Named as a beneficiary in her father's Will (1552), then married.
Sole Executrix of her husband's Will
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Will of Dame Elizabeth Blounte, Widow of Mapledurham, Oxfordshire, written 14 Feb 1581/2, proved 26 Jun 1582
[paragraphed for easier reading]
In the Name of God Amen: the fourteenthe day of February in the yeare of our Lorde god one thowsande [five] hundred eightie one, and in the fower and twentith yeare of the raigne of oure soveraigne Ladye Elizabethe by the grace of god of Englande France and Irelande Queene defender of the faithe, I Dame Elizabeth Blounte widowe, late wife of of Sir Richarde Blounte knighte deceased, Recomptinge with my self the certenietye of deathe to be suche as no creature canne escape it, and the tyme thereof to be so uncerteine as no fleshe canne knowe it, before it commethe to passe. Therefore I beinge of perfecte minde and remembrance (thankes be to god for it) For the better settlinge in some order those thinges whiche by the permission of god I doe enioye in this worlde and for the quietnes of my conscience I doe by and in theise presents make and declare my last will and testamente of all and everie my goods and cattals movable and unmovable, leases for termes of yeares, debtes, dueties, sommes of monneye, plate, iewells, houshould stuff and other thinges of whatsoever Ruide or nature theye be within the Realme of Englande in manner and fourme followinge.
First I committe my sowle to the mercie of god and my bodye to the earthe to be buried in the parishe Churche of Mapledyrram or in suche other parishe where I shall fortune? to dye, withe suche chardge to be bestowed in funeralls as to my executor hereafter named shalbe thoughte most conveniente, which over and besides Tenne poundes at the leaste to be given to the poore, I doe wishe not to be over sumptuous.
And I doe devise give and bequeathe unto my daughter Elizabeth St John wife of Nicholas St. John esquire, my beste velvett gowne whiche I shall have at the tyme of my decease, my blacke inamyled tablett of goulde, and a cuppe of silver and guilte, to be delyvered unto her within one monthe nexte after my decease.
Item I doe gyve and bequeathe unto Elizabeth St. John her daughter fortye poundes of god and lawfull monneye of Englande to be paide unto her with a quarter of a yeare nexte after my decease. And I gyve and bequeathe unto Elenor Saint John Dorothie St John and Jane St John other the daughters of the saide Nicholas St John and Elizabeth to everye of theme fortye poundes a peece of lawfull englishe monneye to be paide to everie of theme at the daies of theire severall marriags or else when their shalbe of theire severall ages of fower and twentie yeares, whiche of the shall first happen.
Item I give and bequeathe unto Marye Blounte the wiffe of my Sonne Michaell Blounte a ringe of goulde or some other Jewell of the value of fyve poundes of lawfull Englishe monneye, as the shall best fansye, to be bought for her by my executor hereafter named. And for the good zeale and love whiche I doe beare unto Richarde Blounte sonne and heire apparent of the saide Michaell Blounte & of the saide Marye, and for my late husbandes sake whose godsonne the saide Richarde was I doe gyve and bequeathe unto him the saide Richard Blounte all those implementes of howshould and howhould stuff as in a scedule or Inventarye to this my present last will and testamente annexed, are conteyned and expressed.
And I give & bequeath unto Catherine Blounte the daughter of the saide Michaell and Marye twentie poundes of currant Englishe monneye to be paide within half a yeare nexte after my decease. And to everie other the children of the sayde Michaell Blounte and Marye his wife a peece of silver plate of the valewe of forty shillinges, or forty shillinges in monney at theire choyse.
Item I doe give and bequeathe unto Elizabeth Wyborne the daughter of Barbara Sherley Fortie poundes in monney to be paide within one quarter of a yeare next after my decease.
Item I doe gyve and bequeathe unto John St John sonne and heire apparent of Nicholas St John a pott or cupp of silver and guilte of the valewe of sixe poundes thirtene shillinges fower pence, to be bought for him by my executoure hereafter named after my decease.
And my will is that if anye of the saide Elenor St John Dorothie St John or Jane St John shall happen to decease before the tyme of her marriage or before her age of Fower and twentye yeares that her legacie before herein given whiche shall happen so to decease shalbe equallye devided amongst her other sisters whiche shall then survive.
And further I doe give and bequeathe unto Oliver St John Richard St John sonnes of the saide Nicholas St John, and unto Richarde Sherley sonne of Franncis Sherleye esquire deceased, to everie of theme a peece of silver plate of the valewe of fortie shillinges a peece or else forty shillinges in lawfull englishe monneye to everie of theme as theire choyses, to be paide within one quarter of a yeare next after my decease.
And unto Thomas Sherleye sonne and heire of the sayde Franncis a bole a cupp of silver and guilte of the value of fyve poundes
Item I give and bequeathe unto my Nephew Charles Lyster the bole of silver and guilte whiche was his fathers withe the cover thereunto belonginge.
Item I gyve and bequeathe unto everie one of my servantes to whome I doe give waiges, and to no other servants with that whiche shalbe due unto theme by me of theire wages at the tyme of my decease, one yeares wages.
Item I give and bequeathe unto my sonne Richarde Blounte as well my leases termes of yeares and interests of my Rectorye and personage of Clympyn withe the appurtenances in the countie of Sussex and Sonnynge mylle in the countie of Berk, as also (my debtes paide my funeralle discharged and my legacies perfourmed) all my monneye, cattell, plate, houshould stuff, goods, and cattalls movable and unmovable whatsoever within the Realme of Englande, before by this my presente last will and testamente not gyven or bequeathed.
And I doe make and constitute by theise presentes my saide sonne Richarde Blounte my whole and sole Executoure of this my present last will and testamente. And I doe make and appointe also by theise presentes the saide Nicholas St. John, and the said Charles Lyster Overseers thereof, prayinge and besechinge theme accordinge to the confidence and trust whiche I doe repose in theme, to see this my last will and testamente accordinge to myne intente and meaninge in all pointes to be iustlye and trulye perfourmed. And for theire paines and travell to be taken in that behalff I doe give and bequeathe unto everie of theme fyve poundes of good and lawfull monneye of England. And I doe hereby revoke and adnull all former wills and testamentes heretofore by me made before the Date hereof, My full meaninge intente and will is neverthelesse that any Codicill whiche I shall hereafter make shall stande and be as parcell? of last will and testamente as fullie as thoughe the same had bene herein conteyned.
In witness whereof I the saide Dame Elizabethe Blounte have hereunto sett my seale the daie and yeare first above written. 1
[The above is followed by a page listing the implements and household stuff bequeathed to Richard Blounte, and the Latin probate.]
Research Notes: