Wills and Testaments in Medieval England from the Thirteenth to the Sixteenth Century

Download or read book Wills and Testaments in Medieval England from the Thirteenth to the Sixteenth Century written by Robert A. Wood and published by Medieval Institute Publications. This book was released on 2023-03-01 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume explores the will-making process in late medieval England for all levels of society. Wills are some of the most studied records of the late Middle Ages and capture the evidence of what people owned and the patterns of family relationships. These documents, compiled from several archives and city records, cast a light on many aspects of medieval life, including gender distinctions and the heavy influence of the church. Included are wills from widows, tradespeople and artisans, clergy, and high-ranking wealthy people, and through these sources he shows how wills, inventories, and testaments prepared people and their souls for the afterlife.