The Records of the Courts of the Archdeaconry and Consistory of Canterbury

( 89 ) THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS OF THE ARCHDEACONRY AND CONSISTORY OF CANTERBURY. • BY C. EVELEIGH WOODRUFF, M.A. THE recent transference (1928) of the greater part of the records1 of the Archdeaconry and Consistory Courts from the chamber over the Christ Church gateway to the Library of the Dean and Chapter seems to offer a suitable opportunity of publishing some account of the collection with a rough inventory indicating the various classes into which the documents have now been sorted and the kind of information they contain. The Visitation-books which begin in 1499 constitute by far the most important part of the collection. The entries in these and in the other Court books were made in Latin down to the year 1732 when English takes the place of Latin. In an Appendix I have printed in full a few misceUaneous documents amongst the stray papers which seemed to be of especial interest. The earliest of these is a Bull of Pope Julius I I , dated 4 Nov., 1507, granting certain privileges to Roger Darley, rector of the church of St. James in Dover, " otherwise caUed the chapel of Rutbye." The leaden bulla has gone, but the slits for the tags by which it was once attached show that this is the original document and not a copy. Leland, in his Itinerary [Pt. vii. p. 128] writing of Dover says " The town is divided into VI parishes, whereof III be under the rofe of St. Marteyn's in the heart of the town. The other three stand abroad of the which one is called St. James of Rudby, or more lUse, Rodeby a statione navium." 1 The Transcripts of the Parish Registers and Tithe Maps are still over the gateway and. in the keeping of the Deputy Registrar of the Diocese. 90 THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. The two letters relating to the distribution of the revised Prayer Book in 1662 [Appendix B and C] possess a certain interest at the present time, though possibly a melancholy one to those who hoped to witness the distribution of another Revised Prayer Book. The letter from King Charles II to Archbishop Sheldon [Appendix D] asking for a loan from the clergy, for the purpose of raising troop to repel a possible invasion of the country is dated 21 June, 1667—three weeks later the Dutch fleet saUed up the Medway and burnt several of the King's ships lying off Chatham. On receipt of the letter the Archbishop wrote to his Commissary at Canterbury bidding him bring the matter of the loan before the clergy of the diocese, " especiaUy the dignified and richer sort." INVENTORY. ABOHDEAOON'S COTOT. Act Books. 1639, 1640 and 1743 to 1758. Account Book of the Receiver for the Archdeacon, 1505-1517. Assessment Books. 1. Deal, for repairing the Church and rebuUding the steeple. 1686. 2. Charlton by Dover 1706-1735. 3. Thurnham, from 1668 (in very bad condition). 4. Churchwarden's Accounts, 1668-1715 (in bad condition). Formula, Precedents & Notes of Legal proceedings. Mandates to Induct Bishops, 19th cent. .Fees and Salaries of Officials & returns made to the Secretary of State between 1846 & 1851. Papers in suits, 16th and 17th cents., (a large collection but without index). Proceedings before Surrogates, 1670 and 1686. Procuration Books 1603-1625 and 19th cent. * * * # * THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. 91 Bull (Papal) of Julius I I granting privileges to the Church of St. James, Dover, alias capella de Rutbye. (See Appendix A.) Certificate of Character, for persons who were desirous of obtaining a hcence for exercising the office of Apothecary, Surgeon, Schoolmaster, Midwife,or Parish Clerk. (Many of these certificates are very quaintly worded, for specimens see Appendix. I have made a hst of these certificates arranged alphabeticaUy under parishes.) Chapels, Non-Conformist, which were certified in the Consistory Court in the years 1838 and 1844. Registered, for Marriages, 1843-4. Churchwarden's Declarations 1836-1851. Church Goods, see Inventories. Consecration. Forms of Prayer for consecrating Churches and Churchyards 1852. Confirmations. Notices of, sent to parishes, 1758. Citations issued to the Clergy of the Deaneries of Canterbury, Charing, Sandwich and Lympne. Names given, late 17th & 18th cents. Consistory Court. Proceedings 1695-1702. Fee-Book 1669 and 1758 to 1765. Convocation, Precepts & Elections 18th & 19th cents. Excommunication Books. 