78 HARVARD LAW REVIEW. " four tapers and twenty two torches of wax, every taper to contain the weight of ten pounds and every torch sixteen pounds, which I will that twenty four very poor men and well disposed shall hold ; and that every of said twenty-four men shall have for his labor at both times viii d and a gown of frize [we should think these well earned] ; and that there be one hundred children, each within the age of sixteen years to say our Lady's Psalter for my soul, each of them having iiii d. for his labcr ; " directing also doles to poor, and the hiring an —
- honest and well disposed priest to sing and say service during the term
of twenty years after my decease and to have for his wages vi £ xiii s. iv d and find himself." The only other will which space permits our citing is that of Sir Thomas Lyttleton, the great oracle of the law, dated August 22, 1481.^ After bequeathing his soul to the three persons of the Trinity, " and to our most Blessed Lady and Virgin, Saynt Mary, moder of Our Lord and Jesu CRrist, the only begotten sonne of our saide [sic] Lorde God, the Fader of Heven, and to Saint Christopher, the whiche our saide Lord did truste to bear on his shouldres," and prescribing that immediately after his decease " myn executors find three gode preests to singe three trentals for my soule and that everich such preest have right sufficiently for his labor," he gives — " one hundred shelings by yere to the Priour and Covent to singe at the altar, hallowed for the worship of St George and St Christopher, daily at vii in the morning for the soules of my fader and moder and for the soule of William Burley, my fader in lawe, and for the soule of Sir Philip Chetwin [his wife's first husband], and for all soules that I am most bounden to pray, and specially for myn own soule after my decesse, and that whenever the covent sing the annual Placebo and Dirige, and Re- quiem for my soule, that they have vi s. viii d. for thyr disport and recreation." And after various gifts, doles, and charities, he enjoins on his executors to — " do their diligent labor to se that my will be performed, the which, as they know wele, the performing thereof in godely hast and tym, that shall be to the hasty remedie of my soule ; and the long tarying thereof, is to the retardation of the meritts of my soul." 1 Nicolas, Test. Vet. i. 362.
