Visitations of the Archdeacon of Canterbury

ARCHDEACON OE CANTERBURY. 215 parishioners of Seasalter, and especially for that he on Monday last in Easter week, in the Church of Seasalter, after Divine Service, to the offence of his neighbours, reviled one Bartholomew Morris, being churchwarden, and others also, calling him rogue. (Pol. 100.) Vol. 1601—6. That the glass is broken in some places of our chancel, but it shall shortly be repaired again, and all other things about our Church and chancel is sufficiently kept and maintained. (Pol. 25.) Vol. 1606—10. 1614. Thomas Clinton of Seasalter, for that he went to plough on St. Matthias Day last, being holyday, in the time of Divine Service, and all other most part of the said day, as the common fame is in our parish. (Pol. 137.) William Long, for suffering his cattle, horse beasts, or other cattle, and one of his servants to work and labour in the fields of the said parish upon St. Matthias day last past in the time of Divine Service, and all or the most part of the said day, as the common fame is in our parish. (Pol. 138.) Thomas Beale of Seasalter, for causing a child or infant of his to be baptised in the Parish Church of Whitstable, contemning or neglecting his own Parish Church of Seasalter. On the fourth day of April he appeared in Court and confessed: That he, the said Thomas Beale, had a child christened in the Parish Church of Whitstable, but that was upon this occasion, viz., for that the same Sunday the minister of Seasalter did say service at Whitstable, and he dwelleth nearer Whitstable Church than he doth to Seasalter, and not in contempt or neglect of his own Parish Church, as is detected.* (Pol. 138.) Nicholas Porte and his wife, for seating of himself and his wife in the uppermost seat of the Church without consent of the churchwardens or leave of the Ordinary. On the twentieth day of January 1615 Porte appeared in the Court and said: That he and his wife have seated themselves in a seat belonging to the house where he now dwelleth, and that he and his wife some twelve years agone or thereabout, when as * Edward Goniston, Vicar 1611—1661, also of Whitstable 1611—1637. He died in 1661. On 7 August 1636 information was apparently sent privately to Arohbishop Laud of the scandalous lives of thirteen clergymen beneficed in or near Canterbury, the most common offence being tavern-haunting and drunkenness, and on the list is Rev. Gonistone, Vicar of Seasalter and Curate of Whitstable.—Cal. of State Papers, 1636-7, p. 89.