8 Vols, extending from 1597 to 1684 (a gap between 1641 and 1662). Also papers relating to the same 1675 to 1763. Faculties, and Petitions for Faculties. A Hst of these—arranged alphabeticaUy under parishes—has been made. The foUowing appear to be of especial interest: Canterbury St. Martins, 1764 for pulling down the rectory house " adjoining the churchyard which is ruinous and unfit for a minister to five in." • St. Mildred's for taking down the tower and selling 4 of the beUs, 1832. THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. Deal. PUot's GaUery in the Church. The PUots in 1709 claim exclusive right to the gaUery of the west end of the church on the ground that " some fifty years earlier " they had rebuilt the gallery after it had been destroyed by the fall of the steeple. Dover. St. Mary's. The Fellowship of Pilots in 1744 oppose the grant of a facultyfor enlarging a gallery in the church for the purpose of placing therein an organ, on the ground that the said gallery was built by the Fellowship in 1699. Further, the PUots allege that there are about 50 pilots Hving in the parish ; that they are oftentimes caUed out of church to go on board ships, and that U they be turned out of theh gaUery where they are accustomed to sit together, a PUot leaving the church might disturb the congregation, &c. Faversham. 1734. "For taking down the old tower or steeple at the east end of the nave of the church, the pillars which support the same, and the arches dependant thereupon and also aU the piers or pillars and arches of the nave, together with the roofs and flats of the said church and rebuilding the same according to a plan.'' The Mayor and Jurats to pay £500 towards the cost of the alterations. Godmersham. 1686. BeUs (4) to be recast. Hardres Little. 1830. New Church to be built by " Tillard bequest" of £2,000. Heme. 1672. Petition to sell 628 lbs. of beU metal. Kingsdown (by Sittingbourne). 1762. For pulling down the chancel of the N side of the Church, which is much out of repair. Maidstone. 1843. To remove the Reading Desk and Pulpit from the west end of the nave to the east end of nave. Murston. 1761. A beU to be sold for Church repahs. Paddlesworth (undated). Petition that the sum of £11 which had been raised for buying a new beU should be spent in buying a Communion Cup there being at present only one of pewter. THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. 93 Romney, New. 1718. For Pews in the south aisle and chancel for the wives of Common Councillors and Freemen. 1739. A paper stating that the Vicarage house is much out of repair, and that Mr. MascaU is willing to give £200 to build a new house. (With a ground plan.) Sandwich, St. Clement. 1682. The parishioners petition for an order to remove the Communion Table from the middle of the chancel to the east end, since in its present position " i t hath been much abused and turned to prophane uses." Swingfield. 1769. For selHng two bells towards the cost of ceiHng the Church. Sutton Valence. 1824. To pull down the Church and rebuild it. Walmer. 1809. To purchase land for the " Barrack services." • 1829. For enlarging the Church (with a coloured plan). Hospitals. 1666. Inquiry concerning. Inventories of Church Goods and Lists of Benefactions. A few were made in the year 1759, but most in 1813, 1824, 1825, 1826. (I have made a Hst of these arranged alphabeticaUy under parishes.) Also " Inventory of the Plate of the late Sh Henry Oxenden, Bart., deceased contained in a box standing in the Cathedral Church of Christ in Canterbury," in 1710. Inhibitions & Relaxations, 17th, 18th and 19th cents. Letter Books. First half of the 19th cent. Letters & Receipted BHls, 18th cent. (2 bundles). Licences, Marriage, and aUegations and bonds relating thereto. 16th, 17th and 18th cents. (Printed by J. M. Cowper down to the year 1750.) Memoranda relating to Marriage Licences 1724-1731. 94 THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. for Curacies, and Petitions for the same. 1683-1697 and early years of 18th cent. for Surgeons, Schoolmasters, &c, 1700-1726 and 1723 to 1764. Mandates to induct to benefices 18th cent (5 bundles). to induct Richard Bancroft as Abp of Canterbury. Miscellaneous. Amongst many others the foUowing appear worthy of mention: Deal, a plan showing the proposed new pewing of the church. 1618. A private Account-book kept by Simon D'Evereux, a minor canon of the Cathedral and rector of Harbledown. 1691-1730. Canterbury St. Andrews, a plan for new pews giving some description of the old church which was demoUshed in 1763. [See Appendix H.] Elham. 