This will is in very poor condition and illegible in many parts.

In dei nominee Amen. The <sixteenth> day of <February??> in the

I William Ballard of Wymeswold within the county of Leicester gent Sick in body ………… thanks be …… god. <????????> <????????????> and making my last will and testament in manner and form following. Vizt. First and principally I give and bequeath …….. <?????> <?????> Glory <????> God my maker and unto Jesus Christ his son my only redeemer and saviour assuredly believing that I <????> my god for his son Christ Jesus … my soul unto him <????????> and <????> amongst the number of his holy angels and blessed saints <not?> for any worthiness that is mine but for the ………  that as for my body it be <??????> unto the ground from which it came firmly believing that my Lord my god will ………  making like unto his glorious body. Wishing that it may be buried in the churchyard of Wymeswold[i]. Item I do give to the Choir of …………. And iiis iiid Item I do give to the poor in Barton iis Item I do give to the poor in Hoton xiid Item I do give to the poor in Wymeswold xiid Item I do give to the poor of <?????> xxd. Item I do give to the poor of <Wyllobie??> xxd Item I do give to the poor of Ratcliffe upon Trent iiis iiid[ii] Item I give and bequeath unto my second son Thomas Ballard[iii] <at> <saint?> <????????> gent <five words illegible> full satisfaction of his child’s part. Item I give and bequeath unto William Ballard my third son[iv] three score pounds in full satisfaction of his child’s part. Item I give and bequeath unto <George?> Ballard my fourth son[v] forty marks in full satisfaction of his child’s part to be paid to him in four years next after my decease in manner and form following vizt. …………  iiid, at two times in the year until the said forty marks be fully to him satisfied contented and paid over and <besides> his former gifts <???> <???????> <?????> <????> <??????> <??> <????> Item I give and bequeath ….  My fifth son[vi] <????> xiiis iiiid to be paid unto him at the coming forth of his apprenticeship over and above his former gifts of one hundred marks set down <???????> <????> in full satisfaction ……….. and bequeath unto Daniel Ballard my sixth and youngest son[vii] xxx <s?> to be paid unto him in manner and form following. Vizt. ……………..  <????> and besides his former gifts of a hundred marks set down already by deed. In full satisfaction of his childs part. Item my Will is that if any of my three youngest sons …………… his life before this time as he or they <?????????> <these?> <?????> several portions and legacies set down in this my last will and testament. That <???> or ……………… then that shall be living and <???> <???> <?????> Item I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Ballard[viii] forty shillings in full satisfaction of her child’s part or portion …………. <????> in <Lamercote?> shall be maintained and <????????> <???????> my son and heir Edward Ballard[ix] during all the time of his natural life …………….. Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Brett my goddaughter[x] three ewe lambs and two <????> ……….  I do give and bequeath unto Elizabeth <Bradford?> my servant <ten years hogge?> and two heifers to be distributed unto her within one <year?> next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath …………. my wife[xi] the one <????> at my <?????> one bed with all the furnishings thereto belonging and all such good s and ………….. to be hers as is now in her <???> possession in <??> <???> <???> or to her <??????>. Item all the residue of my goods unbequeathed ………….. and my funeral expenses discharged I do give and bequeath these <????> to my son and heir Edward Ballard <????> and do ordain full and sole executor …………  desire my <worshipfull?> friends Thomas <Cate> <Esquire>[xii] Richard Parkyns <Esquire>[xiii], my brother in law Thomas Hall of <?????> <Park?> gent[xiv]. And my cousin <?????> Noble of Leicester gent[xv] …………. And testament. And if any <??????????> doubt <??????> , debate, contention, <???????> shall at any time after my decease  ………………… last will and testament which shall or <????> <????> concern my said wife or any of my said children my will is and I do <????> the <????> and <????> my said children to …………….