books on physic and philosophy he had a Hebrew Bible and a Syriac Testament, as well as works in Italian, Greek, and Latin, which prove he was no mean linguist. He was fond of music, and died possessed of a couple of theorbos, a stringed instrument, and an Irish harp. He studied music in theory as well as practically, and to aid him had bought the standard work on harmony by an Italian, Joseph Zarlino.

The following skeleton pedigree, chiefly derived from Hunter, will show his relations ::

(1) Timothy Bright, of Melton, a barrister. Died Sept. 20, 1617; buried at

Melton; married Edith, daughter of John Lewis, of Marr,
recorder of Doncaster. Will dated October 4, proved
November, 1617

[Consistory Court, Vol. xxxi, fo. 180.]

In the name of the most holie and blessed Trinity, God the ffather, God the sonne, and God the holy ghost, one God eternall and omnipotent, I, Timothy Bright of Barwick in Elmett in the County of Yorke, Clerke, and Doctor of Phisick, being sick in bodie, but of good and perfect remembrance, do, this present nyneth day of August, in the yeare of our lord and saviour Christ, one thousand six hundreth and ffiftenth, make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge, that is to say, ffirst wth a most thankfull acknowledgment of Godes great benefittes, both spiritual and temporall, bestowed on me of his free mercye wthout any desert of myne, I comend my soule vnto God to remayne in euerlastinge blisse, wth the rest of the soules of Godes Sainctes, as is

2

my constant fayth it shall, by the merittes of my saviour Christ, and my body I comitt vnto ye earth, to be buried when and where it shall please God, ther to remayne vntil the generall ioyfull resurrection. And for the disposicon of my goodes and chattells, my will is, and I do hereby will and bequeath vnto my much beloved. brother, William Bright, Bacho' of Divinitie, and publique preacher of Godes word in the towne of Salop, in the County of Salop, all thoos my bookes, called or knowne by the name or names of the Hebrue byble, the Syriac testament, Josephus Zarlinus in Italian,' in two volumes, and Plato in Greeke and latine, translated by Marsilius ficinus, and thoos my Instrumentes of musick called the Theorbo,3 wth its case, and the Irishe harpe, wch I most vsuallye played vpon. And I giue and bequeath to Titus Bright, my sonne, Doctor of Phisick, the somme of xxtie poundes in money, and all my bookes of Phisick and Philosophie, and the rest of my Instrumentes of musick, not bequeathed to my said brother, for his full childes parte and porcon of all my goodes, chattells and estaite. Furthermore after my debtes and legacies in this my will specified and my funeral charges and expenses satisfied, paid and discharged, I give and bequeath vnto my deare and entirelie beloved wife, Margaret Bright, all the rest and residue of my goodes, chattells, credittes and estate, wch I shall haue to me in any wise belonging, due or owing at the tyme of my death, reposeing my whole trust in her for to give and bestow to my daughter, Elizabeth Bright, such a portion for her maintenance and preferment in marriage, as my said wife shall thinke meet, and not otherwise.

And my will further is, and I do earnestlie inioyne my

1 Joseph Zarlino, master of the chapel of St. Mark's, Venice, and one of the most celebrated writers on the theory of music, was born at Chioggia in 1519, and lived until 1599. An edition of his collected works was printed at Venice in 1589 in four folio volumes. His most celebrated work on music, the one probably alluded to above, appeared in folio at Venice in 1558, 1562, and 1573, under the title:-Istituzioni harmoniche, divise in quattro parti, nelle quale, oltre le materie appartenanti alla musica, trovano dichiarati molti luoghi de poeti, historici e filosofi.

2 Marcilio Ficino, son of Cosimo de Medici's physician, was born at Figline in 1433. When a youth of eighteen he entered the Medicean household, and began to learn Greek, in order that he might qualify himself for translating Plato into Latin. He was forty-four years old when he finished his translation of Plato's

works. Five years more elapsed before the first edition was printed, in 1482, at Filippo Valori's expense. He also translated Plotinus and Dionysius the Areopagite, "On the Hierarchies" (Symonds' Renaissance in Italy. Revival of Learning, 1882, p. 324).

