Scope and Content
"I bequeth my soull to Allmeghtie God my Redemer and savyour the only God, maker and savyour of all the worlde by his dyvyne powr and word, wiche God suffered his paynfull deth and shede his most precius blode apon the crosse for me and All mankynde that confesse Criste and his worde by the wiche worde I confesse my selfe to be a myserable synner worthy of his Ryght Justis of confusion and damanation Frome the wiche Justes I do apele and here I do Repent me of my former synfull lyff and I renunce and forsayke the woled the devell and the Flesse and take me to his infynyte mercy by the wiche I truste and hope to be one of the elect childern of his salvation"
Burial in whatever parish churchyard that it shall please God "that I shall dye in", and to the "box" of that church 12d. to be divided at the church wardens' discretion "to poore men accordinge to the Kinges Injunctions"
To son-in-law John Clarke the greatest coffer, 6 silver spoons, testator's best gown, a brass laver, a corded bedstead, a featherbed, a bolster, a down pillow, a pillow bere, a bed curtain, a pair of blankets, a great cushion, and a black hued cow .
To son-in-law Edward Clarke a featherbed, a bolster, a down pillow, a coverlet of "ymagery", a pair of blankets, a hanging of tapestry work with curtains of the same, testator's best coat, a mazer with the ring of silver parcel gilt, the second best coffer, a gridiron, and the best red hued cow.
To son-in-law William North a silver spoon, a wool mattress, a pair of blankets, a bolster, a down pillow, a coverlet, "A great wolde brasyn panne", a spinning wheel, a great cushion, a pair of pot hangers, a table with the trestles to wind wool upon, a great spit, a coffer, a cupboard standing in the parlour, a pair of scales and leaden weights to weigh wool with, one weight of half the hundreth, a quarter weight, a 9 pound weight, a 7 pound weight, a 2 pound weight and a pound weight, a red cow and all the sheep that he has of the testator in his keeping.
All his sheep going in Gravenhurste, Clophill and Campton are to go to his sons-in-law John Clarke, Edward Clarke and Lawrence Whytbred to be divided equally between them.
Residue of all household goods to son-in-law Lawrence Whytbred, and to him also all the remaining years of the "Ferme" (lease) of Gravenhurste that testator has of Sir Henry Gray knight, provided always that if it happen that Thomas Whytbred, father of Lawrence Whytbred, shall die within the years of the said lease, that then testator bequeaths all the rest of the years of the lease to Thomas Pryddon "upon Resonable warneing geven by the said Thomas".
To John Clarke, Edward Clarke, William North and Lawrence Whytbred, his four sons-in-law the £20 that Master John Fyssher owes testator as specified in certain bonds, the money to be divided equally between them. He leaves to the same four sons-in-law £54 which sir Richard Kent, clerk, vicar of Pulloxhill, and his sureties are bound to testator, the amount to be divided equally between the four.
To the 9 children of John Clarke 9 old angels between them. To the 6 children of Edward Clarke 6 old angels. To the 5 children of William North 5 old angels. To the 2 children of Lawrence Whytbred 2 old angels. To the 3 children of Thomas Prydden 3 old angels. To John Spycer an old angel. To John Emeling, his wife and Thomas his son 3 old angels.
To his servant Gregory 12d. and to the two lads within his house 4d. each. To Elzabeth Ensam 12d.. To John Chapman 12d..
To sons-in-law John Clarke and William North his horse "to be equally devydyt betwene them", and they are to pay to two unmarried daughters of Edward Sybley five marks which testator owes them, on their marriage, but if either or both should die, the money to go to the rest of the sisters.
To Thomas Pryddyn the remaining years that testator has (of a lease) from Master Gray of Pound Mede and 2 doles in the Great Mede which are part of the lease from Master Grey, the land abutting on Rolland Nyxsons Close.
Executors his two sons-in-law John Clarke and William North, and overseers sons-in law Edward Clarke and Lawrence Whytbred
Witnesses John Hosheyer rector there, Thomas Thoughton, Thomas Whytbred, Cristopher Stonesby.