In Gods name Amen the six day of January in Anno Domini 1597 I Robert Brytten of Morend in the parish of Potterpury being sick in body but yet of good and perfect remembrance thanks be to God do make my last Will and Testament in manner and form following First I give and yield up my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Potterspury and for my goods which the Lord for a time has lent me I give and bequeath in manner and form as follows First I give to my son Richard Brytten eight selions of land and leazes containing by estimation three acres whereof three selions bring arable containing an acre and a half do lie together in Blackland slade And other two selions being leazes containing three roods do lie together upon Cleylye green furlong And three other selions being leazes containing three roods do lie together upon the same furlong and all heads ends and other the appurtenances to the said three acres of land belonging and appertaining to hold to him the said Richard and to his heirs and assigns forever. Item I give to my said son Richard and his son Thomas during their natural lives five shillings yearly to be paid by my son John Britten at the feast of St. Michael the Archangel for and during the said Richard and Thomas their said natural lives and the life of the survivor of them and no longer Item I give to my said son Richard three pounds in money and two strike of peas. Item I give to my said son Richard one ambling mare and three shillings four pence more in money. Item I give to my son John Britten three pounds and two strike of peas Item I give to Elizabeth Britten my wife three pounds and four strike of peas and my featherbed whereon I now lie with a coverlet and a pillow thereto belonging. Item I give to Agnes Nelson and to William Nelson her son to either of them twelve pence and to John Nelson four pence Item I give to Agnes Battoms my daughter three pounds and two strike of peas Item I give to William Battoms the son of Thomas Battoms one half rood land in Cosgrave field to hold to him and his heirs forever Item I give to Edward Woodward three shillings four pence Item I give to the parish church of Potterspury ten shillings Item I give to the poor in the same parish ten shillings to be distributed at the discretion of Edward Woodward and Richard Britten. Item I give to the Mother church of Peterborough four pence Item I give to the ringers at my burial six shillings. Item I give to John Frost one strike of barley. All the rest of my goods and chattels moveable and unmoveable whatever my debts and legacies being paid and my funeral discharged I give and bequeath to Richard Britten and Edward Woodward whom I do make the executors of this my last Will and Testament.

These being witness William Burgis, Thomas Spencer, Humfrey Wheately, clerk

Debts owing to him

William Burgis 24s. 8d.

John Whorlet 46s. 8d.

John Windmill 8s. 8d.

William Stoe 3s.

Thomas Battoms £13 6s. 8d.

John Britten 46s. 8d

Debts which he owes to Thomas Addington £3 13s. 4d.

Probate 7th. April 1598

Halliwell’s Dictionary of Archaic & Provincial Words Vol. II

Selion A short piece of arable land in ridges and furrows, of uncertain quantity. It is sometimes defined to be a ridge of land lying between two furrows.