Chapter II: Ancient Wills (2)

“Item. I Will that I have brennying (burning) at my burying and funeral service four tapers and twenty-two torches of wax, every taper to contain the weight of ten pounds and every torch sixteen pounds, which I Will that twenty-four very poor men and well disposed shall hold, as well at the time of my burying as at my _monethe’s minde_ (month’s remembrance).

“Item. I Will that after my _monethe’s minde_ done, the said four tapers be delivered to the church-wardens, &c.

“And that there be 100 children within the age of 16 years, to be at my _monethe’s minde_ to pray for my soul ... that against my _monethe’s minde_ the candles bren (burn) before the rude in the Parish Church.

“Also that at my _monethe’s minde_ my executors provide 20 priests to sing _plucebo dirige_, &c.”

THE WILL OF SIR RICHARD HAMERTON, KNT.

(1480)

This will be found interesting from the characteristic style and quaint orthography in which it is penned; the detail, too, is eminently suggestive of a simplicity in the individual mind of the testator as well as of the social tone of the times, much at variance with the more complicated habits of our own day. Sir Richard, it must be remarked, was “the head of one of the most ancient and illustrious of the Craven families, the representatives of which still flourish and count up to more than twenty generations of Hamerton’s.”

“Richard Hamerton, knyghte, in my hole mynde and witt. To be beryed in the kirke of Preston in Craven, in the chapell of Our Ladye and Seignt Anne, in the southe syde of the saide kirke, wherein a chauntery is founded for a prest in perpetuite to syng for Lawrence Hamerton, esquier, and me, the said Richard Hamerton, knyghte, our wyffes, our childre, and all our ancestres.

“Item: I gyff in the name of my mortuary my beste hors, with my sadell, bridell, and othre thingis pertenying to the same.

“Item: I bequeth to the abbot and convent of the monastery of Sallay a standing maser covered and gilted, to pray for me.

“Item: I bequeth to my son William my best whyte cupp of sylver standing.

“Item: To my son Sir Stephen my salet gilted, ij basyns, ij lavers, ij chafours, ij pottes, vj doublers, xij dysshes, and vj sausers, according to my fader will, as apperith folowyng: _i.e._ to the saide Sir Stephen and to the heires male of his body; and for defaute, then to Raner Hamerton, son of John Hamerton, broder to the saide Sir Stephen; then to Roger Hamerton, broder to the saide Raner; then to William Hamerton, broder to the saide Sir Stephen; and for defaute I wille that the saide sylver plate shalle remayne to the abbot and convente of the monastery of Sallay for evermore; for which the saide abbot and convente and ther successoures shall praye for the saules of the said Lawrence Hamerton and Isabell his wyffe, and me, the saide Richarde and Dame Elizabeth my wyffe, our childre saules, and all our auncestres, and for those saules whose bodyes we wer most behalden unto in ther lyffes, and for all Cristen saules.

“Item: I bequeth to my saide son, Sr. Stephen, the tabel in the chapell, wt. all thingis belongyng the same, a ladell, ij brasse pottes of the grettest, ij garingsshe of pewder vessell, a chargiom, a handreth of yern iiij fete, iiij lange spyttes of yren. To my nevewe, John Hamerton, my grete countour in the hall. To my nese, his wyffe, a standing cuppe of sylver dim gilt.

“To my broder James ij oxen, and also my wyffe hath given to hym ij whyes.

“To Raner Hamerton a horse of ij yeres olde ambulyng, another of the same age that ambulys to Roger Hamerton.

“To Cristofer Jakson, a stot and xiij _s._ iiij _d._ of money. To Richard Clerk a don hors and xiij _s._ iiij _d._

“To John Rayngill, a stot and whye. To Thomas Kay a stot of ij yeres olde. To William Iveson a styrk.

“To William Fisshe a whye styrk. To Robert Coke a styrk and a whye. To Majory Stowte a whye of age. To William Standen an oxe.

