Robert Higgins berates his family and neighbours

This introductory section of the will of Robert Higgins, gentleman, dated 1678, reads; .

'And albeit continual vexations of my unnatural brothers falling out in unquiet and troublesome times together with the feigned friendship of sometime friends and open malice and covetousness of many of my neighbours hath altogether obstructed any improvement of mine estate, yet what the Lord hath left me I do dispose in manner and form following. First I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of my creator, beseeching him for Christ Jesus’ sake my most blessed Lord and Saviour to pardon and remit all my offences that I have through the whole course of my life committed against him. And as for my body, I commit it to the earth whereof it was made, and to be buried in the parish church of Ledbury in or near unto the grave of my dear father, in sure and certain hope of resurrection unto eternal life not doubting but that the Lord in his good time will free that poor parish of Eastnor from the lying lips and deceitful tongue of that proud and perjured priest that the present incumbent there, and that his place may be supplied by a man of care and conscience and of an exemplary life and conversation, that the people may make a conscience of their ways, and extend the bowels of charity one unto another.'