Shakespeare purchases the Blackfriars Gatehouse: copy of bargain and sale signed by buyers, including Shakespeare

[This transcription is pending final vetting]

[Image 1: CLC/522/MS03738]

This Indenture made the Tenthe day of Marche, in the yeare of our Lord god (according to the Computacion of the Church of England) one
thowsand six hundred and twelve, and in the yeares of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lord Iames by the grace of god king of England, Scotland, ffraunce, and Ireland, defender of the faithe  &c (that
is to saie) of England, ffraunce, and Ireland the tenth, and of Scotland the six and fortith; Betweene Henry Walker Citizein and Minstrell of London of th'one partie, And William Shakespeare of
Stratford Vpon Avon in the Countie of Warwick gentleman, William Iohnson Citizein and Vintener of London, Iohn Jackson, and Iohn Hemmyng of London gentlemen of th'other partie. Witnesseth
that the said Henry Walker (for and in consideracion of the somme of one hundred and fortie poundes of lawfull money of England to him in hande before th'ensealing hereof by the said William Shakespeare well and trulie
paid, whereof, and wherewith hee the said Henry Walker doth acknowledge himselfe fullie satisfied and contented, and thereof, and of every part and parcell thereof doth cleerlie acquite and discharge the saide
William Shakespeare his heires, executours, administratours, and assignes, and every of them by theis presentes) Hath bargayned & soulde and by theis presentes doth fullie, cleerlie, and absolutlie bargayne and sell vnto the
said William Shakespeare, William Iohnson, Iohn Jackson, and Iohn Hemmyng their heires, and assignes forever, All that dwelling house or Tenement with th'appurtenaunces situate and being within the Precinct, Circuit
and Compasse of the late black ffryers London, sometymes in the tenure of Iames Gardyner Esquiour, and since that in the tenure of Iohn ffortescue gent, and now or late being in the tenure or occupacion of one William
Ireland, or of his assignee or assignes; abutting vpon a streete leading down to Pudle wharffe on the east part, right against the Kinges Maiesties Wardrobe; part of which said Tenement is erected over a great gate leading
to a Capitall Mesuage which sometyme was in the tenure of William Blackwell Esquiour deceased, and since that in the tenure or occupacion of the right Honourable Henry, now Earle of Northumberland; And also all that
plott of ground on the west side of the same Tenement, which was lately inclosed with boordes on two sides thereof by Anne Bacon widow soe farre, and in such sorte as the same was inclosed by the said Anne Bacon, and not
otherwise, and being on the third side inclosed with an olde Brick wall; Which said plott of ground was sometyme parcell
and taken out of a great peece of ^^voyde ground lately vsed for a garden; and also the soyle wherevpon
the said Tenement standeth; and also the said Brick wall & boordes which doe inclose the said plott of ground; With free entrie, accesse, ingresse, egresse, and regresse in, by and through the said greate gate and yarde there vnto
the vsuall dore of the said Tenement; And also all and singuler Cellours, ^^sollers, romes, lightes, easiamentes, profittes, Commodities, and hereditamentes whatsoever to the said dwelling house or Tenement belonging, or in any wise apperteyning;
And the reversion and reversions whatsoever of all and singuler the premisses, and of every parcell thereof, And also all rentes, and yearlie profittes whatsoever reserved, and fromhensforth to growe due and paiable
vpon whatsoever lease, dimise, or graunt, leases, dimises, or grauntes made of the premisses, or of any parcell thereof; And also all th'estate, right, title, interest, propertie, vse, possession, clayme, and demaund whatsoever which
hee the said Henry Walker now hath, or of right may, might, should, or ought to have of, in, or to the premisses, or any parcell thereof; And also all and every the deedes, evidences, Charters, escriptes, minimentes, and writinges
whatsoever which hee the said Henry Walker now hath, or any other person or persons to his vse have or hath, or which hee may lawfullie come by without suite in the lawe, which touch or concerne the premisses onlie,
or onlie [dittography?] any part or parcell thereof; Togeither with ^^the true Copies of all such deedes, evidences and writinges as concerne the premisses (amounges other thinges) to bee written and taken out at the onlie costes and charges of the
said William Shakespeare his heires, or assignes. Which said dwelling house or Tenement, and other the premisses above by theis presentes mencioned to bee bargayned and soulde the said Henry Walker
late purchased and had to him, his heires, and assignes forever of Mathie Bacon of Graies Inne in the Countie of Midd’ gentleman by Indenture bearing date the fifteenth day of October, in the yeare of our Lord
god one thowsand six hundred and fower, and in the yeares of the reign of our said Sovereign Lord King James of his Realmes of England, ffraunce, and Ireland the second, and of Scotland the eight & thirtith.
To have and to holde the said dwelling house or Tenement, shopps, Cellors, sollers, plott of ground and all and singuler other the premisses above by theis presentes mencioned to bee bargayned
and soulde and every part and parcell thereof with th'appurtenaunces, vnto the said William Shakespeare, William Iohnson, Iohn Iackson, and Iohn Hemmyng their heires, and assignes forever; To th'onlie & proper
vse and behoofe of the said William Shakespeare, William Iohnson, Iohn Iackson, and Iohn Hemmyng their heires, and assignes forever. And the said Henry Walker for himselfe, his heires,
executours, administratours, and assignes, and for every of them doth Covenaunte, promisse, and graunt to and with the said William Shakespeare his heires, and assignes by theis presentes, in forme following (that is to saie)