“Item: I bequeth to a priest xij mark to syng ij yeres for my saule, and my wyffe, and all Cristen saules. To iiij orders of Freres iiij _l._ To the Prior and Convent of the Monastery of Bolton xl _s._ I bekueth x marke to be distribute emonge my pore tennantes and neghtburs. I bequeth x marc to be distribute emonge pore falkes at the daye of my burying. I ordene and mak my wyffe, Dame Elizabeth, my sones, Sir Stephen and William Hamerton, myn executors. I bequeth ij stottes to William Scarburgh. To Richard Hamerton, my broder James son, a fylle of iij yere. To my wyffe a wayne wt. vj oxen. To my son William an othir wayne and vj oxen. To John Ellis the yonger a mair.

“Testibus Ricardo Parisshe, Ablate de Sallay, et Willelmo Scarburgh generoso.”

WILL OF “ARLOTTO, THE PARSON”

(1483)

“Arlotto, the Parson,” who is described as an Italian priest of “infinite jest and most excellent fancy,” who died in 1483, left among his testamentary documents a wish that the following words should be placed upon his tomb: “This sepulchre was made by the parson Arlotto, for himself and for any other man who may desire to enter therein.” These words remained upon his tomb until they were obliterated by time.

WILL OF JOHN TURVYLE

(1500)

In a will written about the year 1500, that of John Turvyle, of Newhall, Leicestershire, “Squyer,” there is a bequest to William, his “son and heire apparant,” of “a bason and an ewer of silver, warnyng and chargyng him, on my blessyng, and as he will answere afore God at the day of dome, that he shall bequeith them after his decesse to his son and heire apparant, and so under this manner and condicion the forsayd basyn and ewer of silver to go from heire to heire while the world endureth.” Which seems to show that the modern system of making particular articles heirlooms to go with the estates, so that they should be kept in the family, had not then been invented.

WILL OF ALICE LOVE

(1506)

A specimen of a lady’s will gives some idea of the costumes and fashions of the day, and the store placed upon their wardrobes, which were not so easily replenished as they are now:

“In the name of God, amen--the 6th daye of the moneth of Octobre in the yere of our Lord God a thousand fyve hundred and sixe, I, Alice Love, the wife of Gyles Love of Rye, by the speciall license of my said husband, asked and opteyned [_What does the modern woman think of this?_], bequeath my parapharnalle--that is to seye, myn apparaill to my body belonging. First, I bequeith my sowle unto Almighty God, to our blessed Lady and to alle Saynts, my body to be buried in the chirch yarde of Rye nigh my husband’s Thomas Oxenbridge. [_It will be seen that Gyles Love was this Lady’s second husband._] Item, to my moder my graye furred gowne with a long trayne; also a gowne clothe of russet, not made. Item, to my suster Mercy my best violet gowne furred with shanks. Item, to Margarette Philip my best wolstede kyrtill. Also I gyve to my suster Mercy my dymysent with peerles and a corse of gold. Item, to Thomas Oxenbridge my best gilt gyrdell that my husband Thomas Oxenbridge bought me to my wedding. Item, to Robert Oxenbridge a rede powdred corse, with a good harness, and to everiche of them a paire of bedys of rede corall. Item, to Besse Love my best crymsyn gowne, also her moder’s best girdell and her best bedys. Also to my suster Elizabeth Duke a long girdell gilt with a golden corse.”

WILL OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

(1506)

There seems to be much confusion as to the will of Columbus, although, in 1498, he made one, and it is known to have existed in 1530; but it is asserted that it was unsigned, and, moreover, that it was nullified by a later will he made in 1502, but which also is not to be found at the present time.

The only authentic will of his, therefore, that has descended to us is that preserved at Genoa, but which can only be called a codicil.

It is written on the fly-leaf of a book of “Hours,” richly bound and adorned, which Columbus had received from Pope Alexander VI., and to which he attached the greatest value; indeed, this is apparent, from the fact that it is the first object of which he disposes in this same codicil:

Codicillus more militari Christopheri Colombi.

Cum SS Alexander, PP. VI., me hoc devatissimo precum libello honoravit, summum mihi præbente solatium in captivitatibus, præliis et adversitatibus meis, volo ut post mortem meam pro memoria tradatur amantissimæ meæ patriæ republicæ Genuensi; et ob beneficia in eadem urbe recepta volo ex stabilibus in Italia redditibus erigi ibidem novum hospitale, ac pro pauperum in patria meliori substentatione, deficientique linea mea masculina in admiraltu meo Indiarum et annexis juxta privilegiis dicti regis insuccessorem declaro et substituo eamdem rempublicam Sancti Georgii.

