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 https://archive.org/details/proceedingsprinc80lark 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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PROCEEDINGS, 
 
 PRINCIPALLY IN 
 
 THE COUNTY OF KENT 
 
 IN CONNECTION WITH THE 
 
 » 
 
 PARLIAMENTS CALLED IN 1640, 
 
 AND ESPECIALLY WITH 
 
 THE COMMITTEE OF RELIGION 
 
 APPOINTED IN THAT YEAR. 
 
 EDITED 
 
 BY THE REV. LAMBERT B. LARKING, M.A. 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 COLLECTIONS OF SIR EDWARD DERING, BART., 1627-1644, 
 
 WITH 
 
 A PREFACE BY JOHN BRUCE, ESQ. F.S.A. 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE CAMDEN SOCIETY. 
 
 M.DCCC.LXII. 
 
WESTMINSTER : 
 
 PRINTED BY JOHN BOWYER NICHOLS AND SONS 
 25 , PARLIAMENT STREET. 
 
 [no. iaxx.] 
 
 THE GETTY CENTS* 
 L1BRAR7 
 
COUNCIL OF THE CAMDEN SOCIETY 
 
 FOR THE YEAR 1861 - 62 . 
 
 President , 
 
 THE MOST HON. THE MARQUESS OF BRISTOL, V.P.S.A. 
 WILLIAM HENRY BLAAUW, ESQ. M.A., F.S.A. Treasurer 
 BERIAH BOTFIELD, ESQ. M.P. F.R.S. F.S.A. 
 
 JOHN BRUCE, ESQ. F.S.A. Director . 
 
 JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ. F.S.A. 
 
 WILLIAM DURRANT COOPER, ESQ. F.S.A. 
 
 JAMES CROSBY, ESQ. F.S.A. 
 
 JOHN EVANS, ESQ. F.S.A. 
 
 JOHN FORSTER, ESQ. LL.D. 
 
 THOMAS W. KING, ESQ. F.S.A. York Herald. 
 
 THE REV. LAMBERT B. LARKING, M.A. 
 
 JOHN MACLEAN, ESQ. F.S.A. 
 
 FREDERIC OUVRY, ESQ. Treas. S.A. 
 
 WILLIAM JOHN. THOMS, ESQ. F.S.A. Secretary. 
 WILLIAM TITE, ESQ. M.P. F.R.S. V.P.S.A. 
 
 HIS EXCELLENCY M. VAN DE WEYER. 
 
The Council of the Camden Society desire it to be under¬ 
 stood that they are not answerable for any opinions or observa¬ 
 tions that may appear in the Society’s publications; the Editors 
 of the several Works being alone responsible for the same. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The volume which is now offered to the Camden Society possesses 
 many distinct and considerable claims to the attention of historical 
 inquirers. That it contains valuable papers, before unpublished, 
 which have reference to public affairs in the memorable year 1640, 
 is alone sufficient to ensure it attention; but, when it is known that 
 the majority of these papers relate to the proceedings of the House 
 of Commons in reference to the ecclesiastical administration of 
 Archbishop Laud, and that they illustrate the state of the Church 
 of England, and the character of its ministers, principally in the 
 county of Kent, at that period, a portion of our history which has 
 been as yet very imperfectly set forth, we are sure that the volume 
 will be perused with avidity. 
 
 There is another point of interest in this volume in connection 
 with the place whence these papers have been procured. All of them 
 have come from the manuscript collections at Surrenden, collections 
 to which English historical literature already owes no inconsider¬ 
 able debt. From the days of Sir Robert Cotton, who derived from 
 Surrenden an original of Magna Charta; and those of Hearne, who 
 published Sprot’s Chronicle from the same historical storehouse; 
 and those of Blomefield, who thence obtained many valuable docu¬ 
 ments for his History of Norfolk; down to our own days, in which 
 the elegant volumes of the Archseologia Cantiana have been indebted 
 to the same collection for some of the earliest and most interesting 
 documents which they have made known, the successive owners of 
 the Surrenden Papers have been ever ready to acknowledge the 
 honourable obligations which attach to the possession of such ines- 
 
 b 
 
VI 
 
 FREFACE. 
 
 timable stores. Among the gentlemen to whom these papers have 
 belonged during a period of more than two hundred years, no one 
 has ever advanced a claim to be entitled to lock up that portion of 
 the history of England which they contain, or to prevent duly 
 qualified inquirers from using the information upon public affairs, 
 which, by the power of wealth or of other private circumstances, 
 has chanced to come into his possession. 
 
 At the period to which the papers now published relate, the col¬ 
 lection at Surrenden was in the process of formation by Sir Edward 
 Dering, then the head of the family, and some acquaintance with 
 Sir Edward’s position and personal character is necessary to the 
 understanding of the papers themselves. A full biography, with a 
 detailed account of his collections, would be an excellent subject for 
 the Archaeological Society of Kent, and would form a grateful tri¬ 
 bute to his memory; all that we can do is to put together such a 
 sketch as may be formed from the materials at our command. 
 
 Sir Edward Dering was descended from an ancient and well-con¬ 
 nected Kentish family. A pedigree registered in the College of 
 Arms traces the Derings back, step by step, to the reign of Henry 
 IV. ; a but family tradition connects them with periods and persons 
 of ail almost mythical antiquity. Domesday Book and the Textus 
 Roffensis are quoted in their behalf. A miles of their stock is 
 alleged to have flourished as far back as the year 880, and Dering 
 son of Sired, who is recorded in Domesday Book as a landholder in 
 Kent in the time of Edward the Confessor, is reported to have shed 
 his blood by the side of King Harold on the field of Hastings. 
 His descendants were not less loyal to the Norman dynasty than 
 the Dering of Domesday was to that of their predecessors. A 
 
 a A magnificent copy of this pedigree, emblazoned with great skill and taste, has been 
 kindly lent to us for the purposes of this publication by the widow of the late Mr. 
 Cholmeley Dering, at whose expense it was compiled. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Vll 
 
 Dering was slain, it is said, at tlie Battle of Lincoln in the year 
 1141, fighting manfully to release King Stephen; and others of 
 the same name have been ever ready to display their prowess 
 and fidelity on all honourable occasions. Leaving to others in¬ 
 quiries too remote for our present purpose, it will be sufficient 
 to go back with the Derings to the reign of Elizabeth, when two 
 brothers of this stock were conspicuous in their several stations. 
 The one was a popular preacher in London, a man of distin¬ 
 guished eloquence and zeal, and successively Lady Margaret pro¬ 
 fessor of Divinity at Cambridge, a preacher at Paul’s Cross, the 
 holder of the family living of Pluc.kley in Kent, and a prebendary of 
 Salisbury. These promotions did not suffice to keep him out of 
 trouble. He was plain-spoken to excess. Even the Queen did not 
 escape his lash. In a sermon which he preached before her Majesty 
 in 1569, he warned her lest she, who had been, tanquam ovis, as a sheep 
 appointed to be slain (Psalm xliv. 22), should come to be chastised, 
 tanquam indomita juvenca, as an untamed and unruly heifer. (Jerem. 
 xxxi. 18.) Her Majesty deemed the allusion a little too forcible, 
 and Dering was forbidden to preach any more before the Court. 
 Some time afterwards he was prosecuted for Puritanism before the 
 High Commissioners, and, after a long suit, was suspended from 
 the exercise of all his clerical functions. 
 
 Whilst Edward Dering-, the preacher, ran his distinguished, 
 but somewhat troublous, course — strengthening the foundations 
 of protestantism in the hearts of thousands who listened with 
 rapture whenever he preached, and bought up with eagerness large 
 editions of his published sermons—his elder brother Richard ful¬ 
 filled the duties of the head of the house at Surrenden. His goods 
 and lands increased under his careful management. He married 
 into the Twysdens, a family of high consideration in their common 
 county, and died in 1612, at the good old age of 82. 
 
Vlll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Richard Dering’s eldest son, Sir Anthony (one of the 133 
 knights made by King James on his first arrival in London), married 
 first Mary third daughter of Sir Henry Goring of Sussex, and after¬ 
 wards Frances third daughter of Lord Chief Baron Bell. By his 
 first wife he had no children; by his second he was the father of Sir 
 Edward Dering, whose untoward fortunes we are about to relate. 
 
 He was horn in the Tower of London on the 28th January, 
 1598, probably in the lodgings assigned to the Deputy-Lieutenant, 
 an office held by his father. 8. Named after his relative the eminent 
 preacher, who was the first Edward in the family, he inherited a con¬ 
 siderable share of his great-uncle’s peculiar gifts, an eloquence that 
 was unquestionable and most persuasive, a natural tendency of his 
 mind towards religious subjects of inquiry, a strong dislike of Rome, an 
 aversion from ceremonialism, and an anti-prelatic feeling in reference 
 to the titles, wealth, and worldly occupations of the hierarchy. 
 Of his education we find little trace. His namesake was of Christ’s 
 College, Cambridge, and Sir Edward of Magdalen College in the 
 same university. That there or elsewhere he obtained a proficiency 
 in literature, both sacred and classical, may be safely inferred from 
 his speeches and publications. Readiness in classical quotation was 
 a talent by which, on at least one occasion, he was seriously misled. 
 At the age of 20, if we interpret rightly the evidence of his portrait 
 and his papers, he was a young- man of a handsome presence, pleasing 
 and ready in speech, singularly affectionate in disposition, ever ready. 
 to do kindly actions, conscious of his own good gifts, fond of applause, 
 liberal, and not without ambition, although at first it scarcely seemed 
 to develope itself in the direction of politics. We have not found 
 that he ever entered of any Inn of Court, or was trained in any way 
 for the management of public business. His means and allowances as 
 an eldest son, although never large, were probably sufficient for his 
 
 a Notes and Queries, iii. 220, from a paper in tile Surrenden collection. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IX 
 
 maintenance, and on his first entry into life he devoted himself to 
 the cares of an establishment, to his duties as a country gentleman, 
 and to that which was his great delight—the study and collection of 
 antiquarian remains, and the formation of a library of manuscripts. 
 He was knighted by King James in Jan. 1618-19, going to New¬ 
 market, probably from Cambridge, to procure that honour; and in 
 the November following was married to Elizabeth, the eldest of the 
 nine daughters of Sir Nicholas Tufton, subsequently created Lord 
 Tufton and Earl of Thanet. The young lady’s mother was a 
 daughter of Thomas Cecil, the first Earl of Exeter, the eldest son of 
 the great Lord Burghley. The Cecils were for a long time one of 
 the most powerful families of the kingdom, and Sir Edward was thus 
 brought into connection with many most influential persons, but we 
 do not find that the relationship was in any special way beneficial to 
 his worldly prospects. Both parties were very young, the marriage 
 was probably entirely one of affection, and was soon dissolved by 
 the death of the lady. She gave birth to a son, named Anthony 
 after his paternal grandfather, but survived her marriage little more 
 than two years. She died on the 24th Jan. 1622, in her twenty- 
 first year. 
 
 Sir Edward’s second adventure in matrimony was a more deter¬ 
 minate attempt to obtain advancement in the world. The Ashburn- 
 hams of Sussex, although of an antiquity which even the Derings 
 might envy, had themselves acquired little distinction; hut Sir John 
 Ashburnham, otherwise most unfortunate, had married a Beaumont, 
 one of the same stock as the Countess of Buckingham, the mother 
 of George Yilliers, the royal favourite. Such an alliance opened 
 a way to the employment of Sir John’s children at Court, and was 
 soon found to he more than a sufficient shelter against the absolute 
 poverty in which at his death he was compelled to leave them. In 
 two years from his decease, not bequeathing them, as the family 
 
X 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 record informs us, “ the least substance,” such was the influence 
 exerted on their behalf, and such the cleverness of a mother “very 
 eminent for her great temper and prudence,” a that “ there was 
 not any of them hut was in condition rather to he helpful to others 
 than to want support themselves.” Sir Edward secured the hand 
 of Anne the third daughter of this fortunate family, and soon got 
 into the rapid current of preferment. His letters now begin to 
 contain allusions to public events; his valuable mother-in-law is 
 treated with infinite respect; he takes his father’s place in the 
 business of the county; he seeks to get into Parliament under the 
 Duke’s wing; he is appointed a gentleman of the privy chamber, 
 and leaves his wife at Pluckley, although suffering with a bad 
 cough and advanced in pregnancy, in order to wait on the Duke 
 and take his turn in Court attendance. His position early in 1626 , 
 as well as the great value of the friendship of the inestimable Lady 
 Asliburnliam, are clearly indicated in the following letter: 
 
 Elizabeth Lady Ashburniiam to Sir Edward Dering. 
 
 [Orig. Surrenden MS. About the middle of Jan. 1625-6.] 
 
 Most deare and my beloved Son, I was exceeding glad to heare from 
 you all; but very sorry that my sweet little Anthony b is sicke. I pray 
 God send him soone well againe. It was Fry day night last before I could 
 speake with my son John, 0 and then he tolde me it was past time to get 
 a burgess-sliip, and that Rhemes and Harper (the court steward) and 
 others stood for the place of Hopton; but I finde that it staies till my 
 Lady d comes, and then I will do my best every way, as I finde occasion. 
 Yet I could not be so satisfied, because he had not, as I send [sent?] him 
 word, spoken to my Lord, e but I went my selfe to my Lord to present your 
 
 a Family Monument, quoted in Collins’s Peerage, iv. 260. 
 
 b Sir Edward Dering’s son by his first marriage. 
 
 c John Ashburnham, of the privy chamber, afterwards of the bedchamber; subsequently 
 well known in connection with the history of Charles I. 
 
 d The Countess of Buckingham. « The Duke of Buckingham. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XI 
 
 service, and let him know you were coming to waite on his Lordship, but 
 were caried, by the report of his going to Dover, thither to meat him; 
 excused the chri[s]tninge of the boye, a as well as I could, though I wish 
 I had given a £100 we had stayed. I also moved him for a burges place. 
 My Lord said, if he had knowne in time, you should have bin served as 
 soone as any, but all his letters went that morning before I came to towne, 
 and yet too late, for he is denied at Dover and Hyde, b and another place; 
 for which Sir John Ipsley c is much blamed, and other absurdities he hath 
 comitted, so that I imagine he will not continue long, though he have a 
 bolde toung to excuse him selfe. After this, being not satisfied, I mustered 
 the secretaries together, Packer, Nickolas, for the sinke portes, and the 
 other new one, and found that all the letters did goe a Tusday, who pro¬ 
 fessed you should not have failed if I had sent but a Monday. Now there 
 is only one hope, which they will all watch to do you service in, that is, 
 if any be dubble returned, as perhaps some, not trusting only to my Lord, 
 make meanes in other places. My Lady Den: d and my Lord tolde me you 
 had made much of me, I was growne fatt, and I said I was fatter till I 
 fretted at our ill fortune to misse his favor for my boye, and they said 
 you must get another, which I said you promised me to do. Comend my 
 deere love to my kinde brother and my sister, e whom I love with all my 
 hart, if I had meanes to shew it. And, chiefly out of respect to my Lady, 
 I was with my Lady Fintch and M rs Goldwell, who are both vei'y well, 
 being reported he should have my Lord Huberd’s f place, but I thinke it 
 not so: she will wryte to my Lady Deering as soone as she can. Her 
 children also are well, but at Kinsington. They goe to lye in the Stran, 
 neere Exeter house. And there I mett Baron Travers, g who, as coye as 
 he was, is now towards marriage, tell my Lady, and that my Lady 
 Huberd is well, but in Norfolke. I was also with my Lord of Dorsett to 
 remember your service and thanks, who purposeth to send you shortly a 
 christning remembrance, with a deale of complement, and hath promised 
 me to speak effectually in favor of you to my Lord. I was also with my 
 
 a Edward, Sir Edward’s son by his second marriage. 
 
 b Hythe. c Hippisley. 
 
 d The Countess of Denbigh, Buckingham’s sister. e Sir Anthony and Lady Dering. 
 
 f Sir Henry Hobart, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. 8 Trevor. 
 
Xll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Lord Keeper, the new, a to get a burdgessbip, but all too late. God send 
 us good speed for jour busines! There shalbe no failing in poore me to 
 do you all the service and good I am able, who thinke I cannot bestow 
 my care and love upon one more worthy, saving my quarrell that you will 
 not leave the common title of Madam, in your particular love, to honor me 
 with the name of Mother, who is ever affectionately yours, 
 
 Eliza: Ashburnham. 
 
 There is a proclamation out against papistes, b and much other newes 
 that I have not now time to write. 
 
 But all these zealous strivings were ineffectual. The fatal year 
 1628 witnessed not only the assassination of the royal favourite, 0 on 
 
 a Coventry, in place of Williams. b 11 Jan. 1625-6. 
 
 c In a letter of Sir Edward Dering to his brother Robert, a merchant at that time at 
 Dantzic, dated 8 Sept. 1628, he thus describes the death of Buckingham. The account 
 is not altogether accurate, but as the statement of a contemporary, who was in a position 
 to be well informed, it is worthy of being printed entire, besides that a part of it has a 
 bearing upon Sir Edward’s own fortunes. “ Upon Bartholomew eve was fulfilled a pre¬ 
 diction by the Lady Eleanor Davyes,* made long since (as I remember I had itt almost att 
 last August, 1627) viz. that the Duke of Buckingham should not outlive August 1628 ; 
 which others also had calculated out of the numerall letters of his name, as thus, GeorgIVs 
 DVX BVCklnghaMIse. MDCXVVVIII. 1628. These thinges I knew before, which 
 make me consider the event the more ; nay himselfe was told of these and others att 
 many several times, which still out of the bravery of his sperett he ever slighted and con¬ 
 temned, which sperett if it did arise out of the innocency of his heart, did then deserve a 
 pretious memory. I can not tdl,\ but I am sorry that he lived not to be more fully dis¬ 
 covered, and I feare the wheeles of this state will goe never the smoother for his being 
 layd by. My shallow capacity, or els my slender intelligence, could never yett derive unto 
 my understanding a knowledge, or into my mind a beleef, of the hundredth part of his 
 plotts upon the ruine of this state, which many men yett confidently sweare. If I did think 
 so, I should be gladd of his good riddance as any ; although even at that instant I was a 
 loosei^by his death, for I was then upon treaty with the Leivetenant of Dover Castle 
 
 * The wild anagrammatic prophecies of Dame Eleanor Davies were very much regarded 
 at this time, although one would have thought that such a man as Sir Edward Dering 
 might have escaped the infection of such nonsense. Her prophetical reputation was seriously 
 damaged in public estimation by an ingenious application or retort of her own weapon. It 
 was discovered that “Never soe mad a ladie,” could be derived as an anagram from her 
 own name. 
 
 t The words printed in italic are nearly worn away in the original. I have supplied 
 them, I think correctly, from the slight remains, but it is right to mention the fact. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xni 
 
 whom the value of the family connection with the Ashburnhams 
 depended, but also the death of Lady Dering. In the only letter of 
 hers which we have seen she complains, “ I cannot send any good 
 news of my couges [cough’s] going away, yet I eat ioyes [juice] of 
 lecarich [liquorice.]” The poor lady’s spelling of hard words was a 
 little peculiar, but the story she told was, and, alas ! still is, a common 
 one. The cough hurried her to the grave at the age of twenty-three. 
 
 The Villiers connection left an abiding trace on the family of 
 Dering in a Baronetcy, which was granted to Sir Edward on the 
 1st February, 1626-7; one among innumerable evidences of the 
 favourite’s zeal for the interest of persons connected with him by 
 even the remotest family tie. Lady Dering left two children, 
 the son before alluded to, named after his father, and who ulti¬ 
 mately succeeded to the family honours, and a daughter named 
 
 about resignation of bis place unto me, which the Duke had consented unto, even upon 
 that very day that the news arrived att the Castle of his death, which was acted att Ports¬ 
 mouth about a day and a half before, by one Felton, a Leivetenant, something discon¬ 
 tented with want of pay, and with not succeeding into his captain’s place upon the death 
 of his captaine. The place was the Duke’s chamber, where watching opportunity (as 
 the Duke was bowing in courtesy unto some commanders there present [Margin. Unto 
 Colonel Fryer], and taking theire leaves of him), Felton, having a prepared knife under 
 his hatt, stabbed the Duke into the left side through the lunges, and left the knife in the 
 wound. The Duke presently said, ‘ Villain, thou hast stabbed me!’ and drew out the 
 knife himselfe, laying his hand on his sword, but not able to stirre or speake more. The 
 noise of the distracted company drew thither from the next chamber his miserable Duchesse, 
 who came to see his heart bloud gushe out att his mouth, for that way hebledd more then 
 att his wound. In this meane time Felton went away, but presently returned to the place, 
 and doth seeme to carry this act with the bosome of a quiett settled constancy. The King 
 received the newes with passion and the Queen with teares. None of his offices are yet 
 bestowed, nor shall be untill the solemne funerall be over, for the King sayth he shall 
 carry all his offices to his grave. The Earles of Holland and Dorsett are almost never 
 from the King. Felton gives no other account of his fact, but that after the Parliament 
 had by theire remonstrance unto the King declared how hurtfull to the Commonw’ealth 
 the excessive power of the Duke w 7 as, he ever thought the Duke so greate a burden that 
 he accounted the removing of him a good acte ; and yett professeth he would do itt were 
 itt to do againe. The King sayth he will be a husband to his Duchesse, a father to his 
 children, a master to his servants, and an executor to pay his debtes.” 
 
 CAMD. SOC. C 
 
XIV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Elizabeth, after her grandmother, the clever widow of Sir John 
 Ashburnham. Amidst her care for the welfare of her friends, it is 
 pleasant to know that this excellent lady did not neglect her own 
 advancement. In 1627 she was married to Lord Chief Justice 
 Richardson, and by the King’s special favour was separately en¬ 
 nobled in the following year by the Scottish title of Baroness 
 Cramond; a precedent followed, as every body will remember, in 
 very recent times. 
 
 Having tried two matrimonial ventures at court, Sir Edward 
 Dering’s next attempt was in the city. In the parish of St. Olave, 
 in the Old Jewry, there had died, some few months before the 
 second Lady Dering, a mercer, of the name of Richard Ben¬ 
 nett. 3, His connections were extremely respectable. Sir Thomas 
 Bennett, Alderman and Mercer of London, who died in 1626, was 
 his father. Sir Thomas was Lord Mayor in 1603, on the death of 
 Queen Elizabeth, and was knighted by King James at his corona¬ 
 tion. One of Richard Bennett’s brothers was Sir Simon Bennett, 
 of Beachampton, in the county of Bucks, created a Baronet in 1627, 
 and one of his sisters was wife to Sir George Croke, the judge. 
 The wealthy and well-connected mercer left a widow, named 
 Elizabeth, and one child, a son, named Simon after the boy’s 
 baronet uncle. He had two other sons, both christened Thomas, 
 after their grandfather the alderman, but neither of them survived 
 their father. Mrs. Bennett was of the Staffordshire family of the 
 Cradocks, a daughter of William Cradock, esq., of that county. 
 Her father is mentioned as if resident at Hamburgh in 1628, perhaps 
 as a mercantile agent. 
 
 By the custom of London and uhder the will of her husband, of 
 which she was the sole executrix, Mrs. Bennett took two-tliirds of 
 
 a Buried 29 April, 1G28. Register of St. Olave’s, Old Jewry. Kindly procured for 
 me, with much other similar information by my friend James Crosby, Esq. F.S.A. 
 
FREFACE. XV 
 
 / 
 
 her husband’s property, besides all her jewels and chains of 
 pearl and gold, her diamond and other rings, and her husband’s 
 coach, and the four grey coach mares and geldings, “ with all 
 things thereunto belonging.” These adequate indications of Mrs. 
 Bennett’s comfortable position in the world drew around her 
 a host of suitors. How many she had dismissed before Novem¬ 
 ber, 1628, does not appear, but at that time the gossiping 
 world was amused by the names of three of her most conspicuous 
 admirers, Finch, Crow, and Raven a The Finch was a pros¬ 
 perous lawyer, of good standing and reputation, Sir Fleneage Finch, 
 one of the family of that name seated at Eastwell in Kent. He 
 was Recorder of London, had been Speaker in the parliament of 
 1626, (a proof that he was a man of dignified person,) and, besides a 
 residence in the city, possessed a handsome house at Kensington, the 
 same which was purchased from his descendants and converted 
 into a palace by William III., and the gardens of which have long 
 been a source of health and of daily enjoyment to thousands. The 
 Crow was Sir Sackville Crow, who in laying siege to this “ Twenty 
 thousand pounds widow ” b was making a desperate cast to relieve 
 himself from a serious minus in his public accounts, which shortly 
 afterwards compelled him to retire from his office of Treasurer of the 
 Navy. The Raven was a physician of that name. After having been 
 long a suitor, it occurred to this foolish person that the invaluable 
 widow might be won by a coup-de-main. Making his approaches 
 through the widow’s servants, he found means to silence her per¬ 
 sonal attendant, and, by her collusion, found his way into the lady’s 
 bedchamber after she had retired to rest and had fallen asleep. Not 
 satisfied, like Iachimo, with merely making observations on the scene 
 before him, the medical intruder awoke the widow, and began to 
 demonstrate his ardent love. His reception was such as might have 
 been anticipated by any one but the silly perpetrator of so scan- 
 a Court and Times of Charles I. i. 437 . b Ibid. i. 436. 
 
XVI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 dalous an outrage. The lady screamed “ Thieves ! ” and “ Murder ! ” 
 her men-servants rushed to the rescue, the Doctor was secured, 
 and was handed over to that great enemy of Dan Cupid, the parish 
 constable. On the day following he was taken before Mr. Re¬ 
 corder, who, nothing loath, performed the duty of consigning 
 his rival to the safe custody of a gaoler until the succeeding 
 sessions. In completion of the story of this unlucky suitor, 
 it may he as well to add, that, being ultimately indicted 
 for (of all things in the world) a burglary, he wildly contem¬ 
 plated pleading guilty, perhaps with an idea of making some 
 amends to the lady whose house he had so madly invaded. Judge 
 Richardson (Lady Ashburnham’s second husband), who presided at 
 his trial, “jeered him out of his frantic humour.” Under the 
 Judge’s advice he withdrew his plea, or his intention, and was 
 condemned, not of burglary, but of “ ill-demeanour.” After impri¬ 
 sonment and payment of a fine, the poor discomfited and no doubt 
 repentant wretch was turned out to face the laughter of his patients, 
 and the scorn of the rest of the world. 3. 
 
 Dr. Raven’s escapade took place on the night of Wednesday, the 
 19th November, 1628. On the day following Sir Edward Dering 
 entered the field. How much there was of premeditation in this 
 coincidence of dates who can say? The town must have been full 
 of talk of Dr. Raven’s folly, and perhaps Sir Edward deemed the 
 moment when the widow felt a peculiar sense of her loneliness 
 more than ordinarily appropriate for his purpose. 
 
 Although unable to answer this particular question, we are 
 in a position to give a very minute narrative of the general 
 course of this incident in Sir Edward’s life, for, as if to assist us in 
 these inquiries, he kept a most singular journal of his whole pro¬ 
 ceedings throughout this courtship. What was said or done during 
 
 a See Rous’s Diary, p. 34 ; Munk’s Roll of Physicians, i. 158. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XVII 
 
 every day and almost every hour that he devoted to the widow 
 Bennett, what gossip was retailed, what suspicion was afloat, or what 
 flattery was uttered, whatever was written or meditated, or even 
 dreamed, in connection with this affair, what money was expended 
 in bribing the widow’s servants, and who interfered from the mere 
 love of mixing up in transactions which implied confidence and 
 secrecy, is all registered in this, perhaps one of the most marvellous 
 of records ever kept by a sane man. We shall henceforth for a time 
 he greatly indebted to it, and its exact character will soon become 
 apparent to the reader. It opens thus:— 
 
 “ Nov. 20, Edmund, King,” i.e. the-day of St. Edmund the King 
 and Martyr, no doubt deemed propitious for such undertakings, “ I 
 adventured, was denied. Sent up a letter, which was returned, 
 after she had read it.” 
 
 Although denied admission, perhaps a little to the baronet’s 
 surprise, the event recorded in the last few words gave hope to 
 an experienced person like Sir Edward. He determined at once to 
 invest the fortress, and opened the siege in due form by attack¬ 
 ing the lady’s servants. 
 
 “ [Nov.] 21. I inveigled G. Newman with 20s. 
 
 “ [Nov.] 24. I did re-engage him, 20s. 
 
 I did also oil the cash-keeper, 20s. 
 
 “ [Nov.] 26. I gave Edmund Aspull [the cash keeper] another 
 
 20s. 
 
 “ [Nov.] 27. 
 dock. b 
 
 I was there, but denied sight. 
 
 I sent a second letter, which was kept. 
 
 I set Sir John Skefiington a upon Matthew Cra- 
 
 a Sir Edward’s aunt Elizabeth Dering married William Skeffington of Fisherwick, 
 co. Stafford, Esq. 
 
 b A cousin of the lady, on whom she much relied for advice. He was a London mer¬ 
 chant, largely engaged in some of the important adventures for colonization which 
 distinguished this period of our history. 
 
XV111 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 “ [Nov.] 27. The cash keeper supped with me. 
 
 “ [Nov.] 28. I went to Mr. Cradock, but found him cold. 
 
 “ [Nov.] 30. I was at the Old Jewry Church, and saw her, both 
 forenoon and afternoon.’’ 
 
 The sight of the lady at her devotions, and the hope that she 
 might not have been altogether untouched by a handsome pre¬ 
 sence, set off with all the care that tailors, barbers, and valets 
 could bestow upon it, inspirited the ardent suitor, who records on 
 Monday, “December 1, I sent a third letter, which was likewise 
 kept.” 
 
 The 2nd was devoted to another attack on Mr. Cradock, who was 
 still “ cold of kindness,” and to further dealings with the oiled and 
 inveigled servants. 
 
 On the 4th, Sir Edward called at the lady’s residence three times, 
 “ but she was already abroad about Dr. Raven’s business;”—it was 
 the day of the silly Dr.’s trial. On the day following Sir Edward 
 went again at ten o’clock, and communicated his desires through 
 Mr. George Loe, a very influential person with Mrs. Bennett. Loe 
 brought back a very prudent answer,—“ that Steward a was so testy 
 that she durst not give admittance unto any until he and she were 
 fully concluded for the wardship. 
 
 That she had a good opinion of me. 
 
 That he [ i.e . Loe] heard nobly of me. 
 
 That he would inform me when Steward was off. 
 
 That he was engaged for another. 
 
 That I need not refrain from going to the church where she was, 
 unless I thought it to disparage myself.” 
 
 a This person had evidently a grant from the crown of the wardship of Mrs. Bennett’s 
 little boy, then four years old. He had also used the authority thus obtained, as a shelter 
 to matrimonial proposals made to Mrs. Bennett herself. Her endeavour at this time was 
 to make a bargain with Steward, by which, for a money payment to himself, he should 
 assign to her the right to the care and custody of her own child. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XIX 
 
 On the 7th, Sir Edward again united the worship of Mrs. Bennett 
 with that ordinarily offered at St. Olave’s, and on coming out of the 
 sacred building George Newman, the inveigled servant, came up to 
 Sir Edward and whispered in his ear, “Good news! good news!” 
 After dinner he called on the suitor, who had taken up his abode 
 in the neighbourhood, within sight of the widow’s mansion, and 
 buoyed up his hope by an assurance that the widow “ liked well his 
 carriage, and that, if bis land were not settled on his eldest son, 
 there was good hope.” For his good news, Sir Edward chronicles, 
 “ I gave him 20s.” Elated and hopeful, Sir Edward in the course 
 of the evening proceeded to call on the Recorder, who was not only 
 of Sir Edward’s own county, but was also related to him by affinity. 
 Sir Edward stayed to supper, and Sir Heneage was communicative 
 and confidential. He let Sir Edward understand that he altogether 
 despaired of success on his own account, and indeed that he was 
 wise enough to retire. He disclaimed all desire or purpose of pro¬ 
 ceeding any further, and made a merit of his willingness to assist 
 Sir Edward. In the course of the evening the two suitors chatted 
 over the widow and her affairs, and Sir Heneage related the whole 
 story of his love, and his withdrawal. 
 
 Rumours current during the 8tli and 9th December were thought 
 to confirm the lady’s previous good impressions in reference to Sir 
 Edward, whilst, at the same time, affairs with Mr. Steward ap¬ 
 proached to a crisis. On the 10th Sir Edward was informed by 
 the friendly cash-keeper that he had in his mistress’s presence offered 
 Steward the sum of 1,500/. in ready gold for a release of his right 
 to the ward. He had refused; whereupon the indignant widow had 
 sworn never to see or speak with him again, with her good will. 
 This incident was deemed favourable by Sir Edward, and, on the 
 following day, he again presented himself at her house. Newman 
 announced his presence to his mistress, and brought back her answer, 
 
XX 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 that she desired Sir Edward to excuse her, she was not willing to 
 entertain discourse of that kind. Sir Edward records that he paused 
 sadly, and remarked aloud that he was then “in a wilderness of 
 uncertainty.” Aspull, who was present, carried up the pretty phrase 
 to his persecuted mistress, and brought hack word that she would 
 see Sir Edward. 
 
 The interview was prudently managed on both sides. There were 
 no raptures. Sir Edward saluted her of course, but could get “ no 
 answer of certainty, nor yet indeed any denial. Her words were, 
 that as yet she had no purpose of marriage.” Sir Edward went into 
 money details, he declared the full of his incumbrances, but unac¬ 
 countably forgot to mention that he had a daughter. He was freely 
 and kindly heard. She evidently was but little worked upon, and 
 he begged her not to give him an answer until after a second 
 meeting. She acquiesced, but postponed the naming of any day 
 until her cousin Cradock, who was absent, had returned to town. 
 “So I saluted her again,” records the baronet, “ and withdrew 
 myself, as I saw she was desirous I should.” 
 
 On the memory of this interview, and on reports from her ser¬ 
 vants of her comments on his conduct, he lived for several days. 
 She was said to have remarked that he “ did not come so bois¬ 
 terous as Steward and Temple,” — the former being the grantee 
 of the wardship, the latter, Sir Peter Temple of Stow, an 
 ancestor of the Duke of Buckingham. Of Steward she observed, 
 that, when she had obtained from him “ the broad seal,” which 
 would confer upon her the wardship of her child, “ he should be 
 hanged ere she would have any more to do with him.” Inspirited 
 by these reports, Sir Edward waited on Sir George Croke to 
 solicit his recommendation to the widow. The careful but some¬ 
 what illogical judge replied that he knew no ill of the baronet, and 
 therefore could not but speak well of him. He asked Sir Edward 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XXl 
 
 if he had seen the lady? “ I let him ask the question twice,” remarks 
 Sir Edward, “ and then answered that, although I kept it strange 
 to others yet, I must not deny to him but that I had seen her as 
 yesterday.” 
 
 Here there occurs an unfortunate hiatus in the original manuscript. 
 A sheet which recorded the progress of Sir Edward’s suit from the 
 12th December, 1628, to the 5th January, 1629, is missing. From 
 another manuscript by Sir Edward, which contains a brief abstract 
 of the events of this period, it appears that after another letter, and 
 an unsatisfactory interview with one of the Cradocks,. apparently not 
 the one designated “ Cousin Cradoclc,” Sir Edward not being able 
 to get any positive answer, aye or no, deemed it advisable to make it 
 be believed that he was a person not to be trilled with, and therefore 
 sent to the lady on the 1st January for the return of all his letters. 
 His somewhat brusque New Year’s Day’s request was instantly com¬ 
 plied with, and the widow and her friends concluded that the 
 suit of the touchy baronet was at an end. But such was not at 
 all Sir Edward’s intention. On the 5th of January, when the 
 larger manuscript recommences, we find him calling at Mrs. Ben¬ 
 nett’s in the most friendly manner to see a Mrs. Norton, a cousin 
 of Mrs. Bennett, whom Sir Edward had known for seven years, 
 and who had then come to live with the widow as a companion. If 
 the tales brought to Sir Edward, and which he carefully chronicles, 
 are to be exactly believed, Mrs. Norton and many of those about the 
 widow pestered her at this time with continual praises of the Kentish 
 baronet. Wiser than her annoyers, the lady took refuge in silence, 
 and in a protestation which was duly conveyed to Sir Edward, by 
 whom it was perhaps regarded as a compliment, that she would 
 never marry. “ The cash-keeper,” whom Sir Edward still kept his 
 fast friend, “ told me,” records the baronet, “ that she was very sad, 
 and that she sat two hours together upon the bed without speaking 
 a word, and that she hath often done so of late, and Mrs. Norton in 
 
 d 
 
 CAMP. SOC. 
 
XXII 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 the chamber, both silent.” Such silence could not long be main¬ 
 tained, and on the day after it is recorded we learn that the widow 
 turned upon Mrs. Norton and “beshrewed her” for speaking so much 
 of Sir Edward Dering, alleging that she could not sleep all night 
 for dreaming of him. 
 
 At this Christmas time, indeed, many of the principal parties to 
 this narrative seem to have .been very much given to dreaming. 
 Mrs. Bennett, who had not yet recovered from her terror of Dr. 
 Raven, dreamed that Mrs. Norton bringing to her, when in bed, a 
 mess of milk, Sir Edward came into the room behind her, whereat 
 she ran out of her bedroom into the parlour, “in her smock,” and 
 so caught cold Sir Edward dreamed that the widow sent him a 
 cake—a twelfth cake of course, it being the 7th January,— 
 and, if we read this passage in the manuscript correctly, another 
 person, one whose name has not before occurred in connec¬ 
 tion with Sir Edwards biography, Isaak Walton, the angler, the 
 biograjaher, and the worthy man-milliner of Fleet Street, he also 
 had his dream, that the lady came to Sir Edward on his sending 
 for her, but, offering to go again, something ensued which is 
 prudently shrouded under an “ &c.” None of these dreams were 
 very well worth recording, but it is certainly a point of additional 
 interest in the story to know that Isaak Walton shared the per¬ 
 plexities of his baronet-friend. Isaak’s dream acted as a retainer 
 to him on Sir Edward’s behalf. As an ambassador or a volunteer 
 —it does not very well appear which—he went on the following 
 day to George Newman, and spoke to him on the one all-interesting 
 topic. Newman doubted Isaak’s credentials or his discretion, and 
 visited Sir Edward by way of reply. He described the widow as 
 overwhelmed with perplexity. She had made a bargain with 
 Steward, and afterwards discovered that the ingenious gentleman 
 had sold his right to the wardship to another before he transferred 
 it to her ; a striking illustration of the difficulties of this relic of 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xxm 
 
 the old feudal law, and a circumstance which occasioned the widow 
 a world of fresh trouble. 
 
 In the midst of such perplexities, it was not surprising that she 
 forbore to make any fresh sign to Sir Edward, but he was playing 
 his game too deeply to understand a course of conduct so simple 
 and so natural. He began to fear that she had not understood, or 
 had not been sufficiently impressed by, the noble self-appreciation 
 which had dictated his demand for the return of his letters. In his 
 fear he hew to his friend Mrs. Norton, in Mrs. Bennett’s house, and 
 “ sat at table with her almost an hour.” He argued with her that 
 some one had done him ill offices, or that he had done himself some, 
 for the difference and denials before and since New Year’s Day did 
 infer no less. Mrs. Norton did not absolutely deny so much, nor 
 confess which it was, “but was very earnest,” he writes, “that there 
 was no hope for me.” “I replied, I would stay the utmost, and see 
 her [i e. the widow] married before I would desert.” She said, 
 “ Her [i. e. the widow’s] troubles would not suffer her to marry, and 
 that, if I resolved to continue on, yet I had best do nothing till 
 Mr. Cradock came to town. I told her, I resolved so before she said 
 so.” This was on the 9th January, and the day’s entry, after some 
 further tantalisation from Mr. Aspull, concludes thus:—“ George 
 Newman says she hath two suits of silver plate, one in the country 
 and the other here, and that she hath beds of 100/. the bed!”—Oh, 
 the folly of demanding the return of those letters ! 
 
 Sir Edward began to think so, and deemed a desperate effort 
 necessary to regain his lost position. The opportunity occurred on 
 the 12th January. The widow went to make a call at Sir George 
 Croke’s. As her coach drew up to the door, Sir Edward stepped 
 forward, desired her to pardon an unasked service, assisted her to 
 alight, and gallantly conducted her into the Judge’s house. At the 
 going into the parlour, he says, she stayed to let him go in before 
 
XXIV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 her. It was a mark of respect which he was not slow to take advan¬ 
 tage of. He ushered her into the apartment, and then advanced to 
 salute the ladies who were there. They placed chairs for their visitors, 
 but Sir Edward intreated the favour of the widow for a few words. 
 She yielded, he says, privately, the others standing by. “ I renewed” 
 he goes on, “ my request, whereunto she answered that she would 
 not marry.” After an interruption arising from the coming in of 
 Sir George Croke, Sir Edward continues, that he returned to his 
 widow “ with entreating to stand in her good thoughts as formerly, 
 upon expectation of Mr. Cradock’s coming. She told me that she 
 had denied me, and I had denied myself. I desired that my strong 
 affection might excuse at least one error and indiscretion, &c. and 
 added my entreaty to stand in the hope, &c. She said she could 
 make no other answer then, than now. I desired still to have it 
 then, though. She said, yes, if I would take it from him. I replied, 
 ‘ Pray sweeten the answer with your own breath.’ She said, yet 
 she should not change it. So, in hope of another sight, then I kissed 
 her, and took leave. Then Sir George Croke drinking to me 
 in a glass of muscado, I commended it to her, and came away. 
 Sir George brought me to the door, saying he saw no likelihood, 
 &c.” 
 
 Two days after this bold attempt Sir Edward made an attack in 
 another quarter. George Newman, with Susan the widow’s nurse¬ 
 maid, and her little child, “ going into the fields [Finsbury Fields] 
 to walk/’ were met by Tayler, a friend of Sir Edward, perhaps the 
 landlord of the house in which he was lodging. Tayler won the 
 child to be content to come with him, and the others not unwillingly 
 followed. “ I, ” notes Sir Edward, “ entertained the child with 
 cake, and gave him an amber box, and to them, wine. Susan pro¬ 
 fessed that she and all the house prayed for me, and told me the 
 child called me ‘ father.’ I gave her 5s., and entreated her to 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XXV 
 
 desire her mistress not to be offended at this, which I was so glad of. 
 She said she thought she would not.” 
 
 In these singular notes Sir Edward records, with the greatest can¬ 
 dour, the judgments of his friends passed upon himself and his 
 widow. A Mr. Smith said, that if the widow knew what Sir Ed¬ 
 ward Dering was, she would not refuse him. Smith declared him 
 to be such a man as the kingdom had not his fellow, and recorded 
 his belief that God had a blessing in store for him. Lady Cleere told 
 old Sir Anthony Dering that she wondered his son should under¬ 
 value himself so much as to think of this widow, and of one of such 
 parentage. Lady Wroth, on the contrary, declared her to be a good 
 and a wise gentlewoman. She evidently was a person of intellect, 
 and knew how to defend herself. Sir Edward does not any where 
 personally allude to any beauty that she possessed, although in one 
 place he records that her companion Miss Norton, a lady possessed of 
 all the customary companionable qualities, was reported to have made 
 mention, in speaking to the widow herself, of what she would do if 
 she had such an estate, and were so young and handsome as the 
 widow. In some places a freedom, or even a coarseness of expression, is 
 attributed to her, which savours more of the city than of the court, 
 but probably the effect of even this was tempered by a buoyant 
 good humour, and by a fondness for the use and application of 
 proverbs, under which a good deal of her plain speaking was 
 covered. 
 
 At length the long expected “ Cousin Cradock ” arrived in town. 
 “ Isaak Walton undertook him,” remarks Sir Edward, “ at his first 
 coming, and did his part well. Cradock said he would do his best, 
 if I would be ruled by him, &c.” But the widow stood upon her 
 professed determination not to marry. Suitors came and went. 
 Great ladies from court visited the mansion in St. Olave’s, and set forth 
 the merits of knights and gentlemen, but without effect. Lady 
 
XXVI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Skinner introduced herself to plead the cause of Mr. Butler, probably 
 one of the Butlers of Branafield, but the widow’s description of him as 
 “ a black, blunt-nosed gentleman,” ended his suit. Sir Peter Temple 
 renewed his pretensions, but made little way, although he challenged 
 an infinite superiority over Sir Edward Dering in birth, estate, and 
 person. The Countess of Bridgewater introduced the battered old 
 sailor Sir Henry Mainwaring, who was steeped in poverty to the 
 very lips, and he and another ancient knight had an interview of an 
 hour wdth the widow, but never came again. Lord Bruce put in a 
 claim, but soon retired. More persevering, and of all the suitors 
 the one whom Dering esteemed his most serious rival, was the new- 
 made Viscount Lumley, who was strongly supported by the widow’s 
 brother-in-law, Loe. 
 
 After having wasted precious time, and by his ill-tempered indiscre¬ 
 tion in sending for his letters allowed a host of new competitors to 
 enter the field, Sir Edward was now driven to rest all his hopes on 
 Isaak Walton and cousin Cradock. On Sunday the 25 tli January 
 Isaak attempted the cousin again, and procured from him an ap¬ 
 pointment for an interview with Sir Edward at Isaak’s house on the 
 following day. They met, and Sir Edward registers that he “ found 
 him free of promise, and that the business is yet treatable; only, he 
 saith, Mr. Loe doth much importune her for Viscount Lumley, whom 
 he says she hath seen three times. I told him what conditions I 
 could make, which he liked well, and said they were better than 
 my Lord Lumley’s, and that he [she?] would do well enough with 
 those conditions, if she were not engaged He bade me pursue my 
 way as formerly, and then, as called to advise, he would work for 
 me the stronger and with less suspicion, and did promise that on 
 Wednesday morning he would give knowledge to Isaak Walton of 
 what might be done.” 
 
 Whilst plotting cousin Cradock was thus working, in shew or 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XXY11 
 
 reality, for Sir Edward, Lord Lumley was prosecuting his suit by 
 the most assiduous attention to the widow. Live times in that 
 week had his coach driven up to the Old Jewry church, where the 
 bran-new Viscount alighted and thence made his way, the observed 
 of all observers, to St. Olave’s, and there on each occasion enjoyed 
 a tete-a-tete, from all chance of which Sir Edward had excluded him¬ 
 self by his unlucky precipitancy. All this looked very threatening, 
 but on Wednesday Isaak Walton changed the whole course of Sir 
 Edward’s anticipations. He was persuaded that the game was still 
 afoot, that the soft nonsense of a rou4 Viscount might attract a city 
 widow, and yet make but slight impression on her heart. At Isaak’s 
 interview with cousin Cradock on Wednesday morning he was 
 shewn a peep behind the scenes. Cradock told him that he and 
 that worthy nobleman the Lord North “ did labour to draw her 
 off from Lumley, and that, upon their persuasions, she was well 
 content it should be broken, and desired them to be a means to 
 break it.” Oh, slippery widow, and oh, sly cousin Cradock! The 
 news elated Sir Edward to the stars. He instantly posted off to 
 St. Olave’s, to call on his friend Mrs. Norton, and there found, not 
 success, but ruin! He learned, to his infinite dismay, that the 
 confidential communication of cousin Cradock to friend Isaak, 
 although perfectly true as far as it went, was not the whole truth. 
 Lumley was to be got rid of, true, but Sir Edward was not to be 
 accepted. “ Mrs. Bennett had a week since said that her affec¬ 
 tion was bestowed; that she had a singular good opinion of me,” 
 [ i.e . Sir Edward,] “but she would not marry me. I told her” [i.e. 
 Mrs. Norton] “ this was the fullest answer that ever I had, yet 
 not full enough, because it came not immediately, neither in time 
 nor person, from herself; therefore, I did entreat her to tell Mrs. 
 Bennett that I could have no other satisfaction than from her own 
 mouth, which I would within a few days attend, and Mrs. Norton 
 promised to do her best to obtain a parting sight.” 
 
XXY111 
 
 PKEEACE. 
 
 Lumley was a kind of person wliom it was more easy to determine 
 to get rid of tlian actually to do so. On tlie first rumour of his im¬ 
 pending fate, he brought down on his behalf the Earl of Dorset, 
 Lord Chamberlain to the Queen, and a most influential person in the 
 general government, especially in that important city branch of it, 
 the Admiralty, and courtly civility and polite attention delayed for 
 a time the congd that awaited him. In the mean time Sir Edward 
 and his friend Isaak engaged their influential acquaintances to call 
 upon the widow, and sing the praises of their candidate. The 
 stayed parishioners of St. Olave’s must have wondered at the un¬ 
 wonted concourse to the widow’s residence, and she herself must 
 have been teased and bewildered almost beyond endurance, to find 
 herself exposed to the selfish addresses of a host of cunning flatterers, 
 many of them utterly beggarly and worthless, who traded upon their 
 power of communicating to her a title which, shared with them, 
 could not have been any very considerable honour. 
 
 Mrs. Norton’s declaration that the widow had made her choice was 
 evidently not believed. Sir Edward’s hopes were still buoyed up by 
 the reports of those around him. Isaak Walton and Sir Edward’s 
 other friends, principally the widow’s servants, were continually 
 bringing him favourable news. Whenever the widow dropped a word 
 in his commendation, there was some injudicious friend or feed retainer 
 ready to carry to him the tale, with exaggeration. One person de¬ 
 clared that she said of him that he wrote better than any other, spoke 
 better than any other, and was better spoken of than any other; whilst 
 Cousin Cradock, who paid little attention to what she said herself, 
 and put great faith in his own subtilty, declared on a certain even¬ 
 ing, that if Sir Edward would follow his directions he would be 
 hanged if he had her not at last; and a certain Mr. Catesby took his 
 oath that none but Sir Edward should have her. 
 
 On the 4th February Sir Edward seems to have been able to bear 
 the uncertainty of his position no longer. He w'ent to the house, and 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XXIX 
 
 through the intervention of Mrs. Norton was admitted to an interview 
 on condition that he did not renew his suit. When the widow entered 
 the parlour, he told her that no man ever received a favour so precious 
 and so fatal, and asked her if it must be the last time that ever he 
 should see her. “ She said, No, for I might casually see her here¬ 
 after many times. I intreated of her to grant me one suit, viz 1 , to 
 love herself, which I said she now was put upon the trial of, viz*, to 
 choose that man with whom she might live happiest. I told her 
 I thanked her for forbidding me to renew my suit, unless she meant 
 to grant it, for by that means, I not askiug, she could not deny. 
 She said, she wished me well, and should be glad of my [good] 
 wishes. I answered, I take you at your word. She told me I had 
 the child’s good will, &c. I asked her, what I should give for the 
 reason of her denial. She said, Say that you left me, and take the 
 glory of it, &c. This and other discourse did fill an hour and a half. 
 I told her the danger of trusting her friends, and bade her be sure 
 to choose a better now she refused me. I said, I could not with¬ 
 draw my affection, nor would not my respects, till I saw her give her 
 hand to another,” &c. 
 
 Slowly, even after this interview, did the curtain descend upon 
 the hopes of Sir Edward Dering. Isaak Walton, as sincere as he was 
 precise, worked for his friend with might and main, but his power 
 does not seem to have extended very far beyond his Staffordshire 
 friends the Cradocks. Besides Cousin Cradock, there was a Lawyer 
 Cradock in the Temple, and the celebrated Merchant Cradock in the 
 City. All these were so far influenced by Isaak as to become warm 
 supporters of Sir Edward. But Lumley had a stronger hold than was 
 anticipated. Even after what we have already seen he was a con¬ 
 tinual visitor, and persuaded the widow to accept a ring from him 
 under circumstances which very nearly amounted to a marriage con¬ 
 tract. Day by day the widow intended to get rid of him, but was 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 e 
 
XXX 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 unable to utter the fatal word. At length Sir George Croke and 
 Viscount Campden spoke their minds so freely against the suitor that 
 Mrs. Norton was called upon to accomplish the task of his dismissal, 
 and on the 14th February his hopes were ended and his ring rede¬ 
 livered 
 
 Whilst the fate of Lord Lumley hung in doubt, Sir Edward’s 
 friends exerted themselves vigorously on his behalf Mr. Chamber- 
 lain, a person of importance in the city, who seems in some cases 
 to have been confounded with the letter writer, extorted from the 
 widow a promise that she would see Sir Edward once more after 
 Lumley was dismissed. Mr. Purefoy interfered on his behalf with 
 cousin Cradock. The Dean of Canterbury, Dr. Isaac Bargrave, Sir 
 Edward’s relative, came up to London on his solicitation, and pro 
 cured the celebrated city clergyman Dr. Featley. to call upon the 
 widow and use his powerful influence for Sir Edward. Lady Cra- 
 mond, Sir Edward’s experienced mother-in-law, whose power in 
 such matters must have been immense, taking with her Kate Ash- 
 burnham, a sister of Sir Edward’s late wife, went as a volunteer, 
 and pleaded his cause with all her power; whilst Sir Henry Wotton, 
 coming from Eton to pay his respects to his Majesty, proved how 
 much the knowledge of this famous siege occupied the common 
 talk, by wishing Sir Edward, whom he met in the Privy Chamber, 
 tc a full sail, &c.” Against all this solicitation the widow stoutly 
 maintained her position. Steward still tormented her. She had 
 increased her offer of a composition with him, or those who claimed 
 under him, from 1,500/. to 3,000/., but 4000/. was now demanded. 
 So troublesome a litigation fully accounted for her inability to 
 attend to the claims of her suitors; but she intimated that she had 
 made her selection, that her mind was settled, but that she would 
 not marry until after Easter; and Mrs. Norton, who no doubt 
 knew her friend’s real determination, and probably acted under her 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XXXI 
 
 direction, warned Sir Edward tliat, “if Lumley were off, she could 
 not find any hope for him, but could not say why.” Mrs. Norton 
 knew the why, hut could not state it. The Cradocks, and the 
 rest of the people about the widow, neither knew it nor believed 
 in its existence* In their ignorance they still urged on Sir 
 Edward, whilst the widow not only kept her secret, but, if all 
 was true that was told to Sir Edward, she and Mrs. Norton had the 
 wit or the cunning to mislead Sir Edward’s feed friends of the 
 widow’s household by words intended to be reported to him, words 
 which might still give him hope, and draw off his attention from 
 the person whom she really favoured. Sir Edward’s manuscript is 
 unfortunately incomplete at its close, but the very last entry con¬ 
 tains an example of this designed misleading: “Yesternight,” Sir 
 Edward writes under the date of the 25th February, “ at supper 
 she was in a merry plight; and, when they were taking away, she 
 said, ‘ Well, Thomas, I must have one glass of beer more.’ Then 
 turned to Mrs. Norton, ‘ Here’s,’ said she, ‘ to all that love you.’ 
 R.—‘ Then you drink to some that love you too.’ IT—‘ Nay, 
 who knows that?’ R.—‘ Yes, better than me, and that doth Sir 
 E. D.’ R.—‘ Well! ’ said she, and so drank.” This incident was 
 reported the next morning to Sir Edward, and is chronicled as if an 
 evidence in his favour. 
 
 We have said that the curious manuscript from which we have 
 derived these details is imperfect at its close. A hope of discovering 
 the remainder of it kept back this publication for a considerable 
 time; but, as the lost portion seems irretrievable, we have deter¬ 
 mined to use it as it stands, adding the conclusion of the romance 
 from another and less interesting source. The lost portion, con¬ 
 taining Sir Edward’s comments upon what actually did occur, 
 would have been worth a Jew’s eye. 
 
 We have noticed, among the widow’s early suitors, the distin- 
 
XXX11 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 guislied lawyer, Sir Heneage Finch, Recorder of London, and late 
 Speaker of the House of Commons, and we have mentioned how Sir 
 Edward Dering paid Mr. Recorder a visit on a Sunday evening 
 shortly after he had committed Dr. Raven for trial. Sir Heneage, 
 as we have remarked, on that occasion related the story of his court¬ 
 ship and withdrawal, “ disclaimed any desire or purpose of proceed¬ 
 ing, and promised me [ i.e. Sir Edward] as occasion served to give 
 me assistance. 5 ’ Two days afterwards Sir Edward mentions that Mr. 
 Recorder told him that he had said to Mr. George Loe that he 
 had heard that a Kentish gentleman was then a suitor. Mr. Loe 
 confessed so, and named Sir Edward. The Recorder replied, “ If 
 she he wise let her not refuse him; she will be happy if she have 
 him.” On subsequent occasions we find Sir Edward again calling 
 upon Mr. Recorder, and Mr. Recorder interposing, although ineffec¬ 
 tually, on his behalf with Mr. Justice Croke, and Sir Edward dining 
 with Mr. Recorder, who informed him that Lord Lumley had 
 become a suitor. This friendly intercourse continued upon the same 
 footing and basis of Sir Heneage’s withdrawal throughout the whole 
 of Sir Edward’s suit. The loss of the conclusion of Sir Edward’s 
 manuscript renders us unable to discover when or how it was that he 
 first found out that Sir Heneage was really the widow’s accepted 
 suitor, and that, either in the dictionary of Mr. Recorder, the 
 word withdrawal, and all the other words he had used upon that 
 subject, meant that, having the widow’s acceptance of his proposals 
 in his pocket, he (no doubt with her consent, and possibly, for 
 some cause connected with that business with Steward in which Sir 
 Lleneage may have been her adviser,) withdrew from any public 
 suit or display of his conquest until it was convenient to her to 
 marry him; or else, (the more charitable supposition) that the widow, 
 having made up her mind, concealed her decision from the object of 
 her choice, until a settlement with Steward put her in the position 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XXX111 
 
 to many. Be tliis as it may, it seems unquestionable that, after 
 Lumley was got rid of, a preference for the Recorder was the con¬ 
 cealed obstacle in Sir Edward’s path, and the proof of the fact lies 
 in this, that the widow became Lady Finch almost immediately 
 after the time of which we are treating. 3 
 
 Before dismissing this lady, it may be as well to add, that her son 
 Simon, the boy whom Sir Edward entertained with cakes, became 
 a man of very great wealth, which was carried by his three daugh¬ 
 ters and coheiresses into several noble families. His sreat-uncle 
 
 O 
 
 Richard Bennett, or rather Bennet as they all came ultimately to 
 spell their name, was the ancestor of the Earls of Arlington and 
 Tankerville. Of Mrs. Bennett’s second marriage all that is known is 
 favourable, except its brief continuance. Among the many widowers 
 who besieged her she seems undoubtedly to have taken the best. Of 
 the issue of Sir Heneage’s former marriage, three sons and one 
 daughter survived their mother, who died on the lltli of April, 
 1627. The eldest of these sons, named after his father, became 
 Lord Chancellor and Earl of Nottingham. By Mrs. Bennett, Sir 
 Heneage had two daughters,—Elizabeth, who became wife to Edward 
 Madison, Esq., and Anne, married to Edward the third Viscount 
 and first Earl of Conway. Sir Heneage Finch' died on the 5th 
 December, 1631. 
 
 Annoyed as Sir Edward must have been by failure under such 
 peculiar circumstances, he instantly set about retrieving his lost 
 time. No journal explains the ups and downs of this his last court¬ 
 ship, but it was successful and happy. Unton, daughter of Sir 
 Ralph Gibbes, of Idonington, in co. Warwick, was the lady who 
 
 a They were married shortly after Easter, on the 16th April, 1629, at St. Dunstan’s in 
 the West. (Nichols’s Collect. Topog. et Genealog. v. 218.) At the same time, and in the 
 same church, were also married Mr. Harbottle Grimstone, afterwards Sir Harbottle and 
 Master of the Itolls, and the widow's niece Mary Croke, daughter of Sir George, the 
 Judge. (Ibid.) 
 
XXXIV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 became Sir Edward’s third wife. She had evidently none of the 
 wealth which distinguished the widow Bennett, but the connection 
 was highly respectable and the marriage one of mutual affection. 
 Some of his letters which are printed in the present volume speak 
 upon this subject untnistakeably. They had four children, named 
 Henry, who settled at Pevington, co. Kent; Edward, who was a 
 merchant in London, and was knighted; Dorothy, married to Tho¬ 
 mas English, of Buckland in Maidstone, Esq.; and Frances, married 
 to Thomas Cowper, Esq. Unton Lady Dering survived her hus¬ 
 band upwards of thirty years. She died in 1676. 
 
 Sir Edward Dering’s family position being once more settled, he 
 now resumed his endeavours after advancement in the world. We 
 have seen that before the death of Buckingham lie had been in 
 treaty, with the Duke’s approbation, for the purchase from Sir 
 John Plippisley of the Lieutenancy of Dover Castle. Under the 
 new Lord Warden, Theophilus Earl of Suffolk, the treaty was 
 resumed and carried into effect. As an eminent office, which 
 had already been in his own family, and was to be executed in his 
 own county, we may well suppose that this Lieutenancy was an 
 object of attraction, if not of ambition, to Sir Edward Dering. 
 But he soon discovered that in procuring it he had made a great 
 mistake. In time of war, the rough Sir John Hippisley had found 
 it extremely profitable, and he was a man to make it so at any time. 
 Peace ensued almost immediately after Sir Edward’s appointment. 
 The importance of the office was thereby greatly diminished; it 
 yielded comparatively little profit, but it required constant attention, 
 and involved its holder in continual litigation and disputes before the 
 Council and elsewhere with people of the most unscrupulous class. 
 With a high sounding title, and a commanding position, Sir Edward’s 
 principal occupation was to be the comptroller, and often the 
 gaoler, of pirates, privateers, ana smugglers, who were continually 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XXXV 
 
 on the look-out for some cause of complaint against him or his 
 officers, or for some way of escape from his custody. Term by 
 term he was dragged up to London to defend himself in disputes 
 with such persons respecting questions which with his own good will 
 he would never have approached. No occupation on earth could be 
 less congenial to a man whose tastes were domestic and whose stu¬ 
 dies were antiquarian and theological, nor less convenient to one who 
 could ill afford the expenses to which he was thus put, and who, 
 having bought his office at a war price, could not find any body to 
 take it off his hands in time of peace. His correspondence with 
 his wife, during his compulsory visits to London at this time, is full 
 of regrets upon these subjects. His ambition had misled him, and 
 he had to pay the penalty. 
 
 At length there came a day of release. The Lieutenancy was 
 transferred to Ca.pt. Thomas Wentworth, and for four or five years 
 Sir Edward devoted himself to the care of his family and to the lite¬ 
 rary pursuits which were congenial to his taste. This was the 
 happiest period of his life. His collections were studied and me¬ 
 thodised, he formed many schemes of literary labour, and entered 
 into that curious agreement with Dugdale, Sir Christopher Hatton, 
 and Sir Thomas Shirley, for their mutual assistance in antiquarian 
 researches, which has been recently printed in the Archasologia 
 Cantiana (i 55). 
 
 During this time the state of public affairs grew more and more 
 unsatisfactory. People of Sir Edward’s way of thinking were espe¬ 
 cially displeased at the changes introduced into Church and State 
 under the influence of Archbishop Laud. The anti-ceremonial 
 and anti-hierarchical spirit of his namesake of the reign of Elizabeth 
 revived within him. Conscious of talent, and anxious for an oppor¬ 
 tunity for its display, old stirrings of heart after distinction and 
 power began again to make themselves felt. The papers published 
 
XXXY1 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 in the present volume (Nos. T. to XI.) relate to his endeavours to pro¬ 
 cure his return to Parliament, and his ultimate success in securing 
 his unopposed election to the Long Parliament as a knight of the 
 shire for Kent. 
 
 Highly gratified by the honour conferred upon him, he proceeded 
 to Westminster with an intention to bestir himself. In the opinion of 
 the party opposed to the administration, the wdiole machinery of the 
 government had gone wrong, during the suspension for eleven years of 
 the meeting of Parliament. The church,-the law, the finances, the 
 government of Ireland, and even many of the ordinary ministerial 
 branches of the civil administration, had, according to their notions, 
 been perverted in ways at variance with ancient usage and with the 
 fundamental principles of the constitution. A searching inquiry, to 
 be carried into every office of the executive, was determined upon. No 
 branch of this inquiry was deemed of greater importance than that 
 which affected the Church. It was chiefly as a church reformer that 
 Sir Edward had been returned, and he instantly put himself 
 forward as a leader in this important scrutiny. Within a few 
 days after the commencement of public business he presented 
 a petition from a Kentish minister, whom Archbishop Laud had 
 sent for by a pursuivant, and in the course of his speech on that 
 occasion publicly expressed his hope, that ere the expiration of 
 a twelvemonth, “ His Grace would have more grace, or no Grace 
 at all.” a Within a few weeks he moved for a sub-committee of 
 religion, to examine complaints of oppressed ministers, and abuses 
 in licensing and forbidding the publication of books. b He presented 
 a petition from the county of Kent, m which it was prayed that the 
 
 a Speeches, p. 10. On this case of Mr. Wilson, see the present volume, p. 19. 
 b Sir Edward Dering’s minutes of the proceedings of this sub-committee (which from 
 its importance was shortly afterwards made an independent committee), will be found in 
 this volume, at p. 80. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XXXV11 
 
 hierarchical power might be totally abrogated, and on that occasion 
 he declared himself the representative of the opinions of the peti¬ 
 tioners, and avowed his belief that it might be said of the Hierarchy 
 of the Church of England, as a Pope Adrian said of the clergy in 
 his time, “ A vertice capitis ad'.plantain pedis, nihil est sanurn in toto 
 ordine ecclesiastico.” a He delivered a learned argument against 
 the recent canons, which he averred that the prelates desired to 
 obtrude upon the people b on the ground of the pretended divinity 
 of episcopacy, and the temporal power granted by princes. He 
 was active in reporting from the committee of which he was the 
 chairman, and in one of those reports, on the case of Mr. Wilkinson, 
 he stated that reading the King’s Book of Sports in churches, bowing 
 before the Altar in divine service, and bowing at the Name of Jesus 
 were “ disciplinarian [questions] in the [then] present way of 
 Novellism.” c 
 
 These speeches, and a great many others of the same kind, with 
 his constant votes on the popular side, procured for him the position 
 he desired. He was looked up to as an acknowledged leader upon 
 all questions relating to the Church, and his acquaintance with the 
 theology of the points in dispute, the clearness with which he stated 
 his arguments, and the eloquence and learning with which he enforced 
 them, secured him not only the attention of the House, but a high 
 degree of popularity out of doors. We learn from the present volume 
 that, during the tumultuary proceedings before the execution of 
 Strafford, the citizens who thronged the House regarded his advice, 
 as he assures his wife, perhaps more than that of many other members, 
 and many took him by the hand whom he knew not, and many said 
 to one another, “There goes Sir Edward Dering,” “That is Sir 
 Edward Dering,” and “ God bless your worship, &c.” 
 
 Before matters in parliament had made any considerable progress, 
 
 a Speeches, p. 19. 
 CAMD, SOC. 
 
 b Ibid. p. 25. 
 
 / 
 
 c Ibid. p. 44. 
 
XXXV111 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 the party of Church Reformers began to divide. The extreme sec¬ 
 tion professed themselves to be for “Root and Branch,” that is, for 
 the total abrogation of the hierarchy and of all episcopal and cathedral 
 officers; another section would have been satisfied with the exclusion 
 of the Bishops from the House of Lords, and the removal of the 
 clergy from all secular jurisdiction. In which of these sections, or 
 parties, as they ultimately became, stood Sir Edward Dering? Such 
 speeches as that on presenting the Kentish petition were considered 
 as determining the question in favour of the extreme party, but still 
 there existed a suspicion. He tells us that he was stopped in West¬ 
 minster Hall, and catechized by a Root and Branch man in plain 
 terms, “ Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” a He records the 
 question, but does not give his answer. 
 
 That answer might well be thought to be found in his conduct in 
 May 1641. He was sitting in the gallery of the House of Commons 
 by the side of his friend Sir Arthur Haselrig. The House was in 
 no good humour with the House of Lords, through which there was 
 labouring heavily a Bill for disenabling all persons in Holy Orders 
 from the exercise of any secular jurisdiction. A petition out of 
 Lincolnshire, upon some cognate subject, had been presented by Sir 
 Edward Ayscough, and was being spoken to by Mr. Strode, when 
 Sir Henry Vane the younger and Oliver Cromwell came into the 
 gallery, bringing with them a brief Bill, drawn, it is said, by Oliver 
 St. John, and contained in less than two sheets of paper, for the 
 utter abolishing of archbishops, bishops, deans, and chapters, with all 
 their officers. The Bill was communicated to Sir Arthur Haselrig, 
 who pressed it into the hand of Sir Edward Dering. “ He told 
 me,” remarks Sir Edward, “he was resolved that it should go in, 
 but was urgent that I Avould present it.” Sir Edward hastily 
 perused the Bill. The comments on the Lincolnshire petition gave 
 
 a Speeches, p. 2. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XXXIX 
 
 an opportunity for its introduction with effect. At that moment 
 Strode sat down, Dering rose in haste, caught the eye of the 
 Speaker, and from that unwonted position a astounded the House by 
 presenting to it this daring Bill without any preliminary motion for 
 leave. He described it as very short but very sharp. “ It is a purg¬ 
 ing Bill. I give it you as I take physic, not for delight but for cure. 
 A cure now, the last and only cure. If, as I hope, all other remedies 
 have first been tried, then 
 
 * * * Immedicabile vulnus 
 
 Ense recidenduin est, ne pars sincera trahatur, 
 
 but “ Cuncta prius tentanda.” I never was for ruin, so long as I 
 could hold any hope of reforming. My hopes that way are even 
 almost withered.” 
 
 Clarendon says, b that the application of the quotation from Ovid 
 
 was the greatest motive of Sir Edward for presenting this Bill, 
 
 and that he was a man of levity and vanity, easily flattered by 
 
 being commended. Whether his conduct sprang from any such silly 
 
 \ 
 
 feeling, from a love of hearing himself talk, from a fondness for 
 popular applause, or from a determination to be in the forefront of 
 the battle at whatever cost, whatever may have been its cause, he 
 probably repented what he had done long before the popular ap¬ 
 plause which was called forth by so bold a proposal had subsided. In 
 a moment of inconsideration, he had not only taken his stand among 
 the advocates of “ Boot and Branch,” but had gone beyond any of 
 them. He had hitherto been merely coquetting with that party; 
 speaking, as in the case of the Kentish petition, words which seemed 
 to support their views, but which he evidently uttered with quali¬ 
 fications existing in his own mind, which were perhaps suspected by 
 
 a Martin of Galway’s Bill against Cruelty to Animals is said to have been the only other 
 Bill ever introduced from the gallery. 
 b Hist. Rebellion, lib. iii. 
 
xl 
 
 PKEFACE. 
 
 those who knew him best, but which passed unobserved by the ma¬ 
 jority of those who merely heard him speak. It is quite clear that 
 Dering -was not prepared to go the length which his adopted Bill 
 suggested. If his own report of his speech on this occasion may be 
 altogether depended upon, winch from internal evidence seems a 
 little questionable, he introduced into it various qualifications of 
 his proposal which mark the unsettlement of his own mind, and 
 when he subsequently published his speech, he took credit to him¬ 
 self for the faintness with which he had commended his own proposal. 8 
 After a little calm consideration, and when the remonstrances of 
 friends had come to the aid of the uncertainty, or perhaps rather of 
 the certainty, of his own adverse opinions, the position in which he 
 had placed himself became apparent. 
 
 What was to be done? A bad man would have thrown himself 
 into the vortex, towards which he had descended, regardless of the 
 warnings of friends or the reproaches of conscience. A coward 
 would have fled from the mischief he had inadvertently done. A 
 wise man would have accepted the mistake as a proof of incom¬ 
 petency for occupying a leading position, and on a proper opportunity 
 would have partially retired. Dering was none of these. To have 
 continued in such a course would have been monstrous to him. 
 Cowardice was no part of his nature. The wisdom of partial with¬ 
 drawal probably never occurred to him. He sealed his ruin as a 
 politician,—his ruin every way,—by determining on the earliest 
 possible occasion to contend, in the face of his speeches and his Bill, 
 that his intention had never been to abolish Bishops, but merely to 
 reform their offices; not to get rid of them, but to reduce their 
 greatness to a presumed primitive model. 
 
 The Bill he had introduced was for a time laid aside. It was not 
 until a month after its introduction that he found an opportunity 
 
 Speeches, p. 3. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xli 
 
 to explain his meaning. When he did so, the whole aspect of 
 affairs towards him, both in and out of the House, was at once 
 changed. Within, he found himself arrayed against the very 
 men by whom he had lately been courted, and to whom he had 
 been giving his support, men greatly his superiors in intellect and 
 perseverance, no less conscientiously convinced on their own side 
 of these questions than he himself was on his, and of far more sturdy 
 and unyielding temperament. As before he had taken one side of 
 the house by surprise, now he took the other. Some he says expos¬ 
 tulated, others condemned, some advised, others would seem to 
 condole. Without the House, no man now cried God bless him; he 
 was stigmatized as a renegade and a pervert, and all his popularity 
 was at an end. 
 
 Thus began a quarrel which was fatal to him. Once in opposi¬ 
 tion to the movers in this great controversy, points of divergence 
 soon multiplied, and Sir Edward lost no opportunity to proclaim his 
 disagreement. One of his most celebrated published speeches, although 
 never actually spoken, was in favour of bowing the knee on the oc¬ 
 currence of the name Jesus in divine service. That which he had 
 before stigmatised as one of the recently introduced novelties he now 
 solemnly upheld, and declared that it was horror to him to think of 
 its non-observance. Another of his most celebrated speeches was 
 upon the subject of the Grand Remonstrance, 51 on which he took his 
 stand in direct opposition to the movement party. On this occasion 
 he made a speech which Pym thought it right to answer, and 
 which we shall find that Sir Edward was subsequently pleased to 
 bring under the notice of the King. As to his late friends of the 
 Root and Branch party, a paper published in this volume shows to 
 
 a See, for this speech and Pym's reply, Mr. Forster’s admirable volume on the Grand 
 Remonstrance, pp. 2S9, 303. 
 
xlii 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 what extremity of anger against them he soon ascended. He vowed 
 that he would never cease to oppose them, by word, by writing, and 
 by prayer. 
 
 Painfully alive to his change of position, he had recourse in 
 January, 1641-2, to a device which at that time was novel. One or 
 two of his speeches had been published without his concurrrence, 
 and had been extensively read. He determined to collect and 
 publish all those, either spoken or intended to be spoken, which 
 related to matters of religion, with the addition of a running vin¬ 
 dicatory commentary, the object of which was to prove that he had 
 never belonged to the party of the Root and Branch, and that his 
 conscience and his tongue had ever been in accord. A letter 
 written at this time to his wife proves with what avidity pamphlets 
 of this kind were read, and shews something of Sir Edward’s then 
 present public position. 
 
 Sir Edward Dering to his wife. 
 
 [Surrenden MS. 24 January, 1641-2.] 
 
 My deare sweet heart, Comming late in, and Richard to have my letter 
 away presently, I must desire leave to be briefer then I would be. I had 
 so strongly received hope of seeing thee heere that itt troubles me now to 
 loose my joyous expectation. Too morrow is a physick day for Betty, and 
 perhaps the last. I hope they (my Lady Darell and Sir John) do not look 
 for any ceremonious shew of love from her, he using so little, indeed too 
 little, and too little civility, in not seeing my sister Cornwallys a after she 
 had knighted him, which she complaynes of in a letter to me. If, occa¬ 
 sionally, you can touch him for itt, well ; his parting heere was course 
 also. 
 
 Feare not the extreamityes of the time. Before danger do grow dreadfull, 
 I shall not fayle to be with thee, but do not perplex thy selfe and me with 
 more selfe-accusing of thy selfe then needes. 
 
 “ Eliza, wife of Sir Frederick Cornwallis. She was a daughter of Sir John Ashburnham, 
 and sister of Sir Edward’s late wife. She held an office in the Queen’s Household. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xliii 
 
 You write of a speech of Mr. Hamden’s, but no word of itt was sayd 
 heere, nor of that poore phrases ascribed to Sir Benjamin Rudyard. I have 
 moved for meetings, but can gett none. 
 
 I have not pursued nor do intend the Leuitenancy of the Tower. If I 
 did, I think I might have itt. 
 
 My speech you write of a crept out from his fellowes by stealth. Some 
 faultes are in itt. The rest will all out about Tuesday, viz. to morrow 
 seavenight. This evening I received two letters from my sister Corn- 
 wallys ; in one these words, “ I was yesternight (which was Thursday 
 night last) much pleased with hearing my Lord Marquesse Hertford speak 
 your prayses to the King and Queen, who as readily confirmed them. Itt 
 was occasioned by your speech, which the Marquess had given to the 
 King in the afternoon, and the King gave itt to the Prince’s tutor to read 
 to the Queen, and said he wondred they did print any thing so good, and 
 both their Majestys did highly prayse itt. I gave the Marquesse thanks, 
 &c.” 
 
 The other letter was in answer of one from me, wherein I signifyed 
 some passages of the time heere. She writes:—“ I told the Queen the 
 effect of your letter, and gave itt the King to read. He swore your speech 
 and this both witnesse an honest heart.” So much for courtship; but I 
 will be thy country-fellow again. 
 
 I am almost tyred out with swimming against the streame, but I am 
 silent allmost of late. If I and my birth-day cannot bring thee up, nothing 
 will. 
 
 There are above forty-five hundred of that speech sold, and more in 
 printing: never any thing sold like that. 
 
 Your provision was bestowed as you wish. 
 
 The King stays att Windsor, and means to pursue the five gentlemen 
 in a legal way. [He is] in greate necessitys, but the Court, I hear, 
 [did fall?] yesterday very full. 
 
 I cannot write to little Poll now. God’s blessing and my heartes love 
 to thee and them. 
 
 From thine, * 
 
 24 Jan. 1641. Edward Dering. 
 
 11 Probably his speech on the Remonstrance. 
 
xliv 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Itt comes into my head that if you come up the charge will be but 
 half a journey, for I must be att the rest of the charge to send the girle 
 downe. 
 
 To my best and dearest, the Lady Dering, 
 att Surrenden Dering. 
 
 As soon as Sir Edward Dering’s volume of his collected speeches 
 was completed at the press, which was a few days earlier than the 
 preceding letter gave promise of, two copies of it were sent to 
 Lady Cornwallis. The use she put them to appears in the follow¬ 
 ing letter:— 
 
 Eliza Lady Cornwallis to Sir Edward Dering. 
 
 [Surrenden MS. 3 February, 1641-2.] 
 
