THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF Mr. IOHN KENDRICKE late Citizen and Draper of LONDON Who departed this life the 30. day of December anno 1624. Full of notable workes of charity worthy of lasting memory and imitation LONDON Printed for NATHANIEL BVTTER and Nicholas Bourne 1625. THE LAST WILL and Testament of Master Iohn Kendricke of London Draper c. IN the name of God Amen The nine and twentieth of December Anno Domini 1624. and in the two and twentieth yeare of the Reigne of our Soueraigne Lord King lames c. I Iohn Kendricke of the City of London Draper being sicke in Body but of good and perfect mind and memory for which I giue most humble and hearty thanks to Almighty God do make ordaine and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following that is to say First and before all things I commend and commit my Soule to Almighty God my Creator trusting most assuredly to be saued by the death passion and onely merits of Iesus Christ my Sauiour and Redeemer And I will that my body bee decently interred in Christian Buriall in the Parish of Saint Christopher where I dwell as mine Executor hereafter named shall order and appoint Item I giue and bequeath to 60 poore men to euery of them a Gowne of broad-cloath to weare on the day of my buriall and twelue pence a piece in money to pay for their dinners the same poore men to be such as my Executor shall appoint Item I giue and bequeath blacke gowns and cloaks to be worne at my buriall by my Kindred Friends and Seruants as my Executor shall thinke meet not exceeding the summ of six hundred pounds in the said gowns and cloakes and the rest of the charges of my Funerall Item I giue and bequeath the summe of three score pounds to be bestowed vpon a dinner to bee prouided for my friends and the Inhabitants of the Parish of S. Christopher where I now dwell vpon the day of my buriall and in such place as my Executor shall think meet and conuenient Item I giue and bequeath to the Maior and Burgesses of the Town of Reading in the County of Berks I meane to the body corporate or Corporation of the said Towne of Reading by whatsoeuer name or addition the same is made or knowne the Summe of seuen thousand and fiue hundred pounds vpon speciall trust and confidence that they shall therewith perform these vses following that is to say The said Maior and Burgesses shall buy and purchase vnto them and their Successors for euer I say to the Body Corporate of the said Towne of Reading by whatsoeuer name or addition the same is made or knowne Lands and Hereditaments of the cleare value of fifty pounds by the year ouer and aboue all charges and reprises which summe of fifty pounds a yeare my will and meaning is shall bee paid by the said Mayor and Burgesses and their Successors vnto my sister Anna Newman yearly during her naturall life And after her decease the same yearly summe of fifty pounds shall be paid by the said Maior and Burgesses and their Successors to the Ouerseers for the poore of the said towne of Reading for the time being yearly for euer And by them the said Ouerseers for the time being shall be bestowed and distributed to and among the poore people of the said Towne for euer to wit the moietie thereof euery halfe yeare in such summes and to such persons as the said Ouerseers for the time being shall thinke meet according to the necessity and desert of the same seuerall persons Prouided alwayes and my meaning is that this my yearly gift shall not any way abridge the said poore of the ordinary allowances vsually assessed and collected of the wealthier sort of the Inhabitants of the said town towards the reliefe of the said poore people but shall be vnto them an additament and cleare encrease of reliefe yearly for euer And if this my gift and prouision shall happen which I trust it shal not to be by the said Maior and Burgesses or by the said Ouerseers for the time being ordered and disposed contrary to my meaning thus declared or that my will and desire aboue expressed touching the bestowing and distribution of the said summe of fifty pounds yearly be omitted neglected or left vnperformed by the space of one whole yeare after it is by this my Will appointed to be distributed and bestowed as aforesaid Then my will and meaning is that the said summe and reuennue of fiftie pounds a yeare shall be by the said Maior and Burgesses and their Successors for the time being for euer paid vnto the Treasurer of Christs Hospitall in London and by the Gouernours