In the Name of God Amen the 15th November in the 35th year of the Regne of Lady Elizabeth [1592 - 1593] I JOHN RYDER of Horsehouse in Coverdaile in the parish of Coverham and Archdeaconry of Richmond, Diocese of Chester and Countie of Yorke holle in mynd and of good and perfect remembrance thanks be unto Almightie god considering the instabilities and unstableness of this transitorie world and that after .....? frayle nature and condicon on death to everie creature is ?..... and the hower thereof ?.... not willing to dye intestate whereof in the health of my soule I provyde and ordeine this my present testament conteyning here in my last will in manner and forme following First and princypallye I doe bequeath and recomment my soule to allmightie god my maker Saviour and Redeemer and my body to be buryed in the Church or Churchyard at Coverhame.

Item I doe frelie bequeath geve and graunte all that my tenement with appurtenances in Coverhead of yearlie rent vv s viii d and my wholl interest estate terme of yeares title and tenant right therefore to OTIVALL RYDER of Horsehouse my sonne his heirs executors and assigns forever. Also I do devyse geve graunt and bequeath to the said Otyvall Ryder all that my tenement with appurtenances in Horsehouse of yearlie rent xxxiis vi d for and during the space and terme of six whole yeares next ensuing after my decease And from and after the ... and expyracon thereof All my wholl estate interest terme of yeares title and tenant ryght thereof for over upon Covenants and condition first that he the said OTYVALL RYDER my sonne shal agree with JOHN RYDER my sonne his brother for the same and his right and title thereof if he can and if they cannot agree between themselves that they shall appoint some frende to sett downe order between them concerning the same. But I have a good confidence in JOHN RYDER my sonne that he will be very Reasonable.

Item whereas I receyved of the said OTYVALL RYDER my sonne the some of £40 in goods and penyworths whereof now unto hym I am indebted which was his marriage goods granted and given unto hym concerning the marriage of his wyfe meaninge to have some helpe thereby towards the preferment and marriage of my two daughters FRANCES and ANNE which are unmarried and to give them thereby marriage goods out of the same and other my wholl goods whereof I will and my mynd is that the said OTYVALL RYDER my sonne (After my debte legacies and funeral expences payd and discharged) shall have all my part of goods moveable and immoveable upon covenant and condition, and I will that the said OTYVALL RYDER my sonne his executors administrators and assigns shall geve and pay unto my said two daughters FRANCES and ANNE RYDER to eyther of them Fortie Marke of lawful ynglysh mony or the value thereof in goods and penyworths for their mariage goods and their filial part and porcons of all my goods out of my said goods and tenements or more or less And certayne houshold stuffe and Implementes of howse and decent apparell to their bodyes at the tyme of their preferement in marriage according to his power and abilities. And in the mean tyme to be brotherlie aydinge and helpinge unto them in all their nedes and necessities And for and towards their preferment in marriage or otherwise at the ? sight and discretion and as my said son JOHN RYDER and my supervisors hereafter named, or other frends shall see cause. If the said FRANCES and ANNE my daughters and eyther of them wilbe ordered in their mariage and mary such an honest man as my said sonnes JOHN and OTYVALL RYDER their Brethren and my said supervisors hereafter named shall thinke good of, or be content that they marye or otherwise my said sonne OTIVALL his executors etc to pay no more goods to her or them that will not due or be ordered in hyr or their mariage as is aforesaid but hyr or their onelie filial part of my said goods And if my said Sonne OTYVALL RYDER refuse and denye or permisse and graunt for hym his executors and administrators and maike my said two daughters FRANCES and ANNE and eyther of them a sufficient securitie so to doe , to geve and pay unto them and eyther of them as is aforesaid (They and eyther of them being ordered in their Mariage) then I will yt is my full mynd and I freelie wholle and absolutely devyse geve and graunt and bequeath all my wholl tenement in Horsehouse aforesaid and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging of yearlie rent xxxi s vi d unto my said two Daughters FRANCIS and ANNE RYDER of their assigns for and during the wholle space and terme of ? ix whole yeares next ensuinge after my decease. And all my whole part of all my wick goods and cattells moveable and immoveable hose hould stuffe and Implements of howse for ?....?

Item I give and bequeath to the children of CHRISTOPHER HORNER my sone in Law, WILLIAM, FRANCIS and STEPHEN HORNER to every one of them one rame [ram] and to JOHN GELDART sone of CUTHBERT GELDART one lame [lamb] And to ANTHONY DAWSONNE his tow daughters FRANCES and GENNAT DAWSONNE to either of them one lame [lamb] And the same lames [lambs] to be delivered unto them or to their use at the Feast of St John Baptist next coming after my Disease And I will and I earnestly request and desire love unities peace ?...? and good agreement to be, Remayne and contynewe amongst all my children and frends as much as lawfully may be And if there be any bearinge with any of them, all wayes tyo beare with them that hath ?...? And I make the said JOHN RYDER and OTYVALL RYDER my sonnes my wholl executors of this my last will and testament. And I make John Wallacks, John Spence, Christopher Horner, Cuthbert Geldart, Godfreyde Dawsone, Anthony Dawsone and Parcyval Ryder supervisors of the same as much as they are able.

Witnesses John Spence, Anthonnye Dawsone, Godfrey Dawson, Christopher Horner.

From the collection of the late Roger Davies.