 Dear Brother,—I reseuede your letter and too Books, for which I gife 
 you kinde thanks. His Majestie hade one to reede, the Marquis of Ilar- 
 forde- the other, hoo approufs rite well of them, and I think w T ondringe 
 wheare the offens lis. The King was smillinge at your enttry and clous, 
 which shurly thay licke not, nor have not much reson, being a smarte 
 truth. But I hope, brother, the worst of your suffrings are paste, and that 
 you will be very well aquite of this and all troble, for your just desks to 
 God, your King, and conttry can neuer want consolation. Onely I feare 
 your Lady and Jepcie will bee fritted and troubbled at the liering of it, 
 but I hope not when they know the cas. My saruis to them I pray when 
 you see them, for I feare I shall not a greate whils, for thay say the 
 Quene is presently going for Holland, and I have not seene some of my 
 barns this too years. God helpe me, but it tis a time of all afflicktion to all. 
 I pray God in his good time to amend it, and, if it bee his good pleasure, 
 gife us a happye meeting, to the joy of me, your trw louing sister, 
 
 and humble saruante, 
 
 E. Cornwallis. 
 
 I hade the eill lucke to make Capten Connisby stay to lounge. I thanke 
 you, sir, for the fauor of your letter. I shoud it to the King. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xlv 
 
 I was one nite in towne, and thout to asseene Betty, but coulde not, 
 nore my oune litle bame nether. Winsor, the 3 of February, 1641. 
 
 Winsor affords noe better pappar. 
 
 Sweet brother, make my excus to Capten Connisby for my not*seing him ; 
 for I was abede, and thout it not feete to make him stay lounger, ore send 
 him my letter with thout seing him, for it wantted only sealling. 
 
 For my deere brother Sir Edward Deringe, 
 knite and barranete, these. 
 
 Sir Edward Dering’s collection of liis speeches, and more espe¬ 
 cially the running commentary with which he accompanied them, 
 cannot be read without seeing that the object of the hook was not 
 simply his own vindication. He was aggressive as well as exculpa¬ 
 tory; or perhaps, rather, he strove to justify himself by damaging the 
 party of Pym and Hampden. The time of publication was critical 
 in the extreme. The confusion occasioned by the King’s demand 
 of the Five Members was just then at its heights Both parties Avere 
 eying each other in anticipation of the near approach of another de¬ 
 scription of struggle. The King was surprised, as we have seem 
 that any thing so “ good,” iij his sense of that Avord, was at that time 
 permitted to^ass the press. His Majesty’s judgment was formed on 
 seeing only a separate copy of one speech, probably that on the 
 Remonstrance; but his surprise Avas well founded, and not less so 
 the glee with which he read “ the entry and close,” of the completed 
 book. The persons whom Dering desired to depreciate viewed the 
 book precisely in the same manner, but not with the same pleasure, 
 as the King. Even before it was actually published, a committee 
 of the House of Commons, formerly appointed to consider the sub¬ 
 ject of unauthorised printing Avith reference to the someAvhat similar 
 case of Lord Digby, and of which committee Sir Edward Dering 
 
 a No better account of this confusion has ever been published than that in Sir Edward’s 
 letter of the 13th January, 1641-2, printed in this volume at p. 66. 
 
 CAMD. soc. g 
 
xlvi 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 was a member, a was directed to meet on the morrow and consider 
 Sir Edward’s volume. b This order was made on the 20th of 
 January, 1641-2. Whether the committee reported or not does 
 not appear; probably it did. On the following 4th February, the 
 Book again came under the consideration of the House. Sir Edward 
 was present in his seat. “ Divers passages ” were pointed out to 
 him, and he was heard in answer and explanation. Finally, the 
 book was voted to be against the honour and privilege of the House, 
 and scandalous to it, and was ordered to be burned—that poor mode 
 of confutation, borrowed from the old custom in cases of pre¬ 
 sumed heresy—by the hands of the common hangman, in West¬ 
 minster, Cheapside, and Smithfield. It was further resolved, that 
 Sir Edward should be disabled to sit as a member of the House 
 during that parliament, and the speaker was directed to issue his 
 warrant for a new election for Kent. All this passed without oppo¬ 
 sition. It was then moved that Sir Edward should be sent to the 
 Tower. On a division the question was carried in the affirmative 
 by a majority of 85 to 61. c He remained in custody until the 11th 
 February, when he was discharged on his own petition. 11 
 
 Of his temper and feelings after his discharge the paper printed 
 in this volume, and before alluded to, contains ample evidence. 
 “ As for Root and Branch/’ he remarks, “ I am resolved by word 
 and by writing to do you all the mischief I can, and I make no 
 doubt but that my book and I shall do you more mischief out of the 
 House than if 1 were still among you.” With this bitter feeling 
 in his heart he retired into Kent, and in fulfilment of his pledge 
 began almost immediately to bestir himself. At the assizes, in the 
 following month, he procured a number of his political friends to 
 join him on the Grand Jury, and by their assistance succeeded in 
 
 *> ibid. p. 387. 
 d Ibid. p. 426. 
 
 * Commons’ Journ., ii. 136. 
 c Ibid. vol. iii. p. 411. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xlvii 
 
 carrying, against a stont opposition, a decidedly anti-Hampden and 
 Fym petition to the House of Commons . 8 The facts being reported 
 to the House by one of the persons who sate on the Grand Jury, 
 the House summoned Dering and the other leaders to appear before 
 them. Sir Edward delayed, but at length obeyed the summons. 
 His appearance was registered, but he slipped away before interro¬ 
 gatories could be prepared for his examination, addressing a letter 
 to his brother-in-law, Sir Henry Gibbes, one of the members, to 
 excuse his flight. The House of Commons procured an order to 
 stop the ports, with a view to his arrest, and shortly afterwards 
 carried up to the House of Lords an impeachment against him, b pro¬ 
 bably for conspiracy to raise the county of Kent against the Parlia¬ 
 ment. 
 
 For some months after this time he is thought to have lived in 
 seclusion in the neighbourhood of Surrenden, which had become 
 his seat by the death of his father; and to this period may be 
 assigned a story which is commonly told of him, that, to lay asleep 
 the vigilance of some officer of the Parliament, Sir Edward 
 donned a surplice, and read prayers in a neighbouring church 
 before a congregation of his friends and neighbours . 0 
 
 We next hear of him at Nottingham at the setting up of the 
 royal standard in August, 1642. Sir Edward raised a regiment of 
 horse at his own expense, and was among the first to obey the royal 
 summons. The portrait which, through the liberality of the present 
 head of the house, Sir Edward Cholmeley Dering, graces the present 
 volume, exhibits Sir Edward in his martial character. In the back 
 ground is represented a military action upon a bridge, which, 
 bearing in mind the brief period of Sir Edward’s service, can 
 scarcely refer to any other encounter than that which took place at 
 Powick near Worcester, on the 23rd September, 1642. It was the 
 first occasion on which the cavalry of the two parties crossed swords. 
 
 a Ibid. P . 502. 
 
 b Comm. Journ. pp. 507, 511, 513, 514, 533, 535, 536, 537. 
 
 c Nalson, ii. 249. 
 
xlviii 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The parliamentarians were advancing towards Worcester. In a 
 dashing charge Prince Rupert drove them back in confusion over 
 Powick bridge, and finally put them to ignominious flight. Claren¬ 
 don mentions the action as one which proved of unspeakable advan¬ 
 tage to the King and rendered the name of Prince Rupert “ very 
 terrible.” (Hist. Rebell. lib. vi.) Round his waist, loosely wrapped, 
 after the manner of a sash, Sir Edward wears what seems to be a flag 
 of some kind ornamented with fleurs-de-lys. Two conjectures have 
 been made as to the meaning of this remarkable decoration. One 
 finds its explanation in an armorial atchievement for Sir Edward 
 certified by Segar, who was Garter in the time of James I. In this 
 representation of the Dering arms, the mantle in which the shield is 
 placed is sable, lined or, seme of fleurs-de-lys sable, probably in allu¬ 
 sion to the bearing of a family named Pluckley, whose arms the 
 Derings quartered. The other conjecture is, that the sash was pro¬ 
 bably a trophy taken by Sir Edward, and hastily folded round his 
 person whilst the fight was going on. The arms represented in the 
 picture are, 1. Deiing, anciently De Morinis. 2. Dering. 3. D’lpre. 
 4. Badlesmere. 5. Boliun; and 6. Pennington. The collar of SS is 
 observable as a late example of its use by a private gentleman. The 
 pendant badge is no doubt intended for that of the order of Baronets. 
 The portrait represents Sir Edward as a handsome man of middle 
 age, intelligent, gentle, kindly, but with perhaps something of a 
 touch of womanly softness in the expression of his long oval coun¬ 
 tenance. Particular attention has evidently been paid to the collar, 
 the hair, the armour, and the sword-hilt. Probably this was cha¬ 
 racteristic. We should judge Sir Edward to have been nice in his 
 dress and personal ornaments, and attentive to all the proprieties of 
 costume. The portrait is indeed in all respects intended to be that of 
 a true cavalier.' 1 
 
 !l The original is at Surrenden. Our etching, which is an admirable representation of 
 it, is the work of Mr. Herbert L. Smith. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xlix 
 
 But that was a character which can scarcely he claimed on behalf 
 of Sir Edward Dering. In heart he was hut faintly attached to the 
 side of the great contest which he had been driven by his unhappy 
 blundering to assume, and a few months’ experience of the hardships 
 and difficulties of actual warfare convinced him how little that way 
 of life was suited to his taste or his physical powers. His letters from 
 1639 make mention of his suffering from almost continual headache. 
 The fatigues of soldiership aggravated the tormenting ailment. The 
 pain extended to one of his shoulders, with such violence that he 
 could not lift his hand to his head. For all military action he was 
 soon entirely disabled 
 
 Whilst the armies of the King and Parliament were first engaged 
 on a great scale at Edge Hill, Sir Edward was striving to make his 
 peace with the House of Commons. From some place probably in 
 London, where he was hiding from the spies or agents of the oppo¬ 
 site party, he applied to Sir Richard Skeffington to pave the way 
 with the Parliament for his permitted return. Sir Richard replied, 
 in a letter addressed by way of blind to Lady Dering at Surrenden, 
 that he had made Mr. P[ym?] acquainted with Sir Edward’s letter. 
 He was much joyed at it, and was very willing to secure Sir Edward, 
 provided he would u render himself, or make some submission by 
 letter to him.” 3. The terms were probably too mortifying to be then 
 submitted to; but after six months’ service he obtained the King’s 
 
 a Letter in Surrenden Collection, which is altogether of so great importance that it 
 will be best to give it as it stands. “ Deare Cosin, This Tusday night at 5 a clock I made 
 Mr. P. acquainted with your letter. Hee is very willing to secure you, and is much joyed 
 with your letter, and so am I in my hart. But you must first render yourselfe, or make 
 some submission by your letter to him, that thereupon hee may move the House in your 
 behalfe. This is all I can do in these buisie times. Things are not so bad with our 
 armies upon Sunday’s fight as wee heard them. The Lord Linsse his son, Lunsforde, 
 Vaviser, and Asburnam taken prisoners. The[y] begane on Monday again to fight, but 
 the certen effect of that day and this wee heare not. I beseech the Lord to bring peace out 
 of warre and stanch our bleeding woounds. And thus, with my liartie affection unto you and 
 your Lady, I rest yours assured to my power, R. Skeff. [P.S.] Pardon my hast and 
 excuse mee if I conic ndt yett to you. [2nd P.S.] Excuse my haste and scribling. 
 
1 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 permission to resign his regiment and retire from active service. 
 The question now was whither could he go? His estate had been 
 sequestered, Surrenden had been four times plundered by the parlia¬ 
 mentary soldiers, “ his goods and stock ” had been seized and taken 
 away, his farm houses and fences destroyed, his woods felled, and his 
 rents abated. 8. Under these circumstances, it is said that he strangely 
 applied to the King for a grant of the Deanery of Canterbury, 13 one 
 of the very dignities which he had moved to abolish. One does not 
 very well see how he could have derived any advantage from the 
 appointment, Canterbury at that time being in the hands of the Par¬ 
 liament; but one fact gives a colour of probability to the statement, 
 which is, that his relative c Dr. Isaac Bargrave, Dean from 1625, died 
 in January, 1642-3, d just at the moment when, if any profit could 
 have been made out of the deanery, it must have most suited the cir¬ 
 cumstances of Sir Edward Dering to have procured it. The King, 
 it is added, refused the request, as it was very right in him to do. 
 
 Sir Edward’s ultimate course must have been in every way most 
 distressing to him. On 30 January, 1643-4, the Parliament issued a 
 Declaration permitting persons who had been in arms against them 
 to return to their homes, upon taking the Covenant, and paying a 
 composition for the restoration of their estates. Sir Edward Dering, 
 who was Avith the King at Oxford at that time, was the first person 
 who petitioned to take the benefit of this Declaration. The permission 
 was granted.® Pie submitted to the conditions, and returned into Ken# 
 in February, 1643-4, at liberty, but, as he himself said, it was the 
 liberty of starving in good company—that of his wife and children. 
 Until the amount of his composition could be settled with the proper 
 authorities, he was not permitted to inhabit Surrenden, nor was he put 
 
 [Dated] This Tusday night, 8 a clock. [Addressed] To my much honnored Lady 
 Deering, att Surnden in Kent, give these with speed I pray you. [Indorsed by Sir 
 Edward Dering.] 8 [a mistake for 25th] Octob. 1642. Sir Richard Skeffington. 
 
 » Sprotti Chron. ed. Hearne, p. xlv. b Nalson, ii. 249. 
 
 c See post, p. 7. d Le Neve’s Fasti, ed. Hardy, i. 33. 
 
 e Comm. Journ. iii. 390. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 li 
 
 into possession of his estates, but he found refuge in one of his own 
 ruinous farm-houses. He lived there in the extremest poverty/ whilst 
 the question of his composition was in agitation. It had to be settled 
 by a local committee, and afterwards to be confirmed by Parliament. 
 The former body returned the value of his estates at 800/. per an¬ 
 num, and recommended the payment of 1,000/. as composition; 
 an amount considerably less in proportion than in the majority 
 of similar cases, perhaps in consideration of the great damage done 
 to his estates whilst under sequestration. The 1,000/. was confirmed 
 by the House of Commons on the 27th July, 1644, but before that 
 day Sir Edward had passed beyond the jurisdiction of sequestra¬ 
 tors and committee-men. He had found a quiet resting-place in 
 the church of Pluckley. The disease in his head, which is stated 
 to have been an imposthume, terminated his melancholy career on 
 the previous 22nd June. On a representation of the circumstances 
 to the Parliament, the composition-money was forborne, and 
 the young heir admitted to his estates without any payment/ 
 
 It is unnecessary for us to attempt any summary of the character 
 of Sir Edward. In peaceable times the “ uberrima omnigence erudi- 
 tionis copia,” which is commemorated on his monument in Pluckley 
 church, would have made him usefully and honorably distinguished. 
 In the days in which he lived, nothing sufficed to carry any man 
 through life with safety, but steadiness and perseverance in a settled 
 and conscientious course. To be uncertain, or to waver, from what¬ 
 ever motives, was to be lost. So many persons found it, and among 
 them few were more to be pitied than Sir Edward Dering. 
 
 JOHN BRUCE. 
 
 5, Upper Gloucester Street , Dorset Square , 
 
 7 November , 1861. 
 
 a Sprotti Chron. ed. Hearne, p. xlv. 
 
 b Commons’ Journ. iii. 603. 
 
PROCEEDINGS, 
 
 PRINCIPALLY IN THE COUNTY OP KENT, 
 
 IN CONNECTION WITH THE 
 
 TWO PARLIAMENTS CALLED IN 1040. 
 
 I. 
 
 Letter from S r EDWARD DERING, Bar 4 , to S r ROGER TWYSDEN, 
 Bar 1 , of Roy don Hall, in East Peckham, inviting him to stand for the 
 County of Kent, in the New Parliament.* 
 
 Honourable Sir, 
 
 I have wanted a letter from you, and you have wanted 
 mine, but the reason hath beene, because I have had a daely resolu- 
 fion to come over to you. Now, I am called so earnestly eastward 
 that I cannot (as I entended) be with you, being immediately for 
 Canterbury. 
 
 I were guilty of a weak freindship if I did not lett you 
 knowe that, heering of a Parliament (att the first by my casuall 
 being att Dovor), I did, with some easterne freindes, then, and 
 next day, name you for a knight’s service to the house, which 
 
 * This is not the letter itself, but the original draught of it. 
 CAMD. SOC. B 
 
 1639. 
 
 15 Car. I. 
 
 20 December. 
 
2 
 
 SIR EDWARD DERING TO SIR ROGER TWYSDEN. 
 
 1639. 
 
 15 Car. I. 
 
 was received with a cheerefull desire. Beleeve me, heere is in 
 these partes a very strong party indisposed, nor will they take any 
 impression (for aught I can discerne) for them who stand; onely 
 M r Knatclibull hath good strength. You are doubly pretious with 
 them now, once in your self, and againe in being obliged to par* 
 ticular greate ones above. Itt shall not be vanity with so neare a 
 freind to say, that I have had from the meny many serious and 
 hearty invitements ; but I hope to appeare in that court in a lower 
 spheere. In the meane time, I observe a most free alacrity of 
 voyces for your selfe, if you would but owne them. You are better 
 beloved then your modesty will suffer you to beleeve. If you be 
 not fettered beyond all freedome, appeare for your selfe.* If you 
 love M r Treasurerf perswad his desistance. S r Tho. Walsingham | 
 and S r George Sondes § have left many more voyces free then they 
 have taken. If M r Treasurer should desist, joyne with M r Knatch- 
 bull. If you be not sure of a burgesse place, you shall be guilty 
 of a greate fault not to owne the country which seekes after you. 
 If you desire to speak with me I shall come home on Christmas 
 eve, and, on Saterday following, will attend you att Peckham. In 
 the meane while, lett me heere something from you. I shall leave 
 one to bring itt into East Kent. I hope, att the least, you are sure 
 of Ry, or Winchelsea; || send me word else. 
 
 * These expressions seem to imply that Sir Roger Twysden was deemed to be tied 
 hand and foot to his cousin-german Sir Henry Vane, whose mother was sister to Sir 
 William Twysden, Sir Roger’s father:— 
 
 Roger Twysden=pAnne Wyatt. 
 
 r-*--1 
 
 S r William Twy sden,== Lady Anne Finch. Henry Fane, of^Margaret Twysden. 
 Bar 1 . I Hadlow. 
 
 S r Roger Twysden, S r Henry Vane, Treasurer of the Household, 
 
 Bar 1 . of Fairlawn. 
 
 f i. e. Sir Henry Vane of Fairlawn, Treasurer of the Household. 
 
 £ Sir Thomas Walsingham, of Scadbury, in Chislehui’st. 
 
 § Sir George Sondes, of Throwley. 
 
 || Sir Roger sat for Winchelsea in the parliament of 1625. 
 
SIR ROGER TWYSDEN TO SIR EDWARD DERING* 
 
 3 
 
 Hearty service to your noble lady and your selfe from my other 
 selfe and from me. 
 
 Your affectionate and ever faitkfull cosen* that loves you, 
 
 E. D. 
 
 Surrenden Dering, 
 
 20 December, Friday morning, 1639. 
 
 1639. 
 
 15 Car. I. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1639. To S r RogerTwisden, 26 Dec.”f] 
 
 II. 
 
 Letter from S r ROGER TWYSJDEN to S r EDWARD DERING in reply, 
 canvassing him for the Treasurer of the Household S r Harry Yane. 
 
 Noble Sir,} 
 
 As to some other of my very worthy friends, so am I much 24 December, 
 bound to your self for this your kind invytation, who must confesse 
 I can not tell any way how to deserve it, though I never will fayle 
 of doing the best service I can to the country whenever they call 
 me to it; but the truth is, I am at this tyme all together ingaged to 
 doe to the Treasurer, who is named, the best I can in it; and I 
 should bee sory (if he or any of hys stand) they should not cary it, 
 but with out all opposition, and therefore am resolved never at all to 
 appear, where there may bee any contestation with such a friend, 
 
 * They were second cousins:— 
 
 William Twysdon=pElizabeth Roydon. 
 
 i 
 
 I--1 
 
 Roger Twysden=pAnne Wyatt. Richard Dering=^=Margaret Twysden. 
 
 S r William Twysden, Barb^Lady Anne Finch. S r Anthony Dering, Kl.^Frances Bell. 
 
 i- 1 i-;- 1 
 
 S r Roger Twysden, Bar*. S r Edward Dering, Bar*. 
 
 f Sir Edward had originally written “ 20 Dec r .,” which was subsequently altered to 
 
 “ 26 th Dec r .” The date at the foot of the letter is “ 20 th Deo r .,” which, by the context, 
 
 it palpably must have been. 
 
 X Vide note, No. III. p. 5, infra. 
 
 * 
 
4 
 
 SIR ROGER TWYSDEN TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1639. 
 
 15 Car. I. 
 
 who I doe know hath as true an hart to God and the kingdom’s good 
 as any they can bestow it on. And I would bee glad hee might have 
 that pledge of affection from us that wee thought hym so; but I 
 think that hee stands is rather hys friends desires then any declara¬ 
 tion is made by hymself to any as yet. I am not provyded for of 
 any other place; for Winchelsea I have laboured to get my brother 
 Thom,* but I know not with what successe it will bee. If the 
 Treasurer give out, I am free, and there will bee tyme enough to 
 speak of it, for the Parlyament beegins not tyll the 13 Aprill,f nor 
 will the writs bee out tyll 1 March; but where you speak of coming 
 over liyther (though with an if) on Saturday, I intreat you, if it 
 please you, to doe me that favor; or racier, beecause I feare if it bee 
 on Saturday you will bee going on Munday, defer your journey tyl 
 Munday, and stay to goe on Saturday. Wee shall spend the tyme 
 in reading, walking, or somewhat else that will beeguile it; and I 
 doubt not but to give you suche reasons for the Tresurer’s election 
 as shall with w'illingnesse perswade you to interest all your friends. 
 I can not in this winter dead season seeke my ladies company, to 
 whom all wee desire to be rememberd, and in some better tyme of 
 the year shall hold our selves favord if shee will look on us. Your 
 man much hasts to goe back this night a very long journey, which 
 makes me break of, only adding that this is the hand of your 
 
 poore kinsman that truly loves you, 
 
 Roger Twysden. 
 
 If you take so much paynes as to visit your affectionate cosen,$ 
 pray bring your history of William Thorne,§ and I will shew you an 
 
 * Thomas Twisden, for so he spelt his name, Sir Roger's brother. He was not 
 returned to this Parliament. On the Restoration, being then a serjeant-at-law, he was 
 made a judge, and was appointed one of the commissioners for the trial of the Regicides. 
 He was created a baronet in 1666. His seat was Bradbourne in East Mailing. 
 
 + Sir Roger makes a mistake here. Parliament was summoned for the 3d April, 1640. 
 
 J “ Cosen,” vide note, p. 3. 
 
 § Thorne, a monk of St. Augustine’s, Canterbury, in the 14th century. His liistorv 
 here alluded to was published by Sir Roger Twysden in his Decent Scrcplores. 
 
NOTE RELATING TO ELECTIONEERING MANOEUVRES. 
 
 5 
 
 old MSS. sometyme of the same Abbeys, conteyning many prety 
 Miscellaneas, writ about Ed. 3 hys tyme, out of which perhaps Thom 
 took some part of hys History. M r Knatchbull is an honest gentle¬ 
 man, and I beeleeve will have many voyces, both for hys oun worth, 
 and S r Ed. Scot’s sake. 
 
 [Superscription. ] 
 
 To my honourable good friend S r Edward Deering, 
 at hys howse at Surrenden in Pluckley. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering, “ 24 (? 26) Dec 1- . 1639. S r Roger Twisden.”] 
 
 
 III. 
 
 Note of Sir ROGER TWYSDEN relating to Electioneering Manoeuvres in 
 
 the County of Kent. 
 
 [Among the MSS. at Roydon Hall* was a note relating to this election 
 so illustrative of the preceding letters, and so interesting in itself, that I 
 cannot refrain from subjoining it.] 
 
 Memorandum.—The 16 th of March, 163I was chosen 
 knight of this shire for the parliament summoned to beegin the 13 th 
 of Aprill following ; which, beecause it was carryed with great con¬ 
 testation between my self and a neere kinsman of myne, S r Edward 
 Deryng of Pluckley, I have for posterytys sake thought good a little 
 to note the manner of the carying of it. 
 
 When first the speech of a parlyament so long expected beegan, 
 about the end of Mychaelmas terme 1639, many men were spoken 
 
 * Now in my possession. This Note of Sir Roger Twysden’s is so strictly illustrative 
 of the preceding letters, and so interesting in itself, that I venture to insert it here, 
 although it has already been printed in the charming biography which my valued and 
 accomplished friend Mr. Kemble inserted in his learned preface to Sir Roger’s Treatise 
 on the Government of England. 
 
 1639. 
 
 15 Car. I. 
 
6 
 
 NOTE RELATING TO ELECTIONEERING MANOEUVRES. 
 
 1639. 
 
 15 Car. I. 
 
 of as fit to stand to bee knights for Kent. Amongst the rest, myselfe 
 was invyted to he one, which I declyned, as beeing a matter of great 
 expence, and indeede not thinking the country would chuse me ; so 
 I ever put it off as altogether unworthy of it, yet professing I would 
 bee most glad to doe the country all service. Some weeke after 
 this, S r Henry Vane, the treasurer of hys Majestys howsehold, my 
 cosen germin, came to hys howse at Fayrlane,* and opened hymself 
 so far unto me that hee had a purpose of standing for it, that I 
 promised hym all the assistance lay in me, knowing hym a man 
 truly devoted to God and hys countryes good, and that had per- 
 swaded the King to this course. And so I exprest myself unto hym 
 that I did not doe it with the least intentyon hee should diminish in 
 ought the religion now establisht by law, nor the liberties of the 
 subject; beesides, he promised me, that if hee were knight of the 
 shire, I should serve in that burges place which he, as a pryvy 
 counsellor, would not bee destytute of, in which I could doe my 
 country as much service as in this or any other, all being equall 
 in the howse. Trwly the common people had been so bytten with 
 shippe money they were very averse from a courtyer. I dealt with 
 all my neighbours effectually, and had promis of many, yet could I 
 not bee confident of hys beeing elected ; I did therefore think the 
 best way of facilitating it was to get all elce but hymself and one 
 more sit downe. M r Knatchbul of Mersham Hatch, S r George 
 Sonds, and S r Thomas Walsingham, did stand from the beeginning ; 
 all these but the first, who had the greatest vote from the beeginning, 
 out of their affectionat respect to M r Treasurer, sate downe, beeing 
 both deputy lieutenants. S r Edward Dering had at the first writ to 
 me to stand to bee one myself, which 1 refused, and gave hym all 
 the arguments lay in my power for doing so ; afterward, coming to 
 London, finding hym there, I did with strong importunyty presse hym 
 to bee for S r Hary Vane, and did then conceive hym as firme for 
 
 * In Wrotham. 
 
NOTE RELATING TO ELECTIONEERING MANOEUVRES. 
 
 7 
 
 hym as any man; and, if the affirming hee was a little ingaged to 
 S r Thomas Walsingham, and a profession he held the Treasurer a 
 fitter man to doe the country good, that he would not stand hymself, 
 but would doe reason, yet he could not absolutely give a promis tvl 
 the assizes, becaus 16 gentlemen of them had affirmed sollemnly he 
 was not one that did beefore that ingage hymselfe any way, and this 
 on assurance S r Thomas Walsingham would sit downe—if, I say, all 
 these were tyes, it is most true hee had promised me to bee for 
 S r Henry Yane. 
 
 At the assizes S r Henry Vane writ unto me to understand the 
 sence of the country. I went thither, as satisfyed he would be 
 chosen without opposition, seeing S 1 ' George Sonds and S r Thomas 
 Walsingham, out of respect to him, sate downe, as ever I did any¬ 
 thing in my life; but, coming thither, I found S r Edward Dering 
 speak more cooly of it then I expected; after supper there was 
 certainly some pryvate consultation beetween hym, M r George 
 Stroude of Westram, and Isack Bargrave,* Dean of Canterbury; 
 and the next day a resolution publisht that he would stand. I must 
 needes remember that, beeing prest in my hearing to say whether 
 he would stand or not, he, the first night, sayd he could not tell; 
 it seemes he resolved on it that night. 
 
 I tooke this so unkindly, to see so little respect of that which I 
 tooke hym to have promised me to assist me in the atteyning of, for a 
 kinsman allmost as neere hym f as myself, I could not refrain myself, 
 but told hym of it very playnly, and acquainted M r Treasurer with 
 all the proceedings, who instantly resolved not to stand hymself, 
 but writ to me, with all the rest of hys friends heerabouts, to set up 
 
 * Dean Bargrave married a first cousin of Sir Edward Dering's father, Sir Anthony:— 
 
 John Dering=p. 
 
 I-—- 1 -1 
 
 Richard Dering-p. John Dering-,-. 
 
 I- 1 J-1 
 
 S r Anthony Dering^p. Dean Bargrave — Elizabeth Dering. 
 
 i-, 
 
 S r Edward Dering, Bar 1 . 
 
 j- Both were cousins of Sir Henry Vane, but by different lines:—Sir Roger Twys- 
 
 1639. 
 
 15 Car. I. 
 
8 
 
 GEORGE STRODE, ESQ. TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 2 September. 
 
 myself and oppose Dering. This was a troublesome taske; all the 
 gentlemen of Kent were ingaged already for Knatchbull. Dering, 
 after the assizes, did never lye still, but ride up and downe sollicking 
 every body, yea, such as were for S r Henry Yane he strove to get a 
 promis of, that, he giving out, they should bee for hym. What should 
 I doe? To publish to friends by letter that I intended to stand was 
 to meet with a certayn denyall from them whose assistance I desired. 
 I could doe no more but this, to give out to my friends that if I were 
 chosen I should take it for a great favor, and doe the country all 
 service lyeth in my power; that I could not conceive they would 
 chuse so worthlesse a man as myself am, and such like; but never 
 write or send purposely to any man for to procure me any voyces. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERING, from GEORGE STRODE, Esq r , 
 
 promising his support.* 
 
 Noble Sir, 
 
 I conseave you doe your selfe a great deale of right in 
 resuminge your pretencon (which in my aprehencon was most 
 unequally carried in the last election). I have found an ill health 
 since I sawe you, and to worse it with a fall lately taken in Sussex, 
 
 den was first cousin to Sir Henry Vane, and Sir Edward Dering and Sir Henry were 
 second cousins, i. e. children of first cousins :— 
 
 William Twysden=7=Elizabeth Roydon. 
 i 
 
 l--1 
 
 Roger T wysden-j-Anne Wyatt. Richard Dering-pMargaret Twysden. 
 
 I- 1 -1 1 -1 
 
 S r William Twys-^Lady Anne Henry Fane, of=pMargaret S r Anthony^=Frances 
 
 den, Bar 1 * * * S . I Finch. Hadlow. | Twysden. Dering, K l . j Bell. 
 
 I- 1 I- 1 i- 1 
 
 S r Roger Twysden, S r Henry Vane, Treasurer of the S r Edward Dering, 
 
 Bar 1 , Household of Fairlawn. K l . Bar 1 . 
 
 * Though not so specified, it is evident that this promise is with reference to his 
 election as knight of the shire to the Parliament summoned for the 3rd Nov. 
 
SIR PETER HEYMAN TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 9 
 
 and doupt my abilletye sodainly to ride, which is the cause of my 
 not attendinge the sessions. 
 
 I wilbe ingaged for noe man in the county but S r Edward 
 Deringe, and I will imploye my sonne to supplie my place in 
 doinge you service. 
 
 I may promise noe farther, but as soone S r J no Cullpeper as any 
 other ; you will discover the designe at the sessions, and bee 
 assured of him that is 
 
 Your reall freinde and redy servant, 
 
 George Strode.* 
 
 Squerries, the 2 d of Sept. 1640. 
 
 My service to your noble lady. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To my ever honored friende S r Edward Deringe, Barronett, 
 at his howse these presente. 
 
 Surenden. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 1640. 5 Oct. M r Strode.”] 
 
 Y. 
 
 Letter to Sr EDWARD DERING, from Sr PETER HEYMAN, 
 
 promising his support. 
 
 Noble Sir, 
 
 Till this morninge, I heard nothing of any matter wherin 
 good fortune might make me fitt for an ingagement to doe yow 
 
 * George Strode, Esq. of Squerries, in Westerliam, afterwards knighted; he was a 
 fellow-sufferer with Sir Roger Twysden, Mr. Richard Spencer, and Sir Edward Dering, 
 from the wrath of the Parliament against the promoters of the Kent Petition, and was 
 imprisoned for it, with them, in March, 1642. Sir George Strode is in the list of the un¬ 
 fortunate victims who had to compound for their estates, for which he had to pay 2,814f. 
 Mr. Spencer had to compound at 300f.; Sir Roger Twysden, at l,700f. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. C 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 29 September. 
 
10 
 
 SIR EDWARD BOYS TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 1 October. 
 
 service ; but if now your occasion require any neighbourlike 
 respect, I shalbe reddy to doe it, when tyme and place shall require. 
 And, for my sonns, I know not but yow may use them as your 
 servants, and my self as your frend, and respective neighboure. 
 
 Pet. Heyman.* 
 
 29 7bris, 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To my honored frend, S r Edwarde Derynge, 
 
 Knight and Baronet, these. 
 
 [Seal.] A Traveller with Cornucopia on back. Legend—“ Copia fecit.” 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640. 29 Sept. S r Peter Heyman.”] 
 
 VI. 
 
 Letter to Sr EDWARD DERING, from S r EDWARD BOYS, 
 conditionally promising his support. 
 
 PIonoured Sir, 
 
 I am ingaged unto two of my friends ; soe that yf they 
 stand, I cannot goe from my promise; but, yf either of them doe 
 not stand, I wilbe for one of my voices for you. I am perswaded 
 that neither of them will appeare in it. I have bin solicetted by 
 some of my friends for S r John Culpeper,* and have hade a letter 
 from him selfe for that purpose; but have given them a flat deniall. 
 My son is not with me; but I doe expect him very shortly. I have 
 
 * This was Sir Peter Heyman, Knt. of Somerfeild, in Sellindge. He had been mem¬ 
 ber for Dover in the Short Parliament just dissolved. 
 
 f Sir John Colepeper, of Leeds Castle, the Royalist faithful unto death ; afterwards 
 created by Charles I. Lord Colepeper. He was returned, with Sir Edward Dering, as 
 knight of the shire to this Parliament. 
 
GEORGE HAULE, ESQ. TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 11 
 
 shewed Ned Swane your letter, who is very zealous for you. And 
 thus, with my best respects, I rest 
 
 Your lovinge friend, 
 
 Edw. Boys * * * § 
 
 8ber. 1, 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 For my honored friend S r Edward Dearinge, 
 
 Knight & Barronet, presente these. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640. 3 Octob. S r Edw. Boys.”] 
 
 VII. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERING, from GEORGE HAULE, Escf, 
 urging him to make his appearance at Maidstone. 
 
 Noble Sir, 
 
 Yf you intend to stand for one of the knights of the 
 sheire, you must speedily appeere in these parts, either in person, 
 or by letter. S r John Culpeper f stands, and many here have 
 passed their voces for him. Mr. Spenser]: intends to stande; 
 here are many very glad of it. S r John Sydley§ stands for 
 burgisse of our towne; he is very lickely to carrie it. I have 
 spoken to some of our towne of you ; they wish they had your 
 letter to publish; you will loose many by it else. I doubt S r John 
 
 * Sir Edward Boys, of Betshanger, member for Dover in this Parliament, 
 
 f Sir John Colepeper, vide note p. 10. 
 
 X The Hon. Richard Spencer, second son of Robert Lord Spencer of Wormleighton ; 
 he had a seat in Orpington, vide note p. 9. 
 
 § Sir John Sedley, of St. Clere, in Ightham, Bart.; vide p. 12. 
 
 * c 2 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 2 October. 
 
12 
 
 SIR JOHN SEDLEY TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 5 October. 
 
 Culpeper’s voices in these parts will not be very fast to you. So in 
 hast I rest. 
 
 Your servant to commande, 
 
 Geo. Haule.* 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To my honorable good frinde S r Edw. Deeringe, 
 Knight and Barronet, these. 
 
 [Seal.] On a saltire 5 mullets, impaling a saltire. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640. 2 Octob. Cosenf Hawle.” 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERING from S r JOHN SEDLEY, promising 
 his support, and asking S r Edward’s at Hythe, &c. 
 
 Noble Sir, 
 
 If you hadd not appeared, I was resolved to sitt quiett in 
 my howse; but I cannot refuse your commands, assuringe you still 
 the clayme of the choycest share in my affections, which that my 
 active endeavors may the better manifest nothing shalbee wantinge 
 within my spheare to support you from any thinge that is like a 
 fall. I hadd (before your letter arryved mee) engaged many of my 
 freinds for you, and will doe more; to bringe with them the same 
 constancye, I intend to wayte on you with my selfe, at the election. 
 
 * George Haule, Esq. of Digons, in Maidstone, and Knight-Rider Street. 
 + He was cousin of Sir Edward Dering : — 
 
 Richard Dering=pMargaret Twisden. 
 
 I- 
 
 S' Anthony Dering=p:Frances Bell. 
 
 i- 1 
 
 S r Edward Dering. 
 
 - -- ! 
 
 Henry Haule, of Bigons alias Digons,^Jane Dering, 
 in Maidstone. | 
 
 I- 1 
 
 George Haule. 
 
SIR JOHN SEDLEY TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 13 
 
 I fynde some of these parts, especially about Maydstone, so poy- 
 soned with faction, and so full of falshood and treachery, that I 
 knowe not howe to judge of theyr integritye, unlesse I did see theyr 
 hearts, which it were happy that some of them were anatomized to 
 that purpose. S r , I resolved (longe before the newes of this parlia¬ 
 ment), knowinge that within a whyle one there must bee, to appeare 
 for one of theyr burgesses at Maydstone, havinge hadd the com- 
 mande of that towne, as captayne, above 12 yeares, declyninge in 
 the meane many overtures from my freinds of other places, that I 
 myght with confydence have embraced; but, restinge there, and 
 havinge obtayned such a free and full vote to mee to have carryed 
 it for one undoubtedly, I went on Weddenesday last to Maydstone, 
 to the nowe Mayor, to request but the curtesie hee denyeth not 
 to any cobler or tynker that will solicitt him, to sweare mee a 
 freeman of the towne, which hee refuse, seduced and perswaded 
 to this unmannerly affront by S r Francis Barnham,* whose malice, 
 were it not in howrely machination buysyed against one or other, 
 hee cowld not live; his plott beinge, as I discover, to sett upp there 
 younge S r Henry Vane,f M r Treasurer’s sonne, a courtyer as well as 
 his father nowe, though lately, as you knowe, Governour at Newe 
 Englande; and I thinke you will accompt it as unneighbourlye in 
 younge Sir Henry Vane to embrace the motion (where he knewe 
 I was preingaged) as malitious in Barnham to offer it; but M r 
 Treasurer pleaseth himselfe in this revenge on mee, for my profes¬ 
 sion at the last election to you, yett shall my freindshipp remayne 
 imoveable where once desert hath fixed mee. S r , I am nowe, by 
 the mischeivous conspiracy of Barnham, cast asyde, that I feare 
 my endeavours will come too supyne to any other place; yett I 
 would desyre to knowe speedely from you, whether the townes of 
 
 * Sir Francis Barnham, of Holingbourne, to whom his brother-in-law Belknap Rudston 
 (who had married his sister Anne) left the seat and estate of Bougliton Monchensie, 
 where Sir Francis Barnham’s son Robert afterwards resided, having been created a 
 Baronet by Charles II. Sir Francis himself resided at Holingbourne. 
 
 *1* The members who sat in this Parliament were, Sir Francis Barnham, Knt. and Sir 
 Humphry Tufton, Knt.; so Sir Francis was probably manoeuvring for himself. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
14 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 SIR JOHN SEDLEY TO SIR EDWARD DERINC). 
 
 Hytlie and Rumney bee already fast engaged for all theyr bur¬ 
 gesses,* and wliat interest you and S 1 ' William Brockman have in 
 any of them, the which, if there shall bee any advantadge left, or 
 gappe yett open, to stake presently for mee; and, as I heare from 
 you, I shall make my speedy repay re thither. The writts bee not 
 yett come to [the] sherriffe, nor to any port towne. What nowe 
 remaynes is our heartyest services to your selfe and noble lady 
 attested by 
 
 Your affectionate freinde and kinsman to serve you, 
 
 John Sedeey. 
 
 St. Cleerc, in hast, 5 Oetob. 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To my honorable freinde and kinsman S r Edward Deringe, 
 
 Knight and Baronet, at Surrenden Deringe, present these 
 speedily. 
 
 [Seal.] Quarterly. —1st. A fess wavy between 3 goat’s heads erased; onthefess 
 a crescent for difference. [Sedley.]f 2nd. A bend, in sinister chief a leopard’s 
 face. [Isaac.] 3rd. Ermine, on a chevron 3 escallop shells. [Grove.] 4th. 
 On a chevron 3 birds [magpies ?—Holdieh] ; on fess point, the Ulster hand. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering —“ 1640, 5 Octob.; S r John Sedley.”] 
 
 * With all his eagerness Sir John Sedley could find no place to have him. Not being 
 returned to Parliament, he lorded it over the county at sessions and magistrates’ 
 
 f William Sedley, of Southfleet,-pAnne, d. and h. of Roger Grove, 
 Sheriff of Kent 1589. I of London. 
 
 I !• 
 
 John Sedley, ol'^Anne, dau. of 
 Southfleet, s. & John Colepe- 
 h. oh. 1581. per, of Ayles- 
 ford. 
 
 Robert —Elizabeth,dau. 
 Sedley. of George Da- 
 rell, of Cale 
 Hill. 
 
 3. | 
 
 Nicholas : 
 Sedley. 
 
 : Jane, d. & heir, of 
 Edward Isaack, of 
 Howlett’s, in 
 Beaksbourne. 
 
 S r William Sedley, : 
 of the Friars, Ayles- 
 ford, created Baro¬ 
 net 1611. 
 
 Elizabeth, d r . of Stephen 
 Darell, of Spelmonden, 
 and widow of Henry 
 Lord Abergavenny. 
 
 S r Isaac Sedley, of-p. d.and heir. 
 
 Gt. Chart; created 
 Barb 1621 ; Sheriff 
 2 Car. I. 
 
 of. Holdieh, of 
 
 Run worth, Norfolk. 
 
 S r John Sedley, of St. Clere^y. 
 
 A- 
 
15 
 
 MR. JOHN PLAYER TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1640. 
 
 j 16 Car. I. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERING from M r JOHN PLAYER* * * § with 
 Intelligence as to Electioneering Movements. 
 
 Noble Sir, 
 
 Your letters came to my hands this day, and I durst not 15 October, 
 be soe uncivil as not to returne my humble service to your selfe 
 (though my infelicitie in writing would have wit.holden my penne), 
 and thankes for your acceptance of my indeavours, which, besides 
 faythfullnesse, can have noe acceptablenesse- I heare daylie from 
 abroad good and comfortable incouragement, upon letters to Can¬ 
 terbury, and elsewhere. As for that Westerne knight, S r Robert, f 
 his fame doth scarce reach us; his relations lesse affect these parts, 
 and his assistants not soe powerfull with anye ; what his confidence 
 may be I know not, his hopes are like to prove desperate. For 
 S r John,j I heare of noe progresse greatlie, nor accrument to the 
 indeavours this way ; I think his friends know his utmost strength, 
 which is like rather to decline to a consumption than anye healthy 
 augmentation, for that hopes give to conceive not onely that prioritie 
 which is soe much indeavoured, to fayle, but to think it his happi¬ 
 ness (if it might be) to have a second. § 
 
 This afternoone it came to mine ears, that, in the Weale, S r Roger 
 Twisenden is voicd much, and therefore (under correction) think it 
 not amisse to advise whither (if not before, if he be not at Great 
 
 * In all probability this was the John Player who was Vicar of Kennington, the small 
 parish next to Ashford, in 1643. 
 
 + This “ Western Knight” was Sir Robert Mansell, vide p. 16. 
 
 J This, of course, is Sir John Colepeper, who was returned. 
 
 § The writer’s acknowledged “infelicity” in writing is exemplified in this incom¬ 
 prehensible sentence. The only sense I can pick out of it is that—“ inasmuch as hopes 
 give ( i. e. allow us) to conceive, not only that he will fail in being at the head of the 
 poll, for which such strong efforts are made, but that he may think himself lucky if he 
 comes in second.” 
 
16 
 
 MR. GEORGE STRODE TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 19 October. 
 
 Chart,* as I heard he was latelie expected there) to take him in your 
 iournye westward, to reinforce his affection to you, and renew your 
 correspondenge, that soe you may perceive whither (as I am con¬ 
 fident he hath not) he have anye thought. Your competitor’s 
 activitie will make your self and your well wellef vegelant. I 
 should be glad that opportunitye might serve me to wayte on you; 
 but, as this weeke I shall not, and next weeke cannot, by reason of 
 business calling me westward as farre as London, yet, with purpos 
 of returning before the choys, and, in the meane time, shall not 
 fayle to adde my best indeavours that the truth it self, and such as 
 love it, may rejoyce in you, and the honour of God by you, which 
 he unfeinedlie wisheth, who is 
 
 Your humble servant, Jo. Player. 
 
 Ashford, Octob r 15, 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To the honorable S r Edward Dering, at his house 
 Surenden Dering, present these. 
 
 [Seal, not armorial.] A Bee or Fly. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640, 15 Octob. M r Player.”] 
 
 X. 
 
 Letter to Sr EDWARD DERING from Mr GEORGE STRODE 
 about the Election, and his fear of being named Sheriff. 
 
 Noble Sir, 
 
 I have yours by this bearer, and wee heare that all sitt 
 downe but your selfe, S r John Culpeper, and M r Browne. % I have 
 
 * Chelmington in Great Chart was the seat of the Twysdens before their acquisition of 
 Roydon Hall by marriage with a coheiress of the Roydons. 
 
 -f (sic) Well-willers. 
 
 X Probably Mr. Richard Browne, of Great Chart, who sat for Romney in this Par¬ 
 liament. 
 
MR. GEORGE STRODE TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 17 
 
 intreated the knight to leave me free untill the time. I doe allsoe 
 belive M r Spencer* is quit of from the hops that the cun try would 
 cast it uppon him ; wee live not in such an age. S r Ro. Mansell’s 
 pretence was decayiuge ere begone, and soe sodainly vaneshed. I 
 have a very great creeke in my backe that doth not suffer me to 
 ride on a horse ; yf I am any whet better I may not fayle to wayte 
 on you. When not, my sonne shall (God willinge). I give out to 
 goe, and they shall knowe noe other. 
 
 I must now returne you a greater thanks for your love and care 
 of me in my perticuler. It is possible the Keeper f doe not love 
 me; I knowe he doth hate my brother; it may bee he expects that 
 I should use means unto him. Yf the parlament did sitte but two 
 months right ere the clioyce of sherrives,J I might hope he could 
 doe me noe preiudice in that way. Yf things weare as they should 
 be, I would not much dispute it, and as they ar noe gratification 
 to bee kept of only on your kinde notice, I may use the mor diligence 
 to prevent a miscliefe; yf I must be, I wish that I weare now in 
 place, to bee your servant at the county court; but I am very 
 confident that the cuntry heare eyther wilbe for you or not apeare. 
 
 * Mr. Spencer, of Orpington, son of Lord Spencer of Wormleighton : vide p. 11, 
 note. 
 
 •f The Lord Keeper was Sir John Finch, Lord Finch of Fordwicli ; he was son of Sir 
 Henry Finch (the brother of Sir Moyle Finch), and therefore first-cousin of Lady Anne 
 Twysden : his seat was the Moat, near Canterbury, now the property of Earl Cowper, but 
 neither mansion nor park remains. Flight saved him from the fate of Strafford and 
 Laud. 
 
 S r Thomas Finch-pCatherine Moyle, heiress of S r Thomas Moyle. 
 - 1 - 
 
 S r Moyle Finch-pElizabeth Heneage, heiress of S r Thomas S r Henry Finch =p. 
 I Heneage, created Countess of Winchilsea. 
 
 I-,-, p—-1 
 
 S r William^Lady Anne 
 
 Twysden. | Finch. 
 
 I- 1 
 
 S r Roger Twysden. 
 
 S r John Finch, made Lord —. 
 
 Keeper 1639, created Lord 
 Earls of Winchilsea and Finch 1640. 
 
 Nottingham, and Earls of 
 Aylesford. 
 
 X He escaped the shrievalty. James Hugessen, Esq. of Sewards, in Linsted, was sheriff 
 the next year, and Strode never served the office. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 D 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
18 
 
 MR. HUGESSEN TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 My sonne will wayte on you in the feeld, and give you an acompt 
 of his intencion of a second voyce. Trobled with nothinge mor then 
 the feare that I cannot in person doe you the service I soe much 
 desire, hut that you would ever comand 
 
 Your humble servant, George Strode. 
 
 Squerries, the 19° 8 ber , 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To my ever honored freind S r Edwarde Deringe, Baronet, 
 at his howse, these present. 
 
 Surenden Deringe. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering — “ 1640, 20 Octob. M 1 ' Strode.”] 
 
 22 October. 
 
 XI. 
 
 Letter to Sr EDWARD DERING from Mr HUGESSEN * saying that 
 he will attend with his son and tenantry to vote for him and S r John 
 Colpeper. 
 
 Honored Sir, 
 
 Your Lettre by this bearer wel receaved, and, accordinge 
 to the service and love wich bear unto your self, you shall fynd, 
 by God’s helpe, that my self, my soon, and as many of my tenants 
 as I cann procure, will gyve owr attendance and owr voyses for your 
 self and for S r John Colpeper, ho we ever I receaved a Lettre from 
 my respected nayghbour S r Edward Idaels f to stand for S r John 
 Colpeper and your self. I conseave that S r Edward Haells hath 
 
 * James Hugessen, Esq. of Sewards, in Linton. He was sheriff the following year. 
 
 f Sir Edward Hales, Bart, formerly of Hales Place, in Tenterden. He had removed 
 his residence to Henden, in Woodchurch, of which he became possessed in right of his 
 first wife, heiress of Harlackenden. He married for his second wife Martha, daughter of 
 Sir Mathew Carew the elder, and widow of Sir John Cromer of Tunstall, where he 
 seems to have been now living—“ my respected neighbour.” He died and was buried at 
 Tunstall in 1654. His son John, who died “ vita patris,” married Christian the daughter 
 and co-heiress of the same Sir John Cromer, by the said Mai-tha—the father thus 
 marrying the widow, and the son her daughter. 
 
SIR EDWARD DERING TO HIS WIFE. 
 
 19 
 
 requested dyvers other gentlemen and others to the same effect, so 1640. 
 that I hoope you will fyend the greatest part of this contrye to stand 16 Car ' 1 
 accordinglye. Not else at present, beinge in haest; but, wishing 
 your helth and happenesse, I remayne 
 
 Your servant to be comandid, 
 
 James Hugessen. 
 
 From my house at Linsteed, 
 
 22, 8 tob . 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To my honnorid ffrend S r Edward Deringe, Kneyth 
 and Barouett, at his house, Surenden Deringe, 
 in the parish of Plockley. 
 
 [Seal.* * * § ] On a mount an Oak between two Boars erect, affrontes against 
 it. And Crest: an Oak tree between two wings erect. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640, 22 Octob. M r Hugessen.”] 
 
 XII. 
 
 Letter from S r EDWARD DERING to his wife, f announcing his arrival 31 October. 
 
 in London for the Parliament. 
 
 My deare sweete heart, 
 
 I came well too London this day between 2 and 3 of the 
 clock. I lay att my cosen Hawles-I M r Willson § came along with 
 me, for whom a pursivant was sent; but the messenger missed of 
 him, and he came now voluntary. I like his conversation. 
 
 * The coat of Hugessen, of Linsted, was Argent, on a mount vert an oak tree proper 
 between two boars combatant azure. Crest: An oak tree between two wings erect. 
 
 4 His third wife, Unton, daughter of Sir Ralph Gibbes, Kt. 
 
 X George Haule, Esq. of Maidstone—note p. 12. 
 
 § This was Thomas Wilson, Rector of Otham, a great Puritan. He had been presented 
 to that rectory by Mr. George Swinnock, who had purchased the next presentation. He 
 was suspended by the High Commission Court, 1635, and restored 1639. Mr. George 
 Swinnock published his life. When Robert Barrell was ejected from the perpetual 
 curacy of Maidstone by the Parliament, Thomas Wilson was appointed in his stead. See 
 more of him pp. 38, 39, infra. 
 
20 
 
 WILLIAM BARRET TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 2 November. 
 
 The King came yesterday, my Lord keeper tooday. The King 
 will go privately to the Parliament. 
 
 Jo. Pitman sayes that yesternight S r John Meldrom sent pur¬ 
 posely to my sister’s * house to signify that my brother was sett att 
 liberty that morning when the King came away; and Jo. sayth, 
 that M r Johnston did send word that his master desired that my 
 sister would come to London. Therefore, Jo., with a coach, entendeth 
 to be there, att Surenden, on Tuesday next. 
 
 My service to my deare sister ; my love to my sweete cosens ; 
 and, to thy best selfe, the heart of 
 
 Thine owne 
 
 Edward Dering. 
 
 Saterday night, last Octob. 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To my best and dearest freind the Lady Dering 
 att Surenden Dering. 
 
 [Seal.] A Saltire, with the Ulster hand. 
 
 [Endorsed, not by S r Edward Dering, but probably by Lady Dering— 
 
 “ My dearest, Oct-o: the last, 1640.”] 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERING from WILLIAM BARRET, pointing 
 out the National Sins which subject the kingdom to God’s wrath, as 
 calling loudly for the interference of Parliament. 
 
 Noble Sir, 
 
 With all respect, my best desires remembred unto you, 
 ernestly praying unto our good God that he would be pleased to 
 
 * Sir Edward Dering had a sister Margaret, married to Sir Peter Wroth, of Blendon 
 Hall, in Bexley, 28 Feb. 1624-5. 
 
4VILLIAM BARRET TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 21 
 
 furnish your soule with the graces of his sperit, that you may want 
 neither wisedome, courage, nor bouldnes, to stand it out for the 
 inlargment of the Gospell of Jesus Christ; and that God would now 
 be pleased to give unto you, and the rest of that noble house, zeale> 
 courage, and bouldnes for God and his truth, and to fight it out 
 against the Goliaths of these times, that doe rayle against the liveing 
 God, and to batter downe those underminers of the glorious Gospell, 
 and they that stopp the mouths of God’s preachers, and, by this 
 means, make waye for Popery. Sir, I am bould, as with a friend, to 
 offer three or foure things to your wise consideration which I take 
 to be leading sinns unto judgments. 
 
 1. The first is, the profanation of the Lord’s daye. For this sinn 
 he threatens hee will kindle fire at our gates that shall not be 
 quenched. This sinn opens the flodgates. Wh . . . and distractions 
 have there ben and are, since that booke* come forth. Jer. 17, 27. 
 
 2. Secondly. The suppressing of the word of God. One would 
 
 thincke that no man were so w.to doe such a fearefull thing: 
 
 it is a sinn that is rancked with the crusefying the Lord of glory. 
 1 Thessal. 2 chapter, 15, 16. The persons that committed this sinn 
 was Annas, the high priest, and Caiephas, and Allexander, and as 
 many as were of the kindred of the high priest. Acts 4 and 6. 
 Whose servants or children they are that doe those things. Our 
 Saviour tells us (John 8, 44), You are of your father the devill, 
 for his workes yee doe. 
 
 3. Thirdly. The imprisoning of God’s servants. 2 Cron. 36, 16. 
 Luke 20, 9—16. 
 
 4. Fourth. That damned sinne of Idolletry; this is that sinne 
 which maketh God to give a bill of divorce unto his people. Math. 
 19, 9. May wee not now see who they are that are the hatchers 
 of these sinns ? Is it not Annas, and Caiphas, and Allexander, and 
 as many as are of the kindred of the high priest ? 
 
 * The Book of Sports, first published by James I. 24 May, 1618; and republished by 
 Charles I. 18 October, 1633. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
22 
 
 WILLIAM BARRET TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. 1 
 
 Surely, if our Prelates were appointed of God for the good and 
 building of his Church, their names would be found in the word 
 of God. It is to be feared that, if these sinns be not purged, and 
 these persons, that God will, before it be longe, purge and refine 
 us by his Judgments. My prayers shalbe unto Almighty God, to 
 blesse your meeting with our noble Joshua, and you the elders 
 of Israiell; and that there be unity betweene the head and the mem¬ 
 bers ; and, for your particuler, whose good my soule much desireth, 
 God hath now put a price into your hands; and what neede there 
 is of your best indeavours you well knowe. O that God would be 
 pleased to double his sperit upon you, that your faithfulnes may 
 appeare for God and your country, that so your friends that have 
 ingaged their creddit for your faithfulnes may have just cause to 
 blesse God for you, and that those that are not as yet perswaded of 
 your sincerety may be of another mind. 
 
 Yours to command in all humillety, 
 
 William Barret. 
 
 Ashford, this 2d daye of 
 November, 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To the Right Worshipful and well respected friend 
 S r Edward Dearing, Knight and Barron-Knight, 
 at his lodging in London, these present with trust. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640. 4 Nov r . W m . Baret.”] 
 
MR. EDWARD KEMPE TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 23 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERING from M r EDWARD KEMPE * about 
 a petition for restoring Edward Ranger as foot post of Dovor. 
 
 Honored Sir, 
 
 The much busines I have had for my daughter Curtis, 
 my long absence from home, with my feare of being troublsome to 
 you in your waightie affaiers, hath bine the cause I have not before 
 this time presented my service to you, which I beseech you now to 
 except of from your humble servant. 
 
 About three weeks since a report came to Tenterden that you 
 were dangerously sicke, past recovery: I sent to Surenden and 
 found the contrary. (I blest God for it.) ’Tis since reported by 
 some small divines about the Cathedarall that you have bine 
 dangerously sicke in mind (in plaine tearms madd), otherwise you 
 would never have uttered such things as you have done in Parla- 
 ment. I need not send to London to satisfie myselfe, for that the 
 cuntrye hath latly bin satisfied ’tis otherwise. I beseech God blesse 
 your labors, and give good sucsese to it; ’tis the prayers, I hope, 
 of all good men. In this towne, now, ’tis not “Sir Ed. Bo.”f 
 but “ S r Ed. Dering, that God hath sent from Heaven:” the scene 
 is changd. 
 
 41 In the Visitation of Kent, Philipot 1619, is this pedigree and coat, by letters patent 
 under hand and seal of William Segar, Garter: — Gules, a fess between three garbs in a 
 bordure engrailed or ; and for Crest, a demy gryffon or, winged gules, siezing on a garb or. 
 
 Edward Kempe, Major=pAlicia, relicta Johannis Tenche, 
 erat Dovor. j filia Thome Legent. 
 
 Edward Kempe,=pCatherina, filia Christopheri Baeheler de civitate 
 de Dovor. j Cantuar. 
 
 -—-,-!-—r-1 
 
 Anthonius Percevall, armiger, capitaneus—1. Alicia. 2. Anna. 3. Maria. 4. Phoebe, 
 de Archcliffe. 
 
 This letter was doubtless written by Edward Kempe, son of the Mayor, 
 f “ Sir Ed. Bo.” i.e. Sir Edward Boys, the Member for Dovor and Lieutenant of the 
 Castle. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 15 December. 
 
24 
 
 ADDRESS TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 Sir, one Edward Ranger, that was foot post of this towne, and 
 outed by Withering, we heare intends, by the Burgesses of this 
 towne, to petition the Parlament for his place againe; he hath 
 indevored to gaine a certificatt, under the towne seale, of his 
 good carag (but hath caried himselfe so foully to the magistrats, 
 and to the better sort of the towne, as he cannot gaine it). I know 
 what* he may doe of the Rable, which are the best men in the 
 repute of Sir B. and Sir II.f Therfore, my humble sute to you is, 
 that, if any such thing be presented to the House, you will re¬ 
 member your freinds here in Care of it. 
 
 I am this day commanded by my Lady Brockman to present 
 her love and service to you and your Lady; the like I beseech 
 you both except from my wife, daughter, and from him that will 
 ever be, 
 
 Your faythfull servant, Edw. Ivempe. 
 
 [Superscription!] 
 
 To the Honorable my Honored freind Sir 
 Edward Dering, Knight and Baronett, 
 these present at London. 
 
 [In another hand.] 
 
 15 December, 1640. Dovor. 
 
 [In another hand, as if directing it on after 
 arrival at the wrong place.] 
 
 Att S r Henry Gibbes his house in St. Martins Lane, 
 neare Charing Crosse. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640. 18 Dec 1- . M r Kempe.”] 
 
 * Originally written “ know not what,” but “ not ” afterwards erased, 
 f Do these initials stand for Edward Boys, present Member for Dovor and Lieutenant 
 of the Castle, and Sir Peter Heyman late member ? 
 
ADDRESS TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 25 
 
 XV. 
 
 ADDRESS to S r EDWARD DERING from the Inhabitants of the 
 Weald, with the Kent petition against Episcopacy, sent to him 
 through M r RICHARD ROBSON, of Cranbrook. 
 
 Right worshipfull, 
 
 In all due respect, these are to intimate unto youe, that, 
 hearing of late of a certeyne petition which was, with good advise 
 and deliberacion of divers cittizens of London, and inhabitants of 
 the suburbs therof, drawne and composed, and by them intended 
 to be exhibited to the Commons howse of Parliament; and, desirous 
 to have a veiw of a Copye therof, by the helpe of some freinds, 
 obteyned it, and, approving therof, thought fitt to make knowne 
 the same in this county of Kent, to the inhabitants therof, avIio 
 generally gave good approbacion therto, and have sett to their 
 hands, who, with us in the Weale of Kent, desire it may be in due 
 tyme exhibited up unto the said house: Wee, therefore, of the 
 weale of Kent, whose names are subscribed to the said petition, 
 thought fitt to present the said petition of this our County (with the 
 names of many other inhabitants in the said County subscribed and 
 annexed thereto) unto your worship, humbly beseeching your 
 worship to exhibit the same on our behalf to the said honorable 
 howse (wlierof your selfe is a worthy member), and to further the 
 gratious acceptacion therof, and that the contents therof may be 
 seriously considered of by that honorable assembly, and that the 
 greivances therin exprest may be rectified and reformed, as that 
 honorable assembly in their deepe and singular wisdomes shall 
 thinke meet, wherto we humbly submitt; and being not unmynd- 
 full of that worthy and memorable service youe have begun in the 
 said howse, and further progress therof hitherto to the uttmost of 
 your power, (as we conceave) for the good both of Church and 
 Commonwealth, wee render unto your worship humble and 
 hearty thanks therefore, and doe ingenuously confess that wee 
 and others have cause to praise God for youe, and rest obliged to 
 CAMD. SOC. E 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 December- 
 
26 
 
 NOTE UPON PETITION FROM THE WEALD. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 your worship for your service. And thus, nothing dowbting of 
 your worship’s best endeavour heerin, wee present our said petition 
 to youe, and leave the success to Allmighty God, whose ayd wee 
 dayly ymplore for an happy success uppon the ymployments of 
 this honorable and hopefull Parliament; and commend your worship 
 to the grace of God, and rest 
 
 Your worship’s in all obliged respect, who dayly 
 pray for your health and eternall happiness: 
 many inhabitants in the Weale of Kent. 
 
 Dated at Cranebrooke, in Kent, 
 the first of December, 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To the right worshipfull S 1 ' Edward Deering, 
 k nt and Barronet, one of the Knights of 
 the Parliament for the County of Kent. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering— 
 
 “ 1640. Dec. Weild of Kent, per Rich. Robson of Cranbroke.”] 
 
 The presentation by Sir Edward Dering, in consequence of this address, 
 of a petition against Episcopacy was a circumstance frequently alluded to, and 
 of considerable importance, in his after life. The following extract from 
 his “ Collection of Speeches,” ed. 1642, p. 16, will give his own explanation of 
 his conduct on this occasion, and form an apt introduction to the petition itself; 
 or rather to the petitions, for Sir Edward, it will be seen, did not present the 
 petition actually transmitted to him, but a condensation or abridgment of it. 
 
 (e I come now to the likeliest tryall wherein to find my self guilty. 
 A petition was brought unto me out of Kent, in “ terminis termi- 
 nantibus,” as that from many Citizens of London, which is in 
 print. This, indeed, if it were not the Spawne of the London 
 petition, yet, finding it a Parat taught to speake the syllables of 
 that, and by roate calling for Root and Branch, I dealt with the 
 presenters thereof, and with other parties thereunto, untill (with 
 their consents) I reduced it to lesse then a quarter of its former 
 
NOTE UPON PETITION FROM THE WEALD. 
 
 27 
 
 length, and taught it a new and more modest language. Upon 
 delivery of this petition I thus prefaced :— 
 
 “January 13, 1640. 
 
 “ Mr. Speaker, Yesterday we did regulate the most important 
 businesse[s] before us, and gave them motion, so that our weighty 
 affaires are now on their feet in their progresse, journ[y] ing on towards 
 severall periods, where some I hope will shortly find their latest home. 
 Yet, among all these, I observe one, a very main one, to sleep 
 ‘sine die:’ give me leave to awaken it; it is a businesse of an 
 immense weight and worth ; such as deserves our best care, and 
 most severe circumspection. I mean the Grand Petition long since 
 given in by many thousand Citizens against the domineering of the 
 Clergy. Wherein (for my part), although I cannot approve of all 
 that is presented unto you, yet, I do clearely professe, that a great 
 part of it, nay the greatest part thereof, is so well grounded, that 
 my heart goes cheerfully along therewith. It seems that my 
 Country (for which I have the honour to serve) is of the same 
 mind; and, least that you should think that all faults are included 
 within the walls of Troy, they will show you—‘Iliacos intra muros 
 peccatur et extra.’ The same grievances which the City groans 
 under, are provincial unto us, and I much feare they are nationall 
 among us all. The Pride, the Avarice, the Ambition, and Oppres¬ 
 sion, by our ill ruling Clergy, is Epidemicall, it hath infected them 
 all. There is not any, or scarce any of them, who is not practicall 
 in their own ‘great cause in hand,’ which they impiously doe 
 miscall ‘ the piety of the timesbut, in truth, so wrong a Piety, 
 that I am bold to say, ‘ In facinus jurasse putes.’ Here in this 
 Petition is the Disease represented—here is the Cure intreated. 
 The number of your Petitioners is considerable, being above five- 
 and-twenty hundred names, and would have been four times as 
 many if that were thought materiall. The matter in the Petition 
 is of high import: but your Petitioners themselves are all of them 
 quiet and silent at their own houses, humbly expecting and praying 
 
 1610-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 13 January. 
 
28 
 
 THE KENT PETITION AGAINST EPISCOPACY. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 the resolution of this great Senate upon these their earnest and 
 their hearty desires. Here is no noyse—no numbers at your door : 
 they will be neither your trouble nor your jealousie ; for I do 
 not know of any one of them this day in the Town: So much 
 they do affie in the justice of their petition, and in the goodnesse 
 of this House. If now you want any of them here, to make 
 avowance of their Petition, I am their servant. I do appeare for 
 them and for my selfe, and am ready to avow this petition, in their 
 names, and in my own. Nothing doubting, but fully confident, 
 that I may justly say of the present usage of the Hierarchy in 
 the Church of England, as once the Pope (Pope Adrian, as I 
 remember) said of the Clergy in his time—‘a vertice capitis ad 
 plantain pedis, nihil est sanum in toto ordine ecclesiastico.’ I be¬ 
 seech you, read the petition—regard us,— and relieve us.’' 
 
 NVI. 
 
 1640-1. The KENT PETITION against Episcopacy, in the state in which it was 
 
 forwarded to Sr EDWARD DEEING by Mr RICHARD ROBSON 
 of Cranbrook.* 
 
 To the honourable the Commons howse of Parliament. 
 
 The humble Peticion of many of liis Majesties Subjects in the 
 County of Kent, 
 
 Humbly sheweth, 
 
 That, whereas the governement of Arch Bishopps, Lord Bishopps, 
 Deanes, Archdeacons, &c. with their Courts, and administrations in 
 them, hath proved prejudiciall, and very dangerous, both to the 
 Church and Common Wealth; They themselves having formerly 
 held, that their Jurisdiction or Governement is of humane authority; 
 till, of theis later tymes, being further pressed about the unlaw- 
 fulnes thereof, they have claymed their Calling ymediately from 
 
 * This I state by conjecture; I did not find it actually tied up with Mr. Robson’s com¬ 
 munication from Cranbrook, p. 25, supra—but it is evidently the petition which accom¬ 
 panied his letter, and is that which Sir Edward presented to the House after a little con- 
 
THE KENT PETITION AGAINST EPISCOPACY. 
 
 29 
 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, which is against the Lawes of this Kingdome, 
 and derogatory to his Majestie, and his estate roiall. And, whereas 
 the said governement is found by wofull experience to be a mayne 
 cause and occasioner of manyfold Evills, pressures, and greivances 
 of a very high nature, unto his Majesties Subjects, in their Con¬ 
 sciences, liberties, and estates, as by an Indenture of perticulers 
 hereunto annexed may in part appeare— 
 
 We, therefore, most humbly pray and beseech this honourable 
 Assembly (the premisses considered), That the said governement, 
 with all its dependances, Root and branch, may be abolished, and 
 all Lawes made in favour thereof made void ; and so the govern¬ 
 ment, according to Gods word, may be rightly planted amongst 
 us. And we your humble Suppliants (as in duty we are bound) 
 will daily pray for his Majesties long and happy reigne over us; 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 densation. For advantage of collation, I subjoin the condensed Petition as actually pre¬ 
 sented to the House by Sir Edward :—“The Petition,” he says, “it selfe speaks 
 thus:— 
 
 “ To the Honourable the Commons House of Parliament. 
 
 “ The humble Petition of many the Inhabitants within His Majesties county of 
 Kent. 
 
 “ Most humbly shewing, that by sad experience we doe daily finde the government in 
 the Church of England, by Archbishops, Lord bishops, Deanes, and Archdeacons, with 
 their courts, jurisdictions, and administrations, by them and their inferiour Officers, to be 
 very dangerous, both in Church and Common-wealth, and to be the occasion of manifold 
 grievances unto his Majesties Subjects, in their consciences, liberties, and estates, and 
 likely to be fatall unto us in the continuance thereof. The dangerous effects of which 
 Lordly power in them have appeared in these particulars following. 
 
 “ They doe with a hard hand overrule all other Ministers, subjecting them to their 
 cruell authority. 
 
 “ They do suspend, punish, and deprive many godly, religious, and painfull Ministers, 
 upon slight and upon no grounds : whilst, in the mean time, few of them doe preach the 
 Word of God themselves, and that but seldome ; but they doe restraine the painfull 
 preaching of others, both for Lectures and for afternoon Sermons on the Sabbath day. 
 
 “ They do countenance and have of late encouraged Papists, Priests, and Arminian 
 both bookes and persons. 
 
 “ They hinder good and godly books to be printed : yet they do licence to be published 
 many Popish, Arminian, and other dangerous tenents. 
 
 “ They have deformed our Churches with Popish pictures, and suited them with 
 Romish altars. 
 
30 
 
 THE KENT PETITION AGAINST EPISCOPACY. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 and for the prosperous successe of this high and honourable Court 
 of Parliament, &c. 
 
 A Perticuler of manyfold evills, pressures, and grievances, 
 cawsed, practiced, or occasioned by the Prelacy, and 
 their dependances. 
 
 1. The subjecting and inslaving of all Ministers under them and 
 their authority, and so, by degrees, exempting of them from the 
 temporall power. 
 
 Whence followeth— 
 
 2. The faintheartnesse of Ministers to preach the truethes of God, 
 least they should displease the Prelates, as namely, the doctrynes of 
 Predestination, of free grace, of perseverance, of originall sin re- 
 mayning after Baptisme, of the Saboth, the doctrynes against uni- 
 versall grace, Election for faith foreseene, freewill, against Anti¬ 
 christ, non residence, humane Inventions in God’s worshipp, &c., all 
 
 “ They have of late extolled and commended much the Church of Rome, denying the 
 Pope to be Antichrist; affirming the Church of Rome to be a true Church in fundamentals. 
 
 “ They have practiced and inforced antiquated and obsolete ceremonies, as standing at 
 the Hymnes, at Gloria patri, and turning to the East at severall parts of the Divine 
 Service, bowing to the altar, which they tearm the place of God’s residence upon earth; 
 the reading of a second service at the altar; and denying the Holy Sacrament of the 
 Eucharist to such as have not come up to a new set Rayle before the altar. 
 
 “ They have made and contrived illegall Canons and Constitutions, and framed a most 
 pernitious and desperate Oath; an Oath of covenant and confederacy for their owne 
 Hierarcliicall greatnesse, beside many other dangerous and pernicious passages in the 
 said Canons. 
 
 “ They doe dispence with plurality of Benefices ; they do both prohibite and grant 
 marriages, neither of them by the rule of Law or conscience; but do prohibite that they 
 may grant, and grant that they may have money. 
 
 “ They have procured a licencious liberty for the Lord’s day, but have pressed the strict 
 observation of Saints holidaies; and do punish, suspend, degrade, deprive godly Ministers 
 for not publishing a book for liberty of sports on the Sabbath day. 
 
 “They doe generally abuse the great ordinance of Excommunication, making some 
 times a gaine of it, to the great discomfort of many poore soules, who, for want of money, 
 can get no .absolution. 
 
THE KENT PETITION AGAINST EPISCOPACY. 
 
 31 
 
 which are generally withheld from the people’s knowledge, hecawse 
 not pleasing to the Bishopps. 
 
 3. The incouragement of Ministers to dispise the temporall 
 Magistracy, the Nobles and Gentry of the Land, to abuse the Sub¬ 
 jects, and live contentiously with their Nighbours, knowing that, 
 being the Bishopps’ Creatures, they shalbe supported. 
 
 4. The restraint of many godly and able men from the Ministery, 
 the thrusting out of many Congregations their faithfull, diligent, and 
 powerfull Ministers, who lived peaceably with them, and did them 
 good, only becawse they cannot in conscience submitt unto and mayn- 
 teyne the Bishopps’ needles devises; nay, sometyme, for no other 
 cawse but their faithfull zealous preaching, or great auditoryes. 
 
 5. The suppressing of that godly designe (sett on foot by cer- 
 teyne feoffees, and furthered with many great gifts by sundry well 
 affected persons) for the buying in of Impropriacions, and placing 
 of able Ministers in them, maynteyning of Lectures, and founding 
 free schooles, which the Prelates could not endure, least it should 
 in tyme darken their glory, and draw the Ministers from their 
 dependance upon them. 
 
 6. The great increase of idle, lewd, dissolute, ignorant, and erro- 
 
 “ They claime their Office and jurisdiction to be jure divino, and do exercise the same 
 (contrary to law) in their own names, and under their own Seales. 
 
 “ They receive and take upon them temporall honours, dignities, places, and offices in 
 the Commonwealth, as if it were lawfull for them to use both Swords. 
 
 “ They take cognisance in their Courts, and elsewhere, of matters determinable at the 
 Common Law. 
 
 “They put Ministers upon Parishes, without the patron, and without the people’s 
 consent. 
 
 “ They do yerely impose oaths upon Churchwardens, to the most apparent danger of 
 filling the land with perjury. 
 
 They do exercise oathes ex officio, in the nature of an Inquisition, even into the 
 thoughts of men. 
 
 “ T he y have apprehended men by Pursivants, without citation or missives first sent: 
 they break up men’s houses and studies, taking away what they please. 
 
 “ They do awe the Judges of the Land with their greatnesse, to the inhibiting of pro¬ 
 hibitions, and hindring of habeas corpus when it is due. 
 
 They are strongly suspected to be confederate with the Roman party in this land, 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
32 
 
 THE KENT PETITION AGAINST EPISCOPACY. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 nious men in the Ministry, which swarme like locusts of Egypt over 
 the whole kingdome; for, will they but weare a Canonicall Coat, 
 a Sirplus, a hood, bow at the name of Jesus, and be zealous for 
 supersticious Ceremonies, they may live as they list, confront wliome 
 they please, preach and vent what errors they will, and neglect 
 preaching at their pleasure without controle. 
 
 Whence proceeds — 
 
 7. The discouragement of many from trayning up their Children 
 in Learning; the many Schismes, Errors, and strong opinions in the 
 Church; the great corruptions of the Universities; the grosse and 
 lamentable ignorance, almost every where, among people; the want 
 of preaching Ministers in very many places, both of England and 
 Wales; the loathing of the Ministery; and the generall defection 
 to all manner of prophanes. 
 
 8. The swarming of lascivious, idle, and unprofitable bookes, 
 Pamphletts, Playbookes, and Ballades; as namely, Ovid’s Art of 
 Love, the Parliament of Women (come out at the dissolution of the 
 last Parliament), Carewes Poems, Parker’s Ballades, in disgrace of 
 Religion, &c. to the increase of all Vice, and withdrawing of the 
 people from reading, studdying, and hearing the word of God, and 
 other good Bookes. 
 
 9. The hindering of godly bookes to be printed, the blotting out, 
 or perverting (in those which they do suffer) all or most part of that 
 which strikes either at Arminianisme, or Popery,—the adding of 
 what and where pleaseth them; and the restraint of reprinting 
 bookes formerly licensed, without a relicensing. 
 
 and, with them, to be authors, contrivers, or consenters to the present commotions in the 
 North; and the rather, because of contribution by the Clergy, and by the Papists, in the 
 last yeer, 1639, and, because of an ill-named benevolence of six Subsidies, granted, or 
 intended to be granted, this present yeare, 1640, thereby, and with these moneys, to en¬ 
 gage (as much in them lay) the two Nations into blood. 
 
 “ It is therefore humbly and earnestly prayed, that this Hierarchicall power may be 
 totally abrogated, if the wisdome of this Honourable House shall find that it cannot he 
 maintained by God’s Word, and to his glory. 
 
 “ And we your Peticioners shall ever pray, &c.” 
 
THE KENT PETITION AGAINST EPISCOPACY. 
 
 33 
 
 10. The publishing and venting of Popish, Arminian, and other 
 dangerous bookes and tenents; as, namely, that the Church of 
 Rome is a true Church, and in the worst tymes never erred in 
 fundamentals:—That the Subjects have no propriety in their estates; 
 but that the King may take from them what he pleaseth,—that all 
 is the King’s—and that he is bound by no Law—and many others. 
 
 From the former whereof hath sprung— 
 
 11. The great growth of Popery, and increase of Papists, Preists, 
 and Jesuites, in very many places of the Kingdom, such as hath 
 not byn since the Reformacion ; the frequent venting of Crucifixes 
 and Popish pictures, both ingraven and printed, and the placing of 
 such in Bibles. 
 
