Georgian Books, Testamenta Vetusta

Sir William Waldegrave (age 60), Knight.

William Waldegrave, of Smallbridge, in Suffolk, Knt.¹ 26 January, 1524-5. My body to be buried in the Parish Church of St. Mary Buers [Map], in a tomb I have caused to be made under the arch between the high altar and the Chapel of Jesu; and I will that I be buried within the space of twenty-four hours after my decease. To Dame Margery (age 72)², my wife, all my jewels; my manors and lands in the Counties of Suffolk, Essex, and Northampton; above all things, I. desire my executors to pay my debts, and if I have wronged any man to satisfy him; my wife has the manor of Edwardstone; I constitute Margery my wife, and my sons George (age 42) and William (age 41), my executors.

Proved March 6, 1527-8³.

Note 1. Ancestor of the Earls Waldegrave; he was made a Knight of the Bath 14th November 1501, at the marriage of Arthur Prince of Wales, and died 30th January 1528⁴.

Note 2. Daughter of Sir Henry Wentworth, of Cobham, in Essex.

Note 3. From Collins' Abstract, vol. iv. p. 419.

Note 4. The death of his death is given as 30 Jun 1527 by other sources.

John Lord Marney (age 41).

John Marney, Knt. Lord Marney, of Marney, in the County of Essex, 10th March, 1524 [1525]. My body to be buried in the new aisle on the North side of the Parish Church of Leyr Marney [Map], in the midst of the said aisle, directly against the midst of the said new Chapel, six feet from the partition betwixt the Chapel and aisle, in a vault of brick, so large that two bodies may be laid therein; over the which vault I will that a tomb shall be set, and made of such stone as my father's tomb was made, if it can be gotten, else of grey marble, and to be eight feet in length and five in breadth, and four feet high, to be wrought in like sort as my father's tomb, except the vault above and the arms about the tomb, which I will be changed according to the direction of the Herald; also I will that about the said tomb there shall be made a grate of wainscot, and at every corner thereof a principal pillar, with a white lybard upon the top thereof, and upon it an image of myself, like unto that upon my father's tomb, and pourtrayed in coat armour, with my helmet and crest at the head, and a white leopard at the feet, and on either side of my image one image of brass for each of my two wives, Dame Christian and Dame Bridget (age 35), with their coat armours; also I will that at the West end thereof there shall be an altar whereat a priest to sing for me perpetually; whereas I am sole executor to Sir Roger Newburgh, who willed that all his cattle unbequeathed to me and my wife, should be divided betwixt John Pytt, Henry Combe, and John Doble, by the discretion of me and my wife Christian his daughter; Katherine (age 10) and Elizabeth my daughters; I will that Dame Bridget my wife have £100 in plate, with remainder to my brother Sir Edmund Bedingfield (age 46) and my sister Dame Grace (age 38) his wife: my brother Thomas Bonham (age 43), Esquire, and my sister Katherine (age 55) his wife; I bequeath £200 sterling towards the new building of the Church at Leyr Marney, and I will that my executors find an honest priest to pray for me and those after named, within that parish Church for ever; as also to say mass at my chauntry altar at the end of my tomb, and there to pray for my soul and for the souls of Sir Henry Marney late Lord Marney my father, of Dame Thomazine my mother, and also for the souls of my wives Dame Bridget, Dame Christian, and Amy Marney, and for the soul of my brother Thomas Marney. And I constitute Sir Robert Dymock (age 64), Chancellor to the Queen's Grace, Sir William Walgrave (age 60), Knight, and Sir Roger Wentworth (age 65), Knight, Overseers of this my will. Proved 28th January 1523.