In the name of God, Amen. The ninth day of August in the reign of our most dreadSovereign Lord Edward the Sixth by the grace of God of England, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, and in earth of the Church of England and also of Ireland the Supreme Head, the fifth, I, Sir Edmund Bedingfield of Oxburgh in the county of Norfolk, knight, whole and perfect of mind and remembrance, thanked be God, fearing nevertheless the unstableness of this present world, do make my testament and last will in form as hereafter ensueth, that is to say:
I commend my soul to Almighty God, trusting by the merits of the passion of Christ, my Saviour and Redeemer, to have remission of my sins;
My body I will to be buried after the most laudable manner and custom of Christ’s church in such place and after such form as shall seem most convenient to mine executors;
And I give to the high altar of Oxburgh Church for my tithes negligently forgotten ten shillings;
Item, I bequeath to the reparation of the said church forty shillings;
And I bequeath to the like reparations of the churches of Redlingfield and Denham, to
each of them 20s;
Item, I bequeath unto my wife, Dame Grace Bedingfield, all such jewels as she hath beenused to wear upon her body, together with all my jewels and plate except a piece of silver parcel gilt engraven in the boton [sic] with ‘God’s blessing’ and the Bedingfields’ arms;
And also I give unto her all my right, interest and title which I have in and to the farm and lease of Skaleshoo in the parts of marshland in the county of Norfolk;
And I give also unto her all such sheep cattle as I shall have going there and depastured at the time of my death, and all my milch kine and other cattle being not above one year ofage the which at the same time of my death shall be remaining at Redlingfield & Denham in the county of Suffolk;
And I give and bequeath unto my son, Sir Henry Bedingfield, knight, all my harness, weapons and habiliments of war which shall remain at Oxburgh in the armoury there at the time of my said death, to th’ intent he may serve the King’s Majesty therewith at all times when he shall be commanded; And where by the last will and testament of Sir Henry Marney, knight, Lord Marney, it
was assigned, willed and bequeathed unto the said Sir Henry Bedingfield by the name of ‘Henry Bedingfield, son and heir apparent’ to me, the said Sir Edmund Bedingfield, one hundred pounds of plate then belonging to the said Lord Marney, to be delivered and disposed in such wise as in the same testament and last will is expressed & declared, considering now that I, the said Sir Edmund, before this time have divers and sundry ways issued and paid divers great and notable sums of money as well for th’ attaining of the inheritance of Sir Thomas Bedingfield, knight, mine eldest brother, lately departed, as also in obtaining of the King’s Majesty the manor of Bedlingfield [=Bedingfield] in the county of Suffolk, which both by the sufferance of Almighty God shall descend and come unto the said Sir Henry and his heirs, and also considering that at divers other times I have been beneficial unto him, as amongst other upon my departure from my late farm at Massingham the said Sir Henry had of my gift as well part of my plate and utensils of household as also divers cattle, as horses and kine, besides other necessaries and
implements of husbandry, I think myself by good reason and all conscience to bedischarged against the said Sir Henry and for the said sum of one hundred pounds;
Also I will that all such stuff of household remaining at Oxburgh which was agreed upon between Dame Alice Burgh, late wife of my said brother, Sir Thomas Bedingfield, knight, and me, the said Sir Edmund, by mediation of Sir John Spelman, Sir Roger
Townshend, knights, and Humphrey Carwell, esquire, shall be delivered by mineexecutors unto my said son, Sir Henry Bedingfield, knight, within one month nextensuing after my decease, that is to say:
First, in the chamber called the great chamber, a featherbed with a bolster; item, acovering of verdures with arms, and a tester of the same with curtains of green sarsenet; also a hanging of arras, two cushions with arms, a cupboard with a carpet thereon, a
coffer and a chair;
Item, in the chamber called the King’s chamber, a featherbed with a bolster, a mattress, a pair of fustians, a covering of red and green sarsenet twilted, a tester of tawny and black satin embroidered with unicorns and scallop shells, two cushions with arms, a cupboard with a green cloth thereon, two chairs, a carpet in the window, two cob-irons in the chimney;
I tem, in the chamber next the said King’s chamber, a featherbed with a bolster, a pair of blankets, a covering of tapestry, the hangings in the chamber of red and yellow canvas, and a form;
Item, in the inward chamber next unto the chamber called the Queen’s chamber, afeatherbed with a bolster, a blanket, a covering of russet cloth, a tester of stained cloth, and a form;
Item, in the said chamber called the Queen’s Chamber, a featherbed with a bolster, a pair of blankets, a covering of red say with arms and a tester of the same, the curtains of white linen cloth, a trundle-bed with a featherbed and a bolster, a blanket, a covering, a cupboard with the cloth thereupon, a cloth of red say in the window, a long chair with a cloth therein, another chair, and three cushions without arms;
Item, in the parlour, a hanging of red say stained, a cupboard, the long table, and a trussing bed in the chamber of the said parlour;
Item, in the chapel, a pair of chalice with the paten, the altar-cloths, the hangings of white sarsenet, and 4 cushions; item, a pall cloth of black velvet with a white cross; And I give unto the said Sir Henry one piece of silver parcel gilt where is engraven
‘God’s blessing’ and the Bedingfields’ arms, to remain to him as an heirloom in such wise as I received the same piece of my said brother, Sir Thomas Bedingfield;
And I bequeath unto the said Sir Henry my two stoned horses which be both ridden;
