A CERTIFICATE FROM NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.  

1. Of the Pluralities.  
2. Defect of Maintenance.  
3. Of not Preaching.  
4. Of scandalous Ministers.   
As there is an Order lately printed and published concerning Ministers, by a Committee of the high Court of Parliament.  
Wherein every Ingenuous person is desired to be very active to improve the present opportunity, by giving true information of all the Parishes in their several Counties.  
LONDON, Printed for William Sheares. 1641.   

A CERTIFICATE from Northamptonshire;  
1. Touching Pluralities, 2. Defect of maintenance. 3. Of not Preaching. 4. Of scandalous Ministers.  
For Northamptonshire.  
THis is to certify, that for pluralities there is not in the whole Shire above sixteen or twenty the number of Benefices being 326. as they are reckoned by Cambden and Speed. And it is conceived by some of good judgement, that these few pluralities do nothing so much hinder the preaching of the Gospel, and discharge of their duties in several kinds, as do the poor and scandalous live in the Country, which I think in number are about one half almost one hundred and fifty.  
Sir Francis Bacon in his considerations for Pluralities saith, that in case the number of able Ministers were sufficient, and the value of the Benefices were sufficient, than Pluralities were in no sort tolerable, but take we heed that we desire not contraries, for to desire that every Parish should be furnished with a sufficient Preacher, and to desire that pluralities be forthwith taken away, is to desire things contrary; considering the facto there are not sufficient Preachers for every parish whereto add that there is not sufficient maintenance in many parishes to maintain a Preacher which makes the impossibility so much the greater.  
Let me add hereunto one passage of the same Author.  
For my own opinion I must confess, let me speak it with reverence, that all the Parliaments since the 27. and 31. of K. Henry the 8. who gave away Impropriations from the Church seem to me to stand in some sort obnoxious, and obliged to God in conscience to do somewhat for the Church to reduce the patrimony thereof to a competency, for since they have debarred Christ's wife of a great part of her dowry, it were reason they made her a competent jointure.  
To the second inquiry.  
Touching want of maintenance, or little maintenance the particulars are very many. For one half almost are appropriate Churches, and the Vicarages commonly left so small and destitute, that there is no sufficient means left to a Minister to buy Books, nor to keep hospitality, or live like a Minister in reasonable condition. Besides the Vicarages that are poor, there are many Parsonagee so abridged and spoilt under pretence of long Leases made before the Statute, and also rate tithes in lieu of tithes in kind, that the live are poor and scandalous. And it is thought by some, that these poor live being so many for number, do more hinder the preaching of the Gospel, than the few Pluralities, because the puralists do preach by themselves, and their Curates, and do oftentimes write in defence of the truth, but the Impropriators preach not at all, poor Vicars preach perhaps more seldom then otherwise they would, and some not at all. Besides pluralities are not held successively so, which is very considerable, but poor Vicarages are continued without amendment. As to instance in particulars.  
1. The Parsonage of Piddington in the Hundred of Wimmersley distant three miles from Northampton, is worth almost three hundred pounds yearly, which Sir john Wake Knight detains wholly in his hands, enjoying both the Parsonage house, all the glebe, being three or four yard land, together with all the tithes whatsoever. And there is not so much as a poor Curate left resident there to read prayers, or Catechise, or bury the dead, or any such like duty. Only Sir john keeps a Minister in his house at the Lodge in Saucy Forest, whom he sends to Piddington at times. There lived lately one Master Cave a very poor miserable Minister, in a very poor Cottage for the space of some forty years, and after his death some three or four years ago there was a Curate one Durham, than one Langley, and now one Setterford, who uncertainly serve the cure in a very poor manner, being not instituted nor inducted, neither is there one child or servant in the parish that can say the Lords prayer of their teaching: though the parish consists of another Village (Hackelton) adjoining to it, so that the Inhabitants are many in number.  
Sir john Wake holds the Parsonage (as is reported) by colour of some old Lease from S john's Hospital in Northampton, which Lease whether it shall expire ever or never is uncertain to any neighbour. Whatsoever his Lease or title be, it is very fit he should allow 100 pounds yearly, together with the dwelling house to a resident Minister, with a convenient portion of the glebe land; it being no lawful Uicarage, but a Church rob by strong hand.  
2. The Parsonage of Hartnell, not fare of, is worth about 100 pounds yearly, and is held by Sir john Wake, in the same kind; the poor Minister Master Io: Gittins that doth serve the Cure, is so very poor and miserable, that no marvel, there is no preaching, he hath been there some thirty or forty years.  
