Diego redivivus: or The last will and testament of the pretended Humphrey Wickham, Esq; alias William Morrel, alias Bowyer, &c. With a full relation of his notorious cheats and impostures: who dyed at Mr Cullins house, the third of ths instant January, in the parish of St. Clement Danes, &c. Licensed and entred in the register-book of the Company of Stationers.

Diego redivivus: or The last will and testament of the pretended Humphrey Wickham, Esq; alias William Morrel, alias Bowyer, &c. With a full relation of his notorious cheats and impostures: who dyed at Mr Cullins house, the third of ths instant January, in the parish of St. Clement Danes, &c. Licensed and entred in the register-book of the Company of Stationers.

Table of contents

Title page

ADVERTISEMENT.

The Laſt Will and Teſtament of the pretended Humphrey Wickham Eſq alias William Morrel, alias Bowyer, &c. with Annotations thereupon.

His WILL.

§

§

§

[Page]

DIEGO REDIVIVUS: OR THE Laſt WILL AND TESTAMENT Of the Pretended Humphrey Wickham, Eſq Alias WILLIAM MORREL, alias BOWYER, &c.

WITH A Full RELATION of his Notorious CHEATS and IMPOSTURES: Who dyed at Mr Cullins Houſe, the Third of this Inſtant January, in the Pariſh of St. Clement Danes, &c.

LICENSED and Entred in the REGISTER-BOOK of the Company of Stationers.

LONDON, Printed for Abel Roper, at the Mitre near Temple-Bar. 1692.

ADVERTISEMENT.

[Page]

THis is to give notice, That the Fine COFFIN, mentioned in the following Relation, is to be ſold in Ship-yard, without Templebar.

The Laſt Will and Teſtament of the pretended Humphrey Wickham Eſq alias William Morrel, alias Bowyer, &c. with Annotations thereupon.

[Page]

THe Publick undoubtedly cannot be better entertained, than by the following Relation, of one of the moſt notorious Cheats as has been known in an Age, which has already made a very amazing Noiſe in the Town; and the Particulars whereof, may be no diſacceptable Entertainment.

A Perſon not over-well Clad, was ſeen ſtanding gazing about him in the Streets, over-againſt Arundel-Buildings in the Strand; but the gravity of his Age (being a Perſon between 50 and 60) invited the Curioſity of Mr. Cullin the Baker, to ask this unknown Perſon what he wanted? To which he replied, He wanted a Lodging. Upon this, Mr. Cullin very courteouſly made anſwer, He ſhould be welcome to his Houſe; which he very eaſily and readily accepted; and accordingly was received very kindly. Now having no extraordinary Stock of Money, viz. but Two Shillings in his Pocket, he was expoſed to the neceſſity of making uſe of ſome Romantick Narrative of his Quality and Condition, to make good his Quarters with ſo ſlender a Purſe, to hold out payment. Accordingly the Curioſity of his Landlady enquiring what Country-man he was? He replied, Of Oxfordſhire; that his Name was VVickham, a Perſon of a good Eſtate near Banbury; [Page] and that the occaſion of his coming to Town, was only to avoid the payment of 500 l. which he ſtood engaged for by Bond, in behalf of a Perſon that was run away, and had left him to pay that Money, and which truly he had made an Oath to himſelf he would never pay; not that the Summ was ſo conſiderable to a Man of his plentiful Fortune, only he was reſolved to keep his Vow; and that had made him retire a little from being arreſted for it.

The Affability and good Language of this Perſon of imaginary Quality, ſoon found Credit with his believing Landlord and Landlady, and no Gareſs was thought kind enough to a Perſon of his eminent Figure and Extraction. His firſt entrance into this indulgent Family was about a fortnight before Christmaſs, where he gained that daily ground, that no Reſpect could be ſufficiently paid him: His little Pocket Strength ſignified nothing, for his Hoſt was not a little exalted with the Honour of ſuch a Gueſt under his Roof.

But, as Providence was pleaſed to order it, his Reign was ordain'd to be but ſhort; for he ſoon fell into a languiſhing Sickneſs, in which time neither Doctor, Apothecary, Nurſe, or any other Aſſiſtance was wanting.

