Title
Robert Coole of Byglyswade made 27 July pr. 28 Aug. 1542.
Burial in the church of St. Andrewe of Bykylliswade. To the high altar for tithes forgotten 12d.. To the same church "a grayle off wryghtyn hande".
His executors are to keep for 20 years an annual obit for the souls of testator and his friends and all Christians, i.e. to the curate for mass and dirige 4d., for 2 tapers 2d., to the clerk 2d., to the sexton 2d. to set forth the hearse, and his executors are to give 2s. to the poorest people "off the pariche wher as they shall thynke best and most nede" , the money to be levied on the house that testator's mother dwells in "next the Bretherade priestes howse".
To wife Johanna £20 in money, and all her household stuff that she brought with her.
To son Henry Coole and his heirs the house where testator dwells, called The Aungell, and his two half burgages where his barn stands.
To son Robert Coole and his heirs testator's house called the Kateryn Whell, with two half burgages on the back side.
To son William Coole Flattburyes Howse with all appurtenances.
To son George Cole and his heirs testator's half burgage in Holme Stratt, also testator's half burgage next the house of the Bretherode priest.
To son Henry Coole £6 13s. 4d. and a silver spoon; to son Robert Coole £6 13s. 4d. and a silver spoon; to daughter Johanna Coole £13 6s. 8d., a red hued cow, 8 sheep, a pot and a pan, 3 platters, 2 pewter dishes, 2 saucers, a feather bed with all that belongs to it, a silver spoon.
To daughter Mary £6 13s. 4d., 8 sheep, a silver spoon. To daughter Agnes Coole £10, 8 sheep and a silver spoon. To daughter Elysabeth Wennam £6 13s. 4d., 8 sheep and a silver spoon.
To son William Coole £10, 8 sheep and a silver spoon; to son George Coole £10, 8 sheep and a silver spoon, to daughter Deonissa £10, 8 sheep and a silver spoon; to daughter Margaret Coole £10, 8 sheep and a silver spoon.
Sons William Coole and George Coole to enter on their stocks of money at the age of 19. His daughters Dionissa and Margaret Coole are to have their stocks at the age of 18 or at the time of their marriage, if they marry before then.
Should any of these 4 children die before they receive their legacy, then it to be divided among the survivors. Should all die then their money legacies to go to Bekyllyswade church to be used for the souls of testator, his wife and all Christians.
To Margaret Potkyn/Pottyn at the time of her marriage 40s.. To Mary Shawe a ewe and a lamb.
To the highway between this town and Potton 20s..
To his mother 8d. a week for her natural life. To John Wyngor a quarter of malt.
To Andrewe Coole clerk a quarter of malt. To Nicolas Coole a quarter of malt. To William Coole his maser.
To wife Johanna her dwelling and occupying of testator's house where he lives for 8 years, if she remains single, and 6 quarters of rye of the next crop, with the rest of his sheep as yet unbequeathed and 2 kine, to bring up his 2 youngest children, George and Margaret. To her also 10s. out of his close at Short Mede during the said 8 years, keeping up the repairs and paying the lord's rent. Should she remarry within the 8 years, then she is to have £20 with her own household stuff, and go where she wishes. If she does not remarry, then she is to have Flatbur' House (at the end of the 8 years) for the rest of her natural life, paying no rent but doing all repairs.
To his son Hery Coole his table named a counter. To son William Coole the table in the hall, also testator's indenture of lease from St. Catheryn's Halle, and the indenture of lease from the Fraternity of Bekyllswed, and at the end of the 8 years, testator gives to son William four horses priced £4, a yoke of oxen priced 5 nobles, 2 shod carts worth 40s. and a plough, together with all the gear that belongs to a cart and a plough.
His executors at his burial are to give 4d. to every priest, 2d. to every clerk, 1d. to every child and 1d. each to everyone at his funeral, and they are to keep the 29 days after his burial with both mass and dirige and to bestow every day 2s., i.e. to the vicar 4d., to sir Thomas 4d., to the clerk 2d., to the sexton 2d., to 12 of the poorest persons of the parish 12d..
8 marks to be given to a priest to say mass for a whole year for the souls of testator, his wives Johanna and Margaret, and all Christians.
To his wife Johanna as much straw from his next crop as she shall spend in a whole year.
If William or George Coole die before they come to the age given above, then each to be heir to the other. Should both die then the properties are to go to his other sons.
John Wennam is to have his dwelling in Flattburis Howsys for the eight years immediately after the death of testator, paying no rent, but keeping up repairs of the said houses.
To daughter Agnes Coole a featherbed and all that belongs to it, the best next "Johnys", and also a pot, a pan, and other pewter as Johanna has. To daughter Dionissa a feather bed and all that belongs to it (the best next to the one left to Agnes) with a pot and a pan and the other pewter as Johanna has.
To William Coole a brass pot and to son George Coole a brass pot. The rest of his household stuff to his unmarried daughters.
Should his wife Johanna marry or die within the 8 years, then those who are bringing up his children George and Margaret are to have the stuff in the testator's house where he lives for 8 years, and also 10s. out of the close at Short Made.
Residue to Master William Segraffe (to whom 10s.) and testator's brother Henry Coole (to whom 20s.) to use for souls, and they to be executors.
Witnesses sir Thomas Skett clerk, Henry Lawson, William Ivery of Hexton.