In the name of God amen
Octobris Ao dm 1558 I John Margetts of Rushden in the countie
of Northampton being sicke of body and hole of mynd do make this my last will
and testament in manner and forme folowyng first I bequeath my
soule unto allmighti god my maker and redeemer and my body to be
buryed in the sainte John chappell within the parish church of Rushden
aforesaid. Item I bequeath to every one of my god children xij d. Item
I bequeath unto the poore folke of Rushden to be disposyd amonge
them the day of my buryall xx s. Item I bequeath to the poore people
of Higham Ferres to be disposyed amongst them with one month after
my decease x s. Item I bequeath in like manner to the poore people of
Irchester vj s viij d. Item to the poore people of Irthlingborough vj s viiij d.
Item I bequeath unto the poore people of Chelson and Colcote vj s viij d.
Item I bequeath unto the poore people of Newnton ij s. Item I bequeath
unto the poore of Knottinge ij s. Item I bequeath unto the people
of Sowdroppe ij s. Item I bequeath unto the poore people of (Wemyngton)
ij s. Item I bequeath to the mending of the cawsye at the north end
of Rushden aforesaid vj s viij d. Item I bequeath to the mending of the
common well at the southe end of Rushden aforesaid xx s. Item
I bequeath unto Sybbyll Margetts daughter of my brother Thomas
Margetts x shepe. Item I bequeath unto everye one of the residue of
my said brothers children one shepe. Item I bequethe to every one of
my brother Willm Margetts children one shepe. Item I geve and
bequeath unto Robt Margetts (sone) unto the said Willm my brother
being my godsone one closse lying in the sowth end of Rushden between
the close of Thomas Gurrey on the south part and the close
of Nicholas Burbege on the north parte to hold to the said Robt
and his heyres for ever. Item I bequeath unto my sister Marg(arie)
Holdenby vj s viij d. Item I bequeath for my lying in the church
vj s viij d. Item I bequeath x li in money and will that the same
do and shall remayne in the custody of my said brother Willm
Margetts and his heyres for evermore to lende yerely from tyme
to tyme unto the poore inhabytanncs of Rushden aforesaid upon
ther truly alleged need or nesesytye to buye horse, cowe or seede to
sowe ther lande or other wise for ther reliffe & helpe to (oqu)py
and that to doo upon there sufficient bondes suertes for the
repayment of the same and every parcel thereof unto the said
Willm and his heyres within the space of one twellmonyth
allways and the said somme of x li to be lent only unto the poore
inhabytanncs & to no other and no parcel therof to be lent unto (eny man)
at one tyme for longer space then for terme of one yere only and the said sum
of x li & every parte therof to be disposyd and ordanyd accordingly to the_ __te
aforesaid at the ___ly discrecon of the said Willm and his heyres forever.
Item I do geve unto my said brother William all that my messuage set lying
and bying in Rushden between the tenement of Robt Pem[er]ton gent now in the
tenur of Edmund Tappe on the south part and the close of the heyres of Henry
Campyan nowe in the tenure of Willm Matysse on the north parte together with all
land meddowe leys lesues closes pasture & commons unbequethed and all other
and singular the appurtenances to the same belonging or in anywise appurtenyng to hold
to the said Wyllm his heyres executors or assignes during the naturall lyfe
of John Margetts my son in consyderacon and towards the honest reliffe and kepying
of my son aforesaid and after the decease of the said John my son the said messuage
and other the appurtenances to remayne to Thomas Margetts the eldest
son of Thomas Margetts my brother and to the issue male of his body
lawfully begotten and for defaut of such isswe the said messuage and other
the premises with the appurtenances to remayne to Robt Margetts son of Willm Margetts
my brother and to the isswe male of his body lawfully begotten and for
defaut of such iswe the said messuage and other the premises with the appurtenances
to remayne to Wilm Margetts my brother to his heyres for ever. Item I geve unto
the said Thomas Margetts son of my brother Thomas aforesaid all the
woode that I bought of the said Thomas my brother in the spynney adionyng
to the dwelling howse of the said Thomas excepted all the wood that growith
in the hedge roe by the way which woods are hege roes I geve and bequeath
to Elsabth my wiffe. Item I geve unto the said Thomas son of my said brother
ij of my horses. Item I geve and bequeath unto the said Elsabeth my
wiffe all the movable goods that I had with her in marriage exceptyd the corne
and grayne that I had with her in consyderacon & in recompence of the _____
or grayne I bequeath unto my said wiffe all the corne and grayne that dyd
growne upon her lands in this yere above writte. Item I geve and
bequeath unto the said Elizabeth my wiffe out of myne (uwne) p[arte] good
xx ti nobles. Item I bequeath to Sybbill Margetts aforesaid a
brasse panne. Item I geve to Thomas Margetts son of Roger Margetts
my brother one quarter of barley and one quarter of pyese to be paid of
my tythe barne. Item I geve unto Thomas Sybley of (Warm)yngton ij
quarters of barley to be paid out of my said tythe. Item I geve unto Robert
Margetts son of my brother Willm aforesaid all my porcon of tythes
of the parsonage of Rushden aforesaid for the which I have paid afore
hand for iiij yeres yet to come unto the parson ther at this present.
Item I will that all suche deatts & duties as I uwe of right or
consyde__e to any person or persones be well and truly contentyd and
paid be myne executor hereafter namyd with out delay or contradiction
and after my detes paid funeral expences discharged and my bequest
aforesaid performyd the residue of my goods and
cattell & dettes I geve and bequeath unto the said W Margetts
my brother for the better relyffe of my son John aforesaid
and upon condicon that the said Willm shall kepe my said sone
cause hym to be kepte during the natural lyfe of my said son
with convenient meat drinke and clothing and fynd all other
necessaryes what sover they shal be. And of this my present testament
I make ordayne and constitute my said brother Willm my sole
executor and bequeath to hym for his paynes in that behalfe and
of the execucon of the same I make and ordayne Willm Gurrey
overseer to whom for his paynes in that behalf I bequeath x s
and I utterly revoke all and every other former testament
will legace gyftts executor and overseres by me in any wise
before this tyme made willyd geven bequeathed or namyd
these being witness Sir Willm Braysyles parsonne Willm
Hughes Willm Gurrey and Robt Dewbery
with others

Probate granted 01 December 1558.