Noverint universi per presentes me Samuel Blackerby de Grays Inn in Comitatu Middlesex Arming? teneri et firmiter obligari Josepho Fitch de East Reach in Comitatu Camtebr’ yeoman in septentis libris bone et legalis monete magne Britannie solvendum eidem Josepho Fitch aut suo attornato executoribus administratoribus vel assignatibus suis ad quam quidem solutionem bene et fideliter faciendam obligo me et heredes executores et administratores meos firmiter per presentes sigillo meo sigillatum Datum vicesimo primo die May anno regni domine nostre anne Dei Gratia magne Britannie Francie Hibernie regine fidei Defensor et Septimo anno Domine 1708

The condition of this obligation is such that if the abovebounden Samuel Blackerby by his heirs executors or assigns or any of them do and shall well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said Joseph Fitch his executors administrators or assigns or any of them at or in the now dwelling house of the said Joseph Fitch situate in East Reach aforesaid the full and just sum of three hundred and fifteen pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain in manner and form following (that is to say) seven pounds and ten shillings part thereof on or upon the one and twentieth day of November next ensuing the day of the date hereof and three hundred and ten pounds and ten shillings residue thereof on or upon the one and twentieth day of may which shall be in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and nine according to the true intent and meaning of the condition proviso or agreement contained in a certain Indenture Tripartite of Assignment bearing the date and made or mentioned to be made between the said Samuel Blackerby of the first part William Piggott of Broadhurst in the County of Sussex Gentleman and Henry Child of London and ??? Draper of the second part and the said Joseph Fitch (by the name of Joseph Fitch of East Reach in the county of Cambridge Yeoman and of the two administrators of the goods and chattels rights and credits of William Freeman late of East Reach aforesaid yeoman deceased with his will annexed) of the third part and else if the said Samuel Blackerby by his heirs executors administrators and assigns and every of of them do and shall well and truly observe perform fulfill accomplish and keep all and singular the covenants grants articles clauses provisos conditions and agreements whatsoever which on his or their parts or behalfs are or ought to be observed performed fulfilled accomplished and kept comprized and mentioned in the abovementioned Tripartite Indenture and that [illegible] by all things according  to the true intent and meaning of the said Indenture then this present obligation to be void and of none effect or else to remain and be in full force power and virtue.

Sealed and delivered (this paper being stamped with two sixpenny
stamps) in the presence of us                                                                                                SaBlackerby  (seal)

James Burroughs
Robt Martin

[Note: I (i.e., Peter Tiersma) have done my best to decipher the original—in court hand—and to fill in abbreviations.]

Rough translation of the Latin paragraph: Know all man by these presents, that I, Samuel Blakerby, of Gray’s Inn, in the county of Middlesex, Armington?, am held and firmly bound to Joseph Fitch of East Reach in the County of Cambridge, yeoman, in the amount of  seven pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain, to be paid to the said Joseph Fitch, or his attorney, executors, administrators, or assigns; for which payment well and faithfully to be made, I bind myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators, firmly by these presents, sealed with my seal. Dated the fourth day of September in the twenty-first year of the reign of our sovereign lord, George the Second, by the grace of God King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred, and forty-seven.

Source: Collection of Peter Tiersma