Indenture, 14 February, 27 Henry VIII, between Edward Payne, of Overshote, co. Dorset,...

Indenture, 14 February, 27 Henry VIII, between Edward Payne, of Overshote, co. Dorset, and Richard Payne, of Apsame, co. Devon, of the one part, and John Newington, of London, mercer, of the other; whereas the king, 'having perfite knoledge of dyvers mynes' in counties Devon and Cornwall, 'beinge many mynes of oure beringe and havinge golde silver leade beringe silver in hyme irne stelle coper and brasse in them,' by letters patent, 1 August, 14 Henry VIII, appointed Sir William Compton, knight, 'late decessid,' the said Edward and Richard, one Thomas Ludlowe, with divers other to the number of nineteen persons, his commissioners with 'highe power and auctorities.' they to be his 'surveyors tryors serchers and fynners' for all mines having the said metals in them in the said counties to hold 'the same offices and mynes and metalles' to them and their assigns for the term of their lives in survivorship, yilding yearly of all 'golde and silver oure as shallbe founde' 'the xijth parte treuly fyned and tried,' and such 'dieuties and custome' on other metals as elsewhere paid in the realm, and yielding to the chief lords of the soil or their farmers one-tenth part of the metals 'delyvered above the grounde,' with power to search for mines, follow and dig them, according to the custom of other mines, power to 'areaste shippes barkes barges' and other vessels, when and where necessary 'for the cariage of wode undrewoddes colles,' etc. for the 'separacion probacion triall and purgacion of the seid metalles,' and 'cartes waynnes,' etc., 'behoffull for the seid fuell,' power to 'take' 'artificers workemen and laborers,' power to make watercourses, etc. 'in all the kinges demayne londes' 'within the said sheres,' power to 'apointe a steward beinge sufficiently lernid in the lawe of this realme or by his deputye to kepe courttes to here and determyne causes' 'accordinge to the righte and equities of the kinges lawes and custome amonge the Tynners afore tyme usid,' power to make a common seal, etc.; now the said Edward and Richard covenant that Newington shall be admitted before 23 April next, to the place and room of the said Thomas Ludlowe as one of the said commissioners; that they will deliver to him the common seal; that they shall 'cause to be broght and seene' by his 'lerned councell' 'the very selffe commission' 'undre the kinges said brode sealle,' to 'savegarde [-]. thobteyninge' of the grants therein contained, 'to execute the same offices' as 'any other of the seid commis- sioners duringe the lyffe of the seid John Newington and his assignes and the longer lyver of them'; if they fail in observance of covenants, they shall with four days of the said 23 April make a release to him of their 'romes lien and place' in his favour, etc. English. Signed R.H. and by me Edwarde Payne. Cornwall, Devon