3. The Parsonage of Horton distant three or four miles from Northampton is also a poor Church, not presentative of late years, (though not long since it was) but being enclosed wholly in pastures, and lately come into the hands of a great Nobleman (the Lord Privy Seal) there is a stipendiary Curate allowed at some mean rate; but no man dare be bold to call it in question, the neighbours being but of mean condition that dare not complain, whatsoever their loss or grievance be.  
The Curate is one master Marten, of commendable desert, for aught I know, and lives there by courtesy in an—  
But the Parsonage house, glebe and tithes are all lost and gone, for aught I can hear.  
4. The Vicarage of Preston distant three miles from Northampton, is worth 100 marks yearly, as is reported, but the dwelling house is long since pulled down, the glebe lost, and the tithes all detained by the Lords of the Manor, Sir Robert Hartnell and his Father, allowing some eight pounds' stipend to a poor Vicar. Thus it continued all Queen Elizabeth's time, and King james reign in a very scandalous manner, insomuch as master jasper Hartnell, and Sir Robert Hartnell his son, pulled down the body of the Church, sold the Lead and the Bells, and employed it to profane uses, the Chancel also for a time was profaned, being made a Kennel for Greyhounds, and the Steeple a Pigeon house. As for prayers and preaching, when they were disposed to have any, it was performed in the Hall or Parlour, the house standing near to the Church, and sometimes they frequented the Lectures at Northampton. But Sir Robert Hartnell lately sold the whole estate which he had left remaining to Sir Clement edmond's Knight, whose son Mr. Charles Edmond hath repaited the Chancel, and the body of the Church, and destroyed the Pigeons, pulling down their nests, and hath put all things in good order for the Church and Fabric, only thee poor U●car is destitute of globe or dwelling house, and for these 80. years it hath stood in a miserable case, though upon a late suit in th'E●chequer, the Vicarage tithes are recovered, and upon the next avoidance it is hoped there will be some amendment.  
5. The Vicarage of Thrip, within three miles of Northampton is very poor and contemptible, having only a beggarly Cottage allowed to the Vicar for his dwelling house, and some small tithes, to the value of 20 pounds yearly, or somewhat better if they be well paid, but the Parsonage house, and glebe which by right, and the old endowment (which lately remained upon Record) doth belong to the Vicar, is detained by Sir Richard Samuel Knight, not by any good title in law, but some colour of an Order (as is reported) in th'Exchequer made long ago, when his Grandfather perhaps was an Auditor in th'Exchequer, and so might procure some favour there in his own behalf, more than a poor miserable Vicar could ever get reversed or altered. The tithe corn is worth one hundred pounds yearly, which also Sir Richard Samwell holdeth an Appropriation.  
But by this means the Vicar is very poor, and in part scandalous, being a man chosen by Sir William Samwell, and there presented, who would be sure to place one in the Vicarage, that for want of wit and means, should never be able to make any question of the Parsonage house and glebe. The want of bread and drink in his own house, doth make him too often frequent the Alehouse, where if he talk foolishly, it is not much to be wondered at.  
6 The Parsonage of Lampert, distant four miles from Northampton, is worth about 400 pounds yearly, but it is held by Sir john Issam Knight by colour of an old long Lease, and the present incumbent hath but some stipend upon agreement, but heehath also another Living not fare off, where he resideth, but if this Rectory had the rights restored, it would give entertainment to any one of the most eminent Divines in either Universities, and there might be continual preaching in very due manner, with great hospitality and relief of the poor. The old Curate Master Bunny, who died lately, lived very poor and long, and no marvel if there were little preaching, and 'tis pity that such a great Living should be swallowed up under colour only of a Lease.  
7. Duston a poor Vicarage stipendiary near Northampton Master james the Vicaris well reputed, but his living is very poor, only 20. pounds yearly, some 5. pounds more was given lately by the Honourable Earl of Warwick, but he having sold his estate there, that Exhibition is discontinued.  
8. Dallington a poor Vicarage near Northhampton, the Patron is Sir Henry Wallop.  
There are many other poor Vicarages and Live in this Country, occasioned sometimes by the Appropriations, sometimes by the mean and small rates which in many places are given only for tithes, as twenty shillings where twenty pounds were due, if tithes in kind were paid. I think the Clergy would be content to forgo their pluralities (being so few for the number) if the poor Vicarages, and other poor live might be made compatible, or enjoy their fulltithes, and the small rates taken away throughout the whole Kingdom, which is but a very reasonable proposal, if pluralities should be taken away, and till there be a tolerable maintenance provided in every parish, it is impossible that there should be a constant faithful preaching ministry throughout the whole kingdom, which hath been so often moved and petitioned for in Parliament.  