Now our pretended Captain, whatever other Faults he had, was reſolv'd not to be guilty of Ingratitude, and accordingly made an ample Laſt Will and Teſtament, and moſt▪ liberally gave extraordinary large Donations and Legacies to his kind Landlord, &c.

It was very remarkable, that during his Sickneſs, his Landlord, being Overſeer of the Poor, had requeſted a kind Brother in Office, the Church-Warden, to pay a ſmall Office of Chriſtian Duty to this poor languiſhing Gentleman; who making him a condoling Viſit, with wet Eyes and uplifted Hands, was ſo kind as to wiſh his [Page] Worſhip's Soul everlaſting Reſt, which was ſeconded by manly a repeated Sigh from the reſt of the Condolers about him: And one more eſpecially, having heard of this great Wind-fall, lamented much his Unhappineſs, in▪ not viſiting this Gentleman, ſaying, He was never born to do himſelf good, having loſt by his Negligence at least 1000 l Alſo another eminent Man of the Pariſh, being diſſatiſfied that he did not come in for a Share with the reſt of his Neighbours, went and told them, That the Coroner ought to be ſent for, and an Enquiry made how he died.

All Care and Application ſignified but little, for his laſt Exit was drawing on; in which time, not in the leaſt to ſhrink from his Character of Quality, he ſtill kept up the Honourable Figure he had ſo long preſented; and accordingly made moſt prodigious Proteſtations of Good-will and Acknowledgments to the Family, avowing that the few Hundreds he had bequeathed them, was nothing to what he would do for 'em, if pleaſe God to lengthen his Life to ſerve them and theirs.

And now having performed the Part of a good Patron and Friend, as his laſt Legacies do ſufficiently teſtifie; he was reſolved to be as good a Chriſtian too, and thereupon requeſted the taking the Sacrament: To which, being admitted (with what Integrity you'll find by the Sequel) with a grave Countenance to the very laſt, he was very ready to receive the Sacrament; and upon ſo ſerious an Undertaking, was pleaſed to put a Caſe of Conſcience to the Miniſter, viz. having made a Vow never to pay the 500 l. he ſtood engaged for, Whether he was obliged to keep his Vow, or not▪ To which being anſwered in the Negative, That he was obliged to pay his Debts, notwithſtanding his [Page] raſh Vow. He made anſwer, That truly now drawing near Heaven, he conſidered the point, and acquieſced with his Ghoſtly Monitor; and thereupon incerted the 500 l. into the Will.

This piece of extraordinary Juſtice being perform'd with a very compoſed and ſetled mind he left this troubleſom World on Sunday the Third Inſtant, ſeeming very well contented to part with his great Riches and Lands, for the more valuable conſideration of future Happineſs.

Now I muſt do the Family this Right, That notwithſtanding the great Sums they gain'd by ſo ample a Teſtament, and ſuch bounteous Legacies, however their ſorrow for the lamented Departure of ſo worthy a Gentleman was very hearty and cordial: Nay, ſome are of Opinion, that inſtead of diminiſhing (as Sorrow generally wears off) theirs, on the contrary is daily encreaſing.

But perhaps nothing was ſo unkind as excluding the poor Prentice from viſiting the ſick Gentleman. For, alas, the poor Boy has been heard moſt dolefully to bewail the unkindneſs of his Maſter; for undoubtedly the worthy Gentleman would have left him enough to have ſet him up, had he been amongſt the Throng of Viſitants, who all taſted ſo highly of his extravagant Liberality.

Now to aſſure you that the Kindneſs of his Executors continued beyond his Death, they thought themſelves ſo far indebted to his Memory, that not only the Embalmer was ſent for, but likewiſe a Coffin, price [...] l. was made, and all little enough for ſo generous a Patron, ſo much as Mourning, and Rings, and what elſe beſpoken, &c.

[Page]But before theſe Honourable Exequies could be performed, an unhappy Letter from the True Humphrey Wickham Eſq a Perſon of a great Eſtate and Reputation, detected the whole Fraud and Deluſion, and the Remains of our Quandam Perſon of Honour is to be committed to Earth, in a Coffin, price 4 s. with Shrowd and other Funeral Materials accordingly.

