An Abstract of the case of Laurence Lownes Esquire, Concerning the Manors of Hutton, Wandisley, and Angram, with advowson of the Church of Hutton, in the County of the City of York, as it resteth upon the proofs.  
Peter Bland of London Esquire, was seized of, and in the Manors and advowson aforesaid, in his demeasne as of Fee, and being so thereof seized according to a deliberate agreement betwixt him, and the said Laurence Lownes upon accounts made betwixt them, and due consideration of his the said Peter's estate, did give and deliver unto the said Laurence Lownes bonds, and specialties, amounting to 1150 l'. and by his deed indented, bearing date the 12. of Nouem. 22. jacob. Reg. sealed and delivered before many sufficient witnesses without exception, and acknowledged before Sr. james Husse one of the Masters of the Chancery, and there duly enrolled, did bargain, and sell, the said Manors and premises, unto the said Laurence Lownes, and unto james Milles, and joliffe Lownes, and their heirs for ever; yet in trust only for the said Laurence Lownes and his heirs.  
And afterwards, the said Peter Bland 24. Nouem. 22. jacob. by his other deed indented, sealed, and delivered before many likewitnesses, and likewise acknowledged before the said Master of the Chancery, and there duly enrolled, did further bargain, and sell, assure, release, and confirm the said Manors and premises, to the said Laurence Lownes, james Milles, and jolliffe Lownes, and their heirs, in trust, as aforesaid, with a covenant for assurances of the premises.  
And afterwards, for further assurance according to his covenant, 27. junij, 1. Caroli, the said Peter Bland acknowledged a fine of the said Manors and premises before a Sergeant at Law, in the presence of many persons of good worth, quality, and credit, which by his Indenture sealed and delivered before many like witnesses, dated 26. junij, 1. Caroli, was declared to be to the former uses.  

The reasons and considerations inducing the said Peter Bland, to make the said assurances of the said Manors and premises, and disposal of specialties for the said 1150. l'. to the said Laurence Lownes.  


1. Valuable Considerations.  
1. 340 l'. in hand paid by the said Laurence Lownes, to the said Peter Bland.  
2. 310 l'. per annum, to be paid unto the said Bland during his life, by the said Laurence Lownes, the said land being worth, and let for 216 l'. per annum, and no more.  
3. 50 l'. to be paid after the said Peter Blands' death yearly, by the said Laurence Lownes, to Mrs. joane Langhorne, one of the said Blands' Daughters during her life, she being a healthy woman, not yet exceeding forty years of age.  
4. The said Laurence Lownes, is by appointment of the said Peter Bland to pay at several days after the said Blands' death 2509 l' 3 s'. 4d '. to several persons, being children, grandchildren, and others near of kin, unto the said Peter Bland.    
Note that 

1. For these Executory payments, the said Laurence Lownes gave security by Indenture of covenants, and bonds of 4000 l'.  
2. The Lands not worth above 3000 l'. to be sold.    


Considerations of love, etc.  
1. For that the said Laurence Lownes had formerly at the instance of the said Peter Bland, married his the said Blands' niece, whom the said Bland had brought up from her infancy, and was also esteemed by him as his daughter.  
2. For that the said Laurence Lownes had been for a long time a careful and faithful dealer, and preserver of and for the said Blands' estate, which was very troublesome and perplexed.  
3. That the said Peter Bland loved the said Laurence Lownes very tenderly, had an especial opinion of him grounded upon sufficient trials, and desired therefore some way to engage him the more, not for himself only during his life, but afterwards with the care and managing of the estates of his grandchildren.    
It is fully and directly proved by many Witnesses of credit without all manner of exception, that at and during the making and perfecting of those conveyances and assurances, (being almost eight months in doing) as also before and after the said Peter Bland was of an able disposing memory, and understanding, and that at sundry times, and before persons of great credit, he voluntarily expressed his hearty love to the said Laurence Lownes, with wishes that the before bargained premises had been more worth, and that he the said Peter Bland had been of better ability, to do him, the said Laurence Lownes more good in requital of his great love and pains.  
This bargain was ratified and allowed of by the said Peter Bland, by subsequent Acts during all his life after. 

1. In his the said Peter Bland receiving the said 310 l'. per annum during his life, being about two years after according to the said bargain by quarterly payments, as appeareth by eight several acquittances, under his hand and seal proved.  
2 Besides the before mentioned Acts and conveyances) the said Peter Bland by his last Will and Testament in Writing, made and Published the 27. of june, 1. Reg. Caroli, made a principal relation unto the said bargain, and made thereof the said Laurence Lownes, and his brother john Bland his Executors, and lived a year and a half after, still continuing his the said Laurence Lownes, Executorship, in sign also of his constant love and opinion of him, and approbation of the said bargain.    
The premises considered the said Laurence Lownes hopes that it appears that 

1. This was no great benefit unto the said Laurence Lownes.  
2. No prejudice but advantage to the said Peter Bland in his own particular.  
3. The said Peter Bland might the better do thus, having no Sons.  
4. Little or no prejudice came hereby to his Children, grandchildren, and other kindred, among whom besides his former chargeable preferments of his Daughters in marriage; and the said 50 l'. per annum to his Daughter Langhorne, he did by and upon the said bargain dispose the said whole 2509 l', 3 s'. 4 d'. beside the rest of his estate, to and among them also being about 6000 l'. albeit amongst them there were not wanting some just causes of Peter Blands' displeasure towards them.    
The sole objections against the said bargain and assurances are, that all the benefits thereby redounding unto the said Laurence Lownes was corruptly, by circumvention, and without just consideration drawn by the said Laurence Lownes, from the said Peter Bland in his weakness; and therefore in the Court of Chancery, decreed against him the said Laurence Lownes only, albeit the said Court would not declare, that the said Peter Bland was at the making of the assurances, or of the said Will De non sane memory, or that he was not of a disposing memory, nor would make void the said Conveyances, or Will, or disadvantage any whom they concerned, but the said Laurence Lownes only, as by the decree of the said Court made Septimo die Februarij Anno Regni Regis Caroli, tertio: Inter Arnoldum Harbert mil. & al. querend, Lawrencium Lownes & al. defend. whereto for more truth and certain relation be had, it may appear. The post script is to come in at this place.  
To this as concerning all matter of supposed corrupt dealing, circumvention, or want of just consideration, being matters which trench upon the said Lownes his reputation aswell as profit, he with all due reverence Humbly offers the contrary; and that as he hopeth upon most just grounds and reasons, humbly desiring the proofs may be considered, and the cause examined.  
Laurence Lownes hath been in prison in the Fleet close prisoner 3 years for nonꝑformanc●of the said decree, and without any good ground sentenced▪ fined v s in the starchamber for the obtaining of the said Conveyances from Peter Bland & not freed of the said imprisonment until he his wife and two Children being Infants by fine and recovery made assurance of the said Manor and lands unto us according to the compulsion of the said decree in chauncery