cattle, and one of his servants to work and labour in the fields ol
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. (Fol. 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 neglecl of his own
Parish Church, as is detected.* (Fol. 138.)
Nicholas Porte and his wife, for seating of himself and his wife
in the uppermost seat of the Church without consent of the church-
wardens or leave of the < Ordinary.
On the twentieth day of January L615 Porte appeared in the
Court and said : That he and his wife have seated thi selves
in a seat belonging to the house where he now dwelleth, and that
he and his wife Bome twelve years agone or thereabout, when as
* Edward Goniston, Vicar L611— 1661, also of Whitstable 1611 I ■•■'■7 II
died in 1661. On 7 August L636 information \\:i- apparently sent privat
to Archbishop Laud of the scandalous ergymen beneficed in
or near Canterbury, the most common offence being tavern-haunting and
drunkenness, and on the list is Eei Gonistone, Vicar v ber and Curat
Whitstable.— CaL of State Papers, L636-7, p. B9,
216 VISITATIONS OF THE
lie dwelt in the same parish of Seasalter, and in the same house
where he now dwelleth, did sit in the seat detected without con-
strainment. (Fol. 146.)
1616. Christopher Tilman of Selling, for refusing to pay his
cess for the repairing of the Parish Church of Seasalter, the cess
being made in March last, £3 13s. (Fol. 225.)
Robert Bowlder of the parish of Whitstable, for not paying
his cess, which he is cessed towards the repairing of the Church of
Seasalter, for such lands as he doth occupy in our said parish, the
cess being two shillings. (Fol. 227.)
Andrew Pettit of Graveney, for denying to pay his cess towards
the reparation of the Parish Church of Seasalter, he being cessed
at twenty shillings. (Fol. 241.)
I, Richard Penson, churchwarden of the parish of Seasalter, do
present John Pullman of the parish of Swalecliff for denying to
pay his cess towards the reparation of the Parish Church of Seasalter,
he being lawfully cessed for such lands as he occupieth in the said
parish of Seasalter at the sum of twelve shillings of good English
money, and the cess wherein he is so cessed beareth date and was
made the twenty-third day last past 1616. (Fol. 242.)
Also M r Christopher Tilman of Selling, for denying to pay his
cess towards the reparation of the Church, £4 18s. 8d. (Fol. 2-l'2.)
Robert Saver of St. John's in Thanet for the like, twenty
shillings.
When Sayer, on the twenty-third day of September, appeared in
Court, he alleged : That he hath not nor had not in his occupation
at the time of the cess making above half an acre of land and an
house situated in the parish of Seasalter, for which house and land
he hath already paid of late towards the repairing of Seasalter
( Jhurch the sum of twenty shillings upon a former cess. (Fol. 243.)
John Deare, for the like of Whitstable, £3 4s.
Thomas lllenden of Whitstable, for denying to pay his cess
and giving ill speeches to the Court, his cess being Is. On the
twenty-third of September, when Lllenden appeared in Court, he
affirmed: Thai be hath satisfied and paid to Penson, churchwarden
fit' .Seasalter, the cess detected. ( Fol. 214.)
Thomas Crathome, victualer, for suffering William the son of
John Menvil and other his consorts to play at cards in the time of
Divine Service upon Sunday, then found by the sidesman Nathan
Flee her.
ARCHDEACON OF CANTERBURY. 217
On the second day of December Crathorne stated : That William
the son of John Menvil did play at cards as is detected, but saith
that it was against his will, and that he was himself at Church at
the time. (Fol. 252.)
Alice the wife of Thomas Crathorne, for a common swearer and
a brawling scowld, and withal will be drunk exceedingly. (Pol. 253.)
Edward Fedge, for a quarreling drunkard both at home and
abroad. (Fol. 245.)
We, the churchwardens and sidesmen whose names are here-
under subscribed, do present Thomas Ovver of the parish of Sea-
salter : —
1. For not coming to Church duly upon sabbath days.
2. For disturbing the churchwarden in the business belonging
to his office, and in causing of troubles in setting the whole parish
together by the ears.
3. For not standing up at the time of the Creed, and when the
Gospel is read, according to the canons in that case provided.
4. Because he did use unreverent speeches to the churchwarden,
etc. Vol. 1610—17, Part I.
1617. We, the churchwardens of the parish of Seasalter, do
present Stephen Sayer, late of our parish, and now of the parish of
Hearne, for refusing to pay the sum of twenty-three shillings for
a cess made the fourth day of March last, for certain lands lying in
our parish of Seasalter three shillings, and his ability, being an
indweller at the time of the making of his cess, twenty shillings.
