I geve to Thomas Maddesone, my sonne, one baie fillye and a whye stirke of a yeares old, and a rude of wheat at the Spure briggs and a rude of Langcrosse landes, and a rude of otts at the townes end. I geve to Jane, my daughter, the eldest branded cowe, a whie stirke of one yeares old, a rude of wheate at the Spurre briggs and a rude of the Langecrosse lands and a rude of otts at the towne end. I geve to my sonne Anthonye my lease accordinge to the custome of the maner. I geve the said Anthonye my waine, plewgh, yocke and teme and all other implements of husbandre that is aboute the house, and a branded stotte of 4 yeares old. I geve to Kathirine, my daughter, one redde cowe called Cherrie,' a rude of wheate at the est end of Hethorne, beinge the westermer rude, and the westermoste rude at the garth end being otts. I geve to Agnes, my daughter, one belled cowe, the estermore rude at the est ende of Hethorne, and a rude of otts at the garth end. I geve to Dorithe, my daughter, a read whie and a whie stirke of 2 yeares old, a rude of wheate at Grascame carre and a rude of otts at the garthe end. I geve to Richard Stele, my brother in lawe, 3s. 4d., and to Nicholas Maddeson, my brother sonne, 3s. 4d., whome I make the supervisors of this my last will and testament. The residue of all my goods, my debts paied, my funeralls discharged, I geve and bequeth to Anthonye my sonne, to Thomas my sonne, Kathirine my daughter, Agnes, Dorithe and Jane my daughters, whome I make the executors of this my last will and testament.

Debts that I doe owe: To Richard Stele, 11s.

Debts that is owinge to me: First, George Seton's wiffe, 2s. 5d. William Watson, 8d. John Bode the elder, 6d. Robert Clifton, 16d. Georg Shalwell, 20d. William Johnson, 4d. John Bode the younger, 4d. William Taller, 6d. William Taller, 6d. John Marginge, 7d.

I geve to Anthonye, my sonne, a great trowe to salt his fleshe in. All the implements of houshold, as pewder, brasse, wollinge and lining, and wood as amenerye, cawell, bordes and chist, I geve to my daughters. Witnesses at the makinge hearof, William Thompson, Thomas Bode, William Kinge and John Swainston, with other more, Richard Stele and Nicholas Allen.

One fillye, One plewe, 13s. 4d. In

INVENTORY. Four oxen, 67. 13s. 4d. 3 kyne and 2 horses, 77. 2 twinters, [sic] 16s. One stotte, 26s. 8d. 3 horses, 47. 20s. 11 sheep, 36s. One sowe and three piggs, 6s. 8d. one waine and the course furniture belonging there too, corne uppon the earth now growinge, 137. All in the fowre house, 20s. The chamber, 13s. 4d. His apperell for his bodye, 6s. 8d. Summa, 381.

WILL OF ROGER BRASS.

July 1, 1587. Roger Brasse of Preston uppon Skirne. To be buryed within the parishe churche of Aycklife, as neire to my freindes as possiblie cann be. My fermhold to Jennet, my wife, for hir life

and then to my youngest sonne Edward. To my eldest sonne, Richard Brasse, the title of his ferme. To my second sonne, Robert Brasse, my ferme laitlie in the tenoure of Anthony Arrossmythe. My sonne Richard's sonne and daughter, Robert and Barbary Brasse, begotten. by his first wyfe. My daughter's daughter, Esabell Heslerton, 10s.. The rest not bequested to my wife, Jennet, she executrix.

WILL OF WILLIAM RAW.

July 9, 1587. William Raw of the citye of Durham, yeoman.. My bodye to be buryed in the chappel of St. Margretts of Durham.1 To my wiffe the house I dwell in during her wedowehoode. Also I doe geve and bequeth to my said wiffe the some of 267. 13s. 4d. for her and the bringing of my thre children begotten by her. I geve to Robert, my sonne, the house and shopp next adjoining to the house I now dwell in. I geve to Margrett Alison a hawkt whye of two yeare old, to be kept in my grounds till she bring her a calfe and then she to have both cowe and calfe. I geve to my doughter Elisabeth my house with th'appurtenances in Fleshergate. I geve to my good freand, Roger Rawe of Newcastle, one old ryall in hope that he will take so much paines as to be an overseer of this my last will and testament. I geve to his wiffe an old ryall for a token of good will and to her doughter the like peece of gold. I geve to Edward Hall, my good neighbour, for a token of kindness, the some of 6s. 8d., praying him to joyne with Mr. Rawe in overseing of this my last will and testament. The rast, etc., to the discretion and distribution of my sonns William and Christofer, my executors, to be devided amongst them and the rest of my children of my first wiffe. Witnesse, Germayne Gardyner, Edward Hall, Hugh Tallentyre, Robert Rawe.

