In the name of god amen anno dom 1540 19 June
I Thomas Adson hole in mynd and of good
remembrance do make this my last will and testament in manner and
forme folowying. Fyrst I bequeath my soule unto allmighte god and
my body to be buryed in the church yard of Rushden. Item
I bequeath to the hye aulter v s. Item to the mother church
of Peterborough xij d. Item to the light of the sepulchre .... and for the
begyninyng of a stoke for the mayteynance of the same sepulchre xx d.

Item to the torchys and the light that shalbe a bout the
herse vj s viij d. Item for my buyrall in the church of Rushden
vj s viij d. Item to the belle xiij s iiij d. Item I bequethe to Margery
my wife x li and to the children of the said Margery iiij li
to be paid (out) in iiij yeres after my decease (one) of my goods

Item I bequethe to the poore people of Hygham Ferres xiij s iiij d
Item to the bedhouse of Higham xiij d. Item to the poore people
of Chelson and Calcoot iij s iiij d. Item to the poore people
of Newnton ij s. Item to the poore people of Ylden ij s. Item
to the poore people of Nottynge xx d. Item to the pore people
of Sulthrope xx d. Item to the poore people of Wymyngton
and ther of I will yt Willm Merell and his wiffe shall
have iiij d. item to the poore people of Piddington and
Hynwike iijs iiij d. Item to the poore people of Farndishe ij d.

Item to the poore people of Irchester iij s iiij d. Item to the
poore people of Irtlyngborough vj s viij d. Item to the poore
of Stanwike iij s iiij d. Item to the poore people of
Wollasson iij s iiij d. Item I geve and bequeath to Henry Adson
an heyver. Item to Johane Hardwicke an heyver. Item
to John Elyat vj s viij d. Item to Willm Mase my servant
an eyve* shepe. Item to Margerett Browne my servant an ewe shepe.

Item I bequeath to the v children of my brother John Addson to every
one of them vj s viij d. Item to Thomas Adson my godson xl s.
Item I bequeath to every child of my brother Gurrey**
vj s viij d. Item I do geve and bequeath unto Elsabeth
Adson my mother all my houses landes & tenements medowes
leasours and pastures with thappurtennances within Rushden except
one cotyage called brines to have and hold unto her the
said Elsabeth & to her heyres assygnes for ever after
the costome and maner and it plece god that the
said Margery my wiffe fortune to have yssue between
.. lawfully begotten and yf the said issue
.. lyve the said Elsabeth my mother I will then yt the
said landes and tenements __ (de)wes
lesures and pastures with all and singular the appurtenances except before
exceptyd after the death of the said Elsabeth shall remayne to the said
ysswe and to the heyres of the body of the yssue lawfully begotten
and for lacke of suche yssue I will that the said land tenements and all other
the appurtenances except before exceptyd shall revert unto the heyres and
assygnes of the said Elsabeth my mother as aforesaid. Item I will yt
the said Margery my wiffe shall have and injoie interruption of myne
executor all (such forme) in goods cattells as now remayneth in & upon
her ferme at Stayders & on carte & on brydeelde ope with all manner of
implements and household stuffe yt was my said wiffs nowe remeynyng
in Rushden and also all those shype  yt nowe remayneth of myne at Piddington.

Item I will yt the said Margery shall have and __pyt solong tyme
after my decease as she do continue wyddowe the halfe parte of the
holmes by Irtlyngborough brygge late taken of my lady cheyny &
also the third parte of the ferme of the barne yard in Rushden so that
the said Margery wilbe bounde by obligation for the performynge and keeping
of all yerly payments & covenants for her behalf as well couveringe
the foresaid homes as the said barne yard for the discharge savinge
(harmlesse) of myn executor and yf the said Margerye fortune
to marye agayne I will then the said third parte of the sayme of the
barne yard with the half parte of the holmes shall remayne unto my
brother in law Thomas Gurrey and to his assynges. Item I will that
the said Margery my wiffe shall have her dwelling in my howse with my
mother during her wydowehode so yt she do use my mother well
and lovingly. Item all the residue of my goods and cattells not
bequeathed and all deets being to me after my deets paid and
my will performyd I do geve and bequeath  unto the foresaid Elzabeth Adson
my mother and to her assynges and I will that John Burbege and
Thomas Gurrey shalbe myne executors and they shall have for ther
labours ether of them xx s. Item I will yt my said executors
shall true account & pay met unto the said Elzabeth my mother
and to her assynges of all manner detts and other asytts that
shall (enter) unto there hands by the forse of this present will. Item will
that an able prest shall synge one hole yere with in the church of Rushden
for the soule of my father and mother and my __ and all Christian
soules and to have for his wage v li. Item I will yt Mr Ric (budery) &
Mr John (Cooke) shalbe my supervisors of this my last will to se yt my
will be performed and don according to the pleasure of god and they to
have for there paynes ech of them xx s a pese.

Probate granted 20 June 154(0)

Notes:
*presumably ewe
** ie his brother in law Thomas Gurry
A few lines in this will are difficult to read as they have been scored out and overwritten.