(This amount he paid in Court to the Churchwardens.) (Fol. 17.)
Vol. 1616—18.
1619. Our chancel is much decayed in the pavement thereof,
which is broken up, and the clerk's seat broken. One Johu Milksted
of our parish farmeth the parsonage. (Fol. 59.)
1620. Thomas Breade of the parish, for profaning the sabbath
by making of hay, in shaking the straw about, and pouting the
same, a little after evening prayer, upon one sabbath day only,
when he was both at morning and evening prayer.
William Menvill of the parish, for going to sea upon the
sabbath days in the time of Divine Service with passengers. (Fol. 99.)
1622. Anthony Haddes, victualer, of our parish of Seasalter,
for calling of Thomas Crathorne, one of the churchwardens of the
same parish, "prating, lying old knave," or the like foul terms in
218 VISITATIONS OF THE
effect, which words the said Hadde did utter to, and of him the
said churchwarden, upon a Sunday in the afternoon, after evening
prayer, happening since the Feast of St. John the Baptist last past
in the Church of Seasalter aforesaid, and upon this occasion and
no other he used these words with others, for that the church-
wardens had caused one of the sidesmen of the same parish to go
unto the house of the said Haddes to see what company he had in
his house in the time of Divine Service. (Fol. 156.)
Vol. 1610—17, Part II.
1689. John Mildnell of the parish, for not tileing the chancel.
On the fifteenth day of May he appeared and alleged that he is
at present tenant to the Tithes of Seasalter, and that M r Elliott,
who is the immediate tenant to the Church of Canterbury, of whom
the same is held in lease, hath ordered him to repair the chancel
presented, and he will take care to repair the same by Michaelmas
next. (Fol. 153.) Vol. 1675—89.
SWALECLIFFE.
1560. They present that the servant of Thomas Lowne hath
sixteen pence in money belonging to the Church, which they
cannot have. Vol. 1560 — 84.
1561. They lack the Homilies and Psalter. That the youth of
this parish do come seldom to the Church. Vol. 1561-2.
1565. Our Church is in great decay, and like to come to utter
ruin unless some speedy remedy may be had therein, for the parish
is so poor that they are not able to repair the same, unless they
may have some help of the land within the parish, whereof we
would pay two pence the acre, which would amount to the sum of
£8 ; and we think our Church and the keeping of the churchyard
will stand us more. Vol. L565.
l">c>7. We present that the Church is not glazed, by means
whereof the doves and other fowls defile their Church, and the
parish is no1 able to mend the same, without it may please you thai
tin- resl of the ccs^ thai was made may lie levied, which we cai I
unless we have your aid. The churchyard is not enclosed, and
di^' up the graves there, which is not comely or meet.
Vol. 1566-7.
AHCHDEACON OF CANTERBURY. 219
1569. That the place where the altar stood is not paved, and
we lack a cloth to lay uppermost on the table.
The churchyard is not enclosed.
That our Parson hath one other benefice, called Luddenham,
beside Faversham, and that as he saith is letten out to farm.
That one Alexander Consant received a cow which belonged to
the Church, and hath not made an account to the parish for her.
Vol. 1569.
Archbishop Parker's Visitation, 1569. — Eectory. Patron, The
Lord of Somerset. Sector, George Bassett, who is married and
lives there ; he has also the llectory of Luddenham, in the Deanery
of Ospringe; he is hospitable according to his means 5 does not
preach, has no licence to preach, and is not a graduate.
Houses in the parish ... 10
Communicants .... 29 (Fol. 59.)
1578. We lack a cover to our Communion Cup and a surplice,
and our Church is not repaired. (Fol. 5.)
1579. Our Church is not repaired, nor the churchyard fenced.
(Fol. 55.)
1581. We lack a cover to our Communion Cup. Our church-
yard is now well enclosed. (Fol. 104.) Vol. 1577 — 85.
1596. M r Corke, Rector of Swaylecliff [1587—1610] and
Curate of Whitstable.
1. That when excommunications sent out of this Court come
into his hands he keepeth them and doth not announce them
accordingly.
2. That he suffereth excommunicated persons to come and
resort in his Parish Church in time of Divine Service, so knowing
them so to stand excommunicate.
3. That he useth to alter the penance both for the time and
manner of such as have been enjoined their penance in his parish
by order of this Court, and namely of one Simons.
4. That he keepeth in his hand certain briefs and the moiiey
by them collected, and will return neither money nor briefs as he
ought so to do.
