Legal documents relating to land in Calais, 1420-1499

Documents relating to land tenure in Calais, 1420-1499, as follows:
1. Conveyance, dated 9 March 1420, between Henry Morton of Calais and John Baxter, burgher of Calais, and Richard Newerk, of a cottage in Hemp Street, St Mary's parish, Calais, which Morton had inherited from Robert Clyderowe by the latter's will of 2 Oct 1419. Abuttals given. Seal of Morton, on a parchment tag cut from a deed relating to Calais mentioning the following names: John Basing and Thomas Mysterton; fragment of the seal of the Mayoralty of Calais.
2. Two halves of an indenture, dated 22 June 1435, by which Henry Bywell, also known as Topclyf, burgher of Calais, sold to Hugh Wychard, baker of Calais, a tenement in the parish of St Mary, Calais. The terms of the sale were recorded in another document; this indenture recorded the right of the vendor to occupy the property until the buyer should require it. Seals of the parties do not survive. The indenture was cut through the words 'Thomas Rygon'.
3. Conveyance, dated 21 Jan 1499, between Richard Walden and Jacob Yerford, merchant of the staple of Calais, of a tenement in the parish of St Nicholas, Calais. Walden appointed Thomas Barton, merchant of the staple of Calais, his attorney in the transaction. Seals of Walden and the Mayoralty of London, on a parchment tag cut from a deed drawn up in the name of George Nevill, knight, 'dominus Berge[vaun?]y'.

No information available at present.

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Given by Messrs Warrens in 1976.

Collection level description. For descriptions of the Mayoral seals, see Walter de Gray Birch, Catalogue of seals in the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum (-1900).

1. 100 x 350 mm. On parchment. Monoface seal of Robert Morton in red wax; round; 14 mm; bearing the device of a cross on a shield. Fragment of the seal of the Mayoralty of Calais.
2. 360 x 140 mm. On parchment.
3. 268 x 388 mm. On parchment. Small seal of Walden in red wax, impression lost; seal of the Mayoralty of London in red wax.

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.