in the name of god amen the
15.2.1600
I
Wm Edyes
of Walden in the county of Essex bricklayer being of good mind and perfect memory god be praised do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say first I commend my soul into the hands of god my maker hoping assuredly through the only merit of jesus christ my saviour to be made partaker of life everlasting and I commend my body to the earth whereof it was made in hope of a joyful resurrection to life eternal my house wherein I now dwell in Walden aforesaid and all other my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever I give and bequeath unto
Margt
my wife for and during her natural life and after her death I will all and singular the said premises shall be and remain to
Thos Morgaine
and my daughter
Mary
his wife and to
Benet Growte
and my daughter
Margt
his wife to have and to hold to them and to their heirs forever and I do further will and require my said daughters and sons in law that is my wife her lifetime or within a year after her death at the furthest they occur every of them do sell all and singular of the said premises before given and bequeathed unto them in the best manner they can and for the most benefit according to my trust and confidence which I have reposed in them and I do further will that the money coming and arising of the sale of the said premises shall be equally parted and divided between the four children which my son
Wm Edyes
now hath and the four sons and three daughters which
Thos Morgaine
my son in law hath by my daughter
Mary
and the five daughters and one son which the said
Benet Growte
my son in law hath by my daughter
Margt
and the issue which my said daughter
Margt
goeth withal to every one of them I say part and part alike and that such of the as shall be of full age of twenty one years or lawfully married at the time of the said sale shall have their portions paid them within one year after the said sale so made and the residue of the said portions to be paid to the rest as they shall accomplish the age of 21yr or happen to be married whichsoever shall happen first moreover touching my goods and chattels I give and bequeath to
Wm Edyes
and to
Adam Edyes
my sons to every of them 40s apiece to be paid within a month after my death desiring almighty god to be merciful unto them to give them repentance of their sins and to make them his faithful servants in the end all my household stuff my will and intent is that my wife shall have the use and occupation thereof during her life and after her death I will and bequeath it to
Mary
and
Margt
my daughters aforesaid equally to be divided between them all the rest of my goods chattels money plate and debts whatsoever except 10li of lawful english money and my funeral
(charges)
being discharged I will and bequeath shall be equally parted and divided between the four children which my son
Wm Edyes
now hath and the four sons and three daughters which
Thos Morgaine
my son in law hath by my daughter
Mary
and the five daughters and one son which
Benet Growte
my son in law hath by my daughter
Margt
and the child which my daughter
Margt
is now with child which to every one of them I say part and part alike and that those of them that shall be of the full age of 21yr or married at the time of my death shall have their portions thereof paid them within one year after my death and such of them as shall be within the age of 21yr at the time of my death my will and meaning is that they shall have their portions thereof paid them as they shall accomplish the age of 21yr or happen to be married whichsoever shall happen first finally I give and bequeath the said 10li of lawful english money to
Margt
my wife to be paid her presently after my funeral also I will that if my daughter
Morgaine
have eight children now living that the eight shall have part in all things as any of the other of my grandchildren by this my will for to have and I do by these presents revoke and make void all former wills whatsoever made by me at any time or times heretofore before the day of the date of this my present last will and testament
and I do make the said
Thos Morgan
and
Benet Growte
aforesaid my executors of this my last will and testament(inserted)
in witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my mark and set my seal unto this my present last will and testament the day and the year first above written in the presence of
Robt Newton
Rich Edyes
Hen Westwood
Wm Edyes
memorandum the top of this leaf three lines were interlined and in the first side this word "fowre" all which were interlined before the publication thereof and in the second side this "of lawful english money" and in another part this word "my " and otherwise no word of any importance