5. That he useth to marry divers persons [in] times prohibited
without licence from the Ordinary. When he appeared in Court
220 VISITATIONS OF THE
he said : That he kept in his hand certain list of excommunications
sent out against one Fuller and warnings for not being examined,
being witnesses sworn in this Court at this person's suit against one
John Sant, and warned them not, because the said suit being
agreed before the said case were come to his hand he thought it
needless to demand them, and hath suffered the said parties to
come to Church to Divine Service, they yet standing so excommuni-
cate.
Thirdly, that whereas the said Simons was enjoined penance to
be performed in time of Divine Service in a sheet, he suffered him
to do it before service began without any sheet at all, contrary to
the schedule which came into his hands in that behalf. And as to
the 4 and 5, that since Christmas last he married one Kemp and
his wife at Swaylecliffe, being parishioners. (Fol. 31.)
Vol. 1584—95, Part II.
1606. That our churchwarden of the last year hath not as yet
given up his account, neither do we know when he will. (Fol. 28.)
Vol. 1606—10.
1607. Our chancel is in decay in the tiles, glass, with the
pavement thereof, in default of M r Corke our parsou. (Fol. 76.)
1608. William Corke, clerk, our parson, for that he doth not
at any time instruct the youth and ignorant persons of our parish
in the Ten Commandments and articles of the belief, and in the
Lord's Prayer, or instruct them in the Catechism.
The said M r Corke, our parson, for that the chancel wanteth
tiling and glazing, and the chancel door is broken. (Fol. 162.)
1616. The fence of our churchyard is somewhat decayed,
which we purpose to repair as soon as we conveniently may.
Vol. 1610—17.
1639. Alexander Oliver, for that he refuseth to pay his cess
for ability, being ceesed at 7s. id. towards the reparation of the
( "hurch.
On the twenty-sixth of June he appeared in Court and confessed
that lie is much over ceesed in the cess withoul any just cause at
all, only upon the resolute determination of John Ewell, the now
churchwarden, thai bo he should be cessed let him defend it as he
could. (Fol. 7.) Vol. 1639—81.
ARCHDEACON OF CANTERBURY. 221
1662 Fox, wife of Henry Fox of the said parish, for
practising midwifery without licence. (Fol. 184.) Vol. 1639—66.
1679 Cuckow, rector of the parish, for not repairing of
his parsonage and barn.
On the 7th day of November the Rector appeared in Court and
said : That as to the barn and that part of the barn presented,
namely the thatching and timber work, lie doth say it is in good
repair, but the doors of the said barn and the timber thereof are
altogether decayed, which he is willing and will repair by the Feast
of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, which time is allotted
to him by the Surrogate of this Court, and to certify of the said
repair the next Court day after the time limited for the repair of
the barn. (Fol. 23.) Vol. 1675—89.
170G. Robert Flatman of the Nunnery of St. Sepulchre, near
Canterbury, presented from Swaylecliff for the non payment of two
cesses, 20s.
Stephen Brown of Canterbury, also for non-payment of one
church cess, 7s. (Fol. 76.) Vol 1G78— 1735.
WESTBERE.
1560. The parsonage is in decay, John Coppin and John
Child having the sequestration. Vol. 15G0 — 84.
1569. That when the parson is absent the parish clerk readeth
the service.
That the Parson is not resident upon his benefice.
That Matthew Tanner and one Thomas, servant unto M 1 ' Giles,
have not received the Communion at Easter last past nor since then.
That the parson there hath two benefices, one in Essex, and the
other Westbere, and that he keepeth no hospitality.
William Symon, Robert Kenne, Nicholas Lovett, and Matthew
Tanner, for that they dwell so far from their own Church come now
to the Parish Church of Westbere. And for that William Symon
and his household have not received the Communion in the year
according to the ministrations.
That Robert Holte is a sorcerer as it is thought, and that he
hath been suspected in times past of the same thing. Vol. 15G9.
222 VISITATIONS OF THE
Archbishop Parkers Yisitalion, 1569. — Eectory. Patron, The
Queen. Rector, Magister Edward Barker, B.D., who is married,
and resides there ; has one benefice ; is hospitable ; he preaches,
and lias a licence to preach.
Houses in the parish . . 21
Communicants ... 80
L577. We lack a cover of silver to our Communion Cup ; we
have a cover but not of silver.*
Edmund Allen hath not been at Church above twice these seven
weeks, and the churchwardens have demanded the cause thereof,
and he answereth them that he will answer it himself. (Fol. 3.)
