[NOTE.—The witnesses to this deed (in the Exchequer MS.) are Adam, Walerand, Jordan, and Walter, priests of Godstow; Thomas, priest of Dalesforde; Symon, of Suelle; Herebert, of Bradeuell; Ralph, of Suelle; William, of Bageherste. These, according to custom, appear to be the clerics of the parishes Daylesford, Upper Swell, Broadwell, and Lower Swell which are next Bourton-on-the-hill. Donning|ton is a hamlet, somewhat to the north of Upper Swell and Broadwell. The bene|faction seems later than Pope Celestine III's confirmation, 1192, and to have been alienated before pope Nicholas IV's Taxatio, 1291.]
About 1195. Grant to Godstow, by William of Donn|ington, son of John of Bourton|on-the-hill, of 5s. 6d. quit|rent out of a yard|land, sub|ject to a quit-rent to Evesham abbey, with right of re|version if the direct line of ten|ants fail.
THE sentence of this chartur is þat william of Doninton, þe sone of Iohn of bourton, bi þe consente of his heiris, gaf & grauntid, & confirmid wiþ his chartur, to god & to þe churche of our ladi & of seinte Iohn baptiste of Godestowe & to þe min|chons þer seruinge god, in-to pure fre & perpetuel almis, for þe helþe of his sowle & of his wife & of his fadur & of his modur & of his children, with his dowhter Isabell, j. yerde of londe in bourton, þe whiche þe heiris of wido his vncle helde as heire, of þe whiche thei sholde pay yerli to þe fore-seid minchons of Godestowe v. shillings vj. d, of whiche þe fore-seid minchons sholde pay oute yerli bi his hondis & his heiris to þe abbot of Eynisham [The Latin has 'Euesham.'] xviij. d, for all seruice þat longith to þat londe; & if hit falle þat þe heiris of wido faile, þe fore-seide londe sholde turne & abide fre & louse to þe churche of Godestowe, sauinge þe fore-seide seruice of þe abbot of Eynysham [The Latin has 'Euesham.'] . Also he & his heiris sholde warantiȝe to þe fore-seide Minchons þe fore-seide londe for euir; & is with-oute date.