And over that, I do likewise assign, will and bequeath unto the said Sir Henry all and all manner of utensils belonging to my bakehouse at Oxburgh, together with other necessaries occupied and used for the purpose and intent of baking and brewing which at the time of my death shall remain at and within my said bakehouse there, and also all such utensils belonging to the kitchen there as was agreed upon by the said Dame Alice Burgh and me, the said Sir Edmund, by mediation of the said Sir John Spelman, Sir Roger Townshend, knights, and Humphrey Carvell, esquire;
And I give unto the said Sir Henry all mine eyries of swans called(?) swan-marks, except one couple of old eyries remaining at Redlingfield;
Item, I give and bequeath unto my said son, Sir Henry, all such coals, timber, boards and stone or other thing appertaining to reparations of the house of Oxburgh that shall remain at Oxburgh at the time of my death, all which said bequests and legacies I will shall enure and remain unto the said Sir Henry only upon condition that the same Sir Henry nor his executors shall not at any time hereafter claim of mine executors or th’ executors of them any parcel of the said sum of one hundred pounds before assigned, willed and bequeathed unto him by the testament and last will of the said Henry, Lord Marney;
And I give and bequeath unto my grandchild, Frances Sulyard, daughter of John Sulyard, Esquire, one hundred marks of good and lawful English money, to be paid to her at the day of her marriage or else at th’ age of 21 years, foreseen always that if the said Frances do die before marriage had and before she shall attain unto the age of 21 years, that then the said hundred marks to be divided by even portions between my youngest sons then living;
An d I give and bequeath unto my said wife, Dame Grace, all and all manner myhousehold stuff and other necessary implements together with my utensils of husbandry now remaining as well at Oxburgh as at Redlingfield not before assigned, willed or bequeathed to my said son, Sir Henry Bedingfield, to do therewith her will and pleasure;
And I heartily desire and require my said wife to give unto my servant, John Turner, forty shillings by year during his life, and if it shall happen my said wife to die, the said John then living, then I will mine executors shall from thenceforth yearly content and pay unto the said John Turner forty shillings during his natural life;
Also I will and bequeath to the children of my said son, Sir Henry Bedingfield, nowliving, one hundred pounds of good and lawful English money, to be equally divided amongst them, and to be paid to them at their several ages of 21 years or else at such days
as they and every of them shall happen to be married;
And I give to the children of my son, Francis Bedingfield, fourscore pounds of good and lawful English money, to be equally divided among them and to be paid to them in such sort and at such times as in the article last before-mentioned is declared and specified;
Also, I give and bequeath to the children of my son, Anthony Bedingfield, threescore pounds of good and lawful English money equally to be divided among them, and to be paid to them in like manner and time;
Provided always and my will is that if it shall happen any of the children of my said sons, Sir Henry, Francis and Anthony, to die before marriage had and before their several ages of 21 years, then I will that the portion and portions of such and as many of their said children as shall so happen to die shall be equally divided and given unto my children Anthony, Humphrey and Edmund, if they then do live, or else to as many of them as then shall be living, to their further advancement and relief;
And further I give and bequeath unto my said wife, Dame Grace, all my pullery and swine, together with all my corn and hay remaining as well at Redlingfield as at Oxburgh at the time of my death, and also all mine interest and term of years which I have in the parsonage and tithe corn of Hoxne in the said county of Suffolk;
Also I give unto my sons, Anthony, Humphrey & Edmund, to each of them forty pounds of good and lawful English money (my debts being first paid), provided always that if the said Anthony, Humphrey or Edmund do die within six years next after my decease, then I will that the portion or portions of such of them so dying shall be equally divided between my said younger sons then living;
And I give and bequeath to Margaret, the wife of Thomas Parke, otherwise calledThomas Tailor, my servant, to be delivered unto her within six weeks after my death, twenty ewe sheep going in Westhall flock in Cley;
And I give unto Adam Roberts, my servant, £6 13s 4d besides his quarter’s wages and livery;
An d I give and bequeath unto Edmund Grymston, William Shuldham, John Brooke, William Dey, Robert Nollothe, Robert Cooke, John Hewar, Thomas Spicer, Simon Bedall, Robert Clarke and Robert Barwicke, to every of them besides their quarter’s
wages and liveries forty shillings of good and lawful English money;
And in like manner I give and bequeath unto Edmund Grene, Robert Jerves, Thomas Caton, Thomas Parke, John Turnor, Henry Raydon, Thomas Stocke, Henry Jubye, Edmu{n}d Roberd{es}, Daniel Elstigoode(?), Thomas Laycocke, John Eyslingh{a}m,
William Skoldinge, Edward Hosteler, Robert Turnepenny, Humphrey Shulderham, Henry Spencer, John Cooke and Thomas Hewar, my servants, to every of them besides their quarter’s wages and their liveries, twenty shillings;
Item, I give to every one of mine other servants besides their quarter’s wages and their liveries, ten shillings;
And I give to Margaret Popper, forty shillings;
And I give unto the right worshipful and right so mine assured good brother and friend, Sir Roger Townshend, knight, (blank);
The residue of my goods, chattels and debts not before assigned, willed or bequeathed, I freely give them and every of them to mine executors, whom I ordain, constitute and make my well-beloved wife, Dame Grace Bedingfield, my son, Anthony Bedingfield, and Thomas Caton, my servant, to every of which I give, for their pains to be taken in and about th’ execution and performance of this my testament, ten pounds and their reasonable costs;
And furthermore I, the said Sir Edmund Bedingfield, do revoke, annul and annihilate all other wills and testaments by me made, devised or ordained before the day of the date of this my present last will and testament, these witnesses. Per Edmund Bedingfield.