in the name of god amen I Jas Sherley of Earls Colne in the county of Essex clerk being at present in some weakness of body but of sound mind memory and understanding thanks be therefore given unto god considering the frailty of human nature and that there is nothing more certain than death and nothing as to us more uncertain than the time thereof have thought good to make my last will and testament as I do by these presents in manner and form following that is to say first I do recommend my soul to god my heavenly father through jesus christ his only son my lord and saviour and my body to the earth to be decently buried according to the discretion of my executor hereafter named and as concerning the temporal estate which it hath pleased god of his mercy to grant me I do therefore give and bequeath to the poor of the parish of Cone (Colne) 4nobles to be distributed amongst them at the discretion of my neighbour Robt Potter and I do give to the said Robt Potter my first part of Caril's works and to his wife the second part item I do give and bequeath to my maidservant Ann Cobbs (may be Ann Cobbs) the sum of 3li sterling item I do give and bequeath to my brother Thos Sherley 10s for a ring to my sister Margt Lewis 10s for a ring to my brother and sister Taspell 20s for two rings to my brother and to my sister Little 20s for two rings and to my niece Sarah Taspell my late wife's gold bodkin item I do give and bequeath to my cousin Barbary Flower 40s item I do give and bequeath to Rich Herlackenden and to Jn Finch the third and fourth part of mr Caril's volumes of which the said Rich Herlakenden shall first make his choice and the other shall be for the said Jn Finch item I do give and bequeath unto my son Jas Sherley all and every my lands houses messuages buildings and appurtenances whatsoever situate lying and being in Bradwell juxta Mare in the county of Essex now or late in the tenure or occupation of Wm Seare and Rich Odle or their assigns and all the rents profits and increase thereof to have and to hold unto my said son Jas Sherley his heirs and assigns forever and I do moreover give and bequeath to my said son Jas Sherley one third part of my farm in Stysted in the said county of Essex now in the tenure or occupation of Edw Baysey and my best purple bed with all the furniture thereunto belonging and mr Perkins' three volumes with my late wife's best diamond ring and moreover I do give and bequeath to my said son Jas Sherley the sum of 5li per annum to be paid out of the rents of the lands houses messuages yards and appurtenances situate lying and being at the backside in the county of Surrey over against the Temple to be paid unto him his executors or assigns for and during the whole remainder of time which I have and hold therein by lease from Jn Arundell esq item I do give and bequeath to my son Jn Sherley all that my house messuage tenement and appurtenances situate and being in Colchester now in the tenure or occupation of Jn Pike or his assigns and all the rents profits and increase thereof and I do give to my said son Jn my green bed and all the furniture thereunto belonging and my second diamond ring and my three volumes or books of martyrs item I do give and bequeath to my three sons Jn Sherley Edw Sherley and Thos Sherley all that my lands situate lying and being in Mersey Island in the county of Essex and all houses messuages tenements buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging now in the tenure or occupation of Jn Brewer and Rich Querne or assigns and I do expressly will and ordain that the said lands buildings and appurtenances shall be sold for payment of my debts and the residue of the proceeds thereof to be equally divided between my said three sons Jn Edw and Thos share and share alike and if any of them shall happen to depart this life under age and unmarried then I do will and ordain that the part and share of the deceased shall belong and appertain to the survivors or survivor of them equally to be divided and therein my said three sons to be heirs the one to the other item I do give and bequeath to my said three sons Jn Sherley Edw Sherley and Thos Sherley all my right title and interest which I have in certain yards lands houses tenements and buildings situate and being on the bankside in the county of Surrey over against the Temple now in my possession and in the occupation of Peter Rich esq Jn Lloyd Robt Bassett Jn Butcher Wm Short or any others the rents thereof to be divided between my said three sons Jn Edw and Thos equally share and share alike for and during all the rest residue and remainder of term and time which I have and hold therein by lease from Jn Arundell esq excepting and always reserved thereout the 5li per annum which I have and do give to my son Jas during all the said term and I do expressly will and ordain that it shall be left in the power of my said son Jas Sherley to renew a lease of the premises of and from the said Jn Arundell item I do give and bequeath to my said three sons Jn Sherley Edw Sherley and Thos Sherley all that my lands tenements and appurtenances situate lying and being in the parish of Holy Trinity in the in the ward of Queenehith London which I hold by lease from the college of Winchester and all the rents profits and increase thereof equally to be divided between them share and share alike for and during all the remainder of time in the said lease mentioned upon express condition that there shall be thereout and thereof paid 5li sterling per annum to my mother Rebecca Sherley according to a note which for that effect I have given unto her under my hand to be paid unto her during her natural life item I do give and bequeath to my son Edw Sherley Burges's sermons item I do give and bequeath to my son Thos Sherley Hildsham's lectures upon the fourth of john and I do moreover expressly will and ordain that all my household stuff plate library rings and jewels by me herein not yet disposed of shall be sold and the monies thereof proceeding shall be employed towards the payment of the debts which I do justly owe and I do hereby make nominate and appoint my said son Jas Sherley sole executor of this my last will and testament and Jacob Tayspell and Jn Little overseers entreating them to be advising and assisting unto my said son Jas in the premises and this I do declare to be my last will and testament revoking all other testaments and bequests whatsoever by me formerly made by word of mouth or in writing during that this my present testament and last will written on six sheets of paper with this may take place and be of force after my death and none other in witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal dated in London the 3.7.1676 etc. Jas Sherley signed sealed and declared by the testator for his last will and testament the day and year aforesaid in the presence of Simon Allinhame Erasmus Norwich J Marius notary public