| Title | Henry Bourne at East Haddon to his son Immanuel - the whole Army of Gadarenes are risen up against us - we had a meeting and one part will give me but 10s the hardland which will amount to little more than £40 per annum - the other part, lead by that hypocrit John Butin, give only fair words but else are mute - I have been forced to go to the committee at Northampton who say that although the ordinance mentions contracts (and thus, I thought, my rents for tithes by lease) yet it is for tithes to be paid to me - they have ordered that a few of them should pay something of what they owe me, and if not, they will send soldiers to distrain upon them - they are foolishly set against me although I have spent myself upon them 40 years - I have a fellow who preaches once on the Lords Day but he is a disgrace to my place, and yet they approve of him - as for your demand for the £10 I owe you, for you to take some of my worst tenants to deal with, I hold it not so good - one Edward Key is a ruffian who has taken some inclosed lands in Haddon of Parson Downes - I am told that Key borrowed £200 of Mr Mauley, of which Mr Downes had some if not all, and neither ever asked me to take my tithe - when I demanded the tithes of Key, he refused to pay any and said Downes had freed him from payment - Downes has said that he would be a means to bring Key to agree with me but he has given me nothing - there is more than £16 due to me - I desire your advice - whereas my neighbours see they can neither make my title void nor agree with me for naught, they will scarce give me a good look |