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Transcriptions of
Early Modern Manuscripts
Transcriptions of Documents by Students in HIST 7424
(Research Methods in Medieval/Early
Modern European History)
Taught by Prof. Marjorie McIntosh, Department of History,
University of Colorado at Boulder, Spring 2004
Many of the documents used in the class and transcribed below were
generously lent by George Monsson. All others are property of the University
Libraries and are housed in the Special Collections Department in Norlin Library.
PLEASE NOTE: Larger images may be obtained by clicking on the photos
of the documents accompanying the transcriptions below.
Letter of Confirmation (13th Cent.)
Letter of Recommendation (1643)
Letter Patent (1552) and Deed of Sale (1553)
Descriptions and Transcriptions:
Private document held by George Monsson (Monsson 5)
On loan to the University of Colorado, Boulder
Transcribed and Translated by John Stephan Edwards
August 2004
Single page from a much larger manuscript volume containing the music and text for conducting the daily cycle of religious observances, called The Hours. The note in red at the top (recto) indicates that this page is from the service for the Hour of Matins (also sometimes called Vigils, sung at dawn). This page possibly came from a text devoted to Lent and Easter observances, given its focus on the Death and Resurrection. The single page is very difficult to date out of its manuscript context, but is almost certainly fifteenth century or earlier.
Document:
Multicolored ink on pencil- and ink-lined vellum (312mm x 413mm) creating a musical score composed of squared notes plus words to be sung from Roman Catholic liturgy. The smaller text highlighted in red lettering is intended as instructions for those participating in the service, denoting which participants sing which words, and (at the top of the page) offering suggestions for personal reflections to be considered by the participants as they sing, listen, or enter and exit the sanctuary.
The script appears to be Gothic textura semi-quadrata, a script popular in France in the late 15th Century. French scriptoria supplied many of the liturgical manuscripts used in English churches in the fifteenth century, and this antiphonal page may well be French in origin.
Much of the wording of the liturgy of this page is taken from Psalms (esp. Psalm 4), Exodus, and Leviticus.
Text:
Recto:
uidere sepulchrum alleluya. ps[almus].
Magnificat.
In doxa refrectionis
d[omi]ni n[ost]ri Jesu [Christ]i
q[uoa]d matut[ine] invit[atio].
S urrexit dominus vere.
Alle lu ya. ps[almus]. Ve[n]ite. q[ou]d no[?] a[ntiphona]
EGo sum qui sum et
consilius meum non est cu[ra]s im
pijs sed in lege domini uoluntas
Verso:
mea est alleluya. ps[almus]. B[ea]tus vir. a[ntiphona].
Postulam patre[m] meu[m] alleluya
dedit mihi gentes alleluya in he
reditates alleluya. ps[almus]. Quare. a[ntiphona]
Ego dormiui et somnu[m] in
cepi et resurrexi quoniam domi
nus suscepit me all[eluy]a all[eluy]a. ps[almus]. D[omi]ne q[ui]d.
V[ersus] Surrex[it] do[minus] de sep[u]lc[hro] al[leluya].
R[esponsorium]. Q[ui] p[ro] nob[is] pepe[n]dit i[n]lig[n?] al[leluya]. R[esponsorium]
Translation:
Recto:
to see the tomb. Hallelujah. Proper.
(My soul) magnifies (the Lord).
Reflecting on the glory
of our lord Jesus Christ
until summoned to Matins.
Truly the Lord was reSurrected.
Hallelujah. Proper. O Come (let us sing unto the Lord). That which ? antiphon.
I am that I am and
my counsel is not of concern to
the wicked but (rather it is for those) wishing (to live according to)
Verso:
the law of the Lord. Hallelujah. Proper. Blessed is the man (that fears the Lord). Antiphon.
In accordance with my father's wish, Hallelujah,
he gave the nations to me, Hallelujah, in
inheritance, Hallelujah. Proper. Truly. Antiphon.
I lay down and I slept soundly
and I arose because the Lord
kept me safe, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Proper. (I pray) thus unto the Lord.
Verse. The Lord was resurrected from the tomb, Hallelujah.
Response. He who suffered for us on the cross, Hallelujah. Response.
Private document held by George Monsson; on loan to the University of Colorado, Boulder
Transcribed and Translated by John Stephan Edwards and Geoff Haymes
April 2004
King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) grants to John Anderson various former monastic properties commonly called Hilend, in the Vicecounty of Forfar near Dundee, Tayside.
Document :
Ink on parchment, 45 cms. X 18.8 cms. with seal remnant (see below) attached to inferior border by looped parchment ribbon 21 cms. in total length.
Seal :
Tan-colored wax, upper right quarter (approx.) only, original diameter of entire seal estimated at 14 cms. Remnant of seal contains bas-relief image on obverse depicting a fully armored man on caparisoned horse, circumferential border with legend fragment “IACOBVS SEXTVS.” Reverse of remnant has within the central portion a depiction of the Royal Arms of Scotland and a circumferential border with the legend fragment “IVVM DOMINE.”
Transcription:
Iacobus Dei gratia Rex Scotorum Omnibus Probis hominibus Totius terre sue clericis et Laius Salutem. Sciatis nos post n[ost]ram perfectam etatem
omnes[que] n[ost]riis revocationes tam speciales quam generales Acetiam post actum annexationis terrarum eccl[es]icarum ad
coronam n[ost]ram et dissolutionem in eodem contentam Cum con
sensu dilecti n[ost]ri consiliarij Mag[ist]ri Joannis Prestoun de fentoun barnis n[ost]ri collectoris g[ene]ralis et thesaurarij n[ost]rarum nonarum augmentationu[m] Dedisse concessisse assedasse et
in feudifirma hereditarie locasse et hac pr[esen]ti carta n[ost]ra confirmasse Joanni Andirsoun filio Joannis Andersoun Apud
molendinu[m] de Newtyld Inter ip[su]m et Jonetam hay euis spon
sam procreato heredibus suis masculis et assignatis Omnes et singulas terras de hilend aliter nu[n]cupat lie tempill bank et unam acram terre Jacen[tum] in terris de haltoun
de Newtyld, et unu[m] croftum cum horto Jacen[tum] in dicta villa de holtoun cum domibus edificijs hortis toftis croftis partibus et pertinen[tiis] omn[ibus] et singularum dictarum terrarum
olim per Alexandrum Wolster occupa[bantur] Iacens in Regalitate de lundoris et infra Vicecomitatum n[ost]r[u]m de forfar
Quequidem perprius in patrimonio ad abbaciam de lun
doris pertinuerunt tanquam pars & temporalitatis euisdem Et nunc ad nos virtute dicti acti annexationis terrarum eccl[es]icarum
ad coronam n[ost]ram pertinent Tenendas
et habendas omnes et singulas prelibatas terras de hilend aliter nu[n]cupat lie tempill bank, Ac dictam acram terre Jacens in dictis terris de haltoun de Newtyld et dictum
croftum cum horto Jacen[tum] in prefata villa de haltoun cum domibus edificiis hortis toftis croftis partibus et pertinentijs omn[is] et singularum dictarum terrarum ut supra Jacen[tarum]
Prefato Joanni heredibus suis masculis et assignatis predictis De nobis et successoribus n[ost]ris in feudifirma et hereditate
Imperpetuu[m] Per omnes rectas metas et divisas
Prout Iacent in longitudine et latitudine com domibus edificijs boscis planis moris marresijs vijs semitis aquis stagnis & inolis pratis pascuis et pasturis Molendinis mul
turis et eorum sequelis acupationibus venationibus piscationibus petarijs turbarijs carbonibus carbonarijs cuniculis cunicularijs
columbis columbarijs fabrilibus bra
sinis bruerijs et genestis Silvis nemoribijs et virgultis lignis tignis lapicidijs lapide et calce Cum curijs placitis herezeldis bludewitis
mulierum merchitis exitibus
amercamentis et eschaetis curiarum Cum co[mmun]i pastura libero Introitu et exitu Ac cum o[m]nibus alijs et singulis libertatibus co[m]moditatibus proficuis et asiamentis
ac Iustis suis pertinen[te] quibuscum[que] tam non no[m]i[n]atis quam no[m]i[n]atis tam subtus terra quam supra terram procul et prope ad predictas terras cum pertinen[iis] spectan[tibus] seu Juste
spectare valen[e] quomodolibet in futurum libere quiete plenarie integre honorifice bene et in pace Sine revocatione contradictione Impedimento aut obstatulo quocum[que] Redden
do Inde anuatim prefatus Joannes heredes sui masculi et assignati Nobis et successoribus n[ost]ris, n[ost]ris computorum rotulatoribus factoribus et camerarijs n[ost]ris nominibus
Su[m]mam quadraginta quatuor solidorum usualis monete regni n[ost]ri Ad duos anni terminos festa vi[delicet] penthecostes et Sancti martini in hieme per equales portiones nomine
feudifirme acetiam heredes dicti Joannis Andirsoun Junioris duplicando eandem feudifirmam primo anno eorum Introitus ad prefatas terras Prout usus est feudifirme
Necnon Reddendo animatim nobis n[ost]ris[que] predictis sex capones ad festum paschatis anuatim tantum. In cuius rei
Testmoniu[m] huic p[rese]nti carte n[ost]re magnu[m] sigillu[m]
no[st]r[u]m apponi precepimus. Testibus Predelictis n[ost]ris consanguineis et consiliarijs Joanne comite de Montrois D[omi]no grahame & Cancellario n[ost]ro. Joanne D[omi]no hamil
toun et Abirbrothok & Georgio comite mariscalli D[omi]no keith & Regni n[ost]ri mariscallo. Dilectis n[ost]ris familiaribus
consiliarijs Mag[ist]ro Jacobo Elphingstoun de barntoun n[ost]ro se
cretario D[omi]no Richardo Cokburne Juniore de Clerkingtoun n[ost]ri secreti sigilli custode Mag[ist]ro Joanne Skene n[ost]rorum rotulorum reg[est]ri ac consilij clerico D[omi]no Joanne Cok
burne de Ormestoun milite n[ost]ri Iusticiarie clerico Et Mag[ist]ro Willelmo Scott de grange[mu]re n[ost]re Cancellarie directore apud Halierudehous sexto die mensis Apri
