| Notes |
- Robert Willance is famous in Richmond and Swaledale for surviving a leap of 212' from Whitcliffe Scar in November, 1606.
The following is from 'Romantic Richmondshire':
"At the summit of these bold cliffs is a spot known as '^ Willance's
Leap," which makes one shudder to think of the marvellous exploit of a
hunter at this place in the year 1606, the truth of which is vouched for
in local records. Robert Willance was a member of a family who came into Swaledale from Dent in the 16th century, and through success in trade acquired considerable wealth and became owners of the manor and estate of Clints. Harrison affirms that Robert Willance was the son of one Richard Willance, a draper, of Richmond, who married and left two sons, Robert and Nicholas, the latter of whom succeeded to the Richmond business. Robert was a successful lead miner, and his adventurous spirit led him not only to enterprise in the depths of the Swaledale hills, but he loved also to explore on foot and on horseback the wildernesses of their rugged summits. On the occasion above referred
to he was out hunting with a party when a fog coming on he galloped unawares to the verge of this tremendous cliff. Before he had time to withdraw his horse it sprang fractiously forward and bounded over the cliff, its rider half paralysed on its back, to the valley below, a fall of over 200 feet ! The animal was killed outright, and it is marvellous to think that Willance escaped with but a broken leg. The leg however had to be amputated, and tradition affirms that it was interred beneath a large stone in Richmond churchyard.
Willance afterwards became an Alderman of Richmond, and lived till 1615, when on the 12th of February in that year he was laid beside his leg. To commemorate his extraordinary escape at Whitcliffe he caused three stones to be erected at the places where his horse had taken the fatal leap. Each stone is 24 feet apart, and two of them are inscribed : " 1606. Glory be to our merciful God who miraculously preserved me from the danger so great.'* "
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In his will, which is registered at Richmond and at York, there are a few interesting bequests. He leaves 208. per annum, for 13 years, to be given at Richmond every Christmas even to poor widows and the aged poor, and a similar sum, for a like period, to the needy at Winster, Crook, and Croft. On the day of his burial each poor householder in Richmond is to receive 12rf., and every other poor body, in the town or present at the funeral, is to have a penny, and "dynners for the best." To Elizabeth his wife he gives a round hoop ring and a double ducat of gold.
To his nephew Brian Willance, his heir, he leaves his best horse and saddle and furniture, his best sword and dagger, his books, his books of debts excepted, and all his freehold land and mortgages. To Brian's two sisters, Anne and Jane Willance, he leaves 40/. To Thos. son of his master, Mr. Richard Willance, who was probably his elder brother, he leaves his close behind the Friars. To each of his " god- barnes," the boys 2s. each, the girls 12rf. - "there names are in my booke." To halt Brian Willance of Winster 10^. To John Willance aUas Wetherilt, his supposed son by Agnes Wetherilt, he leaves 300/. To Elizabeth Willance, alias Coates, his supposed daughter by Margaret Coates, now the wife of Giles Alderson of Ravenseat in Swaledale, he gives 100/. To his nieces Ann and Jane, daughters of Nicholas Willance his brother, he leaves 50/. each. The supervisors of his will are Francis Tunstall, Esq., Roger Gower, Chr. Askew, and Humphrey Wharton, gentlemen, to each of whom he gives five angels. In his inventory Willance's effects are valued at 751/. 5^., excluding what is due to him in his debt book which amounted to the large sum of 1119/. Us.
There is one bequest in Willance's will which is a very interesting one. It is a gift to the Corporation of Richmond.
"I give to the brotherhood of Alderman and Burgesses of Richmond, to remayne for ever with the Alderman for the tyme being, and by him to be delivered over to his successor, earely, one sylver bowle, whyte, weight twelve ounces, to be] ingraveu upon the same. This howle given by Robert Willance to the Incwyorated Alderman and Burgesses of Richmond^ to be used by the Alderman for the tyme being and
to he re-delivei^ed by him, his execut(^s, or assignes, to his suc-
cessors for ever/' This inscription,* to which the date of
1606, the year of Willance's wonderful escape, has been added, still remains upon a piece of plate which is in the possession of the Corporation of Richmond. It can scarcely, however, be called a bowl : it is rather in the shape of a cup or calix rising Hke a flow^er out of a graceful stalk. It is where the inscription on the piece of plate is given. a singularly handsome piece of plate, and must have been of some antiquity when it came into the hands of the Alderman.
Brian Willance, the son of Nicholas Willance, was the heir
of his uncle Robert, the Alderman of Richmond, and became
the owner of Glints. Of Brian Willance there is little known.
He left behind him two or more daughters and co-heirs,
among whom his property was divided. Of these, Elizabeth
carried Glints and other property in Richmond and elsewhere
to her husband, John Bathurst, M.D.
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- 1616