1724/5. A Communion Cup purchased weighing 13 oz. 9 dwt. at 7s. per oz.=£4 14s. Also a Salver weighing 9 oz. 8 dwt. 12 gr. at 6s. lOd. per oz.=£3 4s. Received for the old cup £2 7s. Faversham. 1689. A copy of the Town Droits agreed upon by the Mayor and Jurats in 1588. Monitions, relating to non-residence (chiefly 19th cent.); and to ex-communications (17th and 18th cents.). Oaths and Declarations. A parchment covered book contains the declaration of 99 clergymen and schoolmasters of conformity to the Hturgy of the Church of England, and of repudiation of the "Solemn League and Covenant." This was in the year 1662. In subsequent years the same declaration was made by the Clergy and Schoolmasters on theh appointment to office, down to the year 1689, when another form was substituted by Act of ParHament. taken and subscribed by Schoolmasters in 1714 and in many subsequent years (1) AUegiance to the King (2) Abjuration of the Pretender (3) Conformity to the Hturgy of the Church of England (4) Repudiation of Transubstantiation, (with signatures). THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. 95 Penances. 1665 to 1792. A specimen of a clerical penance, performed in 1667 by the vicar of Tonge is given in Appendix G. Petitions. 1663 to 1682, also one with the autograph signatures of the Archdeacon and the Clergy of the diocese, to the House of Lords in 1845. Presentments, 1700 to 1850, made by Churchwardens at Easter and Michaelmas. The earher returns contain interesting information, which often throws Hght on the condition of the fabric of a church and its furniture during the earher years of the eighteenth century ; but later the Churchwardens appear to have been suppHedwith forms on which, against every article of enquiry, the words " Nothing to present " were printed and to these the wardens too often merely appended their signatures. Precedent Books. 32 Volumes, 16th, 17th and 18th cents. Several of these books were transferred to the Chapter Ubrary from the District Probate Registry on the closing of that office in 1928. These books contain much interesting matter besides Precedents and Formulce. Proctors, appointment of 16th and 17th cents. Proceedings in the Commisary's Court 1634-6. in the King's Court of the Liberty of St. Augustine's, held at a house caUed the " Blackhorse," 1669-1684. before Surrogates 1715-1735. Procuration Books.1 1603-1625 and 19th cent. Sequestrations. 17th, 18th and early 19th cents. Testamentary. Papers relating to testamentary matters 17th 18th and 19th cents. (9 bundles.) • Acts of Court. First half of 18th cent. • Renunciations of administration by Exors. 1630-1639. 1 Procurations " are certain sums of money which parish priests pay yearly to the Bishop or Archdeacon ratione visitationis. They were anciently paid in necessary victuals for the visitor and his attendants, but afterwards turned into money." Cowell's Law Dictionary. 96 THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. Visitation Books. A long and important series, unfortunately many of the earUer books are in very bad condition and require repair and rebinding. The series (with certain gaps) extend from the year 1499 to 1901. The foUowing is a Hst of the earher books (Vol. 1) 1499. (2) 1501. (3) 1505 to 1508. (4) 1514 to 1516. (5) 1520 to 1523. (6) 1538 to 1541. (7) 1541, 1555, 1556. (8) 1559. (9) 1560, 1561. (10) 1562. (11) 1567-1572. (12) 1573. (13) 1576-79. (14) 1582-1590. Papers relating to Visitations 1822-1857. Articles of Inquiry at Archiepiscopal Visitations, 1737, 1740, 1749, 1758, 1760. issued by Aop Sheldon to every parish, in 1676, as to the number of inhabitants, ' popish-recusants,' and dissenters from the Church, with the answers to the same. (These have been transcribed by Mr. Stuart Davis of Canterbury.) 1822-1857. Articles of Inquiry. 1792-1794, 1813, 1824. Archiepiscopal Visitations. 1814-1827. Memorandum book of Archdeacon Croft containing notes relating to the fabric and furniture of the Churches of the diocese in 1824. Writs issued in the Court of the Liberty of St. Augustine's, in the 16th and 17th cents. APPENDIX A. A.D. 1507 Bull of Pope JuHus I I granting certain privileges to the Church of St. James in Dover. JuHus epicopus servus servorum dei Dilecto fiHo Rogero Darley Rectori parochiaUs ecclesie sancti lacobi Ville de Doveire, alias CapeUe de Rutbye nuncupate Cantuariensi diocese Salutem et ApostoHcam benedictionem. Cum a nobis petitur quod iustum est et honestum tarn uigor equitatis quam ordo exigit raoionis ut id per soUcitudinem officii nostri ad debitum perducetur effectum, ea propter dilecte in domino fiU tuis iustis postulacionibus grato THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. 