XXXV.
31 December 1387.
This indenture witnesseth that John Monin, Mayor, and John Hamon, Thomas Lord, Robert Aleln, and John at Mill, Chamberlains of the Port of Dover, in the name and with the assent of the whole Commonalty of the port afore said, have granted, and at fee farm demised to William Chilton and Johanna, his wife, one plot of vacant land lying within the Liberty of the Port of Dover in Dereman Ward, next the tenement of Idonia Solton to the north-west, and the land of Thomas Lord to the south-west, and the King's High way to the north-east, and the tenement of the aforesaid William to the south-east : to have and to hold the aforesaid plot of land with its appurtenances to the aforesaid William and Johanna, his wife, the heirs and assigns of the said William for ever : they performing therefor annually the service of the Lord King when it shall arise, according to the custom of the port aforesaid : and paying therefor annually to the said Commonalty and their successors, at the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, 6d. sterling of annual rent : and if the aforesaid rent shall be in arrear, in part or in whole, beyond the term aforesaid, then it shall be lawful for the Mayor, Wardens, and their successors, for the time being, in the name of the said Commonalty, to distrain on the aforesaid plot of land, to take away and retain the distresses until they shall be fully satisfied for the aforesaid rent and for all arrears arising therefrom : but if the afore said rent be in arrear, in part or in whole, for one year one day beyond the term prefixed, and sufficient distress be not found for the value of the said rent, then it will be lawful for the Mayor and Wardens, for the time being, and their successors in the name of the said Commonalty, to re-enter and to re-seise into their own hands and to possess for ever in its pristine estate the aforesaid plot of land with its appurtenances, into whosesoever hands it shall have come, without let or hindrance of the said William and John, or the heirs and assigns of the said William : and the aforesaid Mayor, the Wardens, and whole Commonalty and their successors will for ever warrant the aforesaid plot of land with its appurtenances to the aforesaid William and Johanna, his wife, the heirs and assigns of the said William, in the form aforesaid, against all men.
In witness whereof, as well the seal of the office of the Mayoralty of the port of Dover as the seals of the said William and Johanna, are alternately affixed to these present indentures.
Given at Dover, the last day of December in the eleventh year of the reign of King Richard, the second after the conquest of England.