of the same Hospitall employed and bestowed in the reliefe and education of the poore children of the said Hospitall Or else that the said Mayor and Burgesses for the time being shall by their sufficient Deed in Law conuey and make ouer the lands and Hereditaments of the said yearly value of fiftie pounds vnto the Maior and Communaltie and Citizens of the City of London and their Successors for euer vnto the vse of the said Hospitall to be employed as aforesaid Prouided alwayes that the said fiftie pounds a yeare be yearly paid vnto my said sister Anna Newman during her naturall life and after her decease to the charitable vses aforesaid Moreouer my will and meaning as also my trust and confidence in the said Maior and Burgesses of the Towne of Reading is that with another competent part of the said summe of seuen thousand fiue hundred pounds so by mee deuised as aforesaid they the said Maior and Burgesses shall buy and purchase vnto them and their successours for euer a faire plot of ground within the said towne of Reading or the liberties thereof and thereupon shall erect and builde a strong house of Bricke fit and commodious for setting of the poore on worke therein or else shall buy and purchase such an house beeing already built if they can find one already fitting or that may with a reasonable summe bee made fit for the sayd vse the same house to haue a faire garden adioyning and to bee from time to time kept in good and sufficient reparations by the sayd Maior and Burgesses for the time beeing for euer Which House and garden my wil is shal be vsed and occupied by such as the said Maior and Burgesses and their successours from time to time for euer shal appoint and ordaine for the employing and handling of the stocke of money by me hereby left and deuised to that purpose And my will and meaning is that the sayd lands and hereditaments of the yearly value of fifty pounds and also the said house and garden beeing bought and purchased as afore sayd with parcell of the said summe of seuen thousand fiue hundred pounds then the whole residue and remainder of the same seuen thousand and fiue hundred pounds shal make and be
two thousand and foure hundred pounds to purchase lands and hereditaments to the cleere yearely value of one hundred pounds for euer ouer and aboue all charges and reprises and with the same to performe these good vses heereafter mentioned that is to say The summe of twenty foure pounds thereof yearly for euer to bee bestowed in the moneth of December for the releasing of sixe poore Prisoners out of these Prisons in London to wit the two Compters Ludgate Newgate and the Fleete by foure pounds for each Prisoner Or if such cannot bee found in the said Prisons or some of them to bee released for these summes Then the same or the residue thereof to bee bestowed in like releasing of other Prisoners out of some of the Prisons neere London and out of the liberties thereof as to the Wardens of the said Company for the time being shall seeme meet More Twenty pounds yearely for euer to the Curate of the Parish of Saint Christopher wherein I now dwell to reade Diuine Service in the said Parish Church at sixe of the Clocke in the morning euery day of the weeke for euer in like manner as is now vsed in the Chappell at the great North gate of Saint Pauls Church in London More To tâ—e Clarke and Sexton of the said Parish of Saint Christopher to each of them fifty shillings yearely for euer to doe their seuerall attendance and assistance at the same diuine Seruice euery morning More To the Churchwardens of the same Parish of Saint Christopher fiue pounds yearely for euer for the manitenance of lights in the winter time More Three pounds yearely for euer to the poore of the said Parish of Saint Christopher More To the poore Prisoners in London ten pounds yearely for euer namely to the Prisoners of the Compters in the Poultry and in Wood-streete and in Newgate to each of these Prisons forty shillings yearly for euer To the poore Prisoners in Ludgate and in the Fleet to each house thirty shillings yearly for euer And to the poor prisoners in Bedlem twenty shillings yearly for euer More To the Clarke of the Company of Drapers aforesaid for the time being for his paines herein forty shillings yearely for euer More To the Beadle of the said Company thirty shillings yearely for euer More to the Beadle of the Yeomanry of the same Company ten shillings yearely for euer More Fiue and twenty pounds yearely for euer to be