Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / November 2004

    Thank you both very much.  A bit of research brought up diseases
like anthrax and hoof-and-mouth to the fore.

    The stipulations in the will are, I believe, rather interesting.  
First, and I paraphrase, The person having possession of the cow or kine
is responsible for its/their well-being.  The exception is, if one of
the leased cattle is the first to contract "the moren", the person in
possession of that cow is relieved of his financial obligations.

    Sorry, but there are no stipulations as to what is to de done
regarding dead cattle or surviving herd members.  But accurate record
keeping seems to have been important.  

    I have attached the germane part of the actual will transcription
at the end of this message.  Remember, it is English from nearly 500
years ago, before there were real rules of spelling.  "u" is used
instead of a "v" sometimes, and numbers are often lower-case Roman
Numerals.

    Thanks again to both of you for your help.  History can be
fascinating, too!

    Regards,

    Basil

= = = = = =
Part of actual will transcription below:
= = = = = =
A stocke of Sixe score Kye / the Which I dewise verily vnto the some of
Tenne pound to be vsed in Charitable dedes of Alms (god thereunto
willing) And for the securing thereof First I will that he or they that
shall haue any of thes Kyne to hire shall paye euery yere for a cowe xx
s at two tymes in the yere, that ys to saye x s at the one half yeares
ende & x s at thollyer during the yeres of taking and hauing And for the
peying mayntenynge & delyuery of the same Cowe or Kye agayne  at the
time appointed / I will that he or euery one of them that shall haue any
of these kyne to hire shall fynde two or one sufficient Paysture wtin
the shire of Leycester to come to Lutterworth and there to be come
Syrtie to hym that he remit the Cowe or Kyne a fore sufficient ricorde
at the receving of the Cowe or Kyne / And because that ys done for a
Charitable acte and otherwise not / I will that who so euer shall haue
any of these kyne to hire / yf it chaunce a morey to be wtin the Same
towne the first yere wher any of the kyne being / And the Cowe or kyee
be the first that dyes of the same moren he or they that hathe any of
those kyne dying of the morey the first year to stand discharged but
only for the hire Yf he haue the proffett thereof / And yf the Cowe or
Kyne do nat dye first in the towne where they being / That then I will
that he or they or who so euer hath any of these kyne shall come to hym
that they receuyd them of and shewe hym a sure recorde that ther ys
mordy in there towne willing hym to make provision for the cowe or kyne
/ And in his or there not so doing The cowe to stande at there owne
proper charge / And not to the damages or hynderaunce of the stocke /
And because euery good dede to the poor ys done for the intent prayer to
be had / I will that he that shall delyn these Kyne shall move euery oon
that shall haue any of thes kyne to hire of there charitie to praye for
the soules of my father and mother myne and Elizabeth sake departed And
now dame Issabell my wife and all christey soules when and as often as
yt shall please god to giue them grace so to do /
Moreouer and where as I haue by this my will ordeind and set the price
of yerely rent and other ordnaunce of the Cowes and Kyne for the
continuavnce thereof always / and one to take peyne therin / I lo----ly
----ce require my discrete neighbours of Lutterworthe iiij or vi by
advisement of my sone and heire and suche as hereafter shall come of me
and hym to chose an Able man suche and as they shall thynke mete for the
setting receaving and parformyng the ordynaunce of these kyne according
to my will as before and hereafter dothe and shall enforc