Manuscripts and Special Collections
Ne D 1903: Copy of an agreement made prior to the marriage of Henry Stanhope and Jane Rochford (28 Sep. 1476, English)
Transcript
dame Jane Thyrlande apon the one partye and John Stanhope Esquyer apon the other partye agreed for a maryage betwyx
Henry Stanhope Son of the seyd John Stanhope and Jane Recheford latte doughtur to Herry Rechfort Esquyer for
wyche maryage the seyd John Stanhope grauntes to the seyd Jane Thyrlande be thes presents that he afor the
maryage solempnised shall make to the seyd Henry Stanhope and Jane Rechford a suffycyante and lauffull
Estatte of landes and tenementes to ye yerly valow of xx pounds ouer all charges to haue to them and to the heyres off
theyr bodyes lawfully begoten and for defaut of such Ishue to ye heyres of ye body of the seid Henry Stanhop
lawfully begoten and for defaute of suche heyres to the Ryght heyres of ye seyd John Stanhope and hys heyres
and also the seid John Stanhope grauntes be thes presentes that he wythin a yer after the datte herof shall
cause to be mayd to hym and to dame Kateryn hys wyffe by dedes endented suffycyant and lawfull estates
and other landes and tenementes in Wylloughby Wallesby Kyrton Hoghton and Bughton in the countye of Nottingham
to haue to theym for terme of their lyves and to eytheyr of them longer lyffyng wythout impechement of wast
the Remaynder therof to the seyd Henry Stanhope and to the heyres mayles of hys body laufully begoten
and for defaute of syche Isshue the Remaynder therof to the heyres and assygnes of ye seyd John Stanhope
and also the seid John Stanhope grauntes by thes presentes that he wyll in the space of ij yeres next
ensuyng the forseid date shall cause to be mayd to hym by dedes indented a suffycyante lawfull
estate in other landes and tenementes wyth ye appurtenances in Tuxforde Darleton Tryswell and other places
in the seid county of Nottingham in fee and in reuersyon wych landes and tenementes Tuxford Darleton and Tryswell
and other places wyth the forsayd landes and tenementes in Wyllughby Wallesby Kyrton Hoghton and
Boughton wyth theyr appurtenances shall amounte to ye yerly valou of xlvj pounds xiij shillings ouer all
charges and Reprises to haue the seid landes and tenementes in Tuxford Darleton and Tryswell and other the
premyses to the seid John Stanhope terme of hys lyffe wythout impechment of wast the Remaynder of ye seid landes
and tenementes in Tuxford Darleton and Tryswell afforsayd to the foresayd Herry Stanhope and Jane Rechford and
to ye heyres of ye seid Herry Stanhope lawfully begoten and for defaute of suche isshue the Remaynder of ye
seid landes and tenementes in Tuxford Darleton and Tryswell and other theyr appurtenaunces to the heyres and
assygnes of ye seid John Stanhope for wyche maryage and estates apon the partye of ye seid John Stanhope to be
performed The seid Jane Thyrland grauntes that as of the goodes of ye seid Jane Rechford and of
here owne goodes shall pay to the seyd John Stanhope in mony and plate of syluer at the eleccion of the seid
J Stanhope to ye some of CCC markes that ys at the day of the maryage C markes and at the fest of Saynte
Martyn in wynter that shalbe in the yer of our lord mille CCCClxxvij C marke and at the fest of saynt
Martyn in wynter that shalbe in the yer of our lord mille CCCClxxviij C mark and the seid Jane Thyrland
grauntes to gyff to ye seid Herry and Jane Rechford stuff or plate and howshold in the name of ye chamber to the valou of L marks
ouer the seid CCC markes wythin one yer after ye seid maryage yf ye seid Jane Recford lyff so longe and eyther partye to bere
The costes of ye dener and aparell evenly betwyxe them and the seid John Stanhope grauntes to fynd them ij yeres mett and drynke and
chamber and the seid John Stanhope is agreable to be bounden in a statute marchaunt in agreable som that may be
thought by lerned counsell gud to bynd hys heyres for execution of ye seid estates and the seid Jane Thyrland
to be bounden for her paymentes and for performance of ye seid tenementes eyther partye byndes them to other
in CCCC markes Acta Sunt hec primo die octobris Anno xvj Edward iiijth
Translation
This indenture made at Nottingham the 28th day of September in the 16th year of [the reign of] King Edward IV, between Dame Jane Thyrlande on the one part, and John Stanhope esquire on the other part. Agreed for a marriage between Henry Stanhope, son of the said John Stanhope, and Jane Recheford, late daughter to Harry Rechefort esquire, for which marriage the said John Stanhope grants to the said Jane Thyrlande, by these presents [by this deed], that he shall, before the marriage is solemnized, make to the said Henry Stanhope and Jane Recheford a sufficient and lawful estate of lands and tenements, to the yearly value of £20 above all charges, for them and the heirs of their bodies, lawfully begotten. And for default of such issue [that is, if they have no lawful heirs], to the heirs of the body of the said Henry Stanhope lawfully begotten [for example, from a second marriage], and for default of such heirs, to the right heirs of the said John Stanhope [his next of kin], and his heirs.
