In the name of God Amen: the third day of December in the year of our Lord 1558: I Thomas Ballard of the parish of West Firle in the county of Sussex being sick in body and whole mind and good remembrance thanks be to God ordain and make this my last will and testament in manner and form following; First I bequeath my soul unto Almighty God to the blessed virgin and mother of God of Saint Mary and to all the holy company of heaven. And my body unto Christian burial in the churchyard of West Firle. And I will placebo dirige and mass to be done for my souls health and all Christian souls both and my burial and at my months mind with competent bread and drink provided and all other decent funerals at the discretion of Joan my wife. Item I bequeath to my son John my best brass pot. Item to Joan my daughter five pounds to be paid unto her at the age of 21 years or at the day of her marriage, if she be married before that year, and that money to be reared out of my freehold land in Selmeston which is now in the occupying of William <Woman?>. Item I bequeath to Joan my wife three acres of my free ground in Selmeston during the time of her natural life of the which three acres of my free ground are now in the occupying of William Rolf. Item I ordain and make the said Joan my wife my executrix of this my last will and testament: And unto her I give and bequeath all the remainder of my goods and chattels after my debts paid and legacies performed – Thomas Ballard – witness John Yeoman and William Wells.