Shakespeare purchases the Blackfriars Gatehouse: copy of bargain and sale signed by vendor

[This transcription is pending final vetting]
[Transcription from B. Roland Lewis, Shakespeare Documents, 440-443. Line breaks added by Folger staff.]

This Indenture made the Tenthe day of March, in the yeare of our Lord god according to the Computacion of the Church of England one
thowsand six hundred and twelve, and in the yeares of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lord Iames by the grace of god king of England, Scotland, ffraunce, and Ireland defender of the faithe
&c that is to saie of England, ffraunce, and Ireland the tenth, and of Scotland the six and fortith; Betweene Henry Walker Citizein and Minstrell of London of th’one partie, And
William Shakespeare of Stratford vpon Avon in the countie of Warwick gentleman, William Iohnson Citizein and Vintener of London, Iohn Jackson, and Iohn Hemmyng of London gentlemen
of th’other partie. Witnesseth that the said Henry Walker (for and in consideracion of the somme of one hundred and fortie poundes of lawfull money of England to him in hande
before th’ensealing hereof by the said William Shakespeare well and trulie paid, whereof, and wherewth hee the said Henry Walker doth acknowledge himselfe fullie satisfied and contented, and thereof, and
of every part and parcell thereof doth cleerlie acquite and discharge the said William Shakespeare his heires, executours, administratours, and assignes, and every of them by theis presentes Hath bargayned &
soulde and by theise presentes doth fullie cleerlie, and absolutlie bargayne and sell vnto the said William Shakespeare, William Iohnson, Iohn Jackson, and Iohn Hemmyng their heires, and assignes forever, All
that dwelling house or Tenement wth th’appurtenaunces situate and being wthin the Precinct, Circuit and Compasse of the late black ffryers London, sometymes in the tenure of Iames Gardyner Esquiour,
and since that in the tenure of Iohn ffortescue gent, and now or late being in the tenure or occupacion of one William Ireland, or of his assignee or assignes, abutting vpon a streete leading downe to Pudle wharffe
on the east part, right against the kinges Maiesties Wardrobe; part of wch said Tenement is erected over a great gate leading to a Capitall Mesuage wch sometyme was in the tenure of William Blackwell Esquiour
deceased, and since that in the tenure or occupacion of the right Honourable Henry, now Earle of Northumberland; And also all that plott of ground on the west side of the same Tenement, wch was lately inclosed wth
boordes on two sides thereof by Anne Bacon widow soe farre and in such sorte as the same was inclosed by the said Anne Bacon, and not otherwise, and beinge on the third side inclosed wth an olde bricke wall; wch
said plott of ground was sometyme parcell, and taken out of a great peece of voyde ground lately vsed for a garden; and also the soyle wherevpon the said Tenement standeth; and also the said Brick wall &
boordes wch doe inclose the said plott of ground; wth free entrie, accesse, ingresse, egresse, and regresse in, by and through the said greate gate and yarde therevnto the vsuall dore of the said Tenement; And
also all and singuler Cellours, sollers, romes, lightes, easiamentes, profittes, Commodities, and hereditamentes whatsoever to the said dwelling house or Tenement belonging, or in any wise apperteyning; And the
reversion and reversions whatsoever of all and singuler the premisses, and of every parcell thereof, And also all rentes, and yearlie profittes whatsoever reserved, and from hensforth to growe due and paiable
vpon whatsoever lease, dimise, or graunt, leases, dimises, or grauntes made of the premisses, or of any parcell thereof; And also all th’estate, right, title, interest, propertie, vse, possession, clayme and demaund
whatsoever which hee the said Henry Walker now hath, or of right may, might, should, or ought to have of, in, or to the premisses, or any parcell thereof; And also all and every the deedes, evidences, Charters,
escriptes, minimentes, and writinges whatsoever wch hee the said Henry Walker now hath, or wch hee may lawfullie come by wthout suite in the lawe, wch
touch or concerne the premisses onlie, or onlie any part or parcell thereof; Togither wth the true Copies of all such deedes, evidences and writinges as concerne the premisses (amounges other thinges) to bee
written, and taken out at the onlie costes and Charges of the said William Shakespeare his heires, or assignes. Which said dwelling house or Tenement, and other the premisses above by
theis presentes mencioned to bee bargayned and soulde the said Henry Walker late purchased and hadd to him, his heires, and assignes, forever of Mathie Bacon of Graies Inne in the Countie of Midd gentleman
by Indenture bearing date the fifteenth day of October, in the yeare of our Lord god one thowsand six hundred and fower, and in the yeares of the reigne of our said Sovereigne Lord King Iames of his
Realmes of England, ffraunce, and Ireland the seconde, and of Scotland the eight and thirtith. To have and to holde the said dwelling house or Tenement, shopps, Cellors,
sollers, plott of ground, and all and singuler other the premisses above by theis presentes mencioned to bee bargayned and soule and every part and parcel thereof wth th’appurtenaunces, vnto the said William
Shakespeare, William Iohnson, Iohn Iackson, and Iohn Hemmyng their heires, and assignes forever. To th’onlie and proper vse and behoofe of the said William Shakespeare, William Iohnson,  Iohn Iackson, and