INVENTORY, 1587. Inter alia: The lease of Chilton poole, 207. The lease of the myll, 207. 2 flanders chists, 5s. 8d. 19 stone of wool, 37. 16s. A payre of clariots, 6s. 8d. 10 brasse potts, a morter and a pestall, 40s. 12 spoones, 57. One goblett and certen old monye, 47. A salte, 37s. His apperell, 47.

Memorandum that Christofer Rawe and William Rawe, executors. of the said deceased, did pay to there mother in law, wiffe to the said deceased, in consideration of hir thirds and wedowe right, and legacies, or whatsoever she should have of the said deceased his goods, the some of 367. 13s. 4d. and are to pay to her 2 fothers of haye yearlye during the tyme of 16 yeares next.

1587, July 12. William Rawe buried. Durham.

Registers of St. Margaret's,

WILL OF WILLIAM BURDON.

July 17, 1587. William Burden of Stockden upon Tease, parish of Norton. To be buried in the chappell of Stockden. To the power man's boxe, 5s. To my son, William Burden, my house held by Roger Huchinson; an akre of arable land in every cornfield about Stockden, for his life; in the west field at Marle Potts two riggs, in the Castle-feild two riggs of short akers, and a rigge of longe lands in the Northe feild. To my son, Henry Burden, my house in which I dwell. My wife Anne Burden and my daughter Jane Burden, etc. To my son, Roger Burden, 4 marks. To my son, Thomas Burden, his children, 37. 6s. 8d., the eldest 26s. 8d. and the other two 20s. Witnesses, Rowland Burden, Thomas Fewler of Stockton, Thomas Edgar, clarke, curat at Stockton, etc.

WILL OF EDWARD BEWICK.

Aug. 6, 1587. Edward Bewicke of Newcastle, baker. To be buried in the churche of All Sainctes. To my wife, Annes Bewicke, the howse wherin I nowe dwell, with all my other landes, for her life natural, savinge one howse in Pillgrim Streete, nowe in the tenore of Jhon Armestronge, locksmith, which said howse I geve unto Elizabeth Errington, daughter unto Robert Errington, master mariner, and she to enter into the same at the daie of her mariage, and failinge that she marie, the said howse to come unto my next of kinne. I will that my said landes, after the death of my wife, shall come to my two halfe-brothers, Thomas and Jhon Read, and to their heires, and failing such, then to come unto Cristofer Hall, sonne to Edward Hall, and his heires, and failinge suche, to William Hall, sonne to George Hall, and then to my nexte of kinne. To the said Christofer Hall one seller, now in the tenore of Edward Bartram, and one lofte over the same, in the tenore of Roberte Errington, with nyne balkes, or rigges, belonginge to the same, whiche I bought of Mathewe Mattfen, and nowe in the tenore of George Barker, cordener. To the said Christofer Hall, 207., which said Christofer, and all his portion, I commit, duringe his noneage, to Robert Jhonson, master mariner. To my unkle, George Hall, 47., and part of my clothes, as my wife shall thinke meete. To my uncle, Edward Hall of Barwicke, 67. To my brother, Robert Errington, 31. To my brother, Christofer Errington, 31. To my cossen, Edward Hall, 31. and my best gowne. To William Eden, one tonne of beare, and my best cloake. To William Hall, sonne to George Hall, 37. Το Barbara Harbottle, my halfe-sister, 37., and I do acquite all thinges betwene her and me. To Robert Jhonson, one duble duckett, and two old angels, to make him a ringe and at his deathe, he to give it unto his sonne Edward. To my servant, Raphe Collingwoodd, 20s. To my servantes, Jhon Saire and William Rawe, 10s. a pece. To

Lionell Mair, 10s. To Isabell and Elizabeth Hall, daughters to William Hall, my uncle, to eche of them 6s. To my cossen, Anthonie Errington, 30s. To Sissilie, wife to Michell Hall, 20s. To Andrew Bewicke, merchante, 10s. To Jhon Carr, merchante, 10s.

To Ales, wife to Robert Errington, one old angell. To Margaret, wife to Christofer Errington, 10s. To Leonard Diggles, 20s. To Anthonie, sonne to Robert Errington, 10s. I will that my mother, Isabell Read, shalbe my sole executrixe, and Christofer Errington of Newcastle, merchante, supervisor. To Edward, sonne to Edward Hall, e" 20s. To Ralph Boutflower, Alis Boutflower and Jane Boutflower five shillings apiece.

INVENTORY. A silver salt and 5 silver spons, 31. 8s. In the kytchynge: A byll stafe, 3s. A polke, 5s. In the chamber: Fyve Spanyshe cuchyns, 10s. The ships perteynynge to him: A quarter and halfe a quarter of the Spedwell,' 531. 6s. 8d. The May Flour,' a thred, 167. 10s. The Danyell,' a quarter, 707. A thred of the 'Chanswell,' 657. 80 linges, 40s. 64 carvell plankes, 107. In Annes Bewicke lofte, 96 lynges, 48s. 100 codes, 33s. 4d. A half hundrethe of lynges, 30s. For two laste of rye, whiche came from the este contrey, of his adventor, 261. The frights due from the este contrey for Edward Bewicke's part: For his parte of the Chanswell,' 227. For his quarter of the Danyell,' 177. For

a thred part of a quarter, that was sold to Richard Hodgshon, of theDanyell,' 307. The some total of his goodes and debtes is 4677. 6d.

