L.b.357, leaf 1 recto
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Creator: George More
Title: Deed of bargain and sale of a “[messu]age or tenement” in the Blackfriars then in the tenure of Thomas Briskett, together witha “litle porch” leading to it, to Cuthbert and Richard Burbage.
Date: June 26, 1601
Repository: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC, USA
Call number and opening: L.b.357, fol. 1r-v
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L.b.357, leaf 1 verso
Terms of Use
Images that are under Folger copyright are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This allows you to use our images without additional permission provided that you cite the Folger Shakespeare Library as the source and you license anything you create using the images under the same or equivalent license. For more information, including permissions beyond the scope of this license, see Permissions. The Folger waives permission fees for non-commercial publication by registered non-profits, including university presses, regardless of the license they use. For images copyrighted by an entity other than the Folger, please contact the copyright holder for permission information.
Document-specific information
Creator: George More
Title: Deed of bargain and sale of a “[messu]age or tenement” in the Blackfriars then in the tenure of Thomas Briskett, together witha “litle porch” leading to it, to Cuthbert and Richard Burbage.
Date: June 26, 1601
Repository: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC, USA
Call number and opening: L.b.357, fol. 1r-v
View online bibliographic record
Terms of Use
Images that are under Folger copyright are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This allows you to use our images without additional permission provided that you cite the Folger Shakespeare Library as the source and you license anything you create using the images under the same or equivalent license. For more information, including permissions beyond the scope of this license, see Permissions. The Folger waives permission fees for non-commercial publication by registered non-profits, including university presses, regardless of the license they use. For images copyrighted by an entity other than the Folger, please contact the copyright holder for permission information.
Document-specific information
Creator: George More
Title: Deed of bargain and sale of a “[messu]age or tenement” in the Blackfriars then in the tenure of Thomas Briskett, together witha “litle porch” leading to it, to Cuthbert and Richard Burbage.
Date: June 26, 1601
Repository: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC, USA
Call number and opening: L.b.357, fol. 1r-v
View online bibliographic record
James Burbage died in 1597. His sons Richard and Cuthbert, who were principal shareholders of the Globe, inherited Blackfriars Theater from their father. In 1601, they purchased rooms adjacent to it. Their signatures on the “bargain and sale” indenture appear in the photo above. Richard Burbage was considered to be one of the most famous actors from the period. He performed the lead roles in many of Shakespeare’s plays. Cuthbert obtained the lease for the site of the Globe and the lease of Blackfriars to the company of child actors.
This document was folded in half along a vertical line at some time during its history, and suffered extreme damage along the fold. The two resulting halves were restored in such a manner as to make the wavy line at the top and the turn-up at the bottom seem continuous. A comparison of the text of the document with the text of its enrollment reveals, however, that the gap as restored is too narrow by the width of one “wave.”
[This transcription is pending final vetting]
Transcription made by Alan H. Nelson from the Folger document shown in the photo, but with the damaged central portions filled in from the enrolled copy, TNA C 54/1692, indicated between angle brackets. The enrollment formulas are given at the end of the transcription. The year of enrollment is 1601.