Datum Valledoliti, 4 Maii, 1506.

S.
S. A. S.
X. M. V.
XPOFERENS.

The initial letters which precede the signature of the Christian name of Columbus (altered, however, into Christo-_ferens_) have never been explained, any more than the two eagles which also precede it; this spelling, however, need throw no doubt on its authenticity, as it is identical with the signatures of two letters, dated respectively 1502 and 1504, addressed to the Ambassador, Nicolas Oderigo.

WILL OF HENRY VII

(1510)

Henry VII. desires in his will that “our executors and supervisors and executors of our testament have a special respect, in our funeral, to the laud and praising of God, the health of our soul, and somewhat to our dignity royal, but avoiding damnable pomp and outrageous superfluities.”

WILL OF ERASMUS

(1536)

The town of Bâle possesses together with the will of Erasmus, the ring, seal, sword, knife, pen, and the portrait by Holbein of that great and celebrated man.

The will was drawn up in Latin, five months prior to his decease, 12th February, 1536; we subjoin a literal translation of this interesting document.

“In the name of the Holy Trinity,

“I, Dediderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, honoured with the flattering diplomas of the Emperor, the Sovereign Pontiff, and renowned magistrate of the celebrated city of Bâle, declare that this act, written in my own hand, contains my last wishes; and I desire that they may be ratified and confirmed in every particular, annulling all previous dispositions that I may have made.

“Certain as I am that I have no legitimate heir (Erasmus was a natural son, and was never married), I appoint as my universal heir, the very honourable Boniface Amerbach; and I name as my testamentary executors Jerôme Froben and Nicholas Biscop, brother-in-law of Froben.

“I have already sold my library to Jean de Lasco, a Pole, as may be seen by an act passed between us, and signed by both; but my books are only to be delivered to him when he shall have handed over two hundred florins to my heir; and in case he should have destroyed the act above named, or should die before me, my heir is at liberty to dispose of my books as he may please.

“I bequeath and give to Louis Ber my gold watch; to Beatus Rhenanus a golden spoon, and a fork of the same metal; to Pietro Veteri one hundred and fifty gold crowns; to Philip Montanus the same sum; to my servant Lambert--should he still be in my service at the time of my death--two hundred gold florins, unless I should give them to him during my life; to Jehan de Brisgaw my scent-bottle of silver; to Paul Voltzius one hundred gold florins; to Sigismund Gelenius five hundred ducats; to Jehan Erasmus Froben, two rings, of which one has no stone, the other a green (?) stone called by the French _turquoise_.

“I bequeath and give to Jerôme Froben all my garments and all my furniture; _i.e._ all that composes it, whether in woollen or linen for the former, in wood or other material for the latter. I give him besides, my goblet marked with the arms of the Cardinal de Mayence. I give to his wife my ring, bearing the effigy of a woman looking behind her.

“I give to Nicholas Biscop, my cup with its cover, on the foot of which there are verses engraved; and to Justine, his wife, two gold rings of which one has a diamond, the other a small turquoise. I give to Conrad Goclenius my silver cup, surmounted by a figure of Fortune. If one of my legatees should come to die, I leave the legacy thus lapsed at the disposition of my heir.

“My said heir is to have, besides the objects already devised to him, all that shall remain of my _tazzas_, rings, and other similar articles, including the medals bearing the effigy of the King of Poland, Severin Boner, etc.; and all the double and quadruple ducats. He is to have the money I have deposited with Conrad Goclenius that he may dispose of it in Brabant, as I have recommended to him. If there should be anything of mine still remaining with Erasmus Schet, he is to demand it of him. He will employ this money and any other sums remaining over, according to the advice of the executors, in distributing alms to the poor, whom age or infirmity has rendered impotent, also for marrying young girls or assisting young people, who may show an industrious disposition, to start in the world.

“Such is the act of my last will, written by own proper hand, and sealed with my own private seal belonging to my ring, and representing the god Terminus. Let all faith be accorded to it. Given at Bale, in the house of Jerôme Froben, 12th February, 1536.”

