L25/101

Agreement (i) Hen., Earl of Kent, owner of the manor of Burbage, whereof Sketchley is parcel. (ii) Anth. Graye, clerk, parson of Aston and Burbage, Tho. Wightman, late of Burbage, gent., and s. and h. Ric., Ric. Swifte and John Swifte, free tenants of the manor, Tho. Boddington and Geo. Morris, both free and customary tenant Wm. Swifte, Fra. Compton, Ric. and Wm. Woodward, John Warryn, tenants for years under some of the above, Geo. Wightman, gent., Robt. Armestone, Ric. Haddon, Ric. Forryan, John Laxton, Chris. Bigge, and 44 other customary tenants (named) dwelling in Burbage, and 6 dwelling in Sketchley. 5 of the above tenants have exhibited a bill of complaint in Chancery, alleging that fines for entry to copyhold lands should not exceed 1 year's rent (ancient). Agreed: 1. all tenants (free and customary and leaseholders) may within 7 years enclose their land, exchanging by mutal agreement, either in or out of court (by the hands of any Thirdborough) without fine. 2. freehold tenants exchanging for copyhold, to convey such freehold land to the Earl; and copyhold lands to be conveyed to them. 3. lands called deer lands (except when exchanged as above) shall continue united to copyhold lands. 4. a copyhold tenant may demise his holding by lease in possession but not in reversion or remainder; for 21 years. 5.-6. copyhold tenants death and fines. 7. The Earl shall not hereafter claim any commons other than upon his own enclosures, but the freehold and copyhold tenants shall have commons on the existing waste. 8. that the Earl is seizes of a good estate in the manors etc. The tenants agree: 9. that a cust. tenant holding freehold land by exchange, parting with his land or dying, shall pay to the lord as heriot the best beast or the best personal chattel. 10. any tenant holding copyhold land dying siezed thereof, payment is to be made to the lord of his best beast or goods, or 40s. 11. tenant dying seized of a 1/2yd. land being but one hold and one rent, his best beast, chattell or 20s. 12. similarly, cottager with land, his best beast, chatttel or 10s., cottager without land, his best beast or chattell. 13. the Earl is to have his demeasnes etc. as hereunder they are mentioned to lie: the West mead., the Smenell, Harris Wonge, the out wood land alias Stocking lane, the Inn mead., flg. called Ausborne's, 2 parcels called Hollow Ausborne and Bosse furrs, adjg. Small brook, commonly used for the neat past. as is now set down in the survey of the manor. Burbage Heath as it is now ditched from Sketchley, parcel heath ground on the w. side of the ditch, parcel of leys or 'gorsye' ground adjg. last; parcel of arable called Mill flg., with the hades and baulks thereof; and a parcel of Sketchley town flg. which cont. 39 ac. 1r.; the Oxhaye, 2 Start closes, all his land and mead. that lieth on the backside of the parsonage and the Earl's farm towards Aston; also as much land as the Earl's land belonging to Aston farm lying dispersedly in the common flds. of Burbage amounts to, to be laid together with the land behind the parsonage by way of exchange with the Earl. 14. Tenants are to relinquish titles thereto, not being compelled to travel more than 12 miles from Burbage to do so. 15. If the Earl 'departs with' by way of exchange, any demesne land, or land he may have from Abr. Cooke, he shall assure to the tenants proportional lands. 16. Abra. Cooke will convey to the Earl, a 1/2yd. land and so much of his other land as lies among the half yard land men and cottages of the manor in exchange for demesne land of the manor called Pitt flg. and the mead. adjg., which lands he may enclose. 17. All may make such assurances as may be necessary for the better execution of these presents. 18. the whole rent is to be paid to the Earl. 19. any future disagreements in connection herewith to be settled by John Plumbe esq. and Bart. Luxton gent. 20. Decisions made by them not to be prejudicial to the Earl. 21. 'recompense' of any lands hereby 'laid to the Earl', to be made to the freeholders that give them up. 22. Trees on customary lands granted to tenants. 23. Nothing in this agreement to be 'hurtfull' to the Earl concerning fines etc. payable up to last Mich. 24. Ancient and former lawful customs etc. to continue 25. Decree to be made in Chancery.

14 June 1600

From: 1600 To: 1600

No. of pieces: 1

item

Kent, Henry, Earl of,
Graye, Anthony,
Wightman, Thomas,
Wightman, Richard,
Swifte, Richard,
Swifte, John,
Boddington, Thomas,
Morris, George,
Swifte, William,
Compton, Francis,
Woodward, Richard,
Woodward, William,
Warryn, John,
Wightman, George,
Armestone, Robert,
Haddon, Richard,
Forryan, Richard,
Laxton, John,
Bigge, Chris,
Cooke, Abraham,
Plumbe, John,
Laxton, Bartholomew

clergy, Chancery, farms, Burbage, Sketchley, Aston