File Clenennau letters and papers 334 [RESTRICTED ACCESS] - Thomas Owen, Plas Du, to his uncle Sir William Maurice, kt, Clenennau,

The tenor of his last letters was not so distasteful or unreasonable as to bring back so bitter an answer, requiring only William Maurice's gentle forebearance for a time. There was no such undutiful disobedience to William Maurice's lawful authority in levying the mise, or the King's will and pleasure to that imposition, as William Maurice unjustly suggested in his answer. Thomas Owen's letter is, if William Maurice peruses it more fully, 'all the harme it expressed'; he made bold, like a blind bayard, to remind William Maurice of some public opposition thereto, which causes others of more tractability to be the more backward. William Maurice shall find that all Thomas Owen's late tenants, now tenants to Sir Thomas Middleton, conformed with Thomas Owen's advice and persuasion and as ready to pay it as any of William Maurice's, which Thomas Owen thinks deserved William Maurice's gentle forbearance, money being scarce, rather than his 'bitter snapp' to his poor nephew, who endeavours to be as little trouble to him as he can, and as faithfully forward to do him any pleasure or service he can, as any kinsman he has. A word or two on behalf of the bearer, Thomas Owen's hired servant, whose father has been a very long time in durance. 7s.6 of this mise was cessed a long time ago on him and his mother, being only poor of stock, but who held lands in their own occupation. But since the first of May last they demised all the lands to two other men, who since dwell there and occupy the lands. They had 2s.10 cessed on them since May last and duly paid it. In this regard they humbly pray William Maurice's gentle consideration to their poor estate and specified case.