In the name of Almighty God
I George Abbott by the providence of God Archbishop of Canterbury 
considering with my life the certainty of that decree that it is appointed for all 
men to dye once and weighing the uncertainty of that houre when my Lorde 
and great Master will call for me being now in reasonable health and perfect 
memory (I praise God for the same) and being willing to dispose of my selfe 
and of that small portion of wealth which the Lord in mercy hath lent unto me 
Doe make this my last Will and testament as followeth First I doe thanke the 
God of Heven and Earth for bringing me from meane estate to a place of 
some note in his Church which by his mercy and unspeakeable goodnesse I 
have laboured to discharge to my parish in simplicity all confidence having 
ever in my memory that great and last daye of account when all mens bodys 
shall stand before that tribunall of ?hri?? And in the meanwhile not forgetting 
that saying of the prophet and distrib???? Domims Because in soe many 
troubles ?????? ?????? world doth assail his ????? Ma??sly did ever protest 
and uphold ???? and soe I truste that higher and greater God will out of his 
incomprehensible love do unto the ende Then I Commend my Soule unto the 
blessed Trinity the father whoe created it the Sonne whoe redeemed it the 
Holy Ghost whoe in Some measure hath sanctified it beseeching that God in 
Trinity and the same Trinity in po???y to reverse if into the Kingdom of 
heaven there to reigne for ever for Jesus Christ his sake by whose death and 
bitter passion onely which that unspoiled and i?mor??? lambe did  suffer for 
the sinnes of the worlde I stedfastly hope to have full and free remission of all 
myne offences according to the truth of the Gospell now by his greate Mercy 
published in this famous Church of England which I hold to bee the best from 
a patterne of all the Churches in Europe  And according to the doctrine which 
in my life time for full forty yeares togeather (when I write this) I have taught in 
my ?????? and mentioned in my writing and in the verity whereof (because it 
is grounded upon the sacred Scriptures of the old and new Testament) I hope 
do appear with chearefulnesse and confidence before the throne of God  I 
commend my body to the earthe in assured hope of a Joyfull resurrection 
deferring to be buried in the Trinity Church at Guildford which is neare unto 
my Hospitall that in the same towne whence my Fathe had the beginning 
thereof if man rest at the Des?situm of my love to that place  But I leave all 
circumstances of my interring and funerall to the judgement and discretion of 
mine Executors I give to the poore of the parish of Lambeth thirty pounds and 
to the poore of the parish of Croydon twenty pounds both these summes to be 
disposed according to the discretion of mine Executors and if it may be it is 
best that they should be directed to some permanent use. I have hereforeto 
given to the Major and his brethren at Guildford One hundred pounds which 
some is in their hands or at least in their disposing  I declared it so at first and 
my desire is that it should be preserved to a  perpetuall use to be lent by five 
and twenty pounds a man to some several tradesmen in that towne to s?? 
poore men on ????? I would not have these summes to bee lent but upon 
good security and to hold for two or three yeares at the most without any 
interest or consideration (saving paying for making the bondes) and then to 
bee lent from time to time to other traders there with this provisoe upon the 
bonds that if any of the borrowers doe dye before the end of the terme for 
which the mony is lent that the summe be repayed or delivered back to the 
Major and his brethren within three months after his decease  To him who 
soonest shall succeede mee in the Archbishrike I give all the pictures and 
Mapps now hanging in the Gallery at Lambeth together with my Barge 
prayinge him not to greeve my Executor for Dilapidations since it appeareth to 
the world how carefull I have been in repairing all the houses belonging to the 
Sea of Canterbury beyond that whiche my predecessors have done in the 
memory of man,  And that I have bestowed diverse thousands of pounds 
upon the same as may well be seene by books of accounts truly ?????dering 
those expenses besides the care whiche to my greate charge I have had for 
the preservation of the woodes of the Archbishoprike standing in Kent and 
Surrey whiche I have so spared beyond my Predecessors that I have bought 
timber to the value of some hundreds of pounds to repaire my houses 
because I would not with young trees suffer them growe up to the benefite of 
my Successors.  And being ??????? I leave it humbly to his ?????? 
