March 21st, 1698. The inhabitance of the town of Bedford by a maiger uote doth order e agree yt. every acre of land e meadow within the bounds of Bedford that is alooted unto pertickler persons; both improved e not emproved ; that is to say. what, every man doth possess for their one; that man or parson shall pay three pence an acre yearly for evry acre towards the maintaining of a minister amongst us.

2nly. The town by a maigor uote doth order that this above said uote shall be presented unto the Jenarall Court at Herford, that it may be established as a law for the town of Bedford." Their supplies all seemed to leave them, and "ieneuary 9th, 1698-9: the town by a maigor uote doth order that there shall be a request made to the ministars of the county to inquire for us, e to acquaint us where we may be likely to ataine to a ministar and for his encuredgment we do agre upon serious consideration for his incuredgment to give him a house loot e forty acres of land e medow; e thurty pounds a yer in curant provision pay. Febuarv Sth, 1698-9. The town by a maigor vote doth agree to improve the town loot this year in the town way towards the maintainance of a ministar e to mack theyer fence, now belonging unto ye house loot e euery inhabitant to mack theyer equall sharis up with good sofisiant fine raill fence as it shall be laved out by ye towns men e it is to pass the vewars; -- e the town dos agree to plow, plant e tend the loot in a way of a town rate, e if any refuse or nedgleckt to dew theyr shair of fence up by the fifteenth of march next to come shall pay four shillings a rood to the town men as they may have it dun up as above said.