 From the latter hath byn occasioned— 
 
 12. The multitude of Monopolies and Pattents (drawing with 
 them innumerable perjuries), the large increase of Customes, im- 
 posicions upon Commodities, the Shippmoney, and many other 
 very great burdens upon the Commonwealth—under which all 
 groane. 
 
 13. Moreover, the Office and Jurisdiction of Arch-Bishopps, 
 Lord Bishopps, Deanes, Arch-deacons, &c., being the same way of 
 Church governement which is in the Romish Church, and which was 
 in England in the tyme of Popery (little change thereof being made, 
 except only the head from whence it was derived), and the same 
 arguments supporting the Pope which do uphold the Prelacy, and 
 overthrowing the Prelacy which do pull downe the Pope; and 
 other reformed Churches having upon their rejection of the Pope 
 cast the Prelates out also as members of the Beast: hence it is, 
 that the Prelates in England, by themselves, or their disciples, plead 
 and maynteyne that the Pope is not Antichrist—that the Church of 
 Rome is a true Church, hath not erred in fundamentall points, and 
 that Salvation is attayneable in that Religion : and, thereupon, have 
 
 CAMD. SOC. f 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
34 
 
 THE KENT PETITION AGAINST EPISCOPACY. 
 
 1640 . restrayned Ministers to pray for the conversion of our sovereigne 
 16 Car. I. Lady the Queene. 
 
 Hence also hath come— 
 
 14. The great conformity and likenes (both contynued and in¬ 
 creased) of our Church to the Church of Rome, in Vestures, gestures, 
 Ceremonies, and administrations ; as, namely, the Bishops’ Rochett, 
 the Lawne sleeves, the fower-corner’d Capp, the Cope, the Surplice, 
 the Tippett, the Ilood, the Canonicall Coat, the Pulpitt Cloathes, 
 especially now of late with the Jesuites Badge upon them, &c. 
 
 15. The standing up at Gloria Patri, and at reading of the Gospell, 
 the praying towards the East, the bowing at the name Jesus, the 
 bowing to the Altar, and towards the East, the Crosse in Baptisme, 
 the kneeling at the receiving of the Communion, &c. 
 
 16. The setting up of Altars, turning of Communion Tables 
 Altanvise, setting Images, Crucifixes, and Canopies over them, and 
 Tapers and bookes upon them, and bowing and adoring to, or before 
 them; the reading of a second service at the Altar, and forcing 
 people to come up thither to receive, or ells denying the Sacrament 
 to them; stiling the Altar to be the mercy seate, and the place of 
 God Almighty in the Church, which is a playne devise to usher in 
 the Masse. 
 
 17. The Christening and consecrating of Churches and Chappells, 
 the consecrating of Fonts, Pulpitts, Tables, Challices, Churchyards, 
 and many other things, and then puting holynes in them; yea, 
 reconsecration upon pretended pollutions, as though every thing 
 were uncleane without their consecrating ; and for want of this, 
 sundry Churches have been interdicted, and kept from use, as 
 polluted places. 
 
 18. The Liturgie for the most part framed out of the Romish 
 Breviary, the Rituall, and Masse booke. Also the Booke of Ordi- 
 nacion of Archbishopps, Bishops, Ministers, &c. framed out of the 
 Roman Pontificall. 
 
THE KENT PETITION AGAINST EPISCOPACY. 
 
 35 
 
 19. The multitude of Canons formerly made, wherein (amongst 
 other things) Excommunication, ipso facto, is denownced for speaking 
 a word against the devices aforesaid, or subscription thereto (although 
 no Law enjoyne it), a restraynt from the ministery without such sub¬ 
 scription ; an appeale is denyed to any that shall refuse subscription 
 or (unlawful!) Conformity, though he be never so much wronged by 
 the inferior Judge. Also, the Cannons made in the late sacred 
 Synode (as they call it), wherein are many strange and dangerous 
 devices to undermyne the Gospell and the Subjects Liberties, to 
 propagate Popery, to spoile God’s people, ensnare Ministers and 
 other Students, and so to draw all into an absolute subjection and 
 thraldom to them and their government, spoiling both King and Par¬ 
 liament of their power. 
 
 20 . The dispencing with and countenancing plurality of Benefices, 
 prohibiting of marriages without their lycence, at certeyne tymes, 
 almost lialfe the yere, and lycensing of marriages without banes 
 asking. 
 
 21 . The prophanacion of the Lord’s day, pleading for it, and en¬ 
 joining Ministers to read a declaration sett forth (as is thought by 
 their procurement) for the tollerating of Sports upon that day, sus¬ 
 pending and depriving many godly Ministers for not reading the 
 same, onely out of Conscience that it was against the Law of God 
 so to do, and no Law of the Land enjoyning it. 
 
 22 . The pressing of the strict observacion of Saints’ holly daies, 
 whereby great sumes of mony are drawne out of men’s purses for 
 working on them, a very heavy burden upon most people, who, 
 getting their livings by their daily imployments, must either omitt 
 them, and bridle, or part with their mony, whereby many poore 
 families are undone, or brought behind hand; yea, many Church¬ 
 wardens are sued, and threatned to be sued (by their trowblesome 
 ministers) as perjured persons, for presenting the parishioners who 
 failed in observing holly daies. 
 
 23. The great increase and frequency of whoredomes and adul- 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
36 
 
 THE KENT PETITION AGAINST EPISCOPACY. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 teries, occasioned by the Prelates’ corrupt administraeion, who, 
 taking upon them the punishment of such things, do turne all into 
 mony for the filling of their purses ; and, least their Officers should 
 defraud them of the gayne, they have in their late Cannons (in sted of 
 remedying the Vices) decreed, that the Commutacion of pennance 
 shall not be without the Bishop’s privity. 
 
 24. The generall abuse of the great Ordinance of Excommunica¬ 
 tion, which God hath left in his Church, to be used as the last and 
 greatest punishment the Church can inflict against obstinate and 
 great offendors: and yet, the Prelates and their officers (who of 
 right have nothing to do with it) do daily excommunicate men, 
 either for doing that which is lawful 1, or for vaine, idle, and 
 triviall matters; as working or opening a Shopp upon a hollyday, 
 not appearing at every beck upon their summons, not paying a fee, 
 and the like: yea, they have made it (as they do all other things) 
 a liooke or Instrument, wherewith to empty men’s purses, and 
 advance their owne greatnes: and so, that sacred ordinance of God, 
 by their perverting of it, is become contemptible unto all men, and 
 seldome, or never, used against notorious Offenders, who, for the 
 most part, are their favourites. 
 
 25. Yea, further (the Pride and Ambition of the Prelacy being 
 boundles, unwilling to be Subject to either man or Lawes), they 
 clayme their office and jurisdiction to be Jure divino, exercise 
 ecclesiasticall authority in their owne names and rights, and under 
 their owne seales, and take upon them temporall dignities, places, 
 and offices, in the Common Wealth, that so they may sway both 
 swords. 
 
 Whence followes— 
 
 26. The taking Cognizance in their Courts and Consistoryes, and 
 where ells they sitt on matters determynable of right at Common 
 Law; the putting of Ministers upon Parishes, without the Patron’s 
 or people’s consents. 
 
THE KENT PETITION AGAINST EPISCOPACY. 
 
 37 
 
 27. The imposing of oathes and various and triviall Articles 
 yerely, upon Churchwardens and Sydemen, which, without perjury, 
 they cannot observe, unles they fall at Jarrs contynually with their 
 Minister and Neighbours, and wholly neglect their owne callings. 
 
 28. The exercising of Ex ojicio oathes, and proceedings, by way 
 of Inquisicion, reaching even to men’s thoughts ; the apprehending 
 and deteyning of men by Pursivants; the frequent suspending 
 and depriving of Ministers ; the fyneing and imprisoning of all 
 sorts of people, breaking up of men’s howses and studdies, and taking 
 away their bookes, letters, and other writings; seizing upon their 
 estates, removing them from their callings, separating betweene them 
 and their wives, against both their wills ; the rejecting of Prohibi¬ 
 tions, with threatnings; and the doing of many other outrages, to 
 the utter infringing of the Lawes, the Subjects liberties, and ruyning 
 of them and their families. And, of later tymes, the Judges of the 
 land are so awed with the power and greatnes of the Prelates, or 
 otherwise perverted, that neither Prohibition, habeas corpus, nor 
 any other lawfull remedy, can be had or take place for the distressed 
 Subject in most cases: onely Papists, Jesuites, Priests, and such 
 others as propagate Popery, or Arminianisme, are countenanced, 
 spared, and have much liberty. 
 
 And from hence have followed (among others) tlieis dan¬ 
 gerous consequencies—• 
 
 1 . The generall hope and expectacion of the Romish party, that 
 their supersticious Religion will, ere long, be fully planted in this 
 kingdome againe; and so they are incouraged to persist therein, 
 and to practice the same openly in divers places, to the high dishonor 
 of God, and contrary to the Lawes of this Realme. 
 
 2 . The discouragement and distraction of all good Subjects, of 
 whome multitudes, both Clothiers, Marchants, and others, being de¬ 
 prived of their Ministers, and overburdened with their pressures, 
 have departed the kingdome, to Holland and other parts, and have 
 drawne with them a great part of the Manufacture of Cloth, and 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
38 
 
 REV. THOMAS WILSON TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 trading, out of the Land, into the places where they reside; 
 whereby, Wooll (the great Staple of the kingdome) is become of 
 small value, and vends not,—trading is decayed, many poore people 
 want worke, Seamen lesse imployed, and the whole Land much 
 impoverished, to the great dishonor of the kingdome, and blemish 
 of the governement thereof. 
 
 3. The present Warrs and Commotions happened hetweene his Ma- 
 jestie and his subjects of Scotland, wherein his Majestie, and all 
 his kingdomes, are endangered, and suffer greatly, and are like to 
 become a Prey to the Common Enemie, in case the Warrs go on, 
 which we exceedingly feare will not only go on, but also increase, 
 to an utter ruyne of all, unles the Prelates, with their dependances, 
 be removed out of England also; for they, and their Practices (as 
 we, under your honors* favor do verily beleive and conceive) have 
 occasioned all the quarrell. 
 
 All which we humbly referre to the grave consideracion of this 
 honourable assembly, desiring the Lord of Heaven to direct you in 
 the right way to redresse all theis Evills. 
 
 4 February. 
 
 Non sinemagna 
 bonorum et 
 veritatis aman- 
 tium virorum 
 voluptate et 
 loetitia. 
 
 Zan. Epist. 
 Junio. [Zancbii 
 Hieron. 
 
 Operum Theo- 
 logic. Tom. 
 VIII. fol. 
 Heidelb. 1613. 
 p. 291.] 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERING from REV D THOMAS WILSON * 
 with commendation and counsel. 
 
 Much Honored Sir, 
 
 *Tis occasion of great gladnes to me, and to all that be the 
 true lovers of Zion’s peace, that you were called of God, and raised 
 
 * See page 19, supra. Sir Edward Dering there writes to his wife, that he had taken 
 Mr. Wilson (for whom a pursuivant had been dispatched, whose clutches he had con¬ 
 trived to escape,) with him to London, and was pleased with his conversation. I have 
 stated in a note thereto that this Mr. Wilson was the Puritan Rector of Otham. By Sir 
 
KEY. THOMAS WILSON TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 39 
 
 up by him, at this day, to put to your hand (yea, head and heart) 1640-1. 
 to the present work, wherunto, God (who set you apart) hath gifted, 16 Car ‘** 
 and wherein he hath honored you,—for thos that honor him he wil 
 
 Edward Dering’s Speeches, p. 9, it appears that on 10 November, 1640, (that is, just ten 
 days after Mr. Wilson had accompanied him to London,) Sir Edward presented a petition 
 to the House from Mr. Wilson, speaking as follows :— 
 
 “Now, Mr. Speaker, in pursuit of my own motion [i.e. on the settling of Religion,] 10 Nov. 1640. 
 and to make a little entrance into this great affaire, I will present unto you the 
 petition of a poore oppressed minister in the county of Kent. A man orthodox in his 
 doctrine, conformable in his life, laborious in the ministery as any we have or I doe know. 
 
 He is now a sufferer (as all good men are) under the generall obloquy of a Puritan ; (as 
 with other things was excellently delivered by that silver trumpet at the barre.) The “ S 1 ' Ben. 
 pursivant watches his doore, and divides him and his cure asunder, to both their griefes : Kudyer. 
 for it is not with him as (perhaps) with some that set the pursivant at worke, gladded of 
 an excuse to be out of their pulpit. It his delight to preach. 
 
 “ About a week since, I went over to Lambeth, to move that great bishop (too great 
 indeed) to take this danger off from this minister, and to recall the pursivant. And 
 witliall I did undertake for Master Wilson (for so your petitioner is called) that he should 
 answer his accusers in any of the King’s Courts at Westminster. The bishop made me 
 answer (as neere as I can remember) in haec verba, ‘ I am sure that he wil not be absent 
 from his cure a twelvemoneth together, and then (I doubt not) but once in a yeer we 
 shall have him.’ 
 
 “ This was all I could obtaine ; but I hope (by the help of this house) before this yeere of 
 threats runs round His Grace will either have more grace, or no grace at all. For our 
 manifold griefes doe fill a mighty and a vast circumference, yet so that from every part 
 our lines of sorrow doe lead unto him, and point at him the center, from whence our 
 miseries in this church, and many of them in the Commonwealth, do flow.— 
 
 “ Let the Petition be read, and let us enter upon the worke.’’ 
 
 After quoting his speech, Sir Edward, in his vindication, continues thus;— 
 
 “ What is here for ‘ Root and Branch?’ I cannot find a line that I can wish unsaid ; 
 nor do I read a letter that I would go lesse in. It is replied, that the petitioner, Mr. 
 
 Wilson is a man for * Root and Branch.’ If he be, that was no part of his petition ; nor 
 indeed any part of my knowledge then : I am no more obliged to answer herein, then I 
 am bound to own and defend Mr. Wilson, if he should hereafter cast aside the Common 
 Prayer. What were that to me, or to what I then did say ?—sure I am, that I was well 
 assured, that he did not allow of separation then, and that he had been a powerfull per- 
 swader of others not to withdraw from our publike service ; and I thinke so well of his 
 goodnesse, temper, and conscience, that he will not easily be led away to these mistaking 
 
 ti 
 
 excesses. 
 
40 
 
 REV. THOMAS WILSON TO SIR EDWARD DERTNG. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 O beatam rem- 
 publicam 
 Christianam, 
 si tuum consi¬ 
 lium locum 
 habere apud 
 omnes possit. 
 
 honor. The country loves you, askes mercies of the God*of heaven, 
 and blesseth him for you; for how can our hearts be but towards 
 you, who offered yourselfe so willingly, and have done so worthily 
 for the house of the Lord ? “ Mihi videris liuic potissimum rei natus, 
 ut de omnibus bene merearis.” O that all men were of the same 
 mind, “ ut omne tandem aliquando ex ecclesia tollatur scandaliun,”— 
 that the pure word, sound doctrine, may be heard every where, and 
 the troubles of the church cured, bridled, or cast out. “ Quanti te 
 fecerim, non est operas pretium multis verbis explicare, praesertim 
 quoniam summopere odi adulationis vitium; hactenus ad te, me a 
 scribendo pudor retardavit, quis eniin ego, ut ad talem, tantum 
 virum, vereque nobilem, scribere auderem? nunc cogor pudorem 
 ilium tandem deponere.” Let the zeal of God’s glory and his house 
 eat you up; let your spirit be stirred within you, while you see the 
 manner of God’s worship so marred with superstitions (albeit, with 
 pretence of wisedome and humility), and the whole right of the law 
 for the time of God’s worship alleviated with profession of Christian 
 (most un-Christian) liberty. Resolve what you are, or may be, and 
 can doe, to be God’s and his churche’s, the king’s, the kingdome’s, 
 and your countrie’s. Mind that of Zanchy—“ Sicut Christus sui 
 facti rationem reddens, attulit in medium verbum Dei, et juxta illud, 
 se repurgasse templum probavit, dicendo, ‘ scriptum est, Domus mea 
 Domus orationis vocabitur, at vos fecistis earn speluncam latronum ;’ 
 ita ecclesiarum reformatores adferre debent verbum Dei, et juxta 
 illud ecclesias reformareadding this in the same Epistle, “Si volumus 
 esse sequi judices, debemus ita pronuntiare ecclesias esse verbo Dei 
 turn errores dedocendas, turn in vera pietate instituendas.”—Admire 
 not all that can plead antiquity (without the adjunct sacred), for so 
 somewhat may be said for the mystery of iniquity:—it was in the 
 Apostles’ daies, 2 Thes. ii. 7 ; and things grew to a love of primacy 
 in the time of purest lights, 3 John, 9. Let God’s law be your 
 light; it was David’s, Ps. cxix. 105 ; it was a lamp on the night, and 
 
REV. THOMAS WILSON TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 41 
 
 a light on the day, Pro. vi. 23. Christ tels his church, desirous to 1640-1. 
 he directed what way to take, how to walk by the footsteps of the 
 flock (Cant. i. 7, 8). The way of other churches is to be minded and ^^oamftutu 
 gone in (1 Thess. ii. 14). You have learned “consuetudinem veritate veritas. 
 majorem non esse/’ We are to beware of the subtilties in disputa¬ 
 tion in the time of reformation. I shall transcribe you the mind of 
 Amesius, a man of singular piety and learning (lib. ii., c. 13, n. 19, ^^o^Ams 1 ' 
 20):—“Deus suoproprio cultu toto ac soloest a nobis colendus; nihil 1652. p. 280.] 
 hie addendum, detrahendum, aut mutandum (Dent. xii. 32). Futilis 
 admodum est ilia distinctio qua nonnulli suas additiones excusare 
 conantur, quod additio tantum corrumpens prohibetur, et non additio 
 conservans, quoniam additio qmevis aeque ac detractio expresse 
 opponitur observationi vel conservation! mandatorum Dei tanquarn 
 corruptio.” And further, he dislikes that distinction and evasion, 
 
 “ qua essentialium tantum additionem prohiberi dicunt, non acciden- 
 taliumand addes, for his reason, “ sicut minima mandata Dei 
 etiam ad iota et apices sunt religiose observanda (Mat. v. 19,) sic 
 etiam additiones quee videntur minim* eadem ratione sunt rejiciendse.” 
 
 Consult with God, not vain wits. Walk humbly with God; exalt him, 
 and he will exalt you, and bring you to honour (Pro. iv. 8). Mind 
 that spirit in him who would enjoin nothing wherby to cast a snare 
 upon the Church (1 Cor. vii. 35). “Hoc scripsi, ut meis literis in- 
 cipiam illo ad te aditu quem mihi tua patefecisti dementia, frui:” for 
 beleeve it, godlines is greatest gain; piety is followed with sweetest 
 pleasure, and that all under the sun be but trifles compared with 
 the fear of God; for this is the whole of man; this makes up a 
 complete man; and he is but the shadow of a man that wants this. 
 
 Pardon my prolixity. I know “ non vacat exiguis, tu* tantum 
 tribuo prudentise, ut de omnibus actionibus tuis bene sentiam.” I 
 doe but put you in remembrance, who both know and beleeve 
 the Scriptures. The Father of Lights shine on you, and upon your 
 tabernacle, with the light of his countenance! The Lord of Glory 
 keep you blameles in soul and body, until the comming of the 
 CAMD. SOC. G 
 
1640-1. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 18 March. 
 
 42 SIR EDWARD DERING TO HIS LADY. 
 
 Lord in glory, whos spirit be with you, to direct, to strengthen, and 
 give you everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace. 
 Your worship’s most bounden, 
 
 and ready to be commanded in the Lord, 
 
 Thomas Wilson. 
 
 Otham in Kent, February 4, 1641. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To the right worshipful Sir Edward Dering, Knight and 
 Baronet, at his lodging in St. Martin’s Lane, London, 
 present thes. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640. Feb. Mr. Wilson.”] 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Letter from S r EDWARD DERING to his Lady with parliamentary 
 
 intelligence. 
 
 My ever deare Numps,* 
 
 Thy pretious and hearty letter I received with that ardor 
 that itt was written. S r Edward Hales is cleared, and that is all, 
 (but tak heed how you say so), his man is found faulty. I doubt 
 whether this mayd will stay another week; but now you have ven¬ 
 tured, send what word you will. 
 
 The scaffolds are up in Westminster hall, and Strafford comes to 
 the barre on Monday morning.f The tryall (I suppose) will last 3 or 
 4 dayes. 
 
 * A term of affection which Sir Edward almost always used to this his third wife, to 
 whom he seems to have been passionately attached to the last. 
 
 t This would he March 22, on which day Strafford first appeared at the bar. Instead 
 of three days, the trial lasted seven weeks. The Court sat March 22d, 23d, 24th, 25th, 
 26th, 27th ; Monday 29th, 30th, 31st ; April 1st, 3d ; Monday 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th ; 
 
SIR EDWARD DERING TO HIS LADY. 
 
 43 
 
 I shall hardly be so good as my word, nor can I see thee so soone 
 as I wish. I cannot guesse when to come doune. If you saw my 
 almanack of busines, itt would satisfy. 
 
 I desire that Harry would signify to Sir William Brockman,* that 
 I wish for all my odd money in. 
 
 I pray, send over to my cosen John Dering f (to whom I ow a 
 letter) and lett him know, that my lady promised, and the keepers 
 promised me some white deere (if itt be possible) att this time. 
 
 I do not heare how many deare of mine are dead. I can hardly 
 think they all scape. Tell the keeper, he must now, att our Lady 
 Day, watch my deare, that, att some time, when best advantage is, 
 he may leave a brace of buckes, or a leash, in my lower park, and 
 shutt of the rest. 
 
 I can not buy the latches and lock for thee. 
 
 I entend to suppe with my sister too night. 
 
 God preserve my pretty children, and send thee ease of thy trouble¬ 
 some cough. 
 
 If I could tell what to send or bring Mr. Bradshaw, I would. 
 The footman I will think on; in the meane time (if Jo: Hunt shew 
 him) he may tend all those gardens. 
 
 Tuesday 13th, on which day the Earl finished his defence. The 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 
 29th, and 30th were occupied in discussions as to the law. May 1st, the King came down to 
 the House of Lords at 10 a.m., and, in his speech, declared, that, in conscience, he never 
 could be persuaded to deem it a case of statutable treason. May 8th, the Bill passed the 
 Lords. May 12th, he was executed. 
 
 * Sir William Brockman, of Beechborough in Newington, near Hythe. He was the 
 gallant defender of Maidstone, and a stanch royalist. 
 
 f I suppose this was the son of George Dering, who was a younger son of Anthony 
 Dering of Charing, a younger brother of Richard Dering:— 
 
 John Dering. =p. 
 
 r ---- 1 - 1 
 
 Richard Dering.=pMargaret Twysden. Anthony Dering, of Charing.-p...... 
 
 I- 1 i — I — r - 1 - 
 
 S r Anthony Dering.=fFrances Bell. Three sons. George Dering.-p. 
 
 I- 1 l 1 
 
 S r Edward Dering, Kb and Bar 1 . John Dering. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
44 
 
 Dll. VANE TO Sill EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 4 April, 
 
 You have seen 3 of my speeches, besides my reportes. You may 
 comfort up Baker, if you please, for I think not on him; his danger 
 will be at the assises. 
 
 Remember me to Harry; itt seems I shall shortly see him. 
 
 We shall have some statutes to regulate the Councell table, the 
 Starre chamber, and the High Commission. 
 
 I thank thee for the length of thy Wellcome letters, wherein I con- 
 fesse that I cannot equall thy love. 
 
 Thine more and more if possibly, 
 
 Edward Dering. 
 
 Westminster, 18 March, 1640. 
 
 Heere is a new dedication, which I neither see nor knew of untell 
 this morning (as you may guesse by the title) ; this he brought for 
 you, and one for my selfe. 
 
 [Endorsed, not in S r Edward’s hand, but apparently Lady Dering’s, “ My 
 Dearest. March 18, 1640.”] 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Letter from D r YANE * to S r EDWARD DERING, entreating him to 
 postpone his summons to appear before the Committee, as he was 
 under commands to attend on the Princess Mary, during the visit of 
 the Prince of Orange. 
 
 Noble Sir, 
 
 Pardon, I beseech you, my intrusion uppon your patience, 
 
 * By his mention of “ cousin Monings ” it would seem as if Dr. Vane were a brother of 
 the Treasurer of the Household, Sir Henry Vane'; he evidently held some office about 
 the household. The connexion between the Vanes and the Moninses was as follows : 
 
 Roger Twysden.^ .... 
 
 I 
 
 l--1 
 
 Henry Fane,-[-Margaret S r W m Monins, of Wal—pJane Twysden. 
 
 of Hadlow. | Twysden. dershare, oh. 1643. 1 - 1 
 
 S 1 ' Henry Vane, S r Ed. Monins. 
 
 Treasurer. 
 
SIR EDWARD DERING TO HIS LADY. 40 
 
 and (beeing at this time) on your piety. Yet, what I sue for, being a 
 deed of charity, it doth (I hope) well sort with this day,* and your 
 disposition. I have no title to sue under, but your owne goodnesse, 
 for my cosen Monyngs sake formerly exprest unto me. By that I 
 entreat you to retard my summons before your Committee,! as long 
 as possibly may be, both, because I am at this time very sick, and 
 when I shalbee well (if God grant it) I am commanded to waite on 
 the Princesse Mary,! until the Prince of Orange bee come over, and 
 returne againe. What prejudice to mee, what hinderance in that 
 employment (on which I alone am to attend) my calling aw r ay will 
 be, you can well judge; what favour you shall doe me in preventing 
 it, I can and will ever acknowledge. And, seeing all attendance 
 must give place to that on you, if you please to grant mee this favour, 
 
 you will soe much the more mightely oblige, 
 
 S r , your most humble servant, 
 
 Tuo. Yane. 
 
 April 4, 1641. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To tlie most Honoured S r Edward Dearinge, knight and 
 baronet, one of the knights of the shire for the county 
 of Kent, present these. 
 
 [Seal.] 3 right-hand gauntlets, backs affrontes, 2, 1. A crescent for difference ; 
 and for crest, a dexter gauntlet, holding a sword pointing sinister way. 
 
 [Endorsed by S 1 ' Edward Dering—“ 1641, 5 April. D r "V ane. ] 
 
 * The 4th of April was on Sunday in 1641. 
 
 f i. e. “ The Committee on Religion ” of which Sir Edward Dering was Chairman. 
 He says, in his vindication p. 42, “ Upon my motion Nov. 23, 1640, it pleased the Grand 
 Committee for Religion to appoint a sub-committee to receive complaints from oppressed 
 ministers, which sub-committee was shortly after made a committee by order of the House. 
 It pleased the gentlemen of this committee to put the honour and the burden of the chaire 
 upon me.” 
 
 + The marriage between the Princess Mary (who was born 1631), and the Prince of 
 Orange, took place on the 2d May this year, less than a month after the date of this 
 letter. She could have been barely ten years old, and was a widow at nineteen in 1050. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
46 
 
 Sill EDWARD DERING TO HIS LADY. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 2 May. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Letter from S 1 ' EDWARD DERING to liis Lady, witli parliamentary 
 
 intelligence. 
 
 My deare Love, 
 
 I came well to London by 4 of the clocke, somewhat 
 weary, and my head a little out of order; but, after I had supped 
 with my sister Gibb, very well. I went first to the Parliament 
 house; there was nobody. The King had in the morning told them, 
 he could not in conscience concurre to sentence the point of treason : 
 the sullen boys therefore brak up sclioole at 11 of the clocke, and 
 went to play, not suffering so much as the Committee for Religion * to 
 sitt. We shall meet sullen too morow. God send good issue; but 
 my despayres begin to go above my faytli in that. Yett (as I said 
 att Christmas, and often since) we shall be cured with a confu¬ 
 sion. If the French play not the devills with us, the confusion will 
 be short and safe. 
 
 There lyetli on my table 6s. 9 d. for Richard. Besse gave me not 
 my yellow silk stockins. The boy shall go on Wensday to Cam¬ 
 bridge. Send Derby to London on Saterday, to carry back those 
 horses on Monday following. 
 
 Att dinner with my mother. My sister Wroth is ill again. God 
 bless thee and my deare little ones ! 
 
 Thine in hast, but heartily, 
 
 2 May, 1641. EDWARD DeRING. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To my best and dearest frend, the Lady Dering, att 
 Surenden Dering; dd. 
 
 [Seal.] A saltire impaling three coats arranged one above the other,f viz.: 1, In 
 chief, an eagle displayed within a bordure, for Tufton ; 2. In fess, a fess between 
 6 imdlets—Ashburnham ; 3. In base, 3 battle axes paleways, 2, 1, for Gibbes. 
 
 [Endorsed, not in S r Edward’s hand, probably in Lady Dering’s.—“ My 
 Dearest, May y e 2d 1641.”] 
 
 * Vide note, p. 45 supra. 
 
 f These are the arms of his three wives, Tufton, Ashburnham, and Gibbes. 
 
SIR EDWARD DERING TO HIS LADY. 47 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Letter from S 1 EDWARD DERING to his Lady, with parliamentary 
 
 intelligence. 
 
 My dearest Love, 
 
 Yesterday, I made a motion, that, by reason of 8 monthes 
 session (allmost), the sicknesses of the poxe and plague encreasing, 
 the necessity of composing the state and church in those things 
 wherein this house had (upon just groundes) disjoynted them, we 
 might have a committee to oversee all our worke, and to present to 
 the house what must be done before we part, and to turne aside all 
 that may stay till we meete again ; a committee was by the house 
 most gladly appointed, for perusall of the dark’s books, and of all 
 the chayres. I will endeavour to shorten all that may, or else the 
 service att parting will be broaken and imperfect, and I shall have 
 no patience to stay itt out, especially if new afflictions be with thee. 
 
 God in heaven blesse our little boy; indeed, love, they are all 
 pretious to me. 
 
 There are 6 severall copys of Strafford’s speeches, none very right. 
 
 I thank Mr. Bevin for his care and love. 
 
 We did appease and send away the citizens; and they did regard 
 my advice as much, perhaps more, then any of the rest; but there 
 was no such violent kindnes : but many tooke me by the hand whom 
 I knew not; many said to one another, “ There goes S 1 ’ Edward 
 Dering,” “ That is S r Edward Dering,” and i( God blesse your wor¬ 
 ship,” &c. 
 
 I know not what to do for money. 
 
 You may thanke Sherwood for want of the syrup. I will send 
 him again too day. 
 
 Notwithstanding the currishnes of Copley, * he had the face to 
 
 * There had been interminable quarrels between Mr. Copley, the Vicar of Pluckley, and 
 Sir Edward Dering, and his father Sir Anthony, in which there was the most envenomed 
 rancour called forth on both sides. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 20 May. 
 
48 
 
 SIR ANTHONY WELDON TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 20 May. 
 
 come to me (before I had thy letter) and to desire me to be a meanes 
 that he might be abated in the subsidy. 
 
 Harry Betnam * will serve the devil 1, to gett his father’s fortune. 
 In hast, God blesse us and ours. 
 
 Thy truely loving' 
 
 Edward Dering. 
 
 20 May, 1641. 
 
 Send Derby to Mr. Pulley with his booke: it is licensed. 
 
 [Endorsed, not by S r Edward Dering; but probably by Lady Dering.—“ My 
 Dearest, May 20th, 1641.”] 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Letter from S r ANTHONY WELDON f to S r EDWARD DERING, and 
 S r JOHN COLPEPER, the Knights of the Shire, complaining of the 
 insolent tyranny of persons described as “ base ministers.” 
 
 Honoured Sirs, 
 
 Your greater busines being overpast, give me leave to 
 present our grevance; a grevance to us far more pressing than ship- 
 monie; or any other that I knowe: whether you consider it in the 
 insolent carriage, or the charg, or both. The grevance is soe much 
 the greter by being executed by base ministers; and hath raged 
 more since they understoode our intentions of petitioning the hon¬ 
 ourable Parlament then before ; which, in my opinion, is an insolencye 
 far beyond all other; to threten, abuse, and beate men for complain¬ 
 ing (as they have expressed). Be pleased to know, at the beginning 
 of Parlament, out of my respect to S r Henry Vaine, 1 sentt to him 
 both a letter and coppye of the articles. Truly, not desyring to 
 
 * Probably Bettenham, of Shurland, in Pluckley, close to Surrenden. 
 f This was Sir Anthony Weldon of Swansconibe, a strong parliamentarian, and a 
 persecutor of all who opposed his opinions, in Kent. 
 
ROBERT CODRINGTON TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 49 
 
 complayne of eytlier, wee might have seene amendment, or he had 
 bynn nerly concernd in it. Butt his answer was, he had nothing to 
 doe with it. And since, they have raged in much more violence, 
 and, even now, are as insolent as ever in this parte. I have now 
 putt it in to the right hands to ease the cuntry. Myself having now 
 performed the uttmost of my endevors: and must leve the rest 
 to you, who, I am confident, will doe the cuntry that right that may 
 bynd them to a thankfull memorye, and make me in my expressions 
 
 Your freind and servant, 
 
 Antho: Weldon. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 “ To the honourable K nts , S r Edward Dering, K nt and Baronet, S r John 
 Culpeper, K nt , K nts of the shire for the county of Kent, present these.” 
 [Endorsed, “ Gunpowder-men.”] 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Letter from ROBERT CODRINGTON* [to S r EDWARD DERING f] 
 
 pleading for mercy from the Parliament, for unintentional offence given 24 May. 
 in one of his Poems. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I am grown an impudent begger, and, if you relieve me 
 not with your mercy, I am in danger to be lost for ever. You are 
 not ignorant what troubles are come upon me by making an unfor¬ 
 tunate choyce, (to pleasure a poore fellow now in prison,) to personate 
 
 * Robert Codrington, a miscellaneous writer and translator, was born in 1602, of an 
 ancient family in Gloucestershire. He was admitted a demy of Magdalen college, Oxford, 
 in 1619, and M.A. in 1626. He lived afterwards in Norfolk as a private gentleman 1 
 Wood says that he was always accounted a Puritan. He died in London of the plague 
 in 1665. 
 
 f There is no superscription, but I conjecture it to have been addressed to Sir Edward 
 Dering, from its being found among his muniments. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. H 
 
50 
 
 ROBERT CODRINGTON TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I 
 24 May. 
 
 the late Earle of Strafford, speaking in those characters which I 
 thought came neerest to the vehemence and the vastnes of that 
 unruly spirit. For my owne part, I never saw the man in all my 
 life. When I heard he was committed by the Parliament, there was 
 no man that entertayned the newes with a more perfect joy; and 
 when, agayne, the sentence of death did proceed against him, there 
 there was no man concluded that it was more justly done. As for 
 the word “ Anarchy,” in the poem, (for that word I am taught gives 
 the first offence,) the word signifies, “ without a prince f’ by which 1 
 understand, the commotion of the citisens who came downe with 
 swords and staves demaunding justice; undoubtedly intimating there¬ 
 by, that if the state (by which I understand the upper and lower 
 Houses of Parliament) should not forthwith comply with theyr desires, 
 they would be a law and a prince unto themselves; and a direct relation 
 unto that have those verses which follow in the third clause, “ allthough 
 this scanted age vents none,” &c. by which I truely understand the 
 Senate of the Citty, who, being armed in the same designe, came 
 downe with the younger sort of merchants, theyr cholerick and 
 spruce companions. For my owne parte, I protest before the 
 Majestie of Allmighty Clod, that I have allwayes with a deliberate 
 and solemne joy affirmed, and, from my heart, I doe verily believe, 
 that there was never a more hopefull parliament than this, never an 
 assembly mette of more able and more excellent men in a more need- 
 full time, for the establishing of the kingdome, which now indeede 
 beginnes to hold up her head in earnest, to feele new health in her 
 veynes, and to enjoy all those blessings which a flourishing and 
 glorious age can eyther promise or produce. With the like sincerity 
 and zeale I doe protest, that I had not the least intention whereby 
 I might therein incurre the displeasure of the Parliament, or of any 
 parliamentary, whom, with all the indeavours of my soule, with all 
 my feares and hopes, I have precisely honoured, and for whose 
 union and prosperity I doe dayly and devoutly pray; but most 
 humbly and most obnixely I must beseach both them and you (who, 
 
ROBERT CODRINGTON TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 51 
 
 I heare, is particularly intrusted in this busines,) that what errours 
 my ignorance and my rashnes have therein committed, your most 
 noble wisedomes, and your mercyes, would vouchsafe to pardon. I 
 have been a long time sick, and my sicknes is attended with a greate 
 lamenes. I am brought by a consumption even to the grave 
 allready. I should be loath to breath out my last in a prison, from 
 whence neyther the weakenes of my body, nor the burden of my 
 ensuing debts, would suffer me to returne alive. In themeane while, 
 my poore wife and children take theyr full share in my sorrowes, the 
 charge of whom doth looke directly on me; and it is a new anguish 
 of heart unto me, that so many noble familyes, to whom I neerely am 
 allyed, should bleed in my wounds, and suffer in my dishonour, with 
 me. Amongst the many hundred of Poems which I have written, 
 this is the first that hath given me an occasion to repent, from whence 
 there is nothing to be receaved but the ignominy of it. 
 
 Sir, being thus hung round with sorrowes, it is a new affliction to 
 me to torment you (being so greate a stranger to you) with the 
 tediousnes of these lines, which may improve themselves into my 
 happinas, if, on the perusall of them, you shall be pleased to descend 
 from your more high and greate imployments, to relieve from 
 danger him who is, and whom the Parliament and your selfe shall 
 ever find to be, 
 
 Your most humble, most faithful!, 
 and most devoted Servant, 
 
 Robert Codrington. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 24 Maj. 
 
 May 24, 1641. 
 
52 DR. nOLDSWORTH TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1641. XXIV. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 26 July. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERIND from D r HOLDSWORTH, * Master of 
 Emanuel College, Cambridge, on hearing that he was to be brought 
 before the Committee of Religion. 
 
 Noble Sir, 
 
 I perceive I am under a cloud in the House of Commons, 
 by some misreports which have bene cast upon my speech at the 
 last commencement. The news thereof was very unwelcome to me; 
 
 * This was the celebrated Dr. Holdsworth, who was educated at, and was afterwards 
 Fellow of, St. John’s college, Cambridge, where he was tutor to Sir Symonds d’Ewes. In 
 1625 he was a Professor of Gresham College, in 1631 Prebendary of Lincoln, and in 1633 
 Archdeacon of Huntingdon. In 1638 he was a candidate for the Mastership of St. John’s; 
 but neither he, nor his competitor, was acceptable at court, and the King, by mandate, 
 ordered Dr. Beale to be appointed. In 1637 he was elected Master of Emanuel College, 
 and created D.D. In 1639 he was elected President of Sion College. In 1641 he re¬ 
 signed the Professorship of Gresham College. While Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge, he 
 supplied the King with money contributed by the University, a crime not easily forgiven 
 by the Parliament. When the Assembly of Divines was called, he was appointed one of 
 them ; but never took his seat. Soon after, in obedience to the King’s mandate, he had 
 such parts of His Majesty’s declaration a3 were formerly printed at York, printed at Cam¬ 
 bridge ; for which, and for a sermon then preached by him, he was forced to leave the 
 University before the expiration of his office of Vice-Chancellor. He w r as concealed 
 awhile, but was ultimately apprehended near London, and was imprisoned ;—first, at Ely 
 House, and afterwards at the Tower. So highly regarded was he at Cambridge, that, 
 while a prisoner, he was elected Margaret Professor of Divinity, although neither able to 
 attend to its duties nor receive its profits. He held the office till his death ; but the 
 rectory of St. Peter-le-Poor, in the City of London, and the mastership of Emanuel 
 College were taken from him. It is uncertain when he was released from prison. He 
 attended the King at Hampton Court in 1647 ; and, in January following, when Parlia. 
 ment voted that no more addresses should be made to the King, he preached a bold sermon 
 against the resolution, for which he was again imprisoned ; but, being released, he 
 assisted, on the King’s part, at the treaty of the Isle of Wight. He did not long survive 
 his master, dying August 29, 1649, his death probably hastened by that melancholy 
 catastrophe. He was buried at St. Peter-le-Poor church- He was a staunch royalist 
 and episcopalian ; devout, charitable, and an excellent scholar. His sermons, “ Prelec- 
 tiones ” &c. have been published. 
 
DR. HOLDSWORTH TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 53 
 
 therefor, hearing it was referred by the house to that Committee 
 where your selfe are the worthy Chayreman, I thought it concerned 
 me near to offer to your wyse consideration the generall knowledge 
 of the truth, which being concealed might breed me sore prejudice. 
 —Sir, the maine scope of my oration was to bemoane the sad con- 
 dicion of the Church, and soe of the Vniversity, which the indis¬ 
 creet and offensive practises of some of our owne order, by their 
 introduction of superstitious rites, and preaching of unsavory doc¬ 
 trines, hath brought upon both ; whereby, they stirred up the dis¬ 
 pleasure of the common people of this lande against us. In the pro¬ 
 secution hereof, I did not in the least manner reflect upon any 
 proceedings in Parliament, but laboured to doe them all the honour 
 which became me: nay I did not soe much as glance at any other 
 person which did oppose himself to the government established, 
 because I would be sure not to give offense ; soe farr I was from any 
 undutifull carriage my selfe, that I took as strict order as was possi¬ 
 ble to prsevent it in others, as well preachers and disputants, as 
 prevaricators, all which I shall make evident if there be cause. 
 Only, I intreat you, Sir, to shew me the favour of a speedy hearing 
 if I must be called to answer, not doubting but that I shall give you 
 full satisfaction. In this assurance, with the presentment of my 
 most regardfull respect to your selfe, I commend you to God’s grace, 
 and rest 
 
 Your obliged friend and ready servant 
 
 Pi: Holds worth. 
 
 Em: Coll: July 26, 1641. 
 
 [Superscription,] 
 
 “ To the right worshipfull his much honoured friend 
 S r Edward Deering. These present.” 
 
 [Seal,] A stag’s head erased. 
 
 [Endorsed by S 1 ' Edward Deering—“ 1641, 28 July, Dr. Holdesworth.”] 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 26 July. 
 
54 
 
 PETITION FROM THE PARISHIONERS OF RUCKING. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 16 September. 
 
 Petition to the House of Commons, complaining of the establishment of 
 paupers in the farm-houses, by the non-resident farmers—from the 
 parishioners of Rucking. 
 
 To the honourable house of Commons nowe assembled in Parlia¬ 
 ment. 
 
 The humble Petition of the parishioners of the parish of Ruckinge, 
 adjoyninge to Romney Marsh, in the county of Kent, 
 
 1. Your Petitioners shewe, that, whereas the said parish of Ruck¬ 
 inge is of large extent, and that parte of it lyetli in Romney Marsh, 
 and parte of it in the sheire, and that there are divers antient farmes, 
 and sufficient farme houses, in the said Parish, in which formerly 
 sufficient able men have lived in, such as have bin able to give and 
 alowe towards the mayntenance both of Church and poore in the said 
 parish, as alsoe to finde armes in defence of his Majestie. The said 
 Marsh not beinge soe populus as other places, and lyinge to the mayne 
 sea in the face of the Enymie. 
 
 2. Nowe, soe it is, may it please you, that Mathew Whitinge, 
 Richard Baker, and Thomas Fishenden, of Ruckinge aforesaid, have 
 8 severall farmes betweene them, in the said parish, in theire hands, 
 and doe use the lands belonffino-e to the said farmes, themselves, but 
 doe place poore people in the farme houses, not able to give releife, 
 as hearetofore, hut to receave; and not able to contribute, eyther to 
 Church or poore, or to find armes to serve his Majestie ; and that 
 Thomas Cuckowe, John Smyth, and Thomas Ilaffenden are men 
 that live in other parishes, and fare remoate Townes, and doe likewise 
 ingrose and take divers severall farmes in the said parish into theire 
 hands, and doe use the land themselves, and place poore people in the 
 houses, and bringe in poore out of other parishes, and place them 
 there; besids many cottags that have bin and are of late erected 
 uppon the wast grounds in the said parish:—All which things have 
 and doe daylie soe much impoverish the said parish, that the said 
 
LETTER FROM SIR EDWARD DERING TO HIS LADY. 55 
 
 parish is soe much gon to decay, and soe much poore increased, and 
 daylie more and more is lildie to increase, that the feawe rich that 
 are in the said parish are not able so supporte and releeive the poore, 
 but them feaue rich that nowe are left, by reason of theire heavie 
 burdens, will be forced to leave the said parish, unlesse som other 
 course be taken. 
 
 3. May it therefore please this honourable Court, the premisses 
 considered, soe to order it, that the parties abovesaid may place such 
 tennants in the said severall farme houses as are able to use the lands 
 to the severall farmes belonginge, as formerly they have bin letten 
 and enjoyed together; and that none of the parties abovesaid may 
 bee suffered to use any more or other farme or farmes than what 
 they dwell uppon ; and that noe cottags, for the tyme to com, may 
 bee erected on the wast grounds, or else wheare in the said parish ; 
 and that such cottags as have bin erected of late, contrary to the 
 Statute of Queene Elizabeth, may bee pulled downe; and that what¬ 
 soever other tliinge concerninge the premisses may seeme fitt and 
 expedient to your grave wisdomes may bee ordered. 
 
 And your petitioners shall humblie pray, &c. 
 
 John Barman. John Coopar. 
 
 Thomas Awchley. John x Rogers, Churchwarden, 
 
 Daniel § Razell, his marke. his marke. 
 
 John Auchley. Edward Wattes. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1641. 16 Sept. Petition, Rokinge.”] 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Letter from Sir Edward Dering to his Lady with parliamentary 
 
 intelligence. 
 
 My dear and my comfortable Numpes, 
 
 My happines is (for the greatest part of itt in this world) 
 
 1640. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 16 September. 
 
56 
 
 LETTER FROM SIR EDWARD DERING TO HIS LADY. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 21 October. 
 
 circuited in the same sphsere with thine. Love and cheerefullnes 
 are blessings invaluable; and if, perchance, some excentricke motion 
 interpose, all att last (as in the sphseres) helpe to make up the 
 harmony. So (I hope) with us, every motion shall mend the tune. 
 
 Thy letter found me well att my Sister’s: we did presently (as you 
 wished) reade over the 91 Spalme (as you call itt). I did tliinke to 
 have returned you a text; but I am in hast. 
 
 Yesterday we resolved that our house shall daily sitt from 9 
 to two or three. Newes from Scotland not good. Hamilton, Argile, 
 and Lanricke are fled to theire strengtlies. No newes of the King’s 
 returne. 
 
 This day a bill * was read to take away Bishops’ votes in the 
 House of Lords. To morrow is sett for the debate of it; and wilb 
 qumstionles, go cleare away with us, and (I thinke) with the Lordes 
 also. 
 
 Remember me heartily to the good boy-begetting couple. Tell 
 my brother, that I mett a gent by chance, who wished me to certify 
 him, that, on Wensday next, the Lords of the Councell do intend 
 to proceed upon his silver businesse; and the gentt wished that my 
 brother would come up. 
 
 My coming downe againe is now uncerteyn. I have sent the boy 
 to Cambridge (thorough I hope) this day. I have appointed Richard 
 to go from thence directly home. 
 
 * This was not the original Rill which he himself had introduced 21 May, 1641 ; but 
 a new one ; v. his Speeches, p. 90. He spoke upon it, urging the omission of the words 
 ‘‘and that it is inconsistent with their function,” as likely to lead to a debate on doctrine. 
 “ I have formerly,” said he, “and againe I pray you, that we may not engage ourselves 
 into the determination of doctrinall points in Divinity,—perhaps it is not proper for us, 
 and for my part, I doe think w r e are not herein ‘idonei et competentes Judices.’ Was 
 it ever heard or seen, that a set of laymen, gentlemen, souldiers, lawyers, merchants, all 
 professions admitted but the profession of professions for this worke, divines alone ex¬ 
 cluded, that we should determine upon doctrinall points in Divinity ? Theology is not so 
 low, so facile a trade. Let us maintaine the doctrines that are established ; to declare new 
 is not fit for our assembly, and, for my part, I do think I have found daily cause to wish 
 these resolutions recommended unto other resolvers.” 
 
PETITION OF JOHN READING. 
 
 57 
 
 God blesse us with a comfortable returne together, and preserve 
 our little flocke. 
 
 Thine owne, as ever, for ever, 
 
 Edward Dering. 
 
 London, 21 Octob: 1641. 
 
 [Superscription,] 
 
 To my best and dearest friend the Lady Dering, 
 at Arcliffe fort, neare Dovor. 
 
 [Seal.] Dering, impaling Tufton, Ashburnham, and Gibbes, as before. 
 
 [Endorsed, not by S r Edward, Dering but probably by Lady Dering: 
 
 “My dearest, October 22, 1641.”] 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Petition to the House of Commons from JOHN EEADING, the Minister, 
 to endow with regular Tythes the Parish of St Mary Dover.* 
 
 To the most honourable High Court of Parliament. 
 
 The humble Petition of John Reading, Minister of the parish of 
 St. Marie, Dover, 
 
 Sheweth that, whereas 
 
 * This is only a fragment of the Petition, and, being without] date, I can only supply 
 the date conjecturally. I conclude this to be about the proper place for its insertion, 
 owing to the following passage in a speech of Sir Edward Dering (p. 93), 23 October, 
 1641 : “ Many mournfull sad complaints I have of late received from ministers the ablest 
 and everyway the worthiest that I know. I could willingly name you twm, one at Dovor, 
 the other at Cranebroke in Kent. Men, upon whose merit let my credit stand or fall in 
 this house. He that hath preached least of these hath preached severall thousands of 
 excellent sermons to his people.” In the margin, Sir Edward supplies the names—“ Mr. 
 Reading,” “ Mr. Abbot.” 
 
 Before the Reformation, there was a rector, curate, &c. to this parish ; but how they 
 were paid is uncertain. Afterwards, the parishioners seem to have hired the services 
 of their minister by contract. Sometimes it was 20 marks and the Easter book, some 
 times 10/. and the book and fees, sometimes 5 marks. Walter Richards 1601-1608 had 
 30/. This John Reading was brought to Dover in 1616, by Lord Zoucli, the Lord 
 
 CAMD. SOC. I 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
58 
 
 PETITION OF JOHN READING. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 1. There are remayningin .... only two Parish Churches, viz., the 
 Parish of St. James the Apostle, and this Parish of St. Marie. The 
 Minister of the said St. James Parish hath for his maintenance a setled 
 meanes from tithes on lands, and 2s. in the pound, according . . . • 
 the rents of the houses and edifices being within the said parish; but 
 the minister of St. Maries Parish hath no settled meanes, there beino; 
 only 10 or 12 acres of land within the Circuite of the same (besides 
 streets and bowses), and no tithes upon the rents of houses are paid unto 
 him; but the Parishioners, instedd thereof, have payed the minister 
 for the time being, sometimes one summe per annum, and sometimes 
 another, as they pleased. 
 
 2. Divers parish Churches in Dover, some ages past, decaying and 
 falling downe, the parishioners have betaken themselves to the parish 
 of St. Marie; some very few excepted, who went to the said parish 
 of St. James. 
 
 Warden, as his Chaplain. The parish was then without a minister, and he took the duty, 
 for several weeks, to oblige the parishioners, whereupon they asked him to accept the 
 cure at 100/. per annum. He was chaplain to Charles I., and was, for a time, very 
 popular with his new flock ; but when Republicanism prevailed among them his popu¬ 
 larity fled. Probably his salary of 100/. was not then maintained, and thence this 
 petition. We are thus aided in our conjectures as to the date. His house was plundered 
 in 1642, and in the next year, while employed on his Paraphrase of St. John’s Gospel, 
 Sir Edward Boys had him seized and imprisoned. The King, hearing of this, obtained 
 for him from Archbishop Laud the Rectory of Chartliam, and he was appointed Pre¬ 
 bendary of Canterbury. In 1644 Sir William Brockman gave him the living of Cheriton, 
 and he was appointed by the Assembly of Divines one of the nine persons to write anno¬ 
 tations on the New Testament. He was seized by Major Boys, at Cheriton, and carried 
 prisoner to Leeds Castle. During this confinement, he wrote his “ Guide to the Holy 
 City.” On May 10, 1650, he disputed publicly in Folkestone church with Samuel 
 Fisher, a Baptist. lie was a rigid Calvinist, as supposed by many. He was the first 
 minister of the parish who had 100/. per annum. Probably, after the Restoration, he 
 returned to this parish, for we find him the spokesman of the Corporation, in addressing 
 Charles the Second, on his landing on the beach at Dover, and in presenting his 
 Majesty a Bible with gold clasps. He published several sermons and controversial tracts, 
 chiefly against the Anabaptists. He died at Chartliam 1667. 
 
 The Inhabitants of St. Mary’s Dover had always been backward in raising money 
 to pay their minister. The church was often, for long periods together, without 
 
 one. 
 
PETITION OF JOHN READING. 
 
 59 
 
 The parishioners of St. Marie have usuallie (by cessers there¬ 
 unto yearely chosen) taxed the ministers mayntenance according to 
 
 the several.of the parishioners; which being not easily 
 
 known to the said cessers. or willingly mistaken, by reason of their 
 
 particular.. many discords and contentions 
 
 about the inequalitie of the cesse have arisen among them, insomuch 
 as sundrie complaints have been made to the Lord of Canterbery and 
 the Lord Warden and divers suites in Law have beene commenced 
 amongst.differences. 
 
 4. The Mayor, Jurates, and most prudent and peaceable inhabitants 
 heere, then being, in the yeare 1620, weary of their contentions. 
 
 .uncertainty of charge (it being according to the 
 
 pleasures and affectiones of yearely cessers) presented two petitions, 
 one to the Lord Bishop of Canterbery then being, and the other to 
 the right honourable Lord Zouche, then Lord Warden of the Cinque 
 Ports, entreating their Lordships’ assistance in the reducing them into 
 the forme of a Rectorie, they thereby consenting, for themselves, and 
 
 their posterities, to pay to theire minister . . . the time. 
 
 in the pound, for and according to the rents of their several houses 
 and edifices scituate and being in the parishe, for everie house or 
 edifice letten, or worth to be letten at 40s rent per annum ... Is in 
 the pound for all howses and a.and also the obla¬ 
 
 tions or Easter booke, with other usuall and accustomed fees appertayn- 
 ing to the Minister, as by one of these petitions by themselves pre¬ 
 sented to the Lord Bishop of Canterbery may more particularly 
 appeare. 
 
 5. Your Petitioners, being thereunto commanded by the said 
 Lords, presented this whole affaire to the Parliament held the said 
 
 yeare at Westminster, . . . bill.into this house, which 
 
 was read and committed, and after much debate, in respecte of the 
 greate opposition there made by many of the parishioners of the said 
 
 St. Maries (who it seemed loved liberty more then. 
 
 equity) the Knightes and Burgesses of the Committy (whereof some 
 yett live, and are now members of this honourable bowse), being first 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
60 
 
 PETITION OF JOHN READING. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 well enformed that the said St. Maries . . . . was anciently and before 
 the memory of man, a parish and parsonage (which., with¬ 
 out any appearing law, impropriated).unanimously to 
 
 endow the same with tithes for the Ministers livelihood.the 
 
 rents of the houses and edifices, and messuages.be 
 
 builded on the ground or wasts scituate and being within the said 
 
 Parish of St. Maries, as it is and antientlie hath been taken. 
 
 .. 2s in the pound, for all the said rents, without exception, 
 
 with the oblations, or Easter booke, and all the accustomed. 
 
 .appertayning to all Ministers. 
 
 .before the said bill could be transmitted. 
 
 .confirmation, the said Parliament was dissolved, and . . . 
 
 • . . . ner discowraged with loss of.Coste and.. 
 
 .ed any more herein. 
 
 [The rest of this Petition is wanting.] 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 Petition from the County of Kent, to the House of Commons, for Reforma¬ 
 tion not Abrogation of the Liturgy.* 
 
 [No. 1.] 
 
 [There are three copies of the same petition, made evidently for circulation in different 
 districts. I have numbered them by way of distinction.] 
 
 Douer. 
 
 To the Honourable the House of Commons now assembled in 
 
 Parliament. 
 
 The humble Petition of many of the Gentrie, Ministers, Free¬ 
 holders, and Subsidie-men within the Countie of Kent, 
 
 Humbly shewing, 
 
 Wher eas divers Petitions have beene addressed to this Honourable 
 
 * The annexed three Petitions are almost verbatim the same. The difference between 
 them is only such as would easily occur in transmitting copies of any one petition to 
 
PETITION FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 61 
 
 House, earnestly praying Releife and Ease from many Pressures, 
 both in the Civill and Ecclesiastical state of this Kingdome. 
 
 And further, whereas it hath beene desired by some that there * 
 he an utter abolition of all government by Bishops, and an abroga¬ 
 tion of the Publike forme of Common Prayer. May it please this 
 Honourable House, wee doe earnestly and heartily concurre with 
 the sayd Petitioners, for Releife and Ease against the many exor- 
 bitancies and pressures generally suffered of late, both in the Church 
 and State. 
 
 But wee doe, withall, earnestly and heartily, as possibly wee 
 can, beseech and pray this Honourable House, both in the Church 
 Government and in our present Liturgie, f to give us a severe 
 Reformation, not an absolute Innovation. 
 
 And, because truth and peace can meete togeither but uppon one 
 side (although there be strong confidence on both sides), wee most 
 humbly pray, even for God’s sake (whose cause it is, and frome 
 whome onely wee must have both Peace and Truth), that you 
 will either commande | a tree nationall synod to be forthwith 
 called, of Persons irreproveable in Life and Doctrine; or else, that 
 you please not to conclude us up unhearde (which wee are con¬ 
 fident you will not), but grant us a solemne, free debate, by chosen 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. 1. 
 
 different districts for signature. The variations, as they respectively occur, are noted 
 infra. 
 
 As there is no date to these petitions, we can only obtain it by approximation. The 
 first signature to the Dover petition is that of Thomas Cullen, Mayor. By the Corporation 
 Records, it appears that he was elected to the Mayoralty 8 September, 1641, and on 
 November 20, 1641, we find Sir Edward Dering speaks boldly and powerfully in defence 
 of the much assailed Liturgy (Speeches 96-107). We shall not befar wrong, therefore, 
 in inserting these petitions at this place, as dating between September and November 1641. 
 
 * In No. 3, instead of “ there be,” it is “ there might be.” 
 
 t In No. 2, these words are added after Liturgy—(“ if upon just and lawfull dis¬ 
 quisition by learned men, anie errrors shall be found in either.”) 
 
 + In No. 3, “command” is erased, and “use meanes that” substituted, and the 
 word “to” after “synod” erased; the whole sentence running thus, “will either use 
 meanes that a free nationall synod be forthwith called, &c. 
 
62 
 
 PETITION PROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I 
 
 Persons to be held before you, whereuppon you may please to 
 settle such Resolutions as may deservedly binde all our obedience 
 for the times to come. 
 
 And we shall ever most heartily pray, &c. 
 
 Gentlemen. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Freeholders. 
 
 Freemen of the Port 
 of Dover. 
 
 Thomas Cullen, maior 
 
 
 Michaell Burnley 
 
 John Perrott 
 
 * Step. Monins 
 
 
 Fra. Raworth 
 
 Richard Foord 
 
 * Will. Leonard 
 
 Jo. Reading 
 
 John Youngez 
 
 John Benger 
 
 *Jon. Pringle 
 
 Jos. Alleyn 
 
 William Hatton 
 
 W. Pepper 
 
 * Tho. Teddeman 
 
 Francis Marslie 
 
 Will. Waad 
 
 Henry Teddiman 
 
 * Luke Pepper 
 
 Thomas Graunts 
 
 William Eldred 
 
 John Kenton 
 
 * Luke Braylsforde 
 
 
 Humfrey Mantlle 
 
 Richard Neales 
 
 * Hen. Booth 
 
 
 John Foord 
 
 John White 
 
 Dan. Porten 
 
 
 Geo. West 
 
 Thomas Wim . . 
 
 * Jo. Golder 
 
 
 Tresliam Steveins 
 
 Richard Knight 
 
 * Nicholas Roberts 
 
 
 Thos.-p Stoke his 
 
 Robert -j- Venitar 
 
 * John Loome 
 
 
 mark 
 
 Jacob Wilier 
 
 Pauli Wymond 
 
 
 Nicholas Hatton 
 
 Thomas Dawkes 
 
 Anth. Perceual 
 
 
 Edward Baylline 
 
 Abraham Upton 
 
 F. Fairfax 
 
 
 John Whitt + mark 
 
 Thomas Rudder 
 
 W. Fowler 
 
 
 Cockrell Harwod 
 
 Edw. Worthington 
 
 Edw. Kempe 
 
 
 Tho. Mason 
 
 Robert Anderson 
 
 Ja. Skynner 
 
 
 Robert Wickenden 
 
 John Barly 
 
 Isaack Cotton 
 
 
 J. Jacob 
 
 Thomas Miles 
 
 Luke Burden 
 
 
 William Hedgant 
 
 Giles Smith 
 
 Bartho. Wins 
 
 
 William Eastone 
 
 Thomas Edge 
 
 John Browne 
 
 
 Edw. -[- Nash, mark 
 
 John Keen 
 
 Will m Waldeg 
 
 
 William Dawkes 
 
 Nathaniel Burges 
 
 Will. Fox 
 
 
 John Morris 
 
 Thomas Heringham 
 
 Giles Goddard 
 
 
 Roger Hutson 
 
 William James 
 
 Charles Elwood 
 
 
 Roger White 
 
 Richard Clarke 
 
 John Harrison 
 
 
 Eleazer -|- Kirton 
 
 Henry Hart 
 
 Will. Stratfeld 
 
 
 George -j- Turke 
 Edward Ranger 
 
 Thomas Pepper 
 
PETITION FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 63 
 
 Gentlemen. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Freeholders. 
 
 Freemen. 
 
 Thomas Garritt 
 
 Robert Wickenden 
 Hugh Morrell 
 
 Amb. Goddard 
 
 William Fordred 
 
 William Turner 
 Timothie Jaye 
 
 John Bockinge 
 
 Giles Rawlines 
 
 
 Richard Jacob 
 
 George Edge 
 
 William Radgant 
 Francis Lulham 
 
 Thomas Osberne 
 Thomas Barrington 
 Richard Phillips 
 Richard -j- Summers 
 William Cronx 
 
 John Rolfe 
 
 Jeremye Pattisson 
 Joseph -{- Louper 
 Richard Dawke9 
 Anth. Keylocke 
 George Eppes 
 
 John Wallop 
 
 Bennet Hickson 
 
 John -f- Barrat 
 
 John Burden 
 
 Peeter Nepuen [?] 
 
 John Fryer, -{- mark 
 Gilbert Waad 
 
 Thomas -)- Hardume 
 Roger Partridg 
 
 James Bard well 
 
 Will. + Otlainger 
 Edw. White 
 
 Richard Blisse 
 
 John Croup 
 
 Thomas -f- Mantle 
 Edmun Hammon 
 Robart Baylie 
 
 Rafe -{- Pen 
 
 Simon Barden 
 
 Thomas Lovell 
 
 William Poole 
 
 Robert Fanton 
 
 John Edge 
 
 John Wiliams 
 
 James Costen 
 
 
 [No. 
 
 2.]* 
 
 
 Gentlemen. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Freeholders. 
 
 Subsidie-men. 
 
 Bnbe. Webbe 
 
 Fran. Webbe 
 
 George W ebbe 
 
 i 
 
 Rich. Bond of Frit- 
 
 ten den 
 
 Tho. Buckherst 
 Robert Wood -{- 
 Henry Bourner -f- 
 John Drayner 
 Richard Pattenson 
 
 Nicholas Brissenden 
 William Crompe + 
 John Water 
 
 Thomas Water 
 
 Ri. Taylor 
 
 Thomas Bayly 
 William Igelden 
 Christopher Cooper-j- 
 John Munne 
 
 John Payne 
 
 Simon Drayner 
 
 The same Petition as No. 1, only differing in a single sentence, as noted p. 60. 
 Therefore it is not necessary to insert it again. I merely give the signatures. It is evi¬ 
 dently the portion signed by the Frittenden people. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
64 
 
 PETITION FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 December. 
 
 [No. 3.]* 
 
 Gentlemen. 
 
 Ministers. 
 
 Freeholders. 
 
 Subsidie-men. 
 
 Francis Marshe 
 Thomas Marshe, senr. 
 Thomas Marshe, junr. 
 Robert Marshe 
 
 William Osborne 
 
 Richard Brookman 
 
 John Gardner 
 Thomas -|- Adams 
 Thomas -|- Brook 
 Isaak Adames 
 
 William Smith 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 Letter from Sr EDWARD DERING to his Lady, with Parliamentary 
 
 Intelligence. 
 
 Deare Sweet Heart, 
 
 If I do willingly fayle thee in returne of my letters, which 
 I perceive so Wellcome to thee, never trust me. Besse is willing to 
 go downe, hut afraid of the tides, which indeed have of late beene 
 desperately bad. 
 
 My affectionate returne to my owne deare sister, and, when my 
 brother returnes, to him. 
 
 I cannot but somewhat wonder att S r William Brockman,f who 
 knew my intentions, and did set me on, with enticing me to have 
 
 * The same petition as No. 1, differing only in two instances, which I have noted, p. 61. 
 This is evidently the portion signed by the East Langdon people. The Marsh family 
 was a very ancient one in the hamlet of Martin in this parish. Thomas Marsh devised 
 the family estate to his son John, who in 1646 conveyed it to John Burvill of Sutton, 
 clerk ; and William Osborne was Rector of East Langdon, 1616, and died 1641 ; his son, 
 William Osborne, succeeded him as Rector, being instituted Oct. 6, 1641. 
 p Sir William Bi’ockman, of Beechborougli, see p. 43. n. 
 
LETTER FROM SIR EDWARD DERING TO IIIS LADY. 
 
 65 
 
 some of the curious coloured deare, which he knew me fond of. He 
 told me I should have all them. He sayd, of himselfe, “1 know you 
 do desire no other, lett me alone to fitt you, I know you do not 
 desire above 6 or 7.” Well, that market cannot now be mended. 
 
 I wish you had sent up the money, for my mother must have 
 73k now. 
 
 I did not think to be so tyed as I am heere. This day, Dovor 
 harbor businesse was againe debated. 8 1 ' Id. Hayman* is peevish; 
 but I have prevayled with the rest, that my brother Perc. is not to 
 lay downe 500k unlesse the duty be received by him. 
 
 Farewell, in furious hast. 
 
 Thy, 
 
 Edward Dering. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To my best and dearest the Lady Dering, at Surenden Dering. 
 
 [Seal.] A saltire with the Ulster hand on fess point. 
 
 [Endorsed not by S r Edward Dering ; but probably by Lady Dering— 
 “December 17, 1641. My deare.”] 
 
 XXX. 
 
 LIST OF RECUSANTS IN KENT. 
 
 Names of Recusants in Kent presented by the Knights for that 
 
 County. 
 
 S r Henry Guildeford, Kb . . de Rolvenden. 
 
 Edward Guildeford, Esq. . . de eadem. 
 
 Clement Finch, Esq. . . . de Milton juxta Sitingborn. 
 
 Richard Hawkins, Esq. . . de Selling. 
 
 * Sir Henry Heyman, Bart., ofSomerfield, in Sellindge. He was, at this time, member 
 for Hytlie. 
 
 f The exact date of this paper does not appear. It may possibly have been prepared 
 before the time at which it is placed. 
 
 CAMD, soc. k 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
66 
 
 .LIST OF RECUSANTS IN KENT. 
 
 1641-2. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 William Petit, Esq. 
 
 John Best, Gent. . . 
 
 George Littleboy, Gent. 
 Ralph Loane, Gent. 
 George Loane, Esq. 
 
 Henry Whetenhall, Esq. 
 Benjamin Wyborne, Gent 
 Anthony Roper, Esq. . 
 S r Anthony Roper, IO. 
 Henry Roper, Esq. 
 Thomas Turner, Gent. 
 
 de Bouehton under the Blean. 
 
 de Sh Laurence juxta Cantuariarn. 
 
 de Byrling. 
 
 de eadem. 
 
 de Sevenoke. 
 
 de East Peckham. 
 
 de Pepenbury. 
 
 de Eltham. 
 
 de Ferninoham. 
 
 O 
 
 de eadem. 
 de Linsted. 
 
 , . . Sticlie, Attorney at Law de Orpinton. 
 
 [Endorsed by S 1 ' Edward Dering—“Recusants names in Kent.”] 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 Letter from S r EDWARD DERING, to his Lady, with Notes about 
 
 the King and Parliament. 
 
 13 January. 
 
 My truly deare Soul, 
 
 I did long for this letter, and the rather because John * 
 Darell came up without one; but I told him itt was his fault, not 
 to send a man unto you. I doubt he hath but a dullnesse of soul 
 in any thing but frugality, and, if there be too much of that, that is 
 a dullnesse too. If he had not preferred his twelvth market (which 
 every yeare he hath) before a knighthood, which no man in the 
 world takes above once in his life, he had been knighted on twelvth 
 day. If he had kept time and promise to be heere on Saterday 
 night, itt had been done (the Queen was moved again) on Sunday. 
 But, whether his own dullnesse, or Locker’s joviality, or Harry’s, 
 or all together, they came on Friday to Maydston, on Saterday to 
 Dertford, and on Sunday to Greenwich, and so to London, about 
 
 ■* 
 
 Of Calehill in Little Chart. 
 
LETTER FROM SIR EDWARD DERING TO HIS LADY. 
 
 67 
 
 4 or 5 of the clock, soon enough (for a necessity then), but came not 
 to me untill Monday * (although I sent him word I would stay 
 within till ten of the clock, and did so), between 2 and 3 of the clock 
 afternoon. Indeed, he was looking for me before; but I sent him 
 word, that att 9 I should go forth, yett would stay for him till 10, and 
 did so. The issue is, that the King,f about two of the clock, went 
 suddenly out of towne with the Queen and Prince, angered and 
 feared with the preparation of armes to attend us the next day. Nor 
 can I wonder at his purpose therein; but approve it. 
 
 Thus Mr. Darell is like to be Mr. Darell. Yesterday morning 
 (for I saw him not nor heard from him on Tuesday) he sent to know 
 when to come to me. 1 bid him come presently away, and, when 
 he came, I gave him a letter, and sent him to Hampton Court; but 
 by that time he was on horsebacke the King was gone to Windsor 
 (if too Windsor); but gone he was. Some think to Windsor, and 
 thence to Woodstocke, and farther: others think he well J to Portes- 
 moutli. Jealousy s are high, and my heart pi tty’s a King so fleeting 
 and so freindlesse, yett without one noted Vice. The times are de¬ 
 sperate, and 100/. in hand may quickly be worth 100/. per annum. 
 Will. Gibbes wrote yesternight for my advice. He would faigne 
 attend the King with his person, as other cavaliers do; but his purse 
 is empty, and the King so poore lie cannot feed them that follow 
 him. I was told that the Prince one night wanted wine, and another 
 candles. In the meane time, the Commons go high; and, not onely 
 the house, but a committee of the house, have armed and imbanded 
 the King’s subjects, not onely without his leave asked, but have 
 
 * i.e. January 10th. 
 
 The King went to Hampton Court on 10th January, and on the next day the five 
 accused members came from their lodgings in the city to Westminster, guarded by the 
 sheriffs and trained bands of London and Westminster (under the command of Sergeant- 
 Major-General Skippon), and attended by a conflux of many thousands of people, crying 
 out, as they passed Whitehall, “ What has become of the King and his cavaliers,” and 
 “ where is he gone ?” This was the “ preparation of armes to attend us next day,” the 
 prospect of which drove the King from London. 
 
 t sic. 
 
 1641-2. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
68 
 
 LETTER FROM SIR EDWARD DERING TO HIS LADY. 
 
 1641-2. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 made a Sergeant-Major-General* to the King’s terror; for there¬ 
 upon he went out of towne, and not till then. 
 
 The Lieutenant of the Tower f (a gentleman of moderation and 
 especiall worth) is voted a delinquent, and 'tis thought, must not hold 
 it. The house would recommend one S r John Conyers, one whom 
 Strafford preferred to the government of Barwicke against the Scotts. 
 
 Heere have been 5,000 Petitioners out of Buckinghamshire (but 
 I believe not above 2,000) to offer their lives to execute our com¬ 
 mands. My mother will send down the petition. 
 
 If I could be Pym, with honesty, I had rather be Pym then 
 King Charles. 
 
 The King is too flexible and too good natur’d; for, within two 
 liowers, and a greate deale lesse, before he made Culpeper Chancellor 
 of the Exchequer, he had sent a messenger to bring Pym unto him, 
 and would have given him that place. 
 
 By the help of God, you need not to feare my personall safety. 
 Many thousands guarded us on Tuesday; 1 and every day we have 
 
 * This was Captain Skippon, of whom Clarendon says, “ That the Trained Bands of 
 London might be under the command of a man fit to lead them, they granted a commission 
 to Captain Skippon, who was Captain of the Artillery Garden, to be Major-General of the 
 Militia of the City of London, an office never before heard of, nor imagined that they 
 had authority to constitute. The man had served very long in Holland, and, from a 
 common soldier, had raised himself to the degree of a captain, and to the reputation of a 
 good officer; he was a man of order and sobriety, and untainted with any of those vices 
 which the officers of the army were exercised in, and had newly given over that service 
 upon some exceptions he had to it, and, coming to London, was, by some friends, pre¬ 
 ferred to that command in the Artillery Garden, which was to teach the citizens the 
 exercise of their arms. He was altogether illiterate, and, having been bred always abroad^ 
 brought disaffection enough with him, from thence, against the Church of England, and 
 so was much caressed and trusted by that party. This man marched that day at the head 
 of their tumultuary army to the Parliament House.” 
 
 ■f Sir John Byron. 
 
 J Vide as to dates, p. 67, supra. After the five members had been brought by the 
 Trained Bands from the City to Parliament, Clarendon states that, after thanking them, 
 the parliament appointed “ Serjeant Major General Skippon every day to attend at 
 Westminster, with such a guard as he thought sufficient for the two houses.” 
 
LETTER FROM SIR EDWARD DERING TO HIS LADY. 
 
 69 
 
 a sufficient guard against no enemy. Mr. Bullock came, and offered, 
 with his freinds, to be my personall guard : I refused itt, but could 
 not persuade him from my side, from morning to night, unlesse in 
 the very house. 
 
 Betty hath taken a glister and two potions: Besse says she is yett 
 all one; the D r says she must purge againe. Thy goodnesse will not 
 owne thine owne goodnesse: for, in saying she is now among her 
 best freindes, thou dost wrong thy selfe, worth all of them, and more. 
 1 flatter not, I speake my very heart. My sister Gibb wrote me 
 word, that she would have the girle to dinner there this day, and 
 desired me; I can not go. I have appointed your daynty goose and 
 two capons, to be carryed by the girle in the coache. The girle is 
 with my mother att noone, such days as she takes no physick, and 
 not else; but then, from morning to evening. 
 
 I have sent some pamphletts, and, for my love, a Spanish com¬ 
 modity choicely done: betwixt a bribe and a gratitude : I know not 
 how I come by itt, but they are of the best. 
 
 I thank my love for her hearty prayers, and do not doubt of a 
 blessed effect of them. I owe thee mine, and thou hast them, as true 
 as for thine owne, 
 
 Edward Dering. 
 
 13 Jan. 1641. 
 
 1641-2. 
 47 Car. I. 
 
 S r Tho: Shirley* (now come in) commands a hearty remembrance 
 to you. 
 
 * Sir Thomas Shirley of St. Botulph’s-bridge, co. Huntingdon, knighted 22nd May, 1622. 
 This was the antiquary and genealogist, whose principal collections are preserved in the 
 British Museum and in the library of Queen’s College, Oxford. (See Shirley’s Stemmata 
 Shirleiana, p. 93-103.) 
 
70 
 
 LETTER TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1641-2. 
 17. Car.'I. 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERING, with strong Remonstrances against 
 Passages in lhs Parliamentary Speeches, from T.R. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Uppon my perusuall of your last speech in Parliament,* I 
 tooke to myself an humble purpose of signifyeing to your worthie 
 self some animadversions and notes unto which the severall per- 
 ticulers of your speech occasioned me. 
 
 In the first place, I shalbe bould to say ingeniously, that I heartily 
 am sorry that the bias of your judgment, “in hoc die,” after such 
 a meridian light shineing uppon us, both from abroade, in the 
 reformed churches, and at home, in soe many judicious, elaborate, 
 and learned treatises, formerly, and of late, should seeme to sway soe 
 much to that side, which will certainly expose your late honourable 
 esteeme in the hearts of judicious and good men, to a great, at least, 
 diminucion and distemper. I humbly conceave very many things in 
 your speech doe labour of a verie great measure of affection. I 
 shalbe bould to instance in some fewe for all. 
 
 It is surely true, that much of late hath been written and sayd to 
 
 * Sir Edward’s “ last ” speech was 22 November, 1641, upon “ the Remonstrance,” in 
 which he defends the bishops against the charge of idolatry, &c., and gives an emphatic 
 “no” to the proposal (p. 111-119). This defence of the bishops seems to have offended T. R., 
 who had expected more “ root and branch ” work from Sir Edward. He takes exception 
 also to a passage in Sir Edward’s speech, in defence of the liturgie, November 20, in which 
 he says “ Impudence, or ignorance, is now grown so frontlesse, that it is loudly expected 
 by many that you should utterly abrogate all formes of publique worship ; and, at least, 
 if you have a shorte forme, yet not to impose the use of it. Extirpation of Episcopacie, 
 that hope is already swallowed, and now the same men are as greedy for abolition of the 
 liturgie: that so the Church of England, in her publique prayers, may hereafter turne a 
 babler at all adventure—a brainlesse, stupid, and an ignorant conceit of some.” (p. 102.) 
 A passage totally misrepresented in T. R.’s remonstrance. This passage was not in Sir 
 Edward’s “ last ” speech, but the last but one, perhaps it was the “ last ” that had come 
 to T. R’s. hands. 
 
