The Erle's Patent.—It appeareth the Erle in 7 Reginae, accepted all his Erledome of Her Majesty by lettres patents to him and the heires masles of his bodie, and died without heire masle, having one daughter and heire maried to the said Florence.
Browne's Mortgage.—The Erle about x yeares past mortgaged for the some of 1000 markes or thereabouts 32 quarters of his lands to Nicholas Browne and his heires, and because that mortgage was not good longer then the Erle had heirs masles, the Queen's Majesty in favour granted lettres patents to the said Browne of those 32 quarters at cxxli annuall rente or thereabouts, to beginne after the death of the Erle without heires of his bodie, where it should have bene without heirs masles by which imprisions Browne's lettres patents are voied, till the Erles daughter shall die without heirs of her bodie.
The Erle died seised of xvi quarters of land more (besids his said lands mortgaged) and likewise of the Signories, rents, and duties, belonging to his Earldom, all which are reverted to Her Majesty, and in her disposition, as the Lords do conceave by relation of the Master of the Rolles, and Her Majesty's Solicitor in Ireland, albeit Florence shewed forth a deed of entaile of all the Erledom, in the tyme of Queene Marie, which deed having slept so long, and for some respects is not of credit in their Lordships opinion.
Florence and his wyf to have the lands in fee farme.
So as all the Erle's lands being now in Her Majesty's disposition, their Lordships thinke convenient for Her Majesty's service, in hope of Florence, his loyaltie, and service, being best hable to recover those lands out of the rebells hands, to moove Her Majesty to grant all the 32 quarters which Browne held; and th other xvj whereof the Erle died siesed, to Florence, and his wyfe, and his heires, being doughter and sole heire to the late Erle for £cxx per annum, because the rent which Browne paid is conceaved to be somewhat at too high a rate, for those barren lands, in so remote a place.
Browne to have assurance for his mortgage.
And for Browne's satisfaction of his mortgage money, that Florence do make an estate presentlie upon the ensealing of his lettres patents, to Browne and his heires, of the said 32 quarters formerelie mortgaged to him, paying Her Majesty the Queen's rent, ratably till the mortgage shall be satisfied, as Browne's counsell learned shall devise.
The Erle's cheefreis to be reserved to Her Majesty.
And touching the Erle's Signories, Rents, and superiorities, these to be reserved to the Queen's Majesty's disposition, and to be collected by some officer to be appointed, till Her Majesty shall otherwise dispose of them.
This cause was hard at the Court the xvjth day of March, 1598 before.
Lord Lieutenant.
Lord Chamberlain.
Lord Buckhurst.
Mr. Secretary.