distributed by the said Wardens among poore religious men and women in the Citie of London to some more and to some lesse as the said VVardens shall findâ— their necessity and desert to bee wherein my desi 〈…〉 poore Cloth-workers and their widowes shall 〈…〉 t preferred and next the poore of the Drapers Company The residue of the saide summe of one hundred pounds a yeare being foure pounds yearely for euer I entreate the foure Wardens of the sayd Company to accept for their paines to be equally diuided betweene them by twentie shillings to each of them for the time being yearely for euer And if the said Company of Drapers doe either of purpose or negligence omit and not performe the premisses but shall leaue the same vnperformed one whole yeare after they shall haue receiued this my Legacy of two thousand and foure hundred pounds which I will shall be paid them at the end of one yeare next after my decease Then my mind and will is that the Gouernors of Christs Hospitall in London shall recouer the whole two thousand and foure hundred pounds before specified or the lands and hereditaments that the said Companie shâ—ll haue bought with the same money and keepe twentie pounds yearly for euer of the same Rent for the maintenance of the poore Children in the said Hospitall as if the same had beene first giuen to them and the Drapers Companie to haue nothing to doe with it or the rest of the said hundred pounds yearly for euer And that in this case the yearly payment of eight pounds vnto the Clarke Beadles and Wardens of the said Companie as also 12 pound parcell of the said fiue and twentie pounds a yeare before deuised to be paid and distributed by the said Company among poore religious men and women in the Citie of London vtterly and for euer to cease But this twentie pounds a yeare being so conuerted as aforesaid to the vse of the Hospitall the residue of the said yearly Rent of one hundred pounds a yeare I will that the Gouernors of the said Hospitall shall pay and distribute yearly for euer in manner and forme as the said Company of Drapers should haue done Item I giue and bequeath to the said Company of Drapers one hundred pounds to be paid within a yeare after my decease and by the Wardens of the said Company to be bestowed in plate such as they shall thinke good for the vse of their Common Hall in London at their meetings and dinners there Item I giue and bequeath to the poore of Christs Hospitall in London fiue hundred pounds to bee by the Goueâ—nours thereof bestowed in Lands and hereditaments for and towards the yearely maintenance of the children of the said Hospitall for euer this summe to be paid to the said Gouernours or the Treasurer of the said Hospitall as soone as they shall haue found out a fit purchase to bestow it and agreed of price for the same Item I giue and bequeath towards the curing of sick sore and diseased persons in S. Bartholmews Hospitall in London the summe of fifty pounds Item I giue and bequeath towards the curing of sick sore and diseased persons in Saint Thomas Hospitall in in Southwarke neere London the summe of fiftie pounds Item I giue and bequeath towards the repairing of the Parish Church of Saint Christopher where I now dwell the summe of forty pounds to bee paid to the Churchwardens of the same Parish within one yeare after my decease Item I giue and bequeath towards the repairing of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Pauls in London the summe of one thousand pounds to bee paid to the Chamberlaine of London at such time as that worke of repairing of the same Church shall be ready to proceed with effect and to be disposed by the direction and appointment of the Lord Maior and Aldermen of the said Citie Item I giue and bequeath to be giuen at the Mariages of poore maids within the City of London two hundred pounds to be distributed by forty shillings apeece vpon the daies of their mariage to such as haue serued one Master or Mistris by the space of fiue years together Item I giue and bequeath to be giuen distributed to poore maids in the town of Reading in the County of Berks at their seuerall mariages by 40 shillings apeece at the discretion of the Mayor and Burgesses of that towne the Summe of one hundred pounds Prouided none enioy the benefit thereof but such as haue serued one Master or Mistris or Dame by the
