Reference
PB/O2/5
Title
Copy letter, not dated, addressed or signed but clearly relating to PB/O2/4 and probably from Bragg to Whitworth:
"I can't help being surpris'd that you should write in such strange terms to the Vicar of Biggleswade in relation to the Exercise of the Jurisdiction of that Peculiar as I find you have lately done it is very extraordinary that you should single out that Peculiar from many others in this part of the Diocese and claim the Jurisdiction of it whilst others are exercis'd by different powers without Molestation. I believe I may venture to say that my claim is as good as any one else can pretend to have, or I myself now have to others in the Neighbourhood of it, which other people as well as my self have long peaceably exercis'd and still do; nay I believe I may go further and say that my claim is stronger in this instance than in the others I am in possession of, or those whom other people enjoy in the Neighbourhood.. I have (over and above the power which all my neighbours at present claim by and have done long before yrs and my memory) a consent or acquiescence from a part of the present Chapter of Lincoln (and particularly one invested with a proper power from them to exercise Jurd'on himself and appoint others as Ministerial under him) to Act the part I now do therein and therefore I have more than ordinary reason to wonder at this treatment from you. To say nothing of the great inconveniences which the Subjects have long suffered since I Wav'd (for peace sake) the power I was heretofore and stil lam in possession of, thro' the necessity they have been put to of proving Wills, Admons &c in London taking Clandestine Lycenses [sic] from their Neigbours [sic] and having no Courts held for the swearing their Churchwardens passing their accounts &c and what still they might further expect from a Continuation of the Exercise or rather non Exercise of the Jurisdiction in the same Channell I must beg leave to say (with great deference to the Gentlemen under whom you claim) that in my Own opinion I am very doubtfull [sic] whether the present Law in Westminster hall would countenance such a claim as yours is after having been inform'd of the many and great inconveniences the Subject have so long suffer'd under it and that it is so directly opposite to that power all the Peculiar in these parts have been Exercis'd by for time beyond any memory and which this very Peculiar has in mine, my Father's and time long before been Subject to I hope therefore as I have shown an inclination to Act under the appointment of a Power constituted by the Chapter and have long (for peace sake) wav'd a prior title (which I never had reason to doubt but was well Establish'd) that all the Gentlemen in the Chapter will be willing to acquiesce - for the reasons before given, with my Acting as Req'd in this Peculiar as they do in the others which I and my Neighbours are concern'd in in the remote parts of the Diocese. But against the Peace of the Chapter and the Jurisdiction you shall encourage them to be of another opinion and succeed therein and thereupon shall determine and can think it worth your while to contest the abovementioned powers that I claim the right of acting under as Req'd in this Peculiar. I must beg leave to assure you that for the singularity of it as being particularly pointed at when none of my Neighbours are besides I am determin'd to give you the trouble of bringing you action against me for what I shall have done herein and I will try the Right of it with You at all Events in Westminster Hall"
Date free text
1729?
Production date
From: 1729 To: 1730
Level of description
item