A DORSET ROYAL PECULIAR. 105 



Principal Official from 1686 until 1696, we get the approxi- 

 mate date. 



It seems difficult to realise that such a penance could 

 have been undergone in one of our English Churches 

 so recently as during the closing years of the seventeenth 

 century : 



A penance, enjoyned by the Wor 1 ! Philip Traherne, Clerke, Surrogate 

 to the Wor" Will Watkinson, Clerke, m r of Arts Officiall of the 

 peculiar and Exempt Jurisdiction of Wimborne Minster in Com. 

 Dorsett. 



To the Ministers of Wimborne Minster aforesaid : 



Whereas Luce Brewer of your Towne has lately been p'sented by the 

 Churchwardens and Sydesmen of your p'ish for comitting the sin of 

 ffornication and haveing lately had a bastard child borne of her 

 body. And thereupon being legally convened before the said Surrogate 

 She in open Court confessed herself guilty of the crime aforesaid. 

 Whereupon she is enjoyned to come into the P'ish Church aforesaid 

 on Sunday the xxixth day of November instant. And then and there 

 being covered all over with a white Sheete from the Neck downwards 

 and holding in her hand a white rodd of an ell long before you and the 

 Congregation then assembled at the time of Divine Service and before 

 Sermon to make this Confession in an humble manner, as followeth 

 viz : 



I Luce Brewer doe here before Allmighty God and in the p'sence of 

 you my good neighbours, humbly confesse and acknowledge that out 

 of my own private Will and Spiritt, and at the instigation of the Devill, 

 I have soe much misdemeaned myself in my life and Conversation, by 

 com'itting the damnable Sin of ffornication with one John Merritt the 

 younger of Blandford in this County, and haveing a male bastard Child 

 lately borne of my body, of which Childe he is the ffather, that I am of 

 all Creatures most miserable, unless Allmighty God out of his infinite 

 mercy and goodness be pleased to forgive me. And since without 

 hearty Repentance none can expect mercy, I doe here againe ac- 

 knowledge my deadly Sin, and sincerely repent me of the same, Be- 

 seeching Allmighty God to forgive me, and to give me his grace for the 

 future, that I may never more be guilty of the like or any other Sin 

 whatever ffor the obteyneing whereof I earnestly begg you my good 

 Neighbours here present to joyne with me in prayer Saying Our 

 ffather &c. 



Then follows the certificate given by Mr. Nicholas 

 Taylor, one of the Minster Clergy, that the penance had been 

 carried out. 