LETTER TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 71 
 
 and fro, on both sides, about a right administration of discipline and 
 worshipp ; and truly, Sir, me thinkes, out of that diversitie of what 
 hath been spoken and written, the Parliament hath a very faire 
 overture given them, to discover and finde out the truth, which, 
 without it, would be of more difficultie to them. It is your owne 
 way, in your Parliamentary affaires; and, in all Judicatories con¬ 
 cerning Episcopacie, soe much hath bin cleerly evinced against it, and 
 nothing of any weight for it, that I shall say nothing at all in that 
 particular, onely I shall beseech you to consider, whether it can 
 possibly be beleeved that amongst any sort of Protestants, especially 
 the conscientious partie (for the conceite of some giddy, silly people is 
 inconsiderable), there be anie that doe protest against * the three 
 undoubted signes of a true visible church. If you meane puritie of 
 doctrine, sacraments, and discipline, I knowe, for my part, none that 
 are (quoad esse) att any doubt in the former two, as concerning our 
 church; and for the later, I knowe noe man of a right judgment, 
 that can acknowledge it for other then such as it is: Romish and 
 Antichristian. Sir, I doe not doubt, but that, upon search, some 
 may be founde even amongst us, that denie the verie trinitie of 
 persons; and of what number the Arminian, Socinian, and other 
 hellish, popish errors are I knowe you are not ignorant; but, if 
 theis, or any other of the like nature, should now presse into your 
 presence, either in word or writing, I doubt not your care in your 
 honourable house will sliewe it self, in a sudden suppression of them. 
 
 1641-2. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 * The passage here alluded to in Sir Edward’s Speech is : “ If I would deale with a 
 Papist, to reduce him, he answers (I have been answered so already), To what religion 
 would you persuade me ? What is the Religion you professe ? Your nine-and-thirty 
 articles, they are contested against. Your publique solemne Liturgy, that is detested : 
 and, which is more then both these, the three essentiall, proper, and onely markes of a 
 true Church, they are protested against: what Religion would you perswade me to ? 
 Where may I find, and know, and see, and read the Religion you professe? I beseech 
 you, Sir, helpe me an answer to the Papist ” (p. 100) ; and then Sir Edward appends a 
 note—‘ Protestation protested denies the Church of England to have the three marks of 
 the true Church.’ T. R. however, in taking the three points as Purity of Doctrine, 
 Sacraments, and Discipline, begs the question, and argues sophistically. 
 
72 
 
 LETTER TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 1641-2. 
 17 Car. 1. 
 
 Concerning tlie Liturgie, I shall say nothing. Much hath beene 
 judiciously said about it; but am heartily sorrie, that such words as 
 theis should ever have fallen from the learned lipps of S r Edward 
 Deering, that 16 the church of England, in her publick prayers, nay 
 her offerture,* may be as a babbler, at all adventures, a brainles, 
 stupid, and an ignorant concede of some.” 
 
 Sir Edward Deereing, yf conceaved prayers be a brainles, stupid, 
 and ignorant conceit of some, and not most proper to the publicke 
 ministracion of an able ministrie, I will not say,f that noble Lord’s 
 eyes that lately speake in the house of Peeres on this subject, but 
 better eyes of multitudes then his or yours, doe fade them. Sir, I 
 conceive you are, and are not, a competent judge in this matter4 
 
 * In Sir Edward’s authorised version of his speeches, he gives the passage “ in her 
 public prayers may hereafter turne a babbler and appends a note in the margin, sic.— 
 “ In the false copy abroad, instead of ‘may hereafter,’ the silly transcriber put in ‘nay 
 her offerture,’ which hath been some displeasure to me.” (p. 102.) This note is a 
 sufficient reply to T. R. .Again, in introducing his Speech, Sir Edward says, “A coppy 
 whereof, being stolen from me, issued lately forth, both unknown to me, and mis¬ 
 printed also, which hath beene entertained abroad both with applause and exception.” 
 (p. 96.) 
 
 + In the margin “ Lord Say.’’ This alludes to the well-known Speech which was 
 answered by Archbishop Laud. 
 
 J In his so-often quoted speech of November 20, Sir Edward had said, “ I must again 
 propound my doubtfull ‘ quaere' to be resolved by the wisdome of this house ; whether we 
 be ‘ idonei et comjpetentes judices ' in doctrinall resolutions. In my opinion we are not. . . . 
 The short close of all with a motion is but this: we are poisoned in many points of 
 doctrine ; and I know no antidote, no recipe for cure but one—a well chosen and well 
 tempered nationall synod, and God’s blessing thereon : this may cure us ; without this (in 
 my poor opinion) England is like to turne itselfe into a great Amsterdam. And, unlesse 
 this councell be very speedy, the disease will be above the cure. Therefore, that we may 
 have a full fruition of what is here but promised, I doe humbly move that you will com¬ 
 mand forth the Bill for a national synod, to be read the next morning. I saw the Bill, 
 above five moneths since, in the hand of a worthy Member of this House. If that Bill 
 be not to be had, then my humble motion is (as formerly) that you would name a Com¬ 
 mittee to draw up another. This being once resolved, I would then desire that all 
 motions of religion (this about the Liturgy especially) may be transferred thither, and you 
 will find it to be the way of peace and unity among us here.” (p. 104-105.) 
 
LETTER TO SIR EDWARD DERING. 
 
 73 
 
 Sir, I heartily wish with you for a nationall Synod, well tempered 
 with learning and pietie; that the wavering judgments of unsetled 
 men’s mindes might be rightly directed, about as well the doctrine of 
 the Sabbath, as other matters of right worshipp and ecclesiastic.all 
 pollicie, which, by reason of the want of a present publicke competent 
 determination thereof, suffer much in the mindes of very many. Sir, 
 I shall now humbly desire but thus much of you, even that what I 
 have written <e ex animo et amore may not be taken in any sinister 
 or exasperate sense; onely, I desire you to be pleased to remember, 
 that you now stand in a publicke designation of a most considerable 
 trust reposed in you by God and your country, impartially, without 
 passion, prejudice, or affection, for your part, to contribute your 
 best abilities to make upp the hedge in the thorough reformacion of 
 the church and kingdome, that soe the church of England may, by 
 your blessed meanes, become that which it never was yet, the glory 
 of the reformed religion: which is the humble and heartie daylie 
 prayer of him who is 
 
 Your unfeignedly well wishing frend, 
 
 T. R. 
 
 Jan. 21, 1641. 
 
 Followe peace with all men, and holines, without which noe man 
 shall see the Lord, lookeing diligently least any man fall from the 
 grace of God; lest any root of bitternes springing upp trouble you, 
 and thereby many be defiled.—Hebr. 12. 
 
 God of his infinite mercie quench all unkindely heate in all your 
 honourable assemblie. 
 
 [Superscription,] 
 
 “ To the right worshipfull S r Edward Deereing, 
 
 Kt. & Baronet, he theis dd.” 
 
 [Seal,] A Pelican, but hardly armorial. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1641, 23 January. T. It.”] 
 
 CAMD. SOC. L 
 
 1641-2. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
74 
 
 NOTES ON SIR EDWARD DERING’S EXPULSION. 
 
 1642. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Notes of an angry Conversation respecting the Circumstances of his Expul¬ 
 sion from the House of Commons, by S r EDWARD DERING.* 
 
 D.—How happy and blessed had we been in this Parliament, if 
 you, and five or six more that I could name, had never been 
 born; or else, had never been of this house. 
 
 W.—We shall never be at peace, until five or six of this house be 
 hanged. 
 
 O 
 
 M. P.—Your brother Dering would hang us if he could. 
 
 W.—You shall see, the way we go will be blessed, and will prosper. 
 
 D. — It will not be long (not many monthes) before all this mountayn 
 of endeavour to root out Episcopacy, and to abolish our Liturgy, 
 will fall downe, ly still and stinke, and shame the endeavourers 
 thereof. I know thou art of that sence. And I will never cease, by 
 word, by writing, and by prayer, to oppose itt: and thus I begin ; 
 God confounde thy purposes, and the way thou goest. God con- 
 founde the way the house goes. 
 
 M. P.—I would have the offence of Willmot, Ashburnham, and 
 Pollard, made treason by a Bill.f 
 
 D.—I do not love this making of treason. Retrospective lawes are 
 dangerous to our libertys and our lives. But thou art a superstitious 
 fellow, a meere idolater; thou worshippest the brainless idoll of thine 
 owne imagination. 
 
 M. P. —Wherein ? 
 
 * I print these notes as I find them jolted down on a loose sheet. Sir Edward was 
 expelled the House 2nd Feb. 1641-2, and his book burned, according to a vote of the 
 House. Probably these notes were drawn up soon after that time. It would seem as if 
 there had been three parties to the conversation, viz. Sir Edward Dering, perhaps one of 
 his brotliers-in law (Sir Peter Wroth, or Gibbes), and a Member of Parliament. I have 
 conjecturally assigned to each of these respectively the share he may be supposed to have 
 taken in the conversation, by prefixing the letters D., W., M.P. 
 
 T They were charged with a plot to bring the army up to London, to overawe the 
 Parliament. 
 
NOTES ON SIR EDWARD DERINO’S EXPULSION. 
 
 75 
 
 D.—Thou makest an icloll of the omnipotent power of Legislation 
 in this house. 
 
 W.—The Legislative power is the icloll of the house. 
 
 M. P.—The worst thing that ever you did was the speaking 
 against the order of the house. Then you lost me*. 
 
 D.—That order (of the 8th September) is a wicked, injurious, 
 irreligious order ; and unparliamentary. 
 
 M. P.—Itt is fitt that this you say be reported to the house. 
 
 [Here ends the first page of the sheet. The second seems to have 
 been written in different ink, and on some subsequent day. Ed.] 
 
 D.—As for Roote and Branche, I am resolved by word, and by 
 writing, to do you all the mischiefe I can, and I make no doubt but 
 that my booke and I shall do you more mischiefe out of the house, 
 then if I were still among you. 
 
 You have burnt my booke, and thereby raysed the price, and raised 
 the desires of such as would have [it]. Alas, the burning of my 
 booke cannot confute me, nor silence me in the way I go. Itt is 
 not in the power of the house to confute me, though you should 
 burne me with my booke; but itt is in the wisedome of the house to 
 confute me; for I will ever be the servant, the slave of reason. 
 Good reason (without any other power) shall ever convert me. 
 
 * Vide Sir Edward Dering’s Speeches, pp. 78, 82, and 83, wherein, speaking against the 
 order, he says, “ Master Speaker—I shall be afraid to arraigne your orders: I have already 
 been controlled (not for doing so, but as if I had done so), yet, Sir, I have often heard it 
 in this House, that we ‘ are masters of our owne orders and then (I thinke) we may in 
 this place, arraigne them,—that is, question them, try them, approve, alter, reject, or con¬ 
 demn them. Surely, Sir, I shall speake reverently of all your orders 
 
 when I am abroad : I have done so of this. I am resolved that my obedience shall therein 
 be found good, although my particular reason be rebellant to your conclusions. This is 
 my duty abroad ; but here, in this House, within these walles, freedome is my inlieiitance . 
 and give me leave, I pray, at this time, to use a part of my birthright. 
 
 Then follows a splendid burst of eloquence against the order of the House “ That all 
 corporall bowing at the name of Jesus be henceforth forborne.” This is the order, for 
 s peaking against which, Sir Edward is censured in the text ; and which he, in reply, calls 
 a “ wicked, injurious, irreligious order, and unparliamentary. 
 
 1642. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
76 
 
 PETITION FROM HENRY DARELL. 
 
 1642. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 I was unwilling that clause about my expulsion from the house 
 should be inserted. I had not any thing to do therein. I did, att 
 last, blott itt out with mine owne hand : but, had that clause con¬ 
 cerned any man but myself, itt should not have been struck out, if I 
 could prevayl; nay, though I were on the ground, I would ly untill you 
 all went over my belly before I would consent to the expunging of itt. 
 And, if my partner Culpeper should be so expelled, I would ride from 
 east to west, and visitt all Kent, but we would petition him in again. 
 
 If you be a Deputy Lieutenant, by virtue of a vote of one or both 
 houses, without the King, I tell you before hand, I will never obey 
 you, but will undergo the penalty of my refusal. 
 
 To the ministers. Now you have a time, if you will make use of itt. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Petition to the House of Commons from HENRY DARELL, to get the son 
 and heir of his late brother, WILLIAM DARELL, Esq., out of the 
 custody of the boy’s mother, who was a Papist. 
 
 To the Honourable Assembly of the Commons House of 
 Parliament. 
 
 The humble Petition of Henry Darell, Esqb 
 Shewinge, 
 
 That, whereas William Darell, Esq r ., the petitioner’s brother, 
 beinge seized in fee of the manner of Chingley and Scotney, amongst 
 other lands, in Com. Kane., of the yearly value of =€400, or 
 thereaboutes, and havinge six children, the eldest of them beinge 
 not above the age of xij yeares, and beinge indebted in greate summes 
 of money, did, by Indenture dated 19° Julii, 13 Car., demyse 
 Shingley Wood to the Petitioner and others, untill Michaelmas which 
 shalbe anno Domini 1657 ; and the residue, untill Michaelmas which 
 
PETITION FROM HENRY DARELL, 
 
 77 
 
 slialbe anno Domini 1652; in trust, and to such uses as he should, 
 by his deed, or last will, limit and appoynt; and, for want of such 
 limitations, to theis uses; viz., to pay his debts, to maintayne his 
 children, and to rayse moneye, as much as might be out of the 
 profitts thereof, for portions for his 3 daughters and 3 ( sic ) younger 
 sonns ; and to pay to his eldest sonne, from his full age until Michael¬ 
 mas 1652, £100 yearly. 
 
 That the said William Darrell did, ultimo Augusti, 14 Car., by 
 his will, ratifye and confirme the uses in the said indenture, and 
 shortly after dyed: after whose death, the petitioner proved the said 
 will, takeing upon him the execution thereof; and did, by office, 
 entytle his Majestie to the wardship of the body, and of a third part 
 of the lands of his brother’s sonne, which [were] graunted unto the 
 Petitioner, by indenture under severall seales of the court of wards, 
 the rest of the lessees refusinge to intermeddle in the estate ; and the 
 Petitioner, havinge noe children of his owne, did, out of the affection 
 he beareth to his deceased brother, and out of a desire his sonne 
 might live prosperously and plentifully in the world, beinge heire at 
 lawe of the Petitioner’s father’s howse, take upon him the manadginge 
 of the said estate, and hath paid or taken order for all, or the 
 greatest part, of his said brother’s debts, and did put his said brother’s 
 sonne to a schoole to be taught and bred by a Protestant schoole- 
 master; the Petitioner indeavouringe to increase his brother’s estate 
 in all things, for the good of his sonne, and the rest of his children, 
 and to have them bredd and brought up in learninge, and in the 
 Protestant religion. 
 
 That Elizabeth Darrell, the widow and relict of the said William 
 Darrell, beinge a vyolent Romanist, hath conveighed her sonne home 
 unto her, and will not suffer him to goe back to schoole; but keepetli 
 one William Applebee a popishe schoolemaster in her howse at 
 Scotney Castle, to teach and instruct the said children in Popery; 
 and, to that end, the said Elizabeth keepeth her out dores locked up, 
 the house being walled and double moated aboute; and keepeth the 
 
 1642. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
78 
 
 SIR EDWARD DERING FROM HIS SON. 
 
 1643-4. 
 19 Car. I. 
 
 castle gates with gunnes and halbeards, to terrific people from 
 comeing there, imployinge the said William Applebee only to buy 
 and sell for her, and to manadge her estate, 
 
 Yt may therefore please this honourable assemblie, to give order 
 that the said Elizabeth may, accordinge to the statute of 3° Jacobi, 
 capit. 5°, have but a third part of the lands of the said William 
 Darrell, and that she may have noe part of his goods; and that 
 by your honourable order to confirme your Petitioner’s estate and 
 trust, and to deliver his brother’s children to the Petitioner without 
 allowance for their keepinge, and he will take care that they slialbe 
 bread and brought up in learninge, and in the Protestant reli¬ 
 gion ; or that the Petitioner may be discharged of the trust, as shall 
 seeme most fitt to this honourable assembly. 
 
 And the Petitioner shall, &c. 
 
 Henry Darell. 
 
 [Endorsed,—Darell’s Petition.] 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERING, from his eldest Son Edward,* about the 
 Difficulties he had in obtaining a Pass to go Abroad. 
 
 COLENDISSIME PATER, 
 
 Quod in me est feci; neque tamen abeundi veniam impe- 
 trare possum, nemini (aiunt) transfretandum, nisi qui prius foedus 
 Scoticum praestitit; neque ea quidem lege, quantum video, filio tuo. 
 Omnes quos mihi alloquendi copia datur, Galliam Hollandiae multum 
 prseferunt, argumentis ductis ex linguae Gallicanas praestantia, cui 
 addunt, quod ibi minoris quam Lugduni Batavorum degere possu- 
 mus: praesertim, si quis artem tripudiandi, equitandi, &c. neglexerit. 
 
 * According to family papers, lie was born December 1625, therefore at this time was 
 a few weeks over 18 years of age. 
 
SIR EDWARD DERING FROM HIS SON. 
 
 79 
 
 In Gallia, urbem Aureliensem, Caenensem, Angiers, et Academiam 
 Monpelier prcecipue laudant. Me quod attinet, utrumque pariter 
 affecto, locumque quein tu aptissimum, eundem credam et ego 
 jucundissimum. Tuum erit imperare,—auscultare 
 
 Obsequentissimi filii 
 
 Februarii 29. E DU AUDI DURING. 
 
 Amantissimae matri obsequium nostrum prsestes, rogo, fratribus et 
 sororibus amorem. 
 
 If I should go over into France, my unkle Percivall can helpe me 
 over at Rye. 
 
 I will endeavour to passe this weeke. If you would be pleased to 
 write, either to the Speaker, or some parliament man, it may be it 
 might be done. 
 
 S 1 ' Peter Wroth * tells me, the Speaker (from whom alone a 
 passe must be got) will give none but to those that will take the oath 
 of allegeaunce, supremacy, and the covenant; and besides, maketli 
 some scruple of me more then an other. 
 
 [Superscription,] 
 
 To bis honoured Father, S r Edward Dering, 
 
 Knight and Baronett, at Surrenden Dering, in Kent. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering.—“ 1643 1° Martii—Ned.”] 
 
 * Sir Peter Wroth was his uncle, having married a sister of Sir Edward Dering. 
 
 1643-4. 
 19 Car. I. 
 
1640. 
 16 Car. I 
 
 Novern. 
 
 NOTES TAKEN BY SIR EDWARD DERING 
 
 AS CHAIRMAN OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF RELIGION 
 APPOINTED NOV. 23, 1640.* 
 
 23 November, 1640. —Committee. 
 
 S r Edward Dering. 
 S r Simonds Dewes. 
 S r Jo. Clotworthy. 
 
 S r Roger Palmer. 
 
 M r Corbet. 
 
 M r Knatchbull. 
 
 S 1 ' Gilbert Pickering. 
 Bagshaw. 
 
 gi- yym Masham. 
 
 S r W m Bruerton. 
 
 S-- Jo. Wray. 
 
 S r Edw. Hungerford. 
 S 1 ' Oliver Luke. 
 
 M r Upton. 
 
 M r Cromwell. 
 
 M r Goodwin. 
 
 M r Bodwell. 
 
 M r Jephson. 
 
 S r Robert Harley. 
 
 S r Anthony Ireby. 
 
 M r 
 
 M r Purefoy. 
 
 Lo. Ruthen. 
 
 M r Moore. 
 
 S r Hen: Mildmay, 
 
 Committee 
 
 To discover the many sufferings of ministers by ecclesiasticall 
 proceedings : and for this, to survey registers. 
 
 To consider what questions have been propounded to ministers, 
 w r hen they come to receive orders. 
 
 To examine abuse in bookes, in licencing, in printing, in forbidding 
 them. 
 
 * This is a small 4to. paper book wholly in the handwriting of Sir Edward. He gives 
 the following account of the appointment of the Sub-Committee:—“ Upon my motion 
 November 23, it pleased the Grand Committee [ i.e. the Committee of the whole 
 house. Ed.] for religion, to appoint a Sub-committee, to receive complaints from oppressed 
 ministers, which Sub-committee was shortly after made a Committee by order of the 
 house. It pleased the gentlemen of this Committee to put the honour and the burden of 
 the chaire upon me.” (Sir Edward Dering’s Speeches, p. 42.) 
 
COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 81 
 
 24 November. 
 
 S r Edward Dering. M r Jephson. 
 
 M r Purefoy. S r Anthony I refry. 
 
 S r Henry Mildmay. S r Jo: Wray. 
 
 S r Edw. Hungerford. 
 
 Sir Edw. Dering to the chaire. 
 
 Committee adjourned to Wensday, 25, hord consueta. 
 
 25 November.—Treasury Chamber. 
 
 S r Edward Dering. 
 S r Roger Palmer. 
 M r Purefoy. 
 
 M r Moore. 
 
 S r Hen. Mildmay. 
 S r W m Masham. 
 S r Jo. Wray. 
 
 M r Corbet. 
 
 M r Knatchbull. 
 M r Goodwin. 
 M r Bodwell. 
 
 S r Rob. Harley. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 24 November. 
 
 25 November. 
 
 Henry Bell, a part of Luther’s workes, which he calls “Luther’s 
 last divine discourses,” whereof 20 m. were printed, as this is dated 
 Francford, 1574. This book long obscured, the rest for aught is 
 knowen all burned, was found eight or nine yeares since. 
 
 He translated itt; desired to have it printed. The Archbishop saw 
 the translation, which he sent for per M r Bernes; liked itt; confessed 
 he had not seene of that worke before; kept itt one yeare and a quarter ; 
 desired the originall; had that three quarter of a yeare. After the 
 last parliament noted (sic), in December last, he said the book should 
 be printed; but one head left out. D r Bray told M r Bell he doubted 
 w r hether this were Luther’s ; said that somewhat there was fitt to 
 be expunged; but what part, no intimation. 
 
 Paul Amarant, late of Wolterton, and, before that, of Erming- 
 land, in Norfolk, clerk, was cited to the Bishop Wren’s Visitation, in 
 May 1636. Item, 13 May, being casually and voluntary in the 
 cathedrall, he was charged of Dr. Corbet to be att evening 
 service there: but he excused himselfe, saying, he was to preach 
 next Sabaoth; whereunto the Dr. replyed, saying, Are you a devill, 
 to call itt the Sabaoth ? He went with the Dr. to prayers : behaved 
 CAMD. SOC. M 
 
1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 25 November. 
 
 27 November. 
 
 82 COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 himselfe reverently : but was suspended for not bowing att the name 
 of Jesus. 
 
 Henry Wilkinson presented articles exhibited to him, when he 
 was denyed to be minister. 
 
 Orders. —1. Mr. Bell to bring in that volume of Luther, and his 
 translation, upon Fryday next, liord consuetd. 
 
 2. Send for a book written per Mr. Ward, entituled “ Theologicall 
 questions, dogmaticall observations, and evangelicall essays upon 
 St. Mathew.” 
 
 3. Move for Mr Amarant’s petition, to be transmitted hither; 
 because of use of his language, and he verst in the presse. 
 
 4. Move Mr. Wheeler and two lawyers to be added. 
 
 5. Thomas Payne* to be summoned. 
 
 6. Send for ten yeares registers of High Commission Court, and 
 of the bishoprick of Norwich and of London, to be forthwith brought. 
 
 7. Move for Mr. Bell’s petition to be referred hither, itt not having 
 been read. 
 
 The Committee adjourned to Fryday, 27 November, hord con¬ 
 suetd. 
 
 27 NOVEMBER.—IBIDEM. 
 
 S 1 ' Edward Dering. 
 M r Purefoy. 
 
 Lord Rutlien. 
 
 M r Moore. 
 
 S r William Masham. 
 
 S r William Bruerton. 
 M r Corbet. 
 
 M r Knatchbull. 
 
 M r Goodwin. 
 
 M r Jephson. 
 
 Thomas Payne, printer; three monthes since he was setting his 
 presse for Bishop Andrews his Catechistical Doctrine. But Richard 
 Badger f (beadle to the Company of Stationers) did come and forbid 
 
 * It was originally written “ Thomas Payne, the printer, to be summoned but “ the 
 printer” is crossed out. 
 
 t In text it is Bageant, corrected to Badger. 
 
COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 83 
 
 him to proceed therewith; and this he did in the name of my Lord 
 of Canterbury, by word of mouth, not shewing any authority; hut 
 yet gave this reason, that the printing of this book was against the 
 King and state, because it was against the decree of the Starre 
 Chamber to print it, unlesse he (the sayd Payne) had a new licence 
 for it; and then the said Bageant (sic) took away four reame and a 
 half of printed paper of it, beeing one sheete and a half. 
 
 Orders. —Mr. Corbet and Mr. Bagshaw, to peruse the High 
 Commission registers, there to collect, and thence to present hither 
 what they shall conceive suitable to the order of the Grand Committee. 
 
 Mr. Bell to attend on Tuesday next with his booke. 
 
 Dr. Bray to attend; the time, as the present distance of the place 
 where he is; the cause, to answer upon what part of this last work 
 of Luther he did deny itt to be published. 
 
 Mr. Ward, of Hogsden, to come and to shew what pointes of 
 doctrine were blotted out of his work, licensed per Tho: Wykes. 
 
 Richard Badger to shew cause why, and authority whereby, he 
 forbad the presse, and toke away Bishop Andrews’ Catechisticall 
 Doctrine. 
 
 This Committee adjourned to Tuesday next, horct et loco con- 
 suetis. 
 
 1° DECEMBRIS.— 16 T ° CAR.—IBIDEM. 
 
 Dr. Bray —convented—entered protestation of his convocation 
 privilege—answered, he did deny the publication of Mr. Bell’s 
 translation, not for any point of doctrine there to be excepted against; 
 but onely, as not acknowledging it as any peece of Luther. 
 
 Concerning Dr. Pocklington’s two bookes, Sunday no Sabath, 
 and Altare Christianum , he did license the MS. copy; and (if the 
 print be as the copy) he doth professe them to be consonant to the 
 doctrine and discipline of the Church of England. 
 
 Concerning the Sabath, he sayth, that there is a rest due, and a 
 time to be allotted for the publick service of God; but not virtute 
 precepti quarti, which doth not enjoyne a quota pars to us. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 December. 
 
84 
 
 COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 Mr. Corbet — that Dr. Featly’s sermons were castrated. 
 
 Jo. Rothwell, stationer—Dr. Really doth complayne that his 
 sermons (in fol.), being sett out in the last Archbishop’s time, this 
 Archbishop sent for him since; questioned the authority of the 
 issuing them; had the book surveyed per Dr. Bray; printed per 
 Nico. Borne: seventeen sheetesof paper weredenyed, to the printers 
 detriment, &c. 
 
 Idem Rothwell affirmeth that Mr. Fenner’s bookes were denyed 
 the presse, eo nomine because they were his, as will be proved per 
 Thomas Nicholls—and this was by Dr. Wykes. 
 
 Paul Amirant’s petition and cause to be heard on Tuesday two 
 monthes, viz. 23 January, and he desired, but not enjoyned, to 
 certify his opinion of this last peece of Luther. 
 
 Richard Badger (bedle to the Stationers) being asked, why he 
 did cease at Thomas Payn’s a booke then in presse, called “ Bishop 
 Andrews’ Catechistical Doctrines,” answered, itt was not entred 
 among the bookes to be licenced, and therefore, by order of the 
 wardens of the company, he did cease it, which was, afterward, 
 liked or allowed per the Archbishop. 
 
 Henry Wilkinson presented a petition, that, for a sermon against 
 lukewarmnes, he was suspended from reading a divinity lecture, 
 being all the spirituall promotion he had. 
 
 John Vicars, intimation versus D r Baker et D r Wykes, for deny¬ 
 ing licence to his bookes. 
 
 Mr. Tate, that “The Compleate Justice” is forged. 
 
 Orders. —Mr. Wilkinson’s sermon to be sent for from Oxford. 
 
 Richard Badger, printer of Pocklington’s book, to be sent for. 
 
 Nicholas Borne, printer, to bring the sermons of Dr. Featley. 
 
 Peter Coale att the Exchange, stationer, to appeare about bowing 
 to the name Jesus. 
 
 Robert Dormer, of Grub Street, Jo. Bartlet, of Paul’s Church 
 Yard, about inserting new sence, by the new licencers. 
 
COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 85 
 
 Mr. Vicars, and Ann Griffen, to be lieere. 
 
 Thomas Nicolls, printer, to be heere. 
 
 .... Young, a printer in Bredstreet, concerning “ The Complete 
 Justice.” 
 
 Adjourned to Thursday, 3° Decembris. 
 
 3 DECEMBER.-IBIDEM. 
 
 Memorandum. Michael Sparks, in Little Old Baily, is willing to 
 testify concerning restraynt of the presse. 
 
 Memorandum. I am to write a letter to Dr. Featley. 
 
 Peter Cole. In a booke of Dr. Sibbes, upon the third chapter to 
 the Philippians, there were wordes inserted for the bowing at the name 
 of Jesus, per Dr. Wykes. The copy is with Richard Coles in 
 Aldersgate St. 
 
 Richard Carpenter, clarke, now parson of Polling in Sussex, 
 having made a recantation sermon at Paules, was angerly denyed the 
 publication of itt, per Dr. Baker. The reasons ■— Because the 
 Church of Rome and we are in a peaceable way, and therefore not 
 fitt to augment controversys. He farther advised him, saying, “ Be 
 patient, the time may come that you may be heartily glad that your 
 sermon is not printed.” In that sermon (he the said Baker by violent 
 counsell overruling him) he put itt as a speciall motive of his con¬ 
 version, the outward sight of order and decency in this church; and 
 advised him also to say as little as might be (something must be 
 said) against the church of Rome. Mr. Carpenter urging for the 
 presse, he the said Baker asked, “ What, will you turne to Rome 
 againe ? If you will, you may, the Church of England hath no need 
 of you.” 
 
 Orders. —A warrant for Mr. Amirant to search the Bishops of 
 Norwich registers, and to summon witnesses. 
 
 Mr. Vicars to make good his petition on Tuesday next. 
 
 This Committee adjourned to Tuesday, 8 December. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I 
 
 December 
 
86 
 
 COMMITTEE OF 11ELIGION. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 8 December. 
 
 8° DECEMBRIS, 1640. 
 
 Thomas Rosse of St. Magnus, cheesemonger, clotli informe, that, 
 about May last, diverse crosses, meddalls, Agnus Dei’s, and amulets, 
 were landed att Somers key, directed to one Mons r . Romee. 
 
 Item, he informeth, that Robert Peak, neare to Holborn Conduit, 
 hath printed many pictures for the New Testament, and so bound 
 them up. 
 
 Richard More, Esq. did send to one Philemon Stephens, a 
 stationer, to gett licensed, “ A True Relation of Enoch ap Evans his 
 story;” but the relation was denyed to be printed, by Dr. Wykes. 
 
 Mr. Carpenter savth, that he, meeting with one father Price, a 
 Benedictine monke, and, expostulating with him about some injury 
 received, the said Price, the next day, procured and sent a messenger 
 for him the said Carpenter to attend Secretary Windebank, att nine 
 of the clock, where the Secretary did threaten the said Carpenter for 
 molesting the said Price. 
 
 Anne Griffen, widow, doth affirme that one part of Mr. Yicars 
 petition. 
 
 She further sayth, that she, having the copy of fower sermons 
 made by Dr. King, Bishop of London, and delivered to her by Dr. 
 King, his sonne, Deane of Rochester* 
 
 Orders. —Robert Yong to be sent for, for printing the Scottish 
 Liturgy and the Scottish Testament with pictures, and “ The Com- 
 pleate Justice.” 
 
 Robert Peak, at Holborn Conduit, to shew cause why he doth 
 print such pictures, and why he bindes them up together, the book 
 and the pictures. 
 
 Philemon Stephens, of Paul s Church Yard, to be sent for to testify. 
 
 Mr. White, minister, to be sent to, as Mr. Knatchbull hath under¬ 
 taken, concerning Dr. Clark’s sermons. 
 
 * There is something incomplete in this sentence, as well as the preceding ; perhaps 
 it should be pointed thus—“ She further sayth that—she having, &c.” And the meaning 
 of the whole may be “ Anne Griffen affirms to (i.e. confirms) that one part of Mr. Vicars 
 petition—and does so, having the copy,” &c. 
 
COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 87 
 
 Mr. Vicars to make good liis petition on Thursday the 17th 16 f°- _ 
 December; and to have warrant for witnesses. 
 
 Committee adjourned to Thursday, 10 December —hard et loco 
 consuetis. 
 
 10 DECEMBER, 1540. 10 December. 
 
 It was unanimously resolved upon the qugestion, that Mr. Wilkin¬ 
 son is free and cleare from every charge by the Vice-Chancellor 
 layd upon him for his sermon. 
 
 Memorandum. The Committee desireth that I would go and 
 speake to my Lord Primate of Ireland,* to know whether that part 
 of the Vice-Chancellor’s intimation concerning his Grace were true 
 or not. 
 
 Memorandum. So I did, and his Lordship sayth itt is false. 
 
 William Stampe informeth, that, when Mr. Henry Langly did 
 present himselfe to receive orders, Mr. Fulham, cliapleyn to the 
 Bishop of Oxford, did propound these questions following, viz.:— 
 
 1. Whether the Booke of Sportes be allowable. 
 
 2„ Whether bowing toward the altar be superstitious. 
 
 3. Whether the Church have power to determine matters of fayth. 
 
 Unto these Mr. Fulham required a peremptory answer. This 
 informant desired Mr. Fulham to forbeare this way; but he answered, 
 
 “ No. These questions were as a shibboleth, to determine who were 
 fitt for orders, and who unfitt.” Mr. Langley refused, but, att 
 same time, Mr. Besbeecli and Mr. Anderton did subscribe to the 
 first and third, affirmative—to the second, negative. 
 
 Philemon Stephens affirmeth, that about four yeare since, the 
 Relation by Richard More, Esq., of Enoch ap Evans, was refused 
 the presse by Mr. Wykes, because (as he said) he had licensed the 
 former by Mr. Studley. 
 
 “ Reeu’s catechisme” delivered to Sir Robert Harley; “ Epistle of 
 Jesus” to Sir William Brereton. 
 
 * i. e. Archbishop Usher. 
 
88 
 
 COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 Orders. —A report to be made of Mr. Wilkinson’s cause.* 
 
 Mr. Thomas Langley, to make good his petition on Thursday 
 26 January,f and to have warant for witnesses, and to searche re- 
 cordes. 
 
 * At p. 43 of his Speeches, Sir Edward gives the following as his speech on bringing 
 up the Report to the Grand Committee of Religion, 18 Dec. 1640. “ Mr. White, this 
 
 Grand Committee for Religion did authorise a Sub-Committee (among other things) to 
 take into consideration the unjust sufferings of good ministers oppressed by the cruell-used 
 authority of Hierarcliicall rulers. In this (and in other points) we have entered upon 
 many particulars ; we have matured and perfected but one. If we had lesse worke, you 
 should (before this time) have had more: but complaints crowd in so fast upon us, that 
 the very plenty of them retards their issue. The present report which I am to make unto 
 you is concerning Mr. Wilkinson, a Batchellor in Divinity, and a man in whose character 
 do concur learning, piety, industry, modesty. Two hardships have been put upon him— 
 one at the time when he presented himselfe to receive orders, and that was thus. The 
 Bishop of Oxford’s Chaplen, Mr. Fulham, being the Examiner (for Bishops now do 
 scorne to do Bishops’ work ; it belongs to himselfe), he propoundetli foure questions to Mr. 
 Wilkinson, not taken out of the depth of Divinity, but fitly chosen to discover how affec¬ 
 tions do stand to be novellized by the mutability of the present times. The questions 
 were these—1. Whether hath the Church authority in matters of faith? 2. May the 
 King’s Booke of Sports (so some impious Bishops have abused our pious King, to call their 
 contrivance his Majesties Book)—may this be read in the church without offence ? 3. Is 
 
 bowing to or before the altar lawfull ? 4. Is bowing at the name of Jesus lawfull ? The 
 
 doctrine of the first affirmed will bring a dangerous influence upon our beliefe, by sub¬ 
 jecting our faith to humane resolutions. The other three are disciplinarian in the 
 present way of novellisme. As soon as Mr. Wilkinson heard these questions—‘ lupum 
 auribus’—he had a wolfe by the eares. And, because unto these captious interrogatories 
 he could not make a peremptory answer, Mr. Fulham would not present your petitioner 
 to the Bishop for ordination. Thus you see, Mr. White, a new way of simony. Imposi¬ 
 tion of hands is to be sold, if not for money, yet to make a side, a party, a faction. They 
 will not confer oi'ders but upon such as will come in and make party with them in their 
 new practises, as is evident by these questions. Take this, in this kind, as a leading case, a 
 first complaint; more are coming. And Mr. Wilkinson shall have the poore common 
 comforte, ‘ Solamen miseris socios habuisse.’ I proceed to his second sufferance, which 
 was by the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, for a sermon preached in his course at St. Mary’s 
 
 f This must be an error of Sir Edward’s for “ Tuesday.” 
 
COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 89 
 
 Henry Moseley, at the Prince’s armes in Paul’s Church yard, to 
 shew cause why the “ imprimatur” is left out in Dodona’s Grove, 
 and why a leafe altered, and to bring one of each impression. 
 
 Philip Chetwin, mercer, att the bi. beare in Cheapside, to be sent 
 for about Jones his worke on the Hebrewes, licensed and defaced 
 per Mr. Baker;—intimated by Sir William Brereton. 
 
 This committee adjourned to Tuesday, 15 December. 
 
 in Oxford. Short to make, he preached better then they were willing to heare. The 
 sermon fell into the eares of a captious auditour. For this sermon he stands now sus¬ 
 pended by the Vice-Chancellor from all the spirituall promotion that he had, which was 
 only the reading of a divinity lecture in Magdalen Hall. The Committee required the 
 Vice-Chancellor to send unto us the sermon, with his exceptions in writing. They were 
 brought, and, being received, they are three in number ; great, and weighty in the accu¬ 
 sation ; none at all in proof. Nay, Mr. White, there is nothing presented unto us 
 wherein to finde a colour or a shadow, whereby to make the accusation semblable, and 
 consequently, the suspension just.—‘ Ecquis innocens erit si accusare suffecerit.’ The 
 particulars insisted upon, pickt and chosen out of that sermon, by the Vice-Chancellor, 
 are three ; every one a hainous charge, and the first sounding little lesse than treason. 
 Clive me leave to read them, as Mr. Vice-Chancellor hath sent them in writing. 1. ‘ Our 
 religious Soveraigne and his pious government, is seditiously defamed, as if his majesty 
 were little better then the old Pagan persecutors, or then Queen Mary.’ 2. ‘ The Govern¬ 
 ment of the Church and University is unjustly traduced.’ 3. ‘ Men of learning and 
 piety, conformable to the publicke government, are uncharitably slandered.’ The least 
 of these, being duly proved, will make him worthy of suspension ; but if Mr. Wilkinson 
 be guilty of the first, he is not worthy to live. The truth is, the Vice-Chancellor hath 
 learned 1 audacter criminare ;’ and, fayling in proofe, hath only fowled himselfe. Your 
 sub-committee, upon due consideration of the cause and circumstance, have hereupon 
 unanimously voted, that Mr. Wilkinson is free from all and every of these exceptions 
 made against his sermon by the Vice-Chancellor. We are all of opinion, that there is 
 nothing therein that deserves ‘ notam censoris, nedum lituram judicis.’ If, Mr. White, 
 there be in a sermon, as there ought to be, ‘ aliquid mordacis veritatis,’ shall the preacher 
 be for this suspended ? His mouth shut up for preaching truth boldly. It is contrary to 
 their commission ; for, sir, they have a great charter to speak freely. It is warranted 
 unto them ‘jure divino.’ St. Paul doth own it, in his instruction of Timothy. The words 
 are ‘ I charge thee, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, preach the word ; be instant in 
 season, out of season ; reprove, rebuke, exhort. . . For the time will come, when they 
 will not endure sound doctrine.’ Here is our case exactly. Here was reproofe ; here 
 was exhortation; here was preaching out of season, to unwilling, or to unprepared 
 hearers: and yet, in season, the theme was necessary, and fitted to their want of zeale; 
 
 CAMD. SOC. N 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I 
 
 2 Tim. iv 
 1, 2, 3. 
 
90 
 
 COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 15 December. 
 
 17 December. 
 
 15° DECEMBRIS. 
 
 Order.— Joseph Hunscott is assigned to make good his petition 
 on the first Thursday of our meeting after Christmas. 
 
 17° DECEMBRIS. 
 
 Per Bright.— Robert Mason, Doctor of the Law, and Chancellor of 
 the diocesse of Winchester, confesseth he did suspend Mr. Bright, 
 then Vicar of Ebbesham, in Surrey, for not reading in the church 
 the King’s Declaration for Sportes. Being asked by what law a 
 minister doth incurre suspension for not reading the said book of 
 sportes, he saith, by both the lawes, canon and civill. Being asked, 
 by what authority he did itt, he saytli, by the Bishop’s, whom he 
 ought to obey so farre, that even “ injusta sententia” must ty him to 
 obedience, and to execute the sentence ministerially, though injust, 
 unles itt be notoriously injust. He sayth, the Bishop’s letter for 
 suspension of him and other is dated 8th June, 1634, to suspend ab 
 officio et beneficio. 
 
 but the only fault was, that ‘ the time is come when sound doctrine will not be endured.’ 
 Thus the committee found it: thus have I faithfully, but imperfectly, reported it, and do 
 now subjoyn the opinion and request of your trustees to this Grand Committee. Mr. Wil¬ 
 kinson is innocent and free from this accusation. He had just cause to petition. The 
 Vice-Chancellor hath been without cause, nay, against cause, rigid and oppressive. The 
 sermon deserved thanks ; the preacher received injuries. His suspension to be taken 
 off. The retracting and dissolving whereof ought to be as publicke as was the inflicting 
 thereof. One worde more I ask leave to adde, and I hope I shall not therein erre from 
 the sence of the committee, though indeed I received it not in command to be joyned to 
 the report. This businesse, Mr. White, is spread into a wide and ample notice. Two 
 great Primats have appeared in it, and that with different, perhaps contrariant, sences, 
 sences as distant as Lambeth and Armagh. The Vice-Chancellor sayth, that ‘the preacher 
 was censured by the Most Reverend Lord Primate of Ireland, who heard him, to be a bold 
 or rash fellow' for it.’ Hereupon, I attended that learned, pious, and painef'ull Primate, 
 and did read these w'ords of the Vice-Cliancellour unto him. Ilis answer was, that he 
 takes it as an aspersion upon him. He remembers the sermon, and commends it. This 
 is an additionall to the Report ; and, with this, I leave Mr. Vice-Chancellor, and the 
 Bishop’s Chaplen (Fulham) to the wisdome and consideration of this Grand Committee.”— 
 Speeches, p. 43, 48. 
 
COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 91 
 
 The language of the first letter being to suspend according to 
 law, being demanded, by what law the not reading of that book is 
 a crime to bring suspension, he answered, by both lawes, both canon 
 and civill. 
 
 After diverse monitions, att last, 24 January, 1634, Dr. Stanton 
 and Mr. Bright were, both of them, by him actually suspended ab 
 officio et benefcio. 
 
 Per Bright versus William Kingsley, D.D., Archdeacon of Can¬ 
 terbury ; he confesseth as the petitioner hath Iayd itt downe. Being 
 demanded, by what order or command he received that prayer against 
 the Scotts, and distributed the same; he answered, that itt was sent 
 downe to him by the King’s printer, as is customary for bookes of 
 fast and other things; so he received them and dispersed them 
 through the Jurisdiction where he is Ordinary, and thought himselfe 
 bound to do. Being demanded, what authority enjoyned him to 
 enjoyne others to reade and publish that prayer, and by what autho¬ 
 rity he suspended Mr. Bright for not reading what was not com¬ 
 manded; he said that he received no such commandes, but did itt of 
 that authority which he conceived he did hold himselfe as Ordinary. 
 Onely, he sayth, there was a letter, he knowes not when, from an 
 officer (he knowes not whom), but one in the Yicar-General’s 
 office, directed to one Mr. Somner, a Register in Canterbury, to some 
 such effect as the publishing or dispersing of the said prayer. 
 
 Per Snelling. —John Sedgeweek, clarke, was present in the High 
 Commission Court, when Mr. Snelling’s cause was heard. Dr. 
 Wood came up, staring and chafing, halfe out of breath, saying, 
 “For Jesus sake/’ “ for God’s sake,” “ for the King’s sake,” “ some¬ 
 body helpe me against this puritan Snelling,” “ I demand justice 
 against this dunce.” For this he was reprehended by Sir Nathaniel 
 Brent, who told him well of the good character of Mr. Snelling. 
 Wood’s fury continuing, Bishop White asked “ What’s the matter?” 
 Woodsayd that this Snelling would not reade the Booke for Sportes, 
 ergo he had suspended him. The Bishop sayd he had not done 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
92 
 
 COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 17 December. 
 
 22 December. 
 
 so much, and going on in his discourse, Sir John Lambe interrupted, 
 saying, “ Hold, my Lord.” Mr. Snelling presented two answers: a 
 large one that was rejected, then a shorter one was exhibited, which 
 was received; and Dr. Ryues said it was an answer for theire turne, 
 but it was first defaced (as Mr. Snelling says) by Sir John Lambe or 
 his appointment. 
 
 After the day of sentence of deprivation, the Archbishop asked 
 Mr. Snelling, saying, “ Are you conformable ?” Mr. Snelling. 
 “Yes, as farre as is by law established.” Archbishop. “Are you con¬ 
 formable to the new conformity ?” Then turning to the company, 
 said, “ There is no more beleeving this kind of men, then of a dogge.” 
 Then, Bishop Wren said, “ You may know him by his band, that he 
 has a wonderfull tender conscience,” and so said Sir John Lambe. 
 
 Thomas Gellybrand, of Bred-street, doth affirme that Pauls- 
 cray is worth 100/. per annum for one to live upon, and avoweth the 
 hand of Grenhell the notary to be origin all. 
 
 Samuel Gellebrand, of Paule’s Church Yard, doth affirme that 
 Dr. Wood received, or disposed of the whole profitt of the benefice 
 of Paul’s Cray during the suspension, except the Glebe Land. 
 
 Orders. —Mr. Pemberton is assigned Tuesday 12 January, to 
 make good his petition, and to have warant for search, and for 
 witnesses. 
 
 The Archbishop’s letter about the Book of Sportes to be sent for. 
 Itt is in his Register in Mr. Wade’s office neare Doctors’ Commons. 
 
 Mr. Snelling, Mr. Vicars;—causes to be heard on Tuesday next. 
 
 22° DECEMBRIS, 1640. —DUTCIIY COURT. 
 
 Basil Wood, Doctor of the Laws, and Chancellor of Rochester, 
 confesseth he did, as is alleaged, suspend Mr. Snelling ah officio et 
 bene/icio, for not reading the Book of Sportes. The dispersing and 
 publishing of that book was commanded to Dr. Wood by Jo. Bolles, 
 the deceased Bishop of Rochester; and he was commanded by letter 
 
COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 93 
 
 from the Archbishop of Canterbury, both which letters are pro¬ 
 duced. He sayth, that, when the Bishop doth command him by 
 letter, he hath no part but patience and obedience. 
 
 Being asked by what law and authority he did suspend and ex¬ 
 communicate Mr. Snelling ; he sayth he relyeth upon the Bishop’s 
 commands, and upon the King’s booke. Being demanded, what 
 place of the booke (there present) doth warrant him &c., he sayth, 
 that he doth not find in the booke any authority for suspension or 
 excommunication of ministers refusing; yet he sayth, that upon 
 a verball command of the dead Bishop, and upon another verball 
 direction from the Archbishop in his garden att Croyden, he did 
 suspend Mr. Snelling; for he sayth that my Lord of Canterbury 
 expressing his pleasure to be such, he did take that pleasure soe 
 expressed to be as a command, and accordingly performed itt. 
 
 He confesseth also the excommunicating Mr. Snelling, ut petitur. 
 He denyeth the removing of the Communion Table. 
 
 During the time of Mr. Snelling’s suspension, the Doctor sayth, 
 that he did allow him a moiety of his benefice: whereupon, being 
 demanded by what law he tooke away halfe his living from him, 
 and gave him (as he sayd) halfe of itt, (beside the gleabe) ; he sayth, 
 he did it by the Canon Law; being asked, what Canon Law, whe¬ 
 ther the Papall Canon Law ? he said, “ Yes, by the Papall Canon 
 Law.” 
 
 Mr. Snelling sayth, he had but 681. for four yeare and above, 
 whereby he is so depauperated, that he now payeth 30Z. per annum 
 use; and is never likely, by his living, to be redeemed out of his 
 debtes. 
 
 Jo. Gellybrand sayth, he did offer 60/. per annum for the tithes 
 the last yeare, a 0 1639, but the Doctor refused to accept itt, and lett 
 the tithes out att 561. per annum. 
 
 Mr. Vicars fayled to produce proofe to his petition. 
 
 Jo. Bridall, Gent.—To the last clause of Mr. Vicars’ petition, 
 sayth, that about two yeares since, he was att the High Commission 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
94 
 
 COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 5 January. 
 
 7 January. 
 
 Court, on a day called a Mitigation Day, where lie heard, that one 
 Jo. Vicars, upon a petition of his, had the grant of 51. by the Court, 
 in the way of a rew r ard for service there done. 
 
 Ordered.— Dr. Wood to appeare and answer Mr. Pemberton, 
 the 12 January, and to have copy of Petition. 
 
 The Committee is adjourned to Tuesday, 5th January, att two of 
 the clock, this place. 
 
 5° januarii, 1640[-1.] 
 
 It is ordered, that if any MS. be refused the presse by the usual 
 Licencers, the refuser shall be sent for, to show cause unto the 
 Committee. 
 
 Whereas Dr. Bray, Dr. Haywood, Dr. Oliver, Dr. Baker, Dr. 
 Wykes, and others, have licenced some bookes thought to be 
 different from, and repugnant unto, the established doctrine of the 
 Church of England; and have denyed the presse unto some good, 
 pious, and profitable books (as itt is suspected and informed) itt is 
 thereupon ordered that they, and every of them, shall be sent for 
 to attend this committee, att such times as Sir Edward Dering 
 shall think fitt. And also, that he shall, att his discretion, send 
 for the MS. originall copy of any book (within the last ten yeares 
 printed), and for the printers to be and appeare before this Com¬ 
 mittee. 
 
 Mr. Vicars is to prove his petition on Thursday next, 7° Januarii. 
 
 7° januarii, 1640[-1.] 
 
 Jo. Rothwell, stationer, sayth, that about five weekes since, Dr. 
 Wykes did refuse to licence the booke of Mr. Vicars, and gave this 
 reason; because the Image of Christ was in churches as yett, and, 
 untill they were pulled down there, he would not licence itt. 
 
COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 95 
 
 Idem, Rothwell sayth, that Dr. Featley did tell him that Sancta 
 Clara’s booke was allowed by the Queene’s preistes; and that the 
 said Doctor did say, that he did conceive that the Archbishop did 
 give permission to the printing of itt. 
 
 [Dr. Featley.— The censures of many preistes before the printed 
 booke of Sancta Clara, viz.:— 
 
 Jacobus Dreux, Londini, ult° Julii, 1633. 
 
 Thomas Blacklow, 5 Julii, 1633. 
 
 William Tomson, 20 Aprilis, et 22 Julii, 1633. 
 
 T.P. Thomas Philipps, 16 Aprilis, et 11 Julii, 1633. 
 
 JEgidius Chaissy, 20 Junii, 1633. 
 
 Jo. Gennings, 20 Julii, 1633. 
 
 Petrus Martin, 24 Augusti, 1633. 
 
 D. David, Londoni, 3° Kal. Sept ris , 1633. 
 
 Idem Dr. Featley sayth, that Bishop Moreton (lib. 10, 21) did 
 in a leafe refute Sancta Clara; but it was dispunged per Dr. Bray, 
 sed qusere, quia (10, 21) impress: fuit, 1631, sed Sancta Clara, 
 anno 1634.]* 
 
 Ordered.— That Sir Edward Dering do intimate to Dr. Featley 
 to come, and to declare himselfe de supradictis, and also of Pock- 
 lington, page 108, etc. 
 
 Dr. Pocklington, to appeare, and answer the exorbitancys of his 
 booke. 
 
 .... Calvert, of Distaffe Lane, bookbinder, to appeare and 
 testify inter Vicars et Wykes. 
 
 Mr. Vicars, to bring in his several MSS., and S r Edward Dering 
 to have power to receive them. 
 
 * These clauses within the brackets do not stand in this place in the manuscript. 
 They are there inserted at the end of the book, but with a reference to this place, as 
 though intended to come in here. It appears also from the context that this is their 
 proper place. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
96 
 
 COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 12 Januarii. 
 
 12° JANUARII. 1640-1. 
 
 S r Edward Dering. 
 S r William Masham. 
 M r Jo. Moore. 
 
 M r Rich. Moore. 
 
 M r Knatchbull. 
 
 M r Bodwell. 
 
 S r Edward Boys. 
 M r Heyman. 
 
 M r Ashton. 
 
 M r Purefoy. 
 
 M r Searle. 
 
 M r Shuttleworth. 
 M r Roos. 
 
 PEMBERTON versus DR. WOOD. 
 
 Ad 1.—Dr. Wood confesseth the suspension and the cause. 
 
 Report.—Itt was an undue, illegall proceedance, and a greate op¬ 
 pression ; v. “ Acta Cur.” perducta per Drem. 
 
 Daniel Mercer, of Southwark, draper, testatur Mr. Pemberton 
 said, “ Pie had a good rule to follow/’ 
 
 Dr. —“ What rule ? ” 
 
 Pemberton.—“ The Scripture.” 
 
 Dr. —“ I pray God itt be not a crooked rule.” 
 
 Pemberton .—“ God forbid.” 
 
 This is denyed by Dr. Wood, who sayth it were a blasphemous saying. 
 
 William Heycockes, of Southwark, brewer, doth testify the 
 same. 
 
 Ad 2.—“ By what authority did you suspend a minister for not 
 reading the Booke of Sports ? ” 
 
 Dr. —“ By virtue of a statute t. II. 8. and for contumacy, in not 
 obeying the Bishop’s command.” He voucheth the King’s booke for 
 his authority, shewing the place where a publication is required, 
 which being unperformed, the punishment was arbitrary in the ec- 
 clesiasticall judges, according to the manner of theire censures. 
 
 Rep.—The booke gives no such authority; and he offendeth in 
 pretending a defence of his fact by an arbitrary power. 
 
 Ad 3.—Daniel Mercer, i rn TJ r> * 
 
 > amrme. ldeo KepA 
 William Heycocks, ) 
 
 ■H- 
 
 ldeo Rep. i.e. “ Report accordingly.” 
 
COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 97 
 
 , affirme, and say, that, when M r 
 
 , 7 . -, Tr TT l Pemberton sayd he would ap- 
 
 Ad 4.—William Hubbert, t A . ~ , 
 
 ’ l ,eale t0 the King. D- said, that 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 W ILL I AM MuSGRAVE, / a , , , j , . ’ \ 
 
 f appeale should do him no good. 
 
 '—Ideo Rep. 
 
 Ad 5.—D 1 ’ fatetur. Sed de le sequestration, he sajeth itt was ten 
 weekes after before itt was sent to the churchwardens; and he be- 
 leeveth that a pursivant was sent: but itt was more suddain, for M r 
 Pemberton produced the warrant for attachment copyed, dated 
 23 November, viz. eleaven days after his suspension. 
 
 Quoad le 20/. which is estreated into the Exchequer; the D r 
 sayth, that itt was sett on him for not appearing in the High Com¬ 
 mission Court, but not as a fine, but onely as poena contumaciam, 
 which 20/. was the psenalty as signed 26 January (two monthes after' 
 the former attachment), and is both attachment, intimation, and 
 subpoena ut patet.—Ideo Rep. 
 
 Ad 6.—D r presumeth the resignation was willing; et quoad 
 suspension that yett holdes ; onely the D r sayeth, that, since the Par¬ 
 liament began, he hath, quantum in se, released the suspension, un- 
 knowen to Pemberton; and are of opinion* that these usages were 
 forcive, to cause M r Pemberton to resigne.— Ideo Report. 
 
 Ex parte JDoctoris. — Abraham Sherman, clerk, sayth, that in 12 January, 
 the chamber (whither the Court was adjourned), but non sedente 
 judice, he thinkes M r Pemberton did say, “ Will you suspend me 
 because I will not be perjured ? ” It being spoken per Pember¬ 
 ton (ut putat), but neare the doore, the Doctor then att the window. 
 
 Thomas Webb, apparitor, affirmeth the word “figge,” &c. 
 
 The Doctor referretli himself to the letters of the Bishop and 
 Archbishop formerly delivered in, in M r Snelling’s cause, as to a 
 sufficient command, both for publication and for suspending; and 
 doth object versus Pemberton his shifting places in disguise of habit 
 et colours. 
 
 * i. e. the Committee are of opinion. 
 
 O 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
98 
 
 COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 The votes all consented. 
 
 1. .Petition is proved. 
 
 2. D r neyther hath justifyed nor well excused himselfe. 
 
 3. Pemberton is to be repay red. 
 
 4. Suspension to be taken of. 
 
 5. Doctor suspended ; et idem Doctor brought him into the high 
 commission. 
 
 6. The benefice is better than 80 1. per annum, and is totally lost 
 by this occasion and the pursuite of the Doctor, who said he would 
 be his adversary, as is proved, and so hath been, to the neare un¬ 
 doing of the Petitioner and his sixe motherlesse children. 
 
 This Committee adjourned to Thursday, 28 January. 
 
 [At the end of the Note Book is the following tabular arrangement of 
 Names, apparently representing the list of the Committee as first formed, and 
 the alterations or additions subsequently made :—] 
 
 DIE LUNiE, 23 NOVEMB. 1640. 
 
 S r Edward Dering. 
 
 S r Simonds Dewes. 
 
 S r John Clotworthy. 
 
 S r Roger Palmer. 
 
 M r Purefoy. 
 
 Lo. Puthen. 
 
 M r Jo. Moore. 
 
 S 1 ' Henry Mildmay. 
 
 S 1 ' William Masliam. 
 
 S r William Brereton. 
 
 S r John Wray. 
 
 S r Edward Hungerford. 
 M r Corbet. 
 
 M r Knatchbull. 
 
 S r Gilbert Pickering. 
 M r Bagshaw. 
 
 S r Oliver Luke. 
 
 M 1 Upton. 
 
 M r Cromwell. 
 
 M l Arthur Goodwin. 
 
 M r Bodwell. 
 
 M r Jephson. 
 
 S r Robert Harley. 
 
 S 1 ' Anthony Ireby. 
 
 DIE LUNTl, 14° DECEMBRIS. 
 S r Edward Boys. 
 
 M r Rouse. 
 
 S r Arthur Haselrigg. 
 
 M r Pelham. 
 
 DIE SABBATI, 19° DECEMBRIS. 
 S r Peter Wroth. 
 
COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 99 
 
 M r Prideaux. 
 
 M r Searle. 
 
 M r Ash. 
 
 M 1 ' Shuttleworth. 
 
 Mr Spurstow. 
 
 M r Roos. 
 
 M r Rolles. 
 
 M r Bnddon. 
 
 M r S. Ashton. 
 
 M r Bond. 
 
 M r Evelyn. 
 
 M r Walton. 
 
 M r Richard Moore. 
 
 M r Hey man. 
 
 M r Hill. 
 
 M r Pottes. 
 
 45. 
 
 1 end of tlie Book is a classed Index, as follows. The references to 
 
 are omitted as useless here:—] 
 
 SUFFERERS. 
 
 OPPRESSORS. 
 
 Bell. 
 
 F ulham. 
 
 Amirant. 
 
 Bishop of Oxford. 
 
 Wilkinson. 
 
 Mason. 
 
 Ward. 
 
 Bishop of Winton. 
 
 Carpenter. 
 
 Kingsley. 
 
 Vicars. 
 
 Wood. 
 
 Henry Langly. 
 
 Wren. 
 
 Bright. 
 
 Lamb. 
 
 Stanton. 
 
 Archbishop. 
 
 Snelling. 
 
 Bolles, Bishop of Rochester. 
 
 Thomas Langley.* 
 
 Corbet. 
 
 WITNESSES.f 
 
 READY TO BE REPORTED. 
 
 Stampe. 
 
 Bright. 
 
 Sedgeweeke. 
 
 Snelling. 
 
 Gellybrand. 
 
 Carpenter. 
 
 He has omitted Pemberton from this list. 
 
 h These lists do not contain the names of all the witnesses, authors, licensers, &c., but 
 seem to have been as commencements of incomplete indices. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
100 
 
 COMMITTEE OF RELIGION. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 BOOKES. 
 
 LICENCERS AND DENYERS OF 
 AUTHORS. LICENCES. 
 
 Pocklington. Bray. 
 
 F eatley. Weekes. 
 
 Sibbes. Baker. 
 
 White. 
 
 Clarke. 
 
 Vicars. 
 
 Reeves. 
 
 Epistle of Jesus. 
 
 Bell. 
 
 Jones. 
 
 PRINTERS AND STATIONERS. WITNESSES. 
 
 Pay ii. 
 
 Borne. 
 
 Badger. 
 
 Dormer. 
 
 Bartlet. 
 
 Yong. 
 
 Cotes. 
 
 Stevens. 
 
 Moseley. 
 
 Honscote 
 
 Chetwin. 
 
 Rothwell. 
 
 Sparkes. 
 
 Dormer. 
 
 Bartlet. 
 
 Cole. 
 
 Rosse. 
 
 Peake. 
 
 More. 
 
 Griffon. 
 
 Stevens. 
 
 [The Book contains also some little other Index matter, which is omitted 
 unimportant.] 
 
PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY FROM PLACES 
 IN THE COUNTY OF KENT, 
 
 WITH THEIR ANSWERS AND OTHER PAPERS RELATING THERETO. 
 
 I. 
 
 Defence of D r SHELDEN, Yicar of Apledore cum Ebeney. 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 Certeine particulers concerning the present Vicar of Aple- 
 cloore cum capella de Ebeney. 
 
 First.—When D r Sheldon, the present vicar, came to the sayd 
 living, about twenty-eight yeares past, hee found placed there by 
 I> Walsall and D 1 ' Neweman, his predecessours, Curate at Apl- 
 doore M r John Hopton, and at Ebeney M r Daniell Pickard, both 
 men of sober and honest conversation, and yet neither of them 
 allowed for preachers, but tollerated for expounders. These twoe 
 (requiring him of Apledoore to preach) continued Curates till their 
 deaths, giveing to him at Apledoore above twenty pounds per 
 annum, and, after his death, to his Curates he hath given twenty- 
 one, and eightene at least in money and profits to others, and to him 
 that now is Curate, M r Clement Barling, a licensed and dilligent 
 preacher, and of honest and sober conversation, he hath given, and 
 doth give, as much as he hath desired, twenty pounds per annum, 
 quarterly payed, and besides the church dutyes, value nigh fifty 
 shillings per annum. 
 
 Secondly.—To the Curate of Ebeney, M r Daniell Pickard, whom 
 he continued Curate with desire of his parishioners, though Ebeney 
 
102 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 had bin served by on M r Adams and others for tenn pounds per 
 annum; and although the first fruit office upon record requireth 
 that the Vicar of Apledoore should give to him that serves at 
 Ebeney (to—to small a stipend) under eight pounds per annum; yet 
 the present Vicar, D r Sheldon, increased the stipend of the said 
 Curate M r Daniell Pickard, for, whereas he had before about some 
 twelve pounds per annum, he raised it to sixtene pounds per annum; 
 and to the Curates that he had there since, with desire of his 
 parishoners, he hath given either eiglitene or ninetene pounds by the 
 yeare in money and profits; and now to his present Curate M r 
 Grifith Wood, a man of sober, peaceable, and honest conversation, 
 and a licensed preacher, and sufficient for his learning (as shalbe 
 proved), he hath given and doth give sixtene pounds per annum, 
 quarterly payed, and in other profits three pounds per annum, and 
 in all ninetene pounds. 
 
 Thirdly.— The utmost yerly valew of the vicaredge of Apledoore 
 cum Capella de Ebeney is not above 170/. per annum, for the defray¬ 
 ing of all charges, the payment of the Curate’s stipend, paying of 
 tenthes, subsidies, and procurations, and continuall nedfull repayr¬ 
 ing of ould houses, and for the better maintenance and provision of 
 the sayd D r Sheldon and his family, his wife and five children, who, 
 besides what he hath from Apledore and Ebeney, hath only a small 
 vicaridge called Bersted, and in utmost valew about some thirty- 
 foure pounds per annum, where he resideth and constantly readeth 
 the whole service apointed, catechiseth (with expownding) ech Lord’s 
 day in the yere. 
 
 These particulers are testified to be true, and shalbe readie to 
 give testimony of the truth hereof. 
 
 [Endorsed by S 1 ' Edward Dering, “ 1640 —ex parte Sheldon.’"] 
 
F1I0M THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 103 
 
 II. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against the Granting of Marriage 
 Licences by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury;—from the Parish¬ 
 ioners of MARDEN. 
 
 To the honorable the house now assembled in Parlament. 
 
 The humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of Marden in Kent. 
 
 Sheweth and presenteth to this honorable house, the great incon¬ 
 veniences and greivances which, within six weeks now last past, 
 have bin occasioned through licences for marriage granted by the 
 Prerogative Courte of Canterbury, as namely— 
 
 1. Thus, one Robert Waterman, of the parish of Marden, by a 
 licence tbence obtained, was married to his former wives owne sister. 
 
 2. That one Alice Medlmrst, of this parish also, having land of 
 inheritance of the yeerely value of eighty-and-twenty pounds, by 
 licence had, was married before she did come to the full ao-e of nine 
 yeeres, to one John Batherst, of Cranebrooke, a very poore man, and 
 of no estate at all, either in goods or lands. 
 
 These things, and to omitt all other mischeifs formerly here 
 insuing among us in this kinde, we whose names are here under 
 written are bold humbly to informe this honorable house, and we 
 leave thesame to the grave consideracion of this worthy assembly, and 
 we shall humbly pray for the King’s Ma tie long and prosperous raigne 
 over us, and for the happy proseeding of this house of Parlament. 
 The mark x of v John Stephens. 
 
 Elislia Burch, ^Churchwardens. John Osborn. 
 
 Thomas Danne, J John Walter, senior. 
 
 Walter Munn. Richard Glover. 
 
 The marke x of Thomas Stear. The marke x of Jo. Thurston. 
 
 Nicholas Parkes. 
 
 Tho. Williams. 
 
 Georg May. 
 
 Willy am Stevens. 
 
 William Juell. 
 
 The mark x of John Harenden. 
 
 John Usburne. 
 
 John Walter, junior. 
 Osman Cook. 
 
 Robert Drast. 
 Thomas Post. 
 
 John Cunny. 
 
 “4 Dec. 1640, Petition, Marden.”] 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering, 
 
104 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 29 January. 
 
 III. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against D r MERIC CASAUBON, 
 the Vicar;—from the Parish of MINSTER. 
 
 To the honourable House of Commons assembled in Par¬ 
 liament. 
 
 The humble peticion of the parishioners of the parish of 
 Minster, in the Isle of Thanet, in the County of Kent. 
 
 In most humble wise showeing, 
 
 That Meric Casaubon, Doctor of Divinity, and one of the 
 Prebends of Christ Churche, Canterbury, doth at present (besides his 
 Prebend’s place) hold and enjoy three severall liveings, namely, the 
 Parsonage and Vicarage of Minster aforesaid, of the yearely vallue 
 of 240/. per annum, or thereabouts (as he hath advanced it), the 
 Vicarage of Mounckton, and the Vicarage of Birchington. 
 
 And may it please this honourable house to understand, that both 
 the said Doctor and M r John Picard, Clerke, his Curat at Minster 
 aforesaid, are zealously observant of all innovacions, as bowing and 
 cringeing to the Communion table; and the Doctor being demaunded 
 why he bowed thereto, aunswered, bycause the Sacrament was there 
 administrede. 
 
 And, bycause the said parish would not rayle in the Communion 
 table, the said Doctor, at his owne charge, against the parishes con¬ 
 sent, rayled it in, and removed the Communion table, and sett it 
 close to the wall, at the east end of the Chancel), altarwise (as your 
 peticioners conceive), and hath cutt and defaced the Chancell in 
 many things; and for his actions gave this reason—that he was the 
 Lord Archbishop of Canterburies cheife Chaplen, and therefore he 
 would shew his Grace his forwardnes in it; and threatend vour 
 humble suppliants, that, if they would not come upp to the rayle to 
 receive the Comunion, they should answere it before the Lord Arch¬ 
 bishop and the Highe Comission; for feare whereof the greatest part 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 105 
 
 °f youi petitioners, to the great griefe of their consciences, did goe 
 upp to the rayle to receive. And his said Curat, no lesse zealous 
 and earnest that way, refused to administer the sacrament of the 
 Loid s supper to some of the said parish bycause they would not 
 come upp to the rayle to receive it. 
 
 And, wheieas the marshe and pasture lands in the said parish of 
 Minstei never heretofore paid above xijhZ. per acre for tythes, yet 
 the said Doctor, since his comeing, hath exacted xviijii. per acre, 
 and his said Curat reports that he will have ijs. vj cl. per acre; and, 
 moie than this, he exacteth tythes of poore people that live by the 
 almes of the Parish, and, for non-payment, cites them to the Court, 
 and maketh poore servants pay vj d. a peece for their offerings at 
 Easter, or putts them back, and will not lett them receive. 
 
 Therefore, your humble peticioners doe, in all humility, beseeche 
 this honourable house, to take the premisses into their consideracion ; 
 and seeing that the said liveing at Minster will recompence the 
 paines of an able and godly-minded minister, in your wisdomes (if 
 soe it seeme good to you) be pleased to order, that such a one be 
 setled there, and, for the continuance of love betwixt the minister 
 
 and people, your peticioners doe most humbly beseech this honour¬ 
 able house, to sett downe a certaine rate, what every acre of marshe 
 and pasture land and other things titheabie shall pay; and that the 
 minister may have power to recover the same at comon lawe, or 
 as cesses for the poore are levyed, or otherwise, as to your wise- 
 domes shall seeme good. 
 
 And your humble suppliants, as in duty bound, shall continually 
 pray for his majesties long and happy reigne over us, and the pros¬ 
 perous successe of this highe and honourable Court of Parliament, &c. 
 Edw. Harnett, constable. Edward Taddie. Isaak Willor. 
 
 William Goldfinch. Stephen Sayar. William Gillse. 
 
 Marke Ambrose. William Christian. Edward Cuppage. 
 
 William Ladd. 
 
 John Hwet. 
 
 Thomas Jenkin. 
 
 Boys Ower ^ church- 
 Robart Welles S wardens. 
 
 Robard Shumard. 
 John Wotton. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. [. 
 
 CAMP. SOC. 
 
 P 
 
106 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 29 January. 
 
 Thomas Cowell. 
 Mathew Dasonn. 
 Robert Hummerdine. 
 Henry Tery. 
 
 John Barber. 
 
 Edward Newman. 
 Henry Huffarn. 
 
 Edward Fuller. John Twyman. 
 
 Edward Wilbor. William Gee. 
 
 Richard Stears. Henrie Dudarde. 
 
 Abell Terry. 
 
 John Batho. 
 
 John Ambros. 
 
 William Coffam. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640, 29 Jan. Petition. Minster v. 
 Casaubon,” and below this, in another hand, “ Com. of Relig.”] 
 
 IV. 
 
 Petition to the House of Commons, against Dr. MERIC CASAUBON, the 
 Vicar, from the parish of MONCIvTON. 
 
 To the honourable House of Commons assembled in Parliament. 
 
 The humble peticion of the parishioners of the parish of Mounck¬ 
 ton, in the Isle of Thannet, in the county of Kent. 
 
 Most humbly shewing, 
 
 That Meric Casaubon, Doctor of Divinity, and one of the 
 Prebends of Christ Churche, Canterbury, doth (besides his Prebend’s 
 place) hold and enjoy three sever all liveings; for he is Vicar of 
 Mounckton aforesaid, of the vallue of 80/. per annum, or there¬ 
 abouts; and Vicar of Birchington; and Parson and Vicar of 
 Minster; all in the said Isle and County, soe that, beside his tempo- 
 rail estate, his spirituall livings are estimated at 640/. per annum, 
 or thereabouts. 
 
 And may it please this honorable house to understand, that the 
 said D r Casaubon is zealously observant of all innovacions, for he hath 
 inforced the parishioners of Mounckton aforesaid to rayle in and 
 separate the Communion Table from the rest of the chancell, to 
 their charge of 51. When it was done, bycause it satisfyed not the 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 107 
 
 Doctor’s pliancy, he procured new processe against the Churche- 
 wardens to alter it; and an excommunicacion against them, for not 
 being soe speedy therein as he required, to the parishes charge of 
 xb. And to shew his unbridled humour, he caused the Church¬ 
 warden then under excommunication, before he could be absolved, to 
 bind himselfe by oath given him ex officio, to performe within a limited 
 tyme what was by him required to be done in the innovations. 
 
 And, although there is sufficient meanes in the said parish of 
 Munckton, without the helpe of any other place, to maintaine a 
 preaching Minister there, yet he himselfe seldome comes thither, 
 but he keeps a Curat there, a weake and an unable man, unworthy 
 of imitacion, eyther in life or doctrine. 
 
 And yet the Doctor, not herewith satisfied, hath exacted 4 d. in 
 every acre of marslie land more than formerly was paid to his pre¬ 
 decessors, and to the great oppression of your poore petitioners. 
 
 Therefore, your humble suppliants doe, in all humility, beseeche 
 this honourable house, to take the premisses into their consideracions, 
 and in their wisdomes be pleased to order that there may be an 
 able and godly preaching Minister setled in the said parish of 
 Mounckton, distinctly by itselfe, seeing there is sufficient meanes to 
 maintaine a preaching Minister, and a moderacion in tytlies; and 
 (if it please this honourable house) a certaine rate sett downe, what 
 every acre of marslie or pasture land, and other things titheable, shall 
 pay: and also, that the said Doctor may give your petitioners satisfac¬ 
 tion for the charge they have beene putt to in the said innovacions. 
 
 And your poore and humble suppliants, as in duety bound, shall 
 continually pray for his Majesties long and prosperous reigne over 
 us, and the prosperous successe of this higlie and honourable Court 
 of Parliament, &c. 
 
 Thomas Foche. Fran. Saunders. 
 
 Henry Paramor. Jefferie Sandwell. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640. 29 Jan. Petition. Monkton v. 
 Casaubon,” and, under this, in another hand, “ Com. of Relig.”] 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 March. 
 
 108 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST T1IE CLERGY 
 
 V. 
 
 Reply of Dr. MERIC CASAUBON to the charges against him, made 
 by the Parishes of MINSTER and MONCKTON. 
 
 To the petitions of Minster and Mounckton, in the lie of Tanet, 
 to the Honorable House of Comons, &c. The humble and true an- 
 swei of Meric Causabon, D.D., Vicar of both those parishes. 
 
 First. Whereas both petitions make Minster, and Mounckton, 
 and Birching ton three severall livinges; I answer, that Birchington 
 is but a chapell of ease to the Vicaridge of Mounckton. nor ever was 
 othei wise accounted; both which (Mounckton and Birchington) 
 together, besides what I pay to the King and twoe Curates yearly, 
 have not beene worth to mee, one yeare with another, above 50 1. 
 per annum. I hese twoe parishes of Minster and Mounckton stand 
 close together, and I succeeded in both Dr. Clerck (a man of worthy 
 memorie), who held them as I doe. 
 
 Secondly.—Innovations are laid to my charge, remooving of the 
 Communion Table, rayling of it, and bowing. The twoe first I did 
 not, nor was present when they were done. In Mounckton, they 
 v\cie compelled by the Court, without any intermeddling of mine, as 
 will appeare by the Records of the Court, and expresse testification 
 of those (if need be) who had a hand in that business. At Minster, 
 ^ did more than once perswade them quietly to sub¬ 
 mit to the Order of the Court in that behalfe, fearing they would be 
 compelled and punished (as in other things commanded hath beene 
 observed) if they refused. Other threatning than this, I never 
 used. My Curat, Mr. Pickard (an honest pious man) ignorantly 
 refused (fearing the Order of the Court) to administer the Com¬ 
 munion to twoe that would not come up to the rayles ; which, when 
 I heard, I disliked, and he did it noe more after that; and not long 
 aftei (viz. at Christmas 1639) I was there myselfe, and administered 
 unto all those that did not, as well, as those that came up to the 
 
 ♦ 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 109 
 
 rayles. I was att the charge of decent rayles, because the Parish¬ 
 ioners had bene att a great deale of charge about the reparations of 
 the Church, casting of the bells, with the addition of one, and ex¬ 
 pected that I alsoe would doe somewhat. As for bowing, I never 
 used it till we were commanded it in our Cathedral of Christ Church, 
 and that I saw it generally practised by others. However, I never 
 required it of others, neyther was I ever told by any of eyther 
 Parishes that it was offensive; and certainly by my preaching in 
 that verie point of the Sacrament, they could not but know that I 
 am noe wayes inclinable to Poperie, which I hope they will 
 acknowledge. 
 
 Thirdly.—I have all wayes resided upon one of the twoe Vicar- 
 idges most part of the summer, except when I have beene hindred 
 (as once by the plague) unavoidably. I would willingly reside 
 longer, but for the unhealthines of the place. However, att all tymes 
 of the yeare I frequently repaire thither and preache. The Curate 
 that I have in Mounckton is approved by the greater part of the 
 Parish, and was soe well liked for a while by some that have now 
 testyfyed against him, that they offered him a good reward (whereas 
 I require but once) to preach twice every Sunday, forenoone and 
 afternoone. 
 
 Fourthly.—I never required any more, neither in Mounckton nor 
 Minster, as due, but onely my tythes in kind, as out of all question 
 they are due in both places. To give them the better content, I 
 received for a while, in liew of tythes in kind, after the rate of 14 d. 
 by the acre for marsh land; and afterwards 18c/. which they cannot 
 but acknowledge to be a verie easie composition, whereas in Min¬ 
 ster, above 40 yeares agoe, they compounded with D r Clerck (my 
 predecessor) for Is.; and in Mounckton, above 30 yeares agoe, for 
 14 d. by the acre, when lands were lett(as I conceive) for little more 
 than halfe of what they now are in both places. 
 
 Lastly.—I doe not remember, neyther doe I beleeve, that I ever 
 sued for tythes any that receyved almes of the parish; but that I 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
110 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 January 25. 
 
 have releeved many poore there, and pay for the schooling of sixe 
 poore children of the Parish 4.1. yearly, is not, I am sure, unknowen 
 unto them. Neyther doth my Curat M r Pickard (as he tels me) 
 require any more of any for his Easter duties then hath allwayes 
 beene paid unto him in my predecessors tyme, for many yeares 
 before I had to doe with it; nor more than is paid in some other 
 Churches of the Isle of Thanet at the present. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1640, 12 March, D r Casaubon.”]* 
 
 VI. 
 
