in the name of god amen I Robt Knight of Earls Colne in the county of Essex yeoman sick in body but of good and perfect remembrance thanks be given to almighty god do thus make and ordain my last will and testament in manner and form following upon the 5.3.1598 first I give my soul into the hands of almighty god my maker and redeemer and by steadfast faith do firmly believe my sins through his death and passion to be forgiven me and my body to be buried in the parish churchyard of Earls Colne aforesaid item I give unto Constance my loving wife all that my customary croft of land called Bear Croft holden of the manor of Earls Colne aforesaid to have and to hold unto her and her assigns until Robt Knighte my son shall come to the age of two and twenty years and when my said son Robt shall come to the said age of two and twenty then to remain to the said Robt and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever provided always that if my said son Robt Knighte shall die before he come to his said age of two and twenty years then the said croft of land called Bearcrofte shall remain to Jn Knighte my son upon condition that he pay unto Wm Knight one other of my sons the sum of 20li of current money of England within four years next after the said Jn Knight shall enjoy and receive and benefit of the said croft of land provided nevertheless that if the said Jn Knight shall refuse or make default in payment of the said sum of 20li at the time before limited then I will that the said croft of land shall remain unto my said son Wm Knight and his heirs forever upon condition that the said Wm Knight pay or cause to be paid unto the said Jn Knight the sum of 20li of like lawful money of England within four years next after he the said Wm Knight shall receive and enjoy the benefit of the said croft of land item I give and bequeath all that the reversion or remainder of and in the customary tenement and lands with the appurtenances holden of the manor of Earls Colne aforesaid wherein Kath Knight my mother now dwelleth when it shall happen by and after the decease of my said mother unto my trusty and well beloved friends mr Thos Harlakinden gent and mr Jn Parkinson parson of the parish of Colne Engaine to be letten by them to the best and most profit and commodity towards the payment of all such debts and sum or sums of money as I do in law and conscience stand charged with by means or occasion of a surrender of the said customary tenement and lands with the appurtenances lately made unto me to my own use by Jn Knight my late father deceased and the said Kath Knight my mother Robt Knight (inserted) and after the said debts and sum or sums of money shall be discharged and paid the I will that the said tenement and lands with the appurtenances shall remain and be unto the said Jn Knight my son and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever item I give and bequeath unto the said Constance my wife all that my customary tenement with the yards gardens orchards and appurtenances holden of the manor of the priory of Earls Colne aforesaid to have and to hold to her and her assigns during the term of her natural life and to remain after her decease unto Wm Knight my son and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever item I give unto Thos Knight and Rich Knight my two younger sons to either of them 40li of lawful money of England to be paid unto either of them by mine executrix at their several ages of four and twenty years provided and my will and meaning is that if either of my said two sons Thos or Rich shall die before he accomplish his said age of four and twenty years that then the other of them so then living shall have the other portion that shall so happen to die before his said age of 24yr and if they shall both happen to die before their said ages of 24yr then I will and my meaning is that their said portions shall be equally divided amongst the rest of my children then living at such time as my said two younger sons Thos and Rich should have been of the said ages of 24yr item I give and bequeath unto mr Newman of Coggeshall the preacher 20s of lawful money of England so as he come to strengthen me in my faith before my departure and to preach one sermon at the time of my burial and another upon easter monday next and if he come not unto me before my departure then I will and give unto him only 13s4d to be paid unto him by mine executrix item I give and bequeath unto the most poor householders and children of this parish of Earls Colne the sum of 10s to be bestowed amongst them in good and wholesome bread at the discretion of my said executrix item I give unto mr Thos Harlakenden gent and mr Jn Parkinson parson of Colne Engaine whom I make overseers of this my will and testament in regard of their pains and travel about the same to either of them an elve of holland of the price of 6s at such time as they shall travel about the performance of the trust committed unto them concerning this my last will and testament all the residue of my goods debts sums of money and chattels whatsoever not formerly bequeathed by this my will and testament Robt Knyght (inserted) I will and bequeath unto the said Constance my wife whom I make sole executrix of this my said will and testament provided nevertheless and my will and desire is that if my said executrix shall happen to marry again after my decease that before the solemnisation of such marriage my overseers mr Thos Harlakenden and mr Jn Parkinson shall take sufficient bonds of such person as that my said executrix shall purport to take to husband for the due performance of this my said last will and testament according to my true meaning purpose and intent in witness that this is my true last will and testament I have hereunto set my fair hand being written in three sheets of paper the day and year before written in the presence of these witnesses whose names are hereunder written by me Robt Knyght Jn Muntt Jn Stockbridge and Robt Cobbe