Merchant of London - died 1608

Created 24 August 1608

In The Name Of God Amen. The twentith daye of June in the yere of oure Lorde God according to the Computation of the Churche of England a thousand sixe hundred and eighte and in the yere of the Raigne of our(?) Soveraigne Lorde Kinge James by the grace of God Kinge of England ffrance and Ireland the Sixt and of Scotland the one and fortithe.

I William Pettus Citizen and Marchant of London beying sicke in bodye but whole in mynde and of good and perfect memorye Laude and praise be given to Almightie God. Calling to mynde the uncertentye of this life and the certentye of Deathe; And that yt behoveth every xpian(?) man before his Departure out of this worlde to sett in order in worldly thinges and to forsee and provide that no controversie suite or trouble do enserver or arise for the same after my deceasse. Do therefore make ordayne and devise this my present testament conteyning herein my last will in manner and forme folowinge that ys to saye. ffirst and before all thinges I commend my soule unto Almightie God my maker and Creator and to his deerly beloved sonne Jesus Christe my only Savyoure and Redemer by whose deathe merittes and passion I do truste and firmelie beleve to have full and free remission pardon and forgivenes of all my sinnes and life everlastinge.

And my bodye to be buryed where yt shall please God to take yt to his mercey according to the discretion of myne Executores hereafter named. And I will that all suche Debtes and dutyes as I owe in Righte or in conscience to any person or persons shalbe well and truelie payed by my said Executors hereunder named within convenyent tyme after my Deceasse.

And for the Disposition of my Landes and goodes I give and bequeathe in manner and forme following:

ffirst I will and bequeathe unto my welbeloved wife Elizabeth Pettus the somme of twoe thousand fyve hundred poundes of good and lawful money of England uppon condition that within one monethe next after my deceasse she shall conveye the house called Brises with all the Landes tenements and hereditamentes to the same belonging to the heires of my bodye lawfully begotten reserving only unto herselfe but one estate for (?) terme of her lyfe. Which yf she shall refuse to doe then my will and meaning ys that she shall have but one thousand poundes therof and the other fifteene hundred poundes to be bestowed uppon Landes to the use of my heire according to the discretion of my Executors and overseers and to the greatest parte of them.

And further my will and meaninge ys that my sayed wife after her Decease shall leave unto my heire whoe yt shall please God then to appoynte all my houshold stuffe which I have at Bryses afore sayed (Excepting unto my sayed wife my Lynnen and plate there

Item I will and bequeathe unto my sayed wife all my household stuffe with all my plate which I have at my house in London.

Item my will and meaning ys that my saied wife shall have her sayed legacy of twoe thousand fyve hundred poundes given unto her uppon the condition aforesayed of the firste moneye that shall come in after my Deceasse: my ffuneralls and other due Debtes by me owing first beying satisfied.

Item I give and bequeathe unto my sonne Rolfe Pettus the somme of one thousand fyve hundred poundes of like lawfull money of England And my will and meaning ys the sayed money shalbe put into one of the companyes of the Cittie of London by my Executors and overseers they taking therefore good servitie of suche a companye as shall have yt to the use of my sayed sonne. And they to give allowance therefore yerelie after the Rate of fyve poundes for every hundred: Which yf it shalbe refused and not accepted by any sufficient company as afore sayed then my will and meaninge ys that my sayed Executors and overseers or the moste part of them within one yere next after my Deceasse shall purchase to the use of my sayed Sonne and his heires so muche lande as his saied legacey shall amounte unto according to the discretion of my sayed Executors and overseers. And my meaning ys that my sayed Sonne shall not receyve his saied legacey untill he shall come to the age of twentye and two yeres. And then he to have the sayed legacey withall the interest money which shalbe then due for the same only allowing his mother Tenne poundes yerelie out of the sayed interest money towards his education and bringing of hym to learning.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my sonne John Pettus the somme of one thousand and fyve hundred poundes of like good and lawfull money of England to be disposed of by my sayed Exexutors and overseers afore sayed allowing only out of the sayed interest money the somme of thirtie poundes yerelie unto his sayed mother for his education and bringing of hym allso up to learning. And he not to have hys sayed legacey payed unto hym with the sayed interest thereof untill he shall come to the age of ffower and twentye yeres.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my Sonne William Pettus the somme of one thousand fyve hundred poundes to be disposed of as aforesayed as ys for my sonne Rolfe. And likewise my sayed wife ys to have yerelie allowed her unto of the sayed interest money the somme of thirtie poundes for his education as afore sayed. And he not to ateyne his sayed portion with the sayed interest thereof untill he shall come to the sayed age of fower and twentye yeres.