Also, the said John Stanhope grants by these presents that, within a year after this date, he shall cause to be made to him and to Dame Katherine his wife, by indented deeds, sufficient and lawful estates and other lands and tenements in Willoughby, Walesby, Kirton, Haughton and Boughton in the county of Nottingham, to have for the term of their lives, and to either of them who lives longest, without impeachment of waste, the remainder thereof [that is, after their deaths it will go] to the said Henry Stanhope and to the male heirs of his body, lawfully begotten, and for default of such issue, the remainder thereof to the heirs and assigns of the said John Stanhope.
And also the said John Stanhope grants by these presents that, within the space of two years next ensuing after the aforesaid date, he shall cause to be made to him, by indented deeds, a sufficient and lawful estate in other lands and tenements, with the appurtenances, in Tuxford, Darlton, Treswell and other places in the said county of Nottingham, in fee and in reversion, which lands and tenements [in] Tuxford, Darlton and Treswell, with the aforesaid lands and tenements in Willoughby, Walesby, Kirton, Haughton and Boughton, with their appurtenances, shall amount to the yearly value of £46 13s 4d, over all charges and reprises. The said lands and tenements in Tuxford, Darlton and Treswell and the other premises [shall be held] to the said John Stanhope, for the term of his life without impeachment of waste. [After his death] the said lands and tenements in Tuxford, Darlton and Treswell aforesaid [will go] to the aforesaid Harry Stanhope and Jane Recheford and to the heirs of the said Harry Stanhope, lawfully begotten, and for default of such issue, the said lands and tenements in Tuxford, Darlton and Treswell and their appurtenances [will go] to the heirs and assigns of the said John Stanhope.
For which marriage and estates upon the part of the said John Stanhope to be performed, the said Jane Thyrland grants that [out of] the goods of the said Jane Rechford and of her own goods, [she] shall pay to the said John Stanhope in money and plate of silver, at the election of the said John Stanhope, to the sum of 300 marks [£200], that is on the day of the marriage 100 marks, and at the feast of St Martin in Winter [11 November] in the year of our Lord 1477, 100 marks, and at the feast of St Martin in Winter in the year our Lord 1478, 100 marks. And the said Jane Thyrland grants to give to the said Harry and Jane R. stuff of plate and household, in the name of the chamber, to the value of 50 marks over the said 300 marks, within one year after the said marriage, if the said J.R. lives so long. And either party is [that is, both parties are] to bear the costs of the dinner and apparel evenly between them. And the said J. St. grants to find them two years’ meat and drink and chamber, and the said John St. is agreeable to be bound in a statute merchant1 in an agreeable sum that may be thought by learned counsel good to bind his heirs for execution of the said estate, and the said Jane Thyrland to be bound for her payments. And for performance of the said tenements, either party binds them to the other in 400 marks. This happened [the signing of bonds] the 1st day of October in the 16th year of Edward IV.
1. See the ‘Deeds in Depth’ Research Guidance unit for information about what a statute merchant was.
