VELY, Richard

Perhaps related to the Laurence ‘Vale’ or ‘Wale’ who was bailiff of Worcester in 1446-7,2 C219/15/4. Vely is a much more obscure figure than his lawyer stepson, John Welford*, a native of that city who moved to Hereford and became an adherent of the Yorkists. Presumably, he was already married to the widowed Joan Welford by mid 1432, when he leased a messuage in Worcester to her son for a term of 12 years at 12d. p.a. He was certainly dead by mid 1441, for by that date Joan was the wife of another citizen, Henry Comyn. Welford would appear to have remembered his stepfathers with some fondness, for in his will of 1490 he arranged for a priest to pray for the souls of both Vely and Comyn as well as those of more immediate blood relatives.3 KB27/728, rot. 79; PCC 38 Milles (PROB11/8, ff. 303v-304).

During Vely’s only known Parliament, the Commons complained to the Crown about the activities of those impeding the free transport of goods to Worcester, Gloucester, Bristol and other towns situated by the Severn. Given that the petition concerned a matter affecting his city, it is possible that Vely and his fellow burgess, John Sharp I*, played a part in preparing or promoting it. The King responded to this request by ordering that his lieges should enjoy the right of free passage on the river for their rafts or barges.4 PROME, x. 361-2.