 Letter from M r NICOLS, Incumbent of NORBORNE cum SLIOLDEN, 
 soliciting the support of S r EDWARD DERING, under charges 
 made against him by some of his Parishioners, to the House of 
 Commons. 
 
 Honorable Sir, 
 
 My best respects and service presented unto you, and I 
 pray be pleased to pardon my presumption in pressing into your 
 presence by my letters. Necessitie compells me, and putts me on. 
 This day, 2 or 3 of my Parish are gone to London to put up a Bill 
 against me in the Parliament, which I heare consists of 2 parts: 
 First, to take away my Chappell of Sholden from Norborne, and to 
 have it enacted that it may be an intire Church of itselfe, whereas 
 it has beene a Chappell annexed unto Norborne Church almost 400 
 yeares. 2. To complaine of me for some fault &c. comitted by me 
 at some times abroad in companie. For the first, if I loose Sholden, 
 
 * Dr. Casaubon, the son of the learned Isaac, was dispossessed of his livings, but was 
 reinstated at the Restoration. Shortly afterwards he exchanged Minster and Monckton 
 for the rectory of Ickliam in the same county. He died in 1671, in the 72nd year of his 
 age. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 Ill 
 
 peril, I am undone, and my wife and children. For the second, 
 liumanum est errare; pardon humane frailties and personall infir¬ 
 mities; and where proofes against me are not certaine, I pray judge 
 charitablie; nam , ampliandi sunt favor es, as the Sicilian speakes. I 
 can excuse my selfe a tanto, though non a toto. I have the hearts of 
 all my Parishioners, and their hands to (except it be of 3 or 4 of the 
 combiners against me), as I shall shew when occasion is offer’d. 
 Those that complaine of me doe it not for God’s glorie and the good 
 of his Church (for then I could have borne with it), but they vio- 
 lentlie proceed against me out of revenge, envie, hatred, malice, and 
 all uncharytableness, as I shall make it plainelie to appeare heere- 
 affcer. Noble Sir, you know me, intus et in cute; and you have 
 allwaies loved me, and I have beene your lionorer, admirer, and ser¬ 
 vant, and ever will be. I pray, Sir, imbarke yourselfe into my 
 quarrell at this present, and stand up in my defence, and I shall be 
 bound to pray for you all the daies of my life. I have written to 
 S r Edward Masters, S r Peter Hayman and to S r Thomas Peyton, 
 to joine themselves and their freinds and forces for me. I heare 
 Sir Edward Boys is made against me. I beseech you, Sir, stave 
 hym of from hurting me, and winne his love to lielpe me. Thus, 
 concreditting my selfe and all that I have to your custodie and pro¬ 
 tection, I rest 
 
 At your honors comand, 
 
 Edward Nicols. 
 
 Norborne, Janna. 25 th 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To the Honorable S r Edward Dering, Knight 
 and Baronett, present these I pray. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640. Jan. —. M r Nicolls.”] 
 
112 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Cur. I. 
 
 1 February. 
 
 M r EDWARD NICOLS, Incumbent of NORBORNE, his 2nd Letter to S r 
 EDWARD DERING, requesting further time, and that he may be 
 spared the charges of a Summons by the Pursuivant-at-Arms. 
 
 Noble Sir Edward Dering. 
 
 My best respect and service allwaies attend you. Sir, I 
 made bold to write unto you the last weeke ; and S r Edward Master 
 writes, he delivered it unto you on Thursday last. (I am much 
 bound unto him for it.) I pray give me leave to second my first 
 enterprise. I understand that Sampson and Rogers, on Tuseday 
 last, delivered their Bills or Petitions unto you against me. I pray, 
 Sir, be pleased, that in regard I am not well, you will be pleased 
 to differ, and put of the calling upon me to appeare in the Parliament 
 for a month or 6 weeks, or longer, if you may; I shall be much 
 ingaged unto you for it; for trulie I have such a paine on my heart 
 and stopping in my stomacke that I am scarce able to walke up and 
 downe (though blessed be God) I preach twise everie Lord’s day, as 
 I ever did. Eminent Sir, I beseech you let me have your answer 
 this weeke, if it may be, that soe my mind may be setled and dis¬ 
 posed for studie. I desire to be sent for by ordinarie summons, 
 your letters, and not by a Pursevant of Armes, to prevent charges 
 and the clamor of the common people, who thinke a man must 
 streight be bang’d when he is soe sent for. Learned Sir, Omnis in 
 te spes sita est. Deale with me as you please. Thus presuming 
 upon the constancie of your love towards me, my consccience 
 assuring me that I have allwaies beene God’s faithfull servant and 
 his Majesties loiall subject, and painefull in my calling, and praying 
 for the prosperitie of the Parliament, and for your health and hap- 
 pines, I rest 
 
 Your honors servant in the Lord, 
 
 Edward Nicols. 
 
 Norborne, Feb. 1, 1640. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 113 
 
 My brother, M r Thomas Nicols lives in S f Andrew’s Court in 
 Holborne. How happie should I be if you would stoope soe low as 
 to send a letter thither for me; he will speedilie convey it hither. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To the honorable Sir Edward Deriiig, Knight 
 
 O' O 
 
 and Baronett, present these. I pray with 
 speed. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 1640, 4 Feb. M r Nicolls.”] 
 
 VIII. 
 
 COMPLAINT against their Rector SAMUEL KEAME, by the Parish of 
 
 LITTLE CHART. 
 
 Noble Sir, 
 
 Your vicinity of dwelling to the parish of Little Charte, in 
 the County of Kent, cannot but give you to understand how ill our 
 aforesaid parish hath beene served by our minister Samuel Keame, 
 Rector of the said parish for tlieis three yeares space last past, where 
 he hath not performed his service above sixe tymes within the said 
 three yeares; in which tyme, the Cure thereof hath beene divers 
 tymes unserved, and sometymes discharged by drunken ministers, 
 notwithstanding divers complaints thereof made (not onely by my 
 selfe, but alsoe by the officers of the said parish) both to the Court 
 Christian, and to the Comissary, without any redresse. Yet the 
 place where he now inhabiteth, called Lower Layton, being but (as 
 we understand) a Curateshipp, is estimated at lesse then thirty 
 pounds per annum, and the aforesaid parish of Little Charte, being 
 a Parsonage, is worth a hundred pounds per annum. Our earnest 
 desires therefore are, that you would be pleased to take some course 
 that he may be enforced to returne unto this place, being the proper 
 camd. soc. Q 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I 
 
 4 January 
 
114 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 4 January. 
 
 place of his abode, both by lawe and conscience; and so, comending 
 the further prosecution hereof to yourselfe. We committ you to 
 God, and rest, 
 
 Your assured loveing Freinds, 
 
 Rob. Darell. 
 
 John Darell. 
 
 Calehill, January 4 to , 1640. 
 
 The Certificate of the parishioners of Little Charte to the conteints 
 
 aforesaid. 
 
 Heniy Duke ) Churchwardens. 
 Isake Sariman ) 
 
 John King x his rnarke, constable. 
 Bengahin (sic) Broune x his marke. 
 Richard Hasten x his marke. 
 
 Walter Pemble. 
 
 Henry Swyft. 
 
 Richard Fild. 
 
 Robert Rutting. 
 
 Walter Buchar, x his marke. 
 
 [The Superscription is gone.] 
 
 IX. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against ROBERT ELYE the In¬ 
 cumbent, for Non-residence ; and against JOHN TERRY the Curate, for 
 Drunkenness, &c., by the parish of SMARDEN. 
 
 To the Right Honourable the Commons House, now by God’s 
 devine providence assembled this present Parliament. 
 
 The humble Petition of the Housliolders and Parishioners of the 
 Towne and parish of Smarden, in the County of Kent, declaringe 
 also their lamentable greavances occassioned by the non-residence of 
 their minister, and his nott providing an able Curate, 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 115 
 
 In submissive manner sheweth. 
 
 That, whereas the Benefice of Smarden abovesaicl (beinge farmed 
 to one John Armestronge, of Betresden, att 120/. per annum) is in 
 the handes of one Mr. Robert Elye, a double beneficed man, who 
 resideth att his Benefice of Charinge, distant bj estimacion about 
 six myles ffrom Smarden, yett hath nott bene with us these six 
 yeares past, but placeth Curates with us, from time to time, soe 
 negligent in their callings, and vitious in their lives and conversa- 
 cions, as are very offensive and greaveous unto us. And, although, 
 upon the change of our last Curate, wee importund him the said 
 Mr. Elye, by a generall peticion from the most part of us the said 
 parishioners, that he would graunt us that favour to make clioise 
 of our Curate, wee beinge then in possibility of obtaining a very 
 able and sufficient man, diligent in his callinge, and of blamelesse 
 life and conversacion, upon consideracion wee should make up the 
 20/. per annum hee would allow a Curate (and noe more) a com¬ 
 petent meanes, which wee were willinge and should have concluded 
 to have done, but this prevailed nott, but hee put over us (volens 
 nolens) one Mr. John Terry, a man, both for his negligence in his 
 cure, and scandelous life and conversacion, equivalent to the former, 
 as may appeare by these instances followinge. 
 
 First.—The said Mr. Terry hath bene negligent in the dutyes of 
 his callinge; soe that, when the congregacion have been come toge¬ 
 ther one the Lord’s day, hee hath bene absent, none knowinge 
 where, or one what occasion: when corpse have bene to be buried, 
 he hath bene soe distempered with beere that he could not read the 
 buriall. 
 
 Secondly.—The said Mr. Terry (being a man much inclined to 
 the horrid vice of drunckenes) doeth often frequent blind and 
 unlycensed alehouses, wherein he hath bene soe overtaken in the 
 said vice, thatt hee hath bene found lyinge in the streete and 
 dirt, nott able to helpe himselfe, but two men have lead him to his 
 house. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
116 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 Thirdly.—The said Mr. Terry is a ffighter, and that nott only in 
 his owne house (nocens plus exemplo quam peccato) but a breaker of 
 the King’s peace, in strikingeothers, both men and women; and that 
 even att the church doore. All which particulars wee can prove by 
 oath, by divers witnesses of sufficient creditt in our parish. 
 
 And although for these and the like enormityes, wee have nott 
 only complained to Mr. Elye, to have him removed, but also have 
 presented him two severall times unto the Court of Canterbury; but 
 noe way could wee finde any redresse; neither could wee ever heare 
 that any tliinge was said or done to him by the said Court, for his 
 amendment (unless itt were by a purse potion that workes nott) but 
 he proceedeth (a malo ad pejor) to our great griefe and disquiett. 
 
 Wherefore, wee humbly beseech this honourable assembly, to take 
 some order (as in their wisdomes shall be thought meete). If nott 
 that wee may make our owne choice of a more able minister, that 
 may reside with us (non-residency beinge soe generally pernitious), 
 yett that wee may have a man of more reformed life and conversa- 
 cion; and competent meanes may be allowed out of the said Benefice 
 for the meintenance of such an able minestery. 
 
 And wee shall (as duty bindes) pray daily for the prosperous 
 success of this honourable assembly, in through remormation (sic) of 
 the Church, &c. 
 
 Richard Barrowe. 
 
 Samuell Bottinge. 
 
 William Wickham. 
 
 John Hincksell. 
 
 Thomas Cheseman. 
 
 Thomas Hopper. 
 
 John Ball. 
 
 Thomas Claget. 
 
 John Gottly. 
 
 The marke x of John Tornor. 
 
 Jacob Turner. 
 
 John Draner x his marke. 
 Richard Petter. 
 
 Thomas Colly. 
 
 The mark x of John Ilumfary. 
 Thomas Winter. 
 
 Thomas Igldene. 
 
 Jonas Masters. 
 
 Richard Villes. 
 
 The mark x of George Poost. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 117 
 
 John Tarpe. 
 
 Anthony Watts. 
 
 Thomas Mofor. 
 
 The marke of Nicholas x 
 Tailor. 
 
 The marke of Thomas x 
 Turnor. 
 
 The marke of William x 
 Ellens. 
 
 Henry Sharpe his marke HS. 
 William Crutenden. 
 
 Joseph Smyght. 
 
 John Anduill. 
 
 The marke x of Joseph Acrise. 
 Thomas Grenell. 
 
 The mark of Robert Turner. 
 Robert Wekes. 
 
 Robert Canton. 
 
 John Cooke. 
 
 John Mungum. 
 James Weecks. 
 John Gouldwell. 
 John Rich!son. 
 Henery Kinken. 
 Richard Longly. 
 Josias Mawle? 
 Robert Greene. 
 William Cooke. 
 Walltar Gilliam. 
 John Gould. 
 
 John King. 
 
 John Bige. 
 Robert Pett. 
 Henery Biame. 
 Thomas Muncke. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1640, 5 Jan. Smarden.— Sc.”] 
 
 1640-1, 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 X. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against DOCTOR VANE, Minister of 
 Crayford, for unsound doctrine—from the parishioners of DARTFORD. 
 
 To the honourable House of Commons at this present 9 January, 
 assembled. 
 
 The humble Petition of divers of the Parishioners of the Parish of 
 Hartford, in the County of Kent, and others whose names are 
 hereunder written, 
 
 Humbly sheweth, 
 
 That Thomas Vane, Doctor in Divinity, and Minister of the 
 
118 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 parish of Ciiayeord, in the said County of Kent, did preach at Dart- 
 ford aforesayd, on the second daye of Aprill, anno domini 1637 , 
 and delivered these poynts following: viz., that it was necessary fo r 
 every man to confesse his sinnes to the Preist, and shewed many 
 reasons for it, amongst which one was, because the Preist had power 
 to forgive him his sinnes, which he prooved by that place, “ whose 
 sinnes you remitte they are remitted, and whose sinnes you reteyne 
 they are reteyned.” He did then alsoe preache against predestinacion, 
 and for free will, to the great discomforte, trouble, and greife of 
 many of the auditors. 
 
 That, about five yeare since, the sayd doctor did preach at Stone, 
 in the sayd County of Kent, within two myles of Dartford aforesayd, 
 at the baptisinge of one John Wares childe, and did deliver this for 
 positive doctrine, that those children which dyed before they were 
 baptised could not be saved, and therefore, in case of necessity, 
 layemen or midwyfes might baptise, the minister or preist being- 
 absent. 
 
 That, about a yeare since, the sayd Doctor preached at Horton in 
 the sayd County, within three myles of Dartford aforesayd, and in 
 that sermon delivered these doctrines :—That almesdeeds were more 
 acceptable sacrifices to God than prayers or prayses, because (sayd 
 he) if I offer a sacrifice of prayer or prayse I offer that to God 
 which cost me nothing: and that all sinnes were spotts that defile 
 the soule, but some were greater, some lesser, and some like fethers 
 or dust, that vanished and defiled not the soule. 
 
 That, drincking with c.erteyne gentlemen at the Bull in Dartford, 
 did confidently affirme and saye, he was perswaded that the first 
 motion and inclination of the hart to any sinne without consent 
 was not sinne. 
 
 And your Petitioners doe further complayne, that the sayd Doc¬ 
 tor, after he had preached the sayd sermon at Dartford, went into 
 the Chaunsell, and bowed himself towards the Comunion table, and 
 then went up to administer the sacrament; and, when he conse- 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 119 
 
 crateth the bread and wyne, he lifteth them up, and boweth three 1640-1 
 
 severall tymes; and, although it was none of his parish, yet he 16 Car - L 
 
 forced the people to come up to the Raile, which was the first tyme 
 that they were brought to receive kneeling at the Raile. 
 
 May it therefore please this honourable assemblie to take these 
 severall complaints into their serious consideration, and for redresse 
 thereof, and to prevent the spreading and publishing of such like 
 pernicious and popish doctrine, to doe herein as to your great wis- 
 dome and godlie disposition shall seeme most meet. And your peti¬ 
 tioners shall ever pray, &c. 
 
 Thomas Rogers. 
 
 Ro. Heath. 
 
 Robert Watts. 
 
 Will m Motley x his mark. 
 John Smith. 
 
 Raphe Gouldsmith. 
 
 Thomas Smarte. 
 
 Thomas Rownd. 
 
 Richard Saxbey x his mark. 
 
 William Baines. 
 
 Barnard Ellis. 
 
 John Phipps. 
 
 Thomas Andrews. 
 
 William Fellow x his mark. 
 William Lee x his mark. 
 John Lambe. 
 
 William Best. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1640, 9 Jan. Petition, Dartford v. 
 D r Vane. —Sc.”] 
 
 XI. 
 
 Letter from M r C ULMER * to S r EDWARD DERING, announcing that 
 a Petition against the Archbishop is coming from Canterbury. 
 
 Noble Sir, _ 8 Jsnuar ,. 
 
 There are some of Canterburie who intend to waite upon 
 you with a peticion which they have to preferre, touching the greev- 
 
 * Nicknamed “ Blue Dick of Thanet,” v. Wood’s Fasti, ii. 447. 
 
1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 120 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 ances which that great Cittie hath and doth susteyne under the 
 tyranny of Prelacie and Cathedrall there, which darkneth the wlioll 
 Cittie. -They moved me to write to you, which I have done to 
 satisfie them, not doubting (as I tould them) but you would take 
 their cause into harty consideration without a preface. Sir, all that 
 wish well to Sion heer give you many thanks for your zeale and 
 labours for Christ against Antichrist. I am emboldened thus to 
 trouble you, considering your ancient favours towards me, and your 
 kinde offer (when I saw you in London last tearme), to sett your 
 hand to my petition. I shall ere long clayme your promise, for the 
 present preferring the common cause. I have had very ungra¬ 
 cious dealeing from the Lambeth Patriarch, by whom I have bene de¬ 
 prived of my ministry, and all the profitts of my Liveing three yeares 
 and seaven monthes, haveing my selfe, my wife, and seven children 
 to provide for; such is the Prelates tyranny for not consenting to 
 morris daunceing uppon the Lords day. Heer ar some priests who 
 have played their parts in advanceyng the Romish project, whose 
 parishioners ar silent: the honest men that will wayt upon you can 
 acquaint you with some .particulars: soe, ceaseing to trouble you in 
 your most weighty imployments, I crave pardon for myboldnes, and, 
 committing you to the protection of the Lord, 
 
 I remayne, 
 
 Your obleiged freind and servant in the Lord, 
 
 Richard Culmer. 
 
 Harbledowne, neer Canterburie, 
 
 8 Jan. 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To the Eight Worshipfull, and my worthy 
 freind, Sir Edward Deering, at his house 
 in S l Martins lane, neer the Church, pre¬ 
 sent these. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward, “ 1640, 11 Jan. M r Culmer.”] 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 121 
 
 XII. 
 
 PETITION to the Knights of the Shire for Kent against EDWARD 
 IIEjN SHAWj the Vicar, for non-residence and neglect of duty, by 
 the parishioners of SUTTON VALENCE. 
 
 To the right worshipfull Sir Edward Dering, Knight and 
 
 Baronett, and Sir John Colepeper, Knight, Knights of the 
 Sheire for the county of Kent. 
 
 The lmmhle Peticion of the Inhabitants of the parish of Sutton 
 Valence, in the said Countie. 
 
 Humblie shewing unto your worshipps, that Edmund Henshaw, 
 Clerke, is Vicar of that parish, as alsoe of the parish of Brenchley, 
 where he now dwelleth, both vicarages being worth, by credible 
 report, 200/. per annum, of which parish of Sutton his brother was 
 last of all Curatt under him, whoe dyed about three monthes sithens: 
 before whose death (by reason of his sic.knes) wee were not only 
 much neglected, botn in devine prayers and preaching, at least three 
 monthes together, but alsoe since his decease verry uncertainly 
 supplied in both. Soe that on the nativity of our Saviour Christ 
 last wee had neither devine service nor preaching; and on the last 
 fast appointed by His Majesty, some fewe prayers by a neighbour 
 minister, which begann not until past twelve at noone, and ended 
 within halfe an houre; and, at other times soe neglected or un* 
 certainly supplied, that wee are, for the most part, forced to repayre 
 to neighbour churches, the said Vicar himselfe not comeing at us at 
 all, nor any other minister that hath administered the Sacrament to 
 us, since August last. 
 
 In tender consideracion whereof, humblie desire your worshipps 
 wilbe pleased to take such speedie course for redresse hereof as to 
 your grave wisdoms shall seeme best. And wee shalbe for ever 
 bound to pray, &c. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. R 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 12 January. 
 
122 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 13 January. 
 
 Ja: Buckhurst. 
 
 James Sivy ft. 
 
 Tho. Tyndall. 
 
 William Wood. 
 
 Richard Wood. 
 
 John Simcotte. 
 
 Giles Bishopp. 
 
 Robert Lake. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering. 
 Heinsliaw, 12 Jan.”] 
 
 Thomas Lucas. 
 
 John x Usher his marke. 
 Thomas x Homden his mark. 
 Samuell Huet. 
 
 Henry Christian. 
 
 Henry Cultburts x mark. 
 Walter Walten. 
 
 1640. Petition. Sutton Valence v. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Letter from M r WILLIAM FINCH, to S r EDWAED DERING, com¬ 
 plaining of the Popish practices of M r Edward Boughen, minister of 
 WOODCHURCH. 
 
 Right worshipfull Sir, 
 
 Praysing God who hath enabled you for his service in his 
 church, I an unworthy member tlierof having prayed, and so con¬ 
 tinuing, for the reformation of what is therein amisse, doe now toward 
 that great marke adde my poore and weake endevour, by informing 
 you of the estate of the ministry at Woodchurch, performed by Mr. 
 Edward Boughen,* with single sermons on the Lord’s dayes, and 
 oftentimes with the onely reading of an homely, and, in his absence, 
 without either. Lie is a man (as I conceave) superstitiously affected, 
 by his actions manifested,—in his exalting the Communion Table, and 
 violent compelling the Churchwardens to rayle in the same, refusing 
 to administer to such as came not thereunto, his seldome warning of 
 Communions, viz., once a quarter, or thereabouts; besyde, att 
 Easter time, his walking the parish round in his surplasse and hood, 
 
 * Vide Wood’s Athenoe, iii. 388, and Walker’s Sufferings of the Clergy. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 123 
 
 reading prayers and psalmes at divers crosse wayes, and digging 
 ciosses in the earth at divers places of the outbounds of the same: 
 by his gesture—bowing att, to, or before the Communion Table, att 
 the naming of Jesus, and when he prayes that petition, “ Thy will be 
 done in earth as it is in Heaven by his words—bidding some of 
 the last communicants to “ drink agen, more, better, it will doe you 
 noe hurt,” et alia hujusmodi. Hee is allso, as I judge, unsound in doc¬ 
 trine, declared by his preaching that Bishops are the head of the 
 church next under God and Christ; that the edicts of princes and 
 lawes of Bishops are equally to be obeyed for conscience’ sake; by his 
 obscure handling of such places of scripture as seeme to implye 
 generall salvation, the doctrine of beleevers’ assurance of salvation, 
 and of the sacrament: viz., “ Will yee beleeve St. Paul, when he 
 sayeth, In the night , &c.—and will yee not beleeue our Saviour, who 
 saytli. This is my body ?” I verily beleeve he will not deny any of 
 theise his actions, words, or gestures : If he should, there are sufficient 
 wittnesses to prove every perticuler, whose names I shall readily 
 give you, if parishioners doe not shortly joine in an information con¬ 
 cerning the premisses; theise I have privately certifyed, fearing lest 
 that the parishioners may too long delay; and, having finished my 
 information, I pray to God our Heavenly father in Jesus for refor¬ 
 mation to blesse the whole Court of Parliament with hevenly wisdome 
 and understanding, that they may rightly settle and determine all the 
 weighty affaires both now in and yett to come into their hands, and 
 that he would blesse your worship with hapynes external, internail, 
 and eternall, whereunto he saytli Amen who is your worship’s in 
 the Lord to commaund, 
 
 William Finch. 
 
 Woodchurch, this 7th of January, 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 To the right Worshipfull S r Edward Deering at his 
 chamber, London, theise present, I pray you. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 1640, 13th Jan. M> Finch.”] 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
124 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 16 January. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, against their impropriate Rector, 
 BANCROFT, Bishop of Oxford, and M r MOUNTEYN, their Yicar, 
 from the parish of ST. MARY CRAY. 
 
 To the Right Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses 
 of the House of Cotnons, now assembled in Parliament. 
 
 The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Mary 
 Craye, in the County of Kent. 
 
 In all humblenes, your Petitioners shew— 
 
 That the Tythes which your Petitioners do yerely pay unto the 
 Parson of St. Mary Craye aforesaid doth amount to the some or 
 value of 120/. per annum, and to the Vickar of the said parish to the 
 value of 30/. per annum and upwards. But so it is, may it please 
 this honourable assembly, that, notwithstanding wee pay tythes to 
 the Parson to the value aforesaid, yet your Peticioners have not any 
 allowance from him towards the maintenance of a Preacher, nor for 
 the releife of the poore, nor any other parish charge whatsoever. 
 
 That the said Vickar, once in a moneth, or two monethes, makes 
 a Sermon to your Peticioners, and putts in a reader to reade service, 
 to whom he payeth some ffive or six pownds per annum. 
 
 This being a very great greivance and lying very heavy upon 
 your Petitioners, they being very poore, and not knowing how to 
 helpe themselves, but by appealing to this honourable bowse, are 
 become humble sutors that you will be pleased to take the deplorable 
 condicion of your Peticioners into your consideracion; so as they 
 may have redresse of this great greivance, to the glory of God, and 
 the great comfort of your Peticioners; which they humbly leave to 
 this grave and honourable assembly. 
 
 And the Petitioners (as in duty bound) shall ever pray for the 
 good successe of this Parly ament. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 125 
 
 Mathew Draper. 
 Margaret Frith. 
 William Ham an. x 
 Jlion Leues. x 
 George Peartch. 
 Henry Bo inner, x 
 George Wiburne. 
 William Partredue. 
 William Steevens. x 
 Jeramie Manig;e. X 
 John Starte. x 
 
 Edward Hodgson. 
 
 Edward Manvno-e. 
 Thomas Trenchfielld. 
 Tobie Manning. 
 James Jemett. 
 Edward Spurling ? 
 Thomas Borman. 
 Mathew Maning. 
 Thomas Bagffield. x 
 Henerie Rumneye. x 
 
 William Cod ? 
 
 1640-1. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 Robarte ? 
 
 William Bebside. 
 
 [Endorsed in the handwriting of Sir Edward Dering. “ Mem. The parsonage 
 is impropriated to Dr. Bancroft, Bp. of Oxford. Richard Spencer, Esq. is tenant 
 to him. Mr. Mounteyn is Vicar. 1640. 16 Jan. Petition. St. Mary Cray v. 
 Bp. Oxford.”] 
 
 XV. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons for a Resident Minister in each of 
 their Parishes, from the Parishioners of SHOREHAM and OTFORD. 
 
 To the right honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of 19 January, 
 the Commons house of Parliament, 
 
 The humble Peticiou as well of the Inhabitants of the parish of 
 Shorham, in the County of Kent, as alsoe of the Inhabitants of 
 Otford, in the same County, 
 
 Humbly shew, 
 
 That the Impropriations of the Personages of theis two parrishes 
 doe belong and apperteyne to the Deane and Chapter of Westminster, 
 and that theis two Parrish Churches have noe Vicaridges endowed; 
 
126 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 1 6 Car. I. 
 
 19 January. 
 
 but are about a mile and a halfe distant, tli’one from th’other, and 
 they are of good Value; vizt. Shorham, worth 16CV per ann., and 
 Otford worth 200 marks per ann. And which Parsonags, being of 
 soe good value, yet the sayd Deane and Chapter allow the presente 
 Incumbent, Mr. Emerson, onely xx 1 * per ann. and his dwelling, to 
 mayntayne himselfe, his Wife, and Children, and noe more, for the 
 serving of both Cures (he being a honest and laborious minister, and a 
 preacher of God’s word, and one that livetli peaceably and quietly 
 amongst his Parishioners), which service is too heavy for him, for 
 when he is doeing his service at one Parrish, th’other is neglected; 
 and the meanes being so small, the parishioners, by the assistance of 
 Sir Robert Heathes benevolence (of late years) and the Contribucion 
 of parishioners of each parish, have beene forced to hire an assistant 
 to the present curatte. 
 
 Most humbly therefore beseech your honors to be pleased that each 
 Parish may have an honest preaching Minister, and alsoe Competent 
 and sufficient maintenance for each Minister, as this honourable house 
 shall tliinke meete. And, &c. 
 
 [No signatures. Endorsed by Sir Edward Bering, “ 1640, 19 Jan. Petition 
 Shorham et Otford.”] 
 
 XVI. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons for a Resident Minister in each of 
 their Parishes, from the Parishioners of SHOREHAMand OTFORD. 
 
 To the most honourable and high Court of Parliament now 
 assembled, 
 
 The inhabitants of Shorham and Otford, in the Countie of Kent, 
 doe humbly sliewe and petition as followeth:— 
 
 First. That the sayd Shorham and Otford are distinct parishes, each 
 havinge a faire and large Church, the one distant above a mile from 
 
FKOM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 127 
 
 the other; the parish of Shorham consisting^ of eyghtie families, at 
 the least, and Otford of sixtie. 
 
 Secondly, That the tithes and gleabe of Shorham are worth one 
 hundred and sixtie poundes by the yeare ; and the tithes and gleabe of 
 Otford worth two hundred markes yearely. Both which spirituall 
 livinges are annexed to the Colledge of Westminster, and yet the sayd 
 parishes provided by them but ol one minister onely, whose whole 
 maintenance by the C hurch doth not amount yearely to twenty-foure 
 lib. Soe that we the inhabitants of both parishes have bene 
 necessitated, from time to time, to contribute (besides the small 
 benevolence given to Mr. Emerson, our present minister,) to the 
 maintenance of another minister, to assist the sayd Mr. Emerson, in 
 the worke of the ministery. 
 
 We doe therefore most humbly beseech the most honourable 
 Court of Parliament to provide that the sayde Mr. Emerson our 
 Minister (who hath remained with us twenty-five yeares at the 
 leest, preachinge in one of the Churches aforesayd every Sabbath 
 day (except when he hath bene let by sicknesse, or other extraordi¬ 
 nary occasion), sounde and orthodoxe doctrine, and further gained 
 our love by his honest and peaceable life and conversation) may have 
 such competent maintenance setled upon him, for the present, and 
 his successors after him, as shall be found meete accordinge to the 
 wisdome of this honorable assembly, and that for the worke of the 
 ministery in Shorham only. And that the parish of Otford may 
 also have competent maintenance allowed for an honest and able 
 minister to undertake the charge of the ministery for Otford only. 
 So that we the parishioners of both may be disburdened of the 
 charge we have a longe time voluntarily undergone, over and above 
 the payinge of our tithes by lawe injoyned. And wee your humble 
 suppliants shall be further bounde to give thankes to Almighty God 
 for his goodnesse, and also to pray for the prosperity and happinesse 
 of this most honorable assembly, so well affected to such pious 
 workes. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
128 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1610-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 9 March. 
 
 David Polhill. 
 John Polhill. 
 George Dennis. 
 Edward Everest. 
 John Rogers. 
 Thomas Ebbott. 
 Rob. Petty. 
 Thomas Dennys. 
 Edward Smale. 
 Henry Stileman. 
 John Stileman. 
 Thomas Baker. 
 
 John Round. 
 Robart Olliver. 
 Edward Durling. 
 Alexander Lewin. 
 James Goldsmyth. 
 William Hartnupp. 
 David Perritt. 
 Daniel Mallin. 
 John Hills. 
 
 Thomas Lushe. 
 Miles Darker. 
 Samuel Walker. 
 
 George Burtton. 
 Nicholas Wigsill. 
 Walter Harman. 
 William Edwards. 
 William Rogers. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering,” 1640, 19 Jan. Petition. Sborham et 
 Otford.”] 
 
 XVII. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons for a Resident Minister in each of 
 their Parishes, from the Parishioners of SIIOREHAM and OTFORD. 
 
 To the most honourable and high Court of Parliament now 
 assembled, 
 
 The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of Shoreiiam and Ot¬ 
 ford in Kent, who doe humbly shew, as followeth : — 
 
 That whereas Shoreham and Otford are two distinct parishes, 
 about a mile distant each from other; the parish of Shoreham, con¬ 
 sisting of 80 families, and the parsonage valued at 160/. per 
 annum; the parish of Otford of 60 families, and the parsonage 
 valued at 200 markes per annum, both which are annexed to the 
 Colledge of Westminster, and yet the parishes are provided (at the 
 charge of the said colledge) of one minister onely,—namely, Mr. 
 Emerson, whose maintenance is not worth above 24/. per annum; 
 so that wee the Inhabitants of either parish (over and above our tythes 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 129 
 
 duly payed) have beene moved, by way of benevolence, from time to 
 time, to contribute towards the maintenance of another minister, to 
 assist the said Mr. Emerson in the worke of the ministerie, that soe 
 
 we might have the word of God preached, and the holy Sacraments 
 administered in due time and order; the which assistant hath had 
 no other allowance beside our contribution, except ten pounds per 
 annum which Sir Robert Heath, one of the Justices of the King’s 
 Bench, Leassee to the Church of Westminster, for the Parsonage of 
 Otford, hath voluntarily given him. 
 
 Wherefore, as we have petitioned that Mr. Emerson may have 
 competent maintenance, for the present, and his successors after him, 
 for the worke of the ministerie at Shorham only, so wee likewise 
 humbly petition that Mr. Browne, our present assistant to the said 
 Mr. Emerson, who hath beene resident with us theise foure yeares, 
 and hath painefully preached the word of God, may have such com¬ 
 petent maintenance as to your wisdomes shall seeme fit, for the 
 present, and his successors after him, for the worke of the ministerie 
 at Otford only; so that wee the Inhabitants of either parish may bee 
 eased of the said contribution. And wee, as in duty bound, shall 
 ever pray for yonr present and eternall happinesse. 
 
 Shoreham.* 
 
 Edw. Gilbourne. 
 
 John Polhill. 
 
 George Stace. 
 
 Edward Reeve. 
 
 The marke of Alexander 
 Lewine. 
 
 George Carsting. 
 
 The marke of John Rowne. 
 
 Otford.* 
 
 David Polhill. 
 
 Rob. Petty. 
 
 The marke of Christopher 
 Lush. 
 
 John Stileman. 
 
 The marke of Thomas Dennys. 
 William Children. 
 
 Thomas Lushe. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 * The framers of the petition put headings, “ Shoreham ” and l< Otford,” as if to 
 keep the signatures of the two parishes distinct; but the scrabblings of the subscribers 
 make the distinction very difficult, if indeed possible. I think it was originally intended 
 that there should be a double column of signatures to each parish. As nearly as I can 
 guess, the first column viz. from “ Gilbourne ” to “Dab” are for Shoreham; and 
 the second column, from “ Polhill ” to “ Sharke ” are for Otford. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. S 
 
1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 21 January. 
 
 130 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 Ezekias Brian. 
 
 Edward Euere. 
 
 Henry Stileman. 
 
 John Rogers. 
 
 The marke of William Gibson. 
 The marke of Thomas Powser. 
 The marke of Thomas Perone? 
 The marke of Edward Ffuller. 
 The marke of Arthur Durling. 
 George Dennis. 
 
 The marke of Mathew Garner. 
 The marke of William 
 Hartnupp. 
 
 The marke of Robert Hills. 
 The marke of Thomas Ffielder. 
 The marke of Edward Polhill. 
 Sa. Spenett. 
 
 Thomas Pearch. 
 
 Thomas Dalton. 
 
 John Dab. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 
 Sr Edw. Gelborn.”] 
 
 Samuell Walker. 
 
 The marke of John Hollans. 
 The marke of Robert Weary. 
 The marke of Thos. Durker. 
 The marke of William 
 Edwards. 
 
 The marke of William 
 Christian. 
 
 The marke of Walter Herman. 
 The marke of William Glover. 
 The marke of George Sone. 
 The marke of John Sharke. 
 
 », 9 March. Petition pro Browne per 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 PETITION to the Knights of the Shire for Kent, that the Vicarial tythes 
 of FAIRFIELD, in the hands of the church of Canterbury, may be 
 restored to the services of their church, from the Parishioners of 
 FAIRFIELD. 
 
 lo the Right Worship full S 1 Edward Deering, Knight, and 
 S r John Culpeper, Knight, Knights of the Sheire for the 
 County of Kent, assembled in the most honourable Courte of 
 Parliament. 
 
 The humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Ffairefeild, 
 in the County of Kent, aforesayd. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 131 
 
 Your humble Peticioners shewe unto your good worships, that, 
 albeit we have a Parsonadge and a Vicaradge, within our parish, of 
 the yearely valewe of threescore pounds per ann., yet, soe it is, may 
 it please your worships, that both our Parsonadg and Vicaradg 
 (which was set out for a Vicar to doe the service of the Church) is 
 leased out by the Church of Canterbary, and a smale stipend reserved 
 for the maintenance of a Minister, which is soe meane that noe well 
 deserveing man will accept of it, to wayte and attend uppon it, to 
 read and preach the worde of God unto us, every Sunday and Holli¬ 
 day constantly, for the advancement of God’s glory, and the comforte 
 of our soules; soe that wee are in a manner left utterly destitute of 
 the good meanes of our salvation; haveing a sermon but once in a 
 moneth, and Common Prayer read unto us by one that serves annother 
 cure, but seldome in due season; which is a great greefe unto us all 
 whoe desire to be better taught and instructed in matters of our 
 salvation. 
 
 In tender consideration whereof, your humble Petitioners earnestly 
 desire your worships, being you are elected and called to that high 
 place, to be gracious instruments for the good of God’s Church, and 
 your Country, to use your pious endeavours that the tythes belong¬ 
 ing to our Vicaridg may againe be restored to the Church, for the 
 maintenance of a preaching Minister, that, in time to come, wee may 
 be better taught and instructed; and wee, and our children which 
 are yet unborne, shall ever be bound to pray for your worships, in 
 much happines long to continue; and rest in all humble service by 
 you ever to be commanded. 
 
 William Gilbarte. 
 
 The marke of Steuen Hicksted. 
 
 Richard Halle. 
 
 Peter Mapleden. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 1640, 21 Jan. Petition. Fayrfield v. 
 
 .”1 
 
 * 
 
 John Barlinge. 
 Thomas Coly. 
 Willame Harden. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I 
 
132 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against their Yicar, PFRANCIS 
 WORRALL, from the Parishioners of EAST PECKHAM. 
 
 23 January. 
 
 To the Honourable the Knights, Burgesses, and Commons 
 assembled in the High Court of Parliament. 
 
 The humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of East Peckham, in the 
 County of Kent, 
 
 Sheweth, 
 
 These ensewing greivancs in our said parish. 
 
 Ffirst.—That Ffrancis Worrall, Clerke, who is our Minister, 
 is not only Viccar of our parish, but is also Viccar of Watringbury, 
 a myle distante from the same. 
 
 2. That the said M r Worrall doth many tymes serve the Cure 
 John Hugin. himselfe of both these Parishes, and is soe uncertaine at such tymes 
 
 in officiating his Cure, that, our Parish being spacious, the Pa- 
 WiiiiamFfleete. l’ishioners cannot come to Church with any convenience in the 
 morning, and at other tymes coming (at tymes accustomed in other 
 parishes) loste theire labour, he being dispatcht and gone to his Cure 
 at Watringbury. 
 
 3. He is very negligent in preaching, insomuch that we have not 
 a Sermon at our parish above once in a fortnight (except it be a 
 funerall Sermon, which is very seldome). 
 
 4. Our Communion Table is sett upp to the East end of the 
 Chancell, close to the wall, alterwise, the said table there rayled in, 
 
 Henry Denny, and a new wainscott at the East side of the said Table made with 
 the picture of angells therein carved. 
 
 5. He did refuse to administer the Sacrament of the Lords Supper 
 to one of the Inhabitants of the said parish, although in decent 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 133 
 
 manner he did desire the same, and offered himselfe in the Chancell, 
 and all because the said Inhabitant would not come upp to the 
 rayle to receive the same. 
 
 John Judd.* 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 23 Jan., 1640. Petition. East Peckliam 
 v. Won-all.” “ Pet. Sc.”] 
 
 XX. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons from the parishioners of HOATH to 
 be separated from RECULVER, and to have a distinct minister for 
 the Chapelry of Hoath. 
 
 To the honourable House of Commons nowe assembled in 
 Parliament. 
 
 The humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of the Burro ugh of 
 HOATH, in the county of Kent, 
 
 Sheuinge, 
 
 That, whereas the parish Church of Reculver in the said County 
 was antiently impropriate to the Archbishops of Canterbury, and a 
 Vicar endowed to serve the Cure there; to which Church the 
 Burrough of Ploath was supposed to bee belonginge; and the Vicars 
 of Reculver, for the time beeinge, have used to find a Curate to saie 
 divine service in the Chappell of the said Burrough, there beeinge a 
 faire Chappell or Church within the same Burrough : and Mr. Bar- 
 naby Knell beeinge nowe Vicar of Reculver, and endeavouringe 
 to compell the Inhabitants of the said Burrough to come to the said 
 • Church of Reculver, to heare divine service; and to save himselfe 
 from the charge of maynteyninge a Curat to saie divine service in 
 the said Chappell of Hoath, did, for three yeeres together, forbeare to 
 saie divine service, either by himselfe, or by any Curate of his, 
 
 * The other signatures are in the margin, as if the parties signed to the particular 
 clauses opposite their names, and not to the whole petition. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 25 January. 
 
134 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 duringe all that tyme, whereby your Petitioners have beene inforced, 
 at their owne charge, to hire a Curat to saie divine service in the 
 said Chappell, or else the same would have hitherto remained un¬ 
 served. And, Coras much as the said Chappell is very convenient 
 for a parish Church, and the Inhabitants of the same Burrough 
 maynteine and repaire the said Chappell at their owne charges, and 
 alsoe the poore of the same Burrough, and usually goe the perambu- 
 lacion of the lands within the same Burrough, as though it were a 
 parish of itselfe, and have Churchwardens and Overseers for the 
 poore there, and other officers as the neighbouringe parishes have; 
 and the same Chappell is fower miles distant from the Church of Re- 
 culver, and hath noe way thither but the Common high waye, where 
 horses goe, which in winter time is very fowle, and almost impassa¬ 
 ble for footemen; and many of the Inhabitants of the said Burrough 
 are aged men, and not able to goe soe farre to Church: neither is 
 it fit for the Inhabitants to carry their children soe farre to bee 
 baptized. 
 
 For which causes, and divers others, your peticioners humbly de¬ 
 sire that the Vicar of Reculver maye be compelled to find an able 
 Curat, to serve the Cure in the said Burrough; or that the Vicaridge 
 tithes and other profitts of the said Burrough maye be imploied for 
 the mayntenance of such an able minister to serve the Cure there, as 
 your Peticioners shall provide for that purpose; and that you wilbee 
 pleased to take such course theirin as in your wisdomes you shall 
 thinke fit, for the redresse and ease of your Peticioners. 
 
 William Joy. ) rn . , 
 
 ri m , I Churchwardens. 
 
 John Christian x hismarke. ) 
 
 Nicholas Hamrnan. 
 
 James Rose. 
 
 Thomas Rose x his marke. 
 Valentine Ewell x his marke. 
 John Austin x his marke. 
 Robert Ferman x his marke. 
 Thomas Hamon x his marke. 
 
 William Sin nock x hismarke. 
 William Freind x his marke. 
 William Pacy x his marke. 
 Nicholas Hooker x his marke. 
 
 J Overseers. 
 
 Robert Wilckes. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 135 
 
 Richard Staynes x his raarke. Salomon Plumer x his marke. 
 John Christian the younger x John Browne x his marke. 
 
 his marke. Richard Clarke x his marke. 
 
 John Morris x his marke. Robert Whetnall x his marke. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 1640, 25 Jan. Petition. Hoath, v. 
 Knell.”] 
 
 XXL 
 
 PETITION of BARNABAS KNELL, Vicar of RECULVEE, to S r ED¬ 
 WARD DEERING, to have 18k restored to him, which had been 
 kept back from him by the Petitioners against him at HOATH. 
 
 To the honourable S r Edward Deering, Kt. and Baronet, 
 and one of the Oracles of the honnorable House of Parliament. 
 
 The humble Peticion of Barnabas Knell, Clerke, the distressed 
 Vicar of Reculyer, in Kent. 
 
 Sheweth and seweth, 
 
 That whereas your Petitioner, aged 67 yeares, whereof he hath 
 spent neare 39 peicably, honestly, and painfully, in his well approved 
 Minestry at Reculver and Hoth, hath now at last by a defective 
 order made by S r Nathaniell Brent, Commissary of Canterbury, by 
 direction (as he saith) of the Lord Archbishop, 18k per annum 
 ordered to be paid to your said Petitioner, by certen of the Inhabi¬ 
 tants of Hoth aforesaid, for the Tithes, &c. thence arising, cleteyned 
 from him by William Joy, John Austin, and Thomas Hamon, 
 against law and concience, upon pretence of a peticion exhibited by 
 them to the house of Parliament, for a Minister to serve the cure 
 of the said Chappell, where never was any; the said Chappell being 
 erected only for Mass, and other superstitious ceremonies, at the 
 buriall of the dead ; whereby your Petitioner, making scarce 24 k 
 per annum of all the Tithes of Reculver beside, is not only destitute 
 of meanes to susteyne himself, his wife of neere 60 yeeres of age, 2 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I 
 
 20 July 
 
136 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1641 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 6 October. 
 
 sickly daughters, a poore sister aged 74 yeares, and an Orphan 
 grandchild of 9 yeares (all which depend either wholy or for the 
 most part upon your Peticioner) ; but is daly in danger of imprison¬ 
 ment for debt, whereby he wilbe hindred from his cure. 
 
 It would be your honors good pleasure, to take present order with 
 the said Joy, Austin, and Hamon, for the payment of the said 18/. 
 already due to your Petitioner; and what shall futurly be determined 
 by the house of Parliament touching the service of the said Chappell 
 your Petitioner shall most humbly submitt himself unto. 
 
 And be bound to pray for your honors long prosperity. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 1641, 20 July. Petition. M r Knell.”] 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Statement of the disputes about HOATH. 
 
 The cause of Hoatii stands thus: — 
 
 We find by antient records, that originally the church of Re¬ 
 culver hath had these chappells belonging to it; viz., Hoath, 
 St. Nicholas in Thanett, All Saints, and Hearne; the 
 which chapell of All Saints, being fallen to decay, has of longe tyme 
 and doth to this day belonge to the parish of St. Nicholas; the 
 which chapells has all of them bin under the cure and charge of 
 the Vic.ker of Reculver, not supplying all of them him selfe, 
 but he finding a suffitient curat in each chapell; and, in the 
 year 1310, Archbishop Winchelsey granted to the Vicker of 
 Reculver all such small Tythes as were in Reculver and 
 Hoath, and sertaine yeerely pentions out of St. Nicholas and 
 Hearne, as till this day is performed ; as that the Vicker of St. 
 Nicholas should have all such small tythes as were in St. Nicholas, 
 paying to the Vicker of Reculver 3/. per annum; and the Vicker of 
 Hearne should have all such small tythes as were in Hearne, onely 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 137 
 
 paying to the Vicker of Reculver 40s. per annum ; and soe, by 
 reason that Reculver and Hoath were lesse than either of the other 
 two, and alsoe that the yeerely tythes of Reculver and Hoath did 
 not amount to soe much as the tythes of either S l Nicholas or 
 Hearne, left the Church of Reculver with the Chapell of Hoath to 
 the cure and charge of the Vicker of Reculver, the inhabitance of 
 Hoath being no wayes bound to goe to the church of Reculver, to 
 lieare divine service, or receive the Sacrament, having within the said 
 parish or chapelry of Hoath a fayer Church or Chapell, and Church¬ 
 yard thereto belonging, of their owne, wherein they have bin alwayes 
 used to heare divine service, receive the sacraments, baptize and 
 burye, with all other writes and serimonies comanded by the Church 
 of England, administered by the Vicker of Reculver; and sume yett 
 living which can remember ever since Queene Maryes dayes, will 
 testifie upone their othes that the Vicker of Reculver has bin used 
 to come, once in every moneth, to serve the cure in Hoath Chapell 
 and the other three Sundayes it has bin served by a reader: and 
 that the Vicker of Reculver has bin used att all tymes to come to 
 baptize, burye, and Church women within the Chapell of Hoath, soe 
 oft as neede did require ; and thus stood the cause till Mr. Knell’s 
 dayes; but then Mr. Knell, that now is, cha[ng]ing Liuings with 
 one Mr. Hunt that then was, the said Mr. Knell being setled vicker 
 of Reculver and Hoath, tooke upone him, without all order, to com- 
 pell the Inhabitants of Hoath to goe to Reculver, to have divine 
 service and soe to alett their owne Chapell stand unserved ; but Com¬ 
 plaint being made to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, his grace, 
 in the yeare 1606, being then at Ffoord, one of his graces Manner 
 houses within the said parish or chapelry of Hoath, compelled the 
 said Mr. Knell to come before him, to answere what was complained 
 against him, the which he did; but, when his grace had heard what 
 the inhabitance could say for them selves, and what to them did 
 belong from the sayd Mr. Knell; and alsoe what Mr. Knell could 
 say for himselfe, did there threten Mr. Knell, that if he did not see 
 the cure in Hoath Chapell better served, he would take it quite 
 away from him ; but Mr. Knell then pleaded povertie, and that he 
 CAMD. SOC. T 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
138 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 had a wife and maney small children, and that he was not able to 
 mayntayne them upone soe small a rate, did then intreat his grace, 
 that he would be pleased to tollerate him to be absent from his cure 
 in Reculver, one Sunday in every moneth, soe that the Clarke myght 
 be tollerated to read divine service the other three Sundayes, 
 according to the former custome; the which being considered of by 
 his grace, made it, or caysed it to be made, by his ordinary, an order 
 under his hand and seale, the which order was well and dulye per¬ 
 formed all that Bishop’s dayes, untill the yeere of our Lord 1636 ; 
 but then, at the visitatione at Easter, houlden at Canterbury, by 
 Sir Nathaniell Brent, the Clarke was sited in, and there forbidden 
 by him to read divine service, alleaging that my Lord would not 
 allow of a Layman to read divine service; soe that for one whole 
 yeere we had divine service but once in every moneth, when the 
 vicker of Reculver his turne came; but then, at the visitatione 
 houlden at Canterbury by Sir Nathaniell Brent at Easter, in the 
 yeere 1637, wheither by complaint made by the parishioners of 
 Reculver, for want of their minister the moneth Sunday, or by Mr. 
 Knell’s owne meanes, we knowe not, but the sayd Mr. Knell was 
 there forbidden by the sayd S r Nathaniell Brent, not to leave his 
 mother Church unserved the moneth Sunday that he came to serve 
 his Cure in Hoath, alleaging that my Lord would not have his 
 mother Church stand unserved, to goe to say divine service in a 
 chappell or handett, and not forbidding the said Mr. Knell all together 
 to leave his cure in Hoath unserved; but he, to save him selfe the 
 charge of a Curat, tooke upone him of him selfe all together to 
 neglect his cure in Hoath, for the space of three yeeres and upwards, 
 except the administering of the sacrament once or twise in a yeere, 
 and besides, to compell us to goe to Reculver to heare divine service ; 
 but the inhabitants of Hoath, finding themselves destitute of all 
 heavenly comfort, made their petitione to my Lord of Canterbury 
 his grace that now is for releife, who presently did referr it to one 
 Mr. Sumner of Canterbury, to informe him how the Cause stood 
 with Hoath Chappell, and what did belonge from the Vicker of 
 Reculver therein; wliome, upone receit of that referrence made 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 139 
 
 report in writing what he found in record; but there the matter dyed, 
 and we heard noe more of it; then we made a second peticione, and 
 then his grace gave us this answere; that, if we would have a 
 chapell of ease, we must pay for our ease ; but then, petitione being 
 made againe by an other, the which when he had redd, referred the 
 Cause to one Mr. Hart, his graces then solissiter, to make report unto 
 him, how the Cause stood conserning Hoath Chappell, the which 
 he did alsoe; but there, as the other, that dyed alsoe; but then, a 
 third Churchwarden being chosen, through the perswations of others, 
 how that it was a shame that our Chapell should stand soe, and we 
 goe to other Churches, and how that if my Lord had but a right 
 informatione of our Cause, we should have a remedye, made a fourth 
 petitione to his grace, the which when he had perused, referred the 
 Cause to S r Nathaniell Brent, to settle the matter that he heard noe 
 more of it, to whome he did presently repaire, being then in London, 
 whoe, when he had read my Lord’s reference, appoynted us a day of 
 hearing in Canterbury, the weeke after, which was about Whitsun¬ 
 tide 1640, and did bid us to speake to Mr. Knell, to appeere before 
 him the same day with us, the which, soe soone as we came home, 
 wee did; but, before the day of hearing came, Mr. Knell went to S r 
 Nathaniell Brent, and did their make way for him selfe, that we 
 should take the tythes unto our owne hands, and soe to give him 18/. a 
 yeere; soe that when the day of hearing came, without we would 
 take the tythes into our owne hands, and soe give M r Knell 18/. a 
 yeere, we were like to speede as before, and alsoe, being thretned by 
 S r Nathaniell Brent, that, if we would not agree to that order, we 
 should stand to the Lawe ; and alsoe, that if ever we came before my 
 Lord againe, to trouble him with this matter, we should be layd by 
 the heeles, and being alsoe before thretned by other parishes for 
 comming to their Churches, to be sited to the Court, for taking up 
 of their places in there Pues, we were forced to condesend to an order 
 which was against lawe, and to our great henderance. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1641. 6 October. Certificate, Hoatli 
 
 v. M r Knell.” 
 
 And enclosed in it is the paper subjoined.] 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
140 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 Seasons shewed by the Inhabitants of the Borrough or Chapellrie of Id oath ; 
 why they doe denye to goe to the parish church of Reculver to heare 
 divine service, receive the sacrament, baptise, andburie their dead, &c. 
 
 First. For that we have within our borrough or chapellrie a very 
 fayer church or chapell, sittuat with in the midst of a church-yard, 
 very convenient to bury the dead in; and alsoe we have within our 
 chapell all ornaments dessent and fitting the service of God, as all 
 neicdibourinu churches have. 
 
 o o 
 
 2. Secondly. We are not fett in by perambulation by aney other 
 parish, but have aways bin used to goe the bounds with in our sayd 
 burrough, of ourselves, with out aney other. 
 
 3. Thirdly. We doe beare all offices within our Burrough, of our¬ 
 selves, noe officer of aney parish medling with it, nor we with them ; 
 and we doe repaire our Church, of ourselves; and alsoe mayntaine 
 our poore with out the lielpe of any. 
 
 4. Fourthly. We have within our Borough or Chapelrye 40 
 poore famelyes, and most of theme be exceedying poore, the which 
 doe contayne to 150 soules, and upwards, whereof are 100 and odd 
 of them Communicants. 
 
 5. Fifthly. Our Chapell stands full fower myles from Reculver, 
 and maney of our people are very aged people, not able to goe soe 
 far; and maney children whoe are ill brought up for want of in¬ 
 struction. 
 
 6. Sixthly. We have noe way to Reculver, but by the King’s high 
 way, the which in winter tyme is soe fowle that it is allmost im¬ 
 passible. 
 
 7. Seventhly. If there be aney neglect by aney of the officers of 
 our parish, or aney fault to be found in our Chapell, the Court takes 
 liould of us as well as of aney other parish. 
 
 8. Eightthly. We doe carrie in bills of presentment at all visita¬ 
 tions, and alsoe of all marriages, burialls, and christenings, dun 
 within our borrow or Chapelry, by ourselves. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 141 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Petition to the House of Commons (that the Archbishop of Canterbury, as 
 Impropriator, may be made to increase the income of the Vicar) 
 from the Parishioners of WALMER. 
 
 The humble Informacion and Peticion of the Inhabitants of 
 Walmer, in the county of Kent, and diocese of Canterburie. 
 
 Sheweth and certyfieth 
 
 That, whereas our minister M r Anthony Bromston is 
 neither a persecutor nor innovator, nor a scandalous person ; but a 
 diligent preacher, and of honest life and conversacion, having lived 
 many yeeres amongst us : and, whereas the allowance for the main¬ 
 tenance of the minister there is not above xvj u per annum, where¬ 
 with it had not been possible for him to susteine himselfe, his wife 
 and many children, had it not been for the free contribucion of some 
 few well disposed people well knowing his merit and integrity, and 
 pitttying his small allowance. And, whereas the Rectorie or Parso¬ 
 nage there is worth 100L by the yere, whereof he receiveth no part. 
 And, where also a pension of viij 11 per annum ought to issue out of 
 the said parsonage, and of right to belong unto him as Vicar (as may 
 appeare by Record in the Court of Augmentacion) whereof he yet 
 never received part, notwithstanding peticion made for the same to 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury, to whome the said parsonage doth 
 belonge. 
 
 May it therefore please you (in tender care for the good of our 
 soules) to take some course that a competent allowance may be pro¬ 
 vided for the maintenance of a preaching minister amongst us ; and 
 if it shall seeme fitt unto your wisedomes that the arreares also of the 
 said pension may be restored unto him, for the present releife of him 
 (being a sickly weake man) and for the good of his wife and children. 
 
 And we the parishioners (together with him and his) shall be bound 
 to pray both for your pious endeavours, and for the whole assembly 
 of the high Court of Parliment. 
 
 Ni. L’isle. Will. Hugesson. 
 
 Thomas Gillowe. Richard Sladden. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 25 January. 
 
142 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO TIIE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 26 January. 
 
 John Samson. 
 
 John Gillowe. 
 
 Winter Gillowe. 
 
 Thomas Philpot. 
 
 William Lambert. 
 
 Henry Chandeler. } Cliurch- 
 Richard Solmes. S wardens. 
 John Bowie. 
 
 Davyd Sayer. 
 
 Tho. Willington. 
 
 John Sladden. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 
 pro Bromston.”] 
 
 John Adams. 
 
 Isake Samson. 
 
 William Gillowe. 
 
 Allexander Castle. 
 
 William Hamon. 
 
 Henry Hamon. 
 
 John Watson. 
 
 Anthony Ffoxe. 
 
 George Lull. 
 
 George Leake. 
 
 '. 25 January. Petition, Walmer 
 
 XXIY. 
 
 Return to an Order of the House of Commons with Information as to the 
 Rectory, Vicarage, &c. of GOUDHURST. 
 
 The Information of the Parish of Goodhirst according to 
 that Order injoyned by the Honorable House of Commons December 
 19 th, 1640. 
 
 Lett the Honorable Committee be pleased to understand, that our 
 Parsonage of Goodhirst in Kent, in the hundred of Harden, is im¬ 
 propriated to the Deane and Chapter of Rochester, being in valew, 
 as far as wee can understand, 100/. per annum. 
 
 The Vicaridge, estimated per annum att 100/., or upwards, is 
 possesed by Dr. Horsmanden, non-Resident, being also parson of 
 Ulcombe in Kent, estimated per annum 200/. and upwards. 
 
 Our Cure in Goodhirst, in which is about 1,400 Communicants, 
 hath bin faithfully and solely dischardge, for some yeares, by Mr. 
 Edw. Bright, upon allowance from the Dr., on his part, but 24/. per 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 143 
 
 annum, who standing now unjustly suspended, as his already heard 
 cause in the Honorable House of Parliament testifieth, beincv a 
 sufferer, formerly in Surrey, in the losse of a Living, and now in 
 Kent, in the losse of his Ministry and meanes, is a well deserving 
 Minister, faithfull and painefull in preaching, pious and peaceable in 
 conversation, much desired by us, to be our Restored and Absolute 
 Instructor, according to the tenour of our past petition in his behalfe. 
 
 John Austen. James Besbeech. 
 
 Richard Besbeech. 
 Robart Remington. 
 
 John Morgan. 
 Robert Bathurst. 
 William Perren. 
 
 Samuell Austen. 
 
 George Besbeech. 
 
 Inhabitants in the Parish of Goodhirst. 
 
 1640. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 XXY. 
 
 Letter to S r EDWARD DERING, enclosing the above Return and Informa¬ 
 tion from the Inhabitants of GOUDIiURST. 
 
 Worthy Sir. 
 
 Our Services premised, wee are bold to present unto you 
 the Information of our parish, draughted, as neare as we could, in all 
 particulars, according to the order of your Honorable House, about 
 the Impropriation and Yalew of our Parsonage, worth and estimate 
 of our Vicaridge, non-Residencie, and noe more, of our D r and Yicar, 
 true worth and condition of our late, yett now for a season lost, 
 Minister, upon the hope of whose restoring and establishing our 
 soules depend, and towards whom our desires are very liartie, sincere, 
 and free ; may it be your pleasure but to further us what you may 
 in our assured injoyment of him, and you shall oblige us and ours for 
 ever, in most strong bands of all dutiful respect. 
 
 Mr. Bright desires us to present his service to you with all thank- 
 fulnesse, remembering your care and free furtherance in his Parla- 
 
144 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 12 March. 
 
 mentarie cause. Our hopes, yea oursoules hopes, lye in your helpe. 
 Wee besech the Lord to prosper you, and that honorable parla- 
 mentarie assembly; to the great reformation of the land in generall, 
 and the soule saving good of our place in speciall. Thus being bold 
 to desire that to which wee know your owne true worth and willing- 
 nesse w r ill freely leade you, wee now cease your farther trouble, 
 and will for ever rest, 
 
 Yours to command 
 
 John Austen. 
 
 Richard Besbeech. 
 
 John Morgan. 
 
 George Besbeech. 
 Robert Remington. 
 James Besbeech. 
 William Perren. 
 
 Goodhirst, 26th January, 1640. 
 
 Inhabitants of the Parish of Good hirst. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 “ To the right worshipful Sir Edward Dering, Knight and 
 Barronett, at his lodging in S r Henry Gibbs his house, in 
 St. Martin’s Lane, these present.” And endorsed by S r 
 Edward, “27 January 1640, certificate Goudherst.”] 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Petition to the House of Commons for the restoration of their Curate Mr 
 BRIGHT, who had been suspended by the Archdeacon of Canterbury. 
 From the parishioners of GOUDHURST. 
 
 To the honorable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses 
 assembled in the Commons howse of Parliament. 
 
 The humble peticion of the Parishioners and Inhabitants of Goud- 
 I-iurst in the County ol Kent. 
 
 Humbly sheweth, 
 
 That your petitioners have, for a long time past, had the comfort 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 145 
 
 of a faithfull and able preacher, one Mr. Bright, as Curate and 
 Lecturer of the said Parish, who, in his place, tooke much paines and 
 care for the saveing of soules, till, about Michaelmas last, he was 
 suspended by the Archdeacon of Canterbury; but for what cause 
 your petitioners know not. 
 
 That D r Horsmonden, being Vicar of the said Parish, but non¬ 
 resident, hath lately, to cross your Petitioners’ intencions of haveing 
 the said M r Bright settled as formerly, resigned up the said Vicar- 
 idge to one M r Wilcocks, a man unfitt, and very unable to execute 
 the great cure of the said Parish consistinge of many thousand soules, 
 as will be sufficiently proved by good testimony. 
 
 Your Peticioners therefore humbly pray that this honorable as- 
 semblie wilbe pleased to take the premises into your grave con- 
 sideracions ; and that your Peticioners may not be frustiate of a 
 painfull minister ; and, if it be possible, that they may enjoy the said 
 M r Bright, whose ability, industry, and good conversation wee have 
 had exceeding good tryall of. 
 
 And they shall ever pray &c. 
 
 John Morgan. 
 
 John Hartredge. 
 
 [Endorsed by S 1 ' Edward Dering— 11 1640. 12 March. Petition. Goudherst 
 pro Bright.”] 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, about the neglected state of their 
 Parishes, from the Parishioners of LEEDS and BEOOMFIELD. 
 
 To the Honorable the Knights, Burgesses, and Commons 
 assembled in Parliament. 
 
 The humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of the Parishes of Leeds 
 and Bromfield in the County of Kent. 
 
 Humbly shewing 
 
 That the Archbishopp of Canterbury is Parson of both our 
 CAMD. soc. u 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 January. 
 
146 
 
 PETITIONS DELATING TO THE CLEEGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. 1. 
 
 28 January. 
 
 Parishes, and receiveth the proffitts thereof: and hath placed but one 
 Curate to serve in both our said Parishes, whose name is Mr. Richard 
 Marsh, allowing unto his said Curate, by common report, but 
 12 1. 6s. 8 d. per annum, for serving of both the Cures; so that wee 
 have not that preaching amongst us as we could desire, and might 
 be expected, if we had severall Curates over our Parishes. And, 
 moreover, according to direccions from this honorable house, wee 
 humbly certifie that the aforesaid Mr. Marsh, the Curate aforesaid, 
 is Parson of Ruckinge, in the Countie aforesaid, where he is not resi¬ 
 dent, and the said Parsonage of Ruckinge is reputed to be worth 
 cxx u per annum, at the least. 
 
 Wherefore, wee doe humbly desire, that you would be pleased to 
 weigh our condicion, and to doe for us therein as in your discrecions 
 shall seeme fitt. And the rather for that some of us have beene 
 constrayned to goe to other parishes, for want of preaching at our 
 owne parishes. And have beene cited, troubled, and molested for soe 
 doing, to the saddning of our hearts, and wasting of our estates. 
 
 John Sax by. 
 Gregory Wattes. 
 John Startup. 
 Gregory Odierne. 
 
 George Day. 
 George Jenings. 
 Alexander Wattell. 
 Thomas Robens. 
 
 The marke x of 
 Thomas Wilmot. 
 Thomas x Yriire ? 
 
 O 
 
 James x Dennes. 
 Henry Colyson. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640. January. Petition. Leedes and 
 Bromfeild v. Marsh. 
 
 “ Prineipall witnesses John Saxby. 
 
 Gregory Watts.”] 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons that they may have a resident Vicar, 
 from the Parishioners of YALDING. 
 
 To the honourable the Knights, Burgesses, and Commons now 
 assembled in the High Court of Parliament. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 147 
 
 The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of Yaldinge in the 
 County of Kent, 
 
 Shewing, 
 
 That the Parish of Yaldinge in the hundred of Twiford in the 
 County of Kent is impropriated unto Bennett Ward, widdowe; and 
 that the Parsonage tithes there, are of the yearlie value of clx 11 at 
 the least. 
 
 That the Viccaridge there is of the yearlie value of lxxx h , besides 
 the Viccaridge house and 30 acres of Glebe land, which is lett at 
 xxx u per annum. 
 
 That Mr. Ffrancis Taylor is our Viccar, who is also Rector of 
 Clapham in the County of Surrey, and there residing, and non¬ 
 resident with us, havinge not beene with us himselfe by the space of 
 one quarter of a yeare now last past, and upwards, and not having 
 sett over us any setled Curate in his absence, by the space of sixe 
 monethes last past, and upwards. 
 
 Wee have had noe preaching Pastor that hath beene conscionable 
 to performe his office faithfully amongst us by the space of thirtie 
 yeares and upwards, whereby honest hearts are sadded, and others 
 are very ignorant and lewd. 
 
 Our Communion table is sett upp close to the wall, at the east end 
 of the chancell, alterwise; the east end of the said chancell (to 
 which the said Table is ioyned) is new wainscotted, with Cherubyms 
 carved in the said wainscott, and a rayle with two ascents thereto 
 lately made. Mr. Thomas Tourney, who was our late Viccar, and 
 is now Viccar of Wittersham, in the Isle of Oxney, in the said 
 county, did usually bowe to the said Table, and adore it: soe that 
 wee not knowing what the end and meaning of such things are, are 
 thereat much troubled, and our consciences offended. 
 
 Wherefore, wee doe earnestly and humbly desire this honourable 
 house to take consideracion of our condicions, and to remove our 
 grievances; and so to provide that we may have faytlifull pastors. 
 Wee humbly make bold to mencion Mr. Ffrancis Cornewell, a pain- 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
148 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 February. 
 
 full preacher of good report, which wee nevertheless recomend to 
 your godly wisdome. 
 
 George Penhurst. 
 
 O 
 
 Ezekiell x Ffleet, his inarke. 
 
 » 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640, 28 January. Petition. Yalding v. 
 Tailer.”] 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against their Minister, for neglect 
 and Popish practices, from the Parishioners of CAPEL. 
 
 The humble Petitione of the Parishioners of Capel in the County 
 of Kent, to the wright honerable Howse of Commons, against Mr. 
 Edwarde Wallis, minister of Tudely and Caple. 
 
 First. He is not resident amongst us. 
 
 Secondly. Wee are served every other Saboth by a laieman, 
 and sometimes we have a sermon but once a monyth, and now and 
 then we have neyther praiers nor sermon. Wee hold Tudley to be 
 worth 40/. a yeare and better; and for Caple, it is worth 40 markes 
 a yeare; but we are willinge to mend that, soe we maie have a 
 preachinge minister to our selfes, which we hope the honerable howse 
 will afforde ous to have. 
 
 Thirdly. He is soe cerimoniall, that if he come out of the railes, 
 he saith he should offend God; and said that, when he did aske God 
 forgivenesse for his sinns, he must aske him forgivnes for that. 
 
 Ffourthly. He did dismise some five or sixe of us, when we pre¬ 
 sented our selfes one our knees in the chansell, to receive the 
 sachrament, because we did not come to the raiels wlieare he doth 
 cringe and bowe. 
 
 Fifthly. He saies that if he be ever soe fare from his text, yet if 
 he keepe but talkinge one, it will serve our turne. 
 
 Sixthly. He said that, after the Parlament was ended, he would 
 come out of his railes to none of ous. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 149 
 
 Seaventhly. He doth raile against the Scots in his pulpit, and out 
 of his pulpit, callinge them dogs and divells; and saies he knowes 
 
 not how to call them bade enough. 
 
 & 
 
 Eighthly. He saies, that if ever Scote goe to heaven, the divell 
 will goe toe. 
 
 Lastly. lie saies there is more hope of a Papist then there is of a 
 Puritant. 
 
 James Hunt. 
 
 Thomas Wood. 
 
 Robart Remington. 
 
 [Endorsed by S' Edward Dering—“ 1640 , Febr.—Petition, Capell v. 
 Wallys.—Sc. m.”] 
 
 XXX. 
 
 PE 114 ION to the House of Commons, to increase the Income of their In¬ 
 cumbent, from the Parishioners of BRABORNE. 
 
 To the Honourable House of Commons in the High Court 
 of Parliament assembled. 
 
 The Information and Peticion of the Inhabitants of Braborne in 
 Kent. 
 
 Most humbly sheweth, 
 
 That (according to your pious order concerning ministers and 
 theire mayntenance) we doe certifie the Vicarage of Braborne to be 
 a very small Liveing, by reason the Rectorie is impropriate, not 
 only in the corne, but in all the hay, and all the Glebe lands, insoe- 
 much that there remaynes to the Incumbent soe small a proportion 
 as will not extend to 30/. per annum all manner of wayes. 
 
 That this small liveing is high in value in his Majesty’s book, 
 insoemuch, that, in time of subsidies at iiij 8 . in the pounde, with the 
 annuall tenthes and procuracions, the Incombent affirmeth that there 
 is iij h xij s . yearely to be paide out of it, which deducted from the 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 F ebruary. 
 
150 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 former portion leaves a remaynder too little (as we conceive) to 
 mayntayne a preaching minister. 
 
 That this present Incumbent hath alsoe the mines of much old 
 houseing left unto him by his decayed predicessor, which he could 
 never yet he able sufficiently to repayre; he hath also a wife and five 
 children to sustayne upon this small meanes. 
 
 May it, therefore, please this honourable House to take into con- 
 sideracion the smallnesse of this Liveing, with the charges that lye 
 upon it, and the necessities of this present Incomebent John Rosse, 
 clerke, whoe hath lived amongst us now xvi. yeares, and in a lawdable 
 manner, both for his life and doctrine : and soe to provide that his 
 mayntenance may be increased by such good meanes as your godly 
 wisdomes shall judg convenient. 
 
 Soe shall we be all bounde, and in all duty for ever obleiged to 
 pray for the liappinesse of this Honorable House. 
 
 Edmund Nott. John Bull. 
 
 Richard Morris. Thomas Terrie. 
 
 John Baylie. John Greene. 
 
 John Cheesman. Simon Spratt. 
 
 John Effeild. Gilbeart Dodd. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 2 Feb. 0. Braborn pro.”] 
 
 February. 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons to compel the Impropriator to provide 
 better for their Cure, from the Inhabitants of ORE. 
 
 To the honourable the Lower House of Commons in this 
 Parliament. 
 
 The humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Owre neere 
 Ffaversham, in Kent, whose names are underwritten, concerning the 
 Cure of theire souls. 
 
 Shewing, 
 
 That in regard of the smal allowance for serving the Cure of the 
 
 o o 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 151 
 
 sayd Parish, we have not had (for these twenty yeares) any Minister 
 settled among us, save onely one, whose stipend was but 8/. by the 
 yeare, to mainteine himselfe, with his wife and children; and there- 
 uppon, chusing rather to steale rneate for himselfe and his, then to 
 beg or starve, was arraigned and condemned of felony; to the scandal 
 of our Religion, and reproch of the ministry in the reformed Church 
 
 of this land. 
 
 And that now S r Robert Honywood the Patron or Parson of this, 
 and many other such like Impropriations, to the number of 14, or 
 more, receiving 30/. at least per annum, of the Farmar under him, 
 for the tythe of our parish, and alowingbut 12/., we cannot have any 
 constant Minister; but such as, serving some other place, substitutes 
 a layman for the ordinary service of the Cure, reading divine service 
 in our church : and, when the cheif Curate himselfe, or any other for 
 him, comes to preach and performe any other duties of the ministry, 
 it is either before or after they have dispatched some other churche 
 more then a mile distant from ours: So that, to our great greife, we 
 cannot enjoy that settled meanes of saving knowledg, and that com¬ 
 fortable ministry of God’s word and worship, which we doe earnestly 
 long for; and therefore 
 
 Wee your poore Petitioners most humbly beseech you of this 
 honourable assembly in Parliament, amongst other matters of the 
 like nature, tending to the honour of God, to receive this greivous 
 greivance of our soules into your pious consideration and religious 
 care; where we leave it for redresse; beseeching the onely wise God 
 so to blesse, guide, and direct you all, in these, and all other your 
 consultations, that his name may have more glory, and Church and 
 Common weale may better prosper and flourish thereby. 
 
 So prayeth 
 
 Rafe x Person, his mark. 
 Moises x Gipson, his mark. 
 James x Harris, his mark. 
 Abraham x Luson, his mark. 
 Thomas x Blaiton, his mark. 
 
 Thomas Daman. 
 
 Richard x Price, his marke. 
 Richard Price the younger. 
 Nicholas Clatting. 
 
 Samuel Luson. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
152 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 3 February. 
 
 John Larance. Wiliam x Daman, his mark. 
 
 Andru x Win, his mark. Godfre Slade. 
 
 Thomas x Hil, his mark. Samell Thomas. 
 
 Mathew x Dickeson, his marke. 
 
 [Endorsed,—“ The Petition of the Parishioners of the Parish of Owre in 
 Kent,”—and by S r Edward Dering “ 1640, Febr. Petition Ore v. S r Rob. 
 Honywood.”] 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Petition to S r EDWARD DERING, as Commissioner of the House of Com¬ 
 mons, for preferment, or encrease of income to M r STREATINGE, 
 their Curate, from the Parishioners of IYYCHURCH. 
 
 To the Right Worshipfull S r Edward Deeringe, one of the 
 Knights of the Sheere, elected for the County of Kent. 
 
 The humble supplication and petition of the Inhabitants and 
 Parishioners of the Parishe of Ivyechurche, in the Libertie of 
 Romney Marshe. 
 
 Whereas we are crediblely given to understande of the greate love 
 and care the honourable house of Parliament hath of poore Ministers 
 and Curates, either for the providinge of competent livings for them 
 that are well qualified and have none, by takinge from them that have 
 too many; or by an augmentation of theire meanes which is too 
 small and meane, by reason of the covetousnes of those under whome 
 they serve. As allso, that for redresse heerein, wee are to repaire to 
 your Worshipe, to whome (as wee understande) the care heereof, for 
 our Countye, is committed. These therefore, in all humble and sub¬ 
 missive manner, are to beseeche you and entreate you, that you would 
 be pleased to take into your consideration the poore estate of our 
 poore Curate, John Streatinge, M r of Artes, of Lincolne Colledge, in 
 the Universitie of Oxforde, who hath served as a poore Curate heere 
 in Kent, this sixe and twentie yeares, whereof, in our parishe of 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 153 
 
 Ivyechurche, for the space of these seaventeene yeares, or there¬ 
 abouts : all which time, he hath demeaned and carried himselfe well, 
 civilly, orderly, soberly, and honestly, amongst us, and preached the 
 word of God amongst us faithfully and painefully; and, in his 
 ministerial! function carried himselfe conformable to the orders of the 
 Churche; yea, wee so well approve of him, and have found him so 
 well qualified, that, if he gaine no better preferment, wee could wishe 
 (if wishes might prevaile and doe him gode) that wee may enjoy him 
 longer, with a further and more liberall augmentation of his meanes 
 amongst us: wee holdinge it an unreasonable and unconscionable 
 thinge, that the livinge of Ivyechurche, being worth, as it is farmed 
 out, above two hundred pounds a yeare, the poore Curate should 
 have hut thirtie pounds a yeare, he takinge all the paines; and the 
 doctor, under whome he serves, seldome comminge and preachinge 
 amongst us; no, not havinge bin once amongst us for the space of 
 these fower or five yeares. To which request of ours, if you shall 
 condescende and assiste us heerein (as we doubt not but you will) 
 wee shall rest. 
 
 Your humble, ever tliankefull, and 
 
 much bounden to, suppliants 
 
 Thomas Glover. 
 Michel Johnson ^ 
 x his marke. ) 
 Robert Thurbarne. 
 John Bedell. 
 
 John Melloway 7 
 x his marke. 7 
 
 Peter Thurbarne. 
 
 William Tailor q 
 
 x his marke. f Church- 
 Thomas x Owens [ wardens. 
 
 his marke. 
 
 George Cruchman 
 his x marke. 
 
 Guye x Furner 
 his marke. 
 
 Sidemen. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sr Edward Dering,—“ 1G40, 3 Feb. Peticion. Snargate (sic): 
 pro Streating.”] 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car.!. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 X 
 
154 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 Letter to S r ED WARD DERING pressing a favourable reply to the pre¬ 
 ceding Petition. From JOHN STREATINGE, Curate of Ivychurch. 
 
