The Thélème at Penn was an opportunity to present some of the things I’ve been learning about living in Elizabethan London. As an exercise in examining the life of Lorenzo Gorla, I decided to write his will.
I examined many wills from the time period and area. The will has the advantage of being a commonly archived document that is fairly easily indexed and cataloged. In this Elizabethan era, the will was maintained by the church. The will would be executed by an appointed executor, and the church would come in to take inventory of the individual’s belongings.
The example here is the will and testament of Lorenzo Gorla, a fencing master living in London. He writes it while in fear of the impending Spanish invasion. A bon vivant such as Lorenzo was probably not much of a planner for the future. I imagined that he would probably write out his final wishes when he was fairly sure of his own death. In December of 1587, word had gotten to England about the Spanish start of the construction of their armada. Lorenzo would experience the same fear as many others throughout the country, and the fear prompts him to consider the repayments of debts, both monetary and social.
The Will
On the xxth day of January 1588 And in the xxxist yeare of the Reigne of the Sovereigne Lady Queen Elizabeth
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Lorenzo Gorla beinge strong in both bodie and mynde thanks be to God in the shadowe of violense and dangre from Spanish agression do comit this will and testament.
First I comitt my soule into the hande of Almighty God by whyche I will avoide judgment and death by my faythful abiding of the commandments and the Sacraments of Christ Jesus and the True Church, and by intersession of Mary the Virgin. My bodie should it be hole and compleat shall be commended to the care of Thomas Belson who shall make all arrangements for its final interment.
Upon sale of my goodes and chattels and my debts payd from the remainder xxd shall be payed to Robert Edmonds a maister for the instruction of Joseph Mytchell in the sciense of defense, and Joseph Mytchell shall be entered into his instruction as a scholler to the maisters of the sciense of defense. I offer my schoole at fletstreet to Thomas Weaver Maister of the sciense of armes for iii years from whych all profits are his to dispose. I make Alys Mackentosh my whole executrix. All under assumption that the citie of London still stands and Spanish invasion is thwarted.
Historical Context
By 1587, England had been at war with Spain for two years. In December of that year, England received word that the Spanish were constructing an armada for an invasion. As preparations were being made, no doubt many citizens of the city of London held some fear of their city becoming a battlefield within the next year. It’s at this time when Lorenzo Gorla, a fencing instructor with a small school, fears for the worst and writes his will.
Format and Substance of the Document: The text of this will is based on examples of the time.
Particular examples included the will of Thomas Cowper (1587):
“The tenthe day of December Anno domini 1587 and in the xxxth yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Ladye Elizabethe
In the name of god amen I Thomas Cowper of Shipton in the parishe of Winslo in the Countie of Buck yeoman beinge sick in bodye but wholl in sowle thancks be unto almightie god doe make this my Last will and testament in manner and forme followinge First I bequeathe my sowle into the hands of almightie god my maker And my bodye to be buried in the churche yarde of Winslo”
Robert Mytchell (1587):
“Therefore I now make my Testament and this my last will in maner and forme followinge. First I will and bequeathe my sowle into the hands of Almighty god by whome I looke most assuredly to be saved, and my body to be buryed in the Churchyarde of Wynslo afroresaid Item I bequeathe to the Churche of Wynslo iij s iiij d Item I owe to Mr Thomas Fidge x li. I owe to one Cowlan v li. Item after my debts paid I geve all the rest of my goods unto Alyce Mychell my wyfe unto her for the bringinge up of my Children. Item I make Alyce Mychell my wyfe my full executrix to this my last will; And overseers Mr Rycharde Edmonds parson of Shenley and Mr Will(ia)m Pigott of Wynslo gent.”
Anthony Jackson of the Bell, Yeoman (1591/1592):
I geve and bequeathe unto my wyfe Mowlde Jackson (whom also I do make my full and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament a lease of a Close com(m)only called Ponde Close together w(i)th all the Com(m)odityes of my house called the Bell and of my landes whatsoev(er) lyeinge w(i)thin the p(ar)ishe of Wynslowe aforesaid To have and to holde the foresaid house and landes from the Feast of St Michaell tharchangell next and immediately ensueinge the date herof for the space of iij whole yeares next followinge. And after that terme so accomplished and ended further to enioye and have the com(m)odityes of the sayd house and landes for the space of one whole yeare next ensueinge the thre next.
I used the will of a yeoman as a template because I imagine Lorenzo’s social class to be higher than a laborer, but not high enough to be gentry (Raphael Holinshed’s, Chronicles defines the class as a free land owner, not able to bear arms. He describes one collection of people as “gentlemen and yeomen.”).