Cambden doth reckon almost the one half of the parishes in the Kingdom to be Vicarages, there being in the whole nine thousand two hundred, whereof almost four thousand are Appropriate Churches, which for the most part are poor, besides also many Parsonages are very destitute, and unfit to give entertainment to a constant and diligent Preacher, and many also are shamefully spoilt and rob most unjustly, though they be not Appropriate.  
It hath been reported that it was once voted in Parliament in Queen Elizabeth's time, that an Act might pass to make it lawful for them that would be willing to restore Impropriations to the Church, (which now is not lawful in an ordinary way without charge) and that the Religious Earl of Huntingdon offered to restore all the Impropiations of his estate, which then was great, and might have many in it. The motion was in many respects Christian, pious, and very religious, but it happened to be denied, ne res transiret in exemplum; Which was detestable, and perhaps one cause why God hath given no better success to many Parliaments since that time. Master Calvin speaking of Impropriations, saith, that the theft is still continued in the Church, only the thiefs are changed, heretofore the Monks and Friars were the thiefs, now many that would be accounted good Protestants. It were much to be wished that the Parliament would make an Act, whereby it should be freely lawful, and absolutely clear in Law, without any hindrance to restore or purchase Impropriations to the Church, wherein of late years many worthy Gentlemen have given singular good example, as Master Richard Knightly, who died lately, restored Preston and Faustey (as is reported) whiles he lived, blessed be his name and memory. I have heard a wise man propose a course, how the Restitution of Impropriations might be made easy; and that was, if the King would be pleased to publish and grant Letter, Patents, to give leave for restitution of them, and if this may hold good in law, (as good Lawyers may easily inform and direct a course, for the drawing of the Letters Patents) it would in time produce many singular and good effects, for many well disposed Gentlemen are willing to restore, and many might be named, as Sir william Dorrington, Knight of Hampshire, restored six out of his own estate, to the value of five hundred pounds yearly, and more.  

Concerning the scarcity of preaching Ministers throughout the whole Kingdom.  
In the general it may be objected, that there is no scarcity, for it is thought, and I take it, may easily be proved, that for number there are more Preachers, and for worth and desert more excellent within these last 40. years, than ever was since the Reformation of Religion, or since we were first Christians. And both the Universities have greatly increased in numbers of Scholars and Preachers, especially since King james his time because he gave so pious example, being excellently learned himself, and speaking favourably, as the good Hezekias did to all the Levites, that taught the good knowledge of the Lord.  
Perhaps the scarcity of preaching Ministers (if it be so) may arise from the causes alleged in the Conference at Hampton Court.— Where the King saith that he had consulted with his Bishops about that complaint, whom he found willing and ready to second him in it,— but as subita evacutio, was periculosa, so subita mutatio, therefore this matter was not for a present resolution, because to appoint to every parish a sufficient Minister, were impossible, the Universities would not afford them. Again, he had found already that he had more learned men in his Realm than he had sufficient maintenance for, so that maintenance must first be provided, and then the other to be required. What the King saith that the Universities will not afford store of learned Preachers to supply every parish throughout the Kingdom, is true, if a view and consideration be taken of their numbers; for both Universities will not afford constantly every year 200. Preachers (though perhaps at this instant they would afford 100 a piece, because there be many there that would gladly be gone if they had Benefices) whereas of nine thousand parishes, and 200. in all, there dies five or six hundred Ministers every year, so that there should be to supply the vacancies that happen by death every year so many ready Preachers (if the Colleges could afford them) but seeing the Universities cannot afford so many, the supply of the rest (300. at least yearly) must come from Curates, Schoolmasters, and such as teach children in the houses of Knights and Gentlemen, whom they commonly reward with some Benefice in their gift and donation.  
But further in that Conference of Hampton Court, Doctor Bilson then Bishop of Winchester, made known to the King that then insufficiency of the Clergy, be it as it was at that time, came not by the Bishop's defaults, but partly by Lay-Patrons, who did present very mean men to their Cures, whereof in himself he shown an instance, how that since his being Bishop of Winchester, very few Masters of Art, were presented to good Benefices, partly by the law of the Land, which admitteth of very mean and tolerable sufficiency in any Clerks, so that if the Bishop should not admit them, then presently a Quare impedit is sent out against him. And certainly it cannot be denied but that man. Patrons are very much to be blamed, for as the excellent Bishop jewel complained in his time, in a Sermon before the Queen's Majesty, that if the Patron were no better than a Gentleman, they seldom suffer a Benefice to pass, but either for the Lease, or for ready money. I wish it were made by Law to be felony, to take either Lease of the tithes or ready money for a Living. Mr. George Catesby Gentleman, that wants neither wit nor learning, and one that will talk zealously for Religion, yet he sold most shamefully a very good Parsonage, viz. Acton worth 240 pounds yearly, first to one Master Carjer, then to one Master Parker, two scandalous Ministers for many disorders, so that Master Catesby was the true cause of that scandal and mischief that did arise to the Church thereby, and now the same Living is upon sale again the third time, the old incumbent being hurt and sickly. But when Benefices are exposed to sale, the choice of a Minister can never be good, for Chapmen that buy in this kind are commonly obnoxious men, or none of the best sort.  
