‘THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ROGER EDWARDS – GENTLEMAN’
by
DAVID COLLARD
This dark comedy in One Act is loosely based on the tale that the sons or nephews of Roger Edwards of Allt-y-bela, Monmouthshire attempted to kill him by cutting the girth of his horse’s saddle. It is said that they did this to prevent him leaving most of his fortune to what became the Roger Edwards Grammar School in Usk and the Roger Edwards Almshouses at Llangeview. The attempt failed so the charities benefited and still flourish today. Edwards died peacefully in 1624. Study of his will and other evidence indicates that the attempt to murder him was probably made by a nephew who nevertheless did inherit Allt-y-bela and did marry Alice of nearby Trevella, as in the play.
6M/3F
