Horrible will to read from 1547 - part 1

[Edward Scott]

I really need some assistance with this will, the writing is really hard to understand and in addition the quality is not very good.

I can honestly say it is the most difficult one I have tackled.

It is 47 lines long so I will post it in sections along with what I have managed (I think) to transcribe.

1.   In the name of God Amen I Richard Cottingham of Wisbech the
2.   * daye September in tne year of our lord * * * * beinge of
3.   * * * * this my testament. First I bequeath
4.   My soul to god. * And my bodye to be buried *. * I wyll
5.   and give to my three children * * of * monie of England
6.   equally to be * divided a * and * of * to be
7.   * * and * * all the three children * **
8.   and lawfull. I give * * * * * I wyll the to my 
9.   * of the *. To * & * my wfye and I wyll
10.   that * * * * * said * * * * Cottingham

Thanks

Edward

[horselydown86]

vj daye decembre in the yere of o^(ur) lord god m v^c xlvij beinge of

good reme(m)brance makith this my testament &c ffyrst I bequeth

my Soull to god &c And my bodye to be buried &c  Also i wyll

and geve to my three children - xxiiij^li of starlinge monie of England

equally to be p(ar)tid & devided a mongst them and eche of them to be

others heire and yf yt fortune all the three children to dep(ar)te with

out lawfull Ishewe of ther bodies be gotten then I wyll the - xiiij^li

parte of the xxiiij^li do Remeane to E(m)me my wyfe and I wyll

that - iiij^li other p(ar)te of the said - xxiiij^li to Rem(eane) to Thomas cottingga(m)

my brother and also I wyll - vj^li Residewe of the full Sum(m)

[Edward Scott]

Astonishing, how do you do this?

Is it a black art? 

thanks

Edward

[horselydown86]

Is it a black art? 
Edward

Yes.

Note that I'm not sure of the capital on the wife's name without something else to compare it to.

It does end -me with a contraction probably making for -(m)me.

[Bookbox]

For what it's worth, I also thought it was probably E(m)me.

[Edward Scott]

I think the Emme is more obvious in lines 23 & 36

Edward