lis anno D[omi]ni millesimo quingentesimo Nonagesimo Nono Regni[que] n[ost]ri Anno Tricesimo secundo
Translation:
James, by the Grace of God King of Scotland, To all honest men of all his land, clerics and laymen, greetings. You should know us [to be] after our perfect and full age [i.e. to be an adult and therefore ruling in our own right] and by our revocations, special as well as general, And also after the act of annexation of church lands to our crown and the dissolution contained in the same, With the advice of our said councilor Sir John Preston of Fentonbarns, collector general and treasurer of our increase of our ninths, To have given, conveyed, set aside and in hereditary fee-farm to have established in and by this our present charter to have confirmed to John Anderson son of John Anderson At the mill of Newtyle Between the same and Janet Hay his spouse, mother to his male heirs, and his assigns, All and singular lands of Hilend also called Lie Temple Bank, one acre of land Lying in the lands of Halton of Newtyle, and one croft with garden Lying in the said vill of Halton with all and singular houses, buildings, gardens, homesteads, crofts, portions, and appurtenances of the said lands sometime formerly by Alexander Wolster, Adjoining the Royal Estate of Lundie and within our Vicecounty of Forfar, which were indeed previously pertaining to the patrimony of the abbot of Lundie, a part of the temporalities of the same, And now by virtue of the said act of annexation of the church lands they are joined to our Crown. Having and holding all and singular the aforementioned lands of Hilend also called Lie Temple Bank, And also the said acre of land Adjoining the said lands of Halton of Newtyle and the said croft with garden Lying in the aforesaid village of Halton with houses, Buildings, gardens, homesteads, crofts, portions, and appurtenances of every and singular of the said lands as were lying To the aforesaid John, his heirs male and assigns From us and our successors in fee-farm and hereditary right in perpetuity By all right metes and bounds with respect to the (lands) Lying in the length and width, with houses, buildings, woods, fields, moors, marshes, roads, footpaths, ponds, and sweet (inordorous) grazing meadows and pastures, several Mills, millstones, and their attachments, hunting grounds, fisheries, peat, turbaries (peat-bog), coals, charcoal pits, rabbits, rabbit warrens, doves, dovecotes, tools, brewhouses, fines for brewing, and stocks, Forests, woods, and thickets, timber, boards, stone quarries, stones, and lime or chalk, With pleas of court, heriots, fines for bloodshed, merchets of women, issues, rents and escheats of the courts, With free entry and exit to common pastures And also with all and singular other liberties conveniences advanced and assigned and also with every possible Right pertaining to them, both named and unnamed, both above and below the ground, far and near to the aforesaid lands with appurtenances thereunto belonging or by any Just means shall be seen as in force in the future, freely, in full quiet, full good honor, and in peace Without revocation, contradiction, Impediment, or hindrance whatsoever. Rendering for it annually by the aforesaid John, his male heirs and assigns To us and our successors, to our deed rolls of accounts and our Chancery of names The sum of forty-four shillings of the common money of our realm, At the two annual terms of the feast, that is to say Pentecost and Saint Martin in winter by equal portions in the name of fee farm, and also the heirs of the said John Anderson the younger at the same time doubling the fee-farm in their first year of their Entering into the aforesaid lands with respect to the use of the fee farm. Rendering annually to us and to ours six capons at the feast of Easter annually. In witness of these things we have affixed our Great Seal to this present charter below. These being witnesses, our cousins and councilors John earl of Montrose, the Lord Graham and our Chancellor, John Lord Hamilton and Aberbrothwick, and George earl Marischal, the Lord Keith and Marshall of our Realm. By our said familiar councilors Sir James Elphingston of Barnton our secretary, Lord Richard Cockburn the younger of Clerkington our Keeper of the Privy Seal, Sir John Skene Clerk of our Rolls and also clerk of the council, Lord John Cockburn of Ormiston, knight, our justiciar clerk, And Sir William Scott of Grangemuir, director of our Chancellory, at Holyroodhouse the sixth day of the month of April in the year of the Lord 1599 and in the thirty-second year of our Reign.
Private document held by George Monsson; on loan to the University of Colorado, Boulder
Transcribed by Ingrid Nelson and Freya Jackson
April 2004
Document:
Devise of land by John and Mabell Huntley to Hugh Huntley, their son
Date: 1 January 1577/8
Physical description:
Material: vellum
Size: 15 5/8” x 10 3/4”
Two pendant seals, one fragmentary
Language: English
Transcription:
To all trew Chr[ist]ian People to whome this present writinge shall come John Huntley of
Harscombe* in the Countye of the Cittie of Gloucester gentleman and Mabell his wife send gretinge in our lord god everlastinge know ye the said John Huntley and Mabell his wife for divers good causes and considerac[i]ons them moveinge to have given graunted assigned and sett over and by these p[re]sent[es] do give graunt assigne and sett over unto Hughe Huntley Sonne of the said John and Mabell his executors and assignes All the estate right title use interest possessione estate and terme of yeres w[hi]ch the said John and Mabell or one of them hath or have or of right ought to have of and in all that
messuage Tenement and meadow pleck** w[i]th thapp[er]tinanc[es] now in the tenure or occupac[i]one of the said John Huntley sett lieinge and beinge in Harscombe aforesaid in the said Countye of the Cittie of Gloucester Together w[i]th one other meadow grounde or pastuer w[i]th thapp[er]tinanc[es] in Harscombe aforesaid com[m]onlie cauled and
knowen by the name of the hither Vernehill now or late in the tenure or occupac[i]on of the said John Huntley and shewtinge nere unto the Churchyard there and together w[i]th the errable Land or pastuer adioyinge to the same cauled the New lease conteyinge by estimacon tenn acres And allso of and in all that p[ar]cell of ground or pastuer w[i]th thapp[er]tina[u]nc[es] cauled the Lane sett Lieinge and beinge in Harscombe aforesaid shewtinge from the foresaid hither vernehill gate to the Churchhowse there And allso of and in all and singuler the howses and all manner of edific[es] and building[es] in or uppone the p[re]misses And allso of and in two meadowe groundes Lieinge together cauled the Parke meadow in Harscombe aforesaid conteyinge by estimac[i]on Seven
acres And allso of and in one Pastuer ground cauled great Pulleys Horne late Coppie Hould Land and now in the tenure or occupac[i]one of the said John Huntley adioyneinge to the fild cauled Combfild And allso of and in two acres of errable Land or pastuer Lieinge in Harsfild in the Countie of Gloucester in the Lea sow cauled the New
Lease now or late in the tenure or occupac[i]one of the said John Huntley Provided allwaies that if the said John Huntley and Mabell his wife or one of them shall tender or paie or cause to be tendered or paid unto the said Hugh Huntley his executors or assignes at anie tyme hereafter uppon anye Sondaie betwene the howers of Eight and Eleven of the Clock before none at the now Dwellinge howse of the said John Huntley
or at the place where the said Howse now standeth in Harscombe aforesaid Five shilling[es] of Currante Englishe money that then these present[es] and all and everye thinge and thing[es] herein conteyned shalbe void and of none effect anie thinge herein conteyned to the contrary not w[i]th standinge And that then and from thenceforth
it shalbe lawfull unto the said John and Mabell and every of them into the p[re]misses before by these present[es] assigned to reenter and the same to have againe repossed and enioye as in their former estate anie thinge before menc[i]oned to the contrarye not w[i]thstandinge In witnes whereof the said John Huntley and Mabell his wife
to these p[re]sent[es] have sett their Seales yeven the First Daie of Januarye in the Twentith yere of the
raigne of our Soveraigne Ladye Elizabeth by the grace of god of England Fraunce and Irelande Quene
Defendor of the faith &c
<different hand> by me John Huntley
<back>
Sealed & delivered in the p[re]sence
of Edwarde Perte
Henrie Watkines
Richarde Freeme
Roberte [Paine or Pame] w[i]th oothers
<sideways> John Huntley & Mabell
their assigment to
Hugh Huntley their
sonne
-1-Ja-20 e[li]z
*Harscombe: Probably an obsolete spelling of the modern Harescombe
**pleck, n.1.: a small piece or spot of ground; a plot or plat; a small enclosure (OED)
Plume OS MS 349
Transcribed by Shari Curtis and Sharon Shafer
April 2004
Document:
Date of document: 17th October 1485
Places concerning: Lepton and Rowley, Yorkshire
Language: English
Size:
Width--top: 28 cm, bottom: 27.5
Height--highest point: 21.6 cm,lowest point 19.3 cm
1.2-2 cm folded over on the bottom
Creases indicate that it has been folded:
4 folds horizontally (including bottom)
3 folds vertically
Writings on dorse:
In blue ink:
In pencil:
Yorks
lepton
MP102
Summary: This document is an indenture between William Hagh and John and Margery Dronsfeld, concerning the marriage between William’s daughter, Alice, and John’s son, Thomas. It settles on them household goods, lands, and fiefs in Lepton and Rowley, Yorkshire.
