ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



er evils. An official of the Archdeacon of Cleveland was accused (1618) 

 several counts of petty extortions, worthy of Chaucer's ' sompnour.' ^^ In 

 [ 3 the curate of Skelton was presented at Thirsk for keeping an ale-house." 

 e vicar of Brompton-in-Pickering-Lythe was fined (1626) for extorting 

 lurial fee, and again in 1627.^= I" 1641 Christopher Fisher, clerk, of 

 id Kirby, was sent to York Castle for reviling Mr. Tankard, who, he 

 1, was ' more fitter for a swineherd than a justice of the peace.' Fisher 

 •cured soldiers to rescue him on his way to prison.*'' Brawlings in 

 irches and churchyards were generally due to the insubordinate laity, 

 I may in some cases be traced to the more noisy recusants.'* Walker's list 

 the clergy deprived by the committees for removing scandalous ministers 

 I for plundered ministers is probably far from complete : the greater 

 nber included, apart from members of chapters, belonged to well-known 

 ces in the West Riding, while Richmondshire and Cleveland are practically 

 represented. In 1643 Henry Robinson, vicar of Leeds, Puritan in 

 Igion but Royalist in poHtics, had to flee for safety, and wandered about 

 ; country seeking refuge with the royalist garrisons and with com- 

 sionate patrons, but not escaping imprisonment.*^ Thornton, rector of 

 kin, was dragged to Cawood Castle at a horse's tail.** After the 

 ispiracy of Pontefract, Beaumont, vicar of South Kirkby, was executed." 

 e vicar of Kirkburton was dragged over the dead body of his wife by 

 • murderers.** Dr. Bradley was turned out of his rectories of Castleford 

 1 Ackworth ; his library was surrendered by a man to whom he had 

 rusted it.** Mr. Blakestan of Northallerton was expelled by the intruding 

 nister in the middle of service.'" A few deprived clergymen obtained 

 all livings, where they remained in poverty and comparative peace." 

 t in other cases where respite was allowed expulsion came. Dr. Kay 



RothweU was driven out of Wragby Church, where the owner of 

 )Stell Priory had connived at his preaching.'^ Edward Dodsworth was 

 ned out of Badsworth as late as 1655.'* In one case at least, depriva- 

 n was incurred on the most frivolous grounds. The vicar of Darrington 

 s informed against for addressing God in terms borrowed from the Book 



Common Prayer, and was imprisoned till his fine was paid. The words 

 re ' Almighty God, our heavenly Father,' and the opening words of the 

 rd's Prayer.'* 



Presbyterian discipline was established at York in 1 644. Four ministers, 

 intained by the State, divided their services between the minster and All 



" Quarter Sess. Rec. (N. R. Rec. Soc), ii, 171, 172, 173, zoi. On p. 172 this official, by an oversight, 

 irently on the part of the justices' clerk, is called ' Archdeacon of Cleveland.' 



^ Ibid, ii, 16. " Ibid, iii, 270, 289. 



" Ibid, iv, 204, 205. 



" See Quarter Sess. Rec. (N. R. Rec. Soc), iii, 3 1 1, for a disturbance at Whitby in 163 i, and iv, 52, for a 

 racefiil sacrilege at Raskelf in 1 64 1. 



«* Walker, op. cit. ii, 349. "Ibid. 385. 



"Ibid. 212. Lawton, op. cit. 229, says that he was shot. A different account of his death is given 

 the author of the journal of the Third siege of Pontefract Castle (Surt. Soc. xxxvii), 105. 



«* J. Walker, op. cit. ii, 408. '' Ibid. 85. 



"^ Ibid. 212. The intruder invaded the pulpit and made ' a long prayer and longer sermon. 



»' e.g. William Bridges, curate of Barwick-in-Elmet (ibid. 413), who got the living of Saxton, worth 

 ■ ^10 a year, and lived with great difficulty and the aid of charity. He was threatened with death by 

 iers for using the prayer-book at Saxton. 



»= Ibid. 290. ^ Ibid. 234. ' Ibid. 408. 



61 



