Rouse MS 61. RENT ROLL.

Item Overview

Title

Rouse MS 61. RENT ROLL.

Uniform title

Richard and Mary Rouse Collection of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts

Date Created

1570

Place of Origin

Hertfordshire, England

Collection

Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts

Notes

Description

Written in Hertfordshire, England, around 1571. The roll was in continual use for several years thereafter, as evidenced by frequent additions to entries (added in the blank space beneath the original entry) recording that the land in question had been granted to the son, sons, daughter, or widow of the original tenant. Annotations in the left-hand margin occasionally testify to further changes, as at f. 11: “Thomas Balden holdeth the messuage and yard & half land called Baylies in fee the rent wherof is xxvis [shillings] viiid [pence]”; and at f. 3: “Nowe James Woode.” Further evidence of continued use is suggested by a repeated signature that appears frequently next to entries throughout ff. 1-12 (at ff. 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12). Folio 3 also contains, uniquely, a second signature mark and the words “Chirch Stile” in a later [post-secretary?] hand. Folios 13-18 show no signs of later modification; these entries are generally very short, often only 1-2 lines, in contrast to the longer entries (frequently running well over five lines) on ff. 1-12. Belonged to Thomas Wakeman (b. 1788), a descendant of Richard Wakeman of Beckford (see “Wakeman of Graig House” in John Burke et al., Burke’s Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry vol. 1 pt. 2, 4th ed. [London 1863] p. 1585; also Munby p. 163: “‘Ex dono Thomae Wakeman armig.’ Noted by Phillipps in my [Munby’s] copy of the catalogue: probably Thomas Wakeman of the Graig Co. Monmouth.”). On the dorse of f. 1 (the opening “page” of the bound volume) “Wakeman mss. / No. 8” is written in ink in a modern hand; it appears to have been written over an earlier note in pencil, also in a modern hand: “Wakeman / mss. 810.” The present roll may be one of several copies, this one made for Richard Wakeman, as is suggested by references to another “copie,” as on f. 4: “the lorde grauntyth to Robert sone of the sayd John the rent doth not appere in the copie” and f. 11: “the sayd Margerie doth hold halff a yard of land not expressed in the copie.” Acquired from Thomas Wakeman by Sir Thomas Phillipps, his no. 7890 (paper label, originally on spine), before 1840. Sold at Bloomsbury Auctions, 17 Sept. 1998, lot 14, to Krown & Spellman. Bought from Krown & Spellman by Richard and Mary Rouse on 12 Dec. 1998. Given to UCLA in 2005.