occupation of Francis Braunston, tailor, unto the poor people of the old hospital in or near Leicester aforesaid to them and their successors for ever So that I will that they shall not put out my said tenant Francis Braunston nor reare his rent he paying the rent he now payeth and keeping the said house in good and sufficient repair." He also gave "to the second schoolmaster of the Free School in Leicester for the time being and to his successors for ever one annuity of 26s. 8d. a year to be paid quarterly forth of my house in the parish of All Saints in Leicester now in the occupation of William Noone, Costerdmonger, and for default of payment I will that (he and they) shall enter upon and have and hold the said house to him and his successors for ever — my said tenant William Noone shall not be put forth of the said house paying the rent he now payeth and keeping the same in good and sufficient repair." The testator appointed as Executor his kinsman, James Ellis, the Younger, of the Borough of Leicester, Woollen Draper, and as Overseers Thomas Walker of Leicester, barber cherurgeon and Allen Backhouse of Leicester yeoman. The Will was read over to James Ellis, and acknowledged by him to be his last will and testament on October 22nd, 1617, and it was proved by the Executor on May 6th, 1618. The particulars of the gifts to Trinity Hospital and to the Free School differ materially in the Will which is at Somerset House from those given by Nichols, and they have therefore been set out in full. The date of the Will (November 7th, 1617) given by Nichols is incorrect, but it may be the date of the testator's death.
The younger James Ellis, who was Mayor in 1623, was also a liberal benefactor. By his Will, bearing date the 16th January, 1628, he gave towards the maintenance of the poor of Trinity Hospital a dismantled house in St. Mary's parish with a yard and dovecot, a house in All Saints' parish and a piece of ground on the Town Wall. He also gave £3 to the Free Grammar School, and an annuity of 16s. 8d. to the poor of the parish of St. Mary de Castro.
The family of Morton was long established in Leicester. William de Mortona entered the Guild Merchant early in the
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