You are hereby informed, That this grand Impoſtor, whoſe true Name was VVilliam Morrell alias Bowyer, formerly a Surgeon in Banbury, had been two Months a Gueſt at Mr. Wickham's, and thereby ſo acquainted with his Family as enabled him to perſonate the Cheat ſo artificially, and ſo we leave him.

His WILL.

IN the Name of God, Amen, I Humphrey Wickham of Swaclift, in the County of Oxon Eſq being ſick and weak in Body, but of ſound Mind and Memory, do make this my laſt WILL and TESTAMENT, revoking all Wills by me formerly made: And as touching ſuch Worldly Eſtate as God hath been pleaſed to bleſs me withal, I do hereby give and bequeath the ſame in manner following:

Imprimis, I do give, deviſe, and bequeath to my Kinſman William Wickham, Son of George Wickham, of Gazington in the County of Oxon, all that my Manſion-Houſe of Swaclift aforeſaid; and all the Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments thereunto belonging, to hold unto him the ſaid William Wickham, and his Heirs for ever.

Item, I give and bequeath unto John Cullin, Son of Thomas Cullin, of the Pariſh of St. Clement Danes, in the County of Middleſex, Baker, all that my impropriated Parſonage of Sowgrate, in the County of Northampton, with the Rents, Iſſues, and Profits thereof.

[Page] Item, I give unto Anne Cullin, Siſter of the ſaid John Cullin, the Summ of Two hundred and fifty Pounds.

Item, I give unto Thomas Cullin, Son of the ſaid Thomas Cullin, the Summ of Three hundred Pounds.

Item, I give unto Dorothy Halford, Daughter of Thomas Halford of Halford, in the County of VVarwick, the Summ of Two hundred Pounds.

Item, I give unto Richard Davis, Son of VVilliam Davis of the ſaid Pariſh of St. Clement Danes, the Summ of Four hundred Pounds.

Item, I give unto VVilliam Davis, Son of the ſaid VVilliam Davis, the Summ of Two hundred Pounds.

Item, I give unto Anne Fowkes, for her Care and Diligence in Looking after me in my Sickneſs, the Summ of One hundred Pounds.

Item, I give unto Robert Croker, Son of VVilliam Croker of Sanford, in the ſaid County of Oxon (being my God-ſon) the Sum of Five hundred Pounds.

Item, I give unto the ſaid VVilliam Croker, the Summ of Five hundred Pounds.

Item, I give unto Robert Penniſton, Son of Sir Thomas Penniſton, and younger Brother to Sir Farmalis Penniſton of Cornhill, in the ſaid County of Oxon the Summ of Three hundred Pounds.

Item, I give unto Mrs. Jane Penniston, Siſter of the ſaid Mr. Robert Penniston, the Summ of Two hundred Pounds.

Item, I do hereby give, deviſe, and bequeath, all my Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments whatſoever, called by the Name of Apple-tree Ducy, in Cropridee, in the County of Northampton, unto John Brooking of Raſhly, in the County of Devon, Eſquire, and the ſaid VVilliam Davis Senior, and Thomas Cullin Senior, [Page] and the Survivor of them, and their Heirs, and the Survivor of them upon Truſt and Confidence: Nevertheleſs, that they the ſaid John Brooking VVilliam Davis, and Thomas Cullin, ſhall ſell and diſpoſe of the ſame; and out of the Money thereby raiſed, pay, or cauſe to be paid, the reſpective Legacies herein before bequeathed unto the ſaid Anne Cullin, Thomas Cullin Jun. Dorothy Halford, Richard Davis, VVilliam Davis Jun. and Anne Fowkes. And whereas I have herein before bequeathed unto my Kinſman VVilliam VVickham, and his Heirs, all my Manſion-Houſe at Swaclift aforeſaid, with the Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments thereunto belonging; [...]y true Will and Meaning is, That the ſame Deviſe is upon this ſpecial Truſt and Confidence, That the ſaid VVilliam VVickham ſhall pay, or cauſe to be paid, the ſeveral Legacies herein before bequeathed unto the ſaid Rob Croker, and VVill Croker, Robert Penniston, and Jane Penniſton; and alſo pay and diſcharge one Bond for the Principal Sum of five hundred Pounds, with Intereſt, which I became bound for and with Thomas VValker, to one Thomas Irons, any thing herein before-contained to the contrary thereof in any wiſe notwithſtanding; and alſo that he the ſaid VVilliam VVickham, ſhall out of his Legacy, and Lands, and Premiſes aforeſaid, to him deviſed, pay, or cauſe to be paid unto my Executors hereafter named, the Sum of Five hundred Pounds, to be by them beſtowed diſtributed, or employed for the uſe and benefit of the Poor of the Pariſh of Swaclift aforeſaid, in ſuch manner as they, or the major part of them ſhall think ſit and convenient.