Transcription:
This indentur made xvij day of Octob[e]r in the yere of the reigne of Kyng henry the vij aftir the conquest first betwix William
hagh upon the oon p[ar]tie & John Dronsfeld upon the otheir p[ar]tie witnes at Thom[a]s son & heir apparant to the said John
sall be the g[ra]ce of gode wede & take to wyfe Alice the doghter of the said William & hir to wede afore the fest of
all halowes next co[m]myng. The said John sall make or do to be made asuer & a sufficyaunt astate to the said Thom[a]s
& Alice & to the heirez of his body laghfully begotyn of vj s viij d ov[er] all charges & reprises in & of a
mease of lande liggyng withyn the Tounship of Lepon in the haldyng of Richard Dikson and for defaute of
issue betwix the said Thom[a]s & Alice laghfully begotyn the remayndr theire of to remayn to the said John
& to his heirez for ev[er] & also the said John sall not alyene sall encumber nor put away nor do nothyng at schuld
count[er]feit alienac[i]on of thoys landez & ten[ame]ntez nor of no p[ar]cell of thiam the which descend unto hym after the decesse of
John Dronsfeld the elder fader of the said John yonger bot holy to descend to the said Thom[a]s & Alice & to the heirez
of their too bodys laghfully begotyn immediatly aftir the decesse of the said John Dronsfeld yonger fader of the said
Thom[a]s: Also the said John sall enfeffe Thom[a]s Birton S[ir] William Wode Adam hirst & S[ir] William marschall in all hys
measez landes & ten[ame]ntez at he has in Lepton & Rowley to this entent at thay sall make astate to the said Thom[a]s &
Alice & to the heirez of their too bodys laghfully begotyn And for defaute of issue of the said Thom[a]s & Alice to turne to
the right heirez of the said John & to their heirez for ev[er]: And more ov[er] the said Thom[a]s & Alice sall aftir this feffemente
done & made unto thiam sall make astate for t[er]me of lyve to the said John & to hys assignez: And also at is agreid at
the forsaid William sall be bondyn be obligac[i]on & sufficyaunte suerte with hyme at if it happyn Thom[a]s son & heir
of the said John to decesse afore hys fader at theyn Alice the doghter of the said William sall not clayme no
thirde p[ar]te of no landez nor ten[ame]ntez of the said John duryng his lyve: For the which mariage in the man[er] & forme to
be hade the said William sall paye or make to be payed to the said John & Thom[a]s or to their assignez xx m[ar]c[es]
of usuell money of Englond in this forme that is to say x m[ar]c[es] of usuell money to the said John & Thom[a]s at the
day of the mariage or before And otheir x m[ar]c[es] withyn the yere theyn next folloyng the date of the day of
the mariage: Also the said William sall make the costage & arraye his doghter on bake & chaumbre as it may be honeste
for hym to delyv[er] hir & the said Thom[a]s to take hir: Also it is agreid at if it happyn the said John Dronsfeld to
decesse afore marg[er]e his wyfe at theyn immediatly aftir his decesse the ^said^ marg[er]e to reyose & occupye hir thirde
p[ar]te restfully accordyng to the lagh duryng hir lyve In witness hereof the p[ar]tez abovyn wretyn to the p[ar]tez of theys
indenturs ent[er]chongeable han setts their sealx day & the yere afore rehersed
Private document held by George Monsson; on loan to the University of Colorado, Boulder
Transcribed by Ben Deneault and Nikolas Hoel
April 2004
Document:
This document is an indenture from 1631 between Robert Conyers, esq., of Hutton Bonville, York, and Robert Butler of Furnivals Inn, London, and Thomas Bell of London, gent. The document measures 24cm x 42cm, and has a red pendent seal. Written in English, the body of the document is in a clear Secretary hand; the dorse contains writing in a larger Chancery hand.
Transcription:
This Indenture made the One and twentith day of January in the seaventh yeare of the
raigne of our soveraigne Lord
Charles by the grace of God Kinge of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of
the ffaith etc[etera] Betweene Robert Conyers of huton al[ia]s
hutton upon Wiske al[ia]s huton Bonvile in the Countie of yorke* Esquier of the
one parte And Robert Butler of ffurnivalls Inne London gent[leman] and Thomas
Bell
of London gent[leman] of the other parte witnesseth that the said Robert Conyers for and
in Considerac[i]on of the sum[m]e of Five shilling[es] of lawfull money
of England to him in hand paid att or before thensealing and deliverie hereof by the said
Robert Butler and Thomas Bell or one of them As alsoe
to the intent that a good and p[er]fect recoverie may be had and executed of and
concerning the lands and tenement[es] hereafter in theis p[rese]nt[es]
menc[i]oned against the
said Robert Butler and Thomas Bell wherein they the said Robert Butler and
Thomas Bell may vouch the aforesaid Robert Conyers whoe
may alsoe vouch over the Com[m]on vouchee whereby he the said Robert Conyers may
become and be Ten[au]nt of the ffee simple of all the mannor land[es] &
tenement[es] hereafter menc[i]oned and all former entayles thereof may be clearelie cutt
off hath graunted bargayned sould, alyened enfeoffed and
Confirmed And by theis p[rese]nt[es] doth graunt bargayne sell alien enfeoffe and
confirme unto the said Robert Butler and Thomas ^Bell^ All that his
Mannor, Towne, and Lordshipp of huton al[ia]s hutton upon Wiske al[ia]s huton Bonvile
in the said Countie of yorke with all the Right[es] members
and appurten[au]nc[es] thereof And alle and singuler the mesuages, houses, building[es],
mylnes, Toft[es], Croft[es], and inclosed ground[es], land[es], tenement[es]
meadowes, pastures, wood[es], underwood[es], wast[es], moores, Co[m]mons,
Co[m]mons of pasture, Co[m]mons of Estovers and of turbary, pond[es], Stagnes, waters
Streames, watercourses, ffishing[es], Court[es] leet[es], viewes of ffranckpledge,
Court[es] baron, proffitt[es] and p[er]quisitt[es] of Court[es], ffrancheses, liberties
priviledges, proffitt[es], wages easment[es] and hereditament[es] unto the said Mannor
Towne lordshipp mesuages, land[es] and premisse[es] or to anie of
them belonging or in any wise appertayneinge And all and everie other the land[es]
tenement[es] and hereditament[es] w[i]thin the towneshipp of
huton upon Wiske aforesaid or w[i]thin the parish of Birkby in the said County of yorke
by the said Robert Conyers by deed Indented
bearing date the eighteenth day of September in the sixth yeare of his Ma[jes]t[es] reigne
that now is bargayned and sould unto the right hono[ura]ble
Robert Earle of Kingston upon hull for and dureing the terme of five hundred yeares
w[i]th their and every of their appurten[au]nc[es] And the
Reverc[i]on and Reverc[i]ons remaynder and remaynders of all and singuler the said
mannor Towne lordshipp mesuag[es] land[es] and pr[e]misse[es]
before herein menc[i]oned to be hereby graunted w[i]th all and singuler the
app[u]rten[au]nc[es] To have & to hould the aforesaid mannor
Towne Lordshipp and all and singuler other the premisse[es] hereby graunted bargayned
and sould or menc[i]oned to be hereby graunted
bargayned and sould w[i]th their and every of their appurten[au]nc[es] unto the said
Robert Butler and Thomas Bell their heires and
assignes for ever To the onelie use and behoof of them the said Robert Butler and
Thomas Bell their heires and
assignes for evermore In witnes whereof the said partie[es] to theis p[rese]nt[es]
interchangeblie have putt to theire hands and
Seales the day and yeare first above wrytten Anno d[omi]ni 1631 ./
Recoguit Coram me Johe Mychell mil[iti] in Cancell[arii]
Mag[ist]ro 3o ffebr[uarij] 1631
Jo[hn] Mychell
On flap: Ro: Conyer[es]
On dorse, in a second hand:
Sealed and delivered in the p[rese]nce
of Jam[es] Brown
W[illia]m Tayleare
Anthony Barker
On dorse, in a third hand:
M[aste]r Coonyer[es] deed
To Butler and
Bell.
On dorse, in a fourth (Chancery) hand:
In dors’ claus’ cancellar’
infrascript’ domini Regis
tercio die ffebruarij
anno infrasarpt’
per Thomam Stanley
Conyers
et
Butler
*Now simply called Hutton Bonville
Plume Hayes MS 158
Transcribed by Susan M. Cogan and Jochen Manning Lebek
April 2004
Document:
Summary: This document is an indenture between John Palmer and Robert Bromsall, wherein Palmer has sold a portion of land to Bromsall for the sum of £13. The land in question is a close and grovage in the town of Kinwicke, in the parish of Sandy, in Bedford county. Dated 1636.
