1258-02-01, Westminster

Covenant between Walter de Merton, clerk, and John de Litlebiry, to wit, that John has granted to Walter, for life, his manor of Dodyngton with the advowson of the church, at a rent of 25. a year, on condition that if he die within six years, his heirs and assigns shall keep the manor to the end of such six years, and have in all the lands of the said Walter sown at the time of his death the fruits of the following autumn, and with respect to the ploughings of the lands not yet sown, reasonable allowances ; and they shall have likewise the vesture of the lands sown by them or him at the end of the said term. And after the death of the said Walter, the said manor and advowson shall revert to John and his heirs, saving the said term; and John will warrant the premises to Walter during his life. Further, if Walter be disturbed by John in his . 661 Oe ee possession of the premises, he will assign to him lands in and his other lands to the value of the manor of Dodington, with the said manor at the said 26/. without further payment. Walter has granted that if at any time he fail to pay the said John shall have power to distrain him by all his goods in the manor until satisfaction be made to him of the arrears of the farm the damages he has sustained. For greater security, this writing in the form of a chirograph, whereof one part is with the said sealed with the seal of the said John, and the other part remains John sealed with the seal of Walter. Witnesses : Sirs Nicholas de William de Grey, Wibert de Kancia, Walter de Rudham, John de John le Faukoner, John Pouterel, Laurence de Brok, Robert Thomas de Windesore, Richard Oysel, William Dodekyn and by John de Littlebury, knight, to Sir Walter de Merton, his and friend, of 100s. yearly out of the farm of 80/. which he is bound yearly for the manor of Dudyngton, so that he shall hold it for year under the same conditions under which the said John granted him before. Witnesses: Adam, parson of Dudyngton, Peter, of Gylling, Ralph, chaplain of Suho, Reynold de Sutton, chaplain William de Sutho, smith, Mark (Jarcho) de Dudyngton, Russel, and others.