to be done in this bessynes . . . . . . . Rincke serwant John Gelger and I may go togyther pryve[ly] . . . . . . . . Gracce more opon Mondaye.”
  Hol., pp. 2, mutilated.  Add.: “To the lord Legate’s grace of England.” Endd. 

These two letters were written by John West to Cardinal Wolsey about 13 April 1529.
Letters and Papers Henry VIII vol 4 part 3 pp2405-6 (1876)
R.O.
5462. JOHN WEST, Observant Friar, to WOLSEY.
  Requests him to appoint a day when he may speak with him on the following topics:—
  1. Touching Ric. Harman, now out of prison under sureties. Unless Wolsey can get other particular declarations of treason laid against him, he is likely to be set at liberty altogether in three weeks, and will do more mischief than ever.  2. Touching William Roye, who has been in England with his mother at Westminster.  3. What we have done with John Scotte, the printer of the books.  4. To show Wolsey where Will. Tyndalle, otherwise called Will. Hutchyns, and Jerome Barllow are.  5. How they are to be taken.  6. That West and Mr. John Crane may be despatched; for in their absence “they that have loitered in the town of Antwerp, with other places, go now abroad, and doth seducte many moo of their affinity.”  7. Mr. John Crane, who has lain here so long, “is at an exigent for money,” and likely to lose his service with the merchants beyond sea. If Wolsey will help him with a benefice he will spend it in the taking of these heretics.  8. Herman Ryncke’s servant and son remain here to know Wolsey’s pleasure what shall be done with the books.
  P. 1.  Add.: To my lord Legate.  Endd.: Certain articles of Friar West, concerning certain Englishmen, being Lutherans, in Flanders and Almain.

R.O.
5463. FRIAR JOHN WEST, to WOLSEY.
  Asks that he may speak with him secretly before he sees brother Alysander Barkley, who has called Wolsey a tyrant and other opprobrious and blasphemous words.
  Hol., p. 1.  Add.: To my lord Legate.  Sealed.  Endd. 

This letter, written by John West and John Lawrence to Cardinal Wolsey on 12 June 1529 provides an interesting account of a follow up attempt to apprehend William Roy.
Letters and Papers Henry VIII vol 4 part 3 pp2503 (1876)
1529. 12 June. R.O.
5667. JOHN WEST and JOHN LAWRENCE, Observant Friars, to WOLSEY.
  Have obeyed his commands touching Wm. Roye at Yarmouth. From information given by John Stanleye, sometime the familiar of our convent at Richmond, we have made diligent inquiry for Roye in the Grey Friars and in the town of Yarmouth, but can obtain no knowledge of him. A schoolmaster of the same town spake and drank with Roye betwixt Lestoe (Lowestoft) and Yarmouth, in Ascension week, and showed us the features and the secret marks of his face, the manner of his speaking, his apparel, “and how he does speak all manner of languages.” On asking Roye whence he came and where he was going, he said he came from over sea, and would go to the North parts; so we took our journey from Yarmouth to Norwich, supposing to gain more knowledge of him. But coming to Langley Abbey we met a young man, come out of the North parts, from Lincolnshire, and we asked if he had seen such a person, and he said that two days before he had met the said person a little beyond Attellbryge, on the way to Lyne, and another with him, who had a red head, which by all likelihood should be Jerome Barlowe, his companion. When they approached his company, Roye left the highway, and hid his face, but the fellow with the red head demanded of this young man the way to Lyne, and then they made great speed, which made the young man suspect that they had done some mischief. Considering that we could not pursue them on foot, we had recourse to the abbot of St. Benett’s, of Holme, brother to Mr. Dean of Ipswich, to whom we disclosed our purpose, and found him diligent and faithful. For immediately he knew of your pleasure, he sent one of his servants on horseback to Lynn, and another to Walsingham, and offered us all the help necessary. We have heard from the servant who went to Lynn that Roye and the other took ship for Newcastle, where we intend to follow them. Had we received our instructions but three days before, we should have brought them both to you. Great as the labor is, we endure it for Christ’s sake. Will want another letter in the event of Roye having gone to Scotland.  St. Benett’s of Holme, 12 June 21 Hen. VIII.
  P. 1, Hol., in West’s hand.  Add. and endd.

Sources:

Robert West

Father: James West

Mother: Alyce (_____) West

Notes:
The Visitations of Essex in Publications of the Harleian Society vol 14 p562 (1879) states that Robert was "of Millington", Yorkshire, and gives both West and Wesse as spellings of his last name.

Robert was probably the Robert West whose debts were forgiven in the will of his brother, John dated 24 July 1517. If so, it also gives rise to the possibility that there was a third brother, Thomas.
National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/18/550)
...  Item I pdon and forgive unto Thomas West and Robert West all such debts and summes of mony as they or eyther of them owe unto me the daye of makyng hereof

Sources:

William West

Birth: 1496
William was admitted to the Mercer's Company by patrimony in 1517 (Records of the London Livery Companies Online). This admission usually occurred when the new member reached the age of 21 (see City of London Livery Companies' Commission vol 1 p69n) indicating William's birth in 1496.