WILL OF KATHERINE OF ARAGON

(1536)

“In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen. I, Katherine, &c. supplicate and desire King Henry VIII. my good Lord, that it please him of his grace, and in alms, and for the service of God, to let me have the goods which I do hold, as well in gold and silver as other things, and also the same that is due to me in money for the time passed, to the intent that I may pay my debts and recompense my servants for the good service they have done unto me, and the same I desire as effectuously as I may, for the necessity wherein I am ready to die and to yield my soul unto God.

“First, I supplicate that my body be buried in a Convent of Observant Friars. Item, that for my soul may be said c masses. Item, that some personage go to our Lady of Walsingham, in pilgrimage, and in going by the way dole xx nobles. Item, I appoint to Mistress Darell xx £ for her marriage. Item, I ordain that the collar of gold which I brought out of Spain be to my daughter. I ordain to Mistress Blanche x £ sterling. Item, I ordain to Mistress Margery, and to Mistress Whiller, to each of them x £ sterling. Item, I ordain to Mistress Mary, my physician’s wife, and to Mistress Isabel, daughter of Mistress Margery, to each of them xl £ sterling. Item, I ordain to my physician the year’s coming wages. Item, I ordain to Francisco Philippe all that I owe unto him, and besides that xl £ sterling. Item, I ordain to Mr. John, mine apothecary, his wages for the year coming, and besides that all that is due unto him. Item, I ordain that Mr. Whiller be paid of expense about the making of my gown, and besides that of xx £ sterling. Item, I give to Philip, to Anthony, and to Bastian, to every of them xx £ sterling. Item, I ordain to the little maidens x £ to every of them. Item, I ordain that my goldsmith be paid of his wages for the year coming, and besides all that is due to him hitherto. Item, I ordain that my launderer be paid of that is due unto her, and besides that of her wages for the year coming. Item, I ordain to the Sabell of Vergas xx £ sterling. Item, to my ghostly father his wages for the year coming. Item, it may please the King my good Lord, that the house ornaments of the church to be made of my gowns, which he holdeth, for to serve the convent thereat I shall be buried. And the furs of the same I give for my daughter.”

Katherine was the youngest daughter of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. She was born about 1483 and died in 1536. On November 14, 1501, she was married to Arthur, Prince of Wales, then about fifteen years of age, the eldest son of King Henry VII., who died about five months later. The King, unwilling to return her dowry, forced her to marry his remaining son, Henry, who was created Prince of Wales, February 18, 1503, succeeding to the throne as Henry VIII. on April 21st, 1509. On the 24th of June in the same year, they were crowned at Westminster. Her only child, Mary, was born on February 15, 1518, and succeeded her half-brother, King Edward VI., as Queen of England July 6, 1553. The history of this unfortunate, but worthy queen, is too well known to need further comment.

WILL OF SIR WILLIAM PELHAM, KNT.

(1538)

“In the name of God. Amen. 26th Oct., the yeare of our Lord God a thousande fyve hundred thirty and eight. I, William Pelham, Knt., in the countie of Sussex, being hole in mynde and of good memory, doth make and ordeign my last will and testament in manner and fourme followinge:

“First: I bequeth my soule to Almighty God my Creator, and to all the Company of Hevyn; and my body to be buried in the Chauncel of Laughton.

“Item: I bequeth vi. _l._ xiii _s._ ii _d._ for twenty sermons to be preached in Laughton, and in the parishes thereabouts.

“Item: I will that my three sonnes, William, Francis, and Edwarde, shall have twenty poundes sterlinge by the yere during their lvyes, owte of my lands, to be divided equally between them into three parts, and my wyffe to have the same, twenty poundes, every yere during the tyme of their nonage, towards their fyndinge, forthwith after my deth.

“Item: I bequeth a thousande marks sterlinge to be levyed upon my woods, to the marriage of my fyve daughters, that is to say: Bryget, Margaret, Mary, Anne, and Jane, and to be equally between them.

“Item: I bequeth to John Devynyshe, my best geldinge.

“The residue of all my goodes, debts, stuffe, and substance, I geve unto Mary my wyffe, whom I make myn executrix of this my last will.

