midnight
-- The Proctor 's Principles and His Family . For a considerable time previous to the scene described in our last chapter , a principle of general resistance to tithes had been deepening in and spreading over the country . Indeed the opposition to them had , for at least half a century before , risen up in periodical ebullitions that were characterized by much outrage and cruelty . On this account , then , it was generally necessary that the residence of that unpopular functionary , the tithe-proctor , should be always one of considerable strength , in order the more successfully to resist such midnight attacks as hostile combination might make upon it . Purcel , as well as other proctors of his day , had from time to time received threatening notices , not only of a personal nature , but also of premeditated attacks upon his house . The man was , however , not only intrepid and resolute , but cautious and prudent ; and whilst he did not suffer himself to be intimidated by threats that for the most part ended in nothing , he took care to keep himself and his family well provided against any attack that might be made upon them . The history of Matthew Purcel is soon told .