Can anyone throw light on the phrase '*gostley father*' which is found in the 1547 will of George Nason: ' . . Sir Thomas Hakyns _my gostly father_ Andrewe Warberto[n] vicar of Charlecote' Other C15th documents using the phrase: 1558 will. '. . . wyttenes Ryc[hard] Wayne *my gostly father* . . .' 1557. Thomas Stafford was heddyd on the Towre hylle, at ix of the cloke, *master Wode behyng ys gostly father *1514. 'I will my *gostly father *Sr. Edward Marche shall do it . . .' * *1521. Agnes Bowyer of Over willed that *Thomas Wryght her 'gostly Father'* should visit or cause to be visited 'Our Lady of Redybunde. . . The SOED says:/Ghostly . . . of persons, spiritual, devout - 1483 . . . spiritual as opposed to lay, secular, or temporal' /Of particular interest is the personal relationship between the two protagonists. Is the 'gostly father' a godfather? Or some sort of religious mentor? Could it indicate that the testator/trix was him/herself a member of a religious guild in or some other way qualified to have a 'gostly' father? Perhaps the priest who baptised/confirmed someone? Or is there some sort of family relationship? George Nason mentioned two priests in his will, so 'gostly' cannot be taken to simply mean 'priest'. / /I await your erudite comment. MN -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.1/104 - Release Date: 16/09/2005