“These being witnesses, Mary my wiffe, Nicholas my sonne and his wyffe, John Devynyshe, gentilman, Sir Robert Fourde Preest, with many other.”

WILL OF MARTIN LUTHER

(1542)

There seems to be considerable obscurity about the authenticity of this document. The learned Dutchman, M. Van Proet (who gives as _his_ authority the Dutch translation of the “History of the Reformation”), says that “the will of Luther is to be found in its entirety in the eighth volume of the works of Luther (Altenburg edition); that the original, on parchment, was formerly in the hands of Carpzovius, and that that original, signed by Melancthon, Crucigerus, and Bugenhagenius (or Pomeranus) differed in some places from the printed copy.”

Seckendorff of Bâle, in his Commentary, lib. iii. sects. 36 and 135, p. 651, speaks thus of it, and it will be seen that Luther does not err on the side of modesty:

“_De Testamento Lutheri._--Testatus est, ut exemplar, tom. viii. Altenb. fol. 846, relatum ostendit, anno 1542, die Euphemiæ (16 Septembris), uxoris potissimum gratiâ, cui testamentum perhibet probitatis, fidelitatis et honestatis, et quòd ab eâ semper amatus et omnibus officiis cultus sit; nec fecunditatem tacet, quòd quinque liberos tum viventes ediderit. (Observatum est ex litteris Pontani post mortem Lutheri ad electorum scriptis, quòd uxor Lutheri animum paulò elatiorem et imperiosum habuisse visa sit, et quòd tenax in victu domestico sumptuosa tamen fuerit in ædificia, imprimis in prædium illud Zeüsldorff quod ei in hâc dispositione suâ dotali nomine Lutherus assignaverat. Sed tolerabiles illi nævi fuerunt, nec ab omnibus immunem eam judicavit ipse Lutherus, licèt eam tenere amaret....) Non tam conditionem adjecit iis quæ uxori destinaverat, quàm fiduciam testatus est: quòd uxor, si ad secunda vota transiret (id quod ipsius voluntati et divinæ providentiæ prorsus committit), omnia cum liberis divisura sit. Liberos verò mavult à matre quàm hanc ab illis dependere, exemplis se territum dicens, quàm iniquè sæpè liberi tractent. Denique omissâ omni solemnitate legali confidere se ait, majorem fidem se mereri quàm notarium quemque.

“Notus sum,” inquit “in cœlo, in terrâ, et in inferno, et auctoritatem ad hoc sufficientem habeo ut mihi solo credatur, cùm Deus mihi homini licèt damnabili et misera peccatori, ex paternâ misericordiâ Evangelium filii sui crediderit, dederitque ut in eo verax et fidelis fuerim, ita ut multi in mundo illud per me acceperint, et me pro doctore veritatis agnoverint, spreto banno papæ, Cæsaris, regum, principum et sacerdotum, imo omnium dæmonium odio: Quidni igitur ad dispositionem hanc in re exiguâ sufficiat, si adsit manus meæ testimonium et dici possit, hæc scripsit D. Martinus Lutherus, notarius Dei et testis Evangelii ejus.

“Additae tamen sunt subscriptiones Melancthonis, Crucigeri et Pomerani, sed alio tempore.

“Elector vero Saxoniæ rogatus à vidua diplomate domino judica hoc anno (10 April) dato, testamentum Lutheri conservavit, jubens ut illud etsi solemnitates à legibus requisitæ abessent validum haberetur et observaretur....”

* * * * *

Our readers will doubtless remember that this curious and characteristic fragment has been quoted by Robertson, in a note to his history of Charles Quint, vol. v.

Some time ago the Evangelical Church in Hungary believed itself possessed of the original last will and testament of the great Protestant reformer, Martin Luther. The genuineness of the document was, in fact, attested as undoubted by a special commission appointed to determine that question. The members of this body, however, did not consist of historical scholars, but chiefly of noted members of Parliament. Accordingly, before long it was shown, upon the evidence of Professor Rancke’s researches, that the only real testament of Luther--that written with his own hand--is, as a matter of fact, in the Heidelberg Library, and is there kept in a glass case for the inspection of visitors. It has also been satisfactorily proved that the will in the possession of the Hungarian Evangelicals, though written in a hand exactly like Luther’s, is not his, but the work of one of his disciples, Henterus, who introduced the reformation into Transylvania; he made a true copy, even to the very handwriting, of the last will and testament of his master.

