The Will of Elizabeth Bellye
Gentlewoman and Wife of
Great Paxton d.1608
1608 - Will of Elizabeth Bellye, Gentlewoman and Wife of Great Paxton - scan of the original
In the name of God amen
The three and twentieth day of Februaris anno domini one thousand six hundred and seaven I Elizabeth Bellye of Much Paxton in the countie of Hunt. gentlewoman and wife unto Mr John Bellye of Much Paxton aforesaid Doctor of the Laws being weake and sicke in body and yet of perfect mynde and memory doe willinglie and with a free harte render again into the hands of my Lord God and creator, my spiritte which he of his fatherlie goodness gave unto me when he fashioned me firste in my mother’s wombe, making me a living and a reasonable creature nothing doubting, but of his infinite mercies set further in the precious blood of his dearlie beloved sonne Jesus Christ our only saviour and redeemer, he will receive my soule into his glorie and place it in the company of the heavenlie Aingelles and blessed saintes.
And concerning my body I commend it to the earth whereof it came to be buried in decent manner which it shall seem best to my executor nothing doubting but according to the articles of my faith at the greate day of general resurrection to ryse agayne unto eternall glorie.
And also doe by this present with the leave licence, consent and assent of my said husband, make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
First I give and bequeath unto Timothie Bellye gent. the wife of Thomas Bellye Esquire my sonne, the longe needleworke Quisshion that Bridgitt my servant is now in working.
Item I give unto the sayde Tymothie Bellye my Tuffe Taffatie gown and my five velvet kyrtles which are at Bugden and a peece of scarlett which is at Budgen if my husband doth not use it.
Item I will that my Daughter Bellye shall have the choyce of one of my three silke cloakes, three hoodes and two night railes.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Payne, the wife of Robert Payne gent. a flatte guylt [gilt] bolle [bottle] and a silver tinne.
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Amy Ashton, the wife of [ ] Ashton gent. my chayne of gould and do charge my sonne Thomas Bellye my executor upon my blessing that he deliver the same chains unto her because I promised it her.
Item I give unto my daughter Jane Carter, the wife of Thomas Carter gent. my silke Grograine Gowne and my summer scarlett pettycote.
Item I give to my daughter Elizabeth Payne my furred scarlett pettycote, a long waistcoat of scarlett down to the foote, my new beaver hatt.
Item I give and bequeath unto Judith Bellye, Susanne Bellye and Mary Bellye my daughters to each of them the sums of twentye pounds a peece of lawfull English money to be payd unto them severally out of the goods and plate which is at Bugden not of the worst or the best.
Item I give to the said Judith my daughter one obligation of thirtie pounds which Robert Phage owed me. And I give unto her two pieces of needleworke for a chaise. And the yellow rugge and the second featherbed with the furniture hereunto belonginge which is at Bugden.
Item I give unto the said Judith the second best diaper tablecloth, the syde saddle that was my mothers and all the furniture, the white chest at Budgen and my great ribbed casket where my linen lies.
Item I give unto Marie Bellye a needlework Quisshion and my second pillion and my trunk here at Paxton that my hoodes do lye in and my Ciprus chest.
And to Suzan Bellye a needlework Quisshion and the best pillion, my casket with a little key and one of my trunks at Bugden.
Item I give unto Marie Bellye and Suzan Bellye my daughters all the money in the own kinds and natures which I have in the locked casket here at Much Paxton.
Item I do give and have presentlie delivered unto Judith Bellye my daughter my best purse and twenty pounds money in the same and my great desk in the closet here at Paxton. And my little casket with all the trinkets in it which is at Bugden.
Item my will and my mynde is that all my wearing apparel l and linen whatsoever unbequeathed shall be equally divided amongst my daughters Elizabeth Payne, Jane Carter, Judith Bellye, Susanne Bellye and Mary Bellye. And further I will that all the legacies and portions which I have given to Suzanne Bellye and Mary Bellye shall be paid unto them at their severall ages of one and twentie years or at their severall days of marriage which shall first happen.
Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Bellye and Amy Bellye the daughters of my sonne Thomas Bellye tenn pounds a peece when they shall come to their severall ages of one and twentie years or at their severall days of marriage which shall first happen.
And if it shall happen any of my two daughters Susanne and Marie to depart this world before they have accomplished their fulle severall ages of one and twenty years or before their severall days of marriage which shall first happen then my will and mynde is that her parte and portion so dieing shall remayne to be equallie divided between those two of my daughters, Judith, Susanne or Mary.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Aunte Ryley, the wife of George Ryley of Bugden half of the fine linen in a box at Bugden that was my mothers and the other half to be equallie divided between my daughter Payne, Judith, Susanne and Mary Bellye.
Item I give to my said Aunte Ryley my best fryzadae [Friday] gowne, a Tawny cloth kyrtle, all my smocks at Bugden and two night railes.
Item I give to my ould servant Ould Mogg, fortie shillings which I have left with Judith my daughter.
Item my request and will is that it would please my husband and my sonne Thomas to surrender and give up that my cottage with the appurtenances which I have at Bugden and wherein [ ] Askewe dwelleth to Jogn Bellye my sonne during his life and after his death to John Bellye his sonne and to his heyres forever.
All the rest of my goods moveable and unmoveable chattels as well real and personal leased farmes and terms of years which I have given me by legacies or otherwise and all my lands tenements and hereditaments both free and coppie unbequeathed and not given by this my last will and testament in consideration and for the true and just performance of this my said will and testament and paying these my legacies, debts and funerall charges I give and bequeath unto Thomas Bellye my sole executor of this my last will and testament.
And I most hartilie desire my good husband as it hath pleased him to give me leave to make this will and testament, so for likewise to confirm the same under this handwriting and to call uppon my executor faithfullie to execute this my said will and testament as my trust is in him.
In witness whereof I have here sett my hand and seale the day and year first above written in the presence of
Judith Bellye
William Longe Notary Pub.
John Bellye
Elizabeth Bellye
PROBATUM FUIT TESTAMENTUM SUP[ER]SCRIP[TUM] apud London coram venerabili viro mag[ist]ro Will[iel]mo Byrd legum doctore Curiae Prerogativae Cant[uarensis] Mag[ist]ro Custode sive Commissario l[egi]time constituto vicesimo die mensis Junii Anno D[omi]ni millesimo sexcentesimo octavo Juramento Thomae Belley filii nat[ural]is et l[egi]tim[i] dicte defuncte et Executoris in huiusmodi testamento nominati cui commissa fuit admin[istra]to omn[iu]m et sing[u]lorum Bono[ru]m Jur[iu]m et Credit[or]um eadem defuncte de bene et fidel[ite]r admin[istran]do eadem Ad Sancta Dei Evangelia ea[dem?] iurat /
Translation
THE ABOVE WRITTEN WILL WAS PROVED at London before the venerable
Master William Byrd, Doctor of Laws, Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court at Canterbury lawfully constituted the twentieth day of the month of June in the Year of Our Lord one thousand six hundred and eight By the oath of Thomas Belley the natural legitimate son of the said deceased and executor nominated in this same will granted administration of all and singular Goods, Rights and Credits of the same deceased to well and faithfully administer the same. The same sworn on God's Holy Gospel
Transcription by Rachel Osborne