Measurements:
Bottom width: 35 cm
Top width: 35.9 cm
Left side: 18 cm
Right side: 18cm
Language: English
Transcription:
To all christian people to whome this deede Indented shall Come John Palmer of Sandey in the Countie of Bedforde
Gardiner send[es] greetinge in our Lord God everlastinge Knowe yee hereby that I the saide John Palmer in Consideration of
the some of thirteene pound[es] of lawfull English money to me in hand paide before the
ensealeing of theis pr[e]sent[es] by Robert Bromsall the younger of Sandey aforesaide singleman, the saide John Palmer
hath given granted bargained & solde and by theise pr[e]sent[es] doth ffreely and Clearely give graunt bargaine & sell unto the
saide Robert Bromsall his heires and assignes for ever All that his Closse or grovage in kinwicke in the p[ar]ish of Sandey
in the Countie of Bedforde aforesaide w[i]thall & singuler the woode & underwoode & all other the app[er]ten[en]ces what soever to the
same Closse or grovage belonginge or in any wise app[er]taineinge, The w[hi]ch Closse or grovage aforesaide is scittuate & lyeth in
kinwicke aforesaide betweene the Closse or pasture of the Right hono[ra]ble Henry Lord Spenser on the East p[ar]te & the Closse
of Robert Underwoode on the west p[ar]te And the North hed therof abbuteth upon the lane Caled Kinwicke lane & the south
hed therof abbuteth uppon the saide Closse or pasture of the Right hono[ra]ble Henry Lord Spenser aforesaide To have & to
hold the saide Closse or grovage w[i]thall & singuler the woode & underwoode and all other the app[er]ten[en]ces, p[ro]fitt[es] & Comodities unto the
saide Robert Bromsall his Heires & Assignes for ever, to & for the only use & behoofe of the saide Robert Bromsall his heires
& Assignes for ever, And the saide John Palmer for him his heires Executors & Assignes, Covenanteth & graunteth to & w[i]th the saide
Robert Bromsall his heires Executors & Assignes by theise p[re]sent[es] that the saide Robert Bromsall his heires & Assignes & ev[er]ie of
them shall or maye at all times for ever hereafter lawfully, peaceablie & quietly have hold & enjoye the saide Closse & grovage before
bargained & sold w[i]thout any let, trouble, eviction, expulsion, or molestation, of or by the saide John Palmer his heires or Assignes
or of
or by any other p[er]son or p[er]sons whatsoever, And the saide John Palmer for the Considerac[i]on aforesaide doth by theise
pr[e]sent[es] bind him
& his heires to warrant & defend the saide Closse & grovage herein menc[i]oned to be bargained & solde unto the saide Robert
Bromsall
his heires & Assignes for ever, against him selfe the saide John Palmer his heires & Assignes & against all people of the world. In
Witnes whereof to this deede Indented the saide John Palmer his hand & seale hath sett, Dated the tenth daye of ffeabruarie in
the yeares of the Raigne of our gratious Kinge Charles of England Scotland ffrance & Ireland the twelfe, Anno q[ue] D[o]mini, 1636
(On Fold:)
Sig[nu]m John Palmer
Fragment of a wax seal attached
(Dorse:)
Sealed and delivered & peaceable & quiet possession
was given of the Closse & grovage and all other
the p[re]misses w[i]thin wrighten & that accordinge to
the true meaneinge of this deede in the pr[e]sent[es] of
us Robert Bromsall
William
the m[a]rke
of
Summers
Davide
the m[a]rke of
ffreman
Plume OS MS 354
Transcribed by Katie Conway and Chris Moreno
April 2004
Indenture in English 1680
Document:
This document is an indenture dividing Whitburn Moore near Cleadon in the county of Durham. The primary persons concerned in this indenture are George Gray, Richard Martyn, Richard Plumpton, Thomas Wood, John Carr, Josyas Dockwray, Margaret Bambrigg, Isabell Bambrigg, Cuthbert Bambrigg, Edward Preston, William Hutchinson, Elianor Johnson, Mary White, Isabell Maxwell, Elianor Maxwell, Edward Maxwell, William Colson, John Bell, Sarah Letteny, John Letteny, George Wright, John Wright, Thomas Wright, John Taylor, Thomas Chambers, Faye Chambers, Jane Chambers, and John Welsh.
The document is written in English in italic hand, neatly written, and easy to read. It is written on parchment and consists of 92 lines of script with 23 lines of script on the attached insert.
This document measures 31 3/4" wide by 30" long with an attached insert at the bottom of the document measuring 30 3/4" wide by 9" long.
The document was written in 1680 and witnessed by John Hutchinson, Thomas Mascall Junior, and William Atkinson.
All or part of four wax seals lie at the bottom of the document bearing the names of George Gray, Richard Maxwell, Richard Plumpton, and Thomas Wood. The top of the document has indented cuts.
The dorse side of the document has two separate areas of writing. One is the description of the document on the outermost fold. The second area details the seals and signatures of the greive of Whitburn Moore and the surveyor along with a memoramdum regarding highways leading through the allotments of the land divisions.
Transcription:
Indenture in English 1680 (transcribed through line 67 of 115 lines including attached insert)
To all Chr[ist]ian people to whom this p[re]sent writeing of Award indented shall come George Gray of Suddictk in the Countie of Durham gentleman Richard Martyn of Fulwell in the said Countie gentleman Richard Plumpton
of East Boldon in the said Countie gentleman and Thomas Wood of Cleadon in the said Countie gentleman send greeting in our Lord God everlasting Whereas John Carr of Whitburne in the Countie of Durham aforesaid gentleman
Josias Dockwray doctor of Lawes of Newburne in the Countie of Northumberland George Harrison of Sunderland near the Sea in the said Countie of Durham gentleman Margaret Bambrigg Edward Preston William Hutchinson Elianor Johnson
widow Mary White widow late the wife of William Atkinson deceased Isabell Maxwell widow John Bell Sarah Letteny George Wright John Wright, Thomas Wright John Taylor Cuthbert Bambrigg Thomas Chambers ^ Isabell Bambrigg Faye Chambers ^ Elianor Maxwell
Ralph Lumley Margarett Burne widow Mary Wright John Welsh William Colson William Atkinson Thomas Chambers being all Copy holders and Cuthbert Bambrigg Freeholder there are and stand seized as tenants in
Co[m]mon by copy of Court Roll according to the Custome of the Mannor of Chester in the said Countie of Durham or of some joynt Estate or otherwise of some undivided Estate of and in certaine parcells of ground called the Moores
and West Meadowes lyeing and being within the Towneshipp of Whitburne within the said Mannor of Chester And alsoe whereas the said John Carr Josyas Dockwray George Harrison Margaret Bambrigg Edward
Preston William Hutchinson Elianor Johnson Mary White Isabell Maxwell John Bell Sarah Letteny George White John Wright Thomas Wright John Taylor Cuthbert Bambrigg Thomas Chambers Isabell Bambrigg, Jane
Chambers Elianor Maxwell Ralph Lumley Margaret Burne Mary Wright John Welsh William Colson, William Atkinson, & Thomas Chambers by their writeing of Submission under their severall hands and Seales bearing date the fourth
day of September last past did submitt them selves for the division of all and sing[u]lar the said p[re]missses unto the finall Award Judgement and determination of us the said George Gray Richard Martyn Richard Plumpton and Thomas Wood
Arbitrators indifferently elected and chosen by all the said partyes to Allott sett out divide setle and order a full and compleat division of the before mentioned Lands and tenements and p[re]misses according to our or any three of our discrition
and Judgements And thereby did likewise impower us the said Arbitrators or any three of us to nominate order and appoint a Surveyor to Survey all the said Lands and p[re]misses in order to the makeing and compleating ^ the said ^ division and allotting and
setting out to each person concerned therein his and their ratable share part and proportion therein Provided such Award of division of all and sing[u]lar the said p[re]misses should be made at or before the eleaventh day of May instant as by the said writeing
of Submission relation being thereunto had the same doth and may more fully and at large appeare And likewise whereas wee the said Arbitrators in pursueance of the said Authority Soe to us given by the said writeing of Submission did elect appointe
nominate and choose Robert Leighton of Shotton in the said Countie of Durham yeoman a person well Skilled in the Art of Surveying to take a Survey of all and Sing[u]lar the said Lands and tenements in the said writeing of Submission mentioned which hee the
said Robert Leighton hath since the tyme of his said Election accordingly done Now know yee that wee the said Arbitrators haveing taken upon us the Burthen of the said Award And alsoe haveing veiwed all and sing[u]lar the said p[re]misses and haveing
had diligent regard and respect to the severall Allotments to the severall Persons hereafter mentioned and haveing had respect as well to the quantaty as quality of all the said Lands and p[re]misses hereby and hereafter to the severall persons allotted according
to his and their severall and respective proportionable parts and shares therein, and alsoe haveing deliberately heard all the Allegations and objections of all the said partyes touching their severall Allotments hereby Awarded unto them in respect recompence and Leiw
of their respective interests in the said p[re]misses As alsoe haveing upon mature delib[er]ation considered of every persons perticular interest in the said p[re]misses haveing had a due regard to quantaty and quality and other matters touching the said division doe hereby
make declaire and putt into writeing under our hands and Seales this our Award finall determination and Judgem[en]t of upon and concerning all and sing[u]lar the said p[re]misses in manner and forme following And First wee doe Award allott and sett forth in
severalty unto John Taylor and his sequalls for and in liew and full satisfaction of all his clayme Title interest and demand of in or unto the said parcells of ground called the Moore and West Meadowes One Acre two roods and eleaven polls of Land
boundering on the towne streete on the East the towne feilds on the North and South and the Lands of John Wright on the west as the same is now divided allotted and sett forth by meets and bounds And wee doe alsoe Award that the said John Taylor
and his sequells in jure and Assignes shall for ever hereafter make maintaine and repaire the hedges and Fences of the South Moity of the Hedge betwixt him and John Wright Item wee doe Award allott and setforth in severalty unto John Wright
and his sequells in jure for and in liew and full satisfaction of in and to the said parcells of ground called the Moores and west Meadowes Twentie nine Acres two roods and fifteen pearches of Land boundering upon John Taylor and the Parsons Close on the ~
East Fulwell feilds on the South, the Land[es] of Margaret Bambrigg on the west And the towne feild on the North And wee doe alsoe Award that the said John Wright and his sequells in jure and Assignes shall for ever hereafter make maintaine and
repaire the North moity of the Hedge between the Lands of him the said John Wright and the Lands of John Taylor and alsoe the South moity of the Hedge of the Lands lyeing between him the said John Taylor and the Lands of Margarett Bambrigg Item wee doe