Some Particular Items of the Will
The Soul Bequest
Lorenzo specifically points out that he is faithful to both God’s commandments and to the Sacraments. As a Catholic, he wants it pointed out that he has been faithful to his church, despite living under Elizabeth’s rule. Kate Cole, in her “Essex Voices Past” blog, points out that a Catholic would likely reference the Virgin Mary or the Company of Saints, while a Protestant Soul Bequest may reference the salvation of the soul through grace.
The Final Remains
The wills I have looked over show the decedent’s request for burial. Most often, this is the churchyard of the individual’s parish church. Money may even be specifically set aside for burial or other church costs.Lorenzo (a practicing Catholic), has no local parish church. Therefore, he commends his body to a friend he’s made over the last year while in London: Thomas Belson, a layman and seminarian who returned to England to proselytize Catholicism. He was executed in 1589). It is likely that Lorenzo would come across Catholic missionaries who had returned to England, and would likely support them when given the opportunity.
The Disposition of Funds
A key function of a will is the disposition of the estate.
The wills I’ve found belonging to slightly higher-classed people (landowners, yeomen) specify how their final debts should be paid. In some cases, they state that items of the estate should be sold for the purpose of paying their debts.
Property is also dispersed to specific individuals or entities (such as the parish church) and, sometimes, for specific time frames.
Lorenzo is specifically dedicating certain funds for the education of a young man in the science of defence. The money to be paid to Robert Edmonds (a Master of the Company of the Masters of the Science of Defense of the City of London) is enough to pay for Josef Mytchell’s dues for his entrance as into the company as a scholar under Edmonds(per Sloane MS. 2530).
Thomas Weaver was a Master of the Company who fought his prize at Bull’s Inn, nearby Fleet Street (“fletstreat”). Lorenzo, as a member of the Company of the Masters of the Science of Defense, would be acquainted with Weaver. Lorenzo offering the use of his school after his death is likely some way of repaying a debt (possibly the dues of his own prize-fight).
(A note on the location of Lorenzo’s school: no doubt, Lorenzo would have liked his academy to be within a more fashionable or affluent part of town. The fact that he has a school on the very busy and overcrowded Fleet Street may mean that he isn’t making the fortune he would have hoped or liked)
(Both Edmonds and Weaver taught the rapier, as well as the traditional English weapons of defense…probably why Lorenzo holds them in esteem.)
This will has not been “proofed” (notarized), nor has there been any inventory taken. That would be done by the church, after Lorenzo’s death.
The Will as a Tool for Living History
In creating this will, I had to ask questions about Lorenzo’s professional and personal life. Answering those questions caused me to think deeper about his motivations, fears, and professional and personal obligations.
When is he writing this? Why is he writing this himself, instead of paying a professional to have it written? Choosing to have it written shortly after the discovery of the Spanish construction of their armada illustrates some of the panic that had set in among the citizens of London. This is Lorenzo’s good-bye, and shows his concern about an uncertain future. He wants to pay recompense to business partners, as well as insure that his own remains will be cared for appropriately.
This will is also his last public declaration of faith. As a subject under Elizabeth at the time, he has little opportunity to worship publicly. How much contact would Lorenzo have had with the missionaries who returned to London (who would eventually be referred to as the Martyrs of England)? Has he placed Belson in danger by associating Belson with himself?
What was Lorenzo’s relationship with the Masters of the Science of Defence of the City of London? Did he pay all of his dues? Did he build any professional relationships with other masters?
Questions for the Future
What would be in his household inventory?
Who would be his creditors? How much would his inventory have to be sold for to pay them off?
For this to be official and notarized, it would have to be witnessed. Who would witness the document? If an “Alys Mackentosh” is his executrix, what is her relationship to his business?*
What kind of will would he write if he was not in pre-invasion panic? Would more money be set aside to other potential scholars? Servants?
How would this will look differently if Lorenzo’s dreams of becoming a courtier to Elizabeth’s court were realized?
*Rumor is that she’s a spy for Walshingham. That is probably how Belson was captured.
Works Referenced
Sloane Ms 2530 Papers of the Masters of Defense of London, Temp Henry VIII to 1590.
A Survey of London. Vol 1. Reprinted from the text of 1603. John Stow.
The Tudor Chronicles: 1453 – 1603. Susan Doran. Quercus Books. London.
Wells Wills: Arranged in Parishes and Annotated.Frederic William Weaver. K. Paul, Trench, Trübner Co. Ltd. London. 1890.
Kate Cole. The Soul Bequest: http://www.essexvoicespast.com/medieval-wills-and-religious-bequests/
Thomas Belson: http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1687
Wills and Inventories in the County of Winslow:
http://www.winslow-history.org.uk/winslow_wills.shtm
http://www.winslow-history.org.uk/winslow_will_cowper1587.shtm
http://www.winslow-history.org.uk/winslow_will_mychell1587.shtm
http://www.winslow-history.org.uk/winslow_will_jackson1591.shtm
Duels and Dice 