Fixt there I stand, in hopes of Crimes forgiv'n, Septis. 14°, Die meo natali. WILL OF THOS. BAKER, B.D. In the Name of God Amen. I Thomas Baker, Ejected Fellow of Saint John's College in Cambridge, do make my last Will and Testament as follows. First, I commend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God (my gracious and good God) my faithful Creator and merciful Redeemer, and in all my Dangers and Difficultys a most constant Protector, blessed for ever be his Holy Name. As to the Temporal Goods it has pleased the same good God to bestow upon me, (such as all Men might be content with, and are, I bless God, neither Poverty nor Riches) I dispose of them in the following Manner. Whereas I have made a Deed of Gift (or Sale for one Guinea) of twenty one Volumes in Folio, of my own Handwriting, to the right honourable Edward Earl of Oxford, I confirm and ratify that Gift by this my last Will, and I beg his Lordship's Acceptance of them, (being sensible they are of little Use or Value,) with two other Volumes in Folio, since conveyed to him in like Manner. To my dear Cousin George Baker Esq. of Crook, I leave the Life of Cardinal Wolsey noted with my own Hand, Lord Clarendon's History with Cuts and Prints, and Winwood's Memorials in three Volumes in Folio, with a five Pound (Jacobus) piece of Gold, as a Mark of Respect and Affection since he does not Want it. To my Cousin Ferdinand Baker, my Silver Salver as promised. To my worthy Kinsman and Friend Mr. George Smith, I leave Godwin de Præsulibus Angliæ, Waræus de Præsulibus Hyberniæ, both noted with my own Hand. To the Rev. and Learned Dr. Newcome, Master of St. John's College, I leave a Ring of a Guinea, with two Tables of the Masters of St. John's College in Frames with my Founder's Picture for himself or College; and to his excellent Lady a Ring of one Guinea. To my worthy Friend Dr. Dickins, Regius Professor of Law, I leave the first Edition of Linwood's Provincial in a large Folio and black Letter, with a Ring of a Guinea, and Dr Corbet's1 Picture for himself or the College. Clement Corbet, LL.D. Master of Trinity Hall, 1611. To the worthy Mr. Burrough, Fellow of Caius College, I leave Bishop Cosins's' Picture for the College. And to my worthy Friend Dr. Knight, I leave Archbishop Parker's Picture, together with another Picture (near my Bed) of Doctor Humphrey Tindal, Dean of Ely (as supposed and the Date and Year agree exactly.) All my other Pictures and Prints undisposed of, I leave to my worthy Friend Dr. Grey, LL.D. for the Ornament of his House; with a Ring of a Guinea to him, Dr. Middleton, Dr. Williams, Mrs. Burton of Ellamore, and my dear Niece and Goddaughter Mrs. Margaret Shepperson, and the reverend Mr. John Boswell, Vicar of Taunton, and Prebendary of Wells. To Saint John's College Library I leave all such Books printed or MS. as I have, and are wanting there; excepting those I leave in Trust to my worthy Friend Dr. Middleton, for the University Library, Archbishop Wake's State of the Church noted and improved under his own Hand, 1 Bp. of Durham, 1660. 2 Pictures left to Dr. Zach. Grey, were King James I., King Charles I. and II., James Duke of York half length by Sir Peter Lely, Lord Strafford, Hugo de Balsham Bp. of Ely, Mr. Perkins, Dr. Shorton first Master of St. John's, and of Pembroke Hall, drawn in his Robes ; a hunting of the Wild Boar, by Kecherman; a Picture of Brook Lord Cobham, of Dudley Fenner a noted Republican; an original Picture of old Parr, with several more. Bishop Burnet's History of the Reformation, three Volumes, noted in my Hand, and Bishop Kennet's Register and Chronicle, (for the Memory of which three great Prelates, my honoured Friends, I must always have a due Regard): to these I add Mr. Anstis, my worthy Friend's History of the Garter, in two Volumes Folio, Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses, and Mansel's Catalogue, both noted with my own Hand, and Gunton's and Patrick's History of the Church of Peterborough, noted (for Bishop Kennet) with my Hand, with Fifteen Volumes, more or less, in Folio all in my own Hand, and three Volumes in Quarto part in my own Hand. To the Poor of the Parish of Lanchester, where (at Crook) I was born; and to the Poor of the Parish of Long Newton, where I was ejected, to each Parish I leave ten Pounds: and to the College Servants of Saint John the Evangelist, ten Pounds, amongst such as shall be willing to accept a Share; and out of that I leave five Pounds to my Bedmaker. As to my Funeral I am not solicitous, I desire nothing but Christian Burial; Christ be merciful to me a Sinner. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my dear Nephew Richard Burton Esq. my Sole Executor, to whom I leave every Thing undisposed of, which I hope will be enough to defray his Trouble. May God Almighty bless him, and give him all the engaging Qualities of his Father, all the Virtues of his Mother, and none of the Sins, or Failings of his Uncle, which God knows are great, and many; and humbly (O my God) I call for Mercy. In Testimony of this my last Will, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, this fifteenth Day of October, 1739. Thomas Baker. Sealed, signed, delivered and declared by the aforesaid Thomas Baker, for his last Will and Testament, in the Presence of us, William Clapham, Charles Richards. And now, O my God, into thy Hand I contentedly resign myself, whether it be to Life or Death, thy Will be done. Long Life I have not desired, (and yet hast thou given it me) give me if it be thy good Pleasure, an easy and a happy Death: or if it shall please Thee to visit me severely (as my sins have deserved) give me Patience to bear thy Correction, and let me always say, even with my dying Breath, thy Will be done. Amen, Amen. |