Item, I give and bequeath unto the ſaid John Brooking out of the Moneys that ſhall be raiſed of the Sale of the ſaid Lands and Tenements, [Page] called Apple-tree Ducy aforeſaid, the Summ of Five hundred Pounds: And all the reſt and reſidue of the Moneys that ſhall be thereby raiſed. I do hereby give and bequeath unto the ſaid William Davies Senior, and Thomas Cullin Senior, to be equally divided between them and the Survivor of them.

Item, I give and bequeath unto Alice Cullin, Wiſe of the ſaid Thomas Cullin Senior, the Sum of Six hundred Pounds to her own proper Uſe and Diſpoſal.

Item, I give and bequeath in like manner the Summ of Six hundred Pounds unto Jane Davis, the Wife of the ſaid VVilliam Davis.

Item, I give unto the ſaid Robert Croker and VVill Croker, the Summ of Ten Pounds a-piece to buy them Mourning: and alſo to each of them a Ring of Twelve Shillings.

Item, I give unto Jane Croker and Mary Croker; and alſo to the ſaid Robert Peniston, and Jane Peniſton, and all other my Legatees herein before mentioned, and to every of them the Summ of Ten Pounds a-piece to buy them Mourning, and a Ring of Twelve Shillings.

Item, Whereas I have the Sum of Seven hundred Pounds, lying at Intereſt in the hands of Mr. Ambroſe Holbitch, in the name of Oliver Charles, my Servant, I do hereby give and bequeath the ſame to and amongſt my Four Servants, Oliver Charles, John Harbert, Sarah VVinn, and Margery Smith, and the Survivor of them, to be equally divided amongſt them, ſhare and ſhare alike.

Item, I give and bequeath my Three Geldings, and all my Accoutrements belonging to them unto the ſaid John Brookcing, VVilliam Davis Senior, and [Page] Thomas Cullin, Sen. viz. my Bright Bay Gelding to the ſaid Thomas Cullin, and my Black Gelding to the ſaid VVilliam Davis, and my Dapple-grey Gelding to the ſaid John Brooking. All the Arrears of Rent in my Tenants Hands at the time of my Deceaſe I do hereby freely acquit and diſcharge. And all the reſt and Reſidue of my Perſonal Eſtate, not herein before deviſed, after my Debts, Legacies and Funeral Expences, paid and diſcharged, I do hereby give and bequeath unto my ſaid Kinſman VVilliam VVickham.

And, laſtly, I do hereby nominate, conſtitute and appoint the ſaid VVilliam VVickham, John Brooking, VVilliam Davis Senior, and Thomas Cullin Senior, Executors of this my Will; hereby revoking and making void all other, and former Will or Wills by me made.

In Witneſs whereof I the ſaid Humphrey VVickham have to this my laſt Will, containing one ſide of a Sheet of Paper, and almoſt half the back thereof, ſet my Hand and Seal this Twenty ſeventh day of December. Anno Dom. 1691.

Humphrey Wickham.

Signed, Sealed, Publiſhed and Declared in the preſence of us, with the Words (VVill. VVickham) being firſt interlined,

Rob. Smith,

Jo. Chapman,

Rich. Chapman,

Mart. Pinckard.