157S. Our parsonage, barn, and other the out-houses are not
repaired. Our parson is not resident, neither doth he give anything
to the poor. Y\ r e have had but one sermon this three quarters of a
year. (Fol. 55.) Vol. 1577—85.
1G00. That our Church porch wanteth sufficient reparations
(Fol. 219.)
Also we present our Minister for that neither he nor any other
for him hath preached in our Church by the space of one whole
year. (Fol. 250.) Vol. 1581-95, Part II.
1G02. Our Church steeple wanteth reparation by reason that
the timber within the steeple is loose and ready to decay. (Fol. 6.)
Gilbert Hopkin refuses to pay a cess for the reparation of the
steeple, the sum of nine shillings. (Fol. 22.)
1G03. Gilbert Hopkin of our parish, for that he refuseth to
pay a cess which is made for the reparation of our Church and the
steeple, he being cessed at Is. Gd. (Fol. G2.)
1601. John Johnson and Thomas Adams, dwelling not far
from Piiishbourne and in Westbere parish as the common fame and
opinion is, for that by the space of these seven months last past
have not frequented the Church of Westbere, neither have they
received the Holy Communion in the said Church these seven
months last past. (Fol. 100.) Vol. 1601— 6.
* The present paten cover is inscribed 1578. (See Archceolojia Cantiana,
Vol. XVI., p. 377.)
ARCHDEACON OF CANTERBURY. 223
WHITSTABLE.
15G0. They have no Curate. Those whose names follow do not
come to Church : Richard Lemas, John Wraye, Humphrey Selherst,
John Spererooffe. Vol. 1500—84.
1501. They liave neither parson nor vicar. Vol. 1501-2.
1502. That the parsonage is in decay, the fault thereof is in
the Bishop of Canterbury. Vol. 1502-3.
1509. That there are divers that have not communicated
according to the laws appointed, whose names shall be certified in
writing with as much speed as may be possible.
That our Curate hath a benefice which is a mile or so, called
Swalcliffe, and is resident upon the same, and he saith he came by
it lawfully.
That William Holoway doth refuse to pay anything to the poor
man's box, and is found able by the parish. Vol. 1509.
Archbishop Parker s Visitation, 1509. — Rectory. Impropriator,
The Abp. of Canterbury. Curate, George Bassett, Rector of
Swaylecliff.
Houses in the parish . . 95
Communicants . . . .288 (Fol. 59.)
1578. Our chancel is not sufficiently repaired for lack of
glazing. Also our parson hath not preached nor caused to be
preached any sermons this year.
It was stated in Court : There had been five sermons or there-
abouts within these twelve months preached in the Parish Church
of Whitstable by M 1 " George Bassett and M r Albert Bassett his
son, by my lord's appointment, they being public preachers lawfully
licensed.
John Wilkins be slothful in coming to the Church, and because
he is a poor man we cannot take the fine of twelve pence. (Fol. 30.)
1579. Andrew Smith and William Smith, for that they have
not had our chancel paved and decently amended where the ground
was broken to bury John Smith and his wife, their uncle and aunt,
and they being administrators to his goods. (Fol. 74.)
1582. They have no silk cushion for the pulpit. (Fol. 98.)
224 VISITATIONS OF THE
1584. John Smethe the younger, for felling a great oak growing
upon the Church land and yelling the same from the ground, whereas
now we stand in lack of the same to repair our Church.
William Collis, harrowing on Sunday and in the time of Divine
Service. Vol. 1577 — 85.
15S6. Thomas Lewes, butcher, for keeping open his shop on
the holy days in the time of Divine Service, and keeping open liis
shop on the Sundays, and for unreverent behaving himself to the
Minister. (Fol. 33.)
1591. AVe, the churchwardens and sidesmen of Norton, present
John Halfnothe of Wbitstable, late churchwarden of our parish [Nor-
ton], for that he plucked down when he was warden our font made of
stone and lead, very comely and handsome, and instead thereof hath
placed a far worse made of a piece of wood or timber of joiner's
work, and also a bason in it, which also our Minister misliketh.
On the 7th day of July when Halfnothe appeared in Court
he stated : That he, being churchwarden of Norton, did take down
a font made of stone and lead standing in the Church there, which
he did for that the said font was broke in the bottom, both in the
lead and stone work, and stood very un6tly and unseemly in the
Church there, not being used for the administrations of the
sacrament of baptism by the space of twenty years together, and
instead thereof he set up a new one in the Church with the consent
of the parishioners much better and more convenient than the other,
being of wainscot and covered decently, but he saith that the
water therein is held in a bason. (Pol. 91.)