Item I will and bequeathe to my Daughter Susan Pettus the somme of eighte hundred poundes of like lawfull money of England to be disposed of as ys aforesayed for my sayed sonne Rolfe allowinge yerely unto her sayed mother the like somme of thirtie poundes for her sayed bringing up. And she to have her sayed portion paied unto her at the age of one and twentye yeres or her Daye of marriage which shall first happen. Provided allwayes that yf she doth marrye without the consent of her sayed mother or my saied Executors or overseers or the greatest parte of them: Then my will and meaning ys that she shall have but the somme of ffower hundred poundes and the other fower hundred poundes to be equallie devided amongest my sayed sonnes when they shall come to theire severall yeres with the interest of the same ffower hundred poundes.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my daughter Elizabeth Pettus the like somme of eighte hundred poundes to be disposed of as ys aforesayed for my Sonne Rolfe Pettus allowing yerelie unto my sayed wife the like somme of thirtie poundes for her bringing up. And she likewise to have her sayed portion payed unto her at the sayed age of one and twentie yeres of daye of marriage which shall likewise first happen. Provided likewise that she dothe marry as ys above specified. Which yf she shall not so marry then my will and meaninge likewise ys that she shall have but fower hundred poundes ^and the same^ to be disposed of as ys above menyoned.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my sayed sonne Rolfe Pettus afterthe Decease of my sayed wife all my Landes Tenementes and hereditaments as well free as coppie within the county of Norff to hym the sayed Rolfe and to his heires and assignes for ever.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my sonne Rolfe Pettus all my estate and tenie(?) of yeres which I have in a leasse of the parsonage of Thornham in the sayed countie of Norff Neverthelesse my meaning ys my saied wife shall receyve all the rentes for the same unto her owne use untill my saied sonne shall come unto the age of one and twentie yeres.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my sayed sonne John Pettus and to his heires and assignes forever my twoe houses at the Backe gate of my house in London nowe in the ternure and occupation of Downes Clothworker or his assignes when he shall come unto the age of one and twentie yeres. And in the meane tyme my will and meaning ys my saied wife shall reteyne the yssues and profittes thereof.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my saied welbeloved wife all my estate and tenure of yeres which I have yet unexpired in my house in Ironmonger Lane. Provided allwayes that yf yt shall happen that any of my saied sonnes shall departe this lyfe before they shall come to theire severall ages as yt above specifies: Then my will and meaning ys that theire saied whole portions shalbe equallie Devided amongest the Reste of my sonnes whoe shalbe then living. And my will and meaninge ys that yf any of my saied daughters shall likewise departe out of this life before they shall come unto theire sayed ages or mariage as afore sayed that theire sayed portions shalbe equally devided amongest my sayed sonnes in manner and forme as ys above specified.

Item my will and meaning is that for fiftie poundes apeece which was given unto my saied sonnes Rolfe and John and unto my daught Susan by my late ffather in lawe Mr Rolfe theire Grandfather which is in my handes shall likewise be disposed of by my sayed Executors and overseers in suche manner and forme as ys above specified. And futher my will and meaning ys that yf it shall happen my saied wife shall marrye after my decease suche a one as shall not have suche a care in the bringing up of my sayed children as my saied Executors and overseers thinke well of: That then my sayed Executors and overseers or the greatest parte of them shall have full power and Authoritie by this my present will for the disposing of them accordinge to theire Discretions for theire Education and bringing of them up. And they to have that allowance for the same which I have formerly appoynted unto my saide wife.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my wellbeloved brother Sr John Pettus knighte one Bason and Ewer of the value of thirtie three poundes five shillings eighte pence hoping that he will take uppon hym the performance of that truste which I shall hereafter appoynte unto hym.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my friende Mr Thomas Bancrofte one other Bason and Ewer of like value hoping thereby that he will likewyse performe suche truste as I shall hereafter appoynte unto hym.

