| Description | Lease by the Dean and Canons of Windsor to John Chase of Membury, Devon, gentleman, of the capital or mansion house of Membury with all orchards, gardens, lands, tenements, meadows, pastures, leasures, closes, stables and dove house belonging or appertaining thereto situate in Membury and Axminster, then or then lately in the occupation of the Lessee or his assigns (except and reserved to the Lessors all woods, underwoods and timber trees then or at any time thereafter growing on the premises), from Michaelmas 1618 for a term of 21 years, at the yearly rents of: (a) £4. 6s. 8d., payable by two instalments, at Lady Day and Michaelmas, in each year; and (b) forty shillings at Lady Day in each year for one quarter of wheat by composition. Covenants by the Lessee: (i) to pay, and indemnify the Lessors in respect of, all other payments, duties and charges, both ordinary and extraordinary, payable in respect of the demised premises; (ii) to keep and yield up in repair the mansion house and premises with all hedges, fences, ditches and enclosures thereof, towards which the Lessors allowed the Lessee sufficient timber, 'rough upon the stem,' for the same upon the reasonable request of the Lessee for assigning the same (if it should be there), and the Lessee to have sufficient firebote, ploughbote, hedgebote and 'foldboote' growing on the land for use on the demised premises; (iii) to provide to the Dean and Steward and other officers of the Lessors board and lodging for themselves and their servants and sufficient stabling, hay, litter, provender and pasture for their horses and geldings once in every year for three nights and two days on their visiting Membury; and (iv) not to alienate the demised premises (other than by will) without the prior licence under seal of the Lessors. Proviso that if the rent of £4. 6s. 8d. should have remained unpaid for six weeks after having become payable, of if the Lessee should have alienated the demised premises (except by will) without the prior consent under seal of the Lessors, then the demise should cease and be determined.
Witnesses to the execution of the Counterpart by the Lessee: Gregory Baker & Amyas Planey [?].
Memorandum on Lease only that at the sealing of the Lease it was agreed that the rent should be paid yearly to the farmers of the Manor of Membury during the term of the Lease of the Manor that they then held, because they paid the same in the farm of the Manor. (Signed Gregorius Baker, Chapter Clerk). |
| Seal | Unusual seal, skull with motto "ex dono Calmady armigeri" |