100 A DORSET ROYAL PECULIAR. 



Clandestine marriages, and marriages without the 



authority of the Court. 

 Bastardy, and immoral living. 

 Non-Conformity. 



Non-attendance at Church, or at the Holy Communion. 

 Intrusion, or bad behaviour in Church. 

 The breaking of the Sabbath Day. 

 Accusations of abusive conduct and of quarrelsomeness. 

 The penalties were fines, in addition to court fees 

 (the fines being apparently given to the poor), the public 

 performances of acts of penance, excommunication, exclusion 

 from the company of their fellows, &c. 



The earliest post-Reformation " sitting " of the Court of 

 which we have a record is that of 25 July, 1573, when an 

 agreement come to between the Governors and the parish- 

 ioners relative to tithes " was decreed and registered in the 

 ecclesiastical court of the peculiar of Wimborne."* 



The following are some of the " presentments " which are 

 recorded : 



1595. Christopher Syler " for sitting by the fire in the sarmon 

 time " and saying he would go to the church " when he listeth." 



1599. Oct. 22. Thomas Norman f one of the ministers of the 

 church was presented to " the offyciall and register of thj^s peculyar 

 jurysdycyon of Wymborne " for refusing " to read divine searvis 

 according to her ma*ts lawes, to celebratte the blessed sacriment of the 



* Cf. Hutchins' History of Dorset (last Edition), Vol. III., p. 193. 



| Upon Mr. Thomas Norman's appointment on Jan. 20, 1596-7, he 

 was so highly thought of by the Governors that he was " returned by 

 patent for the term of his life " (and not, as was customary, merely 

 during the pleasure of the Governors) " to preach in the church of 

 Wimborne so often as he may, and to be resident there at the yerely 

 ffee of XLli quarterly to be paid." (Minute Book of the Governors). 

 His salary of 40 was three times that received by the other Ministers 

 (13 6s. 8d.). Nine months later, when Mr. John Geare was elected 

 " Scholemaistre," there is a note in the Minute Book to the effect that 

 " Mr. Norman at his pleasure is to have recourse unto the School as 

 often as he will to examine how the children do profit and thereof to 

 certify to the Corporation." (Oct. 21, 1597). 



