same in full recompence and satissfaction of the younger childes parte or porcon of my goods . . . unto them or any of them after my decease. Also I will geve and bequithe to Cycill [my] enterly welbeloved wife th . . [full] half of . . . . my holl launds and tenements charged as is said at hir own election, to have duringe hir lyfe in full recompence and satisfaction of all hir wynter and dower to hir belonginge of all my holl laundes and tenements. Also I will that Thomas, my son and heyre apparante, shall have the other half of my said laundes and tenements, with the revertion of the other half after the decease of my said wife, his mother, to hym and his heyres mayle of his bodye lawfully bigotten, and in defaulte of suche issue to the heyres mailes of my bodye lawfully bigotten, and in defaulte of suche issue to remayn to my right heyres for ever. And all other my goodes, catalles and leases not byfore gevn or bequithed, I geve and bequithe to my said enterly welbeloved wife, and son Thomas, whome I make and ordeyne executors of this my presente testamente and last will, therewith to paye my debts and legacies, and to performe this my will, and to bring up my said son Rycherd unto the complete age of 21 yeres. Requiringe my said son, Thomas, of my blessinge to be good, naturall and favorable to his said mother and bretheren as apperteanithe. And also I make and ordeyn my most trustie and welbeloved frendes, Thomas Sandefurthe of Ascoyn, esquier, and Anthonye Middleton of Kepyer, gentleman, to be supervisors of the same and do bequithe to either of them for there paynes to be sustened in this byhalf, 40s. In witnes wherof I, the said Ambrose, to this presente wrytinge have set to my seale and subscribed my name the daye and yere abovesaid, per me Ambrosium Middelton. More witness hereof: Thomas Sandfurthe, esquire, Anthony Middleton and Thomas Myddleton, gentlemen, with others.

WILL OF ROBERT LASSE.

April 10, 1557. Robert Lasse of Alnewicke, yeoman. To be buried in the churche yard of Sanct Myhell. To my nephew, Edmond, sonne of Rynyone Maxsone of Shipley, my house on Alnewicke, one the northe side of Bailigait. To my nephew, John, sonne of Thomas Atkinsone of Lerchild, 4s. of rent of my house in Alnewicke on the north syd of Bongait, and 8d. rent of my house in the tenure of Henry Herone, one the northe sid of the Marketplaice. My daughter, Jenatt Stampfurthe. To Rawfe Collingwood of Titlington, gent., and Thomas Lygthone of Alnewick, yeoman, my house in Alnewicke that Cuthbert Strother dwelleth in.

WILL OF THOMAS CRASTER.

May 19, 1557. Thomas Craster of Allnwick. I geve my sowle to Allmyghtie God and to all the holly company, leaving my body to be buryed in my parishe churche of Sainte Mychaell th'archangell

of Allnewik with my mortuary accustomed by the lawe. I geve my howse unto Margret Craster, my wyff, during hir lyff naturall and after hyr to my sonne, William Craster. The residewe of all my goodes I geve unto my wyff and my childer to be distributyd amonge them equally, whome I make my solle executors conjoyntly, etc., to pay my detts, as they shall think to be to the honor of God, and to the well of my solle. Witnesses, Edward Thompson of Allnick, the elder, James Yong and Robert Tailyer of the same.

WILL OF JOHN GASCOIGNE.

To my

Dec. 8, 1557. John Gucyne of . . . . to be buried in the church-yard of Darnton, nighe the corps of . . . . To William Robynson, my daughter's sonne, thre sylver spones, etc. То Barberie Robynson, his syster, fower sylver spones, my wyfe's best sylver girdle, one paire of . . . . my best sylver tache. brother, Foreman, my foxe-furde gowne, one cote of plaite, one sallet, one paire of . . . . stafe; and to his wyfe, my sister, 6s. 8d., and to aither of his sonnes, 5s. For my brother, Somersyde, my sister, his wife, and his children, etc.; my brother, George Robynson, his wyfe and children, etc. To Lyones Claxton, halfe of my workinge instruments or tooles and fyve noble of money. My sonne in lawe Richard Johnson. I give my lease of Hawghton mylne to William and Barberie Robynson and Cecilie Robynson, their mother, and they to fyne my house at the next court for my good lord and master my lorde of Durham. William Robynson to be kept at schoole for eight years. Mr. Rauffe Dalton, supervisor.

WILL OF RALPH SURTEES.