consideration whether it be not fit that my succcessour and successours do 
enter good bond in the Exchequer not to cut any timber saving for necessary 
reparations of his owne houses whiche was the course holden in Queene 
Elizabeths dayes especcially for the Bishopricke of Winchester, and not 
?????  elsewhere to be followed.  I have many bookes in the great study or 
library at Lambith marked with these two letters G.C. I bequeath those to to 
that Library to the use of the Archbishops of Canterbury in succession.  And I 
appoint that a Catalogue should bee made of them and sent to the Deane and 
Chapter of the Cathedral Church in Canterbury to bee there kept, and a 
transcript or Copy thereof to remaine in the Library at Lambith.  The Cost of 
this I leave to my Executors but pray Mr Baker my Secretary to take some 
paines therein for that which shall remaine unperformed by mee whiche I 
hope shall not bee much hot in that whiche shal bee I would have Mr Baker to 
take the advice of my houshold Chapleins, being with mee in house at the 
time of my decease.  And because I am not ignorant that by falshood, ?????? 
in ????? or some negligence not only these books given by mee but those 
whiche were left by my L: Bancrofte may bee diverted from the use of my 
Successors and soe this great and good worke bee frustrated and ??? and in 
mee lyeth I doe in the name of that dreadfull and Almighty God who is the 
rewarder of all mens deservings bee they good or bee they evill laye it upon 
the seale and confidence of him and them that shall succeede mee in this 
Archbishoprick that to the best of their power shall meanes they keepe that 
Library and all the bookes safe as I have done.  And I pray God to blesse all 
them that have that good minde and to divert and hinder all those that have 
any intendment to the contrary.  And third I pray not onely for and concerning 
my Successours, but all other persons whatsoever my next generall care is of 
my Servants among whome I doe not knowe any unhonest or unworthy man 
My Will for them is that my houshould should by my Executors bee kept 
together at my charge for the space of one moneth after my decease that men 
may have some time to dispose themselves.  And to begin with  the poorest I 
doe give two hundred pounds to bee divided by my Executor unto forty 
yeomen or inferiorse of my servants by five pounds apeece, And I give fourty 
pounds more to supply any forgettfullnesse of mine towards such as have 
served mee or if the summe before named do not holde out  These last 
monies to be disposed by the discretion of myne Executors towards 
gentlemen or yeomen where hee shall see fitt and according to what 
proportion hee shall holde most convenient  Those to whome I give particular 
legacies are to have none of this two hundred and the forty pounds but my 
Servants at Croydon are to bee taken in   To suche gentlemen as at the time 
of my death shall serve mee in house and gave no portioned or named 
Legacies I give to each of them a golde ringe to the value of Forty shillings to 
weare in remembrance of mee  And I intreate my Successour whoever he 
shal bee to intertaine soe many of my servants as hee shall neede assuring 
him that hee cannot have more honest and serviceable persons to attend him.  
To Sr. Edmund Scot I give my little silver Clocke and a trencher salt of golde 
without a Cover which remaineth among my plate And this he must receave 
as a memoriall of my love because otherwise by my meanes here not ill 
provided for, although if it were more he is worthy of it To Mr Richard Brigham 
the Controuler of my house I give my foure Coache mares and one hundred 
pounds in monye Hee knoweth that I hate not beene altogether forgetfull of 
him in my life time but all that I have done is so little, because his faithfullness 
diligence and discretion hath beene such in serving mee, that my estate by 
his meanes hath beene the better within desires and without.  To my two 
Chaplains attending mee in mine house I give my pictures and Mappes in the 
gallery at Croydon to bee devided betweene them and to each of them a 
Ringe of golde of forty shillings  And such an other ringe I give to my Chaplein 
Mr Edward Abbott of Lambith,  To my Secretary Mr William Baker as gentle a 
man as ever served any master I give my golde Ringe with the table Diamond 
to wear in remembrance of me praying him to take some paines to perfect use 
the Catalogue of my bookes given to the Library at Lambith that it may orderly 
appeare to posterity what I have left there accordinge to the care that I did 
take for the books left by my Predecessoures L Bancrofte the founder and first 
beginner of that Library.  I give him all the great inlaide Cabinett of wood 
standing in the Queenes Chamber at Lambith the keyes thereof lye in the old 
deske which standeth in the study whiche is nexte to the Closet neare the 
Chappell.  To Mr Richard Lind I bequeath my lesser golde chaine and twenty 
pounds of mony if hee owe me soe much at the time of my death.  I have 
done some thing for him in my life time accordinge to my bilif and it may fall 
out that I may doe more, To Mr William Sherman I give a golde ringe with a 
Emerorld in it which I have ready lying by mee And a peece of silver plate of 
thirty Ounces.  I have not altogether forgotten him hearetofore in some other 
matters  To honest John Goodwin I give one hundred marks in mony and my 