WILL OF HANS HOLBEIN

(1543)

Hans Holbein, the younger, belonged to a celebrated family of German painters. His great paintings are scattered throughout the galleries of the world; his last years were spent in England, where he gained both success and fame. He died in London, of the plague, in 1543. His will, written shortly before his death, was found in the archives of St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1861 and bears evidence of having been written in haste, as it probably was.

It reads as follows:

“In the name of God the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghoste, I, Johan Holbeine, servante of the King’s Majistie, make this my testamente and will, to wyt, that alle my goodes shall be sold, and also my horse; and I will that my debtes be payd to wyt: furste to Mr. Anthony the kynges servant of Greenwiche, ye summe of ten poundes thirtien shyllinges and sewyne pence sterlinge.

“And, moreover, I will that he shal be contented for all other thynges between him and me.

“Item: I do owe unto Mr. John of Anwarpe, Goldsmythe, saxe pounds sterling, which I will alsoe shalle be payde unto hyme with the fyrste.

“Item: I bequeathe for the kypyng of my two chylder, which be atte nurse, for every monthe, seyvene shellinges, and sexpence styrlynge.

“In wytnes I have sealed and sealed thys my testamente, thys sexthe daye of October, in the yeare of our Lorde MIVCXLIIJ.

“Wytnes, Anthony Snetcher, Armerer, Mr. John of Anwarpe, aforesaid, Goldsmythe, Obrycke Obynger, Merchante and Harry Maynaert, Paynter.”

WILL OF KING HENRY VIII

(1547)

The greatest testamentary powers ever conferred on an English king were given to Henry VIII. by 25 Henry VIII. c. 7, empowering him to limit and appoint the succession to the Crown by will, in default of children by Jane Seymour.

This will of Henry VIII. is to be found in full in Nicolas’s “Testamenta Vetusta,” a collection of famous wills, a work of great excellence, prepared in 1825. There are also to be found the Wills of Henry II., Henry III., Henry IV., Henry V., Henry VI., and Henry VII., as are those of other Kings and Queens of England.

WILL OF RABELAIS

(1553)

The will of this ingenious satirist is adorned (or disfigured) by a very characteristic clause: “I have no available property, I owe a great deal; the rest I give to the poor.”

We cannot affirm that this bull, worthy of an Irishman, is well authenticated, any more than Rabelais’s facetious reply to the messenger of Cardinal du Belay, whom he sent to see how he fared in his last illness: “Je vais chercher un grand peutêtre; tirez le rideau, la farce est jouée.”

WILL OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

(1587)

Mary Stuart was beheaded in 1587. Her will is to be found in a collection entitled: “Pièces fugitives pour servir à l’Histoire de France, avec des notes historiques, par M. le Baron d’Aubais,” 1759. This work is in 5 vols. 4to, and the will is in the second.

It is prefaced by a short note explanatory of the attendant circumstances, viz. that it was written by the ill-fated queen on the eve of her execution, and after she had been curtly, unceremoniously, and unexpectedly informed it was to take place at eight the following morning. The writing out of this, and of an extremely touching letter to her brother-in-law, Henri III., occupied her until two o’clock in the morning, when she bathed, selected and put on her costliest dress, head-dress, and costume, distributed her little store of ready money and jewels to her attendants, retired to her oratory and prepared herself for death. All this is minutely related, also the manner of her death; for to the last moment the queen was unaware whether she were to be beheaded standing or with her head on the block. It was, however, to be by the latter mode; and the headsman proved so inexperienced, and his weapon so clumsy, that the operation was only completed after three blows.

Mary’s will is written in French, and is word for word as follows:

“Au nom du Père, du Fils, et du Sainct Esprit:

“Je, Marie, par la grâce de Dieu royne d’Ecosse, douarière de France etc.: Estant preste à mourir, et n’ayant moyen de faire mon testament, j’ay mis ces articles par escrit, lesquels j’entens et veulx avoir meme force que si ilz étaient mis en forme.

“Protestant, premier de mourir en la foi chatolique apostolique romaine.

