H - THE TESTAMENT OF SIR DAVID SINCLAR OF SWYNBROCHT, KNYCHT, 1506

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN.

Be it known to all men that I, DAVID SINCLAIR OF SWYNBROCHT, KNIGHT, sick in my body never the less hale in my mind, make my Testament in manner and form as after follows.

• Item, In the first I leave and commend my soul to God Almighty in whose protection and defense I incal the blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints in heaven.
• Item, I leave my body to be buried in Saint Magnus Kirk of Tyngwell.
• Item, to protect and defend my Testament I choose and humbly praise our most Sovereign Prince, King James, through the grace of God King of Scots: In which relevation of labours I ordain discreet men, that is to say, Richard Lesk and Thorrald of Brucht, very executors of this Testament, which shall dispose my gear both written and unwritten as they will answer before God.
• Item, the penchione of Dingwell and the Red Castell pays their dittis this year.
• Item, I leave nothing to my Lord Sinclair but the penchione of Shetland for the year present, to which Lord I give and reissis all the lands that I possessed after my Father died in Shetland, and my best silver stope [tankard] with twelve stopps inclussit in the same with my ship called the Carvell with her pertinets, and two saddles.
• Item, I leave to my Lady Sinclair my myd stope [tankard] of silver with twelve stoppis inclusit in the same.
• Item, I leave to the son and heir of Henry Lord Sinclair my best silver stope [tankard] with six stopps inclusit in the same and with all the moveable beasts that are contained in the lands afore assigned to my Lord his father.
• Item, I leave to my brother Sir William Sinclair, Earl of Caithness, my innes in Edinburgh with the pertinents.
• Item, I leave to Sir William Sincler, the Knight of Warsetter my doublet of cloth of gold and my gray satin gown with three ostrich feathers.
• Item, I leave to Allan Aitsone my black gown of damask with silver buttons, my gray scarlet hose and my doublet of doune cramesse.
• Item, I give and leave to Gertrud my great silver belt and a peice of cloth of gold the length of a Flanders Ell. I leave to William Flete and his brother Criste Flete my little ship with all gear, and all my lands in Orkney with my innes in Kirkwall: except Setter and Vachtesequyr with houses and other pertinents, which I leave to Alexander Borthwick, together with two cows in Kirkwall; and all the moveable goods in Schalpandsaye.
• Item, I leave to James Sincler, captain for the time in Dingwell, all my gear that is in Ross, that is to say, my harness, gowns, cloth in gold, silver, beasts, corn, and generally all that ever I have there except my red coat of velvet, which I leave to the high Altar of the Cathedral Kirk of Orkney.
• Item, I leave to each Son I have five score merks land, and to each Dochter fifty: and I might schaw it now as this time, but if I cannot schaw it I command my executor is to schaw it.
• Item, I leave to Thorrald of Brucht and to his wife and his heirs ten merks land in Glaitness and 15 merks land in Linggo with all goods there contained, and 22 merks in Pappale, ten merks in Brucht.
• Item, I leave to Richart Lesk twenty merks lands in Cwndistay and my English ship with all gear.
• Item, I give to William Spens all my lands in Gloppa and 15 merks in Baltone.
• Item, I leave to Alexander Smeythtone 12 merks in Eistrud with all beasts that are there.
• Item, I leave to John Mude 20 merks which I bought from him in Scatness, and the full payment thereof.
• Item, I leave to Saint Magnus' Kirk in Tingwell the twa part of my black velvet coat, and the third part I leave to the Corss Kirk [the signal in Norse times for clerical assemblies] in Dunrossness.
• Item, the chelleris of Saint Magnus in Tingwell is in Dingwell, which I command to be delivered.
• Item, I leave to Magnus Sincler my blue doublet, the breast set with precious stones, and my hood set with precious stones, and my golden chains, which I wear daily.
• Item I leave to John Aundour twenty light florins.
• Item, I leave to Peter Merchell my black doublet of velvet and my red hose and my short red coat of velvet without sclewis.
• Item, I give and leave to my Sister dwelling in Orkney all my goods that are in Pappay and Housbe.
• Item, I leave to Doctor John Oke twelve ells of yper black and two rose nobles and my saddle with the pertinents, the tane half of … and a short black coat of velvet.
• Item, I leave to Sir Magnus Harrode two nobles, and the Book of Good Manners.
• Item, I leave to the Provest of Byrrone my signet.
• Item, I leave to Thome Has four merks in Morra Nordammad.
• Item, the gear that has not been disponed after the gift of my good benevolance I ordain to be divided betwixt my Sons and Daughters.
• Item, if any of my Sons or Daughters dies without heirs of their own body, that part to he divided among the rest of Brother and Sisters.
• Item, the poor folk that come out of Orkney with me I leave them their own land or else also good.
• Item, I leave to Segreit in Rorik two pak of wedmell and two cows.
• Item, I leave to the Holy Cross in Stanebruch two rose nobles.
• Item, I give to Saint George's altar in Rosskyill my golden Chain, which is called a collar, which chain the King of Denmark gave me.
• Item, I leave to Thome Boswell my best ?, which came home to me with my ship out of Norway.
• Item, ten pounds of gold to be paid to John of Veinde in Desert which Henry Spens resauit.
• Item, 15 merks I ordain to be paid to the Englishman that sold me the ship.
• Item, I leave to John Roide the best piece of a linen robe, which I bought from the Flemings.
• Item, I leave the fruits of my lands of the year's crop to the poor folks.
• Item, I leave to Sandy Sincler my brother some six ells of green cloth.
• Item, I leave to Peter Cuke and James Baxter ten ells of green cloth.
• Item, I leave to Ingarecht in Cransetter two cows.
• Item, I leave to Henry Sincler, my brother's son, all my brutal beasts that are in Oxvoo.
• Item, I leave and commands to give to John Glappayr 9 merks, which I promised to him in his wedding.

GIVEN AT TINGWELL, the year of God 1506, the 8 day of the Visitation of our Lady: these men were present - Sandy Hrothvik, Peter Merchell, John Mude, Johne Boide, Magnus Sincler, Peter Cuk, Alexander Smeithtone, with others many sundry and diverse.

Ita fateor ego Doctor Johannes Oke de Gesteria me ascultasse et concordat de verbo ad verbum cum suo illeso originali quod fateor man propria, etc.

Haec est vera huju originalis copiata sive collationata de verbo in verbum, ac translata de latino in Anglicam linguam haud in ullo discrepans, sed per omnia concordano per me Dominum Jacobuin Scuill, sacre millesimo quingentissiuio xxv, die vero sexto mensis Augusti, hora quasi quinta post meridiem vel eo circa presentibus ibidem venerabilibus viris Roberto Flet, Domino Georgio Dufe, Alexandro Paulsone et Andrea Sanger cum diversis aliis formaliter; sicut stat omni meliori forma qua potui, et etiam roboravi, meis signo, nomine cognomine, et manuali subscriptione quibus utor.

JACOBUS SCUILL, Notarius Publicus.