Will from 1644

[sstarr2008]

My ancestor made his will on the 8th July 1644, a few days after the battle of Marston Moor. 
I am tempted to think that he made his will because he had been mortally wounded in the battle so I am going through his will in the hope of finding any clues, other than the very untidy will which seems out of character with other wills and documents of the period as if it was done in an hurry.

I am interested in the second line down which says "being ......... sick?..........."

Does anybody have any ideas what the words are?

Stu

[PrueM]

Hi Stu

You've cut a bit off the left side, but it looks like it's in pretty standard form, so my guesses on text are in square brackets.  Nothing about him being wounded, I'm sorry    I also question the date being the 8th - to me it looks like it starts with an x, perhaps xvi, ii or iii^te

The … day of July 1644 / I Richard Hopley of Kirke
… yeoman being somethinge sicke in body but of good and perfecte
[memory, thanks to god f]or the same I do ordaine and make this my last will and
[testament…] followinge  First and principally I committ my soule into the...

[Alexander.]

I agree with Prue, the date is not 8th - it's 17th (xvij) or 18th (xviij). Impossible to tell if there is another i under that smudge, but I think it's more likely 18th.

You mention the writing looks like it was done in a hurry, but I think it is quite clear for that period. Over time the document may have got damaged which is what makes it difficult, but I can't see anything in text or style that would indicate he was mortally wounded. You could be right though - I hope you are (for your sake not his).

Alexander

[GR2]

If it tells you where the will was made, you might have a better idea if his death was connected with the battle. If it was at a good distance from the battlefield, it might not be too likely.

[sstarr2008]

Thanks, the index of wills gives the date as the 17th of July but I just couldn't make 17 out of the word in the will, in fact I am still struggling to see XVII but at least you can.
The 17th could still fit in wth Marston Moor or the seige of York since the siege ended on the 16th of July.

It is that word "something" sick which bothers me,wish I could make it out.

The only reason why I think that he may have been fighting for the Royalists in that battle is because he seemed to have close ties with others who were at the battle. Unfortunately the parish registers of the time are missing for the civil war years so no help to be had there.

Stu

[PrueM]

It is that word "something" sick which bothers me,wish I could make it out.

The word is actually "something", I suppose in the way we might also say "quite sick" or "fairly sick", he's saying he's "something sick".

[sstarr2008]

How funny? Something sick, what a strange phrase? Not seen that one before.

This is the first few lines of the will, full width. 

[Roger in Sussex]

Might it be "lyinge sicke" ?  If so, he would be unlikely to go into battle a few days later. Perhaps he had been wounded in combat, which is what Stu was hoping. That could also explain the hurried writing.

Roger

Correction: I now find in an old dictionary a quotation from Shakespeare of "something peevish" which shows that usage of "something" could be current at the time of the will, which makes my suggestion invaliid. Sorry!

[greenpaula]

Hi I have seen 'something sick'  before in a later Will than yours- rather like we might say 'somewhat sick' these days.
Somewhat sick could be him making light of wounds from battle or it could mean very ill.
Out of curiosity, how old was your ancestor?
Paula