Introduction 



towne or corperation of Stafford, (in which I was borne), for the good and 

 benifit of some of the saide towne, as I shall direct, and as followeth (but 

 first note, that it is at this present time rented for 21 io s a yeare, (and 

 is like to hold the said rent, if care be taken to keipe the barne and howsing 

 in repaire). And I wood have and doe give ten pownd of the saide rent 

 to binde out yearely two boyes, the sons of honest and pore parents, to be 

 apprentises to some tradesmen or handycraft-men, to the intent the saide 

 boyes [may] the better afterward get their owne living. And I doe also give 

 five pownd yearly out of the said rent, to be given to some meade-servant that 

 hath attain'd the age of twenty and [one] yeare, (not les), and dwelt long in 

 one servis, or to some honest pore man's daughter that hath attain'd to that 

 age, to [be] paide her at or on the day of her marriage. And this being 

 done, my will is, that what rent shall remaine of the saide farme or land, 

 shall be disposed of as followeth : 



First, I doe give twenty shillings yearely, to be spent by the maior of Staf- 

 ford, and those that shall colect the said rent and dispose of it as I have and 

 shall hereafter direct ; and that what mony or rent shall remaine undisposed 

 offe, shall be imployed to buie coles for some pore people, that shall most 

 neide them, in the said towne ; the said coles to be delivered the last weike 

 in Jane wary, or in every first weike in Febrewary ; I say then, because I take 

 that time to be the hardest and most pinching times with pore people ; 

 and God reward those that shall doe this with out partialitie, and with 

 honestie and a good contience. 



And if the saide maior and others of the saide towne of Stafford shall prove 

 so necligent, or dishonest, as not to imploy the rent by me given as in- 

 tended and exprest in this my will, which God forbid, then I give the saide 

 rents and profits of the saide farme or land to the towne and chiefe mages- 

 trats or governers of Ecles-hall, to be disposed by them in such maner as I 

 have ordered the disposall of it by the towne of Stafford, the said Farme or 

 land being nere the towne of Ecles-hall. 



And I give to my son-in-law, Doctor Hawkins, whome I love as my 

 owne son ; and to my dafter, his wife ; and my son Izaak ; to each of them 

 a ring, with these words or motto: "Love my memory. I. W., obiet ;" 

 to the Lord B p of Winton a ring, with this motto : " A mite for 

 a million. I. W., obiet ; " and to the freinds hearafter named, I give 

 to each of them a ring, with this motto : " A friends farewell. I. W., 

 obiet." And my will is, the said rings be deliverd within fortie dayes 

 after my deth ; and that the price or valew of all the saide rings shall be 

 13 s 4 d a peice. 



I give to Doctor Hawkins Docto' Donns Sermons, which I have hear'd 

 preacht and read with much content. To my son Izaak I give Doc r Sibbs 

 his " Soules Conflict ; " and to my doughter his " Brewsed Reide ; " desiring 



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