This Indenture made the Six and twenteth day of June in the Three and fforteth <yere of the raigne of our soueraigne> Lady Elizabeth by the grace of god Queene of England ffraunce & Ireland defender of the ffaith &c. Betwene
Sir George More of Loseley in the County of Surrey knight sonne and heire of Sir William More knight <deceased of thone partie And Cuthbert> Burbage of London gentleman & Richard Burbage of London aforesaide gentleman of thother partie Witnesseth
that where Margarett Poole widowe hath and holdeth for terme of her naturall lif only all that <mesuage or tenement with all sellers> sollers Romes yardes wayes easiamentes & comodities therevnto belonginge nowe in the tenure or occupacion of Thomas
Briskett or of his assigne or assignes Scituat lyinge & beinge within the precynct of the late B<lackfryer prechers nere Ludgat>e in London (that is to say) betwene the Mesuage Romes and buyldinges of the saide Cuthbert & Richard Burbage
on the East parte & the mesuage romes & buyldinges of the saide Cuthbert & Richard Burbage <and the yarde or way of the saide Sir> George More which leadeth towardes the glassehouse, nowe in the tenure of Sir Jerom Bowes knight on the
North parte and the Mesuages and yardes of (blank) ffenton widowe now in the seuerall tenures <or occupacions of John Tyce &> (blank) Clark on the west parte and the high way that leadeth towardes the Mesuage or mancion house of the
right honorable George Lord Hunsdon Lord Chamberleyn of the Queenes Maiestyes most honorable housh<old on the southe parte the reuercion> of which saide Mesuage or tenement yardes sellers & other the premisses with ther appurtenaunces from & ymediately after
the death of the saide Margarett Poole to the saide Sir George More & his heires of right doth <belonge and appurtayne Now>e this Indentur further witnesseth that the saide Sir George More for & in consideracion of the some of
ffowerskore and fyftene poundes of lawfull money of England to him by the saide Cuthbert & Ri<chard Burbage at and before> thensealinge hereof in hand paide whereof & wherewith he acknoledgeth himself fully satisfied & paide and
thereof & of every parcell thereof doth clerely acquite exonerate & discharge the saide Cuthbert <and Richard ther executors and administr>ators for euer by thies presentes Hath graunted bargayned solde alyened & confirmed & by thies presentes doth fully &
clerely graunt bargayne sell alyen & confirme vnto the saide Cuthbert & Richard Burbage the <reuercion and reuercions of the saide mess>uage or tenement sellers sollers Romes yardes wayes easiametes comodities & hereditamentes nowe in the tenure or occupacion
of the saide Thomas Briskett or of his assigne or assignes And also the same Messuage tenement & other the premisse<s When they or any of them shall hap>pen to be in possession by from or after the death of the said Margarett Poole And also all the right title
estate clayme interest reuersion & demaund which the saide Sir George More hath may might or ought to ha<ue of in and to saide messuage or tenemen>t & premisses with ther appurtenaunces before mencioned or of in or to any parcell thereof And also the said Sir
George More for & in consideracion aforesaid hath graunted bargained solde alyened and confirmed and by <thies presentes doth grant bargayne se>ll alyen and confirme vnto the said Cuthbert Burbage & Richard Burbage all that little porch ledinge into the
saide Messuage above by thies presents bargayned and solde nowe in the tenure of Thomas Boone as assigne of the saide Thom<as Brisket standinge and being>e within the saide yard ledinge to the glasse house of the saide Sir Jerom Bowes knight conteyninge in bredth
fower foote of assize & in length fyve foote and two ynches of assize All which premisses with the appurtenancees above b<y these presentes mencioned to be bargain>ed and solde amongest other thinges Sir Thomas Cawarden knight deceased late had to him his heires & assignes for
euer of the gyft and graunt of the late kinge of famous memory Edward the sixth late Kinge of England as in an<d by his lettres patentes vnder the> great Seale of England beringe date at Westminster the twelveth day of March in the fowerth yere of his
raigne more at large appereth And all which saide premisses above by thies presentes mencioned to be bargayned and sold <to the saide Sir Thomas Cawarden> in & by his last will & testament in wrytinge beringe date in the day of St Bartholomewe thappostle in the yere
of our lord god 1559 (amongest other thinges) did will & declare his intent to be that his Executors with the consent of his over<seers should haue full power and au>thoritie to bargayne sell and alyen for the performance of his saide last will & testament And also in & by the same