July 3, 1558. Raff Surtes of Duresme, marchaunte. To Janet, my wyfe, and to John Surtes, my son, the lease of the Bishop mylnes and the Myln close that I bought of the kynge and the lease of the Collfelde close I have of Mr. Myddleton. To Raff Surtes, my son, my house in Geligate duringe his lyfe and then to John Surtes, my son. To William and Christopher Surtes, my sons, the Shawe close. To Phillis, my doughter, 3s. 4d. of a close called the Wellbancke for lyfe. To Elisabethe, my doughter, 3s. 4d. of the little house in Fleshergayt duringe hir lyfe. To Jayn, my doughter, 3s. 4d. furthe of the chapell of the bridge. To Janet, my wyfe, the lease of my house I dwell in, and then to William Surtes, my son. To my wyfe a goblet of silver parcell gilt. To John Surtes, my son, a silver pece weyng eight unces. To Raffe Surtes, my son, a salt of silver with a coveringe weinge eight unces. To William, my son, a maser of silver and gylt and two silver spones. To Christopher, my son, six silver spoones. To Phillis, my doughter, and Elesabeth and Janet, my daughters, two silver spoones each. To Isabell

To

Marche, my suster's doughter, 20s. To Myles, my brother, 5s. Jayn, my suster, 5s. The rest to my wyfe and children and they executors. Witnesses, Christopher Chaytor, Christopher Surtes, etc.

WILL OF PETER RIDDELL.

Nov. 5, 1558. Peter Riddell of Newcastle, merchant. To be buried in the church of Saint Nicholas where my father doth lye, with sowle masse and dirge. Alsoe I give unto the vicar of the said churche the some of 10s. in recompance of forgotten tythes. Also I will that there be given to the poore peoplle twentye pounds in monie soe shortly after my deceasing as it reasonable can, that is to saie, eight poundes of that to be bestowed in victualling the priseners in the high castle and in the Newe-gaite (?) soe much until the said eight pounds be runn out, the other twelfe pounds to be given to poore householders and other poore people as my supervisors shall see right, meit and neid. To my sonne, William Riddell, and his heires males, my house with all the implements thereto belonging nowe in the tenor of John Ellison, merchaunt, and 2 sellers in the Broad Garth with the lofts and little house att the head of the same garth, and he to pay yerely out of the said house 26s. 8d. to the wardes of almes house or to any other poore people he pleaseth. To my sonne, Peter Riddell and his heires males, my house in the Cloth Markitt nowe in the tenore of Umfrye Parker, merchaunt, provided alwaies that God of his grace call my sonne, Thomas Riddell, to the office of preisthood. . . then I will that my sonne, William Riddell and his heires mayles, shall have all my landes unbequeathed . painge yearely out of the said lands to my said sonne, Thomas Riddell, dureing his life the soumme of 137. 6s. 8d. towardes his exhibicon. To Peter Riddell, my paing out of the said lands yearely to my said sonne, Thomas Riddell, during his life 137. 6s. 8d. provided alwayes that if my said sonne, Thomas, be a preist, soe that the house wherein I dwell and all other my lands come to my sonne, William, as aforesaid, then I will that my sonn, Peter and his heires, shall have the said house and implements in which John Ellison dwelleth, with two sellers, etc., and my former bequest to my sons, William and Peter in that counte concerning my house aforesaid be void. То my daughter, Elizabeth Riddell, 1007. for her childes portion and the same some to my daughters, Elinor, Mary and Katherine Riddell, if they follow the advice of my supervisors. To John Ellison, marchaunt, my violet gowne and 57., and to every one of his children one angell. To George Bee, 6s. 8d. To my cosine, Edward Anderson, 20s., and to every one of my sister Shaftoe children one angell. To my servant, William, my horse, and 3s. 4d. To Agnes Paker, nowe wife to Umfray Parker, merchaunt, 37. 6s. 8d. To Janet Swynborne widdowe, 20s., by yeare, for life out of my

sonne

house in the tennor of John Whitfeild, smith. To her eldest daughter, 20s. All the rest of my goods to my sonns, Thomas, William and Peter Riddell, whome I make my executors, provided they shall be ordered during their minority by my trustie frends, Sir Robert Brandelinge, knight, William Claxton of Wynyerde, and Richard Hodgson, merchaunte, whome I make supervisors of this my will. Wittnesses, Edward Shaftoe, merchant, John Ellison, merchaunt, and Edward Anderson, merchaunt, Richard Hodgson, marchaunt, alderman.1

WILL OF ROGER ERRINGTON.

Jhesus. Nov. 29, 1558. Roger Eryngton of Wallyke, gent. To be buryed within the parysche churche of Wardon. I gyve all my fyrmynges and landes purchased in Wallyk or ellyswhere to my suster's soon, John Carr; my wyff, Margaret Eryngton, to enjoye the same duryng hyr wydowhead. My nephew, John Carr, my heyr. My wife and my sister Jane Carr executors. Lyonel Fenyk of Blakden, Randell Fenyke of Kirkharll, Rauf Eryngton of Hexame and Alexander Basnett of Heddon, supervisors. To Isabell, my dowghter, 6 nott and 20 shep. To Kateryne Eryngton, my brother's doghter, 2 nott. To Wardon churche, 6s. 8d. Witnesses, John Olyver, vyccar of Wardon, etc.