Master Perkins, that man of God, in his Sermon of the duties and dignity of the ministry, giveth three reasons of the rareness and scarceness of good Ministers. 1. The contempt and disgrace of their Calling, by wicked and worldly men. 2. The difficulty of discharging the duties of their Calling. 3. The third is more peculiar to this age of the New Testament, viz. Want of maintenance and preferment for men that labour in the Calling, and that in these times under the Gospel, when it deserves best to be rewarded. Certainly it were a worthy Christian policy to propound good preferments to this Calling, that thereby men of the worthiest gifts might be won to it, and the want thereof is the cause why so many young men, of especial parts and greatest hope, run to other vocations, and especially to the Law, wherein at this day the greatest part of the finest wits of the Kingdom are employed. And why? but because they have all the means to rise, whereas the Ministry for the most part yields nothing but a plain way to beggary. This is a great blemish in our Church, and surely I wish the Papists, those children of this world, were not wiser in their kind, in this point, than the Church of God. The reformation hereof is a work worthy of the labour of a Prince and people, and special care is to be had in it, else it will not be reform, for doubtless had not God himself in the Old Testament taken such straight order for the Live of the Levites, they had been put to no less extremities, then is the Ministry of this Age. Thus master Perkins, and much more he hath touching this and the former reasons, in the same Treatise, whereto I refer.  
It is not to be forgotten, what was the sin of jerobeam, that made Israel to sin, he made Priests of the basest of the people; and this he did, 
2 Chron. 13.9.  because he rob sacrilegiously the Priests and Levites of all the Cities which they had in his Kingdom of the ten Tribes, (and those Cities were many more than there are Bishoprics in England.) And also he freed the people from the payment of tithes to the Levites (which is the secret thing which our common Freeholders and Grand-Iury-men do so much aim at, if Bishops and their Courts were overthrown) so that of necessity he must make base Priests, for his base gods. And so if tithes were taken away here, then would quickly follow jerobeams Priesthood base, contemptible, poor and illiterate, for what man of good quality or ability, will bring up his son to the Ministry, when he shall be sure to be nailed fast to one place, and live there only upon a stipend.— Invitatus ad haec aliquis de ponte negabit; A beggar's brat taken from the bridge where he sits a begging, if he knew the inconvenience had cause to refuse it.  
But I greatly hope, and trust that God will so direct and bless the supreme Court of justice, that they will be ready to command, double Honour to be given to the labouring Clergy, as Saint Paul requireth, and make the Calling honourable and respected, according to the true esteem that it ought to have. God said anciently, Levit. 21.8. Thou shalt sanctify the Priest, and he shall be holy to thee. 1. Thou shalt reverently esteem him as an holy person.— Calvin saith upon the place,— Quo melius commendet sacri officii reverentiam admonet ad totius populi salutem spectare; Ego, inquit, sum Deus qui ves sanctifico: Illis autem verbis significat gratiam adoptionis, qua selecti erant in peculium, in sacerdotio fundatam esse.  
And now perhaps you will expect to know from whom this cometh, which for the present, I must request you to excuse; because I fear that upon the knowledge of my name, so many persons as I have had occasion to tax, will think that I singled them out of envy and malice, which I utterly deny: whereas I might have insisted upon many more in the like kind offending: it is indeed too true, there are many more, but hoping there will be a vigilant eye, and prudent care carried in examining the truth of all things, and that many others will send in their Advertisements to the like purpose, I will proceed no further. Only submitting to censure whatsoever is amiss, and shall be glad if any thing here mentioned may give the least furtherance to the advancement of God's glory.   

Only let me add one thing as a postscript.  