bigger Clocke which useth commonly to stand in my Chamber  I have since 
desired to leave him some office or matter of continuance but God hitherto 
hath not offered me the meanes to doe it according to my desire. To Ralphe 
Wattes whoe longe served mee painefully and diligently I give alsoe One 
hundred marks on mony and a gold ringe with a Turkoise in it I have done 
something for him besides but I wishe it weare muche more, To Walter 
Dobson my Receiver and the receiver of the Archbishoprike, I give twenty 
pounds and the ringe with the West Indian Saphire which I have used to 
weare having my Armes cut in it, I hope hee hath not utterly lost his time 
under mee and therefore he will bee content with this remembrance of him.  I 
leave him alsoe my little written booke with the bleue stringe wherein are sett 
downe the leases and ????s and provisions belonging to the Archbishoprike  I 
would have him keepe it for himselfe for it may bee of good use unto him. To 
George ?????? my Page and Godsonne I give tenn pounds and one of the 
sommer nagges which I have running amongst my horses. To Mr. John Harbe 
sometimes solliciter of my causes I give all the Arrerages of younge 
Li??sarye's Wardshipp if any be behinde  And I give him alsoe a golde ringe 
with a Turcoise in it  I bequeath to Robert Clarke yeoman of my house ten 
pounds and soe muche I give alsoe to George Hollis  I give moreover to Mr 
Frannsis Harbor Mr John Goodwin and Ralphe Watts the remainder of 
younge Wilsons wardship to be equally divided amongst them as it hath bene 
heretofore  To Walter Dobson I give that which is left of Turveyes wardship 
vizt. Fifty shillings yearely And to George Hollis the remainder of 
Wotewheeles wardship so longe as it doth continue  I doe not knowe the time 
but it is Fifty shillings by the yeare To Sr. Dudley Gigges my auncient pupill in 
Oxforde I give my ringe sett with an Oriental Saphire and all my antique 
coines of golde silver and brasse whiche are in my study at Lambith To Sr. 
Henry Martin Deane of the Arches and my good friend I bequeath all my 
serpentine cuppes and vessells whiche I give him that when hee seth or 
????? them hee may thinke of mee  To Mr Seriant Henden my old Oxford 
acquaintance and friende carefull in my large businesse, I give the faire Bible 
whiche lyeth in a white boxe standinge in that roome wherein I have 
heretofore ordinarily studied while I remained at Lambith. To the Deane and 
Chapter of Canterbury I do give five and twenty of those bookes whiche now 
remaine in my study at Croidon.  And I do give five and twenty more (to be 
taken after the other from there) to the Deane and Chapter of Whinchester, to 
bee put into their severall Libraryes.  And these I wishe my Executor to 
choose out with the privi?y and some advice of the Deane or Vicedeanes of 
those Churches for the time being supposinge that they wishe to have suche 
bookes, and bee not in their Libraryes already.  For Bailioll Colledge I have 
done ???????? things already, And if God send me life I have a purpose to lett 
them take some thing more of my cur??s??, There is a Lease of two houses 
whiche was taken in the name of my brother Sr Morris Abbot, and he very well 
knoweth my Will is that my Executor do so order it that twenty pounds yearely 
out of the benfite arising by that Lease be paid to my brother John Abbott of 
Guildford during his life if the lease doe soe long continue And other twenty 
pounds yearely arising from that lease I appoint to bee paide to the wife of 
Water Hawkins ????????? of ?r??sill in Hamshire for so long as the said 
woman doth live and noe longer what benefitt may bee made by the renewing 
of the underleases together with the remainder of the time after the decease 
of my brother John and the wife of Water Hawkins I give to my nephew Mr 
Morris Abbott of the Inner Temple, And I pray my Executor that these things 
may bee truly performed according to my honest meaning, To Sr. Nathaniel 
Brent and his wife my kinswoman, the daughter of my brother Doctor Abbott 
sometimes Bishop of Salisbury I give a peece of guilt plate of thirty ounces 
which I do further declare that it is my purpose and intent that one paper or in 
Testament under my hand and seale made for her benefice and now in her 
custody should take place according to the Conditions ????? therein specified 
This paper beareth date the Tenf of January 1620. And my will is that the like 
paper should be available and take place in behalf of Mr Edward Leventhorpe 
sometimes my servant. I declare power sufficient to my Executor to see these 
things performed.  I do give also to the said Neece of mine the Lady Martha 
Brent the gilt Bason and Ewer whiche the L: Thomas Earle of Dorset, 
Sometimes L: Treasurer of England and in his life time my honourable good L: 
and marster gave unto mee by his will as a legacy They may easily bee 
knowne because they have engraven upon them the Armes of his L:p  I 
bequeath to my brother Sr Morris Abbott knight my great silver homer glasse 
with the with the case wherein it is to bee kept as a speciall remembrance of 
mee  To his sonne my Nephew Mr Morris Abbott Student of the Inner Temple 
I do give my bigger chaine of golde to weare when he soeth Danse and 
otherwise to keepe in memorie of mee  I give to him all the profit that may bee 
raised of the Lease of the Priory of Dover whiche in his name is taken of the 
Archbishop of Canterbury to make use of it to himselfe after my decease.  
