| Title | Indented lease for 61 years in reversion, made by 1. Thomas Abbot of the exempt monastery of St Werburgh in Chester]and the convent there to 2. William Legh gentleman in the county of Cumberland reciting that the late Abbot and convent demised to Christopher Ayer of Knipton in county of Leycester gentleman and to Helen Farebarne of Weston upon Trent widow and their assigns, their manor place of Weston upon Trent and all the houses, lands, customs belonging with herbage of the park there, conygree, blakpole, arneford, bradford and all other pools, ayways and waters to the manor pertaining, as Richard Farebarne had occupied the same, from Michaelmas next ensuing the 5th February 21 Henry VIII [1530] for 41 years, at rent of £16 19s 4d, and witnessing that the reversion of above premises was leased to 2. for term of 61 years at same rent
Legh covenanted to maintain and make yearly at his own cost all "thakkynges and dalbynges" [ thatchings and daubings] belonging to the manor and houses, the Abbot and convent to do other repairs at their cost, except that Legh is to find the workmen, meat and drink during the repairs, and cost of carriage of timber, slate, tile, plaster, so long as the carriage is within 6 or 7 miles of the manor. When the Abbot comes to the manor, he shall occupy the hall, chambers and houses of office at his pleasure. Legh will occupy the office of bailiwickof Weston and its members and will gather rents, reliefs, waifs, strays, felons' goods, estreats, perquisites, casualties and issues of all manner of courts there, taking for his labour 40 shillings, and will account annually at Michaelmas;
Legh will give horsemeat and mansmeat to a brother of the Abbot or any other called his steward and to his servants up to 3 or 4 or any other of the servants of the Abbot up to that number, the said brother not coming more than twice a year when he comes to hold the great leet and court at Weston for 2 or 3 days at the uttermost;
when Legh comes to Chester to make account, the Abbot will find horsemeat and mansmeat for him and for one or two servants.
The Abbey had right of distraint if Legh's rent was unpaid for 6 weeks and right of re-entry if it was unpaid for a quarter of a year.
Dated 4 October 30 Henry VIII
Part of convent seal on tag. In English
[Cancelled by cuts.] |