1592. John Sawer and William Mason, for brawling and
chiding in the churchyard one Sunday, and for fighting one other
Sunday. (Fol. 125.)
L594. We present that the chest wherein the stock of the
Church and poor with the evidences and writings of account lieth
hath but one lock, which is in the keeping of our churchwarden,
whereby sometimes the said evidences and bill of accounts are
beaselled [embezzled] away.
There is a great want of a comely pew and desk for our Minister
to read the chapters and Divine Service, to stand in some heighth
that the people may the better hear.
ARCHDEACON OF CANTERBURY. 225
That there was a cope of red branched damask sold by John
Harker when he was last churchwarden, and he hath not brought in
his account of the said cope since 1587, and he detaineth a piece of
evidence which was delivered him by the clerk the same year afore-
said. (Pol. 149.)
We present that the whole frame which our bells hangeth in is
greatly decayed, and also divers pews in our Church are out of
repair. The pew for our Minister that was presented the last year
is not yet made and begun. (Fol. 157.)
John Harker, the younger, for withholding some portion of the
poor's money since he was collector for the poor the last year.
(Fol. 157.)
1595. We present our Minister for not saying service in due
time and sometimes not at all.
2. Also Wednesdays and Fridays we have no prayers as we
ought.
3. Our Minister doth not catechise our children and servants
as he ought to do. (Fol. 176.)
1596. We have not the first and second tomes of Homilies.
(Fol. 176.) Vol. 1584—95.
1597. John Newstreet, that he hath taken upon himself to prove
by his oath that one Simons of Whitstable had done his penance
according as he was enjoined, whereas the said Simons never did
his penance in such manner, and thereby he took a false oath in
this Court before the Judge of this Court for the time being.
Newstreet confessed that he took such an oath, and did think that
he took a true oath because he saw the said Simon do a penance
befoi*e service in Whitstable Church, which done he saw M r Corke
the Minister there write upon the schedule that the said Simons
had performed his penance according to the said schedule, which
was enjoined him by order of this Court aforesaid, not proving
the contents of the said schedule or monition, but taking it to be
true because the said M r Corke had so written as aforesaid,
but now he confesseth that he was greatly over sure thereiu.
(Fol. 32.)
Thomas Forminger for not paying his cess, which he was cessed
at for the poor.
Henry Quested for the like. (Fol. 82.)
VOL. XXVII. Q
226 VISITATIONS OF THE
1599. For those that neglect their coming to Church according
to the Statute, we present Mary Gantlett wife of Thomas Gantlett.
She explained : That she liad not been dwelling within the
parish of Whitstable by the space of this last year last past, and is
now dwelling in Katcliffe near London. (Fol. 203.)
We present John Wilkins for going about the street in woman's
apparel, being the parish clerk at that time.
His explanation to the Court was: That at a marriage in a
merriment he did disguise himself in bis wife's apparel to make
some mirth to the company. (Fol. 20.)
1000. "We present that our churchyard is neither so cleanly
kept and maintained as it ought, but the Church porch be annoyed
with sheddowing of kine and sheep and such like.
It was explained in Court : That M r Turner's cattle, both kine
and sheep (he being parson there), do much annoy and foul the
churchyard with their dung, and that the churchyard dikes be not
kept as they ought, which dikes are to be kept and scoured by the
parishioners of the parish. (Fol. 217.)
1601. "We do present William Cole, for that he doth deny to
pay to the collection according as it is appointed by the parishioners,
and also for that he did misuse the churchwarden and also the rest
of the parishioners upon Sunday being the fourth of January.
(Fol. 258.) Vol. 1581—95, Part II.
1603. Clement Long on Sunday the third of April in time of
public prayer for the King,* he did sit with his hat on his head, and
being by M r Corke admonished thereof did laugh at him and behave
himself very unseemly. (Fol. 61.)
1606. One Kichard Bodill in his heat called our Minister
scandalous fellow, but we cannot say he is a railer, that is to say in
our understanding, or that he useth to rail at any of his neighbours.
(Fol. 170.)
1607. Martin Ntockes of Whitstable hath stopped up an usual
way leading to Seasalter Church. (Fol. 95.)
1608. We want a chest for the alms of the poor. Our Minister
doth not catechise the youth. (Fol. 116.)
* James I. succeeded to the throne 24th March 1G02-3.
ARCHDEACON OF CANTERBURY. 227
LG09. Richard Waight of the parish of Whitstable, butcher,
for opening his shop window and selling out flesh on the Sabbath
Days, obstinately refusing to come to Church, being thereunto