And there be some W????? Leases nowe fitt to bee demised the benefite 
whereof I give unto him  He knoweth what I have done for him besides.  And I 
doubt not but hee will safelie keepe a paper of directions which heretofore I 
have given unto him.  To my brother John Abbott I bequeath Twenty pounds, 
and to his wife a peece of gilt plate of Twentie ounces  To their daughter 
S???a S?ye I give Twenty pounds and a peece of gilt plate of twentie ounces  
And I give to my other Neece Damaris Bingffey a peece of plate of Thirty 
ounces gilt to John Abbott ?????? ??????? I give a ringe of some six shillings and 
noe more, because I have otherwise provided for him already God sende him 
to use it aright, and to performe these things wch by writing I have given him 
in Charge.  I had a purpose to have left some yearly revenew for the 
maintenance of a Conduit whiche I built in the towne of Canterbury, but the 
Major of that City and his brethren by the instigation of two or three persons 
have used mee so unrespectively and ungratefully that I have held it fit to alter 
that purpose. To the Clerke of my kitchen Shelton I give tenn pounds and  and 
soe much to George Hodges, Also ten pounds to William Harrison my Tayler. 
I do give to Mr Simon Hayward that serveth mee fifty pounds, To the 
Princesse the Lady Elizabeth daughter to my old L: and Marster King James 
of England I give one hundred pounds to make a pretye cupp of golde in 
token of my dutifull respect and service to her princely dignity, I do give to my 
Neece Margaret Marshe one hundred pounds to bestow upon some jewell to 
be worne in memorie of mee  And the like summe I give to the same purpose 
to my Neece Mrs. Elizabeth Tressham And the like summe I give to my neece 
Mrs Mary Digges And soe muche to my Neece Mrs. Martha Abbott bee shee 
married or unmarried I bequeath to my Nephew Mr Edward Abbott Marshome, 
for his wife One hundred pounds I designed afore two hundred pounds to bee 
distributed among my poorer Servants at the rate of Five pounds a man. I do 
now add unto it five hundred pounds more to bee divided amongst them, so 
that there will bee ten pounds a peece for eache of them, To James Son?his I 
do give for a legacy twenty pounds, Touchinge the Hospital created by mee in 
Guildford where I was borne and my parents of good memorye longe 
inhabited I have finished the maine buildinge and if there be anythinge of 
decency or Ornament convenient to be added thereunto, if God permitt mee 
life I shall accomplishe those also, I have procurred from my old soveraigne 
Kinge James of blessed memory a gracious Mortmaine and I have devised 
Statutes from the good government thereof whiche I have caused formally to 
bee sett downe, and I have sent them to the Hospitall I may perad???? add 
some small things unto those Statuted during my life But if after my decease 
any thinge appears not to bee perfect I leave the charge of the explaining the 
same unto my Executors to whom I leave a power to change Circumstances if 
necessary or require Provides that he keepe the substance of mine 
intendment.  My purpose in the first place is to maintaine there One Master of 
the Hospitall twelve poor brothers and Eight poore sisters all aged persons of 
honest report But my intent in the second place is that some manufacture bee 
sett upp in that Towne of Guildford to finde worke for the younger sort of 
people, And to that end I have begun the worke already and bestowed a good 
stocke uppon it for the production of the manufacture, I exorte the furtherance 
of the Major and his brethren in that Towne wishing that they will joyntly agree 
together for the best course to promote that businesse the honor will bee 
Gods the reputation will be theirs, and it will bee a great benefite to that 
Towne if their poore bee sett on worke I would have my Executors and the 
Master of the Hospitall ever willing and ready to helpe forward mine intention 
And if they all looke at the publique and not too muche at the private, God will 
give a great blessing unto it  I have appointed a Roome for the Workehouse 
and I hope it be already fitted thereto.  For the endowment of the poore of the 
Hospitall I have bought land at Merrow of one Mr Harwood and I have already 
passed it to that house If there bee noe such convenience made I do by this 
my will give that land to the Master and brethren of that HospitallI have bought 
allsoe of one Mr Goodwin land at Meredin or land called Meredin to the rent of 
forty pounds by the yeare, And of one Constable I have bought land at 
Hartham needing rent to the value of Forty pounds by the yeare These two 
parcells I doe give to my Hospitall for ever And I would have my Executors to 
helpe forward those Donations of mine if there be cause, but no way to hinder 
them. I have bought of Thomas Hill lande at Ewhurst for the yearly rent of 
Twenty seaven pounds tenn shillings if it shall seeme fitt to Mr George 
Duncan to have this lande changed I shall not bee against it So that there bee 
as muche lande for ??????e and of good title lande in leiu of it but bee it the 
one or the other I give it to my Hospitall For the upholdinge of the manufacture 
sett upp by mee in Guildford I doe give One hundred pounds a yeare for ever.  
