1414: John Neuton and the Re-Foundation of York Minster Library

dominum Thomam Haxey ac honorabilem uirum Ricardum de Norton discretosque uiros magistrum Iohannem Gilby rectorem de Knesale et dominum Nicholaum Ackeld senescallum meum ut ipsi  disponant de bonis meis modo prescripto ad Dei honorem et anime mee animarumque omnium fidelium defunctorum refugium ac salutem. In cuius rei testimonium presens testamentum  sigilli mei impressione roboraui hiis testibus, uidelicet discretis uiris magistro Stephano Percy, domino Thoma de Garton, magistro Iohanne Munkgate, domino Ricardo Blakburne, domino Roberto Semer et aliis. Datum die et anno supradictis.

Codicillus ultime uoluntatis magistri Iohannis de Neuton, thesaurarii ecclesie cathedralis beati Petri Eboracensis, factus ibidem in crastino apostolorum Petri et Pauli, anno domini millesimo CCCCmo XIIII in presencia magistri Stephani Percy, Iohannis de Gilby, Nicholai Ackeld, Walteri Boterwyk capellanorum.

In primis uolo quod Thomas de Neuton frater meus habeat unum missale, unum uestimentum et unum calicem. Item uolo quod Iohanna uxor fratris mei predicti habeat unum collobium furruratum et unam super tunicam cum capucio. Item uolo et ordino quod libri mei tam iuris ciuilis quam canonici cum certis doctoribus, uidelicet Liber Decretorum ; item II libri Decretalium ; item Innocentius super Decretales ; item Archidiaconus in rosario ; item liber uocatus Sextus cum tribus glosis ; item Clementine cum glosa Iohannis Andree, Gesselini et Willielmi ; item  Paulus super Clementinas ; item Iohannes Andree in Nouella in quatuor uolumibus ; item idem Iohannes in Novella de regio iure ; item Iohannes de Lyniano super Decretales in duobus uoluminibus ; Item idem Iohannes supra Clementinas ; item Speculum iudiciale ; item Hostiensis in Summa Goffridi ; item Brocardus ; item repertorium Willielmi Durantis ; item Tabula Martini ; item Tancretus ; item Roffredus de iure canonico ; item Raymondus ; item Roffridus de iure ciuili ; item una Biblia ; item unus Codex ; item Digestum uetus ; item Digestum nouum ; item Digestum inforciatum ; item paruum uolumen ; item Chinus super Codicem ; item Bartholus super Codicem ; item idem super Inforciatum ; item Bartholus super Digestum uetus ; item Dynus super Digesto nouo et Petrus de Bella Pertica cum aliis doctoribus in uno uolumine ; item Iacobus de Bello Visu super Autentica ; item Casus inforciati ; reponantur in una cista infra uestibulum ecclesie cathedralis Eboracensis. Cuius ciste pro maiori securitate subthesaurarius eiusdem ecclesie Eboracensis habeat unum clauem, custos uero eiusedem uestiarii alterum et Thomas frater meus habeat tercium.

Volo insuper quod si aliquis de filiis dicti Thome fratris mei de corpore suo legitime procreato clericum esse contigerit et iura ciuilia et canonica addiscerit et in eis proficere uoluerit quod dicti libri prout indiguerit et in scientia profecerit, sibi ad suum usum quamdiu uixerit liberentur, et post eius obitum consimiliter alteri filio seu nepoti uel alteri ab eius corpore legitime linealiter descedente, reseruentur nec alienentur, accomodentur seu quouismodo uendicioni uel pignori exponantur. Quod si dictus Thomas frater meus sine herede masculo de corpore suo legitime procreato uel per filios seu filias descendente obierit uel liberos suos masculos legitime procreatos seu descendentes nolle clericos fieri nec ad gradum scolasticum ascendere sed laicaliter in seculo remanere contigerit, tunc uolo et ordino quod omnes predicti libri tradantur et liberentur capitulo ecclesie cathedralis predicte in eorum libraria pro perpetuo remansuri pro salute anime mee et omnium fidelium defunctorum.

Sir Thomas Haxey and the Honourable Richard of Norton, as well as the outstanding men Master John Gilby, rector of Knesale, and Sir Nicholas Ackeld, my seneschal, to dispose of my goods in the prescribed way for the honour of God and refuge for the salvation of my soul and of the souls of all faithful departed. To testify this act, I have confirmed it with the impression of my seal with these witnesses, namely the outstanding men Master Stephen Percy, Sir Thomas of Garton, Master John Munkgate, Sir Richard Blackburne, Sir Robert Semer and others. Dated in the aforementioned day and year.

Codicil to the last will of Master John of Neuton, treasurer of the cathedral Church of the blessed Peter of York, made there on the day after that of the apostles Peter and Paul, in the year of the Lord 1414 in the presence of Master Stephen Percy, John of Gilby, Nicholas Ackeld, Walter Boterwyk, chaplains.

First I wish that Thomas of Neuton my brother should have one messal, one dress of mine and one goblet. Likewise I wish that Johanna, wife of my aforementioned brother, should have one furred hood and one tunic with a hood. Likewise I wish and order that my books both of civil and of canon law with some doctors, namely the Liber Decretorum, likewise two books of Decretales, likewise Innocentius super Decretales, likewise the Archdeacon on the rosary, likewise the book called Sextus with three glosses; likewise the Clementine with the gloss of Iohannes Andreae; Jesselin and William; likewise Paul on the Clementine; likewise Iohannes Andreae on the Novella, in four volumes; likewise the same Iohannes on the Novella on Royal Law; likewise John of Lignano on the Decretales in two volumes ; likewise the same Iohannes on the Clementine; likewise the Speculum iudiciale; likewise Hostiensis on the Summa Goffridi; likewise Brocardus; likewise the repertory of William Durant; likewise the Tabula of Martin; likewise Tancred; likewise Roffredus on canon law; likewise Raymond; likewise Roffridus on the civil law; likewise one Bible; likewise one Codex; likewise the Digestum uetus; likewise the Digestum nouum; likewise the Digestum inforciatum; likewise Bartolus on the Digestum uetus , likewise Dinus on the Digestum nouum  and Petrus de Bella Pertica with other doctors in one volume; likewise Jacobus de Bello Visu on the Autentica; likewise Casus inforciatii, will be put in one chest in the vestibule of the cathedral church of York. For greater security the sub-treasurer of the same church of York will have a key of this chest, the guardian of the same vestry another, and my brother Thomas the third.

Furthermore, if any of the sons of legitimate birth of my aforementioned brother Thomas will happen to be a cleric, and learn civil and canon law and strive to be proficient in them, I wish that these books, inasmuch as he will need and will be proficient in the science, will be made available to him and for his use as long as he will live; and after his death they will be similarly reserved for another son or nephew or another legitimate descendant of his in direct line, without being removed, lent or being given anyhow for sale or pledge. If the aforementioned Thomas, my brother, will die without a male heir of legitimate birth or descendant through sons or daughters, or the male sons of legitimate birth or descendant will not be willing to become clerics nor to rise to a scholarly degree, but they will happen to remain in the world as laypersons, then I wish and order that all the aforementioned books will be given and made available to the chapter of the same cathedral church in its library to be kept perpetually for the salvation of my soul and of all faithful departed.