Award allott and setforth in severalty unto Margaret ^ and Isabell ^ Bambrigg widows for and dureing the tearme of their natarall lifes, and after their deaths, to the heires and sequells in jure of Cuthbert Bambrigg deceased for and in liew and full satisfaction of their and ^ every of ^ their interest
of in and to the said parcells of ground called the Moores and west meadowes thirtie two Acres two roods and thirtie six poles of land, (that is to Say) In the Moore Twentie five acres one rood and eight poles boundering upon the Lands of John
Wright on the East Fulwell feilds on the South the Lands of Edward Preston on the west and the Townefeild on the North as the same is now setforth and divided And wee doe order and Award that the said Margaret ^ and Isabell ^ Bambrigg and the heires
of the said Cuthbert Bambrigg shall for ever hereafter make repaire and uphold the North moity of the East hedge between the Lands of the said Margarett ^ and Isabell ^ and the Lands of John Wright And the South moity of the hedge between them and Edward Preston
Alsoe wee doe further Award Allott and settforth in severalty unto the said Margaret ^ and Isabell ^Bambrigg for the tyme of their naturall lifes and afterwards to the heires of Cuthbert Bambrigg for and in liew and full satisfaction of their and ^ every of ^ their interest in the said
Moores and west Meadowes Seaven Acres one rood & twentie eight poles of Land lyeing in the west Meadowes boundering on the Lands of John Carr on the west the Lands of George Wright on the North the Lands of George Harrison and Thomas Chambers
on the East and the Lands of John Welsh on the South as the same is now setforth and divided And wee doe further Award that the said Margarett ^ and Isabell ^ Bambrigg and the heires of the said Cuthbert Bambrigg shall for ever hereafter make maintaine & repaire
one Moity of the North hedge one Moity of the East hedge and one moity of the South ^ hedge ^ of the
said Allotted p[re]misses Item wee doe order Award Allott and setforth in severalty unto
Edward Preston and his sequells for and in liew and in full satisfaction of his right
and interest of in and to the said parcells of grounds called the Moores and west meadowes nineteen acres and thirtie & ^ one ^ poles of Land ^ in the Moore aforesaid ^ boundering on the Lands of Margarett and Isabell Bambrigg on the East, Fulwell grounds on the South, the Lands of John Carr on the west and Cleadon
ground[es] on the North as the same is now setforth and divided And wee doe further order and Award that the said Edward Preston and his sequells shall for ever hereafter repaire maintaine and uphold the North Moity of the Hedge between him the said Edward
Preston and the Lands of Margaret ^ and Isabell ^ Bambrigg, and the South Moity of the west hedge between the Lands of the said Edward Preston and the Lands of John Carr gentleman Item wee doe order award and setforth in severalty unto John Carr gent[leman] & his sequells
in jure for and in liew and full satisfaction of his right title and interest of in and to the said parcells of grounds called the Moores and west Meadowes seaventie and one acres & thirtie and foure poles of Land boundering on the Lands of Edward Preston on the East
Fulwell grounds on the South the Lands of John Welsh on the West and Cleadon grounds on the North as the same is now setforth and divided And wee doe further Award that the said John Carr and his sequells shall for ever hereafter make repaire and
maintaine the North Moity of the East hedge lyeing between the grounds of the said John Carr and the Land of the said Edward Preston, and alsoe the South Moity of the west hedge between the Lands of him the said John Carr and the Land of him the said John Welsh Item wee
doe Award Allott and setforth in severalty unto John Welsh and the sequells in jure of Thomas - Roxby deceased for and in liew and full satisfaction of all his right title and interest of in and unto the said parcells of ground called the Moores and west Meadowes twentie three
acres one rood and thirteen pearches of Land (that is to Say) in the Moore sixteen acres two roods and thirtie pearches boundering upon the Lands of John Carr gent[tleman] of the East Fulwell grounds on the South, the Lands of Widow Johnson on the west and Cleadon
grounds on the North as the same is now setforth and divided And wee doe order and Award that the said John Welsh and the sequells in jure of the said Thomas Roxby shall for ever hereafter make repaire and maintaine the North Moity of the East hedge between
the said John Welsh and the said John Carr and the South Moity of the west hedge between the grounds of him the said John Welsh and the said widow Johnson Alsoe wee doe order Award and setforth in severalty unto the said John Welsh and the heires of the said
Thomas Roxby six acres two roods and twentie three poles of Land lyeing in the west meadowes boundering on the Lands of the said John Carr on the west the Lands of Margaret and Isabell Bambrigg on the North the Lands of George Harrison and Thomas Chambers
on the East and South And wee doe order and Award that the said John Welsh and the heires of the said Thomas Roxby shall for ever hereafter repaire uphold and maintaine one Moity of the North and East Hedges and alsoe all the old hedge at the South
end of his fall or allotment there and shall sett and maintaine a Gate in the said Hedge Item wee doe order Award and setforth in severalty unto Elianor Johnson widow for the tearme of her life and afterwards to the heires of Robert Johnson her late husband
deceased for and in liew and full satisfaction of her and their right title and interest of in and to the said parcells of ground called the Moore and west meadows nineteen acres and thirtie seaven poles of Land (that is to say) in the Moore sixteen acres three roods and twentie
nine pearches of Land boundering on the Lands of John Welsh on the East Fulwell ground on the South the Lands of Sarah Letteny on the west and Cleadon ground[es] on the North as the same is now setforth and divided And alsoe wee doe further order award & setforth
in severalty unto the said Elianor Johnson and the heires of the said Robert Johnson two acres one rood and eight pearches of Land ^ in the west meadowes ^ as the same is now setforth and divided Item wee doe order award and setforth in severalty unto Sarah Letteny and to the heires of John
Letteny deceased for and in liew and full recompence and satisfaction of her and their interest of in and to the said Moores and west meadowes sixteen acres and thirtie seaven poles of Land (that is to say) in the moore fourteen acres two roods and thirtie two poles
of Land boundering on the Lands of widdow Johnson on the East Fulwell grounds on the South the Land[es] of widow Maxwell on the west Cleadon grounds on the North And wee doe further ^ order ^ and Award that the said Sarah Letteny and the heires of the said
John Letteny shall for ever hereafter repaire uphold and maintaine the North moity of the hedge between the Lands of the said Sarah and the Lands of Elianor Johnson, and the South moity of the west hedge between the Lands of the said Sarah and
widow Maxwell And wee doe further order award and setforth in severalty unto the said Sarah Letteny and the heires of the said John Letteny one acre two roods and five pearches of Land lyeing in the west meadowes as the same is now setforth
and divided Item wee order Award and setforth in severalty unto Isabell and Elianor Maxwell and to the heires ^ and sequells of Edward Maxwell ^ for and in liew and full satisfaction of their respective interests of in and to the said parcells of ground called the Moores and west
Meadowes two and twentie and two poles (that is to say) in the Moore nineteen acres two roods and thirtie foure poles Land boundering of the Lands of Sarah Letteny on the East Fulwell grounds on the South the Lands of William Colson and Thomas
Chambers on the west and Cleadon grounds on the North as the same is now setforth and divided And wee doe further order and Award Isabell and Elianor Maxwell and the sequells in jure ^ of Edward Maxwell ^ shall for ever hereafter repaire maintaine and uphold the North moitye of
the East hedge between them the said Isabell and Elianor and the Lands of Sarah Letteny and the South moity of the west hedge between them and William Colson and Thomas Chambers Alsoe wee doefurther Award allott and setforth unto the said Isabell and
Elianor Maxwell and the heires ^ of the said Edward ^ two acres one rood and Eight poles of Land lyeing in the west meadowes as the same is now setforth and divided Item wee doe order Allott Award and setforth in severalty unto William Colson and Thomas ^ & Jane ^ Chambers
and their heires for and in liew of their right title and interest of in and to the said parcell of ground called the Moore and west meadowes fortie acres and thirtie nine poles of Land (That is to Say) in the Moore thirtie six acres one rood and twentie five
Poles of Land boundering on the Lands of Widow Maxwell on the East Fulwell grounds on the South the Lands of George Harrison and Thomas Chambers on the west and the west meadowes on the North as the same is now setforth and divided And wee doe further order
and Award That the said William Colson Thomas Chambers and their sequells in jure shall for ever hereafter repaire uphold and maintaine the North moity of the East hedge between the Lands of the said William Colson and Thomas Chambers and the Lands of widow
Maxwell, and the South moity of the west hedge between them and George Harrison and Thomas Chambers And wee doe further order Award Allott and setforth in severalty unto the said William Colson and Thomas ^ & Jane ^ Chambers and their heires three acres three roods
and fourteen poles of Land lyeing in the west meadowes as the same is now setforth and divided
[transcription of last two lines of MS bearing the witness statement]:
In Witnes whereof wee have hereunto sett our hands and seales the sixth day of May
In the two and thirtieth yeare of the reigne of our soveraigne Lord Charles the second by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith eTc[etera] Annoq[ue] d[om]ini 1680
Dorse side transcription:
Outermost script (on the top fold of the document)
Division of Whitburn Moor 1680
Moor & West Meadow
G[eo]r[g]e Grey
R[ic]h[ar]d Martin
Script on dorse side of main script:
Signed sealed and published
in the p[re]sence of
Jo[hn]: Hutchinson
Thom[as]: Mascall Jun[ior]
William Atkinson
The marke of
Cuthbert [his mark] Chambers
Greive of Whitburne
Rob[ert] Leighton Surveyor
Memorand[um] That before the ensealing and delivery of this our Award wee the said co[m]missioners w[i]thin named doe order and Award That there shall be a highway of the breadth of two & twentie y[a]rd[es] leading from Whitburne Loaning end unto Mear greengate and one other high way leading from Cleadon to Fulwell & one other high way called Suddick or Simonsyde way shall both be of the breadth of eleaven yeard[es] And wee further order That if any of the partyes w[i]thin ment[i]oned where any of the said wayes lead through their respective allottments shall infringe or lessen the said wayes or any of them shallbe hereby ordered to maintaine & repaire the same at his & their respective costs & charges
Georg[e] Gray
Richard Martin
Richard Plumpton
Tho[mas]: Wood
Letter of Confirmation (13th Cent.)
