In the name of god Amen this present Satterday beinge the sixe and Twenteth day of June Anno domini 1588 and the thirteth yere of the Rainge of our Soverayne Lady Elizabeth by the grace of god Queen of England France, and Ierland, defender of the fayth etc I William Clerk of Potterspery alias Estpurie in the Counte of Northampton gent, beinge weak in body, but prefect of memorie thankes be to god for it doo make and ordayne This my testament, Conteyninge herein my Last will, [and]^d in manner and forme followinge, That is to say, Fyrst, and principally, I Commend my soule into the handes of Almightie god, my only savyour and Redemer and my body to be buryed in the Channcell of Estpurie Aforesaid Item I will that all such debtes as I owe in Right or Conscence to any persone, or persones shalbe payd by my executor w^th in Convenyent tyme, After my decease, Item I gyve, and bequeath to hellenor my wyff, all that my Lease Interest and terme of yeres, w^ch I have to in the tyth of Castell Thrupp in the Counte of buckinham, Item I geve and bequeath to my said wyff, Eight milch beastes, to be taken out of all my kyne by two Indyfferent men, and the same kyne to go in puxle pastures where they now go untill the feast of all S^tes next After my deceasse, Item I gyve more to my said wyff thone halff of my shepe, my younge bald geldinge, thone halff of my swine, and poltrie, Item I gyve more to my said wyff thon halff of my housold stuff, and goodes w^thin my now dwelling house of potterspery aforesaid Item I gyve more to my said wyff, halff the Crops, of Corne grayne and hey, now growinge in the groundes in the feldes of potterspery Aforesaid now in my occupation, and halff the fyer wode w^thin my yard where I now dwell, And I will y^t my said wyff, shall have, and Injoy, my now dwellinge house for the space of two yeres, next After my deceasse w^th the three Lees at the yard end, I will that my said wyff shall have lawfull ingresse and egresse, into, and from, the parsonage garden, and orchard duringe the said Two yeres, or soo Longe as she dwell w^thin the towne of potterspery Aforesaid duringe her widdowhode and Committinge no wast but usinge thinges there decently And farther I will and bequeath to be delivered onto of the parsonage of perry Aforesaid unto my said wyff, two quarters of mault, one quarter of wheat, and [three]^d [iiij]ⁱ quarters of barley, to be delivered unto hir the third yere next After my deceasse, and soo to Contynew, [yerly]^d yerely duringe as Long as she shall kepe hospitalite in potterspery in tyme of hir widdowhode Item I will y^t she shall out of the dove house of he said parsonage (yerely) iiij dosen of pygyons at such Convenyent tyme or tymes as she shall think most Convenyent of Item I gyve and bequeath to the poore of the said parish of potterspery liijs iiijd in monie to be gyven and distributed to and Amongest them by my executors, w^thin xij monthes next After my deceasse Item I gyve and bequeath to xij poore widdowes or poore women w^thin the said parish xij black freez [OED frieze: course woollen cloth with the nap on one side only] gownes to be delivered to them, as followeth vizt vj the fyrst winter next After my deceasse and thother vj the next winter followinge, and to iiij of the poorest old men iiij black freez Coates as in manner Aforesaid
Item I gyve towardes the Repayre of the said parish Church & the bells there xl^s to be delivered to the Church wardens w^thin one yere next After my deceasse Item I will that my executors shall bestow uppon the monument of my Anncestors buryed in the Channcell of the said Church the Somme of vj^£ xiij^s iiij^d, in beawtyfyinge and settinge out of the same w^th there armes, and some memoryall of my selff, w^thin fyve yeres next After my deceasse Item I gyve and bequeath to my brother Sylvester Clerk halff the mannor house w^th thappurtenances to the same in the town and feldes of Stanwek in the Counte of Northampton wherein my motherin Law now dwelleth, And to end Immedyatly After hir deceasse Item I gyve more to my said brother Sylvester Clerk, and his heres and Assignes all y^t my messuage or tenement w^th appertenances, w^thin the towne of buckingham, w^ch I hath purchased of one thomas meade, And I will, and gyve in Charge that he shall suffer my said wyff to Injoy the said messuage duringe hir Lyff, payinge to him his heres and Assignes xxvj^s viij^d yerely yff she will dwell uppon the same Contynually hir selff, duringe hir Lyff, otherwyse this part of the the [sic] Legacie to hir made to be voyde, Item I gyve my said brother Sylvester, my sword, and dager, my sute of buff w^th sylver Lace, Item I gyve to my brother Gabryell Clerk, my grey geldinge, and my sute of black vellett, and x^£ in monie to be pd him w^thin two yeres next After my deceasse. Item I will that my executors bestow viij^£ of one pece of plate, w^ch shall Remayne as A standard to the name & heres of the Clerkes for ever Item I gyve to thomas Saxbe minister at the said perry xx^s Item I gyve to thomas foster x^s, besyde the moniy his father oweth me, Item I gyve to Agnes meywode vj^s viij^d Item I gyve to Elizabeth Albert x^s Item I gyve to Richard Albert hir husband xiij^s iiij^d Item I gyve to John Swannders, and his wyff x^s Item I gyve to Joane shepperd widdow, and hir Children, xl^s, Item I gyve to Joane Addington v^s Item I gyve to every of my servantes vj^s viiij^d Item I gyve to the poore of paulerspery [& Cosgrave everie of them]ⁱ x^s Item I gyve to the poore of the parish of passenham x^s Item I gyve to the poore of weken & stony stratforth vj^s viij^d Item I gyve to every godchild that I have j shepe to be delivered to them wythin one yere After my deceasse, all the Rest of my goodes moveable, and unmoveable, my Landes, heredetamentes and Chattelles, unbequeathed, my debtes and funerals discharged I gyve to my brother Christopher Clerk whom I make my whole and sole executor of this my Last will, and testament, to execute and performe as Aforenamed, and I doo apoynt overseers of this my Last will my very frendes John Wake gent & william gorge gent, and I gyve them for there paynes, every of them v^£ In witnes hereof I have Caused this my Last will to be made and setto my Hand and seale the day and yere fyrst above written