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Money for old rope
The vicar of Somersham had for sometime been an absentee landlord, a professor at Cambridge University who rather like the clerics of the Middle Ages took the wealth of the church for himself and then paid a menial clerk a small sum to do the hard work of being a country parson. It is interesting to see that even as late as 1688 the church still owned over a thousand acres of marsh and fenland, presumably the better quality land the Vicar kept for arable use. All of which was of marginal interest to a man whose true vocation was at the University and who was happy to sell the rights to collect tithes in exchange for hard cash.
This indenture made the third day of June in the twenty eighth year of our sovereign lord Charles the Second by the grace of God of England, Scotland, Ffrance and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith.
Between
The right Worthy Joseph Beaumont Doctor of Divinity and regius professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge of the one part
And
Anthony Hamond of Somersham in the County of Huntingdonshire Esq. of the other parte
Witnesseth that the said Joseph Beaumont for divers good causes and considerations his thereunto moving, hath demised, granted and to farme letten, and by these presents doth demise, grant and to farme lett unto the said Anthony Hamond all the tythes of corn grains and hay yearly comeing, rendering and growing upon all those six hundred eighty three acres of adventure grounds being in certain fenns in Somersham aforesaid called Somersham High Fenne and upon all those one hundred and sixty acres of marsh or fenn ground parcel of the improven belonging to the mannor and soake of Somersham aforesaid, lyeingand being in Pidley in the said County of Huntingdonin a certain fenn there called Pidley North fenn from and upon all those one hundred and forty acres of marsh or fenn grounds part of the improvements belonging to the said mannor and soake of Somersham lyeing and being in a certain fenne called Somersham Fore Fenn and also upon all those twenty acres of fenny or marsh ground lying and being in the said fenns called Somersham Fore Fenn and lately purchased of Robert Clark, Gentleman, and William Astrey, gentleman, all which said marsh and fenngrounds do conteyne together one thousand and three acres and are now in the occupation of the said Anthony Hamond his under tenants or assigns.
To have and to hold receive, take and enjoy all the said tythes of corn grains and hay unto the said Anthony Hamond his executors, admissions and assigns from the Feast of the Annunciation of our lady saint Mary the Virgin next, counting after the date hereof until the full term of three years from then to next ensuing and fully to be compleate and yielding and paying therefore yearly and every yeare during the said terme unto the said Joseph Beaumont, his executors, administrators or assigns at or in the new mansion house or lodging situate and being in St Peters Colledge in the University of Cambridge aforesaid, the summe of sixteen pounds fourteen shillings and four pence of lawful money of England at the two most usual feasts or days of payment in the year. That is to say the Feast of Saint Michael the
And the said Anthony Hamond for himself his executors, administrators doth covenant, promise and grant to and with the said Joseph Beaumont his executors, or assigns by these presents in manners and form following:
That is to say that the said Anthony Hamond his executors, administrators or assigns will well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said Joseph Beaumont his executors, administrators or assigns the saide summe of sixteen pounds fourteen shillings and four pence at or upon the said days and at the place of payment aforesaid according to the time intent and meaning of these presents.
And the said Joseph Beaumont for himself his executors, administrators or assigns doth covenant, promise and grant to and with the said Anthony Hamond his executors, administrators or assigns by these presents in manner and form following:
That is to say that he the said Anthony Hamond his executors, administrators or assigns paying the rent above referred shall or may lawfully, wuietly and peaceably share, take, receive and enjoy all the tythes of corn grains and hay yearly comeing, rendering, and growing upon the said onethousand and three acres for and during the said terme of three years without lawful lett, suite, trouble, eviction or contradiction of the said Jospeh Beaumont his executors, administrators or assigns or any other person or persons claiming by, from or under them or any of them.
In witness whereof the parties above names to these present indentures interchangeably have putt their hands and seales the day and year first written above.
ANTHONY HAMOND sealed and delivered in the presence of :
N. Johnson
William Bridge
PRO document DEL/1/202 starting at folio 186v