The Will of Richard Bathe of Wotton Bassett, husbandman, written 20 Sep 1558, proved 2 Jul 1584 1
[paragraphed for easier reading]
In Dei Nomine Amen: The xxth daye of September In the yeare of our Lorde God one Thowsand fyve Hundreth Ffyftie eight and in the yeres of the raigne of the moste famous Kinge Phillipp and Queene Marye, Kinge and Queene of Englande, Spayne, Ffrance, bothe Cicilles, Jerusalem and Irelande, Defenders of the faithe, Archdukes of . . . . . . . Duke of Burgundy, Millaine and Brabande, countyes of Asspurge Fflanders and Tyr---- the Ffourth and Fyfth That I Richarde Bathe husbandman dwellinge in the parish of Wotton Bassett in Wiltes here doe I make my last will and Testament being perfect of mynde and good remembrance, in manner and forme following...
Ffirst I bequeathe my soule to allmightie God and to our blessed Ladye St Marye and to all holye company of Heaven : And my Bodye to be buried in the Churche of All-Hallowes of Wotton aforesaid.
Imprimis I doe give and bequeathe to John Bathe my eldest sonne twenty Nobles my best waine and a bullocke.
Item. I doe give and bequeathe to Richard Bathe my sonne Twenty Nobles, my seconde waine and a bullocke.
Item. I doe give and bequeathe to Elene Hewes my daughter fyve poundes and a heyfer of twoe yeare aulde.
Item. I doe give and bequeathe to Christian Bronnsden my daughter fyve poundes and a heyffer.
Item. I doe give and bequeathe to Thomas Bathe my sonne fyve pounds and a bullocke.
Item. I doe give and bequeathe to John Bathe, Thomasin Bathe, Agnes Bathe and Katherine Bathe every one of them Tenne poundes a peece of good and lawfull money of England and a heiffer a peece with some of my howshoulde stuffe delivered at the discression of my Overseers and my Curate.
Item. I do give to Geffrye Bathe my sonne Twentie nobles my thirde waine unbequeathed and a bullock.
All the residue of my childrens ... Nicholas Bathe, William, Robert and Faramente every one of them here named I doe bequeathe them Twentie Nobles a peece with a heyffer or a bullock a peece.
Item. I bequeathe to Nicholas Bysse my godchilde sixtene pence or else a sheepe.
Item. I bequeathe to Elizabeth Stevens my godchilde sixtene pence or else a sheepe.
Item. I bequeathe to Bryant Hewes my godchilde twoe shillinges or else a sheepe.
Item. I bequeathe to Paule Webb my godchilde sixtene pence or else a sheepe.
Item. I bequeathe to everye godchilde I have Twelve pence a peece.
Item. I bequeathe to the Churche of Wootton aforesaide sixe shillinges eight pence.
Item. I bequeathe to the Highe Altare of Wotton Churche Twelve pence.
Item. I bequeathe to the Highe waies Tenne shillinges.
Item. I bequeathe to the Mother Churche of Sarum eight pence.
Item. I bequeathe to the poore people Tenne shillinges.
Item. I will my bequestes to be delivered at my . . . . . . . mynde. Ffurthermore I will my purchaze of the Mills and Proffitts and my Howses in the Boroughe of Wotton aforesaide to the use and proffitt of Agnes Bathe my wyfe and John and Richarde Bathe my twoe sonnes. And my wyfe doe marrye I doe gyve my purchase with my Howses afore expressed unto John and Richard Bathe my two sonnes to them and theire heires for ever and a daye. Yf annye of my twoe Sonnes dye without heires then to remayne to the next liver, Yf they doe dye Bothe to the next age of my children. Ffurthermore my purchase of my parke I doe will and doe give yt to Agnes Bathe my wife withe John Bathe and Richard afore named for the terme of my yeares, my wife to have the one halfe bearinge halfe the charges with my sonnes afore named all my leavinge and purchase afore named I will my wife to have th' one halfe with my sonnes bearinge halfe charges keepinge her widdowe state.
All the residue of my good unbequeathed moveable and unmoveable I do give it to Agnes Bathe my wyfe, to John and Richard Bathe my twoe sonnes those I doe make my executors they to receive my debts to paie my Debtes to dispose for my sowle as they thinketh best, daye and date above written.
Witnesses: Nicholas Webb, John Bysse, Davye Bronnsden, with other moe. To be my Overseers I will William Bathe my brother and Davith Phelpes.
General Notes: