72 



occasion greate concourse of people weare the rather induced to 

 fill the markets. 



By this time age steales upo' him ; euen to the usurpation of the 

 last period of his life, w ch brought into his minde, that when this 

 mortality was to be put off, another garment of happinesse, and 

 eternity came in place to be put on, w ch he perceuing not far 

 o^ made his last will and testament to this purpose : 



" I, John Morton, of sound memory and in health, thanks be 

 to God, both of body and minde, meaditating w th myselfe that 

 there is a necessitie of diing imposed upon all men, and that 

 ther is nothing soe certaine ; nor uncertaine as the manner and 

 the time. Besides acknowledging that ther is nothing soe 

 execrable amoungst men as to neglect religion, or their owne 

 duties, w ch errour many sinners fall into, and by reason of for- 

 getting God while they liued, forget the'selues diing, w ch to 

 p'vent as far as grace is imparted, I thus ordaine my last will 

 and testament." 



In this many legacies and reuenews weare disposed of, to pub- 

 licke and pious uses out of his own inheritance, he forgat not 

 Hen. 7, his last lo r king, and illustrious benefactour, Queene 

 Elizabeth his deare lady and mistres, the Princes Margett, Count- 

 eese of Richmond the king's mother, a woman of exceeding good 

 parts ; for as a token of his gratuity, and instigation to theire 

 remembrance, he gave to the king aportuse*of gould; the Queene, 

 a psalter of gould ; the Princesse theire daughter a cupp, w th cer- 

 taine tunnes, and 40 in gold ; to Lady Margett Countesse of 

 Richmond the image and portrature of o r lady in pure gold ; to 

 the See of Canterbury his miter and arche-episcopall crosier ; to 

 his seruants and dayly wayters, his houshould stuffe ; and to the 

 diuine mercy he co'mended his soule. 



Amoungst other things he gave a charge for the celebration of 

 his funerall, w ch cost 10CO marks sterling, and that they should 



* Breviary Portuses are mentioned among other prohibited booke in the 

 Stat 3 and 4 Ed. VI. c. 10, and in the Parliament roll of 7 Ed. IV. p. 40, 

 there is a petition, that the robbing of Portcous Gray ell, Manuall, &c., 

 Bhould be made felonie without clergy ; to -which the King answered Le 

 JRoy s'avisera, 



"By God and by this Portos I you swere." Chaucer. 