Monsson 2
Transcribed and Researched by John Stephan Edwards
Summer 2004
This small Latin document is a letter of confirmation issued by the Dean and Chapter of Hereford Cathedral giving their assent to two grants of episcopal lands made by the Bishop of Hereford to the priory at Little Malvern in neighboring Worcestershire.
Document:
Brown ink on lined vellum, 213mm x 71mm, including a 24mm folded lower edge.
Seal (see below) attached to lower margin by decorated looped leather ribbon 13mm in width and 30mm in length.
Seal:
Ovoid, 80mm x 64mm, impressed on one side only, red wax, central depiction of a church with two spires. Some fragmentation of edges, with modern glue and tape repair. Impressed fingerprints are noted on the reverse of the seal, possibly ancient. Lettered border with partial legend: (damaged ETHE )LBERTHEREFORDIENS*ECC[LESIE] (damaged SI )GILLU[M] * SL(damaged)XLAS(damaged).
Verso:
Co[n]firmaco[n] capitu[li] h[ere]ford
Sup[er] t[err]a ??rnald (?ruald)
CCCXXXV .iiij.
in pencil in modern hand : Bag. 2 and 1535 Henry 8th ?
Recto:
Omnib[u]s sancte mat[ri]s Eccl[es]ie filijs ad quos p[er]uen[er]it h[ic] sc[ri]ptura
Decanus [et] Capit[u]l[u]m Her[e]ford. et[er]nam in d[omi]no Sal[u]t[e]m.
Univ[er]sitati L[ett]re
notum facimus Nos ratam habere [et] gratam ratific[i]onem [et] conmfirmac[i]onem
g[rata]m Venerabil[is] pat[er] [et] d[omi]n[u]s noster Card[inalis].
dei gr[ati]a Her[e]ford Ep[iscopu]s fecit Car[dina]lie [et] monachis minoris maluer[n]ii
sup[er] assartis de la Dirfaud [et] sup[er] toto tenemento suo
[et] terra de Horton. cum suis p[er]tinentijs Vniv[er]sis. Uolentes g[ratam] prefatam
ratificat[i]onem [et] confirmat[i]onem in om[n]ib[u]s
[et] singul[is] sup[er] p[re]dictis debite firmitatis robur optinere eam ex pura [et] certa
conscient[i]a de nostro consensu Vna=
nimi iux[ta] tenorem ducentia memorati d[omi]ni Episcopi p[re]senti sc[ri]pto
roborauimus [et] confirmauimus. Valet[e].
Translation:
Verso:
Confirmation by the Hereford Chapter
Over the land ??
335 4
Recto:
To all sons of holy mother Church to whom this letter shall come, the Deacon and Chapter of Hereford send Greetings in the Eternal Lord. By this Letter we make known to All that We consider the ratification and confirmation to the Venerable father and our lord Cardinal valid and agreed. By the grace of God the Bishop of Hereford has granted to the Cardinal and to the monks of Little Malvern [control] over the assarts (i.e. cleared lands) of de la Dirfaud and over all its tenements and the land of Horton with All of its appurtenances. Wishing the agreed aforesaid ratification and confirmation to retain the appropriate full force in all and singular [ways] over the aforesaid [properties], with clear and certain knowledge [and] Unanimous in our consent we do strengthen and confirm it by the present document according to the tenure of the leading above mentioned lord Bishop. Farewell.
Historical Context:
This document is almost certainly very early 13th century in origin, based on an assessment of the handwriting, style of abbreviations, and especially the content of the document.
The letter is from the Dean and Chapter of Hereford in support of a contemporary letter of confirmation and ratification made by the then Bishop of Hereford, Giles de Braose (bp. 1200-1215). Bishop Giles' associated letter confirmed and reinforced a grant of lands made some years previous by Giles' predecessor, William de Vere (Bishop of Hereford,1186-1200), to the monastic priory of Little Malvern, east of the city of Hereford on the border between Hereford and Worcester counties. The original charter grant is noted in the History of the County of Worcester , Vol. 2.
The size, design, and legend of the seal match exactly a seal pictured in A Concise Listing of Seals Belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Hereford Cathedral (Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club, Herefordshire, 1966), seal A233, plate 2. That seal is dated to ca. 1190. That particular seal design, called the ancient building design, was used from the late 12th to the late 14th centuries and was specifically a chapter seal.
The Cardinal referred to in this document is almost certainly Stephen Langton, the only Cardinal resident in England at any point during the early thirteenth century. He was created Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church by Pope Innocent III in March 1206, so that this letter must date to some time after that but before Bishop Giles' death in November 1215. Langton was later made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1207. It was this later appointment that led to the famous conflict between King John and Langton and the Church, resulting in England being placed under papal interdict for six years. Langton died in 1228.
Because both Bishop Giles and Cardinal-Archbishop Langton were absent from England during much of the period of interdict (and allied in the conflict with John), and both returned to England only in late 1214, this document may date from the period between their return and the death of Giles in late 1215. As such, this document is contemporaneous with Magna Carta. Bishop Giles and Cardinal Langton were also signatories of Magna Carta.
Hereford Cathedral is properly known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint Ethelbert the King at Hereford (thus the seal's legend: Ethelbert Herefordensis Ecclesie) and has always been one of England 's pre-eminent cathedrals. The first Christian church on the site may have been built as early as 542 CE. Hereford became a diocesan seat in 676, and the first cathedral under the current name was begun around 825 CE. It was intended to surround the tomb of the Saxon King Ethelbert, who was murdered in 793. The cathedral was rebuilt in 1012 and again in 1079 (after the church of 1012 burned in 1055). The modern cathedral consists largely of extensive renovations and additions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. The extant central square tower was begun sometime after 1349 and was topped by a spire. The chapter seal attached to Monsson 2 shows only a central spire, without a square a tower, suggesting that the seal was created before that date (see above). The narrow west tower depicted on the seal of Monsson 2 collapsed on Easter Monday, 1786. The Diocese of Hereford celebrated its 1300th anniversary in 1976, and the Cathedral Chapter and the office of Dean of the Cathedral both remain in existence.
A History of the County of Worcester , Vol. 2 (of 4), from the series The Victoria History of the Counties of England edited by J.W. Willis-Bund and William Page (London:Archibald Constable and Company Ltd., 1906). Page 144: Early in the thirteenth century Giles, Bishop of Hereford, confirmed assarts de la Dirfaud,' the gift of William his predecessor, and land at Horton' given by John de Stanford.
Letter of Recommendation (1643)
Monsson 8
Transcribed and Researched by John Stephan Edwards
Summer 2004
An autograph letter of recommendation from George Goring to Prince Rupert in support of the promotion within the Regiment of Horse of Lt. Colonel John Covert following the death of his brother, Colonel Thomas Covert.
Document:
Letter in black/brown ink on folded paper,185mm x 286mm.
Text:
May it please your High[ness] In pencil in modern hand: {Prince Rupert
This bearer, brother
to my late deceased sonne Covert,
is by me a most humble sutore to
your High[ness]. That he may by your
princely favour succeede his
brother in his co[m]mission for
his Regiment of Horsse, as he
is like to doe in his estate.
he was his Lieutenant Collonell
before. your favour and princely
eye vppon him wilbe a Singular
addition to the many formerly re-
ceived by
Your High[ness] most fayth
-full humble and all
obedient servant
Goringe
giv[en]:
Oxford Aug 31
1643
Verso endorsement:
1643. Aug. 31.
Goring, for Col. Covert
Historical Context:
This letter was penned by George, Baron Goring of Hurstpierpoint (later created Earl of Norwich on 28 Nov. 1644) to Prince Rupert of the Rhine, General of Horse to King Charles I in the early years of the English Civil Wars.
George Goring was appointed to the Privy Council in 1639 after over two decades of loyal service to the Crown. He became very wealthy through the holding of various monopolies (esp. tobacco) granted to him by the Crown. He was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary to France just three days before this letter was written, and returned to England in November 1644 upon completion of that mission. Created Earl of Norwich, Goring was an erratically brilliant leading commander in the second phase of the civil wars of the 1640s. Ironically, Goring and Prince Rupert soon became antagonists in a struggle for the role of commander-in-chief of the Royalist forces after 1644. Eventually taken prisoner at the Royalist surrender of Colchester in 1648, Goring was condemned by Parliament on 6 March 1649, six weeks after the execution of Charles I. He escaped a sentence of execution by only one vote, and was subsequently set at liberty on 7 May 1649. He spent the next decade on the continent with the future Charles II, returning with him to England in 1660. Goring died in January 1663 at age 77.
George Goring, Earl of Norwich had two sons: George Goring, Lord Goring (1608-1657) and Charles Goring, 2nd Earl of Norwich (1615-1671). He had four daughters: Elizabeth, Lucy, Diana, and Catherine.
Goring's late deceased sonne Covert was Thomas Covert of Slaugham, Sussex. Thomas Covert was commissioned Colonel of Horse on 15 August 1643 (just two weeks before this letter) and charged to raise a regiment of horse and another of infantry. He died of unknown causes, however, immediately after receiving his commission. On Goring's recommendation, his younger brother John (1620-1679) was promoted to Colonel of the same regiments, though the combined strength of those forces had reached fewer than 80 by late September. He was captured soon after and imprisoned at Warwick Castle. Following the Restoration, he was knighted and created Baronet in 1660, and served in Parliament for Horsham in 1661.
