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Philip Scapulis
Scapulis was a member of the Stationers' Company before the charter of 1557; in February 1555/6, he was assessed 6d. for Bridewell (Arber, I, 48). Duff (p. 143) cites his will, which was probated in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in 1590, but quotes only Scapulis' identification from the published index to P.C.C. wills. In the document itself, dated 9 August 1589, he describes himself as "Philipp Scapulis Stacyoner borne in Germany in the Auncyent Cittie of Trier and dwellinge in Brustoe [i.e., Bristol, Gloucestershire] in England in Wyne Streate in the parishe of the holie trinitye" (P.R.O., Prob. 11. 75/Drury 36; the will is signed "By me Phillipp Scapulis [merchant deleted] stacioner of Bristowe"). He asks "to be buryed . . . in the parishe churche of the holie Trinitye before the pewe wherein I was wont to kneele." He makes a number of ten-shilling bequests: to John Ball, a poor cripple; to John Tanye, bowyer, and his wife; to a poor, lame man named Hewes, one of the almsmen of the Almshouse within Lawfourdes gate,[9] and Anne his wife; to poor Goodwife Gere, who dwelt with him in London and nourished him as a child and who was now living in Bristol; to Robert Goodyere, smith, and Margaret his wife, in St. Peter's parish; to the poor prisoners in Newgate (5s. in bread); to old Richard Rudge, shoemaker; to old John Faye, grocer, dwelling upon the Bridge; to fifty poor men or women that are known to be true protestants (6d. each); to George Brumley, gardener, and his wife; to the wife of Goodman Risse, deceased, formerly a shearman dwelling in Temple Street (5s. to his wife, then in one of the Almshouses within Lawfordes Gate); to the two maids then living with him (Alice and Elizabeth Yeomans); and to poor old Goodwife Ellen, living in the Almshouse on Michellhill.
He leaves the residue of his estate to his wife Elizabeth, whom he names sole executrix. As overseers, he names his cousin Thomas Tyler, hooper, dwelling in Ballance Street, and his friend Hugh Harvey, schoolmaster and scrivener. He mentions three godsons: Philip, son of Thomas the gardener;
The most interesting bequest is to Richard Fourde, stationer, of Bristol, who was formerly Scapulis' apprentice and who is mentioned as owing Scapulis some money: "I do giue vnto Richard ffourde stacyoner which was sometymes my prentise my great presses which standethe in my garden and my three mouldes made of latten wyer to make paste bordes withall. And I doe giue hym all my cording Bourdes which hange vppon strings in my workinge chaumber." He leaves to his neighbor Nicholas Wolfe, cutler, his longest riding sword, and to his cousin Henry Nayler his other long riding sword. The will, which Scapulis says he wrote on both sides of a lease, was not witnessed until 20 February 1589/90, by Henry Nayler and Richard Fourde. Through a notary public, Elizabeth Scapulis probated the will on 21 May 1590.
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