3 The Theorbo was a musical instrument of the lute class, having two necks, the one above the other, the lower bearing the melody strings, which were stretched over a fretted fingerboard, and the upper bearing the accompaniment strings or "diapasons," which were deeper in pitch, and were played without being stopped. The Theorbo was much used in the seventeenth century for accompaniments of all kinds, and was an important constituent in the orchestra of the period (Century Dictionary).

4 The old Irish harp was similar to the harp in the royal arms. See Groves' Dictionary of Music, s.v. Harp.

said wife, that she suffer not myne eldest sonne, Timothy Bright,' to haue any parte of my said goodes, chattells or estate, in regarde I haue alreadie advanced him aboue my estate in hope of his kindness, to be shewed to my said wife and other children, according to his promyse in that behalfe made, wch I chardge him to performe, as he will avoyde the wrothe of God. And nevertheless I giue and bequeath to my sonne, Timothy, a peece of gold of vs. vjd., for and in full payment and discharge of his parte and portion of all my goodes, chattells and estate. And I do make and ordeyne my said. wife, Margaret, alone to [be] my sole and onely executrix of this my last will and testament, and I do appoint my very worfull and approved ffrend, S Henry Goodrick, of Ribston, in the Countie of Yorke, knight, to be overseer of this same my last will and testament, to whome I give my other theorbo, as a token of my love. In witnes wherof I haue herevnto put my hand and seale, the day and yeare aboue written. Sealed, subscribed, written and published in the presence and sight of William Bright, Thomas Harries, William. Rowely, Richard Hoddins, George Wright, Paull ffarrles and Elizabeth Langley. Proved by the relict on Nov. 13, 1615.

1 Administration to the estate of Timothy Bright, of Melton-on-the-Hill, Esq., and the tuition of his children, Timothy, Robert, Mary, and Jane, were granted on Nov. 7, 1617, to Thomas Lewes, of Marre, esq. The will of his widow, Edith Bright, of Melton, sick in body, but of good memory, was proved the same day by her brother, the abovenamed Thomas Lewes. By her will, dated Oct. 4, 1617, she left her son, Timothy, 600, and a similar sum between her three other children, which

sums were to be raised out of the leasehold impropriate of Roiston. She mentions her mother-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Bright, and her brother-in-law, Titus Bright, who were witnesses to her will, with Thomas Lewes, John Davies, Thomas Levitt, Mres Mary Lewes of Marre, and Dorothy Lee (Reg. Test., xxxiv, 748).

2 Sir Henry Goodrick married Jane, daughter of Sir John Savile of Methley, which may account for his friendship with Bright.

TESTAMENTUM1 WILLELMI DE LEDES, FILII ET

HEREDIS ROGERI DE LEDES, FACTUM.

COMMUNICATED BY ROBERT H. SKAIFE.

IN Dei nomine, Amen. Vicesimo secundo die mensis Julii, anno Domini millesimo ccccmo, ego Willelmus de Ledes, filius et heres Rogeri de Ledes,2 militis, condo testamentum meum in hunc modo. In primis do et lego animam meam Deo Omnipotenti, Beate Marie Virgini, atque Omnibus Sanctis, et corpus meum ecclesiastice sepulture ubicumque Deus disposuerit. Et insuper volo quod Johanna, mater mea, habeat et teneat ad terminum vite sue totum manerium de Okewell, cum omnibus membris et pertinenciis suis, reddendo inde annuatim Willelmo Burgoigne sexaginta solidos sterlingorum ad totam vitam suam, ita quod post decessum dicte Johanne, matris mee, dictum manerium, cum omnibus membris et pertinenciis suis, rectis heredibus meis integre remaneat imperpetuum. Et volo quod omnia terre et tenementa mea, redditus et servicia, cum pertinenciis suis, in villis et territoriis de Morlay et Burlay, veniant per feoffatores, in eisdem terris et tenementis feoffatos, cuicumque carnis venei possunt,* et pecunia inde recipienda ad satisfaciendum pro debitis meis et prefati Rogeri, patris mei, et quod residuum fuerit in administracione pro salute animarum nostrarum administretur. Et volo quod omnia alia terre et tenementa mea, cum pertinenciis, in comitatu Eboracensi rectis heredibus meis integre remaneant. Et volo quod dicta Johanna, mater mea, habeat et teneat ad terminum vite sue totum manerium de Ledes, cum pertinenciis suis, reddendo inde et solvendo Elizabethe,

1 York Corporation Records, B.y., fo. 236. My copy of this will, made in 1867, has been kindly collated with the original by Mr. William Brown, F.S.A., to whom I am also indebted for transcripts (see next page) of those of Sir Roger de Ledes and his descendant, Dame Jane Hussey.

