The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-06
THE OLDEST WILL ON RECORD
The Earl of Pembroke's Queer Dispo-
sition of His Body ana Estate.
From, the Boston Heral

FTonl the Boston Herald.
81, Philip. V. Earl of Pembroke and
Montgomery, being, as 1 am assured, of
unsound health but of sound memory. as
well remember me that five years ago did
give my vote for the dispatching of old
Canterbury, neither have forgotten that
1 did see my king upon the scaffold; yet, as
it is said that death doth even now pursue
me, and moreover, as it is yet further said
that it is my practice to yield under coer
cion, | now make this my last will and
testament.
"Imprimis: As for my soul; do con-
fess | have often heard men speak of the
soul, but what may be these same souls, or
what their destination, God knoweth; for
myself | know not. Men have likewise
talked to me of another world, which I
have never visited nor do l know even
an inch of the ground that leadeth thereto.
When the king was reigning did make
my son wear a surplice, being DESTROYS that
he should become bishop; aud for myself,
l did follow the religion of my master;
then come the Scotch who did make me
Presbyterian, but since the time of Crom-
well have become an Independent. These
are, methinks. the three principal religions
of the kingdom. If any one of the three
can save a soul. desire they will return it
to him who gave it 10 me.
Item: / give my body, for it is plain
cannot keep it, as YOU see the Outrageous
are tearing it to pieces, Bury me, there
fore | hold churches and land enough for
that. Above all, put not my body beneath
the church porch, for l am, after all, a man
of birth, and l would not that l should be
inferred there where Col Pride was born.
Item: | will have no monument, for
then l must needs have an epitaph and
verses over my carcass. During my life
had enough of these.
Item: | desire that my dogs may be
shared among all the members of the coun-
Gil of state With regard to them, l have
been all things to all men sometimes went
1 with the peers; sometimes with the com
mons. hope, therefore, they will not suf
fer my poor ours to want.
Item l give my two best saddle-horses
to the Earl of Denbigh, whose legs, me
thinks, must soon begin to fail him. As re-
CARDS my other horses | bequeath them to
Lord Fairfax, that when Cromwell and his
council take away his commission he may
still have some horse to command.
Item: | give all my wild beasts to the
Earl of Salisbury, being very sure that he
will preserve them, seeing that he refused
the king a doe out of his park.
Item: | bequeath my chaplain to the
Earl of Stamford, seeing that he has never
had one in his employ, having never known
any JULIET IHe@ll SOii, my IFOt u WIN
being at the same time spiritual AID car
nal, will engender more than one monster.
Item | give nothing to my Lord Sage,
and do make him this legacy willingly,
because know he will faithfully distribute
it unto the poor.
Item: Seeing that do menace GER
tain Henry Mildmay, but did not thrash
him, | do leave the sum of ESQ sterling to
the lackey that shall pay unto him my
debt
Item: l should have given to the au-
thor of the libel on women entitled News
of the Exchange, three pence to invent a
vet more scurrilous mode of maligning;
but, seeing that he insulteth and slaudereth
know not how many honest persons, |
commit the office OF paying him to the same
lackev who undertaken the arrears of
Henry Midway. He Will teach him to dis
tinguish between honorable women and
disreputable.
Item: | give to the Lieut.. Gen. Crom-
we'll one of my swords, the which he must
want, seeing that he hath never kept any
of his own.
Item: / give to the wealthy citizens of
London and likewise to the Presbyterians
and nobility, notice to look after their
skins; for, 10y order of the state, the garr-
son of Whitehall has provided itself with
poignards and useth dark lanterns in the
place of candles.
Item: give up the ghost"
This document, which was penned by the
Earl himself, is one Of the most curious
wills on record, ard is duly filed and at
tested in Doctors Commons.