Will of John Scott

Citizen and Salter of London, died 1579

Created 3 July 1578

Probate Granted to Elizabeth Scott, relic of the testator, on 14 July 1579

In the name of God Amen The third daye of July in the yeare of our Lorde God one thousand five hundreth seaventy and eighte and in the twenty yeare of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Ladye Elizabeth by the yeare of God Quene of England ffrance and Ireland defendor of the ffaithe ER

I John Scott citizen and Salter of London being in good helthe of bodye and of good and perfect remembrance thanks be to Almighty God doe ordeyn and make this my Last will and testament in manner and forme following

ffirst I give and bequeathe my soule to Almighty God the maker of all the worlde trusting onely throughe the Deathe and passyon of Jesus Christ his sonne to be one of the number of them that shalbe saved And my bodye to be buryed within the Queire of the parrishe church of St Margaret Moyses in ffrydaye Street of London whereas I Doe nowe dwell giving unto the person there for my grave roome tenne shillings And my ffunerall to be donne and made by and at the discrecon of my executrice hereafter named

Itm I give and bequeathe to twelve poore men twelve gownes to be worne at my buryall And I will that my bodye be decently buryed And that at the same buryall there be provyded some Lerned man or preacher to enstruct the people the feare and Love of God And I give him for his paines Xs (10s)

Itm I give and bequeath to the towne and parrishe of Nednigworthe in the county of Huntington the some of 10s to be distributed and given to forty of the poorest people in the same parrishe by John Scott the sonne of John Scott my Uncle (if he be then Lyving) or ells by the churche wardens then being of the same parrishe giving to him the saide John Scott (if he be then Lyving) for his paynes five shillings And if he be deade then to the saide church wardens for theire paynes therein give five shillings

Itm I give and bequeathe to the honest howseholders of the same parrishe to make them a Drincking at the saide discreacon 20s

Itm I give and bequeathe to the company of Salters in London the some of 10lb to make them a Dynner with all

Itm I give and bequeathe to the wardens of the same company of Salters then being of the Lyvery towerds theire paynes betwene them three shillings and foure pence And to theire clerke and beadle three shillings and foure pence to be equally devyded betwene them

Itm I give and bequeathe to the hospital of St Bartholmews in Smithfeilde in London six poundes thirtene shillings and foure pence

Itm I give and bequeath to the children of the hospital of Christe church in London five poundes of money

Itm I give and bequeathe to and amongst the children of my sonne in Lawe and Daughter John Crouche citizen and Dyer of London and Joane his wyffe one hundreth and tenne poundes of Lawfull money of England (that is to saye) To John Crouche theire sonne twenty poundes To Thomas Crouche theire sonne twenty poundes And to every other of theire seaven children tenne poundes apeece to be paide to every of them at theire full age of twenty and one yeares or at the Daye of their marriage And if any of them happen to dye before they come to theire full age of 21 yeares or marriage Then I will the survivors then lyving shall have the parte and porcon of him or them so deceasing equally to be devyded amongst them And my will is that the same money shalbe and remaine in the hands of Elizabeth my wyffe untill the severall times by this my Last will appoynted for the payment thereof

Itm I give and bequeathe to Margaret Alwes(?) my kinswoman a black gowne

Itm I give and bequeathe to my sonne in Lawe John Crouche a black gowne And to Joane his wyffe my Daughter a black gowne

Itm I give and bequeathe to Mrs Lowe Wydowe Late wyffe of Thomas Lowe Vintener Deceased a black gowne

Itm I give and bequeathe to Agnes Collins my servant tenne pounds nowe the wyffe of Thomas Pollyn

And I give and bequeathe to John Pollyn her sonne five poundes to be paide him withing one moneth after my decease

And the Rest and residue of all and singular my goodes chattells debts Jewells and other things as well moveable and immoveable after my Debts and ffuneralls paide and this my last will and testament in and by all things well and truly performed paide and discharged I ffreely give and bequeathe to the saide Elizabeth Scott my wyffe whome I make my sole executrix of this my testament and last will and overseers of the same I ordeyn and make my loving frendes John Allett fishmonger John Crowche my sonne in Lawe and Stephen Dorrant goldsmith desyring them to be ayding to my saide wyffe

And I give unto the saide John Allett and Stephen Dorrant for recompence of theire paynes either of them a black gowne and forty shillings of money [And towching and concerning all and singular my Landes Tent’s Rents Revecons Serving and Hereditaments whatsoever within the parrishe of St. John the Evangelist in the warde of Bredstreate of London I fully give and dispose as followeth (that is to saye)

ffirst I give and bequeathe unto Elisabeth my wyffe all the same my Landes tents Rents Revercons serving and hereditaments whatsoever in the saide parrishe of St John Evangelist To have and to holde the same to the saide Elizabeth and her assignes during her naturall lyffe And after her decease to the saide John Crouche and Joane his wyffe during theire naturall lyves and the longest lyver of them bothe

And after the decease of my said wyffe and of the saide John Crouche and Joane his wyffe I will ordeyn give and bequeathe the same my landes and Tents with theire appurtences in the same parrishe of St John Evangelist unto the company or mistery of Salters of London and to theire successors for ever to the use and behoofe of the same company forever under theis condicons that the wardens of the same company and theire successors and every of them for the time being shall content and paye or cause to be paide of the yssues rents and proffitts of the same twoe howses or Tents, theis severall somes of money that is to saye weekly forever to six poore almesmen of the saide company 12d that is to saye to every of them twoe pence apeece

Also I will that from suche time as they the wardens and company of the saide mistery of Salters shalbe so seised and possessed of the same twoe howses or Tents with theire appurtenns That they the wardens of the same company and every of them for the time being shall yearely for ever give and distribute unto five score of the poorest of the yeomanry of the same company twelve pence apeece

And also I will that the twoe wardens of the saide mystery or company for the time being shall have for theire paynes for the distribution aforesaide every yeare three shillings and foure pence apeece And to the clarke and beadle of the same mistery or company 20d apeece yearely to be paide oute of the rents yssues and proffitts of the same twoe Tents yearely for ever as aforesaid

Itm further I will that the wardens of the same company of Salters shall yearely for ever provide one carte loade of greate coles And the same shall distribute to and amonge the poore of the parrishe of Alhallowes and St Margaret Moyses somewhat before the ffeast of the nativity of our Lorde God yearely whiche also shalbe paide and goe owte of the saide twoe Tents to them given as aforesaide

Itm I give unto the said Elizabeth my wyffe the said howse or Tents wherein I nowe dwell, and being some time three howses together with all and singular the shoppes sellars sollers roomes easements rents yssues proffitts and appurtennes to the same belonging To have and to holde the said howses or Tents with theappurtennes unto the same Elizabeth my wyffe for and during her naturall lyffe And after her decease the same howse with thappurtennes to remaine to Thomas Crouche sonne of John Crouche my sonne in Lawe and to his heires for ever yf he survive my wyffe And if it shall fortune the saide Thomas Crouche to departe this mortall lyffe before my saide wyffe Then I will the same howse with theappurtennes to remaine to John Crowche my godsonne and to his heires for ever

In wittnes whereof to this my present Last will and testament I the saide John Scott have sett my hand and seale Dated the Daye and yeare first above written wittnesses hereunto those whose hands and names are hereunder subscribed By me John Scott Sealed and Delivered in the pr’ce of us underwritten John Allett ffishmonger Steven Dorrant goldsmith Thomas Pollyn Sanlche

View scanned originals:From the National Archives