 Right Worshipfull. 
 
 5 July. The Inhabitants of the Parishe of Ivyechurche, in the Libertie of 
 Romney Mar she, at the beginninge of Parliament did present you 
 with a petition on my behaulfe, delivered in by my selfe to your 
 worship, the effecte whereof was this. That, in consideration I had 
 served allmost fower apprenticeshippes as a Curate; firste, under 
 Doctor Warner in the parisshe of Bisshopsboorne, in the County of 
 Kent, 8 yeares; then, in Ivychurche, under that worthy man Mr. 
 John Sandforde, prebendary of Canterbury; and now under Doctor 
 Jackeson there, for the space of these 18 yeares; yet, never could 
 get any preferment under them (though I have had many good words 
 and faire promises from them); you would be pleased (among the 
 number of the rest of poore schollers) to be either a meanes to lielpe 
 me to some small benefice or other ; or else, that I may have an 
 augmentation of meanes allowed me in the Cure of Ivyechurche, 
 which I now serve ; the Livinge beinge worth allmost three hundred 
 pounds a yeare, and I receivinge thereout only thirtie pounds a yeare, 
 though I live in the Marshe, an unhealthfull place, and among rude 
 and ill-nurtured people, for the most parte ; which, if your worship 
 shall be a meanes to effecte for me and them, and theire sakes, I 
 shall rest much obliged to you, and stand bound to pray, so long as 
 I shall live, for the prosperous and flourishinge estate of you and 
 yours heere, with the addition of eternall blisse and happines to your 
 selfe and them heereafter. 
 
 Your worship’s humble suppliant, 
 
 John Streatinge. 
 
 Ivyechurche, this 5 day of July, 1641. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 “ To the right worshipfull S r Edward Dering, 
 at his lodginge in Westminster—these.” 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 155 
 
 XXXIV. 1/40-1. 
 
 16 Car. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, complaining of frauds and exaction 3 February, 
 in the Lessee of the Tythes. From the Land Occupiers of PROM- 
 ITILL and MIDLEY. 
 
 To the honnorable house of Commons now assembled in 
 Parliament. 
 
 The humble Petition and Information of the Parishioners or land 
 occupiers of the parishes of Promhill and Midley, in the County 
 of Kent, 
 
 Plumblie sheweth. 
 
 That the said two parishes of Promhill and Medley aforesaid, being 
 together, and adjoyning to the sea side, and as wee conceive by rea¬ 
 son of some inundacion of the sea or danger therof, or for other causes, 
 is and hath beene depopulate, and utterly voyde of dwellers, inhabi¬ 
 tants, and Churches, or houses, except where 2 or 3 sheepherds abide, 
 that goe to other parishes to Church, by so long time as is beyond 
 the knowledge of any living to the contrary: and yet, notwithstand¬ 
 ing, the vicaridge and personage tythes have beene there continually 
 substracted and taken in a reasonable and conscionable manner, 
 untill of late yeares, that the said vicaridges have beene lett to farme 
 unto one Antony Norton, of Rie, in the county of Sussex, who hath 
 very unconscionably racked and improved the said tithes, to the 
 great advancement of his estate, abusing some of the said land occu¬ 
 piers that were illiterate, by setting downe in their acquittances 
 greater summes of money then he had received for a yeares tythes, 
 and the next yeare demanding so much as he had put in the said 
 acquittance; or, if he meant to vex them therupon for more tythes 
 in the Bishop’s Courts, then they should be forced to shew the falce 
 acquittance, and soe therby to condemne themselves, and to prove 
 for him that he demanded of them but as they had paid before; and 
 for that wee (or some of us), your petieioners, have refused to be so 
 dealt withall, or willingly to paie such extreme and unusuall tithes 
 beyond reason and equity, therefore have wee been vexed and 
 
156 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 molested in a very injurious manner by the said Norton in the 
 Bishop’s Courts, to our great trouble and charge, without finding any 
 redresse or succour in our just causes, by reason of the said Norton’s 
 correspondencie and favour with the said Courts, which he hath 
 obteined by the great benefitt the officers of the said Courts have re¬ 
 ceived by the number of troubles and suits daily by him commenced 
 and pursued ; of which said vicaridges and parish of Promhill the said 
 Norton holdeth by grant or lease from the heires of S r John Wyles, 
 late of Canterbury, amounteth to about 120/. per annum; the other, 
 of Midley, by the grant or demise of Mr. Henry Duke (supposed to 
 bee now or late dwelling in London), and amounteth to about 120Z. 
 per annum; which two vicaridges or livings, being without cure of 
 soules, and amounting to such values in the tithes, wee thought good 
 to informe this honourable house of, being incouraged thereunto by 
 the declaration lately sent abroad and published, to such purpose; 
 and also, for that wee have and daily doe undergoe the exactions in 
 payments, and vexations by troubles imposed and commenced against 
 us, or some of us, by the said Norton, of which we praie and desire 
 to be delivered; and therefore have made this relacion and informa- 
 cion to this honourable house. 
 
 Humbly praying to bee delivered from the grievous exactions and 
 oppressions of the ahovesaid Anthony Norton, and that wee your 
 Peticioners may paie such reasonable tithes as they have lately paid, 
 before the said Norton hired the said vicaridges, soe that wee may 
 live in peace, and not unjustlie be vexed any more in the said 
 Bishop’s Courts. 
 
 And your Petitioners shall ever praie (as they are nevertheles 
 bound) for God’s blessing upon all your pious actions, and to send 
 them all good successe, and happy ends. 
 
 Peter Maplisden. 
 Thomas Bate. 
 John Bate. 
 Daniell Browne. 
 
 Sack vile Johnson. 
 Thomas Smith. 
 James Robine. 
 Thomas Higenson. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 157 
 
 Thomas Reder. 
 
 The marke x of Henry Poten. 
 Richard Bate. 
 
 John Drewe. 
 
 Edward Athie. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering 
 Midley v. Norton.”] 
 
 John x Kingsford, his marke. 
 James x Jagger, his marke. 
 Thomas x Norres, his marke. 
 John Remnant x his marke. 
 Robert Radford. 
 
 “ 1640, 3 Febr. Petition, Promhill [and] 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 LETTER to S r EDWARD DERING, promising immediate appearance, 
 if summoned by the House of Commons, from M r SWINOCKE, In¬ 
 cumbent of MERSHAM.* 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I humbly desire you to pardon my boldenes in saluting you thus 
 at a distance: did not necessity urge, modesty would have curb’d 
 thys my designe. My petition to your worship is only, that, if you 
 have me questioned in your honourable house, and that a bill 
 bee admitted against me, you will bee pleased to undertake for my 
 appearance; and upon the least intimation from your meanest servant, 
 I shall obey your summons. My fault is only having two livings, 
 and, if that be censured unfit by your honourable house, I shall 
 willingly sacrifice my privat respects to the publicke good; and, in 
 the interim, as I have beene, so, by God’s helpe, I will be carefull of 
 the Cure. This I am sure, as there is never a living in the Marsh, 
 so, few of that bignes in the kingdom, better served; for I allow Mr. 
 Baker, a godly honest man, 20 1. per annum for serving the Cure, 
 
 * The Letter is dated “ Marsham,” which I interpret “ Mersham if so, this was his 
 second living, and I have called him Incumbent thereof accordingly : his other living was 
 Old Romney.— v. No. 36, p. 73, charge 4, where he is proved to have been Rector of 
 Mersham. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 February. 
 
158 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 and preaching in the forenoone, and 10?. per annum, and the church 
 duties, for a lecture in the afternoone. Their Communion Table has 
 beene never removed, nor any innovations even so much as moved 
 to them; and, for my parte, I never so much as cited one of them to 
 any Courte, and am yet to learne the price of a processe. I end as I 
 began, with my humble desier of your pardon; and, if you please to 
 grant mee this lawfull favour, you shall for ever oblige 
 
 Your worship’s to be commanded, 
 
 Jo: SwiNOKE. 
 
 Marsham, this 1 of Feb. 1640. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 “To the right worsliipfull S r Edward Dering, Knight and 
 Baronet, these present.” 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1640, 6 Feb. M r Swinocke.”] 
 
 6 February. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against M r LIDHAM their Vicar, 
 from the parishioners of LEYSDOWN in SIIEPEY. 
 
 To the Right Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses 
 of the Commons House of Parliament. 
 
 The humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of the parish of Lays- 
 downe, in the Isle of Sheippye, in the County of Kent, 
 
 Most humbly sheweth, 
 
 That for the space of 20 yeares last past, the Petitioners have 
 beene, and yet are, very much vexed, molested, and troubled, both 
 in their consciences, persons, and estats, with the undue practices of 
 Mr. John Lidham, minister of the said parish, as by the particulers 
 hereunder written may to your honours appeare. 
 
 1. That he keepeth noe due time for divine service, in the morning 
 or evening of the Lord’s day. 
 
 2. That he preacheth not above once in 5 or 6 weekes, but readeth 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 159 
 
 a homilie on the Lord’s day, in the forenoone; and constantly goeth 
 to the Communion Table, there to reade the Tenn Comaundements, 
 the Epistle and Gosple, with other certaine prayers. 
 
 3. He hveth very contentiously amongst us, in citing poore men, 
 and others, into the Ecclesiasticall Court, for slight and triviall things, 
 and in conclusion writts letters to the officers there, that, paying 
 then ffees, they should discharg them, who have done accordingly. 
 And hath publiquely threaten(ed) divers of the Petitioners to sue 
 them in the High Comission Court. 
 
 4. Hee exacteth lythes for working horses, and hath threatened 
 the Petitioners, that he will lielpe the Commissaries Court to 6 or 7 U 
 
 a yeare, out of his parrish, by citing his neighbours to the said 
 Court. 
 
 o. Elee extorteth Tithe ffish of poore men, which have taken them 
 a mile thence, upon the sea sands with netts and hookes. 
 
 6. Hee hath taken a lease of Mr. Baeker of Lambeth, of the flash¬ 
 ing a fflccte, which said ffishing belongs to Christchurch in Canter¬ 
 bury, and keepeth netts to take them. 
 
 7. Hee hath publiquely reported in the said parish, that, if hee 
 were angry with any of his neighbours, hee will choose him Church¬ 
 wardens, because he will be revenged on them. 
 
 8. Elee doth make a common practice, every winter, to ffother his 
 beasts and cattle in the churchyard, under the very walles of the 
 said Church, which is a great annoyance to the Church. 
 
 9. That hee hath in lease fowre severall parcells of land in the 
 said parish, amounting to 91 acres, or thereabouts, besides Glibe 
 Land belonginge to the Vicarage, in his owne hands, for which he 
 will not pay any taxe to the Church or poore, until hee be thereunto 
 compeld by suite or trouble. 
 
 10. He hath taken the Oath made in the last Convocacion 1640, 
 concerning the new Cannons, and affirmes them to be lawfull and 
 alowable in the Church of England. 
 
 11° hath cited one William Norman, Churchwarden of the 
 said parish, into the Ecclesiasticall Court, because he refused to raile 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
160 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640 - 1 . in the Communion Table, and put him to much trouble and expence 
 
 16 Car. I. , 
 
 therein. 
 
 And soe it is, may it please your honors, the said Mr. Lidham’s 
 Ecclesiasticall meanes is worth about 70l. per annum, besides other 
 lands and meanes worth at least 20 1. per annum. 
 
 The Petitioners being thus vext, molested, and troubled by the 
 said Mr. Lidham, it being a dishonor to God, his word, and Gospell, 
 and soe greate greife to the Petitioners, they most humbly prayeth 
 your honors will bee pleased he may he removed thence, if it shall 
 seeme in right to your honors soe to doe, or to give other releife 
 therein as to your honors shall seeme most meete. 
 
 For which they shall ever pray, &c. 
 
 Joseph Napleton. 
 
 William Norman. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering,—“ 1640, 6 Febr. Petition, Leysdown in 
 Sbepey v. Lidham. Sc. pet.”] 
 
 XNXYII. 
 
 February. PETITION to the House of Commons against their minister, M r RICHARD 
 TRAY, from the Parishioners of LIDSING and BREDIIURST. 
 
 To the honourable the Knights, Burgesses, and Commons now 
 assembled in the high Court of Parliament. 
 
 The humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of Lidging and Bred- 
 hurst, in the Countie of Kent, 
 
 Sheweth, 
 
 1. That M r Richard Tray, who now liveth at Boxley, in the 
 County of Kent, is Rector and Viccar of St. Maryes, in the Hundred 
 of PIoo, in the said Countie, which, by estimacion, is worth 140Z. per 
 annum ; and is not there resident. 
 
 2. He is both Parson and Viccar of Lidging aforesaid, and 
 receiveth all the proffitts belonging to the said Parsonage and Viccar- 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 161 
 
 idge, which, by estimacion, are thought to be worth 40 1. per 
 annum: and is there also a non resident; and, neither he, nor any 
 other Curate for him, hath administered the Sacrament of the Lord’s 
 Supper there by the space of three yeares last past and upwards. 
 
 3. He the said Mr. Tray taketh noe care of the Soules of the Pa¬ 
 rishioners of Lidging aforesaid, nor hath sett any Curatt over them 
 in his stedd ; whereby, the said Parishioners (at some tymes) neither 
 have had Sermon or divine Service, by the space of twentie weeks 
 together, but are constraynecl to repaire to remote parishes. 
 
 4. The said M r Tray is thought to have a temporall estate in 
 monies and lands, to the value of ccl h per annum, besides the two 
 livings aforesaid. And yet through Covetousness taketh uppon him 
 the Curateshipp of Bredherst, in the said Countie of Kent, (where 
 he is not resident,) and hireth the tytlies thereof of M r John 
 Swynocke, who is Rector of Mersham, in the said Countie of Kent, 
 the profitts of which Curateshipp are thought to be worth xl u per 
 annum, over and above the rent which he payeth unto the said M r 
 Swynocke. 
 
 5. He hath been very contentious with the Parishioners of Bred- 
 hurst aforesaid, vexing them with ecclesiasticall suits, and causing 
 many of them to be excommunicated for small and frivolous matters, 
 and compelling them to make submission to him. 
 
 6. He is a stirrer up of Suits, and hath given his neighbours 
 money, to sweare in causes which did not concerne himself. 
 
 7. He is given to fighting, and did strike one heeretofore the 
 Parish Clerke of Bredherst, in the Church of Lidging; and is a 
 common Raylef, and a Reviler of his neighbours. 
 
 8. The said M r Tray, being sent for by one of his neighbours in 
 the tyme of his sicknes, when he was like to dye, and the said sicke 
 person being troubled in mynd, did imparte some things unto the 
 said M r Tray which lay uppon his conscience: and the said sicke 
 person afterwards recovering^ of his said sickness, the said M r 
 Tray did revile him and obbreath him in the open markett at 
 
 CAMD. SOC. Y 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
162 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 4 April. 
 
 Maidston, for the very things which the said partie had revealed 
 to him in his sicknes. 
 
 Wherefore we doe most humbly recommend these our grievances 
 to this most honourable house; begging to be relieved, and to have 
 these things redressed in such sorte as to your grave and godly 
 wisdome shall seeme best. 
 
 Signatures. 
 
 Edward Alchorn, gent., Churchwarden of Bredhurst.* 
 
 William Kemsley. 
 
 Moses Long, late Churchwarden of Lidging. 
 
 Zachariah Johnsonne. 
 
 Edward Carter. 
 
 George Kinge, his marke x . 
 
 John Drew, his marke x . 
 
 The marke of John Paine x . 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1640, 8 Febr. Petition. Lidsing et 
 Bredhurst v. Tray.”] 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 LETTER from Mr RICHARD TRAY to Mr THOMAS GODFREY, 
 with inclosures, exculpatory of the charges brought against him by 
 the parishioners of LIDSING and BREDHURST, to be presented to 
 the House. 
 
 Noble Fereind, 
 
 I have heere sent you my parliamentary business, only in 
 coppies, keepeing the originall, which, if it be required, I will bring or 
 send upp with all speede. My humble suit to you is, that you would 
 be pleased (for my purgation) to shewe these, or the substance of 
 them, to my honorable and only frend the Lord of Lincolne, to Sir 
 Edward Hales, Sir Humfrey Tufton, the Ivnigtes of the Slieere, and 
 
 * Written more opposite “ Alchorn ” than “ Kemsley,” but the ink and writing would 
 fix it as belonging rather to “ William Kemsley.” 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 163 
 
 Capten Lee, all my very good freindes, humbly desiring, that, foras¬ 
 much as that honorable Court allowes noe charges, that S r Edward 
 Leering would be pleased to keepe the petition from the house, or 
 t at uppon the reading and tendring the same to the house, my 
 noble fremdes, upon the reasons heere presented, would bee pleased 
 to cast it out, as idle and frivulous, as (if it be true at least) the 
 petition of Goutherst,* under 1000 handes, against their newe 
 minister Mr Wilcock, and divers others, have beene. I am ould, 
 and have lived in the ministery nowe almost 40 yeeres, and would 
 e unwilling m my old age to come uppon the stage, and soe much I 
 pray (if you think fit) acquaint these my frends. And soe, with 
 best respects to yourselfe, and all under your roofe remembred, I 
 committ you all to God’s blessing, and rest, 
 
 Yours ready to doe you service, 
 
 Ri: Tray. 
 
 Bredhurst, this 4th of April, 1641. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 t “ To my much honoured and approoved friend M> Thomas 
 
 Godfrey, at M 1 Harrison’s house in Knightriders street 
 these present.” 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 The inclosures in M r RICHARD TRAY'S letter, being his defence to the 
 
 charges brought against him by the Parishioners of LIDSING and 
 BREDHURST. . 
 
 Whereas Mr. Alchorne and his confederates doe complaine of mee to the 
 most honourable Court of Parliament for many misdemeanures ; for soe many 
 of them (as I can heere of) I answere as followeth:_ 
 
 * Vide No. xxvi. pp. 144, 145, supra .—Yet this Mr. Wilcock met with rough treatment 
 afterwards at the hands of the Parliamentarians. See Introduction to Twysden on the 
 Government of England (Camden Society), p. lxxxi. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
164 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 1. Ob. —Hee chargeth mee, tliat there hath not beene in Lidging Chappell 
 for three yeeres last past, neither baptisme, nor the Lord’s supper administered. 
 
 An. —Ffor Baptisme, there was never any administered in the memory 
 of man :—and, as for the Lordes supper, I alledge for my defence the 
 order of his Grace of Canterbury ordering the same. Shew the order. 
 
 2. Ob. —Hee chargeth mee that I should strike one Johnson in the Chappell, 
 in Sermon time. 
 
 An. —Ffor my defence heerein, I urge the Certificate of Ro. Penniall, 
 Thommas Hammon, Ed. Frid, and others. Shewe the certificate. 
 
 3. Ob. —Hee chargeth mee, for disclosing and upbraiding one Mathew 
 Hudsford with certaine sinnes privately confessed to mee long agoe. 
 
 An. —Ffor cleering mee heereof, I urge the testimony of Mr. Barrell 
 and Mr. Godden, arbitrators, and of Mathew Hudsford him selfe, and 
 others. 
 
 4. Ob. —Hee chargeth mee for giving money to procure men to goe to 
 London, and sweare in a suit that concerned mee not. 
 
 An.— To this I answere, that my sonne Richard beinge sued by M r 
 Alckorne, in the arches, for woords, and being gone to Cambridge, at 
 the very time that his Proctor caulled tor my sonnes witnesses, I was 
 inforced, in his absence, to let the said witnesses have money to beare 
 their charges. 
 
 5. Ob. —Hee chargeth mee, for vexing my parishioners with unjust suits and 
 excommunicationes. 
 
 An. —To this I answere, that I never sued any man in Bredherst nor 
 Lidging in 35 yeeres; but only one James Pecknam, and that uppon 
 just cause, as I can make appeere. And, as for excommunicationes, I 
 remember not any, in all that time, but one excommunicated in Bred¬ 
 herst, and that for just cause, as I can shew : and never but one, in all 
 that time, in Lidsing, except Alchorne, or his crue, or by him procured. 
 
 And for my cariage in my Cures, and the Value of them, the certifi¬ 
 cates under all my parishioners’ hands will fully convince M r Alchorne 
 of manifest falsehoods. 
 
 Besides, five of the eight whose names are to the petition have and 
 doe under their handes disclaime the same ; and, for the other three, M r 
 Alchorne and his boye are two, and Johnson above named the third. 
 
 Shew their revocation. 
 
 If hee charge mee with haveing of 3 Cures, and living uppon none of 
 them, I answere, it is most false; for I live in Bredherst, and that by dis- 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 165 
 
 pensation of his Grace of Canterbury, uppon good cause graunted mee, 
 as I can shew. 
 
 Hi: Tray, sen. 
 
 (A Coppy.) 
 
 April the 10th, 1634. 
 
 To the most Reverend Father in God, The Lore Archbishopp of 
 Canterbury, his Grace, Primate and Metropolitan of England, &c. 
 
 The humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of Eredherst and Lidging, in the 
 County of Kent, Peculiars to your Grace. 
 
 Humbly shewing, 
 
 That, whereas your Grace’s Petitioners have, time out of mind, resorted, by 
 turnes, to either Chappell of the said Parishes, for the heering of God’s woord ; 
 and the Parishioners of Lidging to Bredherst Chappell only, for the adminis¬ 
 tration of the Sacraments, and buriall of their dead, where are decent and 
 necessary ornaments provided for the same, at the joynt costs of both the said 
 parishes, the said Parish of Lidging consisting of seven small families. 
 
 Wee most humbly beseech your Grace to bee 
 graciously pleased to continue the said Custom, 
 soe long as the said Chappells are served by one 
 Minister, as nowe they are. And your Grace’s 
 humble Petitioners shall daily pray to God for 
 the continuance of your Grace’s happiness one 
 earth, and felicity in heaven. 
 
 Wi. Kemsley. Ri. Willard. 
 
 Ro. Stonard. Wi. Cooper. 
 
 James Pecknam. John Larrance. 
 
 John Cooper. Georg Sutton. 
 
 George Page. Ri. Longley. 
 
 William Michell. Henry Hudson, 
 
 George Loan. Lidging. 
 
 Thomas Mills. 
 
 Nicholas Forsberry. 
 
 Ri. Weston, 
 of Bredhurst. 
 
 Oct. 20, 1635. . 
 
 Upon the Certificate under¬ 
 written, I doe heerby give con¬ 
 sent, provided that noe incon¬ 
 venience arise to either of the 
 said Chappells thereby. Oct. 
 20, 1635. W. Cant. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 1634. 
 10 Car. I. 
 
 1635. 
 
 11 Car. I. 
 
166 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 23 April, 1635. July 9, 1635. 
 
 I see noe inconvenience, and heereby doo give I am of the same opinion, 
 
 approbation for the continuing of the Custom, Na. Brent. 
 
 as is desired, till S'- Nathaniel Brent returne, 
 provided that the reparations of Lidging Chap¬ 
 pell now in hand bee not hindered heerby. 
 
 T. Riues. 
 
 [Endorsed—“A Coppy of his Grace’s uniting the Chappells.”] 
 
 (A Coppy.) 
 
 My defence aboute the blow given Johnson. 
 
 I, Bo. Penniall, well remember, that the morning before Mr Henry Grim- 
 stone preached at Lidging Chappell, Zachary Johnson of Boxley came into 
 my house, (being a victualling house,) and was soe much in drink, that I the 
 said Robert asked him where hee had beene ;—“ thou hast,” said I, “ beene a 
 tipling somwhere all nightbut hee caulled for beere, and said, “ I must goe 
 home“ nay,” said I, “ you will heere M r Grimstone preach first at Lidging 
 Chappell“ yes, by God,” said he, “ that I will:” and soe went to Chappell, 
 being more fit, as I thought, to goe to bed, than to God’s house. 
 
 Tn witness whereof, I have heereunto set my hand, 
 this 21st of March, 1640. 
 
 Robert Penniall. 
 
 I, Thomas Hamon, can and will testify, that the said Zachary Johnson 
 acknowledged in my heering, that it was that Sunday that M r Grimstone 
 preached at Chappell, that M r Tray should gogg or strike him; and 
 said that hee had beene at Stephen Willerd’s (an unlicensed alehouse in Bred- 
 herst) a drinkeing all the Satterday night before the said Sunday that Mr 
 Grimstone preached at Lidging Chappell in the morning. 
 
 It witnes whereof, I have heereunto set my hand, 
 this 21st March, 1640. 
 
 Thomas Hamman. 
 
 I, Edward Frid, of Gillingham, being then present in the Chauncell at 
 Lidging, sawe the said Zachary Johnson leaning against James Packnam, and 
 slept, that hee snored againe. Whereupon M r Tray, sitting just against him, 
 back to back, heereing the noise, turned about and gogged him with his 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 167 
 
 hand to awake him, and did not strike him, as the said Johnson falsely reports,; 
 and heereto I will depose, if neede require. 
 
 In witnes whereof, I have heereunto set my hand, 
 this 7th of March, 1640. 
 
 The marke of Ed. Frid, the younger. 
 
 The same Johnson did soe snork in his sleepe, at the same time, that I heard 
 him in the boddy of the Church. 
 
 March 20th, 1641. By me, Will. Kemsley. 
 
 I, John Kemsley, doe remember the very same with Edw. Frid, and will 
 testify it, if neede require. March this 21st, 1640. 
 
 John Kemsley. 
 
 I, George King, will testify the very same. March 28th, 1641. 
 
 George King, his -j- marke. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 1641. 
 
 (A Copy.) 
 
 Wb, Robert Barrell, Clerke, and William Godden, Gent., being arbitrators 
 for the reconcilinge of the differences betwixt Richard Tray, the elder, Clerke, 
 and Mathew ITutsford, yeoman, a little before St. Michaell last past; concern- 
 ynge one of which differences, viz. that the said Richard Tray did call the said 
 Mathewe Hutsford knave, openly in the streate of Maidstone, in Kent; for 
 which, amongest the rest of the severall complaints on both sides, wee did then 
 reconsile them, to both theire contents. Nowe, for as much as wee doe since 
 understand by the said Richard Traye, that one Edward Alchorn, Gent., under 
 colour of that particuler difference abovenamed, hath given forth diverse 
 reports in severall places; and, to furnishe his malicious Peticion, hath framed 
 a complainte thereof unto the honourable Court of Parliament, suggesting as 
 yf the said word “knave” had been grounded uppon some sinnes privatly revealed 
 by Mathewe Hutsford to M r Tray, by waie of confession, in extremitie of the 
 said Ilutsford’s sicknes aboute twelve yeares before; which faulte, in this kind 
 is nowe pretended by M r Alchorne against M r Traye; But wee did not soe 
 conceave it uppon the heareinge and examinacion of all differences then 
 betwixt the said Richard Tray and Mathewe Hutsford; but meerely as a word 
 of passion in the present heate betweene them. In testimonie whereof, wee 
 have heereunto subscribed, this five and twentith day of February, anno 
 domini 1640. 
 
 5 Marcii, 1640. 
 
 Robert Barrell, Clearke. 
 William Godden, 
 
 1640-1. 
 
168 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 I the above named Mathewe Hutsforde have heereunto also sett my marke, 
 testifyinge the same Mathewe IIutsfobd, his -j- mark. 
 
 John Grinnel, > 
 
 John Weekes, i witnesses > testifying the same. 
 
 John Roiston, of Lidging, labourer, beeing spoken to by M r Alchorne, 
 about Sunday the 7th of February, 1640, to set his hand to his petition against 
 M r Tray, to be preferred to the most honourable Court of Parliament, the 
 said John Roiston denied him; then hee in anger forbad him comming uppon 
 his tennants ground, and tould him that if he came any more to fetch any water 
 at his tennants pond, hee would breake his pailes uppon his head, and would 
 pull his house downe uppon him; and that, if hee lived, hee would bee revenged 
 of him. 
 
 In witnes of the truth whereof, I, John Roiston, have, this 21st day of 
 February, 1640, set my hand, beeing ready to affirme it by oath, when I shalbe 
 thereunto called. John Roiston. 
 
 Alsoe, the said John Roiston will affirme, that hee asking George King of 
 Lidging why hee did set his hand to M r Alchorne’s petition against M r Tray, 
 having given his hand to M r Traye’s certificat about a weeke before; the said 
 George King answered, that Mr. Alchorne came unto him where hee was at 
 worke in Shawsted* Swan, and was very darresh with him, to set his hand to 
 the said Petition, which hee refusing twice or thrice, to provoak him to set his 
 hand to the said petition, hee tould him hee had John Cecill’s, John Hudsford’s, 
 and other men’s handes of the parish to it, with which false report hee got his 
 hand, for which he is very sorry, and thinkes hee was bewitcht, and that if ever 
 the devill had power over him, he had power over him then ; for hee did not 
 know what hee had set his hand to, as he confest to Michaell Wollett likewise. 
 
 Dated this 26th day of February, 1640. 
 
 W itnesses heereunto, Michael Woollett. 
 
 I, George King, doe confesse all this to bee true, and therefore doe wholy 
 disclaime and disavow what I have subscribed unto, being confident that all 
 or the most part of the said petition is false and untrue. 
 
 In witnes whereof, I have heereunto subscribed, this first day of March, 
 1640. Geojige + Kinge. 
 
 t ? “ Swar ”or “ Swaw in either case a misrendering, probably, of the word “ Shaw,” 
 i.e. a plot of underwood. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 169 
 
 (A Coppy.) 
 
 Wee, the Parishioners of St Maries, whose names are heere subscribed, doe 
 testify and declare by these presents, that our much respected Parson, Mr. 
 Richard Pray, Master of Arts, is a man of good sufficiency and note for his 
 preaching, wherein hee is and alwaies hath beene laborious; and is a man of 
 honest, sober, and discreete cariage, free from scandall or any just exception in 
 Ins life and conversation ; whoe, by reason of his age, and constitution of body, 
 cannot reside amongst us (as hee desireth) without apparent danger of his 
 health (as hee is certified under the handes of learned Physicians), our parish 
 beeing scituated in a marshy place, joyning to the river of Thames: but such 
 speciall care hath he of our soules, that he hath given us power to make choice of 
 our Curat ourselves, and alloweth him 20k ayeere, and the Church duties, for 
 the same, whoe preacheth diligently every Sunday : and besides, either comes 
 himself, or sendeth his sonne (a Master of Arts, and well approoved of) to preach 
 unto us every month, allowing for the same 20k a yeere more, and his diett; 
 besides, hee every yeere liberally releeveth our poore : Soe that these things, 
 with tenthes, subsidies, and other charges deducted, there accrewes to him not 
 much above 40k a yeere. Hee hath noe other spirituall preferment that wee 
 ever heard of, but only liveth at a place caulled Bredherst, as a Curat, and 
 that, by the dispensacion of his Grace of Canterbury that now is. 
 
 In witnes of the truth of all which premises wee have heerunto set our 
 handes. 
 
 James Holoway. 
 
 Ralfe Hobs. 
 
 Thomas Ffuller. 
 Christopher Potterell. 
 Jacob Antonius. 
 
 John Rootes. 
 
 John Raines. 
 
 William Kilby. 
 
 Robert Lownes. 
 
 George Trumper. 
 
 Anthony Cuccow. 
 
 Thomas Hobs, Gent. 
 
 Ri: Greenegrasse, Churchwarden. 
 John Ru££. 
 
 John Gill. 
 
 John Loane. 
 
 Edward Webb. 
 
 Richard Aburne. 
 
 Robert Bond. 
 
 George Parker. 
 
 Georg Hubbard. 
 
 Edward Elmsall. 
 
 William Stubber. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 Z 
 
 ] 641. 
 17 Car. 
 
170 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 
 1 7 Car. I. 
 
 (A Coppy.) 
 
 14th JANUARY, 1640. 
 
 Wee, the Parishioners of Bredherst, consisting of 15 families, and of Lodging, 
 consisting of 8 small families, whose names areheere subscribed, who, with our 
 predecessors, have beyond memory participated by turnes both in Service 
 and Sacraments, and approved of by his Grace of Canterbury that now is, and 
 by his two Commissaries, S r Nathaniell Brent, and Mr Doctor Rives, on the 
 joint petition of the Parishioners of both Parishes, doe testifie and declare, by 
 these presents, that our minister, M r Richard Tray, Master of Arts, whoe hath 
 served us these 35 yeeres and upwards, at both our Chapells, by turnes, as 
 aforesaid, is a man of integrity of lyfe and conversation, free from scandall or 
 any just exception, and of good sufficiency and industry in the worke of the 
 ministery, duly preaching every Sunday in the forenoone, and cathechising all 
 the Summer in the afternoone; one that often releeveth the poore, a due 
 observer and maintainer, to his utmost power, the discipline established 
 for the peace and unity of the Church of England : whoe, for his paines 
 amongst us, hath not formerly made above 20 markes a yeere of Lidging ; but now 
 of late, by reason of improving their lands by chealke, it is something increased. 
 And, for Bredherst, he is but a Curat under M r John Swinnock, Parson of 
 Ilollingburne, * whereof Bredherst is reputed a lymme, and paies unto him 
 15Z. a yeere for the Gleab and tieth thereof; whereas, when hee first came to 
 Bredherst (35 yeeres agoe) there was paid to S r Martin Barnham, for many 
 yeeres, but 13s. 4 d. a yeere for the said gleab and tieth, as an acknowledgment 
 of the mother Church of Ilollingburn, the cruell rearing whereof (whensoever 
 the said Chapells slialbe divided and served by two ministers) there will 
 certenly follow a great defect in the servece of God, and that for want of 
 meanes ; the profits of Bredherst not beeing woortli 30/. a yeere, albeit the lands 
 bee almost all cholked, which will bee in few years worse, and then it will not 
 be worth above 24/. a yeere at the most, as formerly ; soe that then the Curat 
 shall not have above 9 U a yeere to serve the Cure, to the unsufferable wrong 
 of posterity. 
 
 In witnes of the truth of all which premises, we have heerunto set our 
 handes. 
 
 William Kemsley. Ed. Hills. 
 
 Jo. Ponde. Ni. Forsbery. 
 
 Jo. Cooper. Geo. Lone. 
 
 * Hollingbourne was only a sinecure Rectory ; it had no cure of souls : the Rectors 
 were Patrons of the chapelry of Bredhurst, the incumbents of which were “ Perpetual 
 Curates ” under the mother church of Hollingbourne. 
 
PROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 171 
 
 . . . . Masters, Overseer. 
 Steven Willerd. 
 
 Ja. Pecknam. 
 
 Wi. Pecknam. 
 
 Ro. Hudsford. 
 
 Emmanuell Cooper. 
 Rickard Weston. 
 
 Ro. Peniall. 
 
 Abraham Harp. 
 
 John Loome. 
 
 Michael Woollet, Churchwarden. 
 Jo. Cicell. 
 
 Jo. Larrance. 
 
 Geo. Sutton. 
 
 William Natt. 
 
 Jo. Roiston. 
 
 Jo. Hudsford. 
 
 Geo. Kina;. 
 
 (A Coppj.) 
 
 I, William Kemsley, of Bredherst, yeoman, doe by these presents testify, 
 that M r Ed. Alchorne did oftentimes solicit me, at Hartlipp alehouse, to set 
 my hand to his petition to be preferred against M r Tray, our minister, to the 
 high Court of Parliament; but I twice or thrice denying, at length, with much 
 importunity, he got my hand thereunto, beeing much, I confesse, overtaken 
 with drink; but I never heard above 2 or 3 lines thereof; and, for the rest, I 
 doe not know what was therein; I would faine have put him off; but still 
 solicits me thereto, perceiving mee to be much in drink. I am very sorry for 
 soe dooing; for I never knew nor heard but very well of M r Tray, having 
 beene my minister all my life time. And, therefore, uppon the better con- 
 sideracion, I doe wholy disclaime and disavow what I have set my hand to, 
 beeing verily perswaded (the palpable and apparant envy and mallice of the 
 said Alchorne against the said M r Tray, for these many yeeres considered) 
 that all, or the most part, of the said peticion is false and untrue. 
 
 In witnes wkeereof, I have keereunto subscribed, this first of March, 1640. 
 
 By me, William Kemsley. 
 
 This acknowledgment was made by William Kemsley in the presence of 
 
 Michaell Woollet. 
 
 Moses Long. 
 
 (A Coppy.) 
 
 I, Moses Long, of Hartlipp, doe heereby confesse, that, uppon the extraordi¬ 
 nary importunity of M r Alchorne, at Ilartlip alehouse, I did unadvisedly set my 
 hand to the said M r Alchorne’s petition, to be preferr’d to the Court of Parlia- 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I 
 
 1640-1. 
 
172 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 ment, against M r Tray the elder, minister of Bredherst; but what was specified 
 in the said petition I know not; for I confesse I was then much overtaken with 
 drink, or else I would never have set my hand unto it; and I am very sorry I was 
 soe much overtaken as to doe it; for I never knewe nor heard but well of the 
 said M r Tray, beeing my minister many yeeres ; and, therefore, uppon better 
 consideracion, I doe utterly disclaime and disavowe whatsoever I have set my 
 hand unto, being verily perswaded, (the palpable and apparent envy and con- 
 tinuall mallice of the said M r Alchorne against the said M r Tray considered,) 
 that all or the most part of the said petition is false and untrue. 
 
 In witnes whereof, I have heerunto subscribed, this first day of March, 1640 ; 
 beeing ready at all times to avouch the premises. 
 
 By me, Moses Long. 
 
 This acknowledgment was made by the said Moses Long in the presence of 
 
 Wi. Kemseey. 
 
 Michaell Wollett. 
 
 (A Coppy.) 
 
 I, John Drew, of Boxley, upon M r Alchorne’s perswading of mee that he 
 had gotten Mathew Hudsford’s hand, and others, to his petition in Parliament 
 against M r Tray ; promising to build me up a house in Rennaulds Wood, and 
 to let mee have a good penny worth in it; and 20 other such like curtesies and 
 perswasiones; hee got mee ignorantly to set my hand thereunto at last; but 
 what there was therein specified I know not at all; and therefore am very 
 sorry for it; for I never knew but well of M r Tray; and have knowen him 
 these 20 or 30 yeeres. And, therefore, uppon better considerationes, I doe 
 utterly disclaime and disavowe the said petition ; and am verily perswaded that 
 all therein specified is false and untrue. 
 
 In witnes whereof, I have heereunto subscribed, this 21st of March, 1640, 
 and will depose that this, which I have heerunto set my hand, is truth. 
 
 John Drew, + his marke. 
 
 This acknowledgment was made by John Drew, in the presence of 
 
 Michaell Wollet. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 173 
 
 (A Coppy.) 
 
 I, John Paine, of Bredhurst, uppon the instant and importunate request of 
 M r Alchorne, hee comming ten times to my house, at least, and inviting mee 
 as often to his house, and there feasting me day and night, and giving mee 
 over much drink, did, at last, get my hand to his petition to be preferrd against 
 M r Tray to the high Court of Parliament; but what was in the said petition 
 I know not, nor never heard, and, therefore, I am hartily sorry for soe doeing, 
 and doe utterly disclaime and disavowe whatsoever I have set my hand to; 
 being confident that whatsoever is in the said petition specified is false and 
 untrue. 
 
 In testimony whereof, I have heereunto subscribed, this seventh day of 
 March, 1640. 
 
 The marke + of John Paine. 
 
 This confession was made by John Paine in the presence of 
 
 John Jekin, his father in law. 
 
 XL. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, to increase the Income of their 
 Minister ELIAS WOOD, from the Parishioners of HINXHILL. 
 
 To the honorable the house of Commons now assembled in 
 Parliament. 
 
 The humble Petition of the Parishioners of Hinxhill, in the 
 County of Kent, in the hundred of Longbridge, on the behalfe of our 
 Minister M r Elias Wood (according to an order agreed upon by 
 this Honorable House, concerning ministers which have not compe¬ 
 tent livings), 
 
 Humbly sheweth, 
 
 That our said Minister is a diligent and faithfull Preacher of the 
 Word of God, every Lord’s day; orthodox in doctrine, and of godly 
 life and conversation; but his living is a very small parsonage, not 
 above 40/. per annum, “ communibus annis,” and he hath no other 
 meanes for the maintenance of himselfe and his charge of 5 children. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I, 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 9 February. 
 
174 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 February. 
 
 Wherfore wee, the Parishioners aforesaid, humbly pray this 
 honourable Court, that there may be a supply of a competent main¬ 
 tenance for his incouragement, as shall seeme good to your wisedom. 
 
 And wee, as bound, shall pray, &c. 
 
 William Hales. 
 
 Robert Edolphe. 
 
 Thomas Andrewe, Church¬ 
 warden. 
 
 William Brett. 
 
 John Criche. 
 
 William Rigden. 
 
 Roger Smeede. 
 
 William Effeld. 
 
 Thomas Barke. 
 
 Hercules Eilpott. 
 
 Kenneth Back, Church¬ 
 warden. 
 
 Henry Morgan. 
 
 Nicholas Pierse. 
 
 Richard Fflusher. 
 Reinald Smith. 
 
 George Bastock. 
 
 Richard Kino-. 
 
 O 
 
 Thomas Teeler. 
 
 William Harrison. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 1640, 9 Febr. Henxhill, pro. Wood.”] 
 
 XLI. 
 
 LIST of specific charges, and the names of the Witnesses, against their 
 Minister M r SAMUEL SMITH : from the Parishioners of BOUGH- 
 TON BLEAN. 
 
 To prove M r Samuel Smith’s* banting of alehouses, and playing 
 at tables, and continuing there by night, is Edmon Packingham, and 
 Anthony Edwards. 
 
 To prove his drinking of healths and singing of idle catches, is 
 William Abraham, and Ezekiel Maxsted. 
 
 To prove that he did speake wordes to this effect: that the kinge 
 
 * In the original, it was “ his ” lianting—and overwritten, in S r Edward’s hand, “ M r 
 Samuel Smith’s;” evidencing, that the original petition had been presented to the House 
 by S r Edward, and that he retained in his own hands the schedule of evidence, marking 
 it with the party’s name, for identification. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 175 
 
 was not well advised to be drawne away to yeald to the Scotes; and 
 that if he were as the Kinge it should cost him one hundred 
 thousand men’s lives rather than to be so drawne away, is Herculas 
 Hilles, and William Hilles. 
 
 To prove that the said M r Smith did say he would warrant the 
 parlamant would com to noe good, is William Hilles. 
 
 To prove that the sayd M r Smith did threten to scite the Church¬ 
 warden to the Bishop’s Court, for not rayling in the Communion 
 Table alter wise; and, to that purpose, as your petitioners beleeve, 
 did chose one M r William Baker, purposely to rayleinthe said alter; 
 and the sayd Baker hath rayled in the sayd table, contrary to the 
 will of the parish; and now we are like to be sued for the charg the 
 sayd Baker was at for the sayd rayling. Sir John Routh, and John 
 Spencer, senior. 
 
 To testifi for his bowing toward the table, when he commeth into 
 his desk, and when he goeth out, and at other times, is Hercules 
 Hilles, and Richard Proude. 
 
 To testifie he causeth the new maried copple to kneele at the 
 rayle; and that he causeth wemen when they com to be churchd, to 
 weare a white rayle hanging downe theyr backes, is Herculas Hilles, 
 and John Spencer, Ju r . 
 
 To prove that divers of the sayd inhabytantes were scited to the 
 Bishop’s Court, for going to heere a sermon at the next parish 
 Church, when the sayd M r Smith only read service; and, as the 
 Churchwarden did affirme, M r Smith did urge him to do it. William 
 Huggin and Richard Proude. 
 
 To prove that the sayd M 1 ' Smith did say, I scorne to carry the 
 Body and blod of Christ aboute the Church to them which are to 
 receive, and let me know who they be that will not com up to the 
 rayle to receive. Herculas Hilles. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“1640, 9 Febr.—proofes—for Boughton 
 Blean.”] 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 10 February. 
 
 176 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 XLII. 
 
 PETITION or Certificate to tlie House of Commons, enumerating the 
 Vices and malpractises of their Vicar, EDWARD BARBET, from 
 the Parishioners of CIIISTLET. 
 
 The Certificate of the Parishioners of Chistlet, in the county of 
 Kent, to the honourable House of Commons in Parliament assembled, 
 touchinge the sufficiency in readinge and preachinge and conversa¬ 
 tion of Edward Barbet, clerke, Vicar of Chistlet aforesaid. 
 
 Wee, the Parishioners of Chistlet aforesaid, doe humbly certify, 
 that the said Edward Barbet, livinge lieeretofore as a gentleman upon 
 his lands, and havinge by riotous livinge consumed the greatest part 
 of his estate, laye in prison by the space of halfe a yeere and more; 
 and, havinge made composicion with his creditors, betooke himselfe to 
 the ministry, for his better mayntenance and livelyhood, and was 
 presented by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury to the Vicaridge 
 of Chistlet aforesaid, beinge in his gift. 
 
 And, touchinge his readinge of Divine Service, hee reads soe false, 
 and with such ill gesture, and ridiculous behaviour, laughing when 
 some women come into the Church, and soe careles in readinge, that 
 sometimes he reads the Ten Commandments twice over, at morning 
 Prayer, besides many other slips, mistakings, and negligences not 
 fittinge for a minister of God’s word. 
 
 And touchinge his preachinge, hee is very unable and unfit, in 
 respect hee never studyed Divinity, as may appeare by his weake 
 and unlearned sermons, and yet will not suffer any other minister to 
 preach there, although it bee a funerall sermon, and that the party 
 deceased did desire it. 
 
 And touchinge his life and Conversation, it is well knowne, that 
 hee is a common Iyer, a notorious swearer, a foule, obscene, and 
 bawdy speaker of Ribaldry, utteringe sometimes such words as are 
 not to be spoken by any modest man, nor to be heard by any 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 177 
 
 Christian eares. And liee is also of an incontinent life; and hath 
 affirmed that marry age was a superficial! ceremony, and that yt was 
 but the mumblinge of a Preist:—contrary to his oath, which is, to 
 maynteine the rights and ceremonies of the Church of England. 
 
 All which things wil bee prooved 
 required. 
 
 Steven Hunt. 
 
 Paul Barrett. 
 
 Robart Austen. 
 
 Robert Austen. 
 
 Richard Austen. 
 
 John How ten. 
 
 John x Rath, his mark. 
 
 John Mounsteeven, xhis mark. 
 Oliver Hall, x his mark. 
 
 Walter Ewell, x his mark. 
 Robert Cooper, x his mark, 
 John Mount, x his mark. 
 Thomas Cook, x his mark. 
 Richard Chambers, x his mark. 
 Humphry Churchman, x his 
 mark. 
 
 George Knowler. 
 
 Beenjamin Jones. 
 
 James Harman x his mark. 
 James Momery, x his mark. 
 
 by sufficient witnesses, if it bee 
 
 William Knowler, Constable. 
 John Ratliff. 
 
 Richard Whitting. 
 
 Richard Dobb, Church¬ 
 warden. 
 
 Thomas x MaxtedA 
 Ffra. x Edwards, / Sidmen. 
 
 his marke. J 
 Stephen Rose. 
 
 Stephen Gouldfinch, x his 
 marke. 
 
 Stephen Kingston. 
 
 Thomas Norwood, x his mark. 
 Thomas Norwood, Junior. 
 Thomas Colman. 
 
 Hendere Hewett. 
 
 Edward Halfioy x his mark. 
 Robart Barbere. 
 
 Bartholme Boykin, x his 
 markes. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 1640, 10 Febr. Certificate, Christlet 
 v. Barbet, Sc.”] 
 
 2 A 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
178 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 13 February, 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, for an increase of Income, from 
 FRANCIS MARSH, Perpetual Curate of GUSTON NEXT DOYOR. 
 
 To the right honourable the Commons at this present high 
 Court of Parliament assembled. 
 
 The humble Petition of Francis Marsh, Master of Arts, and 
 Curat of the parish of Guston next Doyor, in the County of Kent. 
 
 Wlioe humbly sheweth, 
 
 That he, your Petitioner, haveing served as Minister and Curat in 
 the said parish by the space of three yeares last past, hathe, for two 
 of the said yeares, only receaved 9 1 * per annum, and for the third 
 yeare 13 u : (foure pounds being added as a pention to him out of the 
 profits of the Parsonage of the said Parish, of long time detayned 
 from his Predecessors); five hundred acres of land, at a place called 
 the Ffrith, and 120 acres of land belonging to Dovor Castle, within 
 the said parish of Guston, not payeing any Tieths to your Petitioner. 
 Soe that he, your Petitioner, uppon the said small meanes cannot 
 maintaine himself, wife, and familie. 
 
 The tender consideration of all which said premises your Petitioner 
 humbly referreth to the said right honorable Court for redresse. 
 
 And for that honourable favor, he, your Petitioner, will bee ever 
 bound to pray, &c. 
 
 Wee whose names are hereunder written, parishioners of the said 
 parish of Guston, hereby humbly certifie, that all the above written 
 premises are true. 
 
 Ed. Prescott. 
 
 John Prescott. 
 
 John Bird, Churchwarden, 
 his mark x. 
 
 John Gardner. 
 
 Henry Gibbon, Sideman, his 
 mark x. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“1640, 13 Feb. Goceston pro Marsh.”] 
 
 Edward Howsen, his marke x . 
 John Pepper, the elder, his 
 mark x. 
 
 John Pepper. 
 
 John Scot. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 179 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 CERTIFICATES of the respective Values signed by the Incumbents of 
 LYDDEN, RIVER, and GUSTON. 
 
 15 January. 
 13 February. 
 
 JANUARY 15°, 1640. 
 
 I certify by tlieise presents, that the vicaridge of Lydden is not 
 worth above sixteene pounds per annum; and the house belongeing 
 thereunto is not fitt for a clergyman to live in. 
 
 As likewise, that the parish of River is not worth above fourteene 
 pounds per annum, with a verry poore house belongeing thereunto; 
 and that my imediate predecessor there dying left his children a 
 great charge to the parish there. 
 
 Robert Pownoll, Vicar of Lydden and River. 
 
 I testify, that the Archbyshop is impropriator of Guston, which 
 cure I serve, the valuation whereof is but thirteene pounds per 
 annum, with the stipend added from the Parsonage, being 4 1 . per 
 annum; for the whole meanes is but 13 pounds. Besides, there is 
 no house for the minister. Besides, there are five hundred acres of 
 land pertinent to impropriation that pay nothing to the minister; that 
 there are sixe score acres of land pertinent to my Lord Warden of 
 Dovor Castle, within the precincts of Guston, that pay nothing to 
 the minister. 
 
 Francis Marsh, Curat, ibidem. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1640, 13 Febr. Certificate, Lydden, 
 Goceston.”] 
 
180 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 16 February. 
 
 Dover Ss. 
 (l.s.) * 
 
 XLY. 
 
 TESTIMONIAL from the Mayor and Jurats of DOVOR, to the good 
 conduct of GEORGE STANCOMBE, Curate of BIRCHINGTON. 
 
 To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, 
 Thomas Teddeman, Esq. Major of the towne and Port of Dovor, 
 in the Countie of Kent, and the Jurats of the same, Justices of the 
 Peace there, and in the Limbs and Precincts thereof, send greeting 
 in our Lord God everlasting. 
 
 Forasmuch as we hold it the office of magistrates and the dutie of 
 all other honest persons, to certifie and declare the truth in all 
 matters and thinges doubtfull or suspicious, whereby wrong and 
 injuries may bee avoided, and truth take place and be manifested, 
 especially being thereunto requested. 
 
 Know ye therefore, that George Stancombe, Clark, Curat of the 
 parish of Birchington, in the Isle of Thanet, in the said Countie, a 
 Limbe within the Government of this Towne and Port, hath been 
 well knowne to us, for diverse yeares past, and hath, in all that time, 
 civilly, peaceably, and fairely demeaned and deported himselfe 
 towards us, and his neighbours, and thereby gained our and their 
 good esteeme and opinion: so that our testimoniall of his good life 
 and conversation we could not but grant unto him. 
 
 In witness whereof, we have caused the seale of office of Maioralty 
 of the said Towne and Port to be putt and scet, the Twelveth day of 
 February, anno domini 1640. 
 
 Exa’iat’ per me 
 
 Fra. Raworth, 
 
 communem clericum ville et portus Dovorie. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 1640, 16 Febr. Certificate. Dovor 
 pro Stancombe.”] 
 
 * The Corporation Seal—St. Martin and the beggar. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 181 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, that they would annul the recent 
 appointment of their Incumbent, made by the Archbishop, the Patron. 
 From the Parishioners of BIDDENDEN. 
 
 To the right honourable the House of Commons, now assembled 
 this present Parliament. 
 
 The humble peticion of the Churchwardens and others of the 
 parish of Biddenden, in the County of Kent, 
 
 In submissive manner sheweth. 
 
 That whearas a peticion hath lately bene exhibited to the Hon bie 
 assembly by the parishioners of our said parish, declaringe their 
 greavances occasioned by scandalous and offensive Curats placed by 
 the Bishopp of Oxford* (which, amonge other grevances were thought 
 cheifly to occasion the goinge of 13 families out of our said parish), as 
 by the said petition more at large is declared. And whereas sithence, 
 the said Bishopp of Oxford beinge deceased, and the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury haveinge the donation of the Benefice (being above 140/. 
 per annum) hath bestowed the same upon one of his Chaplains, who 
 came and preached one Sunday the 14th of February last, and, after 
 demandinge to be admitted, was denied by the greater parte of the 
 congregation, who doubting now of the authority of the said Bishopp, 
 and very distrustfull of his Chapleine, would nott departe out of the 
 Church, nor graunt him any admittance, untill they were further 
 certifyed from this Honorable assembly. 
 
 Whereupon wee humbly desire this Honorable assembly to take the 
 aforesaid Petition into Consideration, and to sett downe some speedy 
 Order in the premisses; if nott (as is most desired) by makiuge of 
 our owne choise of a man whose guifts wee have had more experi¬ 
 ence of, yett for the establishinge of a diligent watchman over soe 
 great a cure, (there beinge above 1,200 Communicants in our said 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 16 February. 
 
 * i.e. John Bancroft, nephew of Archbishop Bancroft. 
 
182 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 19 February. 
 
 parish) by what way or order in your wisdomes shall he thought 
 meete. 
 
 And wee shall continue our prayers for the prosperouse successe 
 of this honorable assembly, in their honorable and just endevours. 
 
 John Younge. ) ™ , , 
 
 _ ; Churchwardens. 
 
 AiWBROSE DrAYNER. > 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Deri ns;—“ 1640. 16 Feb. Petition, Biddenden 
 
 v. Wilde.”] 
 
 XLVII. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against the Popish Practises of their 
 Rector, M r JEFFERY AMHERST, from the Parishioners of HORS- 
 MONDEN. 
 
 To the honorable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the 
 House of Commons, assembled in Parliament. 
 
 The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the parish of Hors- 
 monden, in the County of Kent. 
 
 Sheweth, 
 
 That wee have been much burthened and constreyned to the 
 observation and obedience to these subsequent enormities and super¬ 
 stitious observations and ceremonyes of M r Jeffery Amherst, parson 
 of the said parish, as followeth. 
 
 1. Our Communion Table is removed upp unto the wall at the 
 East end of the Chancell, and compassed about with waynscott, and 
 upon the said wall is written these words. Wee have an Altar 
 WHEREOF THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO EATE WHICH SERVE THE 
 
 Tabernacle. 
 
 2. He doth goe upp to the said table to read greate parte of the 
 service, and maketh obeysance to the table when as he goeth to it, 
 and also when he retyreth from it. 
 
PROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 183 
 
 3. He vehemently urgeth the people to come upp and receive the 
 Sacrament at the said Waynscott about the table, and hath refused 
 for to administer the same unto those whose consciences are weake, 
 and dare not to receive it in that manner, whereby many have beene 
 constrayned not to partake of the Sacrament. 
 
 4. He hath caused a poore man of the said Parish for to be pre¬ 
 sented in the Ecclesiasticall Court of Rochester, for refusing to come 
 upp and receive the Sacrament at the sayd waynscott. 
 
 5. He endeavoureth, in his preaching, to mayntaine it to be the 
 true and right manner of administration of the Sacrament, and that 
 such as refuse to receive it in that manner are to be expelled from 
 the congregation, and that theire sinne is as the sinne of Chorah, or 
 such like; and likewise hath a Curate under him that preaclieth after 
 that manner. 
 
 6. He, in his preaching, doth cast reproachfull names on such as 
 refuse to come upp to receive the Sacrament at the waynscott, as 
 Puritans, and itching Puritans. 
 
 7. He continually boweth at the name of Jesus, and presseth his 
 people to observe new gestures in the Church. 
 
 8. That the tythes of the said parish doth amount to the yearely 
 value of 2501, or thereabouts ; and that he the said M r Amherst 
 hath the Rectory of the parish of Southease, in the county of Sussex, 
 the tythes wlierof amount to the value of 100k or thereabouts, and 
 is theire non resident. 
 
 Wherefore we doe most humbly beseech this honourable assembly 
 to take these our greivances into consideracion, and to doe for us in 
 all things as to theire grave and Godly wisdoine shall seme most 
 expedient. And wee, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. 
 
 Richard Day. 
 
 John Osborne. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1640, 19 Febr. Petition, Horsemonden 
 v. Amherst, Pet. Sc.”] 
 
 1640-1 
 16 Car. 
 
184 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 19 February. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, against D r GIBBON the Rector, 
 for debarring them the use of the Spring of Water on the Glebe 
 Lands. From the poor Inhabitants of SEVENOAKS. 
 
 To the honourable the Knights, Cittizens and Burgesses in this 
 present Parliament assembled. 
 
 The humble Petition of the poore Inhabitants of Seavenock, in 
 the county of Kent. 
 
 Shewinge, 
 
 I hat the Towne of Seavenock is a place consistinge of many poore 
 Inhabitants, whoe through theire poverty are constrained to drincke 
 water instead of beere; and that the sayd Towne, standing upon a 
 hill, is watered onely with three publique springs, two whereof are 
 out of the Towne, and the third in the Glebe land of the Rectory of 
 Seavenock, neere unto the Church. 
 
 1 hat, tyme out of mynde, the Rectors there have given free liberty 
 to your peticioners, and other formerly poore Inhabitants of 
 Seavenock, to fetch water at the sayd springe, whereby your 
 petitioners were refreshed, and the Rectors there sustained noe 
 damage thereby. 
 
 That, about 4 yeres since, Doctor Gibbon, now Rector of the 
 sayd parishe, did with a stronge high stonewall barryour petitioners 
 from fetchinge any water there. 
 
 That, thereupon, the Justices of that devision, takeinge it into 
 theiie consideration, did order the sayd doctor Gibbon to convay 
 the sayd water by a pipe from the sayd springe to the wall which he 
 had built, that your Petitioners might come thither, and receive the 
 water there. 
 
 I hat, allthough there bee a pipe to convay the water, the pipe is 
 for the most part defectyve, and the sayd doctor can att his pleasure 
 stopp the sayd water; and the said water is often wantino-e, bv 
 meanes ot the sayd wall, whereby your petitioners want that 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 185 
 
 i efreshinge that they formerly found by the sayd water, and thereby 
 are constrained to drinck and make use of well water, whereby your 
 
 petitioners are become more infirme, and subject to infection and 
 sicknes. 
 
 Most |humbly therefore besecheth your honors, that the sayd 
 doctor Gibbon may answer the premisses, and that your petitioners 
 may have free liberty to come to the sayd well, as they formerly 
 have had. 
 
 And your petitioners shall, as in duty bound, pray, &c. 
 
 [There are no signatures. It is endorsed by Sir Edward Dering— “ 1640, 
 19 Feb. Sevenok v. Gibbon—Sc.”] 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, praying that their Vicar, 
 WILLIAM GERVIS, may be removed, for Popish practices, &c. 
 From the Parishioners of STURRY. 
 
 To the Honorable House of Commons assembled in this Parlia¬ 
 ment. 
 
 The humble Petition of divers Inhabitants of the Parish of 
 Sturrey, neere Canterburie, in the County of Kent. 
 
 Shewinge, 
 
 That, wheras the Inhabitants have just Cause to complaine of 
 William Gervis, Preist of the said parish, as followeth: 
 
 1. That he hath a large Crucifix painted, in a frame, hanginge in 
 his parlour; and is famouslie noted for a forward Agent in super¬ 
 stitious and Popish innovations. 
 
 2. That he threatned the Churchwardens of the said parish to cite 
 them to the high Commission, if they would not set up the Com¬ 
 munion Table Alter wise, and rayle it in; which thereuppon was 
 
 camd. soc. 2 B 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I 
 
 23 February 
 
186 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 donne accordinglie, to the charge of the said Inhabitants, and perill 
 of Idolatry. 
 
 3. That, since the said Table hath beene soe placed, he hath read 
 parte of the divine service in the ministers deske, and parte at the said 
 Alter, to the prejudice of the edification of the assemblie, he liavinge 
 a very lowe voice; and his constante practice hath beene, before his 
 second Service, to singe the 43 d psalme; and when they singe, 
 “ then will I to the Alter goe,” then he presantly came out of his 
 seate, and did goe to the said Alter, and bowed three times in goinge 
 up to it, and in comminge downe. 
 
 4. That he hath, divers times, urged the people to receive the 
 Communion kneelinge before the said Rayle and Alter ; whereuppon 
 divers received kneelinge there, at Christide, 1639; others refusinge, 
 he begann to reade the thanksgivinge ; and then, seeinge a disturb¬ 
 ance amongst the people, he left off readinge, and ministered to them 
 kneelinge elsewhere. And, uppon Thursday before Easter last, he 
 refused againe to give the Sacrament to those that would not come 
 to the rayle, sayinge, if he came to them, he should tread on theire 
 cloathes, and spill the wine &c., and then said, “If there be any heere 
 which have not as yet received the Sacrament, it is for that they 
 have not given their names over night, nor paid their offerings; but 
 yet, if they will come and kneele at the railes, I will administer to 
 them;” and so, pausinge awhile, and seeinge they would not come 
 before the Alter, he furiouslie thrust open the doores of the said 
 Rayle, and came out, sayinge, “ I will administer to you, but you shall 
 be sure to be cited to the courte,” and so, in greate passion, he gave 
 the holy Sacrament to them, and, presently after, caused them to be 
 cited to the Bishoppes Courte. And, uppon Easter day last, after he 
 had given the Sacrament to those which kneeled before the said 
 Alter, he began to reade the thanksgivinge, and, on a sudden left 
 readinae, and went and administered to some of those which did not 
 come up to the said rayle; but, beinge in greate passion, when he 
 gave the bread, he sayd the wordes which are appointed to be said 
 when the wine is given; and so in greate hast made an end, and 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 187 
 
 went out of the Church in a rage, refusinge to give the Sacrament to 
 twelve or thirteene persons then present, and kneelinge, ready to 
 receive it. 
 
 5. That the booke of new Cannons beinge newly come forth, he 
 presantlie published them to the said Parishioners in the Church, 
 and did speake much in Commendacions of them, with expressions of 
 greate joy and triumph. 
 
 6. That, upon Palme Sunday last, Margarett, wife of Thomas 
 Cullin, beinge come about two miles to be churched, in a very rainy 
 day, and beinge present at Church before the said William Gervis 
 had begun his second Service, the said William Gervis refused to 
 church her, and therupon she was constrained to returne home 
 againe, beinge very sicke and weake, for that she was constrained to 
 be led by two women. 
 
 7. That one James Hornsey, occupyinge land in the said parish, to 
 the value of about 200/. per annum, who came once to the said parish 
 Church to the makinge of a Cesse, and once to be witnesse at 
 Baptisme, and, afterwardes, comminge to the said Church in a very 
 rainy day, his owne Churche beinge further from his dwellinge, the 
 said William Gervis did cause the said Hornsey to be cited to the 
 Bishopps Courte therefore. 
 
 8. That the said William Gervis (beinge at odds with Richard 
 Bellamy) did cite Anne the wife of the said Richard to the said 
 Courte, only because she did misse standinge up at the Creede, 
 although she was necessitated therunto, beinge very greate with 
 child. 
 
 9. That the said William Gervis hath beene a longe time very 
 contentious towards the said Parishioners, to theire greate trouble 
 and charge. 
 
 10. That the said William Gervis, beinge a meane Preacher, is a 
 grosse non Resident, holdinge two livings, with Cure of Soules, farr 
 distant one from the other, he beinge Yicar of Sturry aforesaid, and 
 Parson of Snave in Romney Marsh. 
 
 The most humble and hartie petition of the said Inhabitants is, 
 
 1641. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
188 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 27 February. 
 
 that the Premisses may be taken into the consideration of this 
 honorable house; that the said William Gervis may be removed 
 from them. And your petitioners shall (as in duty they are bound) 
 ever pray, &c. 
 
 Henry Harryson. 
 James Blayland. 
 
 James Allen. 
 
 Michaell Terry. 
 Richard Bellamy. 
 Thomas Janing. 
 Thomas Coroke. 
 
 Peter Ambrose. 
 Thomas Idenden. 
 Henry Robarts. 
 
 Roger Camton, by his 
 marke x. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, 
 Gervais.—pet. Sc.”] 
 
 Edward Young. 
 
 James Hoarnse, x by his 
 marke. 
 
 Thomas Pennel, x by his 
 mark. 
 
 Roger x May, his marke. 
 
 Vincent Bilingherst, his marke. 
 
 John x Stauk, his mark. 
 
 Thomas Arnoll, his x marke. 
 
 John Gare, x by his marke. 
 
 Robert Daad, x by his 
 marke. 
 
 1640, 23 Feb. Petition. Sturry v. 
 
 L. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons for a better Income to the Minister, 
 and for the Union by Act of Parliament of the two Parishes. From 
 the Parishioners of SUTTON NEXT DOVOR and LITTLE 
 MONGEHAM. 
 
 To the honorable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the 
 Commons house of Parliament. 
 
 The humble Petition of the Parishioners of the parish of Sutton 
 JUNTA Dovor, in the County of Kent. 
 
 In all humble manner shew, 
 
 That, whereas the parish Church of Litle Mongham hath bene 
 
PROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 189 
 
 long utterly ruined, and the parishioners there assigned, by the 
 most Reverend Father in God George, late Archbishop of Canter¬ 
 bury, upon their owne humble petition, to heare the word, and 
 receive the Sacraments, at Sutton, which they have accordingly done, 
 for twenty five yeeres and upwards; and whereas the Rectory of 
 Sutton, which is worthe 50 or 60 lib. per annum, is impropriated to 
 the Archbishopricke of Canterbury, and the lease to expire within 
 lesse then a yeere; and, whereas, we have now an able, honest, 
 orthodox, and painfull preacher, who payes rent for the house he 
 dwels in, and is allowed for his maintenance but ten lib. per annum, 
 out of the rectory of Sutton, and fourtie shillings per annum, durante 
 beneplacito, by the rector of Litle Mongham, which rectory is worth 
 40 lib. per annum. 
 
 Forasmuch therefore as there are not twenty housholds in Sutton 
 aforsaid, and not above ten housholds in the said Litle Mongham, 
 Sutton Church ffiting to receive them all, being not above 100 
 Communicantes in both, and the distance being but a litle mile. 
 
 They humbly pray that a better allowance may be provided for 
 a setled Minister ; and that both Parishes may be united by Act of 
 Parliament. And your peticioners shall pray, &c. 
 
 William Brett. 
 Tobyas Brett. 
 Thomas Brett. 
 
 John Smith. 
 William Hasselby. 
 Nicholas Hodgman. 
 Jeremy Heyward. 
 John Phillpott. 
 Edward Seale. 
 
 Tho. Ffoch, jun. 
 
 William Stokes, senior. 
 Thomas Willson. 
 Jeremy Wilkes. 
 Thomas Wright. 
 Christopher Burton. 
 Thomas Corke. 
 
 Henery Willson. 
 William Stokes, junior. 
 Henry Cocke. 
 
 Henry Stoles. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1640, 27 Febr. Sutton juxta Dover.”] 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 6 March. 
 
 The Towne of 
 Wye. 
 
 Crundoll. 
 
 i 
 
 a < 
 ( 
 
 b 
 
 Molash. 
 
 190 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 LI. 
 
 CERTIFICATES of the respective values and condition, &c. of the 
 parishes of WYE, CRUNDAL, MOLASH, and LYMINGE. 
 
 Kent. 
 
 The parsonage of the Towne and parish of Wye is impropriat 
 unto the Bishopp of Canterbury; and is worth per annum 200 1. by 
 estimation. The minister is Doctor Richman, who is a painefull 
 preacher, and of good life, and hath a Stipen of 501. per annum, from 
 the parsonages of Newington, Brensett, Bocton Allofe, and the 
 Vicaridg of Wye. And there are three Tytheries which pay 
 nothing to the minister, vidj., Townes Barne, Longeporte, and 
 Craphill tythery. 
 
 The parsonage of Crundoll, in the hundred of Wye, is of the 
 value of 100/. per annum, by estimation; Steven Thomas is Rector 
 there; hee preacheth usually but once in 14 dayes; hee useth to 
 bowe at the name of Jesus. In his preachinge, hee often inveyeth 
 against Puritans, sayinge that it will not bee well untill they be out 
 of the land; and, for the proof of his doctrins, hee citeth the booke 
 of Common Prayer. 
 
 Witnesses, George Ffinch. 
 Peter Marsh. 
 
 Thomas Brissenden. 
 John Hukins. 
 
 The parsonage of Molash, in the hundred of Filburow, is im¬ 
 propriated unto M r Thomas Diges; and is worth 60/. per annum. 
 The Vicaridg is D 1 ' Jackson’s, worth per annum 201. and is served 
 by M r Keth, a poore Curate, that cannot preach, a common ale¬ 
 house haunter, and a drunkard; who, upon a Lord’s day, came into 
 the Church, and could not read service, by reason of his drunkenes 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 191 
 
 at that time, to the great dishonor of God, and the greife of all good 
 people there. Witnesses, Richard Amis. 
 
 Robert Smyth, y of Molash. 
 with many more. ) 
 
 The parsonage is impropriate to M r John Roberts, and is worth 
 200/. per annum, by estimation. M r Michell Barnes is Vicar, and 
 hath 30/. per annum from the. Parson, and his Vicaridge is worth 
 30/. per annum, by estimation. Hee hath 2 Chappells, Parlsford* and 
 Stanford. His ordinary preachinge hath formerly been once in 3 
 weekes, hut now hee preacheth once in 14 dayes. Hee did urge the 
 Churchwardens to rayle in the Communion Table, and to sett it upp 
 to the east end of the Chancell; and, the Churchwardens not willinge 
 to remove or rayle in the Table, the sayd M r Barnes caused the 
 Churchwardens to he scitted to the Ecclesiasticall Court twise; and, 
 in the end, they were injoyned by the said Court to rayle in the Table, 
 and sett it upp. Hee hath, in his preachinge, and otherwise, uiged 
 and caused the people to come upp to the Rayles to receave. Hee is 
 a common frequenter of alehouses. On the 1st of Feb. 1640, there 
 was a meetinge at Henry Bouldings house, who is Clark of the 
 Parish, by divers of the Parishioners, where hee the said M r Barnes 
 did speak to the justifyinge of the Papistes havinge of Images, and 
 sayd they worshipped not the Images, but had them in remembrance 
 of Saints, sayinge, they were in a righter way then wee. And, 
 beinge asked by Richard Cozins of the same parish, why Shadrak, 
 Mesach, and Abednigo would not worshipp the King’s Image, hee 
 answered, that it was a ffable. 
 
 f William Hogbin. 
 
 Churchwardens. r ichard Cossins. 
 
 r Richard Cossins. 
 
 Witnesses. < John Spisser. 
 
 b and divers others. 
 
 [Endorsed by S' Edward Dering, “1640, 6 March. Certificate—Wy, 
 Crondall, Moldash, Liminge.”] 
 
 * i.e. Padlesworth, commonly called Palsworthand Palsford : Stanford and Padleswortli 
 are cliapelries attached to Lyminge. 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I 
 
 Lyminge 
 
192 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 
 ] 6 Car. I. 
 
 LII. 
 
 8 March. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against their Vicar Mr EDWARD 
 ASHBERNHAM, from the Parishioners of TUNBRIDGE. 
 
 To the honorable the Knights, Cittizens, and Burgesses of the 
 Commons Howse, assembled in Parliament. 
 
 The humble peticion of divers of the Parishioners of the Parish of 
 Tunbridge, in the County of Kent, in the behalfe of themselves, 
 and others of the said Parish, 
 
 Humbly sheweth. 
 
 That the said Towne of Tunbridg is a greate market towne, and 
 very populous, having about 2,000 Communicants living in the said 
 Parish, and that M r Edward Ashbernham, (who is now Vicar of the 
 said parish, and hath pluralitie of benefices,) is one that seldome 
 preacheth himselfe in the said parish; but is rather an enemy unto 
 sound preaching; having often refused to permit godly ministers to 
 preach in his pulpit, although he hath bene thereunto much re¬ 
 quested, and neither he himselfe, nor any other, either preacheth or 
 catechiseth there on the Lord’s dayes, in the afternoone; and he hath 
 threatned his parishioners for goeing to other Churches to heare ser¬ 
 mons, when there was neither sermons nor Catechising in theire 
 owne Church. 
 
 That hee is likewise a great Innovator, having introduced into the 
 worship ot God many Innovations, as namely,—turned the Commu¬ 
 nion table altarwise, rayled it in, made Cherubinis of carved worke 
 over it, and the picture of a dove over the ffont; that he commonly 
 boweth himselfe unto the altar, and at the name Jesus, and enjoynes 
 his parishioners to come up to the railes to receive the Sacrament of 
 the Lord’s supper; by meanes of which innovations divers of the best 
 minded families in the said parish have removed theire dwellings into 
 other parishes, and some gone out of the kingdome. 
 
 That he keepes a Curate under him named M r Childrens, who is 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 193 
 
 also a greate Innovator, every way conforming himselfe to all the 
 formalities ancl Innovations before named. 
 
 That the said M r Ashbernham is a man of a prophane life and 
 conversation, being so farre from restrayning others from using 
 sports on the Lord’s dayes, that hee himselfe will stand at his dore, 
 and see yong people at theire sports, and laugh at them; being 
 also a common frequenter of Tavernes and Alehouses, and a drinker 
 of healths. 
 
 All which your peticioners humbly present to this honorable 
 assembly, most humbly beseeching you to take the premisses into 
 your favourable consideracions; together with the miserable con¬ 
 dition of soe many poore soules in the said parish, who live in dark- 
 nesse and ignorance, destitute of the saving meanes of grace; and, in 
 Commiseration thereof, to take such order therein for theire releife 
 as to your grave wisedomes shall seeme meete. 
 
 And your peticioners, as bound, will ever pray, &c. 
 
 William Dryver. 
 Joseph x Mercer. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1640, 8 March. Petition. Tun¬ 
 bridge v. Ashbornham.”] 
 
 LIII. 
 
 LETTER to Sir EDWARD DERING-, begging to press their petition for 
 the restoration of their Vicar, Mr. BRIGHAM, who had been ille¬ 
 gally ejected by the Archbishop. From the Parishioners of ASH. 
 
 Right Worshipfull, 
 
 By that large testimony you have given, wee are confident of 
 your constant affaction to works of piety and Justis. It is the com¬ 
 mon opinion, that eare longe, his grace will be past grace; his un- 
 CAMD. SOC. 2 C 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 17 March. 
 
194 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 worthy dealling with our parrish hath wroght the decay of Religion 
 amongst us, which cannott be repayred but by much care and toyle, 
 bj' hewinge stones out of a Rocke. Wee humbly thanke you for 
 youi lotinge respect to our petition, and reddines to further it. 
 
 ee know you are imployed about high and waighthy matters of 
 greatest consequence; our humble sute in the behalfe of the rest of 
 our parishinors is, to intreat your remembrance of our affayres. M r 
 Brigham saytli, and we belive it to be true, that hee is damnifyed 
 above one hundred powndes by being unjustly put from Ashe; and 
 his humble desire is, that hee may be relived from him that dis¬ 
 placed him; and we know that the Vbcaridge house in Ashe is very 
 smale and rotten, and the tythes of the three parsonages in Ashe (wee 
 aie peiswaded uppon better consideration) are worth, att the least, 
 six hundred pownds per annum. Our sute in our petition is, and 
 vee humbly desire, that M r Brigham may be restablished in Ashe, 
 hee beinge illegally displaced, a suffitient meanes provided, and the 
 Vicaiage house new bilt, and the Pigion house there repaired for 
 him, and made fittinge for a Reverent minester to reside in, and to 
 live with comforte amongst us: the good you shall doe for our per¬ 
 plexed parish herein will multiply God’s blessings one your selfe and 
 familye here, and enlarge your Crowne in heaven. 
 
 lour worshipp’s servants and poore Petitioners, ever to be 
 
 commanded. 
 
 Ffrom Ashe, the 16th of March, 1640. 
 
 [No signatures. The superscription is “ To the right worshipfull S' 
 Edward Deeringe K‘ and Barronett, att his Lodginge these be presented,” and 
 endorsed by S r Edward—“ 1640, 17 March—parish of Ash.”] 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 195 
 
 LIY. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons for providing them with a regular 
 Minister. From the Parishioners of MUCKING. 
 
 To the honorable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, as- March, 
 sembled in the high Court of Parliament. 
 
 The humble Certificate and Peticion of the Inhabitants of Huck- 
 inge, in the Countie of Kent, shewing these theire ensewing grei- 
 vancs. 
 
 1. That the said Parish of Huckinge is impropriate to the Deane 
 and Chapter of Christ Church Canterbury, and the Parsonage tithes 
 thereof are worth lx 11 by the yeare, by estimacion. 
 
 2. That, although the said parish doth consiste of eight score 
 Soules, or thereabouts, yet have wee had noe setled minister amongst 
 us by the space of thirtie yeares last past. 
 
 3. That, by the space of the said thirtie yeares last past, wee have 
 had preaching but once in a moneth, at the most, except it hath 
 beene uppon some extraordinary occasion; whereby w'ee, our chil¬ 
 dren, and servants remayne much untaught in our duties to God 
 and men. 
 
 4. That, many tymes, wee have not had Common Prayer and 
 divine service read amongst us for the space of a ffortnight or three 
 weekes together. 
 
 5. That, for the present, now, for many years last past, wee have 
 had noe minister resident amongst us, who might direct or comfort 
 us in the tyme of sicknes. 
 
 And the ground and reason of all these our greivances, wee con¬ 
 ceive to be, for that there is not any meanes allowed that might, any 
 wise, answere the Labour of an honest and paynefull Minister 
 amongst us: The usuall allowance for the service of the Cure of the 
 said Parish having usually beene but x 1 ' a yeare at the most. 
 
