82 Histoty of the 



families who lived in competence and quiet upon these new 

 improvements, without any other resources." ((/) 



A lengthened litigation ensued, involving a mass of corres- 

 pondence, and leaving behind, on settlement of the dispute, an 

 array of documents, in the shape of petitions, instruments, com- 

 missions, &c., far too numerous to quote or even to enumerate. 



The key to the nefarious proceedings on the part of the Crown 

 is supplied by the unwarrantable demand subsequently made on 

 the copyholders for payment of a certain sum to ensure the perfect- 

 ing of their respective titles to the lands in question. 



It is difficult to utter language sufficiently strong in condemna- 

 tion of the conduct of the ruler and his minions throughout the 

 whole of these unrighteous transactions. A more barefaced 

 attempt to extort money under false pretences is surely not on 

 record. Notwithstanding the injustice of the demand, it would 

 appear that the wealthier proprietors were willing to make a com- 

 mutation. In this, however, they experienced some difficulty, 

 owing to their not being able to obtain the written assent of the 

 smaller owners for the payment of their proportionate share of the 

 amount demanded. 



A letter from Richard Towneley, Edward Rausthorn, and others, 

 states that, — " Through the fantastical persuasion of the vulgar 

 sorte, that handes set to an instrument will bind them to they 

 know not what inconveniences, they are enforced to rest only on 

 promises : now in respect the vulgar sorte is knowne to be vari- 

 able, and may alter from this second resolution ; least the peevish- 

 ness of some few should disadvantage or discredit our undertaking ; 

 we are of opinion that this, by Mr. Auditor's and your good 

 meanes made known to the privy council, will worke such effect, 

 yt according to ye proverbe, ' The fryers shall not be beaten for 

 the nunnes fault.' " Dr. Whitaker, in his usual supercilious and 

 disdainful manner when speaking of the humbler classes, thus 

 comments on the circumstances referred to in the above letter : — 



(d) Hist. Whalley, third edition, p. 209. 



