in the name of god amen the 28.7.1580 etc. I Jn Wangford of the parish of Halstead in the county of Essex and diocese of London yeoman being of good and perfect remembrance thanks be unto almighty god do ordain and make this my present testament containing my last will in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I bequeath my soul unto the mercy of almighty god my body to be buried in the parish churchyard of Halstead aforesaid item I will there shall be given and distributed to twenty of the poorest householders in Halstead aforesaid 20s that is to say to every of the same householders 12d at the day of my burial item I do give and bequeath unto Joan my wife the one moiety or half part of all that farm which I now hold of Edw de Rawght esq and the lease and term of years which I have therein and of all the profits and commodity thereof yearly rising and coming during all the term of years which I have therein yet to come if she doth so long keep herself sole and unmarried paying and performing the one half of the yearly rent and of the covenants in the indenture thereof contained which of the tenants part been to be paid and performed also I do give and bequeath unto the said Joan my wife the one moiety or half part of all my corn cattle stock and store of the same farm or wherewith I do now manage or occupy the said farm in consideration that she shall pay the one half of all my legacies and other charges of this my said testament also I give and bequeath unto Jn the elder and Jn the younger my sons the other moiety or half part of the said farm and of the lease and term of years which I have therein and of all the profits and commodities thereof yearly rising and coming during all the term of years which I have therein yet to come paying and performing the one half of the yearly rent and of the covenant in the indenture thereof contained which of the tenants part been to be paid and performed also I give and bequeath unto the said Jn the elder and Jn the younger my sons the other moiety or half part of all my corn cattle stock and store of the said farm or wherewith I do now manage or occupy the said farm in consideration that they shall pay the other half of all my legacies and of all other charges of this my said testament provided that if it shall happen the said Joan my wife to marry after my departure then I will the moiety or half part of my said farms and lease and term of years therein to her before bequeathed shall remain to the said Jn the elder and Jn the younger my sons equally between them any thing herein to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding item I give and bequeath unto the said Joan my wife two of my best featherbeds with all things to them belonging wholly as they be now standing and all my linen saving to every other bed one pair of sheets also I give and bequeath unto the said Joan my wife the one half of all the rest of my household stuff as brass pewter tables forms and such like kind of furniture of household except my other beds and I give and bequeath unto the said Jn the elder and Jn the younger my sons the other half of all my said household stuff as aforesaid equally between them to be divided item I give and bequeath unto the said Joan my wife all those my lands and tenements called Bushye Leas with the appurtenances in Halstead aforesaid which I late purchased of Jn Hubberd during her natural life towards the finding keeping and bringing up of my younger children doing no strip or waste thereupon but only to take timber for building or reparations of the houses upon the premises and fireboot and hedgeboot to be expended in and upon the same lands and not elsewhere as in full recompense and satisfaction of her dower which she can or may claim by me in or to any of the best of my lands and tenements or which were mine at any time heretofore and after the decease of the said Joan my wife I will all the said lands and tenements called Bushy lease with the appurtenances shall wholly remain unto the said Jn the elder my son and to his heirs and assigns forever paying out of the same unto his three brethren that is to say Francis Robt and Thos 5li of lawful money of England apiece to be paid within six years next after the decease of the said Joan my wife by the yearly payment of 50s (torn) the eldest of them to be paid first and so the rest in order provided (torn) default of payment be made of any the said several sums or any part thereof then I will that any of the said three brethren to whom such default is made shall enter and take into his hands and possession the said lands and tenements called Bushy lease and the same shall hold during until such time as they shall have fully received and taken of the issues and profits of the same lands and tenements so much money as shall be then due and payable out of the several sums aforesaid item I give and devise and bequeath unto the said Jn the younger my son all that my part and parcel of that wood called Beakeley with the appurtenances in Halstead aforesaid in as ample and large a manner as late purchase the same of the said Edw de Rawge to have and to hold the said part and parcel of wood with the appurtenances unto the said Jn the younger my son and to his heirs and assigns forever item I give and bequeath unto Thos my son and to his heirs and assigns forever all that my tenement and yard and garden with the appurtenances in Halstead aforesaid wherein Thos Chadwin now dwelleth item I give and bequeath unto the said Francis my son and to his heirs forever all that my tenement and garden with the appurtenances as well free as customary with the appurtenances situate and lying in Earls Colne in the said county of Essex item I give and bequeath unto Robt my son all mine estate interest and lease and term of years which I have or ought to have of and in all those lands called Coneys or otherwise in Halstead aforesaid to have and to hold the said lease and term of years unto the said Robt my son and to his executors and assigns in as ample and large manner as I late had and bought the same of one Wm Moore provided that if it shall happen any of my said sons Thos Francis and Robt to depart this world before his several age of 21yr without heir of his body lawfully begotten the I will the part and portion of any of them so deceased shall remain to the survivors or survivor of them and to the heirs of the same survivors forever provided also and it is my said will that mine executors hereunder named shall take and receive the yearly rents and profits of all the lands and tenements and lease lands before severally given unto the said Thos Francis and Robt during until the several ages of 21yr and then to pay the said several rents to such of the said Thos Francis and Robt as the same be several given or to the survivors of them item I give and bequeath unto Wm my son 30li of lawful money of England to be paid unto him within three years next after my decease item I give and bequeath unto Joan Mary and Eliz my daughters to every of them 20li of lawful money of England to be paid unto them at their several age of 20yr or several days of marriage which first shall happen and if that any of my said three daughters shall happen to depart this world before their several times of payment then I will the part and portion of any of them so deceased shall be paid to the survivors of them at their several times aforesaid all the rest of my goods debts cattle whatsoever have not bequeathed willed nor assigned I do wholly give and bequeath unto the said Joan my wife Jn the elder and Jn the younger my sons whom I ordain and make executors of this my said testament they to receive and pay my debts and perform this my present testament and to see that my body may be decently brought on earth also I do ordain and make my well beloved friend Jas Richardson and Wm Vignerous supervisors of this my said testament to see the same performed accordingly and I give to every of the said Jas and Wm Vigorus for their pains therein 5s provided al so and it is my said will that my said executors shall before such times jointly and severally unto my said supervisors in and by obligation sufficient in the law in the sum of 100li of lawful money of England with a condition endorsed that that they and every of them shall well and truly pay my said legacies and perform and fulfil my said testament according to the true intent and meaning thereof provided that if my said executors shall not pay in such bond as is aforesaid then I will that my said supervisors shall enter and take so much of my goods and chattels as shall suffice to pay my said legacies to my said son Wm and my daughters and if the said Wm my son shall happen to depart this world before his time of payment then I will the said sum of 30li to him bequeathed shall remain to my executors towards the performance of my said testament in witness whereof I have unto this my present testament put my hand (torn) in the presence of us Jn Cuggishall Jn Leffingwell Wm Bunner Wm Sewal Wm Vigorus (torn)