 Wherefore, wee doe most humbly and heartily beseech this hono¬ 
 rable assembly, (even for God’s sake,) to commiserate our condicions, 
 
196 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 31 March. 
 
 and to make such a godly provision for us, for the tymes to come, 
 that we, and our children after us, may have cause to prayse God 
 for you, with all our soules. 
 
 John Allene x. 
 Thomas Ffigge x. 
 Robert Packmane x. 
 Robert Readeare x . 
 John Dow x. 
 Alexander Piinkeman 
 Stephen Gollding x . 
 
 Edward Renells x. 
 Edward Hearst x. 
 William Robisone x 
 Thomas Aslibee x • 
 John Hooker x. 
 James Know lies X . 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“ 1641, Mar. 
 Canterbury.”] 
 
 Petition. 
 
 Huckinge v. 
 
 LV. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against the Vices and Neglect of 
 their Rector, ROBERT CARTER. From the Parishioners of STOUR- 
 MOUTH. 
 
 To the honorable house of Commons no we assembled in Parlia¬ 
 ment. 
 
 The humble Petition of the Parishioners of the parish of Stur- 
 mouth, in the County of Kent. 
 
 Shewinge, 
 
 That M r Robert Carter, Master of Arts, nowe Parson and Vicar 
 of Sturmouth aforesaid, which livinge is of the yeerely value of 
 140Z., or thereabouts, is a man zealously observant of all Innovations, 
 as boweinge and cringinge to the Communion Table, a man very 
 troblesome and contentious, a common haunter of tavernes and ale¬ 
 houses, and a great gamster, stayeinge there, drinkinge and game- 
 mge, sometimes three, and sometimes fower whole daies and nights 
 togeather. 
 
 And, for maynteyninge these his leud courses, and recoveringe his 
 
PROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 197 
 
 losses susteined by gaminge, hee exacteth excessively in his tithes; 
 for whereas there is a custome in the said parish, time out of mind, 
 that noe marsh or pasture land there should paie above xij d. per acre 
 for tithes; yet hee sued your petitioners, to compell them to paie 
 more; and, although the same was remooved by prohibition into the 
 King’s Bench, and the Custome there prooved, yet hee nowe sues 
 five of your Petitioners for the same matter againe, and threatneth 
 to have all his tithes in kind, and to enforce your peticioners to bringe 
 his tith of milke into the Church Porch. And because hee cannott 
 find causes enough to vexe your Peticioners, hee endeavoureth to 
 make some; ffor, when his parsonage Tithes have been justly set 
 out, accordinge to the Statute, hee refuseth to fetch them away, and 
 letts them stand still till they bee spoiled, and then threatneth to sue 
 your peticioners for them. 
 
 In his preachinge, hee is soe obscure that fewe or none can gaine 
 any savinge knowledge by him. About seaven months since, upon a 
 Sunday, when hee had appointed a Communion, in the midst of his 
 Sermon hee brake out, and told your peticioners that they might 
 goe all to the Devill, if they would, for hee would take noe more 
 care of them. And not longe after, preachinge a Sermon of love, 
 before he came out of the Pulpit hee threatend to sue all your 
 petitioners for wages for a Clerke, whome (without consent of the 
 Parish) hee had put in (the old Clerke livinge), and accordingly 
 cited many to the Ecclesiasticall Court, who (upon theire apparance) 
 were bid to paie their fees, and bee gone; they had nothinge to saie 
 to them. 
 
 And hee beeinge lately suspended by the Ecclesiasticall Court, 
 for not churchinge 4 women that refused to come up to the raile; 
 and a minister beeinge appointed to serve in his stead, by the 
 Churchwarden, hee locked up the Church doore, and kept your 
 peticioners without any service at all. 
 
 Moreover, hee hath shewed great dislike to this honorable assembly, 
 saieinge, that, if the Ivinge wanted money, hee might sell his 
 shippinge. 
 
 Your Peticioners therefore humbly praie, that this honorable 
 
 ' 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
198 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641, 
 17 Car. I, 
 
 7 April. 
 
 house wilbee pleased to call the said M r Carter before them, to 
 answer the premisses. And, forasmuch as the livinge of Sturmouth 
 is able to recompence the paines of an able minister (such an one as 
 M 1 Iluntly was, who beeinge late Minister here, was, for a small 
 matter, displaced by the Archdeacon of Canterbury), that you wilbee 
 pleased to restore the said M r Huntly to his said livinge againe, or 
 some other godly minded man, for the comfort of your petitioners 
 soules. And to set downe some Order for the Confirmacion of the 
 said Custome ot Fithes of Marshland. And that your petitioners may 
 be satisfied all their costs and charges which they have spent by 
 reason of his vexacious suites. 
 
 All which, your peticioners leave to the consideracion of this 
 honourable assembly. 
 
 Thomas Proude. 
 
 William Jooda;. 
 
 Thomas Hoo'ben. 
 
 Thomas Huffam. 
 
 Roger Wyborne. 
 
 Thomas Wilkinson. 
 
 John x Hills, his mark. 
 Henry x Measday, his mark. 
 John x Baker, his mark. 
 John X Maye, his mark. 
 
 James x Word, his mark. 
 Roger x Penny, his mark. 
 Andrew x Legham, his mark. 
 Gregory Wheatnall, x his mark. 
 John x Legham, his mark. 
 Petter x Mose, his mark. 
 Thomas x Saweyer, his mark. 
 Henry x Gladis, his mark. 
 Phillop x Wallop, his mark. 
 Richard x Norwood, his mark. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1641, 31 March. Petition, Stourmoutk 
 v. Carter, Sc. mag.”] 
 
 LVI. 
 
 LEI TER to Sir EDWARD DERING, recalling their petition against their 
 Incumbent Mr. E. NICOLS, and their Curate Mr. Jo. FREEMAN. 
 From the Parishioners of SNARGATE. 
 
 Right honorable Sir, 
 
 Wee, the parishioners and inhabitants of the parish of Snargate 
 remember our dutye and service unto you. Where as of late, by 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 199 
 
 the instigation of a malignant humour, being to precipite in preferringe 
 certaine articles against our Curate, and committed to your worship’s 
 yew by the handes of M r John Streating, who delivered them unto 
 your worship, being at London. These are to certifie your worship, 
 that our intent was not, by any meanes, to disgrace him, or, in any 
 wayes, to disparage his sufficiency in not being able to discharge the 
 Cure of soules committed to his charge; for we confesse him to be 
 both very able, sufficient, and painefull, in dispensing the word of 
 God; but onely he seemed to carry himselfe something too lofty, 
 and to be hasty towards us, which thing we perswade ourselves will 
 be much amended. We, therefore, shall humbly desire your 
 worship, to proceede noe farther in preferring these articles against 
 M r Ffreeman; for we are now all willing to keepe him to be our 
 Curate, and to be the best meanes (both by our good words, and in 
 subscribing our hands) to doe the best we can for him, to helpe him 
 to better meanes, for the better maintainance of him, his wife, and 
 children; for we all confesse his deserts are well knowne to us, and 
 to the whole country round about us, that he deserves far greater 
 meanes then is now alowed him ; for which we doe not onely cease 
 from preferring our sute against him, but, withall, humbly intreate 
 your worship to be his prolocutor (for some competent salary) to that 
 honorable house of Parliament, when occasion shall be offered; for 
 which we shall pray for the blisse of you and yours whilst we 
 remaine parishioners of Snargate; and ever wish the happie pro¬ 
 ceedings of our Curate, M r John Ffreeman; and soe prayeth every 
 parishioner of Snargate whose hands and names are heere subscribed. 
 
 James Ffin, by his marke. Robert Morris, by his marke. 
 
 Robert Norton x. Richard Ffreebody. 
 
 Thomas Brogle, by his marke x . John x Cousen, his marke. 
 
 George Broughton. William Rayner. 
 
 The marke x of John lourner. Thomas Elies, x his marke. 
 
 The marke x of George Crutch- The marke of Gabriel Melken. 
 
 man * George x Pierce, by his marke. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
200 
 
 PETITIONS DELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 Donne and confirmed in the presence of 
 
 Thomas Brette, Bailif of Romney Marshe. 
 
 Christopher Brice, Justice of the Peace. 
 
 Thomar Hoarde, Curatus de Suave. 
 
 Nicholas Cfouldhill. 
 
 March 28, 1641. 
 
 And further, we, the above named parishioners of Snargate, doe 
 humbly desire your worship to deliver all those articles that we 
 preferred against our Curat M r Freeman to himselfe, when he shall 
 demand them. And likewise allsoe that which wee petitioned 
 against M r Ed. Nicols, having nothing against him concerning his 
 life and conversacion, hut onely for some abatement in our tithe, 
 which sute we cease allsoe, wishing him all happinesse in Christ 
 Jesus. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 “To the right honorable Sir Edward Deeringe, one of the 
 elected knights of the Sheire for the County of Kent, and 
 now of the Kinge’s Majesties honorable high Court of 
 Parliament at Westminster, now assembled, be these with 
 speede delivered.—Plast—Hast.” And endorsed by Sir 
 Edward, “1641, 7 Apr.—Certificate—Snargate.”] 
 
 LVII. 
 
 LETTER to Sir EDWARD DERING, inclosing the preceding one, and 
 asking for the return of the Articles of Complaint against their 
 Incumbent and Curate. From the Parishioners of SNARGATE. 
 
 Right honorable Sir,* 
 
 We the parishioners of Snargate humbly desire your honor to 
 deliver all such articles as weare committed to your hands by M r 
 John Streating, that weare preferred against M r Ed. Nicols for some 
 
 * Evidently this and LVI. were one inclosed in the other—one missive. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 201 
 
 abatement in our tiths; and likewise, all those articles that weare 
 preferred against M r Jo. Ffreeman our Curat; that this messenger, 
 Christopher Caterman, may bringe them to the parish againe, for our 
 sute is ceased; and all is well, both for our tiths, and likewise for our 
 Curate; and we are in love and charity, as heere may appeare by 
 our hands subscribed in this letter inclosed. 
 
 [Superscription.] 
 
 “To the right honorable Sir Edward Deering, Knight and 
 Baronett, at his Lodging at Sir Henry Gibbs his house in 
 in St Martin s lane, neere Charing Crosse. Or at the swne 
 of the Sheeres neere the Abbie gate at Westminster neere 
 London, be these delivered with speed and saftie.” 
 
 [And endorsed by S r Edward, “1641, 7 Apr. Snargate.”] 
 
 LVIII. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, representing the pitiful salary 
 paid to their Curate by the lessee of the Parsonage. From the Pa¬ 
 rishioners of WHITSTABLE. 
 
 To the honorable house of Commons nowe assembled in Parlia¬ 
 ment. 
 
 The humble peticion of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Whit- 
 staple, in the County of Kent. 
 
 Humbly shewinge, 
 
 That, whereas the Rectory of Whitstaple was antiently impro¬ 
 priated to the Archbishops of Canterbury, and noe Vicar endowed to 
 serve the Cure there; but the Archbishops for the tyme beeinge 
 have maynteyned a Curat to serve the Cure, and have allowed him 
 what they thought fit. And although S r Maurice Abbot Ivt. (who 
 hath the lease of the said Rectory from the Lord Archbishop of 
 Canterbury) hath letten the same for 160/. per annum ; yet, he will 
 allowe but 10/. per annum towards the mayntenence of a minister to 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 2 D 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 13 April. 
 
202 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO TIIE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 17 May. 
 
 serve the Cure; soe as your petitioners are all together destitute of 
 a minister, because soe small an allowance will not maynteine him, 
 unlesse your peticioners should allowe him somewhat out of their 
 purses, as heeretofore they have beene inforced to doe, to their great 
 losse and prejudice, most of the parishioners there beeinge meane 
 men. 
 
 Your peticioners therefore humbly praye that you wilbee pleased 
 to take the premisses into your consideracion, and to set downe such 
 order therein as in your wisdomes shall seeme best. And your 
 peticioners shall always praye, &c. 
 
 Half x Itayner’s marke. ^ Cliurch- 
 Grigorye Kempe. S wardens. 
 William x Graythron’s mark. 
 Weter x Henman’s mark. 
 
 John x Vicms. 
 
 O 
 
 William x Ffurner’s mark. 
 Edward Graythron’s x mark. 
 Edward x Wheatnall’s mark. 
 Thomas x Holloway’s mark. 
 
 Robert Leucock x his mark. 
 Thomas Inice. 
 
 John Stillincr. 
 
 O 
 
 John Steevens. 
 
 Reynold Henman. 
 
 John Hewson. 
 
 Edward Hayard. 
 
 John Simpsonne. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“ 1641, 13 Apr. Whitstaple.”] 
 
 LIX. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against the Perpetual Curate, 
 ROBERT BARRELL. From the Parishioners of MAIDSTONE. 
 
 To the honorable the house of Commons assembled in Parlia¬ 
 ment. 
 
 The humble peticion of the Inhabitants of the king’s towne and 
 parish of Maidstone, in the countie of Kent. 
 
 Sheweth, 
 
 That whereas our towne and parish is verie greate and populous, 
 consisting of or about six thousand inhabitants, and the tithes thereof 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 203 
 
 amounting to the yearlie value of 400/!., at the least, and having hut 
 one parish Church for so greate a people to repaire unto: the Arch¬ 
 bishop of Canterbury, being our parson, and receiving all our tithes 
 and profitts, hath taken no further care for us, but to continue over 
 us one Robert Barrell his Curat there, who is thus quallified: 
 
 1. Hee is verie carelesse and negligent in his place, himselfe 
 sometymes not preaching amongst us above once in a month or 5 
 weekes, except it bee a funerall sermon, wherein he aymeth more at 
 his owne gayne then our good: and, when he preacheth, he very 
 often strikes at sincerity and fonvardnesse in profession, under the 
 names of faction, schisme, and singularity. 
 
 2. When the said Mr. Barrell is absent, or will not preach him¬ 
 selfe, he setts up in his place (to frequently) such as by their 
 inabillitie cause rather dirision to the people then matter of edifica- 
 cion; and, although wee have offered to choose an able man, and to 
 maynetayne liyrn at our owne charge, who might take payees to in¬ 
 struct us in the afternoones on Sabbath daies (necessarie occasions 
 hindering servants and others in the forenoones), yet he refuseth; by 
 reason wherof much ignorance, lewdnes, and disobedience doth 
 raigne amongst us. And noe wonder why he is thus negligent, [and] 
 averse, himselfe haveing said hee hath not the cure of our soules. 
 
 3. Hee is not onlie negligent hymselfe to preach ; but hath alsoe 
 rebuked a painefull neighbouring mynyster for preaching twice on 
 the Sabbath dayes, telling liyrn, that he had power to crush halfe a 
 douzen such as he and M r Wilson were; and that the said mynvster 
 did much disgrace the clergie by preaching twice on the Sabbath 
 daies; and that preaching in the afternoone was but prating and 
 babling. 
 
 4. Hee hath sett himselfe, with all violence, to molest and prose¬ 
 cute in the Ecclesiasticall Courts such as, being well affected to the 
 Word preached, have gone from their owne parish to lieare a ser¬ 
 mon on the Sabbath daie, in the afternoone, though he refuse to 
 preach himselfe, whereby he hath much sadded their hearts, and 
 wasted their estates. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
204 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 5. By his owne confession, he hath brought Innovacions into our 
 church, causing the Communion Table to be sett up to the wall, at 
 the east encl of the chancel, and there to be railed in; hymselfe hath 
 given adoracion to the said table, and vehemently urgeth the people 
 to come upp to the raile (if they will partake of the Sacrament) ; and 
 hath broken out into such rage and passion against such as have 
 forborne to come to receive the Communion at the said raile, that 
 many, whose Consciences are weake and tender, have refrained to 
 come to the Sacrament, and others he hath scited to the Ecclesiasti- 
 call Court at Canterbury, for not coming. 
 
 6. Hee hath the Rectorie of Boughton Malherbe, in the countie 
 aforesaid, and is not there resident, but leaveth his people to an 
 hireling. 
 
 7. Hee is verie covetous and contentious, exacting of us more and 
 greater tithes, and other duties, than have beene formerlie paid, or 
 are due, and citeth, sueth, and vexetli those that will not pay hym 
 his demands, whereby many are inforced to paie hym what he will 
 have, to avoide charge and trouble. And the better to inable him- 
 selfe in these his vexatious suits, he hath gott a lease of the Arch¬ 
 bishop of parte of the Vicaridge tithes. 
 
 8. Hee is a common taverne haunter, to the great offence of some, 
 the evill example of others, and greate scandall of the mynystry. 
 He is of a haughtie and proude carriage, discountenancing magis¬ 
 trate, verie envious, and of a conversacion altogether unsutible to 
 his function. 
 
 9. Hee hath had many Curats under hym, most of them being 
 pott companions, of a verie scandalous and of an evill life, one of 
 them leaving a Bastard child behind hym in our towne, and others 
 of them gamsters; many of them coussining and defrauding poore 
 tradesmen, by getting their goods into their hands, and then runnyng 
 away; few of them but idle, unable, unapt to teach. 
 
 10. The said M r Bareli himselfe hath beene indicted for grosse 
 and palpable perjury. 
 
 Wherefore, wee doe most humbly beseech this honorable as- 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 205 
 
 sembly, to take into your Consideracion these our greivances ; and to 
 do for us, in all things therein, as to your grave and godly wisdome 
 shall seeme best expedient. And wee, as in duty bound, shall ever 
 pray, &c. 
 
 John Bigg. 
 
 Thomas Taylor. 
 
 Andr. Broughton. 
 
 Samuell Veroll. 
 
 Martin Jeffery, Maior. 
 
 Robert Usborne. 
 
 Thomas Swinnocke. 
 
 John Startout. 
 
 Ambrose Beale. 
 
 Thomas Ffletcher. 
 
 Rob. Swinocke. 
 
 Ric: Dan. 
 
 Caleb Bankes. 
 
 Nic: Milles. 
 
 Samuell Marshall. 
 
 Hen. Wiffhtman. 
 
 o 
 
 Robert Withinbrooke. 
 
 Tho: Wightman. 
 
 George Maplesden. 
 
 Tho: Cripps. 
 
 Henry English. 
 
 Rob: Philips. 
 
 Richard Orispe. 
 
 Jam: Nevvenham. 
 
 George Hall. 
 
 Rob: Marshall. 
 
 Thomas Swinock, Junior. 
 
 Peter Malin. 
 
 John Wale. 
 
 Jo: Broke. 
 
 Francis Lambe. 
 
 Jo: Keley. 
 
 John Sutwicke. 
 
 Ric: Wassail. 
 
 George Maplesden, Junior. 
 
 Edw: Peirse. 
 
 Thomas Swinock, Junior. 
 
 Nic: Seger. 
 
 Thomas Besbech. 
 
 Mildmay Maplesden. 
 
 James Ruse. 
 
 Walter God den. 
 
 Thomas Crompe. 
 
 Jo: Wilmot. 
 
 Thomas Abraham. 
 
 Edw: May. 
 
 John Harris. 
 
 Tho: Walter. 
 
 Nicholas Wall. 
 
 Ro: Brooke. 
 
 Thomas Stollton. 
 
 Rob: Bigg. 
 
 John Hogben. 
 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering—“1641, 17 May. Petition. Maydston v. 
 Bareli.”] 
 
206 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 163[7]. * 
 
 LX. 
 
 PETITION of WILLIAM GARNONS to the BISHOP OF ROCHES¬ 
 TER, requesting lais adjudication in the persecutions against him by 
 RICHARD CHASE, Rector of STONE. 
 
 To the right reverend father in God John Lord Bishop of 
 Rochester. 
 
 The humble petition of William Garnons, of St. Buttolphes, 
 Algate, London, Gent., one of the Attorneyes of his Majesty’s Courte 
 of Common Pleas att Westminster. 
 
 Sheweth, 
 
 That one Richard Chase, Parson of Stone, in your Lordshipp’s 
 dioces, haveing much afflicted the parishioners there with causelesse 
 libelling and suites in lawe, att length, by himselfe and his brothers, 
 singled out one John Ware, a very substantiall Inhabitant there, 
 and prosecuted him with various libells and actions, in severall 
 his Majesty’s Courtes, spiritual and temporall, giveing out, that they 
 would not leave him worth a groate; and that the said M r Chase 
 would live upon one Parsonage, and spend the other in lawe against 
 him and his frends. And your Lordship’s petitioner, being a stranger, 
 and comeing, long afterwards, to live in the said parishe, was imployed 
 for the said M r Ware, to defend twoe of these suites depending in 
 the said Courte, and to prosecute one other against M r Chase, for 
 not takeing of Tythes duely sett out for him, for which bee libelled; 
 which, together with the like causes, hath byn severall tymes prooved 
 against him. And the Petitioner, in Michaelmas and Hillary tearmes 
 
 1636, was attorney against him in a prohibition upon an agreement 
 for tythes, drawne with his owne hand, which hee, together with 
 many other agreements with the said Ware, had formerly broaken. 
 
 * It must be 1637,1638, or 1639, because Bishop Warner succeeded Bishop Bowie in 
 
 1637, and Bishop Bowie, uncle of Mr. Chase, is spoken of herein as the late Bishop, 
 
 “ predecessor to your Lordship.” 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 207 
 
 And M l Chase, haveing rayled against the reverend Judges, 
 threatened Juryes, and most dispitefully traduced Sergeant Clerke, 
 and generally all such as were any way imployed against him, or 
 his party, especially the peticioner, whoe never wronged them in 
 any kinde, Hee, his father, and brothers, sought, by secreate messages, 
 and indirect meanes, to plant dissencion betwixt the peticioner and 
 his wife, and one S 1 Henry Carewe, a very auncient knight, hir 
 uncle, of whome they had both very much deserved many yeeres 
 together, and were assured of a very large Requiteall, had not the 
 said Chases soe abused them, and, at length, soe deluded him, that 
 they tooke the peticioner’s house over his head; and, not soe con¬ 
 tented, M r Chase, that yeere followeinge the Prohibicion, would not 
 suffer their tythes to bee taken, doe what they could, by tendringe, 
 giveinge of notice, from tyme to tyme, for the divideing, sett[ing] out, 
 and takeing away the same. And, after Divine service, upon Sun¬ 
 day the xxvj th of March then imediately followeinge, M r Chase’s 
 man, and one of his brotheres, on his behalfe, threatened the 
 peticioner, att the Churche doore, sayeing, that they would give him 
 lawe enough; and, on the morrowe morneing or before, his tythe 
 gatherers conveyed a Bullock of the peticioner’s out of his yard to 
 the pound, and divers of his brothers, with his said men servants, 
 lay all that Munday lurkeing about the peticioner’s grounds, watch¬ 
 ing opportunity, and hurrying his cattle, sheepe, and young lambes 
 (some not a weeke ould) to the pound, and forced him to fetch 
 severall Replevins : and, shortly after, brought divers triviall, yet 
 intricate, suites in law against him, in his brother Mathew Chase’s 
 name (a person of smale value), and now dares not proceed therein: 
 and, in Michaelmas tearme then alsoe followeing, three of his brothers, 
 and divers other lewd persons, perceiveinge that your peticioner and 
 his wife, and some of his servaunts, were heere in London, com¬ 
 mitted a fowle and barbarous Ryott att Stone Castle, then the peti¬ 
 cioner’s dwelling howse, and dragged one of his maideservaunts out 
 of doores, and, consealeing their names many dayes, kept the posses- 
 
 * Stone Castle then belonged to Sir Henry Carew, Knight. 
 
 163 [7]. 
 
208 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 163[7]. sion thereof by force, untill they had eaten up and consumed all the 
 Beefe, Bread, and a greate parte of other provision there. 
 
 And the said M r Chase, in the Interim, and before the peticioner’s 
 
 slieepe were shorne that yeere, procured a.Citation against 
 
 him, for Tythe of Calfs, wooll, and lambs, and forced him to above 
 xx marks charge, in proveing his said Cause, and is now ashamed to 
 have the same heerd in a publiq and legall way; and the petitioner, 
 before Michaelmas was 12 months, haveinge examyned and made 
 good proofe of his parte by 14 witnesses, and procured publicacion, 
 and done what in him lay to hasten an end thereof, his Councell 
 found that his Proctor, in alledging a Custome of a penny a Calfe 
 weaned or sould with the Cowe, had, among other things, left out 
 the tender ot the mony accordinglie, both which were well prooved; 
 by this and the like meanes, in favoure of M r Chase, (as the peticioner 
 beleeveth,) and of the long sicknesse of the peticioner, which con¬ 
 tinued in greate extremity from July untill Christmas last, and 
 sithence, the peticioner was delayed of his Tryall; and the Peticioner, 
 last Sommer, acquainted his said brother, that, in respect hee had 
 heerd that Doctor Wood was sometymes a sojourner with M r Chase, 
 in his house, and hee and his children allyed to him by marriage; 
 and that, for theis and the like reasons, M r Chase had often threatened 
 the parishioners of Stone with him, that hee intended topeticion your 
 Lordshipp to heere the said Cause yourselfe, and had provided a 
 peticion to that purpose. 
 
 Nowe, soe it is, may it please your Lordshipp, that the peticioner 
 daylie expecteing to heere from his Proctor (as hee formerly had 
 donn) that the said Cause was reddy for heereing, M r Chase, in the 
 meane tyme, takeing advantage of the peticioner’s sicknesse, procured 
 the Peticioner’s Proctor to bee present att a clandestine heereinge 
 thereof heere in London, in a chamber, as hee is informed, without 
 the Register, and without the Peticioner’s or his Counsell’s knowledge; 
 untill a Courte had passed in the Country, and centence concluded 
 against the Peticioner, and hee condempned in the whole tythes and 
 costs ot suite. And, for as much as the said Cause was soe heerd 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 209 
 
 upon some advantagious point in lawe left open, as aforesaid, for M r 
 Chases benifitt (as the peticioner hath heerd, and doth beleeve) and 
 not upon the meritts and equity thereof: and, for that there being 
 but twoe Proctors in that Courte, and their places att the disposicion 
 of the Judge, your peticioner verily beleeveth, that his Proctor 
 durst not give him notice of the said heereinge. And, to the end 
 your Lordshipp’s peticioner, after his greate trouble and charge, may 
 have a faire heereinge, according to the truetli and equity of his 
 cause; and the rather, for that Mr Chase might have had the same 
 heerd upon such by-matter before the Peticioner was put to soe 
 gieate charge, hee being onely directed by his Proctor, and not 
 knoweing any such thing, or the Iforme of proceeding there. 
 
 PTee humbly prayeth your Lordshipp to heere the same cause your- 
 selfe, and, in a judiciall or arbitrary way, to end and determyne the 
 same, att your Lordshipp’s pleasure, unto which the peticioner shall 
 humbly submitt himselfe, hopeing M r Chase will doe the like, hee 
 being far more morigerous* towards your Lordshipp.to¬ 
 
 wards his Uncle, your Lordshipp’s predecessor, and more fearefull of 
 comenceing causeles suites. And that all proceedinges upon the 
 said surrepticious centence may, in the meane tyme, cease. And 
 the Peticioner shall ever pray for your Lordshipp, &c. 
 
 [In dorso: “ Peticion to the Bishopp of Rochester 163 *. Chase and 
 Garnons.”] 
 
 * “ Morigerous,” i.e. mannerly, dutiful. The word “ than ” is probably omitted after 
 1 ‘ Lordshipp.” The Uncle was Bishop Bowie. 
 
 2 E 
 
 163 [7]. 
 
 CAMD SOC. 
 
1041. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 23 May. 
 
 210 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 LXI. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against their Rector, M r RICHARD 
 CHASE. From the Parishioners of STONE. 
 
 To the Right Honourable the Knights and Burgesses of the 
 House of Commons. 
 
 The humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of the parishe of Stone, 
 within the county of Kente, 
 
 Most humbly sheweth unto this honourable assembly, that your 
 Peticioners have many yeares groaned under the insolent oppressions 
 and by continuall vexations of their Parson M r Richard Chase, 
 whoe hath not only starved our soules for want of spirituall foode, 
 but, by his vexatious suits, as much as in him lay, hath endeavoured 
 to take away our corporall foode, and soe utterly extirpate our selves 
 and families. Nor had wee ever any hope of any the least releife, 
 hee haveinge invested himselfe in the Bisliopp’s favour, as well as his 
 service, which his Lordshipp could not but well knowe was on 
 purpose to have more power by his Lordshipp’s countenance to 
 oppresse, beinge well enformed of his former contentious life, which 
 made his owne Uncle * both upprayd him for his ingratitude, and 
 hate him for his contention, beinge our former diocesan, and hee 
 that gave him two f such great liveings. 
 
 But nowe God hath made this blessed Parliament not only a 
 helper of our miseries, but our preservers in our just complaints, 
 wee most humbly offer tlieis articles unto this honourable assembly. 
 
 Plumbly beseechinge, that, seeinge M r Chase is soe well provided 
 of another liveinge, with a faire house, and in an excellent ayre, 
 where hee setteth his whole delight; and that hee makes noe other 
 use of ours, beinge unhealthy, (as himselfe, brothers, or both, gave 
 out,) but to vex his parishioners with dayly and unnecessary suites, 
 and only add fuell to his contentious spiritt; and that hee himselfe 
 confesseth; the other beinge sufficient to maintayne him. 
 
 * i.e. Bowie, Bishop of Rochester, 
 f i.e. his other living, Chislehurst. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 211 
 
 You would be pleased to lett your poore peticioners enjoye soe 
 much favor as once to have a learned minister dwellinge and resident 
 
 O 
 
 amongst us; beinge noe contemptable liveinge, but worth 200/. per 
 per annum, and may satisfye a learned preacher, for which your 
 Peticioners shall ever pray to God for his protection of you and your 
 grave consultations. 
 
 William Garnons. 
 John Ware. 
 
 [In dorso by S r Edward Dering—“ 1641,23 May. Petition. Stone v. Chase.”] 
 [There is another copy of this petition with “ S r An. Welldon ” on the dorse, 
 and in that the name is written “ Chasey.”] 
 
 LXII. 
 
 ARTICLES presented to the House of Commons against their Rector, M 1 ' 
 RICHARD CHASE, by the Parishioners of STONE. 
 
 Articles presented to the high Court of Parlament, by the humble 
 Petitioners of the Parish of Stone, in Kent, agaynst theyr Parson, 
 M r Richard Chasye. 
 
 That M r Chasye was noe soner instituted and inducted then he 
 began to shew his Contentious spiritt, as well by vexatius suts 
 agaynst his petitioners, as by picking quarrells agaynst the Curat, a 
 very honest man, and one that took soe much paynes in instructing 
 his flock, that wee love him noe less then he us, that M r Chasye did, 
 by denying payment of his Stipent, and other ill usage, soe weery 
 him, that he left us. Nay, although his uncle, our then diocesson, 
 and one had wholy preferd hym, commanded payment; yet, untill 
 the Archbishop had threatned suspension, he would not pay any. 
 
 That since, wee never had other then such Curate that did not 
 precli more syllily then seldom: and, now, since our Church hath bynn 
 burnt, wee have had neyther prayers nor any other function, ner 
 thes two yers: and he would have dismist his Curat assone as the 
 Church was burnt, which had bynn all one to us, wee having noe 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
212 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO TIIE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 use of him; but nowe, of late, wee have none resident in our parish 
 to bury our deed. Soe that as M r Chasye leves our soules cure to 
 the neighbaring ministers, soe our bodyes to lye as noysom Carrion, 
 unless the Dead will bury ther dead. 
 
 1 hat, upon the burning of our Church, we resorted to the Bishop 
 of Rochester, his lord and master, to desyre som place to serve God 
 in for the present; but, as wee were not sufferred admittance to his 
 Lordshipp, soe had this messag sent: “His Lordshipp had taken 
 order with the Parsonand the Parson gave this answer to the 
 Curat in our presence telling him a place was found convenient, 
 consecrated, or used formerly for the service of God, That 
 he should not dare to offitiat there, or in any place, without his 
 order, which order since he hath not given, beeing full two yeres. 
 Nowe, wee humbly appeale to this honourable assembly, whether 
 200/. per annum doth not deserve prayers in two yeres once to be 
 sayd in our Parrish. 
 
 That, although a Carpenter offerred to make the church servisable 
 for many ages for 140/., of which twenty would be for the Chan¬ 
 cell, the stone roofe beeing untouched by the fyer, yet this neyther 
 could be obtayned; and, although it cost now 180/., yett are wee 
 never the nerer to serve God in it then before. Soe that it take of 
 very much from our benevolence. 
 
 That, very lately, wee all addressed ourselves by an humble peti¬ 
 tion, to complayne that our Church was no forwarder, and desired 
 his Lordshipp’s assistance; but M r Cliasye’s power was so great with 
 his Lordshipp, that wee obtayned neyther Justice nor Civill usage 
 from his Lordshipp, only telling us wee did it out of Splene ; and, 
 for a fanvell, had this most skornfull answere from M r Chasye: 
 “ What have you now gotten by your Complaynt ?” Soe that all our 
 hope and help now only reste in this honourable assembly. 
 
 That M r Chasye, both in profession and practise, hates the name 
 of peace; therfore doth make us very conversant with the lawe, 
 although never instructs us, by himself or any other, in the Gospel 
 of peace. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 213 
 
 And this apperes by an Arbitracion, in which his parishioner’s 
 arbitrator yelded to more then was Reason, bycause his parishioner 
 had not tythed aright. And, when all was yelded, M r Chasye, in 
 playne termes, tould the arbitrator, that it was not that he desyred; 
 but to make him spend mony for the charg of a Dynner. And, for 
 a full satisfaction of his contention, wee desyre noe other then that 
 the Ecclesiasticall Court, the Bishop’s Temporall Court, and the Nisi 
 Piius be examined for the multitude of Suts agaynst your Peti- 
 cioners commenced, betwixt him and his brothers, all of them having 
 dependence of his purse and plesure. 
 
 do e\eiy of thes articles, all in generall, or some of us in particu- 
 ler, whose names are subscribed, will take our Oath. 
 
 John Ware. 
 
 Thomas Elyott. 
 
 Richard Lake. 
 
 The marke of Thomas x 
 Ho word. 
 
 William Everest. 
 
 Will. Ffrankwell. 
 Richard Gooddenn. 
 
 The marke of Thomas X 
 Paltock. 
 
 Martyn Holmden. 
 
 John Lake. 
 
 The marke of Midm. x Draper. 
 The marke of Myles x Alkinson. 
 The marke of Thomas Lambe x. 
 1 he marke of Thomas x Symons. 
 William Garnons. 
 
 John Nottinghame. 
 
 The marke of John Evans x. 
 
 The marke of James Lorkin x. 
 The marke of x Richard Masteres. 
 
 [In dorso—“ Stone—Articles against M r Chase and the Bishopp in Parlia¬ 
 ment, 1640, 16 Ca.”] 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 TWELVE ARTICLES presented to the House of Commons against their 
 Rector, M r RICHARD CHASE, by the Parishioners of STONE. 
 
 Articles presented to the high Courte of Parliamente by the 
 humble Peticion of the Inhabitants of the Parishe of Stone, in 
 
214 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 Kente, against their Parson, M r Richard Chase, Clarke, Chap- 
 layne to the Bishopp of Rochester, their cliocesian there. 
 
 1. That M r Chase, immediately after his institution and Induction, 
 began with diverse vexatious suites and libells, and pickinge of 
 quarrells by himselfe and his brothers (his agents therein) against the 
 parishioners, to infringe their auncient customes of tythinge there 
 used; and haveing the then diocesian his uncle and patron, and D r 
 Wood, the Chancellor there, his kinsman, pursued the same with 
 greate violence. And hee and his brothers, wlioe only depend 
 upon his purse and pleasure, gave out in speeches, that they would 
 live upon one parsonage, and spend the other in lawe against the said 
 Inhabitants, and forced them to the expence of ccc lib. or upwards, in 
 lawe, besides other losses and dammages by them sustayned therby. 
 
 2. That, by pickeinge Quarrells against the then Curate there, 
 whome the parishioners affected for his industrie in instructeino-e of 
 them, M r Chase indeavoured to weary him out, by denyeinge his 
 stipend and other ill usage, and beinge, by his said uncle, the late 
 Bishopp, (whoe only preferred him,) commaunded to pay the same, 
 yett would not doe it, untill hee was by the Archbishopp under payne 
 of suspencion; soe that the Curate beinge putt to more charge and 
 trouble then his salary was worth, was inforced to leave the parishe; 
 and sithence, wee have had noe able preacher there, nor upon a 
 Sabathe daye, before the Church was burnt, neither service nor ser¬ 
 mon, morneinge nor eveninge, nor any minister to bury the dead, 
 there beinge a corps to bee buried that day. 
 
 3. That hee suffers the parsonage house and buildings to become 
 ruinous, and without hospitality, ever since his beinge Parson there; 
 and, for 4 or 5 yeares togeather, before the Church was burnt, suffered 
 the arched Roofe of the Chauncell, for want of sufficient Cover, to 
 become broaken and decayed, and above 200 or 300 foote of the 
 windowes to remayne unglazed; soe that wee were often inforced to 
 forsake our pewes for shelter from wynde and weather; nor could 
 the Communion Table bee kept drye in tyme of rayne; in soe much, 
 that, sometymes, itrayned upon the wyne and bread of Consecracion, 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 215 
 
 at the tyme of receiveinge of the Sacramente. And, albeit, the said 
 Chauncell received little damage by the late fire, haveinge very 
 little combustible matter in it, yett M r Chase hath caused a very 
 greate parte of the Breife mony, to bee uncessantly wasted and 
 bestowed upon the same, soe that the Church is like to remayne 
 unfynished. 
 
 4. That, as M 1 Chase, before the burninge of our Churche, would 
 not provide or suffer any able minister in our parishe, nor came him- 
 selfe above once or twice in a tvvealve month, and then only to 
 reccon for tythes, or pick quarrells, to goe to lawe, or aboute pav- 
 mente of his assessments for the poore, which hee seldome payed 
 without troubleinge the Justices of Peace therwith; or, to preach a 
 funerall sermon for money: Soe, as soone as the fyre hapned, hee 
 indeavoured to discharge his curate; and wee haveinge peticioned 
 the nowe Bishopp, his Master, that wee might have prayers read in 
 our parishe, hee soe farre opposed the same, as that wee have had 
 none thes twoe yeares, and upwardes, and nowe noe minister to 
 bury the dead. 
 
 5. That hee is very insolent, prowd, and haughtie, in all his 
 accions, and hath gotten into the nowe Bishopp’s favour, and to bee 
 his Chapleyne, of purpose to countenance his brableinge suites, and 
 hath bragged of it; soe that, upon our peticion, wee could obteyne 
 neither admission to his Lordshipp, nor redresse of our wrongs; and 
 hee and his brothers have brought soe many brableinge suites att 
 lawe, and libells against us, they ordinarily becomeinge the one 
 wittnesse for the other of them, and, beinge many, have soe persecuted 
 us, that wee dare not see one another’s tythes sett out, beinge often 
 therunto required, for feare of revengefull suites, they haveinge given 
 out, that they would live upon one parsonage, and spend the other 
 in lawe against us. 
 
 6. -That, as M r Chase and his brothers, in their usuall walkeinge 
 togeather, doe consult liowe to bringc suites and accions against us, 
 soe, when they please, they will not suffer their tythes to bee taken, 
 albeit duely sett forth and tendred; but yett libell for the same, and 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I, 
 
216 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 sometymes twice or more for one and the same thinge; and have 
 brought severall accions att lawe, for one and the same trespasse, 
 makeinge only some coulorable distinction in pointe of tyme, or the 
 like, and have procured Doctor Wood, their kinsman, to hould 
 Courts, of purpose to expedite their litigious suites and libells, where 
 M r Chase has had more libells then all the ministers in the dioces 
 besides; and, upon a late arbitracion with one of us, upon some small 
 mistake in tytheinge, haveinge obteyned his will, hee said, ’twas not 
 the tythe hee desired, but to putt the partie to the charge of a dinner. 
 His usuall sayeinge is “ his will is his will, and hee will have his 
 will/’ And liowe hee and his brothers have indeavoured to attayne 
 the same, appeareth by the multitudinous suites in the said Courts of 
 Rochester, and in the greate Courts at Westminster. 
 
 7. That hee and his brothers doe ordinarily endeavour to seeke 
 causes of suites against us, and, to that end, doe keepe insufficient 
 fences towards the streets, lanes, and neighbours grounds, of purpose 
 to take our cattle in their grounds; soe that wee dare scarce drive 
 our cattell by the wayes, or suffer them in our owne grounds, with¬ 
 out a keeper beinge by them; and their servaunts often privily con¬ 
 veyed into their grounds; and soe accions of trespasse brought 
 against us, or to the pound, and wee forced to replevyn our cattle. 
 And, after many provocacions, findeing one of the parishioners un- 
 willinge to goe to lawe, they layed their dung upon his dunghill, and, 
 afterwards, carried away all togeather, of purpose to provoke him to 
 suite of lawe. 
 
 8. That M r Chase and his brothers doe commonly use rayleing 
 speeches against the Common Lawe, and Judges, Jurors, and wit¬ 
 nesses, when their brableinge suites passe against them, as commonly 
 they doe, threatninge them with the Starr Chamber, and otherwise; 
 soe that jurors and wittnesses beinge summoned, often tymes dare 
 not appeare, or doe their duety, for feare, they beinge soe wilfully 
 proane to revengefull suites of lawe, and other mischievous courses. 
 And they commonly goeinge 3, 4, or more togeather in company, to 
 demaund or take tythes, the neighbours of smaler retinewe are forced 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 217 
 
 to lett them tytlie and take what they please, and chopp and chaunge 
 their tythes as they will themselves. And yett, of aboute xx severall 
 accions tryed att lawe, they never had one scarce fairely passe for 
 them, albeit some of themselves alwayes become wittnesses on their 
 owne parte. 
 
 9. That the said Chases, since their comeinge into our parishes 
 have committed severall riotts, forcible entries, and detayners, and 
 other fowle and barbarous misdemeanors, and have byn indicted and 
 fyned for some of them. And they have threatned some of the most 
 substantiall inhabitants not to leave them worth a groate; others, 
 that they should not keepe as much as a henn in the parishe; and 
 bound over another to the assizes, and there maliciously indeavoured 
 to indict him for his owne sheepe, falsely supposeinge it to bee stolen 
 from them. 
 
 10. That M r Chase, haveinge twoe acres of Gleabe Land, in the 
 upper side of a feild of 6 acres, in Stone, called Parsons Banck, which 
 tyme out of minde had layne togeather undivided or distinguished by 
 bounds, and hee and his predecessors had therfore alwayes taken 
 rent for the same twoe acres of the tennant for the tyme beinge, 
 according as the residue of the feild was letten, M r Chase upon a 
 soddayne displeasure against the tennant refused the rent, and, in¬ 
 stead of entringe into his owne two acres, entred into, plowed up, 
 and sowed the whole feild with corne, and detayned the same two 
 yeares togeather; and, albeit the tenante of the greater and best parte 
 of the said feild payed a deare rent for the same, dureinge the said 2 
 yeares tyme, to his landlord, and was soe deprived of the injoyment 
 therof, yett M r Chase brought twoe or three severall accons of tres- 
 passe against him, for vexacion ; whereas one might have served for 
 tryall of his tytle, yf the same had byn denyed him, as in trueth it 
 was not. And the same afterward comeinge to bee divided by a 
 Jury, the said M r Chase and his brothers opposed the same, and soe 
 threatned the Jury as that the same yett remaynes undivided. 
 
 11. That M r Chase was a very busy parson in the late convocacion 
 house, and a diligent observer of the late Papisticall Church Cerimo- 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 2 F 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
218 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 nyes introduced; and, beinge chapleyn to the said bishopp, and allyed 
 to D r Wood his chauncellor, wlioe was alsoe sometymes a sojourner in 
 M r Chase his house, soe farre prevayled, that most parte of us were 
 inforced through feare, att intollerable rates, to compound with him 
 for our tythes,—by the greate, in mony, for feare of oppression and 
 wronge, beinge voyde of all hope of favour or justice in the said 
 bishopp’s courts, or of any meanes to avoyde his brothers’ testimonyes, 
 beinge commonly his witnesses in all his brableinge suites. 
 
 12. That M r Chase and his brothers brought most of their suites 
 att lawe, in the name of one Mathewe Chase, without distinction of 
 senior or junior, they haveinge Mathewe Chase their father, and 
 Mathewe Chase their brother, then liveinge with them; soe that, 
 when their causes past against them, as commonly they did, the 
 defendants knewe not against which Mathewe to demaund costs, and 
 soe often lost the same, they, after tryall and verdict for the defendant, 
 sometymes pretendinge the same to be the suite of Mathew th’elder, 
 and other tymes of Mathew the younger, att their pleasure, to 
 defraude the defendant of costs. 
 
 [Endorsed—“ 12 articles against M r Chase et al.—1640, p’ parishioners de 
 Stone.”] 
 
 [There are no signatures.] 
 
 LXIY. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, from WILLIAM GARNONS, late 
 of Stone, detailing the persecutions of RICLIARD CHASE, Rector of 
 STONE. 
 
 To the honourable assembly of Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses 
 of the Commons house of Parliament. 
 
 The humble peticion of William Garnons, late of Stone, in 
 Kente. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 219 
 
 Most humbly sheweth the severall wrongs, oppressions, and perse¬ 
 cutions hee hath suffered by Doctor Wood, Chauncellor to the 
 Bishopp of Rochester; Richard Chase, Clerke, his kinsman, Chap- 
 leine to the said Bishopp; Mathewe Chase, John Chase, Thomas 
 Chase, and William Chase, brothers of the said Richard Chase ; and 
 by the said Bishopp, and one Henry Scudder, Clerke, and others, by 
 the said Chase’s procuremente. 
 
 1. That the said Richard Chase, beinge by the late Bishopp 
 Bowles, his uncle, preferred unto two of the best Benefices within 
 the said Dioces of Rochester, viz. Chiselhurst, where the said Chase 
 himselfe liveth, and Stone, where the Petitioner lived, both worth 
 above 400/. per annum; hee, and his said brothers (his agents), 
 immediately upon his induction into Stone, indeavoured, by various 
 accons, suites, and libells against the Petitioner, and other Inhabi¬ 
 tants of Stone, to infringe their auncient Customes of Tytheinge 
 there used, and gave out in speeches, that hee would live upon one 
 parsonage and spend the other in lawe against them. 
 
 2. That, upon the Sabboth day, beinge the 26th of March, 1637, 
 the said M r Chase sent one Zacceus Weare, and the said Mathewe 
 his brother, both his servaunts, to demaund tythes of the Peticioner, 
 well knowinge that there neither was nor could bee, as then, any 
 tythes at all due unto him from the peticioner : which said Zacceus 
 and Mathewe att the Church doore, presently after divine service 
 that day, openly threatned the peticioner, on the said M r Chase’s 
 behalfe, sayeinge, amongst other things, that they would give the 
 peticioner lawe enough; and, on the morrow morneinge, before day¬ 
 light, the said M r Chase’s servaunts privily conveyed a younge 
 heyfer of the peticioners, out of a stronge palled yard, from his 
 dwellinge house to the pound; and, in a replevyn therof, a verdict 
 was afterwards found for the peticioner against one of M r Chase’s 
 servaunts, who, beinge poore, never payed the damages. 
 
 3. That, on the morrowe after the peticioner was so threatned, 
 beinge Munday the 27th of that March, the said Mathewe, Thomas, 
 and William Chase, Zaccheus Weare, and John Harbert (all ser- 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
220 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I, 
 
 vaunts to the said Richard Chase), lay all day lurkingein and about 
 the peticioner’s grounds, and severall tymes hurried his cowes, some 
 reddy to calve, cattle, slieepe, and young Lambes, some not a weeke 
 ould, to the pound, and forced him to fetch severall replevyns that 
 day; and, to deprive him of damages, in one of the replevyns, kept 
 the said Weare out of the jurisdiction of Rochester Courte, where 
 the same depended, untill all proces were out, soe that the peticioner 
 could not proceed therin, and is therby deprived of those costs and 
 dammages alsoe. 
 
 4. That the peticioner attendinge the Tryall of one of the said 
 replevyns att Rochester, where he was a stranger, the said Chases 
 and their father beinge there present, caused the peticioner to bee 
 twice arrested, in the face of the Court, att the suite of the said 
 Mathewe Chase fbeing a person of small worth), upon twoe accons 
 of trespas “pedibus ambulando,” for supposed goeinge by an 
 auncient pathway leadinge to the peticioner’s dwellinge howse in 
 Stone, which the said Chases had then freshly plowed upp, to sowe 
 with Corne ; and the peticioner haveinge justified the goeinge in the 
 said pathwayes, by plea, and made good proofe that the same were 
 then freshly plowed upp by the said Chases, and not newe trodden 
 againe, and brought the said Causes to a tryall in one day, a verdict 
 past for the peticioner in the morneinge in the one of them, which the 
 said Thomas Chase perceivinge, beinge sworne a witnesse therein 
 for his brother, and sayeinge what he could for him, the other beinge 
 upon the same yssue touchinge the said pathwayes, the said Thomas, 
 in the afternoone, deposed that the said pathwayes were newe trodden 
 and visible, which beinge disproved by diverse severall and credi¬ 
 ble witnesses, hee said, in evidence to the Jury, that hee did see the 
 peticioner lyeinge alonge in the feild, twoe rodds out of the said 
 pathwayes, reedinge upon a booke, or some papers, about twoe dayes 
 after the said replevyns ; and soe a verdict was given against the 
 peticioner in the said second trespas ; which 2 supposed trespasses 
 did, upon evidence att the tryalls therof, appeare to bee but one, and 
 donne at one and the same tyme, and only for vexacion divided into 
 
EIIOM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 221 
 
 twoe distinct tymes and accons. And the said Thomas a com¬ 
 mon wittnesse for his said brothers Richard and Mathewe, in all 
 their brableinge suites. 
 
 5. That for avoydeinge such vexacious suites, and for that the 
 said Chases had given out that the peticioner should not keepe soe 
 much as a henn in the said parishe, hee was inforced, from the said 27th 
 of March that yeare, to keepe upp and fodder his cowes and cattle 
 in his yards, untill hee could procure chapmen to buy them, and 
 then to sell them away, some with calves by their sides, and others 
 reddy to calve, and lett out his pastures, all at greate losse, and 
 shortly after to forsake his dwellinge there, by reason of theis and 
 diverse other oppressions which hee suffered by the said Chases, and 
 others by their procurement, as heerafter is menconed. 
 
 6. That, before the peticioner could sell away his said cowes hee 
 had twoe calves fallen, which were afterwards sold away by the 
 cowes sides, wherby two pence for the fall of the said twoe calves 
 soe sold became due by custome of the said parishe, for tythes ther- 
 of, to M r Chase ; as alsoe one lambe, and about twoe fleeces of 
 wooll in kinde, that yeare; but the peticioner, in M r Chase s absence 
 (hee not comeinge within the said parishe scarce once in a twelve 
 month ordinarily), could not procure any of his servaunts or tyth- 
 gathers (sic) to receive or take away the same, or to see the same 
 divided or sett out, albeit hee oftentymes gave them notice therof, and 
 desired them to doe the same ; nor would any of the Inhabitants, by 
 themselves, or their servaunts, see the same donn, beinge often 
 therunto requested, some of them alleadgeinge that they durst not, 
 the said Chase and his brothers were soel itigious, others sayeinge 
 they would rather ride 40 myles with the peticioner another way : 
 and one of the said tythgatherers confest hee durst not receive them, 
 or see them divided; and att harvest followinge, the peticioner was 
 enforced to borrowe and hire laborers and others, from tyme to 
 tyme, from theire workes in other parishes, of purpose only to see 
 his tythes of corne and hey sett out, none of the parishe dareinge to 
 doe it, for feare of revengefull suites. But, in May that yeare, 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
222 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 before the peticioner’s slieepe were shorne, the peticioner was cited 
 before D r Wood, into the consistory of Rochester, for tythes of the 
 said calves, wool and lambe, and there proceeded against with greate 
 violence. 
 
 7. That the Peticioner was enforced to retayne a proctor in the 
 said courte, whoe depended on Doctor Wood (there beinge but two, 
 and one of them his menyal servant), whoe, in favor of M r Chase, 
 in draweinge upp the peticioners allegation concerneinge the said 
 custome of a penny a calfe sould by the cowes side, omitted to 
 alleadge a tender of the said 2 d for the said twoe calves, accordinge 
 to the said custome. And the peticioner desireinge Doctor Wood 
 that the same might bee amended, he therupon threatned the petitioner 
 to question him in the high Commission Courte, for moveinge him 
 therunto; and the peticioner was enforced to bringe his wittnesses, 
 14 en in number, first to Rochester, to bee sworne, and then to 
 London, to bee examined by one whoe had byn Doctor Wood’s man, 
 and had lived with him in M r Chase’s house; nor could the peticioner 
 bee admitted to have his wittnesses examined by any other, nor to 
 minister interrogatoryes unto them, of the points materiall on his 
 parte to bee proved. 
 
 8. That the Peticioner, nevertheless, by 14 substantiall wittnesses, 
 made good proofe of the premisses, and of the said custome of a tythe 
 penny for a calfe sould by the cowes side, and of the tender of the 
 said two pence for the said twoe calves accordinglie, and of the 
 tender of the said tythe lambe and wooll in kinde, and retayned his 
 Councell, and att greate charge prepared the said cause reddy for 
 lieereinge in the said consistory of Rochester; but the petitioner, by 
 meanes of these and other troubles occasioned by the said Chases, fell 
 into great extremity of sicknesse, wlierof M r Chasetakeinge advantage, 
 privily, unknowne to the peticioner, or any for him, procured D r 
 Wood, in his chamber att Doctors Commons, to give order for a 
 sentence against the peticioner, which was donne accordingly, and the 
 petitioner condempned in the whole tythes of calfe, lambe, and wooll 
 in kinde, and costs of suite to 10/. in the whole, to his extreame 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 223 
 
 losse and damage, and to the disherison of him, and others the said 
 parishioners, of their said auncient and lawfull customes: which 10Z* 
 the petitioner shortly after, upon payne of excommunicacion, was 
 cited to pay, and did pay, ‘ £ ob metu excommunicacionis,” and then 
 alsoe payd 3s. 4 d. to M r Chase’s proctor, to enter an act in the courte 
 for the peticioner’s discharge, and that hee had payed the same “ ob 
 metu excommunicacionisbut the said Doctor, and M r Chase, 
 have therupon caused a submission unto the said unjust and surrep- 
 ticious centence to bee there entred. 
 
 9. That the Peticioner, soe soone as hee was able to goe abroade 
 and had notice of the said centence, preferred the peticion annexed to 
 the nowe Bishopp of Rochester, amongst other things, humbly desire- 
 inge a judiciall heereinge of the said cause in his consistory, and, for 
 his lordshipp’s satisfaction of the greate w r ronges don the peticioner, 
 delivered him the perfect coppyes of his said wittnesses, under the 
 Register’s hand: but his Lordshipp, takeinge upon him to rebuke his 
 said chaplyn, gave the peticioner some hope of redresse, untill the 
 tyme of appeale was past, and then utterly discerted the said cause, 
 and would never restore the said peticion, nor, untill Hillary Tearme 
 last, the coppye of his witnesses, nor admitt the peticioner to his 
 presence to demaund the same, but detayned the same twoe whole 
 yeares and upwards, and yett suffered his Chapleyne to proceed and 
 take out proces upon the said centence, as aforesaid. 
 
 10. That M r Chase, by himselfe, his father, and brothers, shortly 
 after, laboured S r Henry Carewe Knight, in his extreame age, 
 against the petitioner and his wife (S r Henryes Neese), of whom they 
 had deserved great reward, and, by letters and false tales soe farre 
 prevailed, that some of them, unknowne to the petitioner, privily 
 tooke their dwellinge house over their heads. And the xiiij th of 
 October the same yeare, before the petitioner’s tyme expired, or their 
 tearme commenced, in his absence, they and their servaunts, to the 
 nomber of eight or nyne, brake into his said dwellinge house called 
 Stone Castle, and by force dragged out his maid servaunt by head 
 and shoulders, turned out his mastiffs, and, consealinge their names, 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
224 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 with gunns, holbards, and other weapons, in forceble manner kept the 
 possession by the space of a fortnight, untill the comeinge of the 
 Justices of Peace, and, in the ineane tyme, ransacked the said howse, 
 spent and consumed all his provision of victuall, wood, powltry, and 
 other goods and necessaryes, and imbezilled others, together with 
 diverse bookes, papers, and bills of accompt, and refused to deliver 
 unto the peticioner and his wife comeinge home from London, the 
 meate provided for their dinners that day, or his saddle, to ride to 
 the Justices, or his deske with bookes and papers lyeinge open: and, 
 albeit five of them were indicted, and afterwards fyned in the Kinges 
 Bench, for the said ryott and forceible entry, and that, in a replevyn 
 of part of the said goods which were repleviable, the petitioner had 
 30/. damages given by verdict, yett, for a greate parte therof, not 
 repleviable, or omitted for want of accesse into the said howse, or 
 imbezilled, as bookes, papers, and the like, liee is still without remedy, 
 without the assistance of this honourable assembly. Besides, the 
 said Chases, by removeinge the said last-mencioned cause from 
 courte to courte, through five or six courts of law and equity, att 
 Westminster and elsewhere, have forced the peticioner to more 
 trouble and expence in lawe, and otherwise, then treble the said 30/. 
 damage amounts unto. 
 
 11. That, for avoideinge the said Chases perecutinge courses, the 
 petitioner, about the tyme aforesaid, gave 40/. fyne for a lease of a 
 house in Horton Kirby, in Kent, about 4 miles distant from Stone 
 Castle, for his owne dwellinge amongst his wives freinds ; but the 
 said Chases, in further pursuit of their malice against him, and to 
 drive him out of that country (as they had threatened), when as hee 
 should have removed his goods and dwellinge thether, secretly 
 advised and stirred upp one John Davis, the petitioner’s undertenaunte 
 therof, and one Henry Scudder, Clerke, and others, to detayne the 
 possession against him, whoe, in the name of one Thomas Scudder, 
 of whome the petitioner had taken the same, and, without his privity, 
 by the like advice commenced a suite in Chauncery against him, 
 supposeinge the same to be a mortgage, which beinge disproved, as 
 
PROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 225 
 
 well by the lease itselfe, as by many wittnesses examined on the 
 peticioner’s behalfe, and the cause in Hillary Tearme 15° Car. R. 
 comeinge to lieereinge, they, under hand, made such meanes, that 
 the master of the Rolls and Baron Trevor, whoe was procured to sitt 
 there that day, threatened the peticioner to give costs against him, 
 in case the deposicions of his wittnesses were redd att the heeringe. 
 And, after the order of decree drawne upp by the Register, the 
 said master of the rolls, with his owne hands incerted and added 
 severall matters not charged in the bill, nor proved nor questioned att 
 the heeringe ; wherby the Peticioner hath byn ever since deprived of 
 his said dwellinge, and alsoe of the said 10/., besides 30/. att least 
 spent in that suite. 
 
 By reason of these and many other oppressions, wrongs and per¬ 
 secutions, under which the peticioner hath suffered by the said Chases, 
 and other the persons above named, and by their procurement, espe¬ 
 cially since the said 26th of March, 1637, hee, his wife, children, and 
 family have byn forced to forsake their said country and dwellinge 
 at Stone,'—are deprived of their said howse taken for their dwellinge 
 at Horton, and the 40/. fyne given for the Lease therof, to sell away 
 their goods and howsehold stuffe, lett out their grounds att losse, and 
 neglect his owne and other men’s private affaires, forced unjustly to 
 pay divers greate somes of money, to loose other somes, and a great 
 part of his goods, to his extreame losse, and damage of 300/. att least, 
 besides great and continuall charge in journeyeings, and otherwise, 
 and the losse of 50/., longe since promised as a guifte unto the peti¬ 
 cioner’s wife by the said S r Henry Care we (hir Uncle) att his death, 
 and above 100/. more due and deserved by her and the peticioner, 
 for often sojourneinge and entertaynment of him, his freinds, and 
 servaunts, from tyme to tyme, and many yeares ymployment of the 
 greatest part of their tymes and labours, in and about his affaires and 
 businesses, as by almost a hundred severall letters written unto them, 
 and otherwise, may appeare, (hee, by the meanes aforesaid, dyeinge 
 in displeasure with them,) whereby the peticioner, his wife, children, 
 and family, are brought to great want and sicknesse; and hee dis- 
 
 CAMD. soc. 2 G 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I 
 
226 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I 
 
 abled to seeke redresse, his said adversaries beinge wilfully prone to 
 litigious and endles suites. The said M r Chase haveinge a parsonage 
 spare,* of about 200 1. per annum, over and besides all charges, to 
 spend in lawe; wherby the Peticioner, his wife, and children, and 
 family, are almost utterly undon and ruyned, wlioe formerly lived in 
 good creditt and esteeme. Wherewith the Peticioner being greived, 
 
 Most humbly prayeth this most honourable assembly to examyne 
 the severall matters aforesaid, and the peticioner’s sufferings therin, 
 that hee may bee righted and repayred in his estate, and restored to 
 what hee hath byn forced to expend, deposite, and pay, or have lost 
 as aforesaid, and restored to his said liowse att Horton, by the said 
 unjust order or decree taken from him, and to his costs and damages 
 thereby sustayned, and hee settled in peace against the like vexations 
 in tyme to come. The way how to doe it hee presumes not to pre¬ 
 scribe you, but humbly leave it to your grave wisdomes. And 
 pray God to blesse all your councells and consultacions. 
 
 Wm. Garnons. 
 
 [Endorsed—“Garnons’ petition to the Parliament, 17 R. Ca. 1641.” It is 
 in duplicate.] 
 
 LXV. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, against their Curate, THOMAS 
 VAHAN, from the Inhabitants of Chatham. 
 
 To the Right Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses 
 of the House of Commons, assembled in Parliament. 
 
 The humble petition of the inhabitants of the parish of Chatham, 
 neere Rochester, 
 
 Sheweth, 
 
 1. That Thomas Vahan, Preist, (for so hee saith he is,) and with 
 
 * Spare— i.e. kept in reserve. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 227 
 
 much greife wee utter it, is a man superstitious!y affected in urging and 
 pressing of ceremonies in his pulpit, teaching not only making them 
 things indifferent, but pressing them to be things of necessity to 
 bind the consciences of his hearers under a bitter curse. 
 
 2. Hee hath laboured, these two yeares and more, to sett the 
 Communion lable altar wise, rayled about, giving his reasons out 
 of the pulpitt, for the decensie of it, complaining how hee is abased 
 in administering the Sacrament, going from pew to pew, as one that 
 dealeth almes, or a doale to the people. 
 
 3. By provoking the people in his publique teaching to bow knee 
 at the name of Jesus, binding the consciences of his hearers unto a 
 necessitie of that act, under a curse, that their bowells might dropp 
 out that did not observe it. 
 
 4. The soundness of his teaching may easily be gathered by what 
 is expressed, who is much wearied in the paines of his ministrie, as 
 he hath in the pulpit often delivered seldome preaching was that hee 
 looked for, by an order (as he saith) from authoritie, but blessed be 
 Gfod for that miraculous worke in preventing of it; hee being urged 
 by the Apostle’s words, that his dutie did consist in preaching, and 
 to bee instant in season and out of season, “ In season,” he saith, is, 
 to preach upon Sundaies in the forenoones, and, “out of season,” in 
 the afternoones. 
 
 5. Hee hath long continued, in the pulpit, to utter his bitter exe- 
 cracions against the Scottish nation, and hath often done it since the 
 High Court of Parliament assembled: viz., callino; them daring 
 Rebells, whose faith is faction, whose truth is treason, whose religion 
 is nothing but rebellion, that seeke to invade this kingdom. “ Lett 
 them bee as a wlieele, O God, and as the stubble before the wind, 
 and lett the Angel! of the Lord scatter them, lett them bee as Oreb 
 and Seb, like Zeba and Zalmunna“ lett them be scattered in Jacob, 
 and dispersed in Israel;” “putt a hoock into their nostrills, and turne 
 them back by the waie they came.” 
 
 6. Hee is a man much dignifying himselfe, and velyfying of 
 others who are orthodox and sound, with the name of Puritanicall 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
228 
 
 PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 Ministers, the whole kingdome fairing the worse (as he said) for 
 such. 
 
 7. Hee is a turbulent man, full of differences and controversies 
 with his parishioners. 
 
 8. Hee is very negligent in visiting the sick, and catechizing the 
 youth of the parish. 
 
 9. Hee never praid for blesseing upon the former Parliament, nor 
 yett for this, till of late. 
 
 10. Hee hath delivered in pulpitt, that the scripture is noe scrip¬ 
 ture without the authoritie of the fathers. 
 
 Wee need say no more; but are bold to close up all in our 
 humble petition, that this honourable house would please to be so 
 favourable a helpe as that wee may be supplied with a man ortho- 
 doxall, sound, and profitable, painefull in his ministry, and peaceable 
 in his conversation; that God by him may be honoured, and wee 
 edified. And, as duty binds, we shall ever pray. 
 
 Thomas Yahan hath bin Curate of Chatham about five yeares; 
 Doctor Balcancko,* then Deane of Rochester, with the Prebends, 
 placed him there, who gave him a lease during life. Its a limbe of 
 the Cathedrall, from whence if something were added more, to make 
 up a competencie for an able man, were a good worke, which wee 
 leave to the grave consideracions of this honourable and high court 
 of parliament. But for the present maintenance, as it now is, we 
 conceive it not worth above 60 or 70 pounds per annum. 
 
 Jo. Short. 
 
 James Marsh. 
 
 T. Goddard. 
 
 Cha. Bowles. 
 
 Laurance Fisher. 
 
 John Watearman. 
 
 Guy x Jones, his mark. 
 John Vinkell. 
 
 James Benns. 
 
 Miles Broughton. 
 
 Richard Holborne. 
 
 Joseph Pett. 
 
 Thomas Day. 
 
 John Wright, x his mark. 
 Nath. Apslyn. 
 
 Thos. Williams. 
 
 * i.e. Dr. Baleanquall. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 229 
 
 Morgan Griffin, x his mark. 
 Laurance Haiton. 
 
 George Woode. 
 
 John Lesher. 
 
 F. Reginalds. 
 Wm. Lawrence. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, “ 1641, 7 Junii. Petition. 
 v. Yagban.”] 
 
 Chetbam 
 
 LXYI. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against their Vicar, DOCTOR 
 PEAKE, from the Inhabitants of TENTERDEN. 
 
 To the Right Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses 
 of the Commons House of Parliament. 
 
 The humble petition of the Inhabitants of the towne and parishe 
 of Tenterden, in the County of Kent, 
 
 Slieweth, 
 
 That, whereas the said towne and parishe, beeing an auncient 
 corporacion, and a very populous place, which heeretofore flourished 
 under the teachinge of godlie and paynefull ministers, who, for these 
 forty yeeres last past, and upwards, have beene, for the most part, 
 resident amongst them, and provided for them sermons on Sondayes, 
 both forenoone and afternoone, to their great comfort. 
 
 But now of late, M 1 Doctor Peake, one of the prebends of Can¬ 
 terbury, and parson of Acris in Kent, being presented to the Vicaridge 
 of Tenterden, which is of the yeerely value of two hundred pounds, 
 or neere therabouts, by the Deane and Chapter of Christ Church, 
 Canterbury, therof Patron, who are also proprietors of the Rectorie 
 impropriate of Tenterden aforesaid, beeing of the yeerelie value of 
 one hundred pounds, and upwards; hee the said M r Doctor Peake 
 hath not beene resident, nor will reside himselfe upon the said 
 vicaridge, nor provide your petitioners a Curat that will preach, or 
 catechise, on Sondaies, in the afternoone. But hee hath oiven an 
 
 1640-1. 
 16 Car. I. 
 
 10 July. 
 
230 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 expresse charge to a late Curat of his not to preach on Sondayes 
 in the afternoone, as the said Curat hath reported; nor will the said 
 M> Doctor Peake, although hee have better then five hundred 
 pounds per annum, spiritual livings, alio we a Curat competent 
 mayntenance for the serving of the said cure; neither will hee suffer 
 your petitioners, v though they have made it their suite to him) to 
 provide and mayntaine, at their owne charges, a conformable 
 minister, to preach on Sondaies in the afternoone. 
 
 Neither hath hee, at this present, nor hath hee hadd since the 
 beginning of January last, any Curat at all resident amongst them, 
 but sometimes one, sometimes another, such as could or cann bee gott 
 at the cheapest rate, viz. for a noble, or seaven shillings and eight 
 pence a day, at the utmost, are procured to supply the cure on 
 Sondayes. 
 
 And beesides, the said M r Doctor Peake hath so much neglected his 
 charge, that, at the generall Fast enjoined to bee kept thorough out 
 the whole kingdome, in July last, the duties beefitting so holy and 
 religious a work were, to their great greife, very slightly performed, 
 neither his Curat nor himselfe beeing at all present that day to doe 
 the service; insomuch as, hadd it not beene for a schoolemaster of 
 the parishe newlie entred into the ministry, wlioe preached one ser¬ 
 mon little more than lialfe an houre, the place hadd not beene at all 
 supplied ; and as it was supplied, the exercises of the Fast not beeing 
 continued a competent and convenient time, as hath beene heretofore 
 used, a good part of the day was, by the ruder sorte, spent in the ale¬ 
 houses, to the great dishonour of Almighty God. 
 
 And, moreover, he exacteth of the inhabitants of the said parishe 
 many undue and unaccustomed fees, as namelie, twelve pence for 
 ringing of the great bell at a buriall, a fee never heard of there till 
 now late. And whereas the ancient and accustomed fee to the Vicar 
 there for a marriage hath beene but eighteene pence, hee doth now 
 exact, somtimes two shyllings, and sometimes fower shillings, for 
 evrie couple married. 
 
 Neither will hee suffer his owne Curat, nor any other comformable 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 231 
 
 minister, to preech at any buriall, unlesse hee (though absent, and 
 resident about twenty miles of) may bee paid tenn shillings a sermon 
 it his Curat preach, and twentie shillings a sermon if a stranger 
 preach, for the hire of his pulpit. 
 
 And further also, hee exacteth of poore servants more then their 
 accustomed offerings at Easter; and hath threatned, unlesse they will 
 give him his demaunds, to sue them in the Ecclesiasticall Court for 
 the tithes of their wages, beeing a tithe never paid, nor scarce ever 
 heard of, in the said parishe. 
 
 And hee, also, at Easter Communions, in the yeere 1640, did dis- 
 gracefully put backe some poore servants of the said parishe from 
 receiving of the holy Sacrament, beeing there ready with the rest of 
 the congregation to receive the same, meerelie because they would not 
 pay him twelve pence a peece for their offerings, although they hadd 
 beefore tendred him their accustomed offeringcs, or more. And, 
 beesides, hee threatned many more, that, unlesse they would pay him 
 twelve pence a peece for their offerings, it should cost them twelve 
 shilling a peece before hee hadd donn with them; or used words to 
 that effect. 
 
 And hee also caused tenn poore servants, or laborers, of the said 
 parishe, to be unjustly cited into the Ecclesiasticall Court at Canter¬ 
 bury, beeing about twenty miles distant from Tenterden, meerely for 
 vexacion, upon pretence that they did not pay him their accustomed 
 offerings at Easter in the yeere 1640, nor did receive the holy Sa¬ 
 crament then; whereas they did all of them then receive the Sacra¬ 
 ment at his owne hands, and hadd beefore paid, or tendered him, 
 their accustomed offerings, or more; and, accordinglie, they did all 
 of them so depose in the said Ecclesiasticall Court; excepting two 
 only, \vho, upon his said citation, fled the parishe : and therupon 
 they were all of them dismissed the said Court. But, though the 
 judge thereof did publikelie manifest his great dislike of such op¬ 
 pression, yet hee neither did, nor could, as w'as then said, allowe them 
 any costs or charges, though, in truth, it cost, or stood them in, 
 about fifteene or sixteene shillings a peece. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
232 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 By reason of all which cloeings of the said M r Doctor Peake, 
 diverse of the said parishe have and are like to remove their dwel¬ 
 lings from thence, which beeing of late tould him, hee, not at all 
 moved therwith, hath given out speeches, that, though the houses 
 there stood emptie, yet hee is sure he shall finde the lands there, oi 
 to that effect. 
 
 All which your petitioners have thought fitting to represent to 
 this honourable assemblie, humblie intreating that you would bee 
 pleased to take the same into your pious and grave consideracions ; 
 and to give your Peticioners such relief therin as in your great 
 wisedomes you shall thinke meete. And your petitioners shall ever 
 pray, &c. 
 
 Tho. Shorte. 
 
 John Witherden. 
 
 Freeg . . . Stac.e. 
 
 John Reade. 
 
 Samuell Curtis. 
 
 William Plummer. 
 Thomas Huckstepp. 
 
 Jo. Baker. 
 
 Ric: Reete. 
 
 Ric: Seri wen. 
 
 Nich. Enyot. 
 
 Lewes Clements. 
 
 Daniel Hopper the elder. 
 Richard Masters. 
 
 Job Cushman. 
 
 Mych Reete. 
 
 Richard Lucas. 
 
 Clement Widon. 
 
 Richard Highestedd. 
 John Fuller. 
 
 Jo Smith. 
 
 Jo. Hamper. 
 
 Simeon Dartnell. 
 William Gillebald. 
 Richard Seath. 
 
 Sa: Shorte. 
 
 Jo. Austen. 
 
 Thos. Selherst. 
 Samuell Wiellcock. 
 Thomas Bedingfield. 
 Samuell Finch. 
 
 Tho. Iden. 
 
 John Finch. 
 
 Tho. Taylor. 
 
 Wm. Stretton. 
 
 Tho. Brett. 
 
 George Haffenden. 
 Robert Wolball. 
 Thos. Haffenden. 
 Richd. Haffenden. 
 Henry Gyrdler. 
 Thos. Baytup. 
 
 Wm. Playfer. 
 
 Luke Younge. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 233 
 
 George Humphrey, 
 Aminadab Henly. 
 
 Daniell Duncke. 
 
 Thos. Houltinor 
 
 O 
 
 James Duncke. 
 
 John Scotchford. 
 
 Thomas Tilden. 
 
 William Stretton, Junior. 
 John Waters. 
 
 Thomas Iggulden. 
 Richard Elfiche. 
 
 John Sander. 
 
 Peter Phillpot. 
 
 John Hooke. 
 
 Nath. Posier. 
 
 Robert Ashenden. 
 
 Peter Shorte. 
 
 George Tilden. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering, 
 v. D r Peake.] 
 
 Thos. Butler. 
 
 Thos. Simons. 
 
 John Crouch. 
 
 James Wide. 
 
 Daniel Baytop. 
 Abraham Caffinch. 
 Anthony Weller. 
 Edward Boys. 
 
 Edward Caffinch. 
 Stephen Neate. 
 
 John Beear. 
 
 Ricd. Swan ten. 
 
 Danl. Hopper. 
 
 John Gyrdler. 
 
 Robt. Willes. 
 
 Sami. Bedar. 
 
 John Wood. 
 
 Thos. Eldredge. 
 
 1641, 10 July —Petition—Tenterden 
 
 LXVII. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons, for increase of Income, &c. to the 
 Perpetual Curate. From the Inhabitants of FOLKSTONE. 
 
 To the Honourable assemblie of the House of Commons. 
 
 The humble Petition of the Parishoners of the Towne of Folke- 
 ston, in the Countie of Kent, 
 
 Shewetli, 
 
 That wheras Folkeston being a maior towne, and a large parish 
 extending itselfe two miles into the shire, the parsonage wherof, being 
 an impropriation, and belonging to the Sea of Canterburie, the Lords 
 of Canterburie still leasing out the same, and reserving to themselves 
 80/. per annum, and a renewing fine everie fourth yeare, the tennant 
 camd. soc. 2 H 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 16 July. 
 
234 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 641. 
 Car. I. 
 
 wherof now is M r Arnald Brames, who hath yett to conic eleven 
 yeares in itt, and letteth ont the same for 300/. by the yeaie; and 
 yett the Lord of Canterburie doth allow his Curate at Folkeston but 
 the bare stipend of 20/. per annum, without having a house to live 
 in, or any other helpe whatsoever. 
 
 Now your Petitioners doe humblie pray, that you would be pleased 
 to grant such a competent allowance for the maintenance of the 
 Minister of Folkeston, as in your wisdomes and pious care shalbe 
 thought requisite; and, wheras the Curate of Folkeston that now is, 
 is a sicklie aged man, and faileth much in his voice anti sight 
 wherby he is not soe able to performe his ministeriall dutie as he 
 himselfe would, and the parish requireth, your Petitioners doe 
 further pray, that they may have a yonger and a more pregnant 
 man, for the performing of holy and divine service, and yett the old 
 minister now being may have some exhibition to keepe him during 
 his life, and afterward the same to revert to the minister of Folke¬ 
 stone againe. 
 
 And your Petitioners shalbe bound in all dutie and thankfulnes to 
 pray for your prosperous succes and happines. 
 
 Basil Dixwell. 
 Marke Dixwell. 
 John Dixwell. 
 William Reade. 
 William Jenkin. 
 Thomas Denn. 
 Richard Francklin. 
 Stephen Hobdaye. 
 
 Henry Tiddyman. 
 
 Henry Rolfe. 
 
 Benjamin Master, Major. 
 Henry Kennett, Juratt. 
 Thomas Inmith, Juratt. 
 Thomas Stiles, Juratt. 
 Robart Culverden, Jurat. 
 
 [Endorsed by S r Edward Dering,—“ 1641, 16 July—Petition—Folkeston.”] 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 235 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against their Yicar M r JOHN 
 DENN. From the Parishioners of DARTFORD. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 To the Right Honorable the House of Commons at this present 4 October. 
 
 Parliament assembled. 
 
 The humble peticon of divers of the parishioners of the parish 
 of Dartford, in the Countie of Kent, 
 
 Humbly sheweth these their severall agreeveances following, viz. 
 
 That their Parsonage is an Impropriacion; the Bishopp of Roches¬ 
 ter, being the Impropriator therof, receiveth twentie five pounds per 
 annum of Edward Dearcey, Esquire, and hee receiveth of Marke 
 Fielder, the farmer therof, one hundred and thirtie pounds per 
 annum: our vicaredge is also worth an hundred pounds per annum. 
 
 That our minister, John Denn by name, is a man of an offensive 
 life and conversation, a common taverne haunter, excessively given 
 to drinking of wine, in so much that hee many times reeleth in the 
 streete, and cannot goe upright. 
 
 That hee hath laboured much, by perswasion, for the use of cere¬ 
 monies, and for the standing up at gloria pater, and, on the Commu¬ 
 nion day, he allwayes preacheth in the surplesse, and in his tippett or 
 whood. 
 