my decease Item I giue and bequeath to my Water-bearer three pounds and to my washer Anthony fiue pounds to bee payd them forth with after my decease Item I giue and bequeath to William Beadle of Reading Clothier the summe of fifty pounds if hee be yet aliue and if hee be dead then to his Executors to be payd within three moneths next after my decease and I do hereby also forgiue the said William Beadle the ten pounds hee now oweth me Item I giue and bequeath to the Executors of Mark Slye of Reading Clothier deceased the summe of fifty pounds to be payd within three moneths next after my decease Item I giue and bequeath to Thomas Newman of Newbury Cloathier the summe of one hundred pounds to be payd him within three moneths after my decease Item I giue and bequeath to Iohn Skinner secretary to the Merchants Aduenturers the summe of one hundred pounds to be payd within three moneths next after my decease Item I giue and bequeath to the widdow Harrison and her daughter dwelling in the Aley next my dweling house fiue pounds to be payd within one moneth next after my decease Item I giue and bequeath to Mr. Richard Bennet who was heretofore my Partner the summe of three hundred pounds to bee payd at the end of one yeare next after my decease Item I giue and bequeath to Mr. William Towerson Skynner Deaputy of the Merchant Aduenturers fiue pounds to make him a Ring and to Mr. Thomas Smyth Skynner fiue pounds to make him a Ring to be payd them forthwith after my decease Item I giue and bequeath vnto Ralfe Burnet William Ellets and Iohn Southerne Officers of the Merchant Aduenturers fiue pounds a peece to be payd them forthwith after my decease Item I giue and bequeath to the Maior and Burgesses of the Towne of Reading in the County of Berks the summe of two hundred and fifty poundâ— to be payd them at the end of one yeare next after my decease therewith to purchase Lands Hereditaments to the cleere yearely vallew of ten pounds for euer to maintaine diuine seruice to bee sayd in the Parish Church of Saint Mary in that Towne by the Parson or his Curat euery morning of the weeke at six of the clocke for euer Item I giue and bequeath to the Maior Alderman and Burgesses of the Towne of Nuberry in the County of Berks the summe of two hundred and fifty pounds to bee payd them at the end of one yeare next after my decease therewith to purchase Lands or Heredaments of the cleare yearely vallew of ten pound for euer to maintaine Diuine Seruice to bee sayd in the Church of that Towne by the Parson or his curate euery morning of the weeke at six of the clocke to continue for euer Item I giue and bequeath to my kinsman Wiliam Bye dwelling neere the Allum Mines in York-shire the sum of one hundred pounds to be payd him within three moneths after my decease and I hereby forgiue him the ten pounds he oweth me by bond due long since Item I giue and bâ—queath the Companie of Drapers in London the summe of fortie pounds to bee bestowed vpon a dinner for the Liuerie of that Company to be at their Hall vpon the day of my buriall this to be payed forthwith after my decease And my will and meaning is that in case any of the persons afore-named to whom I haue bequeathed Legacies as aforesayd and not specially disposed for case of their decease shall happen to die before the same Legacies grow due Then the Legacy or Legacies so by me giuen vnto them as afore-sayd shal be payd vnto their Executors or Administrators at such time as I haue before seuerally appointed vnto them my Legataries And I doe make and ordaine my louing friend and Partner M. Lawrence Halstead my sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament Charging him as he will answer it before Almighty God at the last day of iudgement that he truely and punctually in euery particular performe this my said last Wil and Testament as I nothing doubt but he will be very carefull to doe Hereby giuing and bequeathing vnto him my sayd Executor all the residue and Remainder of my Estate my Legacies before bequeathed being first paied and discharged In witnes of the premisses I haue vnto this my last Will and Testament contained in eighteene seuerall sheetes of paper put my hand and seale That is my seale once at the top and my name vnder euery seuerall sheere the day and yeare first aboue written Iohn Kenricke Sealed Pronounced and deliuered by the said Iohn Kenricke as his last Will and Testament in the presence of vs Iohn Skinner Andrew Kenricke Thomas Singleton Probatum coram Magistro Arthuro Ducke Legum Doctore Surrogato c. vltimo die mensis Decembris Anno Domini 1624. Iuramento Laurentij Halstead Executoris c. Cui c. de bene c. Iurat