his saide last will & testament did ordeyne and make Dame Elizabeth then his wif & the saide Sir William More b<y the name of William More of L>oseley in the County of Surrey esquire Executors of his said last will and testament And Thomas Blagrave &
Thomas Hawe ouerseers of the same as in and by his saide last will & testament more at large appeareth And a<ll which premisses aboue mencioned t>o be hereby bargayned and solde (amongest others) the saide Dame Elizabeth Cawarden & William More Executors of
the saide last will and testament by & with the assent consent agrement & advise of the saide Thomas Hawe & Thoma<s Blagrave overseers of the sai>de last will in accomplishment thereof did bargayne & sell vnto John Birch gentleman John Austen & Richard Chapman &
ther heires for euer as in & by ther deed indented of bargayne and sale thereof made beringe date the Twenteth day of <December in the second yere of the> raigne of our saide soueraigne lady the Queenes Maiestie that nowe is & enrolled in her Maiestes highe court of
Chauncery more at large appereth And all which saide premisses with thappurtenences above mencioned to be hereby bargayned <and solde (amongst others) to the said> John Birch John Austen & Richard Chapman did by ther dede indented of bargayne and sale beringe date
the xxijth day of December in the saide second yere of the raigne of our saide soueraigne Lady the Queenes Maiestie that nowe <is bargain and sell to the saide D>ame Elizabeth Cawarden & Sir William More and ther heires foreuer as in and by the same dede indented
of bargayne & sale last above resited and also inrolled in her Maiestes saide high Court of Chauncery more at large also a<ppeareth Which said Dame Elizabe>th Cawarden is longe sithens deceased By reason whereof all and singuUler the premisses in and by
thies presentes mencioned to be hereby bargayned and solde did accrue & come vnto the saide Sir William More & his heires <by right of survivorship To h>ave and to holde all the saide Mesuage or tenement sellers sollers romes yardes & all other the
premisses with ther appurtenaunces above by thies presentes mencioned to be bargayned and solde vnto the saide Cuthbert Burbage <and Richard Burbage ther heires &> assignes for euer To the only vse & behouf of the said Cuthbert & Richard Burbage ther heires
& assignes for euermore And the saide Sir George More doth covenaunt & graunt for himself his heires exec<utors & administrators to and with the sai>de Cuthbert & Richard Burbage ther heires executors & assignes by thies presentes that the saide
Messuage or tenement sellers romes yardes & other the premisses above by thies presentes mencioned to be bargayned and solde the <day of the date hereof are and so from> tyme to tyme & at all tymes hereafter shalbe stand contynue & remayne to the saide Cuthbert &
Richard Burbage ther heires and assignes for euer to thonly vse & behouf of the saide Cuthbert & Richard Burba<ge ther heirs and assigns for eu>ermore free clere & clerely acquited exonerated & discharged or by the saide Sir George More his
heires or assignes from tyme to tyme sufficiently saved and kept harmeles of & from all former bargaynes sales gyft<es grauntes ioyntures dowries leas>es estates Annuyties rentes charge arrerages of rentes statutes recognizances Iudgementes executions
yssues fees fynes amerciamentes & of & from all other charges titles troubles & incumbrances whatsoeuer had made comytt<ed or done by the saide Sir Georg>e More Sir William More & by the aforesaid Sir Thomas Cawarden knight deceased or by any of
them or by any other person or persons by ther or any of ther estate right title assent consent act dede meanes or <procurement The estate and interest> which the saide Margarett Poole hath in and to the premisses only for terme of her naturall lif alwayes
excepted and foreprised And also except one lease of the premisses made and graunted by the saide Sir William <More and of Sir George More or one of> them to the saide Thomas Briskett for the terme or tenne yeres to begynne from & ymediatly after
the death of the saide Margarett Poole widowe wherevppon the yerely rent of six poundes is reserved and sha<lbe yerely payable to the sa>ide Cuthbert & Richard Burbage ther heires or assignes duringe the saide terme And also the saide
Sir George More doth covenaunt & graunt for himself his heires executors & administrators to & with the saide Cuthbert <Burbage and Richard Burbage> ther heires executors & assignes by thies presentes that they the saide Cuthbert & Richard Burbage ther heires &
assignes shall or may from hensforth for euer peaceably & quietly have hold occupie possesse enioy & kepe a<ll the said messuage and tenement selle>rs Romes yardes and all other the premisses above by thies pntes mencioned to be bargayned & solde & euery part
