Hants

William Medes, Clerk of the Cathedral Church of Winchester, Hampshire, 1557

In dei nomine amen, in the last day of May in the year of our lord God a thousand five hundred fifty and seven, I William Medes of the cathedral church of Winchester in the county of South[hamptonshire], clerk, sick in body but of good and perfect remembrance (thanks be given unto God) make my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I bequeath my soul to almighty God and to our blessed lady and to all the holy company in heaven and my body to Christian burial. Item I give and bequeath to Leonard Richmond my nephew (unclear) a diaper tablecloth, a dozen of diaper table napkins. Item I give to the said Leonard Richmond and to his wife viz to any of them one old rial. Item I give unto every one of my waiting servants forty shillings apiece, viz to Thomas Muston, Thomas Elmes, William Dyer, Richard Dobley, William Butler alias Smith. Item I give & bequeath all such stuff as I have at my benefice of Meadowstock unto James Mascall to that intent that he shall gratify my successor with part of t same by his discretion. Item I give and bequeath unto William Aramit (?) and to Thomas Rede every of them xls. Item I give unto Thomas Muston, William Dyer and Thomas Elmes viz to every of them xxs more than is before rehearsed. Item I give and bequeath unto Mr Deane vis viiid and to every prebend that shall be present at my burial five shillings. Item I give unto every petty canon (?) likewise present iiis iiiid. Item to every singing man likewise present iis. And to every verger likewise iis. Item to every of the sixteen churchmen likewise present xxd. Item to every of the Almsmen likewise present xiid. Item to every of the choristers likewise present xiid. Item I give unto the chaunter and to the Orator vis Mr Pryton alias Erle to every of them xxd over and above iiis iiiid before rehearsed. Item I give unto Richard Shore steward of Saint Cross xld. Item I give unto the chaunter of Saint Cross five shillings. Item to every other priest there iiis iiiid. Item to every other singing man there iis. Item toeery poor brother there xiid. Item to every chorister there xiid. Item to Bass the sexton of Saint Cross viid. Item I give unto Benjamin Clere of Colchester and Thomasin his wife every of them an old royal. Item I will that xls of my rent of my benefice called Wetheringsett in Suffolk due at our lady day last past be given and distributed among the poor people of the parish there. Item I will that my kinsman John Clere shall be found at school at the new college beside Winchester at the costs and charges of my executors half a year after my decease. Item the residue of my goods before not bequeathed, my debts paid and my legacies performed, I give and bequeath unto William Laurence and to Robert Strasby, gents, whom I make mine executors to dispose and distribute unto poor people for my soul as they think good. And I give unto every of them for their pains a hundred shillings. In witness whereof I have put my sign and seal the day and year first written. William Mede clerk. Witness at the reading of the will Henry Brakan, James Mascall, William Dyer, Thomas Muston, Thomas Elmes