97 concurrentes assensu omnes Hbertates et immunitates a predecessoribus nostris Romanis Pontificibus sive per privilegia vel afias indulgencias seu indulta tibi et ecclesie predicte concessas necnon Hbertates et exemptiones secularium exactionum a Regibus et Principibus ac ahis Xpi fideHbus tibi et dicte ecclesie racionabihter indultas speciaHter autem decimas etiam prediales primicias oblaciones agros terras prata pascua agnos odos (hcedos) pisces de marinis et dulcibus aquis percipiendi aHaque immobiUa bona •etiam infra Umites parrochie dicte ecclesie consistencia ad dictum •ecclesiam legitime spectancia sicut ea omnia iuste et pacifice possides tibi et per te eidem ecclesie apostoHca auctoritate confirmamus et presentis scripti patrocinio communimus. NulH ergo omnino hominum Uceat hane paginam nostre confirmacionis et communicionis infringere vel in ausu temerario contraire. Siquis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignacionem omnipotentis Dei ac beatorum Petri et PauU apostolorum eius se nouerit incur - surum. Dat' Rome apud Sanctum Petrum anno incarnacionis •doininice MUlesimo quingentesimo septimo, Pridie Non. Novembr' Pontificatus nostri Anno Quarto S de . . . . (?) A de BuccabelHs •C de bibrabai B. '25 July, 1662. Letter of Archbishop Juxon to the bishops of the southern province relating to the distribution of the revised Prayer Book. (Copy.) After my hearty Commendacons. There being a convenient number of Books of Common Prayer aheady printed and now binding up for the use of the severaU Churches and ChappeUs within his Mats Kingdom of England & Dominion of Wales, Your LoPis hereby desired to consider how many you shaU have occasion to use within your dioces, disposing to each Churche and ChappeU one, (for that none of these aheady printed can be spared to come into the hands of any private person), and to certifie the same by the next post unto Mr. Andrew Crooke, Stationer, Hving at the signe of the Green Dragon in St. Paul's Churchyard, London, to whom •order is aheady given to putt up for you such number of the said Books as you shall have occasion to use, and to direct & send them to suoh place or places within your dioces for the convenient dispersing thereof as your LOP by your letters under your hand shall i i 98 THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. dhect him. Thus not doubting of your LoP readiness to forward this pious worke. I committ you to the protection of the Almighty and do remaine Your LoPs very loving friend & Brother, W. CANT. Lambeth, 25 July, 1662. C. 30 July, 1662. Richard Aldworth (? the Archbishop's chaplain) te Sh Edmund Peirce, Knt, Commissary of the Court of Canterbury, relating to the same subject as the last. Sh My Lord hath often enquired after you and severaU tymes sent to your house to speak with you concerning the dispersing of the Books of Common prayer the care whereof in part belongs to you. By the copy of the Letter inclosed dhected to the severaU Bps within the Province of Cant you wiU see what course you are to take and the same you must foUow, pray advise with yours and the Archdeacon's Registers and accordingly send Mr. Crooke word how many of the Books you shaU have occasion to use for the severaU churches and chappeUs within the Diocese of Cant: and to what places you would have your numbers directed that the service may be performed within the tyme lymitted. Yr humble servant, Ri. ALDWORTH. Lambeth, 30 Juhi, 1662. Addressed " For Sr Edmund Peirce Knt, Comry of the Consistory Court at Canterbury there, leave this at Mr. Hardres his house in St. George's street in Canterbury, In his absence for Wm Somner,. Esqre at his Regry there. D. King Charles II to Archbishop Sheldon, demanding a loan from the clergy. 21st June, 1667. (Copy.) Charles R. Most Revd Father in God our Right trusty and right enthely BelovedCouncellorweegreeteyouwell. Where as theinsolentspirit of our enemies hath prevayled soe f arre with them as to make an. Invasion upon this or Kingdome which is in continuaU danger of THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. 