Scope and Content
For his faithful service; and in view of his having given up the manor of Dame Elyns Bury (Ellensbury) and other lands and tenements in Dame Elyns Bury and in ''Bedford Houghton'' (Houghton Conquest). The letters convey: the reversion after the end of the term, or as it may otherwise happen (aut aliter quoque modo acciderit), of the house and site of the late priory of Bushmead, (as in the grant recited below to Sir John St. John); the said rent; the church, belfry and churchyard; all messuages, granges, dovehouse, houses and buildings inside and outside the site and compass of said priory (situm, ambitum et procinctum); all great trees and underwood; all manors, messuages, lands, tenements, cottages, mills, meadows, pasture, rents, services etc and other jurisdictions and franchises in the parishes and hamlets of Bushmead, Eaton, Staploe, Duloe, Wyboston, Little Staughton, Blasworth, Colmworth, Barford, Chawston, Keysoe, Bedford, Mogerhanger, Pertenhall, in Bedfordshire; and in Blasworth and Great Staughton, Huntingdonshire; late belonging to the prior of Bushmead; which by reason of the suppression of the priory have come into his hands; in as full a manner as Robert Burre, late prior, or his predecessors had them before 4 February 1536; but reserving to the king any advowsons or rights of patronage (unspecified); all value at £60 14s. 10d.per annum. To be held in chief by knight service of 1/10 fee, and by annual rent of £20 5s. He will indemnify William & Elizabeth Gascoigne against all claims by George, Lord Cobham; the prior and convent of St. Neots; John Knyght; and John Clerk.
Recites: letters patent: lease for 21 years; rent £20 1s 4d, 2 May 1537, Henry VIII to Sir John St. John: the house and site of the late priory of Bushmead, with houses, buildings, barns, gardens, and land within the fence or wall (septum) and compass of the said late priory; the following lands, meadows & pasture belonging to the said late priory: a field (campus) called Blasworthfield, 300 acres; 2 pieces of meadow, 3 acres; a pasture near the site, 3 acres, with pond; a meadow called le Long Lesue, 8 acres; a pasture called Myllfelde, 100 acres; a pasture adjoining called Patsall leas, 80 acres; closes: Great & Little Catbury, & Cootes, 40 acres; Dovehouse,40 acres; a field (campus) called le Wyndemyfelde, 80 acres; 30 acres lying outside & near Mylfelde; a windmill; but reserving all great trees; and buildings which he shall command to be pulled down ''prosterni et auferri''.