| Description | Lease by the Dean and Canons of Windsor to William Dodyngton of London, gentleman. Reciting: (1) a lease dated 16 January 1566 whereby the Dean and Canons, at the request of the Queen, had demised unto Edward Carye, a Groom of the Privy Chamber, the premises hereinafter described for a term of 60 years from Michaelmas 1565 at the yearly rent of £37 12s. 8d.; and (2) a deed dated 26 April 1569 whereby Edward Carye had surrendered that Lease to the Dean and Canons. The Dean and Canons, at the request of the Queen, signified to them by letters of Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper, demised to William Dodyngton their Manor of Membury with its appurtenances for a term of 57 years from Michaelmas 1568, at the yearly rent of £37 12s. 8d. payable by two instalments, at Lady Day and Michaelmas in each year. Covenants by the Lessee: (i) that after such estates as Walter Chase and others then had in the scite of the Manor of Membury and certain of the demesne lands belonging thereto should have been determined, the Lessee would maintain and keep in repair the scite of the Manor and all buildings thereon and all fences and enclosures thereof, during the then unexpired term and would deliver the same up duly repaired at the end of the term, taking from the demised premises sufficient timber and haybote therefor; (ii) to pay all quitrents and other charges, both ordinary and extraordinary, due in respect of the demised premises; (iii) to provide board and lodging for the Lessors' Steward and other officers, their servants and horses and geldings, for two days and three nights once in each year upon their visiting the demised premises and staying so long there; (iv) not to expel any copyholders until such time that the estate of such copyholder shall have been determined or surrendered or forfeited, nor expel any tenant in possession or reversion who should have a grant by copy of the court roll of the land known as Synderlande or Overland unless forfeited or surrendered by such tenant, and not to alienate the demised premises (other than Synderlande and Overland and the copyhold lands which theretofore had usually been demised by copy of the court roll according to the custom of the Manor for terms of three lives) above the term of three years except by licence under seal of the Lessors and except by will; and every such alienee should within a year thereof surrender such lease to the Lessors and take a new lease for the unexpired term of this lease. Covenants by the Lessors: (i) to grant, upon request, such licence to alienate the demised premises and to grant a lease of the same to such alienee, without payment other than for the writing and sealing thereof; (ii) for quiet enjoyment, with the right to take and fell the woods and underwoods of the demised premises (other than stackells and storers which were to be left standing); and (iii) to maintain any actions the Lessee might take in the names of the Lessors concerning the premises at the cost of the Lessee. Further covenants by the Lessee: (i) that the Lessee would fell the woods and underwoods of the demised premises at such seasonable times of the year that the springs thereof would increase the wood and should leave sufficient stackells and storers as appointed by law; (ii) to keep all courts held on the Manor, and in any copy granted out of the same, as farmer to the Lessors; (iii) to to cause the court books of all such courts to be engrossed on parchment and to deliver the same to the Lessors within one year after the keeping of such court, and within five years thereof to cause to be made a terrier of the lands, meadows and pastures and other hereditaments of the Manor and within one year thereof to deliver the same to the Lessors and within three of the end of the term to make a similar extent or terrier of the copyholds, with the acreage thereof and the lands known as Synderlande and Overlande and the acreage thereof and to deliver the same to the Lessors within one year thereof. Proviso that if the rent should have remained unpaid for six months after having become payable, or if the Lessee should have alienated the demised premises (other than as permitted thereby), or if he should have evicted any copyholder or customary tenant otherwise than as permitted thereby, then the demise should cease and be determined. Counterpart |
| Seal | Seal with cockerel design and no legend attached by tag. Oval. 7mm x 6mm. Brown. Good condition. Intact. |