99 their attempts upon the same. Wee hold our seHe obUged to use aU fitt and proper meanes both for the Repelling our said Enemies and the defence of our people, which, as it cannot be better, nor (as wee conceive) otherwise done, than by the speedy raising of a considerable Army, Soe neither can that be performed without good summes of money. Wee therefore relying upon yoT wisdome and readiness to assist us and yor country in this exigent have thought fitt to recommend the effectuall consideration here of unto you, and to require yor utmost endeavours forthwith to dispose and quicken the Clergie and Civifians of this our Kingdome to make a Voluntary LiberaU Advance of what summes of money they cann afford by way of Loane towards the supply of oT present pressing occasions in this time of pubhque danger, to be repayed againe out of the eleavenmonthes Assessment in course, And wee are the rather induced to beleive yor Labours herein will be successfuU because you are to deale with a sort of persons endued with discretion and ingenuity, who cannot forgett what tendernesse wee had for them, what care to protect and support them, and how much theh Interest and weUare is involved in ours, But arguments and motives of this nature wee leave to yor prudent management and soe bid you heartily fareweU, Given at or Court at WhitehaU the 21th day of June 1667 in the Nineteenth yeare of or Reigne.By his Matie8 Command, WILL MORICE. Addressed : To the most Reverend Father in God our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Councelor Gilbert Lord Arch BP of Canterbury Primate and MetripoUtane of aU England. Archbishop Sheldon to Sh Edmund Peirce, Commissary of Canterbury, on the same subject as the last, June 24, 1667, S^ After my hearty comendacons &c I have received from his Matie a Letter wherein his Mat ie recommends to my care, the promoting his & the Kingdomes interest, in this great tyme of danger & necessity By sthring up the Clergy & CiviHans to a Voluntary and HberaU Advance of what summes of money they can afford by way of Loane upon security of the eleaven monthes Assessement in course, I have sent together with this a copie of his Ma*1^ Letters that you may fuUy understand the tenor & meaning of them. I doe therefore hereby deshe & require of you that you forthwith caU together the Clergy of my Diocese of Canterbury,. 100 THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. and that you deal wt h the Dignified & richer sort and such as you shaU thinke to bee weU able in ye most effectuaU manner you can encouraging them to make a speedy free and Uberall Advance towards the supply of his Maties and the Kingdomes pressing occasions in this tyme of so great insolence of our enemies by theh late invasion hath brought us. I am persuaded they wiU not thinke much to part with some reasonable proportion at present to secure all the rest, and the rather since it is desired but upon a Loane, for which they shaU have that security which is the best the Kingdome can afford, And they that come in earUest are Uke to have their money soonest paid them againe. I shall not doubt your care & industry in this so great affaire, and of what shaU bee by you herein done & effected, I desire as speedy on account as may be, And so I bid you heartily f areweU and am, Sr Yor very Loving frend Lambeth house GrLB: CANT. June 24,1667. You are Hkewise to caU before you aU officialls Registers, Procters, and Officers of the Ecclesiasticall Courts within my Diocese, and to stirr up them alsoe that they bee HberaU handed in this so necessary affaire according to ye desire of his Mat i e s Letters. E. Masters of Grammar Schools who made the statutable declarations under 13th and 14th Chas. II. Ashford, 1680, John Drake ; 1714, Richard Bate. Benenden, 1714, John Saunders. Canterbury, Kings School, 1661, John Paris. 1663, John CuUing (usher). 1714, John Smith. Cranbrook, 1671, Abraham Walker ; 1689, Tho. Crowther ; 1736, Richard Browne. Faversham, 1677, Tho. Lees ; 1719, Stephen Bowdidge. Folkestone, 1672, WiUiam Harman. Goudhurst, 1661, John Cooper ; 1675, Daniel RoseweU. Heme, 1679, Tho. Engham. Maidstone, 1661, Michael Altham (Curate of Otham). THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. 