To the said my Hospitall that is to saye Threescore pounds a yeare bought of 
Mr Brishe, and forty pounds by the yeare lyinge at Charlwood and bought of 
one Polsden.  And howsoever perhaps I doe not hit on the right names of the 
sellers or the places where these landes lye, I will that it bee no hinderance to 
this my dotation or Donation but that the possessions bee made good to the 
marster and brethren of my Hospitall, I intended for the maintenance of the 
poore of my Hospitall two hundred pounds by the yeare and now by the 
releasinge of certaine wood ground bought of one Bromfeild of Katherine Hill 
neare Guildford there m???eth the rent of Twelve pounds tenn shillings yearly 
charged upon my Hospitall.  If I provide not this in my life tyme I require my 
Executor to supplie it with speede.  But I am upon a bargaine in Surrey 
whiche I hope shall cleare it up all. And whereas my good frende Sr Nicholas 
Kempe did by his last will and Testament give Five hundred pounds to bee 
bestowed on some good worke and I should thinke meets I heere declare that 
I have bestowed that whole summe upon some of the landes before 
mentioned to be bought and conveyed to my Hospitall whiche I do being 
warranted thereunto not onely by the generall wordes of his will, but by 
particular signification from him selfe For he was present when I laid the firste 
stone of the Chappell for that Hospitall and gave mee One hundred pounds 
towards the worke.  And since from time to tyme and lately before his deathe 
beinge with me at Croidon hee voluntarily assured mee that hee would bee 
mindfull of that house and foundation.  And whereas hee doth not in his will 
specially name the Hospitall I conceive the reason of it out of true ground to 
bee because hee did not knowe whether I would have any mans name used 
in the foundinge of that house and Corporation besides mine owne  But I 
declare him nowe a principall and the only benefactor of moment to that 
place, and I have caused mention to bee made of it in the statutes of that 
house that hee did conferr to that foundation five hundred pounds whiche to 
posterity will bee an honor and memoriall to that good Knight sometimes an 
Officer to the Archbishoprike and to mee For the performance of this my last 
will and Testament I must appoint some person or persons to take care I have 
in a good part bene mine owne Executor having already distributed with mine 
owne hands muche of that little whiche God hath given unto me But yet for 
the further accomplishinge of that which I intend and for the disposing of my 
funerall I appoint my Executors my brother Sr. Morris Abbot Knight and my 
Nephew Mr. Morris Abbott of the Inner temple Barrister not doubting but care 
shall bee taken that all things shall bee performed accordinge to my true 
meaning above expressed  Whatsoever is remayning  (my funerall charges 
excepted) bee it in mony, bonds, plate debts, cattaile or other moveables will 
fall to mine Executors, who I doubt not but will take paines for the 
performance of my will and amongs other things will looke that my note 
bookes whiche are written with mine owne hand bee safely kept, Such 
legacies as I have given to my servants I wishe to bee satisfied with all 
convenient speede especially to those that are the poorer of them, And the 
like I declare for that whiche is by me bequeathed to the parishes of Lambith 
and Croidon. There is noe great matter to be done to my Hospitall but if any 
small thing bee requisite I would have it done as soone as may bee. So 
beseeching Almighty God to mine ease the number of his faithfull to abate 
more and more daily the strength of Antichrist and popery to send peace and 
prosperitie to this Iland to blesse our Soveraigne my most gratious L: and 
marster the Kinge with longe life and happinesse and to send hime a faire and 
plentifull issue, I commend my soule againe and againe to the mercy of my 
most blessed Saviour and Redeemer. July 25.1622. G: Cant.