this sixteenth day of September in the yeare of our Lord Sixteene hundred Fiftie
and three [16 Sep 1653] &c I Christopher Bedlake of the Parish of Deale and County of Kent Tailor
being sicke of body but I praise the Lord of perfect health of memory have thought good
by the providence ^ {of God} to declare and publish this my last will and Testament to the veiwe
of all the world in manner and forme following. Firse I bequeath my Soule into the handes
I Allmightie God my Creator. And to Jesus Christ my Redeemer by whose meritorious
death and passion I hope to obtaine Everlasting Salvation. And my body I recomend
unto the Earth from whence it came. for dust I am and to dust I must returne. And
after my naturall death and my Tabernacle of clay dissolved my body to be buried in
such decent manner as shalbe by my Executrix thought requisitt and fitting And
for all my worldly goodes landes howses houshold Stuffe or other wherewith the Lord hath
endued me with I give and bequeath to my frendes as Followeth Imprimis I give
and bequeath unto Mary my now wife All and singuler my reall and personall Estate
of howses landes goodes moveable and immoveable bedding lynnen wollen Clotes purse
and girdle and all other my Estate or Estates to rest remayne and be to her sole and
proper use and uses dureing her naturall life. And after my decease and the decease
of Mary my now wife. my will and pleasure is that all and singuler my howses land
goodes Cattelles or Chattelles howsholdstuffe pewter brasse beadstedd bedding tables formes
stooles and all other materiall or improvements that shalbe thereunto added or
improved after my decease. And Mary my now wife my will and pleasure is
that all my reall and personall Estate shall imediatly after my decease and the
decease of Mary my wife returne to the use and benefitt of my fower daughters
Mary Bennett Sisillia and honor to be equally devided betweene them by even and
equall portions or devision. And if they my fower daughters Mary Bennett, Sisell –
and Honor shall dye without issue male or female or any of them to returne after
perticipation made to the joynt heires of the residue of theire ofsprings or heires male
or female that are then liveing and soe to continue to longest liver of theire
generationes and not to be alianenated sould or any wayes Estranged by any fine
of Recovery or otherwise. And further I give and bequeath to Mary my eldest
daughter one bedstedd and table I late purchased of Richard Blinke Further I constitute
and appointe Mary my now wife full and sole Executrix of this my last will and
Testament to pay my debts and funerall Charges And for and towardes her livelie
=hood and then to ensue and be to my daughters as abovementioned And further
my will and pleasure is that if any of my above nominated daughters or any
other person or persons. that any of them shall hereafter combinate in
marriage that if any suite of law shall be com[m]enced against any Article

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or covenanted contained in this my last will and Testament the residue of my heires payeing to
the said partie by whom the suite is soe commenced by Five shillings that partie or parties shall
have noe more benefitt of this my last will and Testament but shalbe utterly hereby excluded and
for ever debarred Wittnes my hand and Seale interchangeably the day and yeare First above
written Christopher Bedlake her marke Sealed and delivered in the presence of us William
Matthews his marke Nicholas Sharpe Se[nio]r

This will was proved att London the thirtieth day of November in the yeare of our Lord
One thousand six hundred Fiftie Five [30 Nov 1655] before the Judges for probate of Will and granting
Administrations lawfully Authorized by the oath of Mary Bedlake the Relict of the said
deceased and sole Executrix named in the said will, To whom was Committed Administration
of all and singuler the goodes Chatteles and debts of the said deceased she being First legally
Sworne (by Comission) well and truly to Administer the same /