William "The Cat" Catesby was the right hand man for King Richard III. Richard was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 and our William was beheaded three days later, though he was allowed to make his will. This will has modern punctuation added.
Thys ys the Wille of William Catesby esquyer made th XXV day of August the first yere of King Henry the VIIth to be executed by my dere and Welbelovid wiff to whom I have ever be trewe of my body putting my sole trust in herr for the executione thereof for the welthe of my soule the which I am endowted she will execute: as for my body, whan she may, [it is] to be buried in the churche of Saynt legger in Aisby [Ashby St. Ledger, Northamptonshire] and to do suche memorialles for me as I have appoynted by for. And to restore all londes that I have wrongfully purchasid and to pay the residue of suche lond as I have boughte truly and to deviene yt among herr childrene and myne as she thinkithe good after herr discrecione. I doute not the King will be good and gracious Lord to them, for he is callid a full gracious prince. And I never offended hym by my good and Free Will; for god I take to my juge I have ever lovid hym.
Item: that the executours of Nicholas Cowley have the lond agayn in Evertoft withoute they have their C.Li.
Item: in like wise Revell his lond In bukby.
Item: in like wise that the coopartioners have their part in Rodynhalle in Suff. [sic] if we have right therto or els to be restored to them that had yt befor.
Item: in like wise the londes in Brownstone if the pare have right that hadd yt befor. And the londes besides Kembaltone bye disposid for my soule and Evertons and so of all other londes that the parte hath right Iue.
Item: that all my Fader dettes and bequestes be executed and paid as to the hous of Catesby and other.
Item: that my lady of Bukingham have C.Li. to help herr children and that she will se my lordes dettes paid and his will executed. And In especialle in suche lond as shold be amortesid to the hous of Plasshe.
Item: my Lady of Shaftisbury XL marke.
Item: that John Spenser have his LX li withe the olde money that I owe.
Item: that Thomas Andrews have his XX li.
And that all other bequestes in my other will be executed as my especialle trust is in you masteres Margarete and I hertly cry you mercy if I have delid uncurtesly withe you. And ever pray you to leve sole and all the dayes of your liff to do for my soule. And ther as I have, be executour I besech you se the Willes executed. And pray of lorde [bishop of] Wynchester my lord [bishop] of Worcetour [Woucester] my lord [bishop] of London to help you execute this my will and they will do sume what for me. And that Richard Frebody may have his XX li. agayne and Badby X li. or the londes at Evertons and ye the X li. And I pray you in every place se cleiernese in my soule and pray fast and I shall for you and Ihu [Jesus] have mercy uponne my soule. Amen.
My lordis Stanley, Strange and all that blod help and pray for my soule for ye have not for my body as I trusted in you. And if my issue reioyce [sic] my londes I pray you lete maister Johnne Elton have the best benefice. And my lord Lovell come to grace than that ye shew to hym that he pray for me. And uncle Johanne ["uncle" John Catesby] remembrer my soule as ye have done my body; and better. And I pray you se the Sadeler Hartlyngtone be paid and in all other places.