101 Sandwich, 1674, Richard Cuhner ; 1689, Timothy Thomas ; 1758, John Conant; 1804, John Smith (appointed by the Mayor and Jurats of the town on the failure of the Fellows of Lincoln CoU. Oxford to present). Sutton Valence, 1661, Benjamin NicoUs ; 1681, Timothy Wilson. Tenterden, 1661, Robert Cropley ; 1681, Robert Crutnall; 1714, Humfrey Hammond; 1732, Theophilus de l'Angle, clerk ; 1786, James Hall. Wye, 1661, WiUiam Fenby; 1684, Robert Wrentmore; 1714, John Warham ; 1717, Tho. Turner. F. Certificates of character and of professional skiU put in by persons desirous of obtaining a Hcence from the Ecclesiastical Court to practise surgery. In 1661 the foUowing curious testimonials were presented by one Walter Coke, or Cock (the name is spelt both ways) : " I Steven FerraU of Ulcomb doth witnes that the said Waltar Coke hath done great kuers (cures) for me, I being ? for the parish of HoHngbourn. There was pore man broke his legg aU to peses (so) that the bones did ratel Uke a bagg of stones, and Hkewise a chUd of mine fell into a kelne (? kiln) of skoulding worter, and skoulded her arme from her hand to the shoulder . . . till her arme was so rot that the flesh fell off from the bones, and this Walter Coke did take them both in hand (sic) and kivered (covered) them in short time, which weare very great kieurs, and many other great kieurs he has done wich I cold speke of, but I hope this wiU give satisfackshon. STEVEN FERRALL." WiUiam Dan, churchwarden of Leedes, testifies that, " about 13 or 14 yeares agoe Walter Cock did a very great keuer apone one Edward Parker of Leedes his arm being a most rot off he (the said Walter) made a sofiszent (sufficient) kuer within 6 weekes time, which other sofechant (sufficient) surgenys did ask 20Hfor the kuer. Besides this John Dan the soon (son) of WiU. Dan being lame of his legge laye 9 weekes under the surgen's hands (who) made a question of cotting off his legge, (but) this Walter Cock made a sounde kuer of it in 5 weekes time. More, I WiUiam Dan having my hand torne to peces in my mill, insomuch that I was doubtful of losing 102 THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. my hand, the said Walter Cock made it a sound keuer in a short time. Much more I can relate but I hope this wiU satisfy. WILLM DAN and JOHN DAN. At the beginning of the 18th century apparently it was stiU possible for a Barber to rise to the dignity of a Barber-Surgeon by putting into the registry a certificate of his skill signed by two members of the latter profession—e.g. In 1707 John Hadd of Headcorn, barber, is certified by Peter Couchman, Barber-Surgeon, of Marden, and John Christian Senr of Biddenden " to be a person of honest life and conversation, and weU skilled in breathing or opening a veine, or letting blood and such other matters as belong to a Barber-Surgeon. G. TONGE. A Clerical penance to be performed by the Vicar in 1667, both in his own church and in the parish church of Sittingbourne, " at each place on a Sunday in time of divine service after the second lesson for morning prayer, timely notice being given to the Churchwardens of each place, and to Mr. Jones, the Minister of Sittingbourne, after whom the said Vicar with a distinct and audible voice shall say as foUoweth " : " Whereas I WiUiam PeU, Vicar of Tonge, all care and conscience of my duty and good conscience set aside, and studying only (as I was a poor man) the reUef of my present wants, have given great scandal and offence, highly trespassed the law, and dishonoured my ministry, by a constant and habitual course and practice of marrying aU sorts of people, both of my own and other parishes, that would hire me to do it, without either barms or Hcence, . . . as if my church were a lawless church and myself a lawless minister. I do now with unfeigned sorrow and contrition of heart acknowledge this my fowle offence and crime, craving pardon for it both from God and his Church, and from this congregation in particular, promising, by Gods assisting grace to endeavour an amends and satisfaction of what is past by my future unfeigned reformacion." H. PETITIONS. Godmersham, 1671. The parishioners petition the Court that they may be aUowed to make use of the " Great HaU in the parsonage house (near our church) belonging to. the THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. 