THIS INDENTURE made the Seventh day of Aprill in the One and the
Thirtieth yeare of the raigne of our Sovereign Lord Charles to Second
of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith And
in the yeare of our Lord Christ One Thousand Six Hundred Seventy and
Nyne BETWEENE Henry Seymour of Langley=Marsh in the County of Bucks
Esquire one of the Groom of his Majesty’s Bed Chamber of the one part
and Sr Joseph Seymour of Langley=Marsh aforesaid Knight Edward Seymour
of Barkehampsted in the County of Hertford Esquire John Downey of
Windsor in the County of Berks Esquire Bud [?] Wase of Dachett in the
County of Bucks Esquire and Charles Dawe of Langley Marsh aforesaid
Gent of the other part WITNESSETH that the said Henry Seymour out
of his Pious Charitable and Religious Disposition for the Founding
Establishing and Endowing an Alms=House for the habitation of Two poore
men and Two poore woemen and the making a provision for or towards
theire maintenance as hereinafter is mentioned and for and in
Consideration of the sume of five shillings of good money to the said
Henry Seymour in hand paid by the said Sr Joseph Seymour Edward Seymour
John Downey Bud Wase and Charles Dawe at and before ensealing and
delivery of these presents the receipt whereof the said Henry Seymour
doth hereby acknowledge HATH granted bargained and sold and by these
presence doth grant bargaine and sell unto the said Sr Joseph Seymour
Edward Seymour John Downey Bud Wase and Charles Dawe their heirs and
asigns ALL that Messuage or tenement lately created by the said Henry
Seymour for an Alms=House upon part of acertain Close called or knowne
by the name of Cherry=Croft lyeing and being in Langley=Marsh in the
County of Buckes adioyuening to the Church=yard there with the house of
Office yards gardens and orchard as the same is now hedged and fenced
in all wayes waters easements and appurtenances to the said Messuage or
tenement belonging to or sett out and appoynted to bee belonging
thereunto And all and singular other fee farme rents and other rents
[and various other rents and rights owned by Henry Seymour] TO HAVE AND
TO HOLD the said messuage tenement fee farme rents and all and singular
other the premises hereinbefore mentioned and intended to be hereby
granted bargained and sold and every part and parcell thereof with
their and every of their appurtenances unto the said Sr Joseph Seymour
Edward Seymour John Downey Bud Wase and Charles Dawe their heirs and
assigns TO the onely proper use and behoofe of the said Sr Joseph
Seymour Edward Seymour John Downey Bud Wase and Charles Dawe and of
theire heires and assigns UPON these speciall Trusts Neverthelesse and
to these intents and purposes following That is to say upon trust and
to this intent that the said Messuage or tenement … shall be forever
hereafter used as an Almes=House for the habitation of Four poore
people that is to say Two Poore Men and Two Poore Woemen being of the
Protestant Religion single persons and unmarried of good name and
reputation for honesty and integrity of Life and Conversation and of
quiett and peaceable behavior and said Two Poore Men and Two Poore
Woemen from time to time to be named and appoynted by the said Henry
Seymour his Heires or assignes by writing under his or theire Hands and
after such nomination to bee admitted and placed into the said
Almes=House by the said Sr Joseph Seymour Edward Seymour John Downey
Bud Wase and Charles Dawe their heires or assignes to continue therein
for the terme [?] of their naturall Lives And they and such as shall
succeed to the said Ales=House to be at all times and from time to time
subiect to the performance of such Rules Orders directions and duties
as the said Henry Seymour shall at any time or times hereafter dureing
his Life set down or prescribe in writing to be performed Each of them
the said poore Men and poore Woemen to have a separate apartment in the
said Almes=House to his or her owne use the same being already severed
and divided into severall apartments for the habitations of four
severall persons with Little yards or gardens belonging to each
apartment and the said house of Office orchard and other yards gardens
and appurtenances belonging to the premises to be used by the said
Poore People in Comon The said poore people upon their admittance
into the said Almes=house to be enjoyned and required from time to time
diligently to attend Divine Services soe often as the same shall be
said or Celebrated in the Church or Chapell of Langley= Marsh aforesaid
and indefault thereof without Lawfull and reasonable excuse or in case
of any breach of the said orders to be made as aforesaid or of Lewd or
Wicked or unquiett behavior committed by the said Poore Men or Poore
Woemen or either of them who shall at any time or times hereafter being
admitted into the said Alms=house the person or persons soe makeing
default or offending or misbehaving him or herselfe upon Complaint
thereof made to the said Henry Seymour [or the trustees] and upon
proofe of the trueth of such complaint to their satisfaction to bee
displeased and removed from the said Alms=house… without a
further appeal or otherwise … such fine and penalty to be deducted out
of the allowances hereinafter provided for them as by the said Sr
Joseph Seymour Edward Seymour John Downey Bud Wase and Charles Dawe
shall be inflicted for such demeanor as aforesaid and in case of
removall to be forever thereafter disabled to have or hold any place or
interest therein or any benefitt therefrom or thereby or by virtue of
these presents in any wise and the place of him or her soe offending to
be filled up with some other Poore Man or Woeman to be nominated and
admitted as aforesaid from time to time as occasion shall require AND
AS touching and concerning the said yearely rent of the thirty Pounds
per annum granted to them the said Sr Joseph Seymour Edward Seymour
John Downey Bud Wase and Charles Dawe theire heires and assignes shall
dispose and pay the yearely sume of Twenty pounds per annum part
thereof to the said Two Poore Men and Two Poore Woemen for the time
being admitted and placed into said Almes=house That is to say Five
pounds per annum a piece to each of them for theire maintenance upon
the Two feast dayes in the yeare that is to say The Feast of St Michael
the Arch=Angell and the feast of the annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
St Mary by even and equall portions Deducting Neverthelesse out thereof
in the first place what shall bee necessary from time to time for
keeping the said Messuage tenement and premises in good and sufficient
repaire and what shall bee inflicted upon any such Offender as
aforesaid And shall dispose and pay the Tenn pounds per annum residue
of the said Thirty pounds per annum to such person and persons and for
such uses and Purposes as the said Henry Seymour his heires or assignes
shall from time to time or at any time or times hereafter direct or
appoynt IN WITNESS whereof the parties above have to the present
Indenture interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and yeare
first above written.
Henry
Seymour
[pendant wax seal in a tin case attached by
string to the indenture]
Source: Private collection