 That hee preacheth but once a weeke, namely, on the Lord’s day 
 in the forenoone, they haveing a great congregation depending upon 
 his Cure; and, because the parishioners doe desire two sermons a 
 day, hee not preaching himselfe, nor suffering any other to preach in 
 the afternoone, saith, that there is none worse then those that doe 
 desire so much preaching, and they that doe preach so much. 
 
 That hee hath raised the price of his duties to a farr greater rate 
 then formerly they have been; for wheras formerlie, for mariage, 
 his predecessor tooke but eighteene pence, hee taketli three shillings; 
 and for a sermon at a buriall, his predecessor never tooke above ten 
 shillings, but hee will have no lesse then twentie shillings, and hee 
 hath raised his tithes of marsh land, six pence in every acre. 
 
236 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I.* 
 
 Upon a tyme, liee being requested to visite a sick man, who 
 thought to have some comfort from him, for his soules health ; hee 
 was so much in drink, that hee was not able to pray, nor to performe 
 any other good dutie towards him, hut, asking the sick man what 
 comfort hee would have of him, hee told him that hee should got die 
 this fitt, hut hee would give him some black clierrie water. 
 
 Thomas Rogers, Esquier, beeing a justice of the peace there, on a 
 tyme, intreated him to let an honest minister preach in his pulpitt; 
 hut hee would not suffer him, nor give any way there unto. 
 
 That hee is of such a proud hautie spiritt, that there is no honest 
 man able to live by him; as for our cheife men, hee accounts them 
 no fitt objects for his wrath, hee is of such a high spiritt. 
 
 May it please, therefore, this honorable assemblie, to take these 
 severall complaints into your godlie and serious considerations, and, 
 for redresse thereof, to doe heerin as to your great wisedomes and 
 godly dispositions shall seeme most meete. 
 
 Robert Watts. 
 Barnard Ellis. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering—“1641, 4 Oct.—Petition.—Dertford v. 
 Mr Den.”] 
 
 LXIX. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Commons against their Vicar, THOMAS 
 IHGGINSON, from the parishioners of ROLVENDEN. 
 
 The parishioners of Rolvenden, in the countie of Kent, unto 
 the honorable House of Commons, humbly sheweth, 
 
 That Thomas Higginson, Vicar of Rolvenden, beinge for many 
 years Vicar of the sayde parish, hath beene a very negligent preacher 
 of the word, and scandulous in his life, whereby ignorance and 
 
 There is no date. I supply it by conjecture. 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 237 
 
 proplianenes hath much abounded, to the scandall of the ministry, 
 and great greife of all those that are well affected, as will he proved 
 by those who have subscribed these articles with their handes. 
 
 1. Uppon a certayne time, be haveinge given warninge for a 
 Sacrament, certayne of the parish connninge to be catechised, and to 
 pay their offringes the Saturday night before the Sacrament, divers 
 of them were fayne to goe to the alehouse, where he was drinkinge, 
 and some of them he caused to stay there so longe with him, that 
 they were togither distempered with drinke. Jo: Crotenden. 
 
 2. He hath beene a very often frequenter of houses of ill resorte, 
 and much given to cursinge and swearinge and excesse in drinkinge. 
 
 Richard Sheafe. 
 
 3. He hath not only frepuented common alehouses, and houses of 
 
 ill resorte; but he hath often done it on Saturday nights, till eyght 
 or tenne o’clocke at night. Edward Clefton. 
 
 4. He was, at a bimall, so far in beere, or wine, that he was not 
 
 able to read the buriall. Alces x Clefton. 
 
 5. He lay, within five miles of his owne house, four dayes tiplinge 
 
 and drinkinge in an alehouse, and spent tlier, halfe the vallue of his 
 horse. Richard Rabson. 
 
 6. When he was catechisinge children, he did use cursinge speeches, 
 in the middest of the congregation, to the ill example of others. 
 
 Artor Roberdes. 
 
 7. When one asked his advice, whether he, beinge in want of 
 wood, might not take of his neighbours, he said “Yea, rather then 
 sit a cold;’’ and sayde further, “Lett men fetch out of the wood 
 (it beinge his neighbour’s wood) till he forbade them.” 
 
 Witness to this, William Day, who is since dead. 
 
 Witnesse that he said it, Robert Gibbon. 
 
 James x Chittenden. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
238 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 8. He, at the buriall of M r Gee, did kneele at the grave, while 
 
 the buriall was read. Jo: Hansonn. 
 
 9. He did not preach but once in eighteen monthes togither, and, 
 many times, three weikes togither, not so much as the church dores 
 open, and in one full month, viz., from the 17° of January to the 
 21° of February, not so much as prayers read. 
 
 Ri: Sheafe. 
 
 10. He, on the Saboth day, would not come to church, nor bury 
 the dead, and yett, rod the same day ten miles from his owne house. 
 
 Ri: Sheafe. 
 
 11. Uppon settinge up of the aulter, he oposed the parish all that 
 he might, and would have the same sett up in the most superstitious 
 way he could, and sayde it should be sett accordinge to the Cathedral 
 Churches, and so he caused it to be done, as neere as he could. 
 
 Ri: Sheafe. 
 
 12. A certeine time, the Churchwardens takeinge out the Com¬ 
 munion Table from the aulter rayle, causeinge it to be sett in the 
 most convenient place in the chancell, where it formerly stood, he 
 standeth up in the church, on a Lordes day, in the middest of the 
 congregation, and speaks to the Churchwardens, reproveinge them 
 for removeinge the table from within the rayles, sayinge, if they re¬ 
 moved it, he would cause them to answer it in another place, and 
 further sayde, he would not adminester the Sacrament any where, if 
 the table were taken out; also, he could afford to send the people 
 away without administration of the Sacrament at that time. 
 
 George Day. 
 
 Wherefore, we humbly beseech this honourable assembly, to take 
 it into their grave consideration, that so he may be ordered accoid- 
 
FROM THE COUNTY OF KENT. 
 
 239 
 
 inge to your wisdorae ; and your 
 prosperity and welfare. 
 
 Ri: Sheafe. 
 
 Alexander Weller. 
 William Davy. 
 Richard Gibbon. 
 Steaven Ghyrdler. 
 George Gyrdler. 
 
 [Endorsed by Sir Edward Dering, 
 Rich. Sheafe et Rob. Gibbon.”] 
 
 petitioners shall ever desire your 
 
 Giles Cadwell x his marke. 
 Daniel x Baythopp, his marke. 
 James x Ch .. den, by his marke. 
 John x Willson, by his marke. 
 Robert Clifton. 
 
 George Preston, x his marke. 
 
 ‘ Petition.—Rolvenden v. Higginson p. 
 
 LXX. 
 
 PETITION to the House of Lords, to increase the Income of their Vicar, 
 from the Parishioners of WALTHAM. 
 
 To the most Honorable House of Lords, assembled in Parlia¬ 
 ment, or such as it may concerne. 
 
 The most humble suite of us the parishioners and officers of the 
 parishe of Waltham, in the countye of Kent, 
 
 Presenteth, 
 
 That our parsonage by lease held from the Sea of Canterbury is 
 att the least of an hundred and twenty pounds annuall value; our 
 vicarage poore, and not worth above thirtie and five pounds yearely, 
 or there about; our moderne Vicar M r David Neishe, a man of 
 exemplar life and conversation, and a most diligent preacher; for 
 whome wee humbly begg that there might bee some competent 
 addition of necessarye maintenance; and, not knowing how this 
 may bee effected (as wee most heartely desire), wee humbly implore 
 the aide and assistance of this most honorable and highe Court of 
 Parliament. 
 
 * No date. I have assigned it conjecturally. 
 
 1641. 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 1641. 
 
 17 Car. I.* 
 
240 
 
 PETITIONS RELATING TO THE CLERGY, ETC. 
 
 1641 . 
 
 17 Car. I. 
 
 And this granted, wee shall ever bee bound to pray for your 
 happie success in your greate proceedings, and shall ever remaine. 
 
 Your most humbly obliged Servants, 
 
 George x White. 
 
 Henry Maxted. 
 
 The marke x of John JBoulden. 
 William Gregorie. 
 
 Walter Clarke. 
 
 Robert White, Churchwarden. 
 The marke of X John Gregorie, 
 Churchwarden. 
 
 William Hayward. 
 
 Ben Peere. 
 
 John Nayler. 
 
 George Gorham. 
 
 Clement Court. 
 
 The marke of Thomas Uffing- 
 ton. x. 
 
 Stephen Court. 
 
 Edmund Hogben. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Abbot, Sir Maurice, 201 
 
 -Mr. 57 n 
 
 Abraham, Thomas, 205 
 
 -William, 174 
 
 Aburne, Richard, 169 
 Acris, 229 
 Acrise, Joseph, 117 
 Adames, Isaac, 64 
 Adams, John, 142 
 
 -Mr. 101 
 
 -Jhomas, 64 
 
 Agnus Dei’s, Crosses, &c. landed 
 at Somers key, 86 
 Alchorn, Edward, 162, 173 
 Aikinson, Myles, 213 
 Allen, James, 188 
 Allene, John, 196 
 Alleyn, Jos. 62 
 All Saints, Reculver, 136 
 Altare Christianum, by Dr. Pock- 
 lington, 83, 95 
 
 Amarant, or Amirant, Mr. 85 
 
 ■-Mr. 82 
 
 - Paul, 81, 84 
 
 Ambros, John, 106 
 Ambrose, Mark, 105 
 
 -Peter. 188 
 
 Amherst, Jeffery, 182 
 Anderson, Robert, 62 
 Anderton, Mr. 87 
 Andrewes, Bishop, 83, 84 
 Andrews, Thomas, 1)9, 174 
 Andvill, John, 117 
 Antonius, Jacob, 169 
 Apledore, 101 
 Apledore cum Ebeney, 101 
 Applebee, William, 77 
 Apslyn, Nath. 228 
 Archcliffe Fort, Dovor, 23 
 Archley, see Auchley 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 Armestrong, John,of Bethersden, 
 115 
 
 Arnoll, Thomas, 188 
 Ash, parish of, 193, 194 
 
 - Mr. 99 
 
 Ashbee, Thomas, 196 
 Ashbernham, Edward, 192, 193 
 Ashburnham, Elizabeth Lady, 
 afterwards Lady Cramond, 
 xxx.; letter of, x. 
 
 -Kate, xxx 
 
 Ashenden, Robert, 233 
 Ashton, Mr. 96 
 -S. 99 
 
 Aspull, Edmund, xvii. xxi. xxiii. 
 Athie, Edward, 1 57 
 Auchley, John, 55 
 Auchley [Awchley, ? Archley,] 
 Thomas, 55 
 
 Austen, Jo. of Tenterden, 232 
 
 -John, of Goudhurst, 143, 
 
 144 
 
 -Richard, 177 
 
 -Robert, 177 
 
 - Samuel, 143 
 
 Austin, John, Overseer of Hoath, 
 134, 135 
 
 Awchley, [? Archley] see Auchley 
 
 Bacheler, Christopher, 23 
 Back, Kenneth, 174 
 Badgeant, see Badger 
 Badger, Richard, 82, 83, 84 
 Baeker, see Baker 
 Bagffield, Thomas, 125 
 Bagshaw, Mr. 80, 83, 98 
 Baines [? Prince] William, 119 
 
 Baker,-, 44 
 
 -Dr. 84, 85, 94 
 
 -Jo. of Tenterden, 232 
 
 2 i 
 
 Baker, John of Stourmouth, 198 
 
 -Mr. Licenser of Books, 89 
 
 - [Baeker], Mr. of Lambeth, 
 
 159 
 
 -Mr. Curate of Old Romnev, 
 
 157 
 
 --- Richard, 54 
 
 -Thomas, 128 
 
 -’William, 175 
 
 Balcancko, Dr. see Baicanquall 
 Balcanquall [Balcancko], Dr. 
 
 Dean of Rochester, 228 
 Ball, John, 116 
 
 Bancroft, Dr. John, Bishop of 
 Oxford, 87, 124, 125, 181 
 Bankes, Caleb. 205 
 Bar . . . ? James, freeman of 
 Dovor, 63 
 Barber, John, 106 
 Barbere, Robert, 177 
 Barbet, Edward, 176 
 Barden, Simon, 63 
 Bareli, Robert, 19 n 
 Bargrave, Dr. Isaac, Dean of 
 Canterbury, xxx., xlix., 7, 90. 
 Barke [? Backe], Thomas, 174 
 Barling, Clement, 101 
 Barlinge, John, 131 
 Barly, John, 62 
 Barman, John, 55 
 Barnat, John, 63 
 Barnes, Michael, 191 
 Barnham, Sir Francis, 13 
 
 -Sir Martin, 170 
 
 Barrell, Robert, 164, 167, 202, 
 203 
 
 Barret, William, 20 
 Barrett, Paul, 177 
 Barrowe, Richard, 116 
 Bartlet, Jo. 84 
 
242 
 
 Bastock, George, 174 
 Bate, John, 156 
 
 -Richard, 157 
 
 -Thomas, 156 
 
 Batherst, see Bathurst 
 Batho, John, 106 
 Bathurst, John, 103 
 
 - Robert, 143 
 
 Baylie, see Bayly 
 Baylline? Edward, 62 
 Bayly [Baylie], John, 150 
 
 - Robert 63 
 
 -Thomas, 63 
 
 Bayt.op, Daniel, 233, 239 
 Baytup, Thomas, 232 
 Beale, Ambrose, 205 
 Bearsted [Bersted], 102 
 Bebside? William, 125 
 Bedar [? Beear], John, 233 
 
 - Samuel, 233 
 
 Bedell, John, 153 
 Bedingfield, Thomas 232 
 Beear, John, 233 
 Bell, Henry, 81, 82, 83 (2) 
 Bellamy, Anne, 187 
 
 -Richard, 187, 188 
 
 Bennett, Anne, xxxiii. 
 
 -Elizabeth, xiv—xxxiii. 
 
 - -, daughter of the pre¬ 
 ceding, xxxiii. 
 
 -Richard, xiv. 
 
 -Simon, xiv. xxiv. xxxiii. 
 
 - Sir Thomas, xiv. 
 
 ■-Sir Simon, xiv. 
 
 Benns? James, 228 
 Bernes, Mr. 81 
 Bersted, see Bearsted 
 Besbeck, see Besbeech 
 Besbeech, James, 143. 144 
 
 -George, 143, 144 
 
 - Mr. 87 
 
 -Richard, 143, 144 
 
 Besbech, Thomas, 205 
 
 Bessy,-, 64 
 
 Best, John, 66 
 
 -, William, 119 
 
 Bethersden [Betresden], 115 
 Betnam, Harry, 48 
 Betresden, see Bethersden 
 Bettenham, see Betnam 
 Bevin, Mr. 47 
 Biame, Henry, 117 
 Biddenden, 181 
 Rive, John, 117 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ; Bigg, John,205 
 
 -- Robert, 205 
 
 Bilingherst, Vincent, 188 
 Birchington, Thanet, 104, 106, 
 108,180 
 Bird, John, 178 
 Bishopp, Giles, 122 
 Bishopsbourne, 154 
 Bishops’ votes to be taken away, 
 56 
 
 Blacklow, Thomas, 95 
 Blaiton, Thomas, 151 
 Blayland, James, 188 
 Blean, see Boughton 
 Blisse, Richard, 63 
 Bockinge, John, 63 
 Bocton Allofe, see Boughton 
 Aluph 
 
 Bodwell, Mr. 80, 81, 96 
 Bolles, see Bowles 
 Bond, Mr. 99 
 
 -Richard, 63 
 
 i -Robert, 169 
 
 Booth, Henry, 62 
 Borman, Thomas, 125 
 ! Borne, Nicholas, 84 
 Bottinge, Samuel, 116 
 Boughen, Edward, 122 
 Boughton Aluph, 190 
 1 Boughton Blean, 174-175 
 Boughton Malherbe, 204 
 Boulden, John, 240 
 Boulding, Henry, 191 
 Boumer, Henry, 125 
 Bourner, Henry, 63 
 Bowie, see Bowles 
 Bowles, Cha. 228 
 
 - [Bowie,] John, 142 
 
 Boykin, Bartholomew, 177 
 Boys, Edward, 233 
 
 -Sir Edward, 10, 23, 58, 96, 
 
 98, 111 
 
 Braborne, 149, 150 
 Bradshaw, Mr. 43 
 Brames, Arnold, 234 
 Bray, Dr. 81-83, 94, 95 
 Braylsforde, Luke, 62 
 Bredhurst, 161, 170 
 Bredhurst and Lidsing, 160, 165 
 Brensett, 190 
 
 Brent, Sir Nathaniel, 91, 135 
 138, 166, 170 
 
 Brereton [Bruerton,] SirWilliam, 
 80-82, 87, 89, 98~ 
 
 Brett, Thomas, of Sutton’ near 
 Dovor, or Little Mongham, 
 189 
 
 - Thomas, of Tenterden, 
 
 232 
 
 - Brett, Tobias, 189 
 
 -William, of Hinxhill, 174 
 
 -William, of Sutton near 
 
 Dover, or Little Mongham, 
 189 
 
 Brette, Thomas, 200 
 Brian, Ezekias, 130 
 Brice, Christopher, 200 
 Bridall, Jo. 93 
 
 Bridgewater, Countess of, xxvi. 
 Brigham, Mr. 193, 194 
 Bright, Edward, 142, 143, 144 
 -Mr. 90 
 
 Brissenden, Nicholas, 63 
 
 - Thomas, 190 
 
 Brockman, Lady, 24 
 
 - Sir William, 43, 58, 64 
 
 Brogle, Thomas, 199 
 Broke, Jo., 205 
 Bromfield, i.e. Broomfield, 20 
 Bromston, Anthony, 141 
 Brook, Thomas, 64 
 Brooke, Robert, 205 
 Brookman, Richard, 64 
 Broomfield and Leeds, see 
 Leeds 
 
 Broughton, Andrew, 205 
 
 - George, 199 
 
 -Miles, 228 
 
 Broune, see Browne 
 
 -Bengabin, 114 
 
 Browne, Daniel, 156 
 
 -John, of Dover, 62 
 
 -John, of Hoath, 135 
 
 - Mr. assistant curate to 
 
 Mr. Emerson, at Otford, 129 
 
 - Richard, 16 
 
 Bruce, Lord, xxvi. 
 
 Bruerton, see Brereton 
 Buchar, Walter, 114 
 Buckherst, Thomas, 63 
 Buckhurst, Ja., 122 
 Buckinghamshire, 68 
 Buddon, Mr. 99 
 Bull, John, 150 
 Bullock, Mr. 69 
 Burch, Elisha, 103 
 Burden, John, 63 
 -Luke, 62 
 
INDEX. 
 
 243 
 
 Burges, Nathaniel, 62 
 Burnley, Michael, 62 
 Burton, Christopher, 189 
 Burtton, George, 128 
 Butler, Mr. xxvi. 
 
 -Thomas, 233 
 
 Cadwell, Giles, 239 
 Caffinch, Abraham, 233 
 
 - Edward, 233 
 
 Calvert,-, 95 
 
 Camton, Roger, 188 
 Canterbury, 119 
 
 -Archdeacon of, 91 
 
 -Dean of, see Bargrave, Isaac 
 
 -Prebendary of, 154 
 
 -Christ Church, 159 
 
 —— Dean and Chapter of Christ 
 Church, 195 
 Canton, Robert, 117 
 Capel, 148 [2) 
 
 Carew, Sir Matthew, 18 
 Carewe, Sir Henry, 207, 223 
 Carewe’s Poems, 32 
 Carpenter, Richard, 85, 86 
 Carsting, George, 129 
 Carter, Edward, 162 
 
 -Robert, M.A. 196 
 
 Casaubon, Dr. Meric, Chaplain 
 to the Archbishop of Canter¬ 
 bury, 104, 106, 108 
 Castle, Alexander, 142 
 Caterman, Christopher, 201 
 Catesby, Mr. xxviii. 
 
 Chaiffy, see Chaissy 
 Chaissy, Giles, 95 
 Chamberlain, Mr. xxx. 
 Chambers, Richard, 177 
 Chandeler, Henry, 142 
 Charing, 115 
 
 Charles I., his personal situation 
 and character, 67 bis, 68 
 Chart, Little, 113 
 Chartham, 8 n 
 Chase, John, 219 
 
 -Matthew, senior, 218 
 
 -Matthew, junior, 207, 218, 
 
 219 
 
 ■- [Chasye], Richard, (written 
 
 also Chasey), 206, 210, 211, 
 212, 213, 214, 219 
 
 -Thomas, 219, 220 
 
 -William, 219 
 
 Chaseye, see Chase 
 
 Chatham, 226, 228 
 Cheek, William, 219 
 Cheesman, John, 150 
 Cheesman [Cheseman,] Thomas, 
 116 
 
 Cheriton, 58 
 
 Cheseman, see Cheesman 
 Cbetwin, Philip, 89 
 Children, William, 129 
 Childrens, Mr. 192 
 Chingley, alias Shingley manor, 
 76 
 
 Chislehurst, 219 
 Chistlet, 176 
 Chittenden, James, 237 
 Christian, Henry, 122 
 
 -John,134 
 
 -John, the younger, 135 
 
 -William, 130 
 
 Churchman, Humphry, 177 
 Cicell, John, 171 
 Claget, Thomas, 116 
 Clapham, Surrey, 147 
 Clark [CIerck],Dr. 108 
 Clarke, Richard, of Dovor, 62 
 
 -Richard, of Hoath, 135 
 
 -[? Larke] Walter, 240 
 
 Clark’s, Dr., sermons, 86 
 Clatting [Glatting?], Nicholas, 
 151 
 
 Cleere, Lady, xxv. 
 
 Clerck, see Clark 
 Cierke, Serjt., 207 
 Clefton, see Clifton 
 Clements, Lewis, 232 
 Clifton [CleftonJ, Alces, 237 
 
 -Edward, 237 
 
 -Robert, 239 
 
 Clotworthy, Sir John, 79, 98 
 Coale, see Cole 
 Cocke, Henry, 189 
 Cod, William, 125 
 Codrington, Robert, 49 
 Coflam, William, 106 
 Cole [Coale], Peter, 84, 85 
 Cole [Coles], Richard, 85 
 Colepeper, 14 
 
 - see Culpeper 
 
 Coles, see Cole 
 
 Colly, [Coly], Thomas, of Fair- 
 field, 131 
 
 -Thomas, of Smarden, 116 
 
 Colman, Thomas, 117 
 Colpeper, see Culpeper 
 
 Coly, see Colly 
 Colyson, Henry, 146 
 Complete Justice,The, see Justice 
 Conway, Viscount and Earl of, 
 xxxiii. 
 
 Conyers, Sir John, 68 
 Cook, Osman, 103 
 
 -Thomas, 177 
 
 Cooke, John, 117 
 —— William, 117 
 Coopar, John, 55 
 Cooper, Christopher, 63 
 
 -Emanuel, 171 
 
 -John, 165, 170 
 
 -Robert, 177 
 
 -W. 165 
 
 Copley, Mr. 47 
 Corbet, Dr. 81 
 
 -Mr. 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 98 
 
 Corke (? Cocke), Thomas, 189 
 Cornewell, Francis, 147 
 Coroke, Thomas, 188 
 Cornwallis, Sir Frederic, xlii. 
 
 --Eliza, Lady, xlii. 
 
 -letter of, xliv. 
 
 Costen, James, 63 
 Cotton, Isaak, 62 
 Court, Clement, 240 
 
 - Stephen, 240 
 
 Cousen, John, 199 
 Cowell, Thomas, 106 
 Cozins, alias Cossins, Richard, 
 191 
 
 Cradock, “ cousin,” xxi. xxvi.— 
 xxx. 
 
 Cradock, Lawyer, xxix. 
 
 -Matthew, xvii. xxix. 
 
 -Mr. xviii. 
 
 -William, xiv. 
 
 Cranbrook, 103 
 Craphill, the tythery of, 190 
 Crayford, 118 
 Cricke, John, 174 
 Cripps, Thomas, 205 
 Crispe, Richard, 205 
 Croke, Sir George, xx. xxiii. xxx. 
 xxxii. 
 
 -Mary, xxxiii. 
 
 Cromer, Sir John, 18 
 Crompe, Crumpe, Thomas, 205 
 
 -William, 63 
 
 Cromwell, Mr. 80, 98 
 Cronx,? Croup, William, 63 
 ' Crosses, landed at Somers Key,86 
 
244 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Crotenden, Jo. 237 
 Crouch, John, 233 
 Croup, ? Cronx, John, 63 
 Crow, Sir Sackville, xv. 
 Cruchman, George, of Ivychurch, 
 153 
 
 - [CrutchmanJ George, of 
 
 Snargate, 199 
 Crundal [Crundoll], 190 
 Crutenden, William, 117 
 Cuccow, Anthony, 169 
 Cuckowe, Thomas, 54 
 Cullen, Thomas, 62 
 Cullin, Margaret, 187 
 
 -Thomas, 187 
 
 Culmer, Richard, 119 
 Culpeper, Sir John, 9, 10, 11, 
 14, 15, 18, 48, 68, 121, 130 
 Cultburts, Henry, 122 
 Culverden, Robert, 234 
 Cunny, John, 103 
 
 Curtis,-, 23 
 
 - Samuel, 232 
 
 Cushman, Job, 232 
 
 Daad, Robert, 188 
 Dab, John, 130 
 Dalton, Thomas, 130 
 Daman, Thomas, 151 
 
 -William, 151 
 
 Dan, Ric. 205 
 Danne, Thomas, 103 
 Darell, Elizabeth, 77 
 
 -Henry, 76 
 
 -John, 66,114 
 
 -Sir John, and his lady, xlii. 
 
 -Robert, 114 
 
 -William, 76 
 
 -pedigree, 14 
 
 Darker, ? Durker, Miles, 128 
 
 -Thomas, 130 
 
 Dartford, 117, 235 
 
 -The Bull at, 118 
 
 Dartnell, Simeon, 232 
 Dasonn ? [? Casonn or Easonn], 
 Matthew, 106 
 David, D. 95 
 Davis, John, 224 
 Davy, William, 239 
 Dawkes, Richard, see Pawker ?63 
 
 -Thomas, see Pawker? 62 
 
 -William, see Pawker? 62 
 
 Day, George, of Leeds and Brom- 
 field, 146 
 
 Day, George, of Rolvenden, 
 238 
 
 -Richard, 183 
 
 -Thomas, 228 
 
 -William, 237 
 
 Dearcey, Edward, 235 
 Denn, John,235 
 
 -Thomas, 234 
 
 Dennis [Dennes], James, 146 
 
 -George, 128, 130 
 
 Denny, Henry, 132 
 Dennys, Thomas, 128, 129 
 
 Derby,-, apparently a servant 
 
 of Sir Edward Dering, 46, 48 
 Dering, family of, vi. 
 
 Dering pedigree, 3-7, 20, 43 
 Dering, Sir Anthony, viii. xxv. 
 
 - Edward, preacher temp. 
 
 Elizabeth, vii. 
 
 -Edward, son of Sir Edward, 
 
 Latin letter to his father, 
 78 
 
 - Sir Edward, birth, viii.; 
 
 knighted, ix.; first marriage, 
 ibid.; second marriage, ibid .; 
 created baronet, xiii.; courtship 
 of Mrs. Bennett, xvi.-xxxii.; 
 third marriage, xxxiii.; Lieu¬ 
 tenant of Dovor Castle, xxxiv.- 
 xxxv.; agreementt’ormutual as¬ 
 sistance in antiquarian studies, 
 xxxv. ; conduct in Parliament 
 as a Church Reformer, xxxvi.; 
 his popularity, xxxvii. ; intro¬ 
 duces bill for abolition of epis¬ 
 copacy, xxxviii. ; loss of popu¬ 
 larity, xli.; publication of his 
 speeches, xliil.; expelled the 
 house, xlvi. ; is impeached, 
 xlvii.; joins the King on 
 raising the standard, ibid. ; 
 submits to the Parliament, 
 1.; dies, li.; other references 
 to, 2, 5-8, 23, 26, 27, 47, 56, 
 75, 80, 81 bis, 82, 94, 95, 120, 
 121, 130, 198-201 
 
 -Sir Edward, Letters of, xii., 
 
 xlii., xlix., 1, 19,42,44, 46, 47, 
 55, 64, 66, 70 
 
 -Sir Edward, Letters to, 3, 
 
 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19,20, 
 23, 38, 44, 49, 52, 193, 198- 
 201; other papers addressed to, 
 25, 44, 74, 182 
 
 Dering, Sir Edward, and Sir John 
 Culpeper, Letter to them, 
 
 48 
 
 - John, cousin of Sir Edward, 
 
 43 
 
 -Lady, 42 
 
 -Richard, vii. 
 
 D’Ewes, Sir Simonds, 79, 98 
 Dickeson, Matthew, 152 
 Diges, Thomas, 190 
 Dixwell, Basil, 234 
 
 -John,234 
 
 -Mark, 234 
 
 Dobb, Richard, 177 
 Dodd, Gilbert, 150 
 Dodona's Grove, 19 
 Dormer, Robert, 84 
 Dorset, Edward Earl of, xxviii. 
 Dovor, 57, 58, 60, 62, 180 
 Dovor harbour, 65 
 Dow, John, 196 
 Druner, see Drayner 
 Draper, Mathew, 125 
 
 -Midm.? 213 
 
 Drast, Robert, 103 
 Drayner, Ambrose, 182 
 
 -John, of Frittenden, 63 
 
 -[Draner], John, of Smar- 
 
 den, 116 
 
 -Simon, 63 
 
 Dreux, James, 95 
 Drew, John, of Boxley, 172 
 
 - John, of Lidsing or Bred- 
 
 hurst, 162 
 
 Drewe, John, of Promhill or Mid- 
 ley, 157 
 
 Dryver, William, 193 
 Dudarde? Henry, 106 
 Dudson, Henry, 165 
 Duke, Henry, 114, 156 
 Duncke, Daniel), 233 
 
 -James, 233 
 
 Durker, see Darker 
 Durling [?Darling], Arthur, 
 130 
 
 -Edward, 128 
 
 Eastone, William, 62 
 Eatton, Nicholas, 62 
 
 - William, 62 
 
 Ebbott, Thomas, 128 
 Ebeney, a chapelry united to the 
 Vicarage of Apledore, 101 
 Ebbesham, Surrey, 90 
 
INDEX, 
 
 245 
 
 Edge, George, 63 
 
 --John, 63 
 
 -Thomas, 62 
 
 Edolphe, Robert, 174 
 Edwards, Anthony, 174 
 
 -Fra. 177 
 
 - Walter, 177 
 
 -William, 128, 130 
 
 Effeild, John, 150 
 Effeld, William, 174 
 Eldred, William, 62 
 Eldredge, Thomas, 233 
 Electioneering movements in 
 Kent, 5 
 
 Elfiche, Richard, 233 
 Elies, Thomas, 199 
 Ellis, Barnard, 119, 236 
 Elmsall, Edward, 169 
 Elwood, Charles, 62 
 Elye, Robert, 114 
 Elyott, Thomas, 213 
 Emerson, Mr. 126, 127, 129 
 English, Henry, 205 
 Enoch ap Evans, see Evans ap 
 Enyot, Nich. 232 
 Episcopacy, the Kent Petition 
 against, 25, 26, 27, 28 
 Eppes, George, 63 
 Euens, William, 117 
 Euere, Edward, 130 
 Evans, John, 213 
 Evans ap Enoch, 87 
 Evelyn, Mr. 99 
 Everest, Edward, 128 
 
 -William, 213 
 
 Ewell, Valentine, 134 
 -Walter, 177 
 
 Fairfax, F. 62 
 Fairfield, 130, 131 
 Fairlawn [Fayrlane], 6 
 Fane, pedigree, 2, 44 
 Fanton, Robert, 63 
 Fayrlane, see Fairlawn 
 Featley, Dr. xxx. 84, 95 ; his 
 sermons, 85 
 Fellow, William, 119 
 Ferman, Robert, 134 
 Field, Richard, 114 
 Fielder, Mark, 235 
 Ffielder, Thomas, 130 
 Ffigge, Thomas, 196 
 Filpott, see Philpott 
 Ffin, James, 199 
 Finch, Clement, 65 
 
 Finch, George, 190 
 
 - Sir Heneage, xv. xxxii. 
 
 xxxiii. 
 
 -Heneage, Earl of Notting¬ 
 ham, xxxiii. 
 
 -John,232 
 
 -Lord, of Fordwich, Lord 
 
 Keeper, 17 
 
 -- Samuel, 232 
 
 -William, 122 
 
 -pedigree, 2, 3, 17 
 
 Fishenden, Thomas, 54 
 Fisher, Laurence, 228 
 Ffleet, Ezekiel, 148 
 Ffleete, William, 132 
 Fletcher, Thomas, 205 
 Fflusher, Richard, 174 
 Foche, Thomas, 107 
 Ffoch, Thomas, jun. 189 
 Folkstone, 233, 234 
 Ffoord, John, 62 
 
 -Richard,- 62 
 
 Fordred, William, 63 
 Forsberry, Nicholas, 165, 170 
 Fowler, W. 62 
 Fox, William, 62 
 Ffoxe, Anthony, 142 
 Francklin, Richard, 234 
 Frankwell, Will. 213 
 Freebody, Richard, 199 
 Freeman’, Jo. 198, 201 
 Freind, William, 134 
 Frid, Ed., of Gillingham, 164, 166 
 Frith, Margaret, 125 
 Fryer, John, 63 
 
 Fulham, Mr., Chaplain to Bishop 
 of Oxford, 87 
 
 Fuller, Edward, of Minster, 106 
 Ffuller, Edward, of Shoreham, 
 ?Otford, 130 
 Fuller, John, 232 
 Ffuller, Thomas, 169 
 Furner, Guye, 153 
 - William, 202 
 
 Gardner, John, of Guston next 
 Dovor, 178 
 
 -John, of East Langdon,.64 
 
 Gare, John, 188 
 Garner, Mathew, 130 
 Garnons, William, of St. Bo- 
 tolph’s, Aldgate, 206, 209 
 
 -William, of Stone, 211,213, 
 
 218 
 
 Garritt, Thomas, 63 
 
 Gee, William, 106 
 Gellebrand, Jo. 93 
 
 - Samuel, 92 
 
 -Thomas, 92 
 
 Gennings, Jo. 95 
 Gervis, William, 186, 187 
 Ghyrdeler, see Gyrdler 
 Gibb, see Gibbs 
 Gibbes, see Gibbs 
 
 -pedigree, 46 
 
 Gibbon, Dr. 184 
 
 -Henry, 178 
 
 -Richard, 239 
 
 - Robert, 237 
 
 Gibbs [Gibbes], Sir Henry, 24 
 
 - [Gibb], sister of Sir Edward 
 
 Dering, 46, 69 
 
 - [Gibbes], Will. 67 
 
 Gibson, William, 130 
 Gilbarte, William, 131 
 Gilbourne, Edward, (i.e. Sir Ed¬ 
 ward), 129 
 Gill, John, 169 
 Gillebald ? William, 232 
 Gilliam, Walter, 117 
 Gillowe, John, 142 
 
 -Thomas, 141 
 
 -William, 142 
 
 -Winter, 142 
 
 Gillse, William, 105 
 Gipson, Moses, 151 
 Gladdis, Henry, 198 
 Glover, Richard, 103 
 
 -Thomas, 183 
 
 - William, 130 
 
 Goddard, Amb., 63 
 
 -Giles, 62 
 
 -T. 228 
 
 Godden, [Gooddenn,] Richard, 
 213 
 
 - Walter, 205 
 
 -William, 164, 167 
 
 Godfrey, Thomas, 162 
 Golder, Jo. 62 
 Goldfinch, Wm., 105 
 Golding, [Gollding,] Stephen, 196 
 Goldsmith, [Gouldsmith,] Ralph, 
 119 
 
 Goldsmyth, James, 128 
 Goldwell, [Gouldwell,] John, 117 
 Gooddenn, see Godden 
 Goodwin, Arthur, 98 
 
 -Mr. 80, 81, 82 
 
 Gorham, George, 240 
 Goring pedigree, 343 
 
246 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Gottly, John, 116 
 Goudhurst [Goodhirst], 142, 
 143, 144, 145, 163 
 Gould, John, 117 
 Gouldfinch, Stephen, 177 
 Gouldhill, Nicholas, 200 
 Gouldsmith, see Goldsmith 
 Gouldwell, see Goldwell 
 Graunts, Thomas, 62 
 Graythron, Edward, 202 
 
 -William, 202 
 
 Green, John,150 
 Greene, Robert, 117 
 Greenegrasse, Richard, 169 
 Gregorie, John, 240 
 
 -William, 240 
 
 Grenell, Thomas, 117 
 
 Greenhill,-, 92 
 
 Griffen, Ann, 85, 86 
 Griffin, Morgan, 229 
 Grimstone, Harbottle, xxxiii. 
 
 -Henry, 166 
 
 Grinnell, John, 168 
 Grove, pedigree, 14 
 Guildeford, Edward, 65 
 
 -Sir Henry, 65 
 
 Gunpowder Men, 48 
 Gurton, next Dover, 178, 179 
 Gyrdler, George, 239 
 
 -Henry, 232 
 
 -John, 233 
 
 - [Ghyrdler], Stephen, 239, 
 
 Haels, Haells, see Hales 
 Haffenden, George, 232 
 
 - Richard, 232 
 
 -Thomas, 54, 232 
 
 Kaiton? Laurence, 229 
 Hales [Haels,Haells], SirEdward, 
 18, 42, 162 
 Hales, William, 174 
 
 -pedigree, 18 
 
 Halfjoy, Edward, 177 
 Hall [Haule], George, 11 
 
 -George, 205 
 
 -Oliver, 177 
 
 Halle, Richard, 131 
 Haman, William, 125 
 Haman, see Hamon 
 
 Hamilton,-, 56 
 
 Hamman, Hammon, see Hamon 
 
 - Nicholas, 134 
 
 -Thomas, of Lidsing, 164,166 
 
 Hammerdine,seeHummerdine,70 
 
 Hamon, Hammon, Edmund, 63 
 Hamon, Henry, 142 
 
 -Thomas, 134 
 
 -Thomas, of Hoath, 135 
 
 -William, 142 
 
 Hamper ? Jo. 232 
 
 Hansonn ? Jo. 238 
 
 Harbert, see Herbert 
 
 Harden, William, 131 
 
 Hardume ? Thomas, 63 
 
 Harenden, John, 103 
 
 Harley, Sir Robert, 80, 81, 87, 
 
 98 
 
 Harman, James, 177 
 
 -Walter, 128, 130 
 
 Harnett, Edward, 105 
 Harp, Abraham, 171 
 Harrington, Thomas, 63 
 Harris, James, 151 
 - John, 205 
 
 Harrison, or Harryson, Henry, 
 
 188 
 
 -John, 62 
 
 -William, 174 
 
 Harry, 43, 44 
 Hart, Henry, 62 
 
 -Mr. 139 
 
 Hasselby, William, 189 
 Hartnupp, William, 128, 130 
 Hartredge, John, 145 
 Harwod, Cockrpll, 62 ' 
 
 Haselrig, Sir Arthur, xxxviii. 98 
 Hawkins, Richard, 65 
 Hayard, Edward, 202 
 Hay man, Sir Peter, 91, 111 
 
 - see Heyman 
 
 Hayward, see Heywood 
 Haywood, Dr. 94 
 Hearne, 136 
 
 Hearnden, see Harenden 
 Hearst, Edward, 196 
 Heath, Robert, 119 
 
 -Sir Robert, 126, 129 
 
 Hedgaul ? William, 62 
 Heneage pedigree, 17 
 Henly, Aminadab, 233 
 Henman, Reynold, 202 
 
 -Weter, 202 
 
 Henshaw, Edmund, 121 
 Herbert [Harbert], John, 219 
 Heringham, Thomas, 62 
 Herman, see Harman 
 Hewett, Hendere, 177 
 Hewson, John, 202 
 
 Heycockes, William, 96 
 Heyman [Hayman],Sir Henry, 
 
 65 
 
 Heyman, Mr 96, 99 
 Heyward, Jeremy, 189 
 
 - [Hayward], William, 240 
 
 Hickson, Bennet, 63 
 Hicksted, Steven, 131 
 Higenson, Thomas, 156 
 Higginson, Thomas, 220, 236 
 Highestedd, Richard, 232 
 Hil, see Hills 
 Hill, Mr. 99 
 Hilles, William, 175 bis 
 
 -Hercules, 175 
 
 Hills, Ed. 170 
 
 -John, Otford or Shoreham, 
 
 128 
 
 -John, of Stourmouth, 198 
 
 -Robert, 130 
 
 -[Hil], Thomas, 152 
 
 Hincksell, John, 116 
 
 Hinxhill, 173 
 
 Hippisley, Sir John, xxxiv. 
 
 Hoarase(?) James, 188 
 
 Hoarde, Thomas, 200 
 
 Hoath [Hoth], near Reculver, 
 
 133, 135, 136, 138, 139 
 Hobdaye, Stephen, 234 
 Hobs, Ralph, 169 
 
 -Thomas, 169 
 
 Hodgman, Nicholas, 189 
 Hodgson, Edward, 27 
 Hogben, Edmund, 240 
 
 -John, 205 
 
 -Thomas, 198 
 
 Hogbin, William, 191 
 IToldich pedigree, 14 
 Holdsworth, Dr., account of, 
 
 52 and n 
 
 Hollans, John, 130 
 Hollingbourne, 170 
 Holborne, Richard, 228 
 Holloway, James, 169 
 
 -Thomas, 202 
 
 Holmden, Martyn, 213 
 Homden, Thomas, 122 
 Honywood, Sir Robert, 151 
 Hoo, St. Mary’s, 160, 169 
 Hooke, John, 233 
 Hooker, John, 196 
 
 - Nicholas, 134 
 
 Hopper, Daniel, 233 
 -Daniel, the elder, 232 
 
INDEX. 
 
 247 
 
 Hopper, Thomas, 116 
 Hopton, Mr. John, 101 
 Hornsey, James, 187 
 Horsmonden, 142, 145, 182, 
 
 183 
 
 Horton near Dartford, 118 
 Horton Kirby, 224 
 Houlting(?) Thomas, 233 
 Howord, Thomas, 213 
 Howsin, Edward, 178 
 Howten, John, 177 
 Hubbard, George, 169 
 Hubbert, William, 97 
 Hucking, 195 
 Huckstepp, Thomas, 232 
 Hudsford, John, 171 
 Hudsford, alias Hutsford, Ma¬ 
 thew, 164, 167 
 
 -Ro. 171 
 
 Huet, Samuel, 122 
 Huffam, Henry, 106 
 
 -Thomas, 198 
 
 Hugessen, James, 17 n 
 
 -James, 18 
 
 -pedigree, 18 
 
 Hugesson, William, 141 
 Huggin, William, 175 
 Hugin, John, 132 
 Hukins, John, 190 
 Humfary, Humfray, see Hum¬ 
 phrey 
 
 Hummerdine, (? Hammerdine), 
 Robert, 106 
 
 Humphrey, George, 233 
 Humphrey, [Humfary,] John, 
 116 
 
 Hungerford, Sir Edward. 80, 81, 
 98 
 
 Hunscot, Joseph, 90 
 Hunt, James, 149 
 
 -Jo. 43 
 
 -Mr. 137 
 
 -Stephen, 177 
 
 Huntly, Mr. 198 
 Hutsford, see Hudsford 
 Hutson, Roger, 62 
 Hwet, John, 105 
 
 Iden, Thomas, 232 
 Idenden, Thomas, 188 
 Igelden, see Iggulden 
 Iggulden, Igldene, Thomas, 116 
 
 -Thomas, 233 
 
 -William, 63 
 
 Igldene, see Iggulden 
 Image of Christ, 94 
 Inice ? Thomas, 202 
 Inmith, Thomas, 234 
 Ireby, Sir Anthony, 80, 81, 98 
 Ireland, Primate of, see Usher 
 Isaack pedigree, 14 
 Ivychurch, 152, 153, 154 
 Jackson, Dr. 154, 190 
 Jacob, J. 62 
 Jacob, Richard, 63 
 J agger, James, 157 
 James, William, 62 
 Janing, Thomas, 188 
 Jaye? Timothy, 63 
 Jeffery, Martin, 205 
 Jekin, John, 173 
 Jemett, James, 125 
 Jenings, George, 146 
 Jenkin, Thomas, 105 
 
 -William, 234 
 
 Jephson, Mr. 80, 81,82, 98 
 Jesus, “Epistle of Jesus,” 87 
 Johnson, Michel, 153 
 
 -Sackvile, 156 
 
 Johnsonne, Zechariah, 162, 164, 
 166, 167 
 
 Johnston, Mr. 20 
 Jones, Benjamin, 177 
 
 -Guy, 228 
 
 Jones’s work on Hebrews, 89 
 
 Joodg? William, 198 
 
 Joy, William, 134, 135, 139 
 
 Judd, John, 133 
 
 Juell, William, 103 
 
 Justice, The Complete, 84, 85 
 
 Keame, Samuel, 113 
 Keent, John, 62 
 Keley, Jo., 205 
 Kempe, Edw., 23, 62 
 
 -Gregory, 202 
 
 - pedigree, 23 
 
 Kemsley, John, 167 
 
 -William, 162, 165, 167, 
 
 170, 192 
 
 Kennett, Henry, 234 
 Kent, elections for M.P., 1, 5-8, 
 16, 48, 119 
 
 -Petition against Episcopacy, 
 
 26, 27, 28 
 
 - Petition for the Reforma¬ 
 tion of the Liturgy, 60 
 Kenton, John, 62 
 
 Keth, Mr. 190 
 
 Keylocke, Anth. 63 
 
 Kilby, William, 169 
 
 King, Dr., Bishop of London, 86 
 
 - Dr., Dean of Rochester, son 
 
 of Dr. King Bishop of London, 
 86 
 
 -George, 162, 167, 168, 171 
 
 -John, of Little Chart, 114 
 
 -- John, of Smarden, 117 
 
 - Richard, 174 
 
 Kingsford, John, 157 
 Kingsley, William, 91 
 Kingston, Stephen, 177 
 Kinken, Henry, 117 
 Kirton, Eleazer, 62 
 Knatchbull, Mr. 2, 5, 6, 79, 80, 
 82, 86, 96, 98 
 Knell, Mr. 133, 135, 137 
 Knight, Richard, 62 
 Knowler, George, 177 
 
 -William, 177 
 
 Knowlles, James, 196 
 
 Lake, John, 213 
 
 -Richard, 213 
 
 -Robert, 122 
 
 Lamb, Thomas, 213 
 Lambe, Francis, 205 
 
 -John, 119 
 
 - Sir John, 92 
 
 Lambert, William, 142 
 Langley, Thomas, 88 
 Langly, Henry, 87 
 Lanricke, 56 
 
 Larance, John, 152, 165, 171 
 Laud, William, Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, 92, 93, 119, 139, 
 141, 165, 170, 179, 189, 190, 
 201,203 
 
 Lawrence, William, 229 
 Laysdowne, see Leysdown 
 Layton, Lower, 113 
 Leake, George, 142 
 Lee, Capt. 163 
 
 -- William, 119 
 
 Leeds and Bromfield, 145, 146 
 Legent, pedigree, 23 
 Legham, Andrew, 198 
 
 - John,198 
 
 Leonard, William, 62 
 Lesher ? John, 229 
 Leucock, Robert, 202 
 Leues, John, 125 
 
248 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Lewine, [? Sewine,] Alexander, 
 128 
 
 Leysdown, [Laysdown], in Shep- 
 pey,158, 159, 160 
 Lidging, see Lidsing 
 Lidham, John, 158, 159 
 Lidsing, [Lidging,] 160, 161, 165, 
 170 
 
 - [Lidging] and Bredhurst, 
 
 160, 165, 170 
 Liminge, [Lyminge,] 191 
 Lincoln, Bishop of, see Williams, 
 John 162 
 L’isle, Ni. 141 
 Littleboy, George, 66 
 Liturgy complained of as a com¬ 
 pilation from Romish Breviary, 
 &c. 34 
 
 -, Petition from Kent for Re¬ 
 formation of, 60 
 
 Loan, George, of Bredhurst, 168, 
 170 
 
 Loane, George, of Sevenoaks, 66 
 
 -John, 169 
 
 -Ralph, 66 
 
 Locker,-, 67 
 
 Loe, George, xviii. xxxii. 
 
 London, Bishop of, see Dr. King 
 London, Bishoprick of, 82 
 Lone, see Loan 
 
 Long, Moses, of Lidsing, 162, 
 171, 172 
 Longeporte, 190 
 Longley, Ri. 165 
 Longly, Richard, 117 
 Loome, John, of Dover, 62 
 - John, of Lidsing or Bred¬ 
 hurst, 171 
 Lorkin, James, 213 
 Louper? Joseph, 63 
 Lovell, Thomas,' 63 
 Lownes, Robert, 169 
 Lucas, Richard, 232 
 
 -Thomas, 122 
 
 Luke, Sir Oliver, 80, 98 
 Lull, George, 142 
 Lumley, Viscount, xxvi.-xxxi. 
 Lush, Christopher, 129 
 Lushe, Thomas, 128, 129 
 Luson, Abraham, 151 
 
 -Samuel, 151 
 
 Lutham, Francis, 63 
 Luther’s last divine discourses, 
 81, 83 
 
 Luther’s new piece, 84 
 Lydden, 179 
 Lyminge, see Liminge 
 
 Madison, Edward, xxxiii. 
 Maidstone, 11, 12, 202-205 
 
 - Mayor of, 205 
 
 Mainwaring, Sir Henry, xxvi. 
 Malin, Peter, 205 
 Malin, see Mallin 
 Mallin, Daniel, 128 
 Manige, see Manning 
 Manning [Manynge], Edward, 
 125 
 
 - [Manige], Jeremie, 125 
 
 - [Maning], Mathew, 125 
 
 -Tobie, 125 
 
 Mansell, Sir Robert, 15, 17 
 Mantle, Thomas, 63 
 Mantlle, Humphry, 62 
 Maplesden, George, 205 
 
 -George, junior, 205 
 
 -Mildmay, 205 
 
 Mapleden, Peter, of Fairfield, 131 
 Maplisden, Peter of Promhill, or 
 Midley, 156 
 Marden, 102, 103 
 Marsh, James, 228 
 
 -Peter, 190 
 
 -Richard, 146 
 
 Marshe, Francis of Dover, 62, 
 178, 179 
 
 - Francis of East Langdon, 
 
 64 
 
 - Robert, 64 
 
 -Thomas, jun. 64 
 
 -Thomas, sen. 64 
 
 Marshall, Robert, 205 
 
 -Samuel, 205 
 
 Martin, Peter, see Dr. Featley 
 Mary, Princess, Dr Vane ap¬ 
 pointed to attend on her dur- I 
 ing the visit of the Prince of I 
 Orange, 44 
 
 Masham, Sir William, 80, 81, 82, 
 96, 98 
 
 Mason, Robert, LL.D. 90 
 
 -Thomas, 62 
 
 Masten, Richard, 114 
 Master, Benjamin, 234 
 Masteres, Richard, ftf Stone, 213 
 Masters, Sir Edward, 111, 112 
 
 -Johns, 116 
 
 -Richard of Tenterden, 232 
 
 Masters, ..... 171 
 Mawle, Josias, 117 
 Maxsted, Ezekiel, 174 
 Maxted, Henry, 240 
 
 -Thomas, 177 
 
 May, Edward, 205 
 
 -George, 103 
 
 -Roger, 188 
 
 Maye, John, 198 
 Measday, Henry, 198 
 Medherst, Alice, 103 
 Meldrum, Sir John, 20 
 Melken, Gabriel, 199 
 Melloway, John, 153 
 Mercer, Daniel, 96 bis 
 
 -Joseph, 193 
 
 Mersham [Marsham], 157, 161 
 Michell, William, 165 
 Midley near Bromhill, 155, 
 156 
 
 Mildmay, Sir Henry, 79, 80 bis, 
 98 
 
 Miles, Thomas, 62 
 Milles, Nic. 205 
 Mills, Thomas, 165 
 Minster, Thanet, 104, 106, 109 
 Minster and Monckton, Thanet, 
 108 
 
 Mofor, Thomas, 117 
 Molash, 190 
 Momery, James, 177 
 Monckton [Mounckton,] Thanet, 
 104, 106, 108, 109 
 Mongeham, Little, 188, 189 
 Monins, Stephen, 62 
 Monyngs, cousin to Dr. Vane, 44 
 Monyns, Monins, pedigree, 44 
 Moore, Jo. 96, 98 
 
 -Mr. 80, 81, 82 
 
 -Richard, 96, 99 
 
 More, see Moore 
 
 - Richard, 86, 87 
 
 Moreton, Bp. 95 
 Morgan, Henry, 174 
 
 - John, 143, 144, 145 
 
 Morrell, Hugh, 63 
 Morris, John, of Dover, 62 
 
 --— of Hoath, 135 
 
 -Richard, 150 
 
 -Robert, 199 
 
 Mose, Peter, 198 
 Moseley, Henry, 89 
 Motley, William, 119 
 Mount, John, 177 
 
INDEX. 
 
 249 
 
 Mounteyn, Mr. 124 
 Mountsteeven, 177 
 Moyle, pedigree, 17 
 Muncke, Thomas, 117 
 Mungum, John, 117 
 Munn, Walter, 103 
 Munne? John, 63 
 Musgrave, William, 97 
 
 Napleton, Joseph, 160 
 Nash, Edward, 62 
 Natt, William, 171 
 Nayler, John, 240 
 Neale, Richard, 62 
 Neate, Stephen, 233 
 Neishe, David, 239 
 Nepuen ? Peter, 63 
 Neweman, see Newman 
 Newenham, James, 205 
 Newington, 190 
 Newman, Neweman, Dr. 101 
 
 -Edward, 106 
 
 -George, xvii. xix. xxiii. xxiv. 
 
 Nicholls, Nicols, Edward, 110, 
 112 
 
 - of Snargate, 198-201 
 
 Nicolls, Thomas, 84, 85 
 Nicols, Thomas, brother of Ed¬ 
 ward Nicols, 113 
 
 -, Nicolls, see Nicholls 
 
 Norborne, see Northborne 
 Norman, William, 159, 160 
 Norres, Thomas, 157 
 Northborne [Norborne] cum 
 Sholden,110 
 Norton, Anthony, 155 
 
 -Mrs. xxi.-xxxi. 
 
 -Robert. 199 
 
 Norwich, Bis’noprick of, 82 
 Norwood, Richard, 198 
 
 -Thomas, 177 
 
 Nothinghame, John, 213 
 Nott, Edmund, 150 
 
 Odierne, Gregory, 146 
 Oliver, Dr. 94 
 Olliver, Robert, 128 
 Orange, Prince of, 44 
 Ore [Owre], 150, 151 
 Osberne, Thomas, 63 
 Osborn [Usburne], John, of Mar- 
 den, 103 
 
 Osborne, John, of Horsmonden, 
 183 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 Osborne, William, 64 
 Otford, 126, 127 
 
 -- and Shoreham, 125-129 
 
 Otham, 19 n 
 Otlainger? William, 63 
 Ovid’s Art of Love, 32 
 Owens, Thomas, 153 
 Ower? [?Owen], Boys, 105 
 Owre, see Ore 
 
 Packingham, Edmund, 174 
 Packmane, Robert, 196 
 Pacy, William, 134 
 Padlesworth [Parlsford], 191 
 Page, George, 165 
 Paine, John, 162, 173 
 Palmer, Sir Roger, 80, 81, 98 
 Paltock, Thomas, 213 
 Paramor, Henry, 107 
 Parker, George, 169 
 Parkes, Nicholas, 103 
 Parker’s Ballads, 32 
 Parliament, The, special refer¬ 
 ences to, 1, 4, 32, 46, 47, 68, 
 and passim 
 
 Parson’s Bank, in Stone, 217 
 Parlsford, see Padleworth 
 Partredge, William, 125 
 Partridg, Roger, 63 
 Pattenson, Richard, 63 
 Pattisson, Jeremie, 63 
 Paul’s Cray, 92, 93 
 Pawker? Richard, 63 
 —-— Thomas, 62 
 
 -William, 62 
 
 Payne, John, 63 
 
 -Thomas, 82, 83 
 
 Peake, Dr. 229 
 
 -Robert, 86 
 
 Pearch, Thomas, 130 
 Peartch, George, 125 
 Peckham, East, 132 
 Pecknam, James, 164, 165, 171 
 
 -Wi. 171 
 
 Pelham, Mr. 98 
 Peere, Ben. 240 
 Peirce, George, 199 
 
 -[Pierse], Nicholas, 174 
 
 Peirse, Edw. 205 
 Pemberton, Mr. 92, 94, 96, 97, 
 98 
 
 Pemble, Walter, 114 
 Pen, Ralf, 63 
 Penhurst, George, 148 
 2 Iv 
 
 Pennell, see Penniall 
 Penniall [Peniall], Robert, 164, 
 166, 171 
 
 Penniall [Pennell], Thomas, 188 
 Penny, Roger, 198 
 Pepper, John, 178 
 
 -John, the elder, 178 
 
 - Luke, 62 
 
 -Thomas, 62 
 
 - W. 62 
 
 Percevall, Anthony, captain of 
 ArchclifFe Fort, 23, 62 
 Percevall, pedigree, 23 
 
 Pereivall,-, 79 
 
 Perone,? Thomas, 130 
 Perren, William, 143, 144 
 Perritt, David, I 28 
 Perrott, John, 62 
 Person, Ralph, 151 
 Petit, William, 66 
 Petitions against Clergy, 101 -240 
 Pett, Joseph, 228 
 
 -Robert, 117 
 
 Petter, Richard, 116 
 Petty, Robert, 128, 129 
 Peyton, Sir Thomas, 111 
 Philips, Robert, 205 
 
 -Thomas, 95 
 
 Phillips, Richard, 63 
 Phillpot, Peter, 233 
 Phillpott, John, 189 
 Philpott [Filpott], Hercules, 174 
 Philpot, Thomas, 142 
 Phipps, John, 1 19 
 Picard, see Pickard 
 Pickard, Daniel, 101 
 
 -John, 104, 108 
 
 Pickering, Sir Gilbert, 79, 98 
 Pinekeman [Piinkeman], Alex 
 ander, 196 
 Pitman, Jo. 20 
 Player, John, 15 
 Playfer, William, 232 
 Plumer, Solomon, 135 
 Plummer, William, 232 • 
 
 Pocklington, Dr. 83, 95 
 Polhill, David, 128, 129 
 
 - Edward, 130 
 
 - John, 128, 129 
 
 Pollard, -74 
 
 Polling, Sussex, 85 
 Ponde, Jo. 170 
 Poole, William, 63 
 Poost, George, 116 
 
250 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Porten, Dan. 62 
 Posier, Nath. 233 
 Post, Thomas, 103 
 Poten [Yotes?], Henry, 157 
 Potterell, Christopher, 169 
 Pottes, Mr. 99 
 Pownoll, Robert, 179 
 Powser, Thomas, 130 
 Prescott, Ed. 178 
 
 --John, 178 
 
 Preston, George, 239 
 Price, Father, 86 
 
 -Richard, 152 
 
 -Richard, junior, 151 
 
 Prideaux, Mr., 99 
 Pringle, Jo., 62 
 Privy Councillors, 6 
 Promhill and Midley, 155, 156 
 Proude, Richard, 175 
 
 ■-Thomas, 198 
 
 Pulley, Mr., 48 
 
 Purefoy, Mr. xxx. 80, 81 bis, 82, 
 96, 98 
 
 Pym-, 68 
 
 Rabson, Richard, 237 
 Radford, Robert, 157 
 Radgant?’ William, 63 
 Raines, John, 169 
 Ranger, Edward, 24, 62 
 Ratliff, John, 177 
 Rath, John, 177 
 Raven, Dr. xv. xvi. xviii. 
 Rawlines, Giles, 63 
 Raworth, Fra. 62, 180 
 Rayner, Ralf, 202 
 
 -William, 199 
 
 Razell, Daniel, 55 
 Reade, John, 232 
 
 -William, 234 
 
 Readeare, Robert, 196 
 Reading, John, 57, 58 n., 62 
 Reculver, 133, 135, 136, 137 
 Recusants, Kentish, List of, 65 
 Reder, Thomas, 157 
 Reete, Mych, 232 
 
 -Ric. 232 
 
 Reeve, Edward, 129 
 Reeve [Reeus], Catechism, 87 
 Reginalds, F. ? 229 
 Registers, 82 
 
 Religion, Committee of, List of, 
 79 
 
 Remington, Robert, of Capel, 149 
 
 Remington, Robert, of Goud- 
 hurst, 143, 144 
 Remnant, John, 157 
 Renells, Edward, 196 
 Rennaulds wood, 172 
 Richison, John, 117 
 Richman, Dr. 190 
 Rigden, William, 174 
 River, Vicarage of, 179 
 Rives, T. Dr. 166—170 
 Rcbarts, see Roberts 
 Robens, Thomas, 146 
 Roberdes, see Roberts 
 Roberts, Roberdes, Artor, 237 
 
 -- [Robarts], Henry, 188 
 
 -John, 191 
 
 -Nicholas, 62 
 
 Robine, James, 156 
 Robisone, William, 196 
 Robson, Richard, 25 
 Rochester, Bishop of, 92 
 
 -Dean of, Dr. King, son of 
 
 Dr. King, Bishop of London, 
 86 
 
 Rogers and Sampson, 112 
 
 -John, 55, 128, 130 
 
 -Thomas, 119 
 
 -William, 128 
 
 Roiston, John, 168, 171 
 Rokinge, see Rucking 
 Rolfe, Henry, 234 
 
 -John,63 
 
 Rolles, Mr. 99 
 Rolvenden, 236 
 Romee, Mons. 86 
 Romney Marsh, 200 
 Roos, Mr. 96, 99 
 Rootes, John, 169 
 Roper, Anthony, 66 
 
 -Sir Anthony, 66 
 
 -Henry, 66 
 
 Rose, James, 134- 
 
 - Stephen, 177 
 
 -Thomas, 134 
 
 Rosse, John, 150 
 
 -Thomas, 85, 86 
 
 Rothwell, Jo. 84, 94, 95 
 Round, John, 128 
 Rouse, Mr. 98 
 Routh, Sir John, 175 
 Rownd, Thomas, 119 
 Rowne, John, 129 
 Roydon, pedigree, 3 
 Ruckinge, 54, 146 
 
 Rudder, Thomas, 62 
 Rudyer, Sir Benjamin, 39 
 Rugg, John, 169 
 Rumneye, Henry, 125 
 Ruse, James, 205 
 Ruthen, Lord, 80, 82, 98 
 Rutting, Robert, 114 
 Ryves, Dr. 92 
 
 Sabbath, The, Dr. Bray’s view 
 of, 83 
 
 St. Maries Hoo, see Hoo 
 St. Martin’s Lane, 120 
 St. Mary Cray, 124, 125 
 St. Nicholas, Thanet, 136 
 St. Olave’s, Old Jewry, xiv. xviii. 
 xix. 
 
 Sampson and Rogers, 112 
 Samson, Isaac, 142 
 
 -John, 142 
 
 Sancta Clara’s book, 95 
 Sander ? John,233 
 Sandforde, John, 154 
 Sandwell, Jeffery, 107 
 Sariman ? Isaac, 114 
 Saunders, Fran. 107 
 Saweyer, Thomas, 198 
 Saxbey, Richard, 119 
 Saxby, John, 146 
 Say, Lord, 72 
 Sayer, David, 142 
 Scot, John, 178 
 Scotchford, John, 178, 233 
 Scotney Castle, 77 
 Scots, the prayer against, 91 
 
 -railed against in the pulpit, 
 
 149 
 
 Scriven, Ric. 232 
 
 Scudder, Henry, 219, 224 
 
 Seale, Edw’ard, 189 
 
 Searle, Mr. 96, 99 
 
 Seath, Richard, 232 
 
 Sedgeweek, John, 91 
 
 Sedley pedigree, 14 
 
 Sedley [Sydley], Sir John, 11; 
 
 letter of, 12 
 Seger, Nicholas, 205 
 Selherst, Thomas, 232 
 Sevenoaks [Seavenock], 184 
 Sewin [? Lewin], Alexander, 129 
 Sharke, John, 130 
 Sharpe, Henry. 117 
 Shawsled Swan ? 168 
 Sheafe, Richard, 237,238, 239 
 
INDEX. 
 
 251 
 
 Sheers, The, sign of, near the 
 Abbey Gate, Westminster, 201 
 Sheldon, Dr. 101 
 Sherman, Abraham, 97 
 
 Sherwood,-, 47 
 
 Shingley, alias Chingley, 76 
 Sholden, a chapel of ease to 
 Northborne, 110 
 Shoreham, 125, 126, 127 
 Short, Jo. 228 
 Shorte, Peter, 233 
 
 -Sa. 232 
 
 -Thomas, 232 
 
 Shuttleworth, Mr. 96, 99 
 Sibbes, Dr. 85 
 Silver business, 56 
 Silver Trumpet, see Trumpet 
 Simcotte, John, 122 
 Simons, Thomas, 233 
 Simpsonne, John, 202 
 Sinnock, William, 134 
 Skeffington, Sir John, xvii. 
 
 -Sir Richard, xlviii.; letter 
 
 of, xlix. 
 
 Skippon, Serjeant-Major, 68 n 
 Skynner, Ja., 62 
 Slade, Godfrey, 152 
 Sladden, John, 142 
 
 -Richard, 141 
 
 Smale, Edward, 128 
 Smarden, 114, 115 
 Smarte, Thomas, 119 
 Smeede, Roger, 174 
 Smith, Giles, 62 
 
 - Jo. Tenterden, 1641, 232 
 
 -John, of Dartford, 119 
 
 - [Smyth] , John, of Rucking, 
 
 54 
 
 -John, of Sutton next Dover, 
 
 189 
 
 - [Smyght], Joseph, 117 
 
 -Smith, Reinald, 174 
 
 -Samuel, 174, 175 
 
 -Thomas, 156 
 
 -William, 64 
 
 Smyght, see Smith 
 Smyth, see Smith 
 Snargate, 198-201 
 Snave, 187, 200 
 Snelling, Mr. 91, 92,93 
 Solmes, Richard, 142 
 Somner, Mr., 91 
 
 - [Sumner], Mr. 138 
 
 Sondes, Sir George, 2, 6 
 
 Sone, George, 130 
 Southease, Sussex,'183 
 Sparkes, Michael, 85 
 Spencer, John, junior, 175 
 
 - John, senior, 175 
 
 -Mr. [of Orpington], 11, 17 
 
 Spenett? Sa? 130 
 Spisser, John, 191 
 Sports, Book of. 21 
 Spratt, Simon, 150 
 Spurling ? Edward, 125 
 Spurston, Mr. 99 
 Squerries, in Westerham, 8, 9 
 Stace Freeg . . ., 232 
 
 -George, 129 
 
 Stamp, William, 87 
 Stancombe, George, 180 
 Stanford, 191 
 Stanton, Dr. 91 
 Starke, John, 125 
 Startout, John, 205 
 Startup, John, 146 
 Stauk? John,188 
 Staynes, Richard, 135 
 Stear, Thomas, 103 
 Stears [? Steas], Richard, 106 
 Steveins, Tresham, 62 
 Stevens [Stephens], John, 103 
 
 - [Steevens], John, 202 
 
 - alias Stephens, Philemon, 
 
 86, 37 
 
 - William, 103 
 
 Steevens, William, 125 
 Steward, -, xviii. xix. xx. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Stiche, -, 66 
 
 Stileman, Henry, 128, 130 
 
 -John, 128, 129 
 
 Stiles, James, 234 
 Stilling, John, 202 
 Stoke, Thomas, 62 
 Stokes, William, senior, 189 
 
 -William, junior, 189 
 
 Stoles, Henry, 189 
 
 Stollton, Thomas, 205 
 
 Stonard, Ro., 165 
 
 Stone, near Dartford, 118, 206, 
 
 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 
 
 217, 218 
 
 - Castle, 207 223 
 
 Stourmouth, 196 
 Stratfeld, William, 62 
 Streating, John, 152, 154, 199,200 
 Stretton, William, 232 
 
 Stretton, William, junior, 233, 
 Strode, George, 7, 8, 17 
 Stroude, George, see Strode 
 Stubber, William, 169 
 Studley, Mr. 87 
 Sturry, 185 
 Summers, Richard, 63 
 Sumner, see Somner 
 Sunday. no Sabbath, see Fock- 
 lington, Dr. 
 
 Sunday as the Sabbath, Dr. 
 
 Bray’s view of it, 83 
 Surrenden collection of MSS. iii. 
 Sutton, next Dovor, and Little 
 Mongeham, 1U8, 188-189 
 Sutton, George, 165, 171 
 Sutton Valence, 121 
 Sutwicke, John, 205 
 Swane, Ned, 11 
 Swanten, Richard, 233 
 Swinnock, George, 19 n 
 Swinoke [Swynocke], John, 157, 
 161, 170 
 
 Swinocke, Robert, 205 
 Swinnocke, Thomas, 205 
 Swinock, Thomas, jun. 205 bis 
 Swyft, Henry, 114 
 —— James, 122 
 Swynocke, see Swinoke 
 Sydley, see Sedly 
 Symons, Thomas, 213 
 
 Tailor, see Taylor 
 Tarpe, John, 117 
 Tate, Mr. 84 
 Taylor, Francis, 147 
 
 - [Tailor], Nicholas, 117 
 
 -Ri. 63 
 
 -Thomas, 205, 232 
 
 -William, 153 
 
 Teddeman, Thomas, 62 
 
 -Thos. 180 
 
 - see Teddiman 
 
 Teddiman, Henry, 62 
 
 - [Tiddyman], Henry, 234 
 
 Teeler, Thomas, 174 
 Temple, Sir Peter, xx. xxvi. 
 Tench, Thomas, 23 
 Tenterden, 229 
 Terrie, see Terry 
 Terry, Abel, 106 
 
 -[Tery], Henry, 106 
 
 -John, 114 
 
 -Michael, 188 
 
252 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Terry [Terrie], Thomas, 150 
 Tery, see Terry 
 Thomas, Samuel, 152 
 
 -Stephen, 190 
 
 Thorne, William, 4 
 Thurbarne, Peter, 153 
 
 • -Robert, 153 
 
 Thurston, Jo. 103 
 Tiddyman, see Teddiman 
 Tilden, George, 233 
 
 -Thomas, 233 
 
 Tomson, William, 95 
 Tourner, John, 199 
 Tourney, Thomas, 147 
 Tower of London, Lt. of, 68 
 T.(R.), Letter of, to Sir Edward 
 
 Dering, 70 
 
 Tray, Richard, 39, 160, 161, 162, 
 163, 173 
 
 - Richard, son of the pre¬ 
 ceding, 164 
 
 Trenchfield, Thomas, 125 
 Trumper, George, 169 
 Trumpet, Silver, i.e. Sir Benjamin 
 Rudyer, 39 
 
 Tudely and Cape], 148 
 Tufton, Sir Humphrey, 162 
 Tufton, family of, 46-57 
 Tunbridge, petition of, to the 
 House of Commons, 192, 193 
 Turke, George, 62 
 Turner, Jacob, 116 
 -[TornerJ, John, 116 
 
 • - Thomas, 66 
 
 -William, 63 
 
 Turnor, Thomas, 117 
 Turrier, Robert, 117 
 Twisenden, see Twysden 
 Twyman, John, 106 
 Twysden, Sir Reger, sat for Win- 
 
 chelsea in the Parliament of 
 1625, 1, 2, 3, 5, 15 
 
 -Thomas, 4 
 
 -pedigree, 2, 3, 17, 43, 44 
 
 Tyndall, Thomas, 122 
 
 Uffington, Thomas, 240 
 Ulcombe, 142 
 Upton, Abraham, 62 
 
 -Mr. 80, 98 
 
 Usborne, Robert, 205 
 Usher, John, 122 
 
 Vahan, Thomas, 226 
 
 Vane,Dr.ministerofCrayford,l 17 
 
 - Dr. brother of Sir Henry 
 
 Vane, 44 
 
 -Sir Henry, Treasurer of the 
 
 Household, 2, 4, 5, 6, 13, 48 
 
 j -Sir Henry, the younger, 13 
 
 -pedigree, 2 
 
 Vaughan, see Vahan 
 Veroll, Samuel, 205 
 Vicars, John, 84 
 
 - Mr. 85 bis, 86, 87, 92, 93, 
 
 94 bis, 95 
 
 -and Wykes, 95 
 
 Vigas, John, 202 
 Villes, Richard (? Willes), 116 
 Vinitar, Robert, 62 
 Vinkell ? John, 228 
 
 Waad, Gilbert, 63 
 
 • -William, 62 
 
 Wade, Mr. 92 
 Waldegrave, William, 62 
 Wale, John, 205 
 Walker, Samuel, 128, 130 
 Wall, Nicholas, 205 
 Wallis, Edward, 148 
 Wallop, John, 63 
 
 • - Philip, 198 
 
 Walmer, 141 
 Walsall, Dr. 101 
 Walsingham, Sir Thomas, 2, 6 
 Walten, Walter, 122 
 Walter, John, senior, 103 
 
 ■-junior, 103 
 
 -Thomas, 205 
 
 Walton, Isaak, xxii. xxv.-xxx. 
 
 • -Mr. 99 
 
 Waltham, Kent, 239 
 Ward, Bennett, widow, 147 
 - Mr. 82, 83 
 
 Ware, John, 118, 206, 211, 213 
 Warner, Dr. 154 
 Wassail, Ric., 205 
 Waterman [Watearman], John, 
 228 
 
 Watearman, v. Waterman 
 Water, John, 63 
 
 -Thomas, 63 
 
 Wateringbury, 132 
 Waters, John, 233 
 Wats, see Wattes 
 Watson, John, 142 
 Wattell, Alexander, 146 
 Wattes [Wats], Anthony, 117 
 
 Wattes, Edward, 55 
 
 - Gregory, 146 
 
 - [Watts], Robert, 119, 236 
 
 Weare, Zaccheus, 219, 220 
 Weary, Robert, 130 
 Webb, Edward, 169 
 
 -Thomas, 97 
 
 Webbe, Barnaby, 63 
 
 - Francis, 63 
 
 -George, 63 
 
 Weckenden? Robert, 62 
 Weecks, James, 117 
 Weekes, John, 168 
 Wekes, Robert, 117 
 Weldon, Sir Anthony, letter of, 
 48 
 
 Wellar, Anthony, 233 
 Weller, Alexander, 239 
 Wells, Robert, 105 
 Wentworth, Capt. Thomas, xxxv. 
 
 --Thomas, Earl of Strafford, 
 
 42, 46, 47 
 West, Geo., 62 
 
 Westminster, sign of The Sheers 
 near the Abbey gate, 201 
 Weston, Richard, 165, 171 
 Wheatnall, see Whetenhall 
 Wheeler, Mr. 82 
 
 Whetenhall [Wheatnall], Ed¬ 
 ward, 202 
 
 -Gregory, 198 
 
 - Henry, 66 
 
 Whetnall, Robert, 135 
 White, Edward, 63 
 
 -George, 240 
 
 - [Whitt], John, 62 
 
 -John,62 
 
 ■-Mr. a minister, 86 
 
 -Robert, 240 
 
 -- Roger, 62 
 
 Whitinge, Mathew, 54 
 Whitstaple, 201, 202 
 Whitt, see White 
 Whitting, Richard, 177 
 Wiburne, George, 12"5 
 Wickenden, Robert, 63 
 Wickham, William, 116 
 Wide, James, 233 
 Widon, Clement, 232 
 Wiellcock, Samuel, 232 
 Wightman, Henry, 205 
 
 -Thomas, 205 
 
 Wigsill, Nicholas, 128 
 Wilbor, Edward, 106 
 
INDEX. 
 
 253 
 
 Wilckes, Robert, 134 
 Wilcocks, Mr., 145, 163 
 Wilkes, Jeremy, 189 
 Wilkinson, Henry, 82, 84,87, 88 
 
 -Thomas, 198 
 
 Willard, Ri. 165 
 Wilier, Jacob, 62 
 Willerd, Stephen, 166, 171 
 Willes, Robert, 233 
 Williams, John, 63 
 
 -Thomas, 103, 228 
 
 Willington, Thomas, 142 
 Willmot, Ashburnham and Pol¬ 
 lard, 74 
 
 -Thomas, 146 
 
 Willor [? Willad, Wilbor], Isaac, 
 165 
 
 Willson, Henry, 189 
 
 -John, 239 
 
 -Thomas, 189 
 
 -- [Wilson], Mr. 203 
 
 Wilson, Thomas, 19, 38, 39 
 Wilmot, see Willmot 
 Wilmot, Jo. 205 
 Wim . .. . ? Thomas, 62 
 Win, Andrew, 152 
 Winchelsea, 4 
 -Earls of, pedigree, 17 
 
 Winchelsea, Robert, Archbishop 
 of Canterbury, 136 
 Windebank, Sir Francis, Secre¬ 
 tary of State, 86 
 Winsor, Bartholomew, 62 
 Winter, Thomas, 116 
 W'itherden, John, 232 
 Withinbrooke, Robert, 205 
 Wittersham, 147 
 Wolball, Robert, 232 
 Women, the Parliament of, 32 
 Wood, Dr. Basil, 91, 92, 93, 94, 
 96, 97, 98, 208, 214, 216, 218, 
 219 
 
 —— Elias, 173 
 
 - Griffith, 102 
 
 - John,233 
 
 - Richard, 23 
 
 - Robert, 63 
 
 -Thomas, 149 
 
 -William, 122 
 
 Woodchurch, 122 
 Woode, George, 229 ^ 
 
 Woollett, Michael, 168, 171, 172 
 Word, James, 198 
 Worrall, Francis, 132 
 Worthington, Edward, 62 
 Wotton, Sir Henry, xxx. 
 
 Wotton, John, 105 
 Wray, Sir John, 80, 81 bis, 98 
 Wren, Bishop, 92 
 Wright, John, 228 
 
 -Thomas, 189 
 
 Wroth, Margaret Lady, xxv. 20, 
 46 
 
 - Sir Peter, 79, 98 
 
 Wyborne, Benjamin, 66 
 
 -Roger, 198 
 
 Wyatt, pedigree, 23 
 Wye, 190 
 
 Wykes, Dr. and Dr. Baker, 84 
 
 -Dr. Thomas, 83-87, 94 
 
 Wyles, Sir John, 156 
 Wymond, Paul, 62 
 Wythering,-, 24 
 
 Yalding, 146, 147 
 Younge? John, 62 
 
 Yong.85 
 
 -Robert, 86 
 
 Young, Edward, F88 
 Younge, John, 182 
 
 -- Luke, 232 
 
 Yrige ? Thomas, 146 
 
 Zouch, Lord, 57 n 
 
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