103 Dean and Chapter of Christ Church, Canterbury, by reason of the great repairs of our Church which are now going about, for the pubhck service of God until the said repairs are finished." This is signed by Wm. Brodnax, Nich. Knight, Mich. Hills, churchwarden, Tho. Pisinge, churchwarden, Simon Otway, Ric. Austen, WUl. Carter and others. Canterbury, St. Andrews. A petition relating to the provision of new pews in the Church of St. Andrew, Canterbury, in 1727 gives some particulars about the old church, which stood in the middle of the street, (now called the Parade,) and was demoUshed in 1763. It is described as " a small narrow church containing only one aisle and without any side aisles. At the West end is a gaUery the seats of which are used by men and boys only, most of whom are apprentices, and men-servants, but masters of famiUes and theh sons have not sufficient room to sit, stand and kneel in time of divine service, though Mr. Cumberland, the Rector, has aUowed the parishioners to sit in the Chancel . . . the number of pews in the body of the church is 15 and no more, and these are aU occupied by wives, widows, and theh daughters." I. PRESENTMENTS. (Extracts.) The churchwardens of Ospringe put in the foUowing strange answers to certain articles of enquiry : " We have a decent carpet of cloath for the Communion table though the same has not ever been laid upon it in time of divine service." " We have, though not a chest, a poorman's box strongly nayled up which we think surer than locks, & keyes, but we dare trust nothing to it having had our church . . . broken open divers times of late." Harty. In 1637, the Churchwardens made the foUowing charges against the curate of the parish : " Our Minister useth to weare a shorte Preist's coat but hath no gown. We present our minister for that since Michaelmas last he hath been divers times to an alehouse in our parish (namely John Osborne's) at cards & useth sometimes to swear more than is fitt, as fame goeth. Our afternoon sermons (which we have twice or thrice in a quarter of a year) are not turned into Catechisme by question 104 THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. and answer, as is requhed, but usuaUy performed as at other times." To the first the Curate repUed that "he is poor man & not yet able to buy him a gown, but weareth a short coat in performing his duty in the church & a surpUce over the same, but graduate he is none." To the second : " That he hath been at the house detected & there sometimes played at cards at Christmas time with one of his neighbours in friendly sort and some small matter, & not otherwise, and unawares an oath might faU out of his mouth, but he is heartUy sorry for the same, & promises seriously hereafter to be more wary in giving occasion of offence of that kind. MISDEMEANOUR OE A PARISH CLERK. In 1718, one Tho. Coates writes to the official of the Archdeacon complaining " that our pretended clerk and his wife washed a soping (sic) that is severaU sorts of Hnen, and he & she went into the church & hung up 3 or 4 Hues crosse the chancell, and hung them fuU of the said Hnen to drei & let them hang there till the next day before the alter." (The name of the parish is not given.) CRANBROOK. A CURATE'S STIPEND IN 1702. " Mr. Charles Buck, our vicar, has a licensed curate and allows him six and twenty pounds a year salary, and so much of the Requisites as amounts to near 3 pound a year, one year with another." J. SUNDAY SERVICES IN COUNTRY PARISHES IN 1702. An account how ye parishes of Luddenham, Oure (Oare) & Davington are at present serv'd & shall be God wilHng for ye future by me Jo: Sherwin. Every Sunday thro'out ye year I go to Luddenham perform divine service & preach if it be in the fore-noon; if it be ye afternoon, & ye summer half-year, viz., from Lady day to Michs., I perform divine service, catechize & preach too ; if it be in ye afternoon & ye winter half-year, viz., from Michs. to Ladyday I perform divine service and read a homily. Every other Sunday I go to Oure perform divine service & preach if it be in ye fore-noon ; if it be in ye afternoon & ye summer half-year I perform divine service, catechise & preach too ; THE RECORDS OF THE COURTS. 105 if it be in ye afternoon & ye winter half-year I perform divine service and read an homily. Every other Sunday, as at Oure, just so I do at Davington. AU ye afternoon sermons I preach of my own good will & upon condition that ye respective parishioners send theh children to be catechized & come themselves duly to ye H Communion, wch I warn once a moneth in one of ye three parishes, besides ye times of Christmas, Easter & Whitsuntide. The Churches lie triangular, so that ye inhabitants of each place may, if they will, with ease resort to 'em, as also know when & where I officiate by ye notice wch I do and mean to continue giving. I hope ye course laid down in both plain and satisfactory, so that I intend to pursue ye same, till different orders be appointed to. Jo: Sherwin, Clerk. June 29th, 1902. Luddenham & Davington are but two Uttle miles distant & Oure no more than one from 'em both.