For sale is a rare early-C17th indenture, relating to lands Wellingborough in the county of Northamptonshire, during the reign of James 1st. Signed and dated June 26th, 1617.

Handwritten in Latin on vellum, this beautiful document is a fascinating window into the period, so beautifully preserved as it is.

The ink remains bold and the hand is brilliantly fluid and legible. The vellum shows no areas of damage, which is rare for a document of such age.

Present are the four original wax seals for four of the persons concerned - including the Earl of Warwick.

The full text of the document is as follows:

Indenture of conveyance between Earl of Warwick etc. and Sir Fulk Greville dated 26 Jun 17 James I and 52 James VI (1617), relating to Wellingborough.

THIS INDENTURE made the Six and Twentyeth day of June in the yeres of the reigne of our soueraigne Lord James by the grace of God King of England Scotland ffraunce and Ireland defender of the faith etc That is to saie of England ffraunce and Ireland the Seventeenth and of Scotland the Two and ffiftyeth. Betwene the right Honorable Robert Earle of Warwick, Sir Christofer Hatton of Kirkeby in the County of North' ton Knight Sir Robert Hatton and Sir Nathaniell Riche London Knights of the one parte And the right Honble Sir ffulke Grevill Knight Chauncellor of His Majestes Courte of Exchequer and one of his Highnes most Honorable Privy Councell of the other parte WITNESSETH that whereas the said Earle of Warwick and the Lady ffrauncis Countesse of Warwick his wife and Sir Thomas Cheeke Knight and the said Sir Nathaniell Riche and Richard Mason gent. have by certeyne Indentures tripartite bearing date the Twelveth day of this instant June made betwene the said Earle and Countesse Sir Thomas Cheeke Sir Nathaniell Riche and Richard Mason of the first parte and Sir the said Sir ffulk Grevill of the second parte the said Christofer Hatton of the third parte for the consideracon in the same indenture expressed bargayned and solde Conveyed and assured vnto the said Sir ffulk Grevill and his heires the Lordshipp and Mannor of Wendliggborough alias Wellingborough alias Wenlingborough alias Wedlingborough with all the rightes royalties members and appurtenances thereof in the said County of North'ton and divers other Mannors messuages Rectoryes Tythes landes tenementes and hereditamentes in the said Indentures tripartite mencioned and expressed as in and by the same Indentures more att lawe itt doth and may appeare AND whereas the said Sir Roberte Hatton and Sir Nathaniell Riche by vertue of a graunte to them made by our said Soueraigne Lord the Kinges Majestie and by reason of other Conveyances and Assurances are and stand possessed for certen yeres yet to come and vnexpired of and in one yerely rent Somme or payment of one Thowsand ffive hundred poundes yssuing and to be paid out of the said Mannors and Premises and out of divers other Mannors and Landes tenementes and hereditamentes late of Sir Christofer Hatton deceased late of the noble Order of the Garter knight and Lord Chauncellor of England which said rent somme or payment was procured to be graunted and passed unto the said Sir Robert Hatton and Sir Natheniell Riche by the said Earl and Sir Christofer Hatton partye to theis presentes and att their sole charge upon speciall trust and confidence reposed by them the said Earle and Sir Christofer Hatton partye to theis presentes in the said Sir Robert Hatton and Sir Nathaniell Riche that they the said Sir Robert Hatton and Sir Nathaniell Riche their executors and administrators should haue and holde the same rent somme or to payment in trust and and for the sole vse of and benefitt of the same Earle and Sir Christofer Hatton partye to these presentes and their assignes severally and respectively according to their several and respective estates and interestes in the landes tenements and hereditamentes charged or chargeable with the same rent somme or payment. NOWE to the intent that the said Sr Fulk Grevill his heires and assignes shall and may have holde and enlove the said Mannore and Premisses conveyed or assured or mencioned to be conveyed and assured in and by the said Indenturen tripartite freed and dicharged as kept indemnified of and from the said rent somme or payment and euery parte thereof and of and from all distresses accions extentes seisures charges and incombrances which shall or may accrue come or be by any reason of or in respect of the said rent somme or payment or any parte thereof ITT is concluded agreed testefyed and declared by and betwene the said parties to theis presentes and euery of them that neyther they the said Sir Robert Hatton and Sir Nathaniell Riche nor eyther of them nor the executors administrators or assignes of them or eyther of them shall or will at any time hereafter leauy or demand the said Rent Somme or paymente or any parte thereof in or upon or out of the said Mannore and premisses conveyed or assured or mencioned and intended to be conveyed or assured in or by the said Indentures tripartite or any parte thereof nor shall take commence or prosecute or cause to be taken commenced or prosecuted any distresse accion seisure extent proces or other meanes whatsoever for the leavying recovering or obteyning of the said Rente Somme or payment of or out of the same same Mannore and premisses or any parte thereof or against the said gir fruik Orevill his heires or assignes tenantes or ffarmors or any of them for or in respect of the same.

"Sealed and delivered in the presence of "Edw. Mason"

"Jhon Cutts" "Richard Scott"

"Ri. Willis" "Sam. Hopton"

"John Plomer"

"An indenture of convenance made betweene Ro: Earl of Warwicke etc. to Sir Fulk Greville".

"26 June 17 Ja:

All endorsements contemporary.

"(34)"

Overall, this is a truly wonderful historical item and it comes very highly recommended. It is complete, as it was when first created, which is incredibly special and rare.