WILL OF RALPH HUTTON.

Dec. 8, 1558. Raphe Hewton of Walworthe, co. Durham, gent., being visit with sicknes but off hole mynde and perfect remembrane doo contitut and make this my last will.2 Firste, I gyve and bequieth my soule to Almightie God my Creator and Redemer, to our blessed ladye, St. Marye and all the hollye compenye of Heavon, my bodye to be buried within the parish churche off Heighington with my mortuaryes dewe and accustomed according to the lawes of this realme. Also I gyve and bequieth to every one off my thre doughters fortye marks off my goodes over and besydes their childes' porcons, also whereas I have thre rings of golde, not off equal valew, I will that my eldest doughter shalhave the best, my second doughter the next best and my youngest doughter the third. I will

1 Jan. 10, 1618/9. William Riddell of Newcastle, merchant, appeared in person in the Durham Consistory Court and begged that the original of the will printed above should be given to him. It was delivered to him the same day on an oath for its safe restoration being made by Lancelot S[h]afto and Thomas Swan.

The testator was ancestor of the family of Riddell of Swinburn castle and Felton park, whose pedigree is printed in the new History of Northumberland, vol. iv. p. 284.

The inventory of the testator's goods is printed in Wills and Inventories, vol. i. p. 209.

If my

that my thre doughters aforesaid shalhave equally divided amongst theim all such apparell and rayment as dyd belonge to ther mother. I will that my sonne, Georg, shalhave one sylver salt, eight sylver spoones and one sylver peic. I bequieth to my servant, Raph Coltman, 40s., and to my servant, Margaret Bainbrig, 108. sonne, Robert, when he shall accomplish the full aidg of 21 yeres shall pay or cause to be payd to my said three doughters yff they lyve so long, or to such of them as shalbe lyving at the same tyme, the somme of 207. of good and lawfull money of England upon reasonable request to hym maid for the same, then I will and bequieth that my said sonne, Robert, shall have all my burgags landes in Darlington and Bushop-awkland for terme of his liff naturall, and yff my said sonne, Robert, hapen to decease bifore he accomplish the said aidg, or refuse at the said aidg off 21 yeres to pay the said somme off 207., then I will my sonne Georg, shalle have the said burgaig lands if he wyll pay the said somme of 207. to my thre dowghters in manor and forme aforsaid, and yf neither off my said sonnes will pay the said somme of 207. to my doughters as ys aforesaid, then I will that the said burgag launds in Darlington and Bushop-awkland shalbe solde by the supervisors off this my will and testament, or so many off theim as shalbe then lyving, and the money theroff to be equallye devyded amongest my thre doughters aforesaid. And in the mean tyme during the none aidg off my said sonne, Robert, I will that the profetts yerely proceding and comying of and upon the said lands to be equallye devided bitwixt my said two sonns, George and Robert. The resydewe off all my goods and cattals, over and besydes this my will performed, to be equallye devided bitwixt my said two sonns. And I make Robert Hewton, my younger sonne, my sole executor off this my last will and testament. Moreover I constitut and make my welbeloved cosyns and freinds, Robert Tempest of Holmesyd, John Hewton of Hunwick, William Smithe off Esh, Edward Parkinson off Bemount-hill, Francs Parkinson, the younger, and Nicholas Young of Heighington, the supervisors of this my last will and testament, and they to have the hole order off all my childrein, ther launds, goods and cattalls during ther none aidg. Provided alwaye that yf any off my said dowghters [die] before mariadg and bifore she accomplish th' aidg off 21 yeres, then I will that hir or ther porcons, soo deceasing, shall remane to thother dowghters or dowghter then lyving. I gyve to my landlord, Sir Francs Askew, knight, and to my ladye, his wiffe, and to Mr. William Askew, her eldest sonne, to every off theim, one olde riall for a token to the intent to be good to my childrein. In wytness hereoff, etc.1

The following is the will of a clergyman of the same surname :-June 1, 1561 William Huton, clerke :-To be buried in the church yard of our Lady at Chester. To John Huton, my brother, 6l. 13s. 4d., with my wages. To the five childer of my m[aste]r, to every of them 5s. To Christopher Huton, my brother's son, 20s. To my m[aste]r and my ladye and every one of them one old riall. Rest to Richard Harbottle, etc.

2