The will of Robert Howcote of Bruntingthorpe, proved about 1603
Anno
Domini 1602
In
the name of god Amen the 15th day of March in the 45th year of the
reign of Elizabeth by the grace of god Queen of England France and Ireland.
I
Robert Howcote of Brentingthorpe in the countie of Leicester being sick &
weake in body but perfect of memory, blessed be god do make & ordayne this
to be my Last will and testament in manner & forme followinge;
first
I commend my soule into the handes of the Lord my god not doubtinge but my Lord
god for his mercies sake set forth in the bloud of his sonne Christ our saviour
will receive my soule into his glory & place it in the company of his
blessed saynts my body I commend to the yearth from whence it cam to be buried
Christian like: nothing doubting but that the great day of the Lord the generall
resurrection I shall receive it agayne by the mightie power of god not a weake
& vile & corruptible body as it is now but an Incorruptible &
immortall body like unto the glorious body of my saviour Christ:
the
poore to my abilitie I have remembered:
&
for my wife I will have her thus provided for: to her whole findinge fit for her
age in all things with my executor as long as she liveth if she will Doing her
indevour to take the paynes as she is able for my executor & to have £10 at
her end to give where she will & if she will go away to have £12 payed her
in 3 years £4 a yeare & to have her coffer with her Linnen & a bed
furnished
I
give to my childers children to every one a ewe & a lambe;
&
to my daughter mary I give 20s.
I
give to my goddaughter a Lambe:
to
Robert Shawe if he be willing to go from my executor I give £13 6s. 8d.
&
to Richard Frost if he continew & dwell still with my executor 3 yeares I
give £5.
my
executor I make my sonne Robert Howcoute to whome I give the rest of my goods
all duties being discharged.
to
my sister I give 4 strikes of corne.
The
witnesses hereunto [are] William Clarke ye writer & William Paulyn
\\
the hand of the sayd testator
Transcribed
by
Francis
Howcutt from a photocopy of the original.