Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century, Part I

INDENTURE OF LEASE 1480, 08, 01

This indenture made the first day of August the xx yer of the regne of Kyng Edward the iiijth betwen Margaret Paston, late the wif of John Paston, squier, on the one part, and Thomas Brigge of Salle, gentilman, on the other part, witnesseth that the seid Margaret hath dimised and lete to ferme to the seid Thomas hir maner in Salle in the shire of Norffolk callid Kyrkhall, othirwise callid Flegge Halle, lying in Salle, Woddallyng, Oulton, Thyrnyng, Heydon, and other townys adioynyng, with the appurtenauntez, and hir maner in Briston and other townys adioynyng, with all the appur- tenauntez, and all other londes and tenementez lying in the seid townys, to have and to hold the seid maners, londes, and tenementez, with the appur- tenauntez, to the seid Thomas and to his assignes for the term of vij yerys, the terme therof to begynne at the feste of Seint Michael th'arcaungell next comyng after the date of thise presentez indentures and to endure to the ende of vij yerys than next folowyng plenerly to be complete; paying therfore yerly vnto the seid Margaret or hir assignes xviij li. of laufull Englissh

money at too termes, that is to sey, ix li. at Crouchemasse next after the date forseid and ix li. at Halwemesse than next folowyng, and so forth yerly at Crouchemesse and Halwemasse by evyn porcions during the seid terme, and ix li. at Halwemasse next after the seid terme determyned. Ferthermore it is accorded betwix the seid parties that the seid Thomas shall discharge the seid Margaret and hir heires of all sewtes, rentes, and seruices perteignyng to the seid maners or either of them during the seid terme at his coste, and he shall have vnderwode and hokeware growyng in the seid maners for the reparyng of the dekes, savyng the spryng, duryng the seid terme, and levyng the dekes defensed sufficiently at the ende of his terme. Also the seid Thomas shall have the profitez of the courtes during his terme, and the courtes shall be holde and kept by the styward of the seid Margaret or hir deputé at the costes of the seid Thomas, provided allewey that the seid Thomas shall take non avauntage ne goodes of the bondemen and women belongyng to the seid maners save onely her chyvage, sutez to courtes, and amercymentes, and such seruice as is behouefull to the seid maners, they takyng resonable wages as they deserue during the seid terme by licence of the seid Margaret; but that the seid Margaret shall iustifie them and seise them and ther goodes and manumyse them at hir pleaser, and such as duelle with hir or hir sones to be discharged of sewte, seruice, and chyvage whiles they duelle with them. Ferthermore, wher the seid Thomas and Thomas Herberd of Salle, chapman, are bounde to the seid Margaret by obligacion of xl marc. bering date the day of the date of thise presentes, the seid Margaret graunteth and wulleth that if the seid Thomas paie or do paie to the seid Margaret yerly xviij li. as is aboveseid, at such dayes as be lymyted and afore specifijd, that than the seid obligacion shall stande in no strength ne effect, and ellys it shall stande and remayne in strength and effect. In witnesse wherof the parties beforseid have to thise paresentez indentures alternatly sett ther sealles. Yevyn the day and yer aboveseid. Thomas Brygge