The Notorious Impostor (1692); Diego Redivivus (1692)Settle, Elkanah
General
The Notorious Impostor (1692); Diego Redivivus (1692)
Settle, Elkanah
Morrell, William, -1692 -- Fiction
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 12_l._
was made, and all little enough for so generous a Patron, so much as
Mourning, and Rings, and what else bespoken, _&c._
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 was 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 forever.
_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.
_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 _Warwick_, the Summ of Two hundred Pounds.
_Item_, I give unto _Richard Davis_, Son of _William Davis_ of the said
Parish of St. _Clement Danes_, the Summ of Four hundred Pounds.
_Item_, I give unto _William Davis_, Son of the said _William Davis_,
the Summ of Two hundred Pounds.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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