Tenants' petition to Sir Roger Townshend, January 20, ca. 1550–1600, L.d.839

Tenants' Petition to Sir Roger Townshend (1543?–90), Norfolk

January 20, ca. 1550–1600

L.d.839

Guide to the Bacon-Townshend collection, 1550-1640

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Transcriptions

Below is a semi-diplomatic transcription of Folger manuscript L.d.839. The transcription below was created by the Early Modern Manuscripts Online (EMMO) project. To access an image of the original leaf, click on each transcription's heading.

L.d.839, leaf 1 recto

Our dewtyes remembred, Whereas vppon certayne articles here tofore preferred by your worshippes officers, we were compelled to sett downe our knowledge by verdytt what our Customes were touching the state of your segnorye and of our Tenamentes which we do ffynde an hundred yeares past and more, hath much differed from the tyme present almost on all thinges, and consideringe your Worshipes grand father was in his tyme a learned ma[n] Iudge, and a grave man both feared and Loved of all men in Respect of his goode dealinge, who allowed the Tenantes in his tyme which were oure forefathers and ancetors, to take vp by dissent their Landes as we of late have done, and for the most part in all the tyme of Kinge Henry the seuenth, & Kinge Henry the eight ded & observed the Rulinge of fynes likewise as of late have bene we thought we might the more boldly present, as we ded in our Verduytt sett downe, wherin if any thinge be done by vs to your mislikinge, we ar readye with all dutyfulnes to be reformed by those to whom the matter is committed, most humbly besechinge yow, that whereas the Ripplinge of our estates, and the controversyes which may aryse & grow therevpon ar unspeakeable, and the forfitures of bondes & incommbrannces which may be brought in question ar innume rable, that we may finde yow our good Lord, to permitt & suffer vs to enioye our inheritannce as our forefathers ded in the tyme of your worshippes anncetors, vnder such dew order or instrument as the law will allow off, and we your poore Tenanntes shall thinke our selfes dayly bound to pray to god for the preservation of your life in much worshippe longe to continew at Heydon the xxviijth of Ianuarie your Tenanntes at your worshipes co mandement. Signatures in the left column: the marke of Richard Marchall [no mark] Erasmus Hamleton Ihon Clerkson Robert Thistleton Andrew Dewynne Ihon Garrett William Hoclinges Ihon Garrett Robert Worth Iohn Lockett Signatures in the right column: Thomas Hunt the mark of Edward Peck [mark] the mark of Nicolas Bell [no mark] by me Edmund bell [mark] Wyllm manye Iames Bell the mark of Iohn Allyns the mark of Richard Adams the mark of Peter hall by me Robert Taylor