Iohn Hemmyng their heires, and assignes forever. And the said Henry Walker for himselfe, his heires, executours, administratours, and assignes, and for every of them Doth Covenaunte, promisse,
and graunt to and wth the said William Shakespeare his heires, and assignes by theis presentes, in forme following that is to saie That hee the said Henry Walker his heires, executours, administratours, or assignes
shall and will cleerlie acquite, exonerate, and discharge, or otherwise from tyme to tyme, and at all tymes hereafter well and sufficientlie save and keepe harmles the said William Shakespeare his heires and
assignes, and every of them of, for, and concernyng the bargayne and sale of the premisses, and the said bargayned premisses, and every part and parcell thereof wth th’appurtenaunces of and from all and almanner
of former bargaynes, sales, guiftes, grauntes, leases, statutes, Recognizaunces, Ioynctures, dowers, intailes, lymittacion and lymittacions of vse and vses, extentes, Iudgmentes, execucions, Annuities, and of and from all & every
other charges, titles, and incumbraunces whatsoever wittinglie and wilfullie had, made, Committed, suffered, or donne by him the said Henry Walker, or any other vnder his aucthoritie or right before th’ensealing
and deliuerie of theis presentes; Except the rentes and services to the cheefe Lord or Lordes of the fee or fees of the premisses fromhensforth foror in respecte of his or their seignorie or seigniories onlie to bee due and
donne. And further the said Henry Walker for himselfe, his heires, executours, and administratours, and for every of them doth Covenaunte, promisse, and graunt to and wth the said
William Shakespeare his heires, and assignes by theis presentes, in forme following (that is to saie) That for and notwthstanding any acte or thing donne by him the said Henry Walker to the Contrary, hee
the said William Shakespeare his heires, and assignes shall or lawfullie may peaceablie and quietlie have, holde, occupie, and enioye the said dwelling house or Tenement, Cellours, sollers, and all and singuler
other the premisses above by theis presentes mencioned to bee bargayned and soulde, and every part and parcell thereof wth th’appurtenaunces, and the rentes, yssues, and profittes thereof, and of every part and
parcell thereof to his and their owne vse receave, perceave, take, and enioye from hensforth forever wthout the lett, troble, eviccion, or interrupcion of the said Henry Walker his heires, executours, or administratours, or any of them, or of or
by any other person or persons wch have, or maye before the date hereof pretend to have any lawfull estate, right, title, vse or interest in or to the premisses, or any parcell thereof by, from, or vnder him the said
Henry Walker. And al that hee the said Henry Walker and his heires, and all and every other person and persons, and their heires wch have, or that shall lawfullie and rightfullie have or
clayme to have any lawfull and rightfull estate, righte, title, or interest in or to the premisses or any parcell thereof by, from or vnder the said Henry Walker shall and will from tyme to tyme and at all tymes
from hensforth for and during the space of three yeares now next ensuing, at or vpon the reasonable request, and costes, and charges in the lawe of the said William Shakespeare his heires, and assignes, doe make,
knowledge, and suffer to bee donne, made and knowledged all and every such further, lawfull, and reasonable acte and actes, thing and thinges, devise and devises in the lawe whatsoever for the conveying of the
premisses, Bee yt by deed or deedes, inrolled or not inrolled, inrolment of theis presentes, fynne, feoffament, recoverye, release, confirmacion, or otherwise wth warrantie of the said Henry Walker and his heires against him
the said Henry Walker, and his heires onlie, or otherwise wthout warrantie, or by all, any or as many of the wayes, meanes, and devises aforesaid, As by the said William Shakespeare his heires or assignes, or his,
or their Councell learned in the lawe shallbee reasonablie devised or advised : ffor the further, better, and more perfect assurance, suertie, suermaking, and conveying of all and singuler the premisses, and every parcell
thereof wth th’appurtenaunces vnto the said William Shakespeare his heires, and assignes forever to th’use and in forme aforesaid. And further that all and every fyne and fynes to bee
levyed, recoveryes to bee suffered, estates, and assurances at any tyme or tymes hereafter to bee had, made, executed or passed by or betweene the said parties of the premisses, or of any parcell therof shalbee, and
shalbee esteemed, adiudged, deemed and taken to bee to th’onlie and proper vse and behoofe of the said William Shakespeare, his heires, and assignes forever, and to none other vse, intent, or purpose. In
witnesse whereof the said parties to theis Indentures Interchaungablie have sett their seales. Yeoven the day and yeares first above written.

    Henry Walker [signed on seal-tab]

[Note inscribed by Gregory Donhault, hidden behind “turn-up”]:

Recognitur coram me Gre: Donhault: in Cancellaria Magistro vndecimo die Martij Anno Supradicto

[Endorsed]:

Sealed and deliuered in the presence of
Will: Atkinson
Robert Andrewes Scrivener
Edw: Ouery
Henry Lawrence Servant to the same Scrivener
Irrotulatur in Dorsis Clausarum Cancellarie infrascripti Domini Regis vicesimo tertio die Aprilis Anno regni sui Anglie vndecimo
Per Ricardum Bull

Walker
     et
Shakespeare & alij