78 NOTES ON A DORCHESTER MINUTE BOOK. 



Saints', that he was presented at Blamlfonl Court " for his sleeping 

 and disorderly behaviour " in church " awnswered yt . 

 the churchwardens could see him and such pore men to present 

 them, but could not see rich men to present them," finishing off 

 with a fine ringing of changes on the epithet " knave." He was 

 not the only disorderly one among tlnj compelled worshippers. 

 On October 7th, 1630, E. Miller, for playing in church is to be 

 corrected by his master, " and Constable Williams might see it well 

 done." On August 29th, 1631, it is deposed that " Jo Kay and 

 Nicholas Sims did play att All Sts.' in time of sermon and laughe, 

 and Sims did stick Kay a box on the ear and cary themselves very 

 unreverently .... for wh they were committed to prison." 

 On February 13th, 1631, two brothers confessed that they "boxed 

 3 or 4 blows" in All Saints." Out of church, too, a little rebellion 

 about compulsory worship occurred, and naturally took the form of 

 enmity to the incumbents. Master Ben, rector of All Saints', was 

 a worthy man, as I am assured by a friend who has studied the 

 Puritan epoch well. So blame of him must be taken " cum grano 

 salis." On May 5th, 1630, a man is accused of saying that Master 

 Ben did not preach through illness brought on " because he had no 

 more offering at Easter." Another " sayd Master Ben did rate or 

 rayl ... in his sermon," on a certain occasion. Again, on 

 May 4th, 1631, M, Martin is charged that he "brake into speche 

 of ministers and lawyers, that they had gotten all the riches of the 

 land .... and will not vouchsafe to spake to a pore man 

 that he would not " put off his hat unto Master Ben any 

 more "... that Master Ben " did not reade the Epistles nor 

 Gospels . . . and did not use to salut [his neighbours] wh his 

 hatt but look over them with a great p of eyes." On December 

 19th, 1629, Stephen Pressly "did very abruptly brake out into 

 speche " in a like tone. He doubted right to compel attendance at 

 church, would have the canons consulted, would by no means stay 

 beyond " Divine service" " would make good that Jo Downto, of 

 Fordington, would preach as well as Mr. Ben . . . ." 



Then about Master White, He is an historical character, a man 