and parcell thereof from & ymediatly after the death of the saide Margarett Poole And thereof & of euery <parte and parcell thereof shall or> may take the yssues revenues & proffittes without the lawfull lett or interupcion of the saide Sir George More his
heires or assignes or of any other person or persons lawfully havinge or clayminge or which hereafter shall or may lawf<ully haue or clayme any estate rig>ht title or interest in & to the saide Mesuage or tenement & premisses with thappurtenaunces or in or to any parte or parcell
thereof by from or vnder the right title or interest of the saide Sir George More & Sir William More & Sir Thoma<s Cawarden or any of them or ther> or any of ther estate right title or interest (other then the saide Margarett Poole & her assignes for her
saide estate for her lif & the saide Thomas Briskett for & only conserninge the leases & terme as is aforesaid <And further that he the> saide Sir George More & his heires & the Lady Constance his wif & all & euery other person & persons which
nowe have or at any tyme hereafter shall or may lawfully clayme any estate right title interest rent or d<emaund in to or out of the said> premisses or any of them by from vnder or by meanes of the saide Sir Thomas Cawarden Sir William More and
Sir George More or any of them (except before excepted) shall & will from tyme to tyme & at all t<ymes before the end of the terme of> Seaven yeres next ensuynge the decease of the saide Margarett Poole when & as often as he or they or
any of them shalbe thervnto resonably required by the saide Cuthbert & Richard Burbage ther hei<res or assignes or any of them well> & truly do knoledge execute cause consent & suffer to be done knoledged & executed all & euery such further act
& acts thing & things assurance & assurances in the lawe for the ffurther and more <better assurance suretie and more sure making of the> saide Reuercion of the said Mesuage or tenement sellers Romes yardes & all other the premisses before mencioned
to be bargayned and sold to be had and made sure to the saide Cuthbert & Richard Burbage ther <heirs and assignes foreuer To thonly vse> & behouf of the saide Cuthbert & Richard Burbage ther heires & assignes for euermore Be it by ffyne
ffeofement release or confirmacion with warranty only against the saide Sir George More Sir William <More and Sir William Cawarden and euer>y of them ther & euery of ther heires or assignes & all & euery other person or persons which do shall or may clayme
by from or vnder them or any of them Recouery with one or mo voucher or vouchers ouer or otherwise with warran<ty as is aforesaid or without w>arranty as by the saide Cuthbert & Richard Burbage ther heires or assignes or ther or any of ther lerned
counsell in the lawe shalbe resonably advised or devised & required at thonly costes & charges in the lawe of th<e said Cuthbert & Richard Bur>bage ther heires or assignes So alwayes that the saide Sir George More & the saide Lady Constance
his wif & theires of the said Sir George More nor any of them be not compelled to travell for the makin<ge of the said further assuran>ce any further then to the Towne of Guldeford in the said County of Surr’ from the nowe dwellinge
house of the saide Sir George More And furthermore the saide Sir George More doth by thies presentes <authorize nominate & appoynte> Samuell Austen gent & Nathanyell Yeoman to be his lawfull deputies & attorneyes ioyntly &
seuerally for him and in his name to enter into all the saide Mesuage or tenement yardes romes & all other the premisses <before in thiese presentes mencioned to be> hereby bargayned and solde & into euery parte thereof And peaceable possession & seisin thereof for him
& in his name to take And after such possession & seisin thereof so had & taken to delyuer possession & seisin ther<eof and of euer parte thereof vnto th>e said Cuthbert & Richard Burbage their heires & assignes accordinge to the purport effect & true
meanynge of thies presentes And all & whatsoeuer his said Attorneyes or ether of them shall by vertue of thies p<resentes do or cause to be done in his> name in execution of the premisses he the saide Sir George More & his heires shall & will ratifie
confirme & allowe by thies presentes In wytnes whereof the parties abovesaide to thies Indentures interchang<ably haue sett theire seales> Yeven the day & yere first above wrytten.
(signed) Cuth: Burbadge (signed) Richard Burbadge
[Enrollment formulas from TNA C 54/1692:]
[Marginal flag:] More et Burbage
[Concluding memorandum:]
Et memorandum quod die & anno suprascriptis prefatus Georgius More miles venit coram dicta domina Regina in Cancellaria sua et recognouit Indenturam predictam ac omnia et singula in eadem contenta et specificata in forma supradicta.
Irrotulatur vjo die Novembris Anno predicto
Examinatur
Last updated February 1, 2020
