Beschreibung:

Grant of lands in the High Street of Beverley, Yorkshire, by William Garton of Beverley to a draper there named Richard Bothe, in Latin, manuscript document on parchment [England (Beverley), dated 21 September 1518] Single document, 11 long lines of an accomplished English secretarial hand, opening with a large initial ‘O’ crossed with ornamental penstrokes, the remaining letters of initial word in larger script, large red wax seal attached by seal tags, with impression of a letter ‘h’ surmounted by a crown, some small spots and folds (with very slight rubbing at apexes of folds), else outstanding and fresh condition, 145+37 by 280 mm. The lands transferred here were at the heart of the town of Beverley, and are described as east to west from the High Street to the land of St. John of Jerusalem (i.e. the preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers, which was founded there after 1201), and north to south from the land belonging to the chantry of Thurn to those of the church of St. Mary (founded early twelfth century and still in use today). At the time this document was written the Hospitaller preceptory in Beverley was one of the wealthiest in England (the structure lies buried beneath the present Hull-Bridlington railway tracks and associated railyard). Within decades, it was dissolved by royal order, and lay abandoned by 1540.