That hee the said Henry Walker his heires, executours, administratours, or assignes shall and will cleerlie acquite, exonerate, and discharge, or otherwise from tyme to tyme, and at all tymes hereafter well and sufficientlie
save and keepe harmles the said William Shakespeare his heires and assignes, and every of them of, for, or, and concernyng the bargayne and sale of the premisses, and the said bargayned premisses, and every part and
parcell thereof with th'appurtenaunces of and from all and almanner [=all manner] of former bargaynes, sales, guiftes, grauntes, leases, statutes, Recognizaunces, Ioyntures, dowers, intailes, lymittacion and lymittacions of vse and vses,
extentes, Iudgmentes, execucions, Annuities and of and from all & every other charges, titles and incumbraunces whatsoever wittinglie and wilfullie had, made, committed, suffered, or donne by him the said Henrye
Walker, or any other vnder his aucthoritie or right before th'ensealing and deliuerye of theis presentes; Except the rentes and services to the Cheefe Lord or Lordes of the fee or fees of the premisses fromhensforth for or
in respecte of his or their seigniorie or seigniories onlie to bee due and donne. And also excepte one lease and  dimise heretofore made and granted vnto William Ireland Citizen and Haberdassher of London
by the said Henry Walker of the premisses by an Indenture bearing date the twelveth day of December in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred and four and in the years of the reigne of our
said Soverigne Lord King James of his Realme of England, ffraunce and Ireland the second and of England and of Scotland the eight and thirtieth for the terme of twenty and five yeares from the feast of the birthe
of our Lord God next coming after the date of the same last recited Indenture of lease wherevpon the yearely rent of Seven pounds of lawfull money of England is reserved And further the saide
Henry Walker for himselfe, his heires, executours, and administratours, and for every of them doth Covenaunte, promisse, and graunt to and with the saide William Shakespeare his heires, and assignes by theis presentes in forme
following (that is to saie) That for and notwithstanding any acte or thing donne by him the said Henry Walker to the Contrary, hee the said William Shakespeare his heires and assignes shall or lawfullie may peaceablie &
quietlie have, holde, occupie, and enioye the said dwelling house or Tenement, Cellours, sollers, and all and singuler other the premisses above by theis presentes mencioned to bee bargayned and soulde, and every part and parcell
thereof with th'appurtenaunces, and the rentes, yssues, and profittes thereof, and of every part and parcell thereof to his and their owne vse receave, perceave, take, and enioye fromhensforth forever, without the lett, troble, eviccion, or
interrupcion of the said Henry Walker his heires executours, or administratours, or any of them, or of or by any other person or persons which have, or maye before the date hereof pretend to have any lawfull estate, right,
title, vse or interest in or to the premisses, or any parcell thereof by, from, or vnder him the said Henry Walker. And also that hee the said Henry Walker and his heires, and all and
every other person and persons, and their heires which have, or that shall lawfullie and rightfullie have or clayme to have any lawfull and rightfull estate, right, title, or interest in or to the premisses, or any parcell thereof by,
from or vnder the said Henry Walker [...] shall and will from tyme to tyme &
at all tymes fromhensforth for and during the space of three yeares now next ensuing, at or vpon the reasonable request and at the costes, and charges in the lawe of the said William Shakespeare his heires and assignes, doe make,
knowledge, and suffer to bee donne, made and knowledged all and every such further, lawfull, and reasonable acte and actes, thing and thinges, devise and devises in the lawe whatsoever for the conveying of the premisses bee it by
deed or deedes, inrolled or not inrolled, inrolment of theis presentes, fyne, feoffament, recoverye, release, confirmacion or otherwise with warrantie of the said Henry Walker and his heires against him the said Henry Walker, and
his heires onlie, or otherwise without warrantie, or by all, any or asmany of the wayes, meanes, and devises aforesaid, As by the said William Shakespeare his heires or assignes, or his, or their Councell learned in the lawe
shalbee reasonablie devised or advised: ffor the further, better, and more perfect assurance, suertie, suermaking [=sure-making], and conveying of all and singuler the premisses, and every parcell thereof with th'appurtenaunces vnto the saide
William Shakespeare his heires, and assignes forever to th'use, and in forme aforesaid. And ^^further that all and every fyne and fynes to bee levyed, recoveryes to bee suffered, estates, and assurances at any tyme or
times hereafter to bee had, made, executed or passed by or between the said parties of the premisses, or of any parcell thereof shalbee, and shalbee esteemed, adiudged, deemed, and taken to bee to th'onlie and proper
vse and behoofe of the said William Shakespeare his heires, and assignes forever, and to none other vse, intent, or purpose. In witnesse whereof the said parties to theis Indentures Interchaungablie have
sett their seales. Yeoven the day and yeares first above written.
William Shakspere Wm Johnson Jo: Jacksonn (blank) [signed on the seal-tabs]

[Endorsed:

Sealed and deliuered by the said William Shakespeare
William Johnson, and John Jackson in the presence
of (signed) Will: Atkinson
(signed) Robert Andrewes Scrivener
(signed) Henry Lawrence servant to the same Scrivener
(signed) Ed: Ouery