Whereas there is a bruit and rumour spread, that the Clergy is overgrown of late; and as I have heard it was so told unto the King, when he was last at Berwick, by Master Henderson, a principal Scottish Minister, and also among our own selves many do think so, yet I take it under correction to be a notorious error and fallacy. Sir Francis Bacon saith in one of his Essays, That it is to be foreseen that the population of a Kingdom (especially if it be not mown down by Wars) do not exceed the stock of the Kingdom, which should maintain them, neither is the population to be reckoned only by number, for a smaller number that spend more, and earn less, do wear out an Estate sooner, than a greater number, that live lower and gather more, therefore the multiplying of Nobility, and other degrees of Quality, in an over-proportion to the common people, doth speedily bring a state to necessity. He doth hereby intimate not obscurely, that our Nobility and Gentry is greatly overgrown, for whereas there was but some seventeen Earls, and twenty six Barons in Hen. 8. time, before the dissolution of Religious houses, now there is increased a very great number more especially since the beginning of King james, who to reward old servants, and gain new friends, and withal perhaps to weaken the power and greatness of the Nobility, increased their number exceedingly, especially both before in the Queen's time, and Hen. 8. they did rise upon the Church lands and possessions, being seated for the most part upon the Abbeys, and such like houses taken from Bishops and Churches. Whereas if the lands and possessions of the Abbeys had been well employed, as was pretended and projected, they would have made the Crown richer than the Crown of Spain and both the Indies. For the yearly Revenue of these lands comes to four millions sterling, according to the improved rents of this Age, whereof if but a third or fourth part had been annexed to the Crown and fixed, there would have been little need to grant Subsidies. Whereas being used as it happened, it enriched the Crown very little, but raised a number of petty foggers, and many new Gentlemen, as Raleigh speaketh. And it is easy to be observed, that whereas in Queen Elizabeth's time, there was but two or three Knights in the Shire, now there is sixty, besides many pretended Esquires and Gentlemen, which as Bacon saith, do spend much, and earn little, living for most part above their quality and degree, which they ought to keep in all their behaviour, expenses, apparel, etc.  
But the Clergy for number are not much above the nine thousand and two hundred Benefices that are in the whole Kingdom, and out of those that are above that number the vacancies by death yearly must be supplied, as Curates, Lecturers, Schoolmasters which are besides those in the Universities, which will not afford constantly and yearly two hundred Ministers, whereas there is about six hundred vacancies in the year by death; and other casualties. Besides, the Curates which are under superior Ministers to assist and help them, do live and are maintained out of the profits of the Incumbent of the place, without charge to the Commonwealth otherwise, or the Parishes where they live, and oft times they help themselves by teaching school.  
But if some severe courses now voiced be put in execution, there will be such discouragement given to Scholars in the Universities, that few will apply themselves to the ministry, there may be a si quis set up in Paul's, to accept Live, as was done in the beginning of the Queen's time, when many popish Priests did fly the Land, and the Universities afforded no choice and supply.  
But if the over-growing of the Clergy be understood of wealth and means, I take it is easy to disprove it, for it cannot appear upon good enquiry, that of all the Bishops for these last eighty years since the beginning of Queen Elizabeth, that any almost hath left five hundred pounds yearly in land, or any such considerable estate, except only very few, two or three perhaps, or that all the Bishops being reckoned together, have not left so much land as one Lawyer did to his children, viz. Sir Edward Cook, who left twenty thousand pounds yearly, or little less; Sergeant Gaudy, left five thousand; Sergeant Crew, left four thousand; and many Lawyers do commonly leave one thousand and five hundred pounds yearly, that are of ordinary practice, not of the principal Council to the King, nor great Sergeants or Judges, many of whom have raised up great Families of Nobility and Gentry, whereas very few of the Bishops have been able to leave their sons such estates, as to raise them to Knighthood; one Bishop Sands in Queen Elizabeth's time, left his sons of good estate, but he was a Gentleman well descended, and what other means and helps he had I know not, but the Queen did favour his sons being worthy men. And some other Bishops at this day, and formerly have had rich friends, by whom they have gained the greatest part of their wealth, and not by their preferments in the Church.  
And for the ordinary Clergy, I do not know any man in the Diocese, that is able to leave one hundred pounds, nor scarce fifty pounds to his children in land, excepting Doctor Clerk, who having been the King's Chaplain twenty years hath perhaps gotten something, and he that cannot leave forty pounds or fifty pounds in land at his death, is not to be regarded as a rich man, whereas there are many Attorneyes, besides Lawyers, that have one hundred pounds yearly. I am sure there die every year many Ministers very poor, and leave their children meanly provided for, in regard all the better sort live and continue long at the Universities before they be preferred and married, and die before they can gather any wealth or estate. And of these examples it is easy to produce an hundred for one, that leaves any thing of moment.   
FINIS.