One of the most prominent of those whose wills were proved in 1773 was the “great” Lord Chesterfield, the arbiter on all matters of politeness, whose famous “Advice to his Son” was so summarily criticised by Dr. Johnson. This “first gentleman in Europe” of his day, left the bulk of his property to his godson, Philip Stanhope, with a very unfashionable and unpalatable restriction: “The several devises and bequests hereinbefore and hereinafter given by me to and in favour of my said godson Philip Stanhope, shall be subject to the condition and restriction hereinafter mentioned; that is to say, that, in case my said godson Philip Stanhope shall at any time hereafter keep, or be concerned in the keeping of, any race-horse or race-horses, or pack or packs of hounds, or reside one night at Newmarket, that infamous seminary of iniquity and ill-manners during the course of the races there, or shall resort to the said races, or shall lose in any one day at any game or bet whatsoever the sum of £500, then, and in any of the cases aforesaid, it is my express Will, that he my said godson shall forfeit and pay out of my estate the sum of £5000 to and for the use of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, for every such offence or misdemeanour as is above specified, to be recovered by action for debt in any of his Majesty’s Courts of Record at Westminster.”
Will of John Dryden
John Dryden, of Ashbye, Northampton, died in 1684. He left the following curious preamble to his will:
“I, John Dryden, of Ashbye, in the county of Northampton, gentleman, doe make and ordeyne my last will and testament in manner following: First, I bequeathe my soule to Almightie God my Creator, by the merits of whose son Jesus Christe, my Savior and Redeemer, I doe believe to be saved, the Holy Ghost assuring my spirit that I am the elect of God. My bodie to be buried in the church of Ashbye, and although I doe not allow of pompe in burialls, yet, for some reasonable considerations, I will that the stone I have allready prepared shall be layde upon my grave, and my arms and my wyve’s graven in brass thereupon. Notwithstanding, if God call mee far from Ashbye, then should it yet be thought necessary to my executors to bring me hither, I refer that to their discressions, and soe doe I the place of my buriall, whether in the place aforesaiyde or in the churchyard, or els in the church.”
Will of Edward IV
It is almost certain that Edward IV left a will, but it has never been discovered. The editors of the royal wills rationally conjecture that it was destroyed during the usurpation of his brother, Richard III, as it has never been found.
Will of Sir Charles Fellowes
Sir Charles Fellowes, the author and antiquarian, died in 1860. He left by his will Milton’s watch to the British Museum. His wife, who died in March, 1874, left her collection of watches (many of which had belonged to celebrities) to the same institution.
Will of Lord Edward Fitzgerald
The will of this unfortunate nobleman was made under very singular circumstances, after he was mortally wounded in the desperate struggle with Major Sirr, and while in confinement in Newgate, Dublin, where, whatever his political errors, he seems to have been treated with needless severity.