In the Name of God Amen the xxii th day of December in the xxxiii yr of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Ladye Elizabeth by the grace of god Quene of England France Ireland defender of the faith 1591 I FRANCIS RYDER of Horsehouse in Coverdaile in the Countie of Yorke yeoman sicke in body nothwithstanding of a perfect Remembrance I geve God prayse for the same : do institute ?....? and make this my last will and testament in manner and forme as followeth First and Princypallie I give and commytt my soule unto allmytie god and his sonne Christ Jesus through whose meryt and bloud shedding I trust to be saved and my bodye to be buryed with in the church or churchyard at Coverham. It is my will and mynde that my wife PHILLICE shall have and enjoye the third part of all my Farminge at Horsehouse of the annual rent unto her majestie xxxii s vi d soe ?much? of the same as Ratablye shal ?s .....? unto xv s paid yearly [next part illegibile] ....

Also I geve unto my said wyffe PHILLICE ?....? iiii d Farme ... [next illegible] dureynge hyr lyffe naturall. Also yt is my will and mynde that my wiffe PHILLICE shall have two kyne founde as well in winter as in sommer in and upon that Farmerynge at Gamerskaile [Gammersgill] now in the tenure and occupacion of my sonne LEONARD upon the onelye proper coste and charge of my sonne LEONARD dureinge hys liffe naturall. Also it is my will and mynde that my said wiffe PHILLICE shall have one kowe found as well in winter as in sommer in and upon that tenement of my ?....? called Arondill house dureinge hyr liffe naturall. And that the premisses may be performed ?...ward my said wiffe. I geve [illegible] charge to my two sons ROBERT and LEONARD who are to ?....? the said farmes accordinge to the effect of there leases after me and my said wyffe PHILLICE

Item I give and bequeath unto ADAM LODGE his sons and daughters to everye one of them one Lamme [lamb] and to JOHN RYDER my sonne his four daughters to every one of them one Lame [lamb] and to the said JOHN one Ram and to my son ?LEON'D? his two children either of them one Lame [lamb] And to ANNE FOSTER, JOHN FOSTER hys daughter ?one ?graye ?styrcke [stirk]. Also I geve unto RAPHE RYDER sonne unto my sonne ROBERT RYDER one wye stirke [heifer]. I give unto LEONARD RYDER my sonne viii s iiii d Farmeynge at Coverhead after the Death of my said wyffe. Also I give and bequeath all my unmoveable goods unto my sonne JOHN RYDER saveinge one great Kettill which I geve unto my sonne JAMES RYDER hys daughter MARGARETE. Also I geve unto my son JOHN owt of my ?... hold goods one great ocke [oak] chist Provyded that my said sonne JOHN shall not remove any thinge owt of the house at Horsehouse that is made fast ?..th ?wa..lle

Item I geve unto my fouare sonne ROBERT LEOANRD JOHN and JAMES RYDER or to his sonne F....? every one of them one Sylver Spoone. Also yt is my will that my twoe sonne ROBERT and LEONARD shall susteyne and fynde my sonne CHRISTOPHER duringe his Liffe natural with meat and drinke sufficientlye the one of them one yeare and the other of the ?...? other yeare upon theyre proper cost and charge. And ?so? the said CHRISTOPHER taike my ?... likeinge of eyther of them or of them both that then they the said ROBERT and LEONARD shall pay or cause to be payd unto the said CHRISTOPHER duringe his Lyffe naturall eyther of them viii s iiii d yearly at the Feast daye of St Martyne the Bishopp in winter.

Item I am prevy and doe surely knowe that my sonne LEONARD hath agreed with my sonne JOHN and satisfied hym comminge the tenement and Farmynge at Gammerskaile [Gammersgill] Also this my will and mynd that after my debts legaces and funerall be discharged my wyffe PHILLIS and my sonne CHRISTOPHER shall have all my goods moveable what soever that I shall have at the day of my death to theyr proper use. Also I do make as supervysors to the contente of this my last will and testament performed so much as in them hath ?...? beloved in Christ JOHN RYDER, ADAM LODGE, JOHN FOSTER and PARCIVAL RYDER. And to make executors of this my last will and testament ROBERT RYDER, LEONARD RYDER my sonnes Provyded all wayes that if my twoe sonnes ROBERT RYDER and LEONARD on theyr behalf do not observe and kepe all the contente of this my last will and testament in every respect concerning my wife PHILLICE and my sonne CHRISTOPHER in such manner as I have before mencyoned and expressed that then yt is my will and mynde that my said wyffe PHILLICE and my sonne CHRISTOPHER and their assigns shall have and ?...? the moietie and one halfe of that tenement at Arundaile howse of the yearlie rent xxx s viiii d Farmynge at Coverhead now in the tenure and occupacon of me FRANCIS RYDER and of my assigns And my wholl Right and terme of yeares there in witness of this my last will and testament.

Witnesses John Ryder, Parcyvall Ryder.

From the collection of the late Roger Davies.