Item I will and bequeathe unto theire saied wives either of them one Rynge of the value of thirtie shillinges apeece for a Remembrance.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my brother Mr Thomas Pettus one Ringe of the value of three poundes.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my Sister his wife one other Rynge of the value of thirtie shillinges.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my Sister Whall one cupp of the value of three poundes.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my cosen William Pettus one other cuppe of the value of three poundes.

Item I will and bequeathe unto hym that hath marryed my cosen Susane Campden twoe Cuppes of the value of Sixe poundes.

Item I give unto John Campden twentie poundes.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my good friende Mr Anthony Luther one Rynge of the value of three poundes for a Remembrance.

Item I will and bequeathe to my brother in lawe Mr Adrian Moore one other Rynge of the value of three poundes.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my very good friend Mr Thomas Plumpsted(?) one other Rynge of the value of three poundes.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my Brother in Lawe Mr Crowche one Rynge of the value of three poundes. And to his wife one other of the value of thirtie shillinges.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my Aunte(?) n…d(?) in recompence (>Inserted in the right margin at the bottom of this page is the following: Item I will and bequeathe unto my cosen Barkham one ringe of the value my ovs to fix value one other of value of…….) of all Reckninges betwixt us the somme of tenne poundes to be disposed of where he shall thinke good.

Item I will and bequeathe unto Anne Durye the somme of thirtie poundes towardes her apparrell and wedding dynner whereof my wife hath receyned of me fourteene poundes in parte thereof.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my servannte William Gelsthorpe twoe cuppes of the value of fyve poundes.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my servannte John Hammonde the somme of three poundes.

Item I give and bequeathe unto my servante Thomas Cole the somme of thirtie shillings.

Item I will and bequeathe to every one of my maydes the somme of twentie shillinges apeece

Item I will and bequeathe to the poore of the towne of Kelvedon in the Countie of Essex to be Disposed of amongest the sayed poore within the sayed parishe according to the Discretion of Mr Anthony Luther the somme of three poundes.

Item I will and bequeathe unto Mrs Alice Garrett one Rynge of the value of thirtie shillings.

Item I will and bequeathe unto the poore of the parish of Saint Martyns where I now dwell the somme of ffiftie twoe shillings yerelie for the space of sixe yeres next after my decease to be receyved of my wife out of the Rentes of Downes tenements at my backe gate. Also yf it shall happen my saied wife to dye before the saied six yeres shalbe expired Then my meaninge ys that yt shalbe receyved of them that shall take the profitt thereof to my sonne Johns use during the saied tyme or els twelve pence weekely to be Delivered in breade with the advauntage thereof to the said poore at the discretion of the twoe churchwardens of the
sayed parishe for the tyme beyng.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my cosen Thomas Swifte the somme of ffyve poundes.

Item I will and bequeathe unto my ffriende Mr Roger Boroughe one Ringe of the value of thirtie shillinges.

Item I will and bequeathe the Residue and surplus(?) of all my goodes and cattells as yet not bequeathed my ffuneralls and debtes being ffirst Dischardged unto my sonnes to be amongest them equallie divided, to be payed unto them as they shall comeunto theire severall ages as afore sayed: untill which tyme yt shalbe ymployed to theire uses according to the discretions of my sayed Executors and overseers or the greatest part of them. Provided allwayes that yf it shall happen that any of my sayed sonnes shalbe bounde apprentices according to the Discretion of my sayed Executors and overseers my will and meaninge ys that after suche tyme as any shalbe so bounde that his or theire sayed allowances as afore saied shall cease and shall after goe in Augmentation of theire sayed portions.

And I do make name and ordayne my sayed welbeloved Brother Sr John Pettus Knighte and my good friende Mr Thomas Bancrofte my full and sole Executors of this my last will and testament. And I likewise make constitute and appoynte my saied brother in lawe Mr Adrian Moore and my very good friend Mr Thomas Plumpsted my sayed Overseers. And I do utterlie revoke all former willes legaceys bequestes executors and overseers by me at any tyme heretofore made named willed and bequeathed. And I will this to stand for my very last will and testament and none other or otherwise. In witnesse whereof the sayed William Pettus have hereunto set my hande and Seale to this my present last will and testament the daye and yere above written. By me William Pettus Sealed and subscribed in the pnce of us whose names as hereunder written. Thomas [A wood] William Gillesthorpe Edward Pettus

Note: in the left margin alongside the last paragraph is 12 lines of Latin.
The Probatum following is 7 lines of Latin.

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