WILL OF RALPH SINGLETON.

Aug. 12, 1587. Rauffe Singleton of Langton, within the parish of Gainforth. My bodye to be buryed within the parish churche yeard of Gainforth, paying the dewties there accustomed to be payd. I geve and bequethe unto my sonne, Henrye Singleton, all my furniture of husbandrye, with the intereste of all my tenements and leases in Langton, according to the custome of the lordshipp of Barnard-castle. Also I will that Margaret Singleton, my wiffe, shall have the moytye and halfe of the sayd tenements during her wedow head, and that Anne, my doughter, shall kepe and abyde with hir mother or brother and be found of the said tenements untyll such tyme as hir said mother and brother doe provyde a maryage for hir at there discretion. Also I geve and bequethe unto Anne Singleton, my doughter, thre score pounde, and that Henrye, my sonne, and Margaret, my wiffe, shall have the usaige and custodye thereof untyll such tyme as these with the advyse of Robert Spencer, my brother in lawe, doe at there discretions provyde a sufficient maryage for my said doughter, when they shall se tyme convenyent for the

1 1587, Aug. 17. Rafe Singleton buried. Gainford Registers.

same. All the rest of my goods, moveable and unmoveable, I geve and bequeth unto Margarethe, my wiffe, and Henrye Singletone, my sonne, whome I make my onlye executors joyntlye together. Also I make supervisors of this my last will and testament Ambrose Lancaster of Headlome, gentleman, and my brother in lawe, Robert Spencer of Langton, to se this my will executed according to the trew meaninge heareof. In consideracon whereof I geve unto the sayd Ambrose Lancaster, 20s. And also I geve unto the said Robert Spencer, 2s. I give to Rauffe Singleton, my brother sonne, on whye stirke, and to Margarethe Hewetson, my mayde servant, one yewe and a lambe, and John Browne, my servant, one yewe and a lambe. Witnesse, Ambrose Lancaster, Robert Spencer.

Aug. 19, 1587. INVENTORY. 6 oxen, 147. 7 kye and whyes, 107. 10s. 4 younge calves, 23s. 4d. 2 horses, 53s. 4d. 35 old sheepe, 47. 10s. 40 lambes, 53s. 4d. 3 swyne, 9s. 6 gease, 3s. 4d. 12 pullaines, 48. Unmoveable goods. Suma, 361. 6s. 8d. Pewder vessells, 20s. Brasse vessells, 47. One cupbord, ambree and cawell, 43s. 4d. A mashine tubb with other wood vessells, 8s. A table, a counter, 4 formes, 12s. A cote of plate, a capp, bowe and arrowes, 13s. 4d. One waine, 2 coupes, 2 paire of wheles with all other furniture, 46s. 8d. 4 teames, 4 yocks, one iron oxe harrowe, 13s. 4d. 3 horse harrowes, 12d. 14 double acres of corne, 167. 13s. 4d. 8 lode of haye, 40s. 2 stand beds with all there furniture, 33s. 4d. 4 other bedds with there furniture, 20s. 2 chestes, 3s. 4d. 6 quishens, 2s. One spete, 8d. A paire of iron rackes, 2s. 6d. One racking crooke, 16d. 2 spades, 10d. One riding saddell, 20d. 2 lode saddels, 20d. Seaves and riddells, 12d. One wyndow clothe, 6s. 4 seckes, 4s. 2 pokes, 18d. One be, 16d. 4 hookes, 12d. Apperelle, 13s. 4d. Summa, 35l. 16s. 8d. Debts owinge to him: Robert Parkin, 7s. Anthonye Elstobbe, 20s. Anthonye Thompson, 11s. 8d. William Cardwell, 8s. Summa, 46s. 8d.

Summa totalis, 74l. 8s. 6d.

WILL OF JOHN READ.

My

Aug. 27, 1587. John Read of the parish of Sainte Margaretts, of the citye of Durham, turner, being of whole mynd, etc. bodye to be buryed in the church or churchyeard of Saint Margretts, in Durham, at the discretion of myne executors.1 I geve and bequeth unto the poore people of St. Margretts parish, 13s. 4d., to be distributed by the hands and at the discretion of the churche-wardens of the said parish. I will that all such debts and dewtyes as I owe of right or consince to anye person or persons be well and trulye contented and paid by myne executors hereafter naymed without delaye or contradition, etc. I geve and bequeth unto Anne, my

1 1587, Sept. 3. John Read buried. Registers of St. Margaret's, Durham.