§

I, the above named Humphrey VVickham, having omitted out of my Will above-mentioned, the Diſpoſition of my Eſtate in Huntingtonſhire, do hereby make this Addition to, and part of my ſaid Will, in manner following. I give and bequeath all my Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments, called Pryor's Farm, and all other my Eſtate in Hollywell and Needingworth, or elſe where, in the ſaid County of Huntington, unto the above named John Brooking, VVilliam Davis Senior, [Page] and Tho. Cullin Sen. and the Survivor of them, and their Heirs, and the Heirs of the Survivor of them, under this ſpecial Truſt and Confidence, that the ſaid Jo. Brooking, William Davis, and Thomas Cullen, ſhall ſell and diſpoſe of the ſame; and out of the Moneys thereby raiſed, pay, or Cauſe to be paid the reſpective Legacies hereafter named, viz. I give and bequeath, to Humphrey Longford the ſum of ſix hundred pounds, and to his Siſter Mary Longford the like ſum of ſix hundred pounds.

Item, I give and bequeath unto the ſaid Tho. Cullin Sen. the further Summ of 800 l. and all the Remainder of the Moneys thereby raiſed, I give and bequeath unto the ſaid Will. Davis Sen. and Jane his Wife, and the Survivor of them.

Item, Whereas I have by Will above-ſaid, given unto John Cullin, Son of the ſaid Thomas Cullin, the impropriated Parſonage of Sowgrave; my true meaning is, That I do give and deviſe the ſame to the ſaid John Cullin, and his Heirs for ever.

In Witneſs whereof, I the ſaid Humphrey Wickham have to this Condicil Addition, or further part of my ſaid Will, ſet my Hand and Seal, this Twenty eighth Day of December, Anno Dom. 1691.

Humphrey Wickham.

Signed, Sealed, Publiſhed, and Declared, in the Preſence of us,

Robert Smith,

John Chapman,

Rich. Chapman,

Martin Pinkard,

§

Probatum fuit hum. Teſtium. cum Codicillo eidem annex. eoram Venerab. Vir. Henrico. Fauconberge Legum Doctore, Surr. Venerab. & Egregii Viri Dom. Richardi Raines Militis, Legem etiam Doctoris Curiae Praerogativae Cantuar. Magiſt. &c. Quarto die Merſis Januarii, Anno Dom. (Stilo Angliae, 1691. Juramentis Willielmi Davis, & Thomae Cullen, duorum ex Executor. &c. Quibus, &c. de bene & fidel. Adminiſtrand. eadem ad Sancta Dei Evangelia Jurat. Reſervata poteſtate ſimilem Com. faciendi Willielmo Wickham & Johanni Brooking, alteris Executor. cum venerint ſeu eorum a [...]ter venerit cand. petitur.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

Diego redivivus: or The last will and testament of the pretended Humphrey Wickham, Esq; alias William Morrel, alias Bowyer, &c. With a full relation of his notorious cheats and impostures: who dyed at Mr Cullins house, the third of ths instant January, in the parish of St. Clement Danes, &c. Licensed and entred in the register-book of the Company of Stationers.

Edition statement

1692

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A69855

ID [STC]

Wing D1414A

ID [STC]

Wing M2807A

ID [STC]

ESTC R205240

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99825351

ID [PROQUEST]

99825351

ID [VID]

29731

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A69855)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 29731)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1765:9; 1864:11)

Source

— Diego redivivus: or The last will and testament of the pretended Humphrey Wickham, Esq; alias William Morrel, alias Bowyer, &c. With a full relation of his notorious cheats and impostures: who dyed at Mr Cullins house, the third of ths instant January, in the parish of St. Clement Danes, &c. Licensed and entred in the register-book of the Company of Stationers., Morrell, William, d. 1692?. aut.

Extent

[2], 10 p.

printed for Abel Roper, at the Mitre near Temple-Bar,. London :: 1692.. (Identified on UMI microfilm (Early English books, 1641-1700) reel 1765 as Wing (2nd ed.) M2807A.) (Reproductions of the originals in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery and the Bodleian Library.)

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