I nominate my kinsman and son-in-love, John Manningham, gentleman, of the Middle Temple of London, executor of this my will, and my good friend Emanuell Drom of London, merchant, overseer of the same, unto whom I give for his pains therein 10l.
The residue I give to my executor, and I require, charge, and adjure him by all the love and duty which he oweth me, for all my love and liberality which I have always borne him and his heretofore, but chiefly in this my will, that he perform and pay all and every legacy in this my last will given within six months at the farthest after my death, those excepted that are appointed to be paid at certain days limited, and those also to be duly paid at their days appointed and limited, all according to my true intent and meaning, as my trust is in him, and as he will answer afore God and me at the latter day.
If it be needful, I confirm to my executor the grant and gift formerly by me unto him made of all this my mansion house called Bradborne with my lands situate in East Malling, except as in the same gift is excepted, in which said grant I have reserved to myself a power to dispose of the premises, by will or otherwise, to what persons I list for the space of five years after my decease, as by the said deed dated 3rd January in the 7th year of the King that now is appears. I renounce the said power, and leave the premises to John Manningham and his heirs for ever immediately after my death.
I give to the said John Manningham all other my lands in East Malling, and to his heirs for ever, except one tenement lately purchased of John Goldsmyth, now in the occupation of Harry Metcalfe, and that other tenement in Melstreet [Mill street?] called Hackstables, lately purchased of John Dowle, both which tenements I give to my bailiff Thomas Rayner and to his heirs for ever; and also excepting to my poor servant Thomas Whithead his dwelling use and profit of that cottage called Poor John's during his life.
I give to the said John Manningham all my lands in Cranbrook, to him and his heirs for ever.
Lastly, I give to my kinsman John Arnold of St. Alban's, and to my kinsman Richard Lawrence of Maidstone, and to my maid-servant Annis Hull, and to their heirs for ever, my thirty acres of land called Larkhall in Hadlow or elsewhere in Kent, lately purchased of Thomas Tutsom, now in the occupation of John Bredger, to be equally divided between them, and I give to each of them 20 nobles in money.
Having thus, I thank God, finished this my last will and testament, and set an order in my worldy affairs, I will now henceforward await God's merciful will and pleasure, to depart hence in peace when his blessed will shall be to call for me, most humbly beseeching him of his infinite goodness and mercy that when the final day of my dissolution shall be come I may by his grace be armed with a true and lively faith, firm hope, and constant patience against all the assaults and temptations of my ghostly enemy the Devil, and to be willing and ready to forsake all to go to my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ. Amen, good Lord.
Will all written with mine owne hand in five whole pages and eight lines of the sixth page fastened together with my seal in merchants' wax.
Attestation states the length of the will, and that, in the presence of the witnesses, the testator fastened all the pages together with his seal in merchants' and hard wax.
Witnesses: William Prew, rector de Ditton; Richard Brewer; Matthew Crowhurst; William Whiller.