Will of Philip Henslowe

single sheet (6 January; probated 7 January)

In the name of God amen. I Phillipp Henslowe of the parrishe of St Saviours in the Burrough of Sowthwarke and Countie of Surrey Esquiere, being sicke in bodie but of perfecte mynd and memory, thanckes be vnto Almightie God doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in forme following Videlicet ffirst and principally I Commend my Soule vnto Almightie god hopeing to be saued by thonly merites of my Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ and my body to be buryed in the parish Church of St Saviours aforesaid at the discrecion of my Executrix and Overseers herevnder named; And touching the disposicion of such Landes and goods as it hath pleased god to blesse me with all my Will and meaninge is as followeth. ffirst I giue and bequeath vnto Agnes Henslowe my loving wife, all and singuler my Landes Tenementes hereditamentes and Leases whatsoever, To haue and to hould to her the said Agnes for during the terme of her naturall life and no noe longer, And after her decease I giue and bequeath all that my messuage or Tenemente with thappurtenances and the Tenementes therevnto belonging Commonlie Called or knowen by the name of the Bores hed scituate on the Banckeside in the parrishe aforesaid, which I purchased of one devonishe Raymod gentleman vnto Ann Henslow alias Parson now wife of William Parson and vnto her Heires for ever. Alsoe I giue and bequeath (after the decease of my said wife) vnto Phillipp Henslow my godsonn sonn of Iohn Henslow waterman, all those my landes and Tenementes with thappurtenances which I purchased of one Throckmorton being scituate in the parrishe aforesaid, To haue and to hould vnto the said Phillipp Henslowe and to his Heires for ever, Item I giue and bequeath (after the decease of my said wife) vnto my loving Sister Marie Walters alias Adlington, all those my Landes and Tenementes with thappurtenances which I purchased of one Mr Mvnson scituate on the Banckeside in the parrishe aforesaid, To haue and to hould the same and every part and parcell thereof for and durin<......> Terme of her naturall life, And after the decease of the said Mary my sister my Will and meaninge tis, that a<..> and singuler the premisses last recited and bequeathed, shall come and descend vnto my said godsonn Phillip Henslowe an<.> to his Heires for ever. Item I giue and bequeath (after the decease of my said wife) vnto my loving brother William Henslow<.> and his Assignes. all that my messuage mansion house and lease called the Beare garden with all the Tenementes and appurtenances therevnto belonginge, which I hould and enioye by vertue of a Lease from the Lord Bishopp of Wintonia. Item I giue and bequeath vnto my loving sister Margarett Cuxon one yearlie annuytie or somme of thirtie poundes duringe her naturall life, to be paied vnto her quarterlie by my Executrix or her Assignes by even porciones. the first paymente to beginn at the next quarter daye after my decease, Item I giue and bequeathe vnto fortie poore men of the Libertie of the Clyncke, to eache a moorninge gowne, to attend my bodie to buriall; I giue and bequeath vnto mr Iames Archer fortie shillings to preach at my funerall; All the rest and residue of all and singuler my goods, chattells, debtes readie money plate and househouldstuffe not before given or bequeathed, I giue and bequeathe vnto my lovinge wife Agnes Henslowe whome I make and ordaine sole Executrix of this my last Will, And I appointe my lovinge Sonn Mr Edward Alleyn Esquire Mr Robert Bromfeild Mr William Austen and Mr Roger Cole to be my Overseers, And my Will and meaninge is and hereby I order and devise, that if any ambiguytie dowbt or question arise or growe Concerninge any Clause matter or Legacie herein mencioned or bequeathed that the same shalbe heard and determined by my said Overseers or the greater part of them, and that if any such person causinge suche dowbt or question shall refuse to be ordered as aforesaid and to abide the Award and Censure of my said Overseers as aforesaid, then and in that case everie such person shall loose all benefitt whatsover of and by this my Will, and his or theire Legacie or Legacies to be vtterlie voyde as if none such had bynn by me bequeathed, and given. And then and in that case I giue and bequeath all such guifte, Legacie or bequest of any such person soe refusinge vnto my said sonn Edward Alleyn and vnto his Heires for ever, And I doe vtterlie revoake, frustrate and make voyde by theise presentes all other former Wills Will or Willes, legacies, bequestes or guiftes. Executor or Executors in wrightinge or otherwise, and I will that this onlie shall stand for my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I haue herevnto sett my hand and seale the sixt daye of Ianuarie Anno domini stilo Anglie .1615. Signum dicti Phillippi Henslowe. Sealed and subscribed in the presence of Iames Archer, Robert Bromfyld, Roger Cole, Robert Meare, Edward Alleyn, Nicholas Sheppard.