Ancient Royal Wills. vants and the poor. Then the king ordered that his brain, blood, and entrails should be buried at Chaluz, aud his heart at Rouen, and his body at Font Evraud, at the feet of his father." King John's will, though formally drawn in Latin, was prepared under circumstances which did not admit of attention to particu lars. It recites that, overtaken by grave illness, the testator felt compelled to trust' the disposition of his effects to his executors, including the cardinal legate, three bishops, three earls, and four other men of note, without whose advice, he adds, he should have done nothing in the matter even in sound health. They are directed in general terms to make satisfaction for any wrongs done by him, to contribute towards the re covery of the Holy Land, to provide for the support of his children, and to bestow alms on the poor and on religious houses for the good of his soul. The only specific direc tion relates to his body, which was to be buried in the Church of St. Mary and St. Wulstan at Worcester. The will, in Latin, of Henry III. bears date A.D. 1253, nineteen years before his death. The alleged motive for making it was a meditated expedition to Gascony. It is distinguished by prudence and foresight, and provides for those who had claims on him under all probable contingencies. The guardianship of his eldest son and heir, Ed ward, and his other children, along with that of his dominions, is committed to his queen, Eleanor. All his gold, with the exception of the royal jewels, is bequeathed " in nid of the Holy Land, to be carried thither, with my cross, by stout and trustworthy men to be chosen by my said queen and my executors." He appoints the Church of the Blessed Edward of Westminster for his place of sepulture, " notwithstanding that he had formerly chosen the New Temple of London." The only will of Edward I. of which any trace is extant was made at Acre shortly be
fore his father's death. The principal pro vision is one for resting, in case of the demise of the Crown during the nonage of his son, the realm of England and all other lands that may accrue to him in the executors, four of whom are constituted a quorum. As he survived his father and reigned thirtyfive years, his will became virtually inoper ative. Edward II. died intestate. lidward III. 's will, made the year before his death, begins with a reference to the doctrine of original sin, expatiates on the transitory nature of all things human, and then proceeds in the ordinary style to pro vide for the burial of his body and the wel fare of his soul. He limits the number of candles to be lighted at his funeral, and directs masses to be said for himself and his deceased wife Philippa. Edward the Black Prince having died the year before, the heir apparent, Richard, is thus remembered. "We give and bequeath to our future heir, whom God preserve, namely, Richard, son of our eldest-born Edward, of honored mem ory, one entire bed, with its furniture, marked with the complete arms of England and France, now in our palace at Westminister. We also give and bequeath to him four other beds, which used to be laid out in four lower rooms of the said palace, also with their en tire furniture. Also we give .and bequeath to him a double set of hangings for his hall, one large and noble, the other plain and light, adapted for carriage." Besides the execu tors, at the head of whom stands John of Gaunt, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are appointed supervisors of this will. The will of Edward the Black Prince, made shortly before his death, bears marks of ample deliberation, and contains minute directions touching his funeral, tomb, and epitaph, which was to consist of fourteen lines of his own composition. He was curi ously rich in beds. Three are specially de vised to his eldest son Richard, namely, the blue bed with ostrich plumes, which the king
