The Will of John Shakespeare, of Knowle

In the name of God Amen I John Shakespeare of Knoll in the countie of Warwick being sick and weake in body but of sound and perfect mind and memorie praise be therefore given to Almighty God doe make and ordaine this my present last will and testament in manner and forme following that is to say first and principally I commend my soule into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merritts death and passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full and first pardon and forgiveness of my sins and to inherritt everlasting life and my body I comitt to the earth to bee decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named. And as touching the disposition of all such temporall estate as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon mee I give and dispose thereof as followeth. First I will that my debts and severall debts and charges bee paid and discharged. Item I give and bequeath unto my oldest sonne Henry Shakespeare the some of Five pounds to be paid to him within one yeare after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto my said sonne Henry Shakespeares foure children five pounds apiece to bee paid when they attain their severall and respective ages of one and twenty yeares their sevrall names being as followeth viz. John Shakespeare Elizabeth Shakespeare Henry Shakespeare and Thomas Shakespeare. Item I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Elizabeth Shakespeare daughter of my sonne John Shakespeare the some of Five pounds to bee sett out for her best advantage within one yeare after my decease. All the rest and residue of my psonall estate goods and chtells I do give and bequeath unto my youngest sonne John Shakespeare whom I doe make full and whole Executor of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby revoke and disannull and make void all former wills and Testaments by mee heretofore made. In witness whereof I the said John Shakespeare to this my last will and Testament have sett my hand and seale this thirtieth day of December Anno Dmi one thousand six hundred eighty one. And in the three and thirtieth yeare of the reigne of our Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second over England - John Shakespeare signed sealed published and delivered in the presence of S. Ludford John Sin-ey Henry Short.