Below is a copy of the 1657 contract by which "Richard Newman of Westminster" (presumably Richard Newman of Fifehead) purchased Evercreech Park from John Caryll and John Tretheroy, given to me by the current owners of Evercreech Park Farm. I have made a transcription of the text as best I can (but will be grateful for corrections of any errors that I've made).

It is contracted and agreed by and between John Tretheroy(?) of the Inner Temple London, and Richard Newman of the City of Westminster county of Middlesex Esq(?) as followeth

That for and in consideration of the fund of two thousand and six hundred pounds to be paid in manor following

He the said John Tretheroy(?) and John Caryll Esq (through his procurement) shall convey unto the said Richard Newman and his heirs all those closes or parcels of land meadow and pasture with the houses orchards and gardens thereon containing in the whole by estimation two hundred and nine acres and two roods be the same more or less with(?) the appurtenances commonly called or known by the name of Evercreech Park situated and being in the parish of Evercreech in the County of Somerset And all those two parcels of ground with the said appurtenances commonly called Poyntoins(?) lying and being in the Parish of Pennard in the County of Somerset adjoining to the said Park and ??? ??? And that the said John Tretheroy in one other deed by himself alone shall moreover convey unto the said Richard Newman not only the Park and possessions(?) but all of the advowson rights of patronage nomination and presentation of in and to the parish church and rectory of Ditcheat in the county of Somerset.

That the consideration to be mentioned in the joint conveyance to be made by the John Tretheroy and John Caryll shall be two thousand and eighty pounds to be accounted as part of the two thousand six hundred pounds above mentioned.

That of the said sum of two thousand six hundred pounds shall be payed unto the said John Caryll the sum of one thousand two hundred pounds for the satisfying of Dame(?) Dorothey Drumond and her daughters of a debt allowed as an encumbrance on the said Park and such(?) is to be in full of the said debt according to an agreement made by the John Tretheroy concerning the same.

That one thousand four hundred pounds the residue of the two thousand six hundred pounds shall be paid by the said Richard Newman unto the said John Tretheroy in the manner following that is to say three hundred pounds thereof on twentieth day of October next three hundred pounds more on the last day of January next and the eight hundred pounds residue on the twentieth day of June that shall be in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and fifty eight.

That the said John Tretheroy for your consideration aforesaid doth covenant to save(?) harmless the said Richard Newman his heirs and assignet against Will(?) Downehall Esq and the rest of the creditors in a conveyance bearing date the eleventh day of January one thousand six hundred and fifty three whereby the trustees for sale of delinquent lands conveyed the said Park and lands called Poyntems(?) (amongst other things) unto the said John Caryll and John Tretheroy and against all other persons(?) by the said creditors or any of them(their?) intrasters(?)

And whereas the debts mentioned in the said last recited conveyance do in all amount to said sum of two thousand five hundred and eight seven pounds and eleven shillings and eight pence for the satisfying whereof the said Park and lands called Poyntoms together with three messuages or tenaments and a mill late in the tenure of Amy Strode ??? (lately deceased) were lately conveyed unto the said John Tretheroy and John Caryll by the said trustees as aforesaid.

Now upon due enquiry and consideration had of the respective values of the last recited possession(?) the said John Tretheroy and Richard Newman are duly satisfied and do agree that the said mill and tenament mentioned to be in the late possession of the said Amy Strode and with(?) the said John Tretheroy is still to have and enjoy, are(?) not(?) in value an eighth(?) part of all the possessions(?) in the said last recited conveyance mentioned so that in due proportion the said Park and Lands called Pointoines ought to beard(?) and to be accounted(?) for three thousand one hundred fifty pounds or there abouts of the said debts amounting to three thousand five hundred and eighty seven pounds eleven shillings and seven pence as aforesaid. And the said rectory in regards of two ?e?erall advowsons there of lately granted is not now of any considerable value.

And the said John Tretheroy doth aver that the said Richard Newman should have paid three hundred pounds more than he is to pay by this agreement for the said Park and Lands called Pointoines, but that the said John Tretheroy acknowledges himself much obliged to the said Ricahrd Newman for his assistance with money and advice in compounding with the said creditors and in regards to the said Richard Newman to the a great deal of pains in getting the said debts to be allowed by the Com? for removing of obstructions.

So upon the whole matter it is to be understood that the said Richard Newman pays two thousand and nine hundred pounds for the said Park and Lands called Pointoines.

Sealed and delivered etc