Thomas Covert was the first husband of Baron Goring's third daughter, Diana. Covert was, in modern terminology, actually Goring's sonne- in-law . He was at his own death the principal heir of the wealthy Covert family of Sussex, prominent owners of numerous ironworks in southeast England. The Covert family owned extensive properties in the area, so that one quipster wrote, they could travel over their own manors from Southwark to the English Channel." The Covert male line was extinguished by the late 1670s upon the death of Thomas's surviving brother John.
*P.R. Newman, Royalist Officers in England and Wales, 1642-1660: A Biographical Dictionary (New York: Garland Publishing, 1981), 90.
Letter Patent (1552) and Deed of Sale (1553)
MS 107
Transcribed and Researched by John Stephan Edwards
Summer 2004
Norlin Special Collections MS 107
This manuscript consists of two separate but related documents concerning the transfer of several pieces of property in Sussex. Folio One is an authenticated copy of a Letter Patent wherein King Edward VI grants property to Henry Foulkes in 1552. Folio Two is a deed in which Henry Foulkes transfers the same properties to John Hake ten months later.
Documents:
Folio one: Black/brown ink on vellum, 304mm x 241mm with 32mm lower margin fold. Large wax seal (see below) attached to lower margin by looped vellum ribbon 25mm in width.
Folio Two: Brown ink on vellum, 402mm x 244mm with 28mm folded lower margin. Small heavily damaged seal attached to lower margin by vellum ribbon 21mm in width. Same ribbon also attaches Folio One to Folio Two.
Seals:
Seal MS 107
Folio One: Brown wax, round, approximately 105mm in diameter, damaged along superior and inferior margins. Impressed on both
sides. Recto: Central depiction of king enthroned, with arms of England on either side (right-hand device includes
still-visible Cross of St. George) each surrounded by the Garter. Circumferential legend illegible due to wear and
breakage (seals of Edward VI usually read Edwards Sexts Di.Gr.Angle.Franc.etHibnie.rex fidi.defs. et tra.ecclesie
Anglicane et Hibernie sumv.caput). Verso: Edward depicted centrally as an armored knight mounted on horse
caparisoned with English royal badges (three lions passant quartered with three fleur-de-lis), all on a diapered
(diamond-patterned filigree grid) background field of alternating English Tudor roses, Irish harps, and French fleur-de-
lis. Coursing greyhound below (a badge of the House of York). Circumferential legend is again illegible but should
repeat recto legend.
Folio Two: Red wax, severely damaged and fragmented so that less than one quarter remains. Illegible.
Transcriptions:
Folio One - Letter Patent of Edward VI , dated 12 April 1552
MS 107
Edwardus Sextus dei g[rat]ia Anglie Francie et Hib(damaged) fidei defensor et in terra eccl[es]ie Anglicane et Hib[er]nie
supre[m]um Caput Omnibus ad quo[s] p[resen]tes l[ett]re pernenerint sal[u]t[e]m Sciatis q[uo]d nos de avisamento Cancellarii et
vnius generalium Supervisor[es] ac Solicitatoris Curie Augmentac[i]onu[m] (damaged) revenconu[m] Corone n[ost]re in absencia
Thom(damaged)
Moile militis alternis generalium Supervisor[es] euisdem Curie tradidimus concessimus et ad firmam dimisimus ac p[er] p[resen]tes
tradimus concedimus et ad firmam dimittimus dil[i]c[t]o nob[is] Henrico Fouk[es] generoso tot Scitum et Capitalem mansionem
Manorij n[ost]ri de Stepham in Com[es] n[ost]ro Sussex ac o[m]nia domos edificia horrea stabula terrae prat[as] pascuas et pasturas
eidem Scitui p[er]tinen[tis] Ac unu[m] ten[emen]tum ac om[n]ia terrae et hereditamenta n[ost]ra vocat Littlehunt[es] ac vnu[m]
prat[um] vocat Bathepole
medowe cum p[er]tin[entis] modo vel nuper in tenura suie occupac[i]o[n]e Alice Clerke vidue Except uno stabulo in suie australis
p[ar]tis
domor[um] super Scit d[i]c[t]u[m] mannerij edificat Necnon tradidimus concessimus et de avisamento predict ad firmam dimisimus
prefat Henrico Foukes vnu[m] prat[um] n[ost]ru[m] vocat Brokemeade et aliud pratum n[ost]rii vocat Mardon mede cu[m]
p[er]tin[entis] quondam in tenur
suie occupaco[n]ibus Johannis Bowyer et Johannis Morris ac modo vel nuper in tenura suie occupac[i]o[n]e di[lect]e Alice Clerke
Que om[n]ia
et singula premissa cum p[er]tin[entis] su[n]t p[ar]cell Manerij n[ost]ri de Stepham in d[i]c[t]o Com[es] n[ost]ro Sussex ac honori
n[ost]ro de Detworth
annexantur Except tamen semp[er] et nobis hered[es] et Successor n[ost]ris om[ni]no reservat om[n]ibus bostis et subbostis de in et
super
premissis cresten[tis] et existen[tis] Habend [um] et tenend[um] om[n]ia et singula premissa cum p[er]tin[entis] except preexcept
prefat
Henrico Fouk[es] executoribus et assign[atis] suis a festo S[an]c[t]i Mich[ael]is Arch[angel]e prox[imo] futuro usq[ue] ad finem
termini et per
termum vigniti et unius annor[es] extunc prox[imo] sequen[tis] et plenarie complend[e] Reddend [um] annuatim nobis
hered[es] et
Successoribus n[ost]ris de et pro predict Scitu ac ceteris premissis eidem Scitui p[er]tinen[tis] Ac predict tenemento et
terris vocat Littlehuntes et prat[um] vocat Bathepole medowe vigniti octo solidos et quatuor denarios Ac de et pro pred[i]c[t]o
prat[um] vocat Brokemede quatuordecem solid[es] ac pro predict prat[um] vocat Mardon mede quatuordecem solidos legalis monete
Anglie ad festa Annunciac[i]o[n]is b[ea]te Marie virginis et S[an]c[t]i Mich[ael]is Arch[angel]i vel infra unu[m] mensem post
utrumq[ue] festum festor[es]
illor[es] ad manus Ballinor[es] vel Receptor[es] premissor[es] pro tempore existen[tis] [per] equales porc[i]o[n]es soluend[ibus]
durand[e] termino pred[i]c[t]o Et
pred[i]c[t]us Henricus Foukes executores et assign[atis] sui om[n]ia domos et edificia premissor[es] ac om[n]es necessar[is] rep[ar]ac[i]o[n]es premissor[es]
in om[n]ibus et p[er] om[n]ia de temp[or]e in tempus totiens quotiens necesse et oportunu[m] fuerit sumptibus suis proprijs bene et
sufficienter
supportabunt sufficiebunt et manutenebunt duran[de] termino pred[i]c[t]o Ac premissa sufficientor rep[ar]at in suie termum
pred[i]c[t]i
dimittent Et volumus ac p[er] p[rese]ntes concedimus prefat Henrico Fouk[es] executor et assign[atis] suis q[uo]d bene licebit
eis de tempore in tempus capere p[er]agere et ho[no]re competen[te] et sufficien[te] ma[n]erem et housebote ad rep[er]ac[i]o[n]em
domores et edificiores
premissor[es] ac competen[te] et sufficien[te] hedgebote firebote ploughbote et Cartebote super premissis crescen[tis] ac ib[ide]m et
non
alibi annuatim expendend[um] et occupand[um] durand[e] termino pred[i]c[t]o Proviso semper q[uo]d si conti[n]gerit predict reddit
aut eo r[es]
aliquem a retro fore non solut in p[resen]te vel in toto p[er] spacium quinq[ue] septimanar[es] post aliquod festum pred[i]c[t]ores
festores quo
ut prefertur sol[u]m debeant si debito modo petantur q[uo]d tum et de inceps hæc p[rese]n[te]s dimissio et Concessio vacua sit ac pro
nullo hæatur Aliquo in p[rese]ntibus incontrarmum inde non obstan[tis] Aliquo statuto actu ordina[n]coe provisione proclamac[i]o[n]e
siue
restric[i]o[n]e incontrarum inde ante hac hit[?] fact edit ordinat seu promis[sit] aut aliqua alia re causa vel materia quacumq[ue]
in aliquo non obstan[tis] In Cuius rei testimonium has L[ett]ras n[ost]ras fieri fermine patentes Teste Ric[ard]o Sakevile milite
apud westm[inster] duad[e]cimo die Aprilis Anno regni n[ost]ri Sexto
{smaller writing and in a different hand:}
[per] Canc vnu[m] general[ium] Sup[er]visor[es] ac Solicitator Cur pred[icto]
duke
Endorsed on verso:
Henricus Fowke
Dimissio
Translation:
Edward the Sixth by the grace of God of England France and Ire(land king,) defender of the faith and on earth Supreme Head of the Church in England and Ireland. Greetings to all men to whom these present letter(s) shall come. Be it known that we, under the counsel of the Chancellor and of one of the general Supervisors and Solicitors of the Court of Augmentation and revenues of our Crown, in the absence of Thom(as) Moile, knight, the other of the general Supervisors of that same Court, have given conveyed and surely granted and by means of (these) presents we do give convey and surely grant to our said Henry Foukes gentleman the entire Site and Capital mansion of our Manor of Stepham in our County of Sussex with all houses buildings barns stables lands meads pastures and feedings to the same Site appertaining And one tenement and all our lands and hereditaments called Littlehunts and one meadow called Bathepole meadow (mead) with appurtenances now or lately in the tenure of its occupant Alice Clerk widow Except one stable in its southern part of the manor built over the said Site of the manor. We also have given conveyed and under the said counsel we have surely granted to the said Henry Foukes one meadow of ours called Brokemeade and another meadow of ours called Mardonmead with appurtenances sometime in the tenure of its occupants John Bowyer and John Morris and now or lately in the tenure of its occupant the said Alice Clerk. That all and singular premises with appurtenances are the parcel of our Manor of Stepham in our said County of Sussex and to our honor of Detworth annexed, Except however always wholly reserved to our heirs and our Successors all woods and underwoods of in and upon the premises growing and being. Having and holding all and singular premises with appurtenances except those afore excepted, by Henry Foukes his executors and assigns on the next feast of Saint Michael the Archangel [i.e. 29 September] and for a period of twenty one years after the next following term and until fully completed, Rendering annually to our heirs and our Successors of and for the aforesaid Site and the remaining premises appertaining to that Site And the aforesaid tenement and lands called Littlehuntes and the meadow called Bathepole meadow, twenty eight shillings and four pence And of and for the aforesaid meadow called Brokemeade fourteen shillings and for the aforesaid meadow called Marden mead fourteen shillings of lawful money of England on the feasts of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary [i.e. 25 March] and Saint Michael the Archangel or less than one month after the celebration of either of those feasts to the hands of the Bailiffs or the Receivers of the premises for the time remaining is to be paid in equal portions during the said term And
the aforesaid Henry Foukes his executors and assigns shall well and sufficiently support supply and maintain all houses and buildings on the premises and all necessary repairs to the premises in all ways and by every means from time to time so often [and] as often as shall be necessary and proper during the aforesaid term And the premises shall be remitted sufficiently repaired [at the end of] the said term. And we wish and by [these] presents we grant to the aforesaid Henry Foukes, his executor and assigns that it shall be thoroughly permissible for them from time to time to occupy, to cultivate, and with good and sufficient manorial honor and right to take timber for the repair of the houses and buildings on the premises and good and sufficient right to take wood growing on the premises for hedgerows, firewood, ploughs, and Carts and at the same time annually and not otherwise using and occupying during the aforesaid end [of the term], Provided always that if it shall happen [that] the said [lands] are returned or for that reason any other things before (or) after not forbidden in the present or in the full space of five weeks after either feast of the aforesaid feasts so that only the things previously mentioned shall be charged if they shall have been owed just as they are sought that then and at the inception of these presents being given and Conveyed shall be void likewise none shall remain in force notwithstanding Any contradictory statute act ordinance provision proclamation or restriction thereinafter this letter made published ordered or promised or any other thing cause or matter in whatever way otherwise not withstanding. In witness of these things these our Letters patent were signed Witness Richard Sakeville, knight, at Westminster the twelfth day of April in the Sixth Year of our reign
by one of the general Supervisors of the Chancellory and Solicitor of the aforesaid Court
duke
Folio 2 - Deed of Sale , dated 10 February 1553
MS 107
To all true Christian people to whome this p[re]sent wryting shall come I Henry Foulk[es] of west moulsey in the Countie of Omer (?)
