Sir,--In my commonplace book I find the following notes, being
extracts from the ancient Registers of East Peckham Church, Kent,
which have never (I believe) been published, and which may perhaps be
of service to the historian or antiquary.
1637. This yeare was the Communion-table rayled in by the
appointment of Dr. Ryves, Dean of Shorham {42} Deanery, and
Chancellor to the most Reverend Father in God, William Laud,
Archbishop of Canterbury, who commanded this uniformity to
be general throughout the kingdom.
1638. This time of lent being to be kept holy by fasting and
abstinence from flesh, notwithstanding Sir Roger Twisden, Knt
and Baronett and Dame Isabella his wife, being both very sick
and weake, in my judgement and opinion [are] to be tolerated
for the eating of flesh.
FRANCISC. WORRALL, Vicar.
A similar entry occurs for the three following years.
1648. Upon the third of June the following Infants all born in
the parish of Brenchley were baptized in this parish Church, by
an order granted from Sir John Sedley, Knight and Baronett, Sir
John Rayney, and Sir Isaac Sedley, Knights:--
"Whereas complaints have often been made unto us by many of the
principal inhabitants of the Parish of Brenchley, that they having
desired Mr. Gilbert, minister of the said Parish, to baptize their
children, and according to the Directorie offered to present them
before the Congregation, he hath neglected or refused so to do;
whereby divers infants remain unbaptized, some of them above a
year old, expressly contrary to the said Directorie.
"We do therefore order that the parents of such children do bring
them unto the Parish Church of East Peckham, where we desire that
Mr. Topping, minister of the said Parish, would baptize them
according to the sayd Directorie, they acquainting him with the
day they intend to bring them beforehand.
"Dated ye 25th of May 1648.
"JOHN SEDLEY.
"JOHN RAYNEY.
"ISAAC SEDLEY."
The last extract may illustrate the progress of Anabaptism, under
the Parliamentary rule, and serves by way of curious sequel to the
preceding excerpta.
In a window of the same church I observed this inscription:--"Here
stoode the wicked fable of Mychael waying of [souls]. By the law of
Qvene Elizabeth according to God[s] Word is taken away."