2 In 1284-5 his ancestor, Roger de Ledes, alias de North Hall, held property in Leeds and East Armley of the fee of Henry, Earl of Lincoln (Surtees Society, vol. xlix, page 38). One of the jurors on the Inquisition concerning Knights' Fees in Skyrack wapentake in 1302-3 was Roger de Ledes, who then held the eighth

part of a fee in Leeds, for which he was assessed at 5s. in the Aid granted for the marriage of the King's eldest daughter (Ibid., page 28). He was probably the same person as Roger de Northalle, who was assessed at 2s. 2 d. for one carucate in Wortley, near Leeds (Ibid., page 279).

3 Oakwell, in the parish of Birstall, about three miles west from Morley (?).

An obscure passage, which I am unable to elucidate. Mr. Brown suggests that the testator intended that his property in Morley and Burley should be sold to some relative.

sorori mee, ad maritagium suum, xx/i. sterlingorum; et Katerine, sorori mee, ad maritagium suum, xxli. Et si altera eorum obierit, illa que vixerit habeat ad maritagium suum totam pecuniam eis superius legatam. Et volo quod Johannes Marsshall, cognatus meus, habeat et percipiat ad terminum vite sue redditum xxs. de manerio de Ledes, cum pertinenciis. Et lego Willelmo Forester, servienti meo, unum redditum xiijs. iiijd. ad totam vitam suam, de manerio predicto percipiendum. Et Johanni Coke, servienti meo, unum redditum xiijs. iiijd. ad totam vitam suam, de predicto manerio percipiendum. Et Dakyn Birche, servienti meo, unum redditum xiijs. iiijd. ad totam vitam suam de manerio predicto percipiendum. Et lego domino Roberto de Brompton, capellano, xxs. vel unum garum (?) vocatam Jak. Et domino Johanni de Morley, capellano, vjs. iiijd. Residuum vero omnium bonorum meorum, superius non legatorum, do et lego prefate Johanne, matri mee, ad faciendum inde pro anima mea et animabus omnium fidelium defunctorum, prout melius viderit expedire. Et prefatam Johannam, Thomam Gra,' et Willelmum Burgoigne facio et et (sic) constituto executores meos per presentes. In cujus rei testimonium huic presenti testamento sigillum meum apposui. Datum Eboraci die et anno predictis. [Ex registro ejusdem civitatis vocato Domeseday.]

From the evidence furnished by the above wills, the following short pedigree may be constructed :

William de Ledes, son and heir, lord of the manors of Leeds and Oakwell. Held land in Burley, etc. Will dated at York, 22nd July, 1400

1 Probably Thomas Gra, lord mayor in 1398, whose eldest son, Sir John Gra, of North Ingleby, co. Lincoln, married Margaret, daughter of Sir Roger de Swillington.

2 Administracio concessa in bonis domini Rogeri de Ledes, militis. Memorandum quod hoc est ultima voluntas, nuncupative probata, domini Rogeri de Ledes, militis, videlicet: quod primo et principaliter quod de bonis suis mobilibus solverentur debita in quibus tempore mortis sue creditoribus suis tenebatur. Et si bona hujusmodi ad hoc non suffecerint, alienarentur redditus sui in Burlay et Cusseworth, ac parcelle reddituum, ad ipsum pertinentes, in villa de Morlay. Et, si

quid ex perceptione vendicionis hujusmodi, solutis debitis, superesset, quod illud residuum reservaretur in ad maritagium Elizabethe et Katerine, filiarum suarum. Nullos tamen constituit executores hujus voluntatis sue, et ideo ex officio, tanquam ab intestato, penultimo die mensis Februarii, anno Domini supradicto [1398] commissa est administracio in bonis dicti domini Rogeri, nuper defuncti, in forma constitucionis super hoc edita, domine Johanne, relicte dicti defuncti, cum addito juramento per eandem [quod] conservabit dominum archiepiscopum et ejus officiarios totaliter indempnes in hac parte, etc. (Reg. Test., iii, fo. 17).