gentl[eman]
otherwyse called henry Foulk[es] gent[leman] Sende greetyng in our lorde everlastyng, know ye me the said henry Foulk[es] for the some
of fourty pound[es] of good & lawfull money of England unto me the daye of thensealy[n]g herof by John Hake one of the Clerk[es] of the Kyng[es]
ma[jes]t[ies] Free chappell w[i]thin his castell of Wyndesore in the countie of berk gent[leman] before hand payed / of the w[hi]ch
fourtie pound[es] I the said henry
Foulk[es] doo acknwlege my self to be fully & wholly satisfied co[n]tented & payed, and the said John Hake his Executours & admi[ni]strato[ur]s
therof do clerely acquyte & dyscharge by these p[re]sent[es] ( symbol -damaged) have therby geven graunted bargayned sold Released
yelded up delyv[er]ed
assigned & confirmed and by these p[re]sent[es] do therby geve g[ra]unte release bargayn sell yeld up delyver [document damaged]
assigne & confyrme unto the
said John Hake his executo[ur]s admi[ni]strato[ur]s & assignes All that the Site and Capytall mansion or hed mansion or mansion
house of the
maner of Stepham in the countie of Sussex And all houses buyldyng[es] barnes Stables land[es] mead[es] pastures & feadyng[es] unto
the same
Site appertaynyng And one teneme[n]t & all the land[es] & hereditament[es] called littlehunt[es] And one meade called bathipole
mead w[i]th thapp[ur]ten[an]c[es]
now or late in the tenur or occupacon of Alyce Clerke wydow except one Stable in the end of the Southe p[ar]te of the said mann[er]
buylded / And also I
the said henry Foulk[es] for the said Some of fourtie pound[es] aforesaid unto me before hand payed, have further bargayned geven
g[ra]unted sold
released yelded up delyv[er]ed assigned & confirmed and by these p[re]sent[es] do further gyve graunt bargayn Sell release yeld up
assigne confyrme
& delyv[er] unto the said John Hake his Executours admi[ni]strato[r]s & assignes all that one medauoe called broke mead and another
mead called
marden mead with thapp[ur]ten[a]nc[es] sometyme in the tenur & occupacon of one John bawyes & John morrys and nowe or late in
the tenur or occupac[i]on
of the said Alice Clerke All w[hi]ch p[re]misses w[i]th thapp[ur]ten[a]nc[es] be parcell of the manner of Steph[a]m aforesaid in the
said countie of Sussex & unto
the hono[r] of Detworth annexed, all mann[er] of wood[es] & under wood[es] of in an upon the p[re]misses growyng & beyng unto
the kyng our
sov[er]aign lord his heires & successours onely excepted and alwayes res[er]ved / And also I the said henry Foulk[es] have further
bargayned & sold Released yelded up assigned delyv[er]ed & confyrmed and by these present[es] doo bargayn sell release yeld
up assign delyv[er] & co[n]fyrme unto the said John Hake his Executours admi[ni]stratours & assignes All that my letters patent[es]
that I the
same henry Foulk[es] late had unto me my Executo[ur]s & assignes graunted by o[ur] said sov[er]aign lord the Kyng und[er] his
hyghnes gret seale
of his graces Courte of thaugme[n]tacon & revenues of his hyghnes Crowne, bearing date At westm[inster] the xijth daye of Aprill in
the vith yere
of our said sov[er]aign lord the king[es] raygn for the terme of xxj yeres of & in the p[re]misses whiche had their begy[n]nyng At the
feast of Seynt
Mychaell tharchangell next folowy[n]g the date of the same l[ett]res patent[es] together with all suche astate Ryght tithe use terme of
yeres possesson
& demaund yet to come & not determyned of & in the said Site & Capitall mansion of the said mann[er] of Steph[a]m And all other
the p[re]mysses with
all & syngular thapp[ur]ten[au]nc[es] w[hi]ch I the said henry Foulk[es] my Executo[ur]s or admi[ni]strato[ur]s or any of us have
myght should or ought to have by force
of the said l[ett]res patent[es] / To have and to hold all the said Site and Capitall mansyon of the said mann[er] of Steph[a]m and all
other the p[re]mysses
before bargayned & sold w[i]th thappurten[au]nc[es] / And aso ( sic ) the said l[ett]res patent[es] together w[i]th all the said astate
Ryght tytle use interrest
terme of yeres possession & demaund yet to come & not determyned of & in the same by force of the said l[ett]res patent[es] unto the
said John Hake
his Executo[ur]s admi[ni]strato[ur]s & assignes from the day of the date herof duryng all the terme of yeres yet to come & not
determyned contayned
in the said l[ett]res patent[es] in suche lyke large & ample mann[er] & forme as I the said henry Foulk[es] hath myght should or ought
to have &
enioye the same by force of the said l[ett]res patent[es] / In wytnes wherof I the said henry Foulk[es] unto this my p[re]sent dead
adnexed unto the
said l[ett]res patent[es] my seale have put & affyxed / Geven the xth daye of the moneth of February in the vijth yere of the Raign of
our
sov[er]aign Lord Edward the Syxt by the grace of god Kyng of England Fraunce & Ireland Defendo[r] of the fayth and of the Church
of England
and also of Ireland in thearth the supreame head.
On the folded lower margin:
(center): [by] me henr[y] [F]oulk[es]
right end: Sealed & delyv[re]d in the p[re]sence of
Wyll[ya]m Franklyn George Edward[es]
and Robert Okhm[an]e
Historical Context:
The recipient of this letter patent (Folio 1) is Henry Foulkes ( also Fowkes, Foukes). His identity is unknown. He is not listed in the Dictionary of National Biography or any other standard reference for the period. The reference to residence in the County of Omer is also confusing, since no such county exists in England, Wales, or Ireland. Further investigation is needed on this.
The letter patent (Folio 1) is a copy, authenticated through the attachment of the Royal Seal, of an original that would have been filed in the Patent Rolls or in the Chancery. However, no letter patent citing Henry Foukes or dated 12 April 6 Edward VI is listed in the Calendar of the Patent Rolls .
Thomas Moiles, knight, listed as absent advisor in the granting of the properties, is Sir Thomas Moyles, appointed first receiver (1537) and later chancellor of the court of augmentations. He was knighted on 10 October 1537. During the period of the dissolution of the monasteries, Moyle acquired extensive properties and became quite wealthy through his role as chancellor of the court of augmentations. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1542 as a member for the county of Kent and served as Speaker in that same year. He distinguished himself in that role as first to claim freedom of speech for that office. Moyle died in Kent in 1560.
In the deed of sale (Folio Two), Henry Foulkes sells the same property to John Hakes. For the site and capital house of the manor of Stepham, the tenement called Littlehunts, and Bathipole mead, Foulkes acknowledges receipt of the sum of forty pounds. For the meadow called Brokemead plus Marden mead, he acknowledges receipt of an additional forty pounds. Transfer of the original letter patent from Henry Foulkes to John Hake is included as part of the sale, thereby conferring to Hake all rights and privileges of the letter patent for the remainder of its twenty-one year term.