Father: John West

Mother: Elizabeth (Oliver) West

Occupation: Mercer
William was a mercer, of London. He obtained the freedom of the Mercers' Company, by patrimony, in 1517 (Records of the London Livery Companies Online), although he died a year later.

Notes:
William, his siblings John and Bridget, and his parents are left legacies in the will of Anne (Belwood) Browne (mother of Sir William Browne, mayor of London), dated 12 January 1503.
The National Archives PROB 11/14/71 - transcribed by Brian Hessick)
... Item: I bequeath to my cousin John WEST to pray for my soul, a ring of gold of the value of 20s; and to Elizabeth, his wife, another ring of the same value. ... Item: I bequeath to John WEST the younger, William WEST, and Bridget WEST, 20s, that is to say, to every of them 6s 8p.

William, his brother John, and his parents were also left legacies in the will of Sir William Browne, Lord Mayor of London, dated 29 May 1514 and proved 1 July 1514.
The National Archives PROB 11/17/1514  - modern spelling transcript ©2013 Nina Green)
... Item, I bequeath to my cousin, John West, mercer, a ring of gold of the value of 20s, and to my cousin, his wife, another gold ring of the value of 40s;
  Item, to my godson, William West, their son, £3 6s 8d;
  Item, to John West, brother of the same William West, 40s;


William is named in the will of his father, John, dated 24 July 1517 and proved 18 September 1517, held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/18/550).
... I gyve and bequeath one equall part or portion thereof unto Elizabeth my wif And an other equall part of portion thereof I gyve and bequeath to my children Wyllyam John James and Katheryn And I will that if the same my childrens part and portions amount and be unto any of thing above the summ of cc marks then the ??? or surplusage thereof shallbe equally ??? and divided betweene my children afore named and Bridgytt their sister nowe wif of Robt Palmer mercer so that of the same surplus the same Bridgytt shall have her just part
... Item I bequeath to any of the persons folowing that is to saye Master Hosyer my cosen Pyke and his wif Master Mundy and his wife Robert Palmer and his wif Wyllyam John and James my sonnes and Katheryn my daughter Wyllyam Colshill Wyllyam ??? and my Brother ??? ?? yardes of blake cloth for a gowne
... Item I gyve and bequeath of my said part and portion unto the said Elizabeth my wif c li in mony And to any of my foresaid children that is to say Wyllyam John James Katheryne and Brygett xxli in mony
... And that the house and land that John ??? now holding in hackney aforesaid shall remayne after my said wifes decease unto Wyllyam West my son to have  and to hold to the same Wyllyam amd to his heires for ever

Death: July-August 1518
William's will was dated 20 July 1518, and proved on 15 August 1518.

Burial: St Mary Magdalen Milk Street, London, England

Will: The will of William West, dated 20 July 1518, and proved on 15 August 1518, is held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/19/127). A rough transcription is:
In dei nomine amen. In the yere of our Lord god ?? fyve hunderth and xviij The xx Day of July, I William West being in good and pfect mynde make and ordeyn this my last wille and testament in this maner folowyng ffirst I bequeth my soule to almighty god to our Lady saint mary and to all the company of hevyn my body to be buried in the church of Mary Magdaleyn in milk strete And I give to the high altar ??? the same iijs iiijd Also I give to the high altar in saint Laurence in the Jewry ??s ??d Item to the high altar in saint Antonynis in ??? ??? ??s ??d Also I will that myn executours distribute to pour prople and prisoners xli.Also I bequeth to Sir Robert Lovonde my gostly fader xls And I will that myn executours give to the said Sir Robert xli the which I will that he shall dispose after the maner that I have shewed hym betwixt ??/??? Item I bequeth to John Conagh xxs Item I give to Thomas Wall ???? Item to Martyn myn Apprentice xxs Item to ff??? John ??? xxxs Item I give to John Elder and Johane hys wife xiijs iijd Item I give to ??? kyinge vjs viijd Itm to petyr ??? vjs viijd Item I give to ffran?? West ?? ??? Item to Margaret ??? xxs Also I will that there be songed a Terntall of masses for my soule the day of my burying in the church of Mary Magdalyn aforesaid The residue of my goodes moveable and immoveable ??? ??? that I give to the bylding of the said church of Saint Mary Magdalyn xls I give and bequeth to John and Jamys my brethren whom I constitute to be myn executours to see my detts paid and to see my funerall expenses contented and to see that my last will fulfilled And I constitute and ordeyn to be overseer of thys my last will my lady my moder And I will that she and myn executours afore rehersed have the ??? of thym a blak gowne Item I give to John Charlet iijs iiijd I give also to John Rydley iijs iiijd These witnesse Robert Lamonde John Ridley John Charlet Thomas Wall Johan Basset ??? other     

Sources:
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