“Premier, je veulx qui’il soit faict un service complet pour mon ame a l’église Sainct Denys en France, et l’autre a Sainct Pierre de Reims, où tous mes serviteurs ce trouveront en la manière qu’il sera ordonné a ceulx a qui j’en donne la charge issi dessouts nommez.

“Plus, qu’un obit annuel soit fondé pour prier pour mon ame à perpetuité, à lieu et en la maniere qui sera advisé le plus commode.

“Pour a quoy fournir je veulx que mes maysons de Fontayne-beleau soient vendues, esperant que au surplus le roy m’aydera, comme par mon memoyre je le requiers.

“Je veulx que ma terre de Jespagn demeure a mon cousin de Guise pour une de ses filles, si elle venoit a estre mariée en ces quartiers; je quitteray la moitié des arerages qui me sont deus, ou une partie, a condition que l’autre soit payée, pour estre par mes executeurs employée en aumosne annuelle.

“Pour a quoi mieulx provoir, les papiers seront recherchez et delivrez selon l’affination pour en faire poursuite.

“Je veulx aussi que l’argens que ce retirera de mon procès de secondat, soit distribué comme s’en suit.

“Premier, a la descharge du poiement de mes dettes et mandemens si aprez nommez, qui me seront ja paiez, premier, les deux mille esqus de Courle que je veulx luy estre payez sans nulle contradiction, comme estantz en faveur de mariage sans que nous au aultre luy en puisse rien demander, quelque obligation qu’il en aye d’autant qu’elle n’est que feincte é que l’argent estoit à moy é non emprunté, lequel je ne fis que luy montray, é lé depuis retiré, et me on pris avecque le reste à Chasteley, lequel je lui donne si il le peut recovrer, comme il a esté promis pour payement ces quatre mille franks promis, pour payement ces quatre mille franks promis par mort, et mille pour marier une siene sœur, et m’ayant demandé le reste pour ses despans en prison; quant a l’assignation de pareille somme a nous, elle n’est pas d’obligation, et pour ce a toujours esté mon intention que elle fust la dernière payée et encore en cas qu’il fasse aparoir n’avoir faict contre la condition pour la quelle je les luy avoist donnéz au temoignasge de mes serviteurs.

“Pour la partie de douze cens esquus que il m’a faict alleuer par lui empruntée pour mon service de Beauregard, jusques à six sens esqus et de Gervays trois cents, et le reste je ne sais d’ou, it faut qu’il les repoye de son argent et que j’en soyes quitte é l’assignation cassée, car je n’en ay rien resceu, mais est le fond en ces coffres, si ce n’estoit que ils en soient payez par dela; comme que ce soit; it faut que cett partie me revienne bonne, n’ayant rien receu, et si elle estoit payée je doits avoir recours sur son lieu, é de plus, je veulx que Pasquier compte les deniers que il a despandus é receus par le commandement de nous, par les mains des serviteurs de M. de Chasteauneuf, l’ambassadeur de France.

“Plus, je veulx que mes comptes soyent ouys é mon tresorier payé.

“Plus, que les gages et parties de mes gens tant de l’année passée que de la presente, soyent tous payez avant toute autre choze, tant gages que pensions, parmis les pensions les pensions de Jean et de Courle, jusques a ce que l’on sasche ce qui en doit advenir et ce qu’ils auront meritez de moy pour pensions si ce n’est que la fame de Courle soyt en nécessité, ou luy maltraicté pour moy; des gages de Jean de mesme.

“Je veulx que les deux mille quatre cens franks que j’ay donnais a Jène Kenedi luy soyent payez en argent, comme il estoit porté en son premier don, é quoy fesant la pension de Willi Guillaulme Douglas me reviendra, laquelle je donne a Fontenoy pour ces services é despens non recompansez.

“Je veulx que les quatre mille esqus de ce banquier soyent sollisitez é repayez, duquel j’ay oublié le nom; mais l’evesque de Glascou s’en resoviendra assez; é si l’assignation premiére venoit à manquer, je veulx qu’il leur en soyt donné une sur les premiers deniers de secondat.

