106 A DORSET ROYAL PECtfLIAR. 



I certify the wor 1 ! Official! aforesaid, or his Surrogate that this pen- 

 ance hath been duely performed by the above Sayd Luce Brewer. 

 witnesse hand, 



Nicholas Taylor. 



The tithes of the parish belonged to the " Governors," for 

 the defrayment of the expenses of the Grammar School and 

 of the Minster. There were frequent presentments by the 

 Governors of inhabitants of the district " in causes of sub- 

 straction (i.e., non-payment) of tithes." On March 31st, 

 1744, one Samuel Bugden was proceeded against by " The 

 Governors of the possessions, revenues, and goods of Queen 

 Elizabeth's Free Grammar School in Wimborne Minster." 

 He was cited and did not appear. Thereupon public pro- 

 clamation was made for him. On his non-appearance, the 

 Judge (the Rev. Fill Cox, who was then Principal Official), 

 on the application of the proxy of the Governors, pronounced 

 him contumacious ; but reserved " the pain of such his 

 contumacy until next Court day." 



When the Court next met on May 22nd, his case was again 

 brought forward, and upon his not appearing, after being 

 thrice called, he was pronounced " in contempt," and the 

 Judge pronounced in penalty thereof sentence of ex-com- 

 munication against him. On July 7th Samuel Bugden 

 appeared in person, and desired to be absolved from the 

 sentence of ex-communication. Upon his request, having 

 first taken the oath that he would well and truly obey the 

 mandates of the Court in all things just and reasonable, and 

 having paid the (Governors') Proctor's fees on this behalf, 

 : ' The Judge absolved him from the said sentence, and 

 restored him to the faithfull " and he was discharged. 



It will be noticed from the account given of the above case 

 that the Court did not meet in the middle of the eighteenth 

 century nearly as frequently as in former times. The 

 presentments for offences against morality and order had 

 become few in number. Not perhaps that the country in 

 general and Wimborne in particular had become more moral 

 or law abiding, but probably because people were beginning 



