1673 Will - Dame Elizabeth Ryves
Introduction
Dated: 20 Oct 1673, Holborn St. Andrews, MiddlesexProbated: Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 10 Jan 1673/4
Recorded: Piece 334 (Bunce), folio 76 reverse
Transcript
In the name of God Amen the twentieth day of October Anno Domini 1673 and in the five and twentieth yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord Charles the Second by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the faith &c I dame Elizabeth Ryves of the parish of St Andrews Holborne widow the Relict of Sr Thomas Ryves Knight Doctor of Lawes And Advocate Generall to his majestie King Charles the first of ever Blessed memory being aged sicke and weake in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory (Praysed be Almighty God therefore But calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory life Doe make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and forme following (that is to say)First and principally I comend my soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hopeing and assuredly trusting that through the meritts death and passion of my onely Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to receive full and free remission of all my sins my body I remitt to the Earth from whence it came in hopes of a joyfull resurrection and my will is that my body shalbe buried in the parish Church of St Clements Danes neare unto my said deere husband under the Comunion table of the saide church in such decent and Christian manner as my executor hereafter named shall thinke fitt and covenient And my desire is that Mr Franklin Lector of St Dunstans in the west Doe Preach my funerall sermon And for his paines to be taken therein I doe hereby give and bequeath unto the said Mr Franklin the sume of five pounds to be paid by my executor hereafter named And as touching the devising and disposeing of such temporall estate as it hath pleased God to lend me in this world I give and bequeath the same as followeth Revoaking all other and former wills made by word or writings and doe decalre this to be my Last Will and Testament as aforesaid whereas Sr John Howell Knight Serjeant att Law and Recorder of the Citty of London doth stand bound to me in the penall sume of foure hundred pounds for the payment of two hundred pounds principall with growing interest I doe hereby acknowledge that I have taken in thereof seaventy pounds soe there remaines onely due unto mee one hundred and thirty pounds soe there remaines only due unto me and some growing interest And whereas Robert Wright Esquire standeth likewise bound unto mee iin the sume of one hundred pounds for the payment of fifty pounds principall money with some growing interest
First I doe give and bequeath unto my deare and liveing sister Mrs Judith Paulett the sume of thirty pounds
Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Croson the sume of twenty shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto my neece Dame Elinor hastings five pounds
Item I give and bequeath unto my loveing friend Mrs Anne Wardall wife of Mr John Wardall five pounds
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore of the parish of St Clement Danes aforesaid fifty shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto my cosen Mary Nowell five pounds
Item I give to my cozan William Thomas forty shillings
And my will and mind is that all and every the legacies before by me bequeathed be paid by my executor hereafter named to these and every of these my declared legacies within one yeare next after my decease
And whereas my liveing servant Blanch Parry hath taken a great deale of care and paines over me now in the time of my sickness with which it hath pleased the Almighty to visit me And for the spetyall good and continuall service she hath and doth doe unto mee I doe give and bequeath unto her the sume of forty pounds of currant English money to be likewise paid her within twelve moneths next after my decease by my executor hereafter named
Item I doe likewise give and bequeath unto my said servant Blanch my Fairudon? Goune att? Pettycoats the featherbed whereon I now lye the two feather Boulsters two pillowes two Blanketts And a chest of Drawers the fire Grate in the chimney fire shovell and tongs and all the rest of my househould goods and apparell both lynnen and woollen and all other things whatsoever that are in and about my chamber that doe belong unto me att the time of my death that are not herein and hereby before in this my said will given and bequeathed and it is my desire that my said executors doe deliver all and every the aforesaid goods and other apparill imediately after my decease unto my said servant Blanch and that my said executor doe likewise imediately after my said decease pay unto her all such wages as are or shall be due and unpaid unto her att the time of my decease and all the rest of the money which shall appeare to be due unto me att the tyme of my decease with the growing interest I doe hereby give and bequeath unto my very loveing friend St Charles Cotterell Knight master of the ceremonies and alsoe one of his most Sacred majesties master of Request in ordinary whom I doe hereby make ordaine constitute and appoint my full sole executor of this my Last Will and Testament and Lastly whereas my liveing nephew John Chappell of Muttlocke in the County of Derby Clerke is indebted unto mee in the sume of fifty pounds for which I have his obligation for the payment thereof with interest now I doe hereby forgive unto him the said debt both principall and interest which I doe in full satisfaction of all Claymes dues debts legacies and demands whatsoever which he hath or may have or make betweene him and my selfe in any manner of wise whatsoever or howsoever and my mind is and I doe hereby desire my said executor St Chares Cattewell to lay out and expend in about and concerning my said funerall the sume of thirty pounds according to his discretion about the legacies hereby given In witnes whereof I the said dame Elizabeth Ryves have hereunto sett mhy hand and seale the day and yeare first above written
Elizabeth Ryves
Signed Sealed Published and delivered by the said Dame Elizabeth Rives for and as her last will and testament the day and yeare first above written in the presence of us whose names are hereunder subscribed Edward Hughes John Graham Israell Harrison