A HISTORY OF HERTFORDSHIRE 



clergy in 1576 were generally married." No Puritan comperta such as those 

 made for Staffordshire " and elsewhere exist for this county, though the 

 commissioners, naively enough, expressed their opinion that a survey was 

 *verie likelie to be as badde as others.'" The case of Edward Spendlove 

 has been akeady mentioned. In January 1593 a return of the clergy in the 

 archdeaconry of St. Albans showed that all the Hertfordshire ministers were 

 ' of good life and conversation,' though William More, vicar of St. Peter's, 

 had been ' detected by Mr. Archdeacon for suspicion of evil life,' but had 

 purged himself thereof." The social position of the clergy had improved 

 as steadily as their learning, and the personal defects charged against them in 

 1 643 were the defects usual among the gentry of the day. Thus Joseph 

 Soane, vicar of Aldenham, was sequestered for being ' a common gamester, 

 a Common Ale-house haunter, and frequently drunke, and a common 

 quarreller,' " while similar charges were brought against Phihp Leigh, vicar 

 of Redbourn,^' and Henry Hancock, vicar of Furneux Pelham, who was 

 further characterized as ' a prophane swearer of bloudy oathes.' " Griffith 

 Roberts, vicar of Ridge, was described as ' a common drunkard and tipler in 

 Ale-houses, and drinker of healths, quarrelling with them that will not 

 pledge him therein,' a description that points to politics as the real ground of 

 offence. •" 



Of more importance are the charges of innovation in the conduct of 

 services and in doctrine. There was of course considerable variety of opinion 

 even among Puritans, but men like Staunton, vicar of Bushey (1627-31)," 

 would urge their parishioners to communicate at other seasons as well as at 

 Easter," and Chauncey spoke of celebrations lasting ' two or three houres ' 

 together as the rule ' in many popular Congregations.' '* The services of the 

 ' malignant ' clergy are well described in the charges brought against them. 

 Dr. Mountford, rector of Anstey, was accused of having turned ' the Com- 

 munion Table Altarwise, and having a great Crucifix and Picture of the 

 Virgin Mary in the East-window . . . used bowings and cringings before 

 the said Table and Crucifix . . . and caused the said Table to be railed in, 

 and the Jesuits Badge to be set upon the Carpet " there, compelling the 

 people to come up to the railes, there to kneele to receive the Sacrament, 

 teaching them " that God was always present at the Altar by the presence of 

 his Grace, and was therefore to be bowed unto," and in his going up to the 

 Table to reade second Service, usually caused that part of the 43 Psalme to 

 be sung viz. Then shall I to the Altar goe, of God, &c.' " Richard Taylor, 

 parson of Buntingford, Westmill and Aspenden, had ' not only used frequent 

 bowings to the Communion-table set Altar-wise, but affirmed that there was 



Lambeth MS. xii, no. i. The proportions were six bachelors to twenty-nine married men. 

 ^ English Hist. Rev. xxvi, 338. 65 Morrice MS. (Dr. Vt^iUiams's Lib.), B, fol. 51. 



*^ ^tv. of the Old Jrchd. of St. Albans, 87. More was suspended at this time for failure to preach, 

 perform exercises and catechize (ibid.). " White, op. cit. 7. *« Ibid. 4. *' Ibid. 17. 



'" Ibid. 12. 91 Newcourt, Repert. i, 816. 



^2 Staunton, A Dialogue . . . between a Minister and a Stranger, 141-2. ^^ Chauncey, op. cit. 33. 



This ' carpet ' still belongs to the church. It is of plum-coloured velvet, and was probably made to 



cover the top, front and side of the altar ; its dimensions are 7 ft. 3 in. by 4 ft. 9 in., these measurements 



including the fringe of green silk mixed with gold, which is z\ in. deep. A large oval medallion is worked 



upon the frontal in green and gold ; it is surrounded with rays and has in the centre i-l?-l£^ This altar 



1637 

 cloth was exhibited (exhibit 253) at the Church History Exhibition held at St. Albans, 1905. 

 " White, op. cit. 13. 



