“The Register of Wills from me
Shall have no quid nor quod, I trow:
But every penny of his fee
To Tricot, the young priest, shall go;
To whose expense gladly eno’
I’d drink, though it my nightcap cost:
If but he knew the dice to throw,
Of Perette’s Den I’d make him host.”
“EPITAPH
“Here lies and slumbers in this place
One whom Love wreaked his ire upon:
A scholar, poor of goods and grace,
That hight of old François Villon:
Acre or furrow had he none.
’Tis known his all he gave away;
Bread, tables, tressels, all are gone.
Gallants, of him this Roundel say.”
Will of Sir Thomas Denny
Thomas Denny (son and heir of Sir Edmond Denny of England, one of the King’s Exchequer), 10th May, 1527, wrote his will in manner following:
“ ... My body to be buried in the parish church of Cheshunt, where I dwell, and I will that a stone be laid on me, and that a picture of Death be made in the stone, with scrolls in his hand bearing this writing thereon:
“As I am so shalle ye be,
Pray for me of yr Charity,
With a Paternoster and an Ave,
For the rest of the soul of Thomas Denny.”
Then follow sundry bequests and legacies.
In Latin Verse
There is on record the following history of a versified will. It is that of François Joseph Terrasse Desbillons, born at Chäteauneuf, in Berry, in 1711, who became a Jesuit, and, after the suppression of the order in France, principal of the College of Mannheim. He was so remarkable for the elegance and purity with which he wrote in Latin that he obtained the sobriquet of “The last of the Romans.” Owing, perhaps, to this facility, he wrote his will in Latin verse. The sight of it in this singular form somewhat startled his executors; but as all the necessary formalities had been observed, no difficulty occurred, and it was carried out in entire conformity with his wishes, without any interference on the part of the law.