“Les dix mille franks que l’ambassadeur avoyt receux pour moy, je veulx qu’ilz soyent employez entre mes serviteurs qui s’en vont à present à scavoir, premier, deux mille franks à Elizabeth Courle; deux mille franks à Basten Pages; deux mille à Marie Pages, ma filleule; mille à Gourgon; mille à Gervays.

“Plus, sur les aultres deniers de mon revenu, à Beauregard, mille franks; à Monthay mille franks.

“E reste de Secondat et de toutes mes casualitez, je veulx estre employez sinq cens franks à la misericorde des enfans de Reims; à mes escoliers, deux mille franks; aux quatre mandians, la somme qu’il sera nécessaire; à mes executeurs, selon les moyens qui ce trouveront, sinq cens franks aux hospitaulx.

“A l’esquier de cuisine Martin, je donne mille franks; mille franks à Hambel, e le laisse à mon cousin de Guise, son parein, a le mettre en quelque lieu en son service.

“Je laysse sinq cens franks à Robin Hamilton et prie mon filz le prendre, é Monsieur de Glascou faulte de luy, ou l’evesque de Rosse.

“Je laysse à Didier son grefe sous la faveur du roy.

“Je donne sinq cens franks à Jean Landere, é prie mon cousin de Guise ou d’Humaine (pour du Maine) le prendre en leur service, é a Messieurs de Glascou et de Rosse qu’ils ayent soing de le voir preveu; je veulx que son père soyt payé de ces gages, et luy laysse sinq cens franks.

“Je veulx que mille franks soyent payez à Gourgeon, pour argent et aultres chozes qu’ils m’a fournies en ma nécessité.

“E je veulx que si Bourgoin accompli le voiage du vœu qu’il a faict pour moy à S. Nicolas, que quinze franks lui soyent livrés à cet effet. Je laysse selon mon peu de moyen six mille franks à l’evesque de Glascou, troys mille à celuy de Rosse. E je laysse la donaison des alsualities et droicts seigneriaux recelez à mon filleul, filz de M. Duruisseau.

“Je donne troys cens franks à Laurents, plus troys cens franks à Suzanne, é laysse dix mille franks entre les quatre parties, qui out esté respondant pour moy é au solliciteur parmy.

“Je veulx que l’argent provenant des meubles que j’ay ordonnez estre vendus à Londres soyt pour defroyer le voyage de mes gens jusques en France.

“Ma cosche je la laysse pour mener mes filles, é les chevaulx pour les vendre ou aultrement en faire leur commoditez.

“Il y a environ cent esqus des gages des années passées deus à Bourgoin, que je veulx luy estre payez.

“Je laysse deux mille franks à Meluin, mon maystre d’hostel.

“Je ordonne pour principal exécuteur de ma volonté mon cousin le Duc de Guise, é aprez luy l’Archevesque de Glascou, l’evesque de Rosse, et M. Duruisseau, mon chancelier.

“J’entends que sans faulte le preau jouisse de ces deux prependes.

“Je recommande Marie Pages, ma filleule, à ma cousine Madame de Guise, é la prie de prendre en son service; é ma tante de S. Pierre fayre mettre Montbraye en quelque bon lieu, ou la retenir en service pour l’honneur de Dieu.

“Faict ce jourd’hui 7 Feubrier, mil sinq cens octante é sept.

“MARIE R.”

WILL OF ALESSANDRO TASSONI

(1635)

Tassoni was an Italian diplomat, poet and critic; he was born at Modena in 1565 of an old patrician family. His greatest work was the publication, “The Stolen Bucket.” The following are excerpts from his will:

“I leave my soul--the most precious thing I possess--to its first great cause, the invisible, ineffable, eternal.

“As for my body, destined as it is to corruption, my own desire would have been that it should be burned; but that being contrary to the custom of the religion in which I was born, I beg those in whose house I should die--for I have none of my own--to bury me by preference in consecrated ground; or if I should be found dead, without any other roof over me than the vault of heaven, I entreat the charitable neighbors or passers-by to render me this last service.

“My wish would be that my funeral should only employ one priest, that there should be simply the small cross and a single candle, and that as regards expense no more shall be incurred than will pay for a sack to stuff my remains into, and a porter to carry it.

“I give twelve gold crowns to the parish, because I cannot carry them away.”