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Some Elizabethan Penances in the Diocese of Ely
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 February 2009
Extract
The documents printed below from the originals in the possession of Mr. J. W. Ford, J.P., of Enfield Old Park, by whom they were kindly communicated to the Society, have some interest in connexion with an obscure aspect of the ecclesiastical government of the later Tudor and early Stuart periods.
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References
page 263 note 1 Especially Prothero, G. W., Select Statutes, &c. (1906)Google Scholar; Gibson, 's CodexGoogle Scholar; Strype, 's WhitgiftGoogle Scholar; Reeve, , History of English LawGoogle Scholar; Stubbs, Bishop's Report on Ecclesiastical Courts (Historical Appendix)Google Scholar; S. and Webb, B., History of English Local Government, vol. i.Google Scholar; Gasquet, Abbot, The Parish (‘Antiquary's Books’)Google Scholar; Smith, Toulmin, The Parish (1857)Google Scholar; Ayliffe, 's Parergon (1726)Google Scholar; Lyndewode, 's Provinciale (1679)Google Scholar, Prideaux, 's Directions to Churchwardens (1716)Google Scholar, Phillimore, , Ecclesiastical Law (1873).Google Scholar An important essay on this subject will, shortly be published by Mr. S. L. Ware, of the Johns Hopkins University. An interesting view of the discipline enforced by the Puritan clergy is to be found in Camden, Third Series, vol. viii., and some references to the subject will, appear in the Diary of the Rev. Ralph Josselyn (1625–1685)Google Scholar, which will shortly be published in the same series.
page 264 note 1 Cf. Gibbons, A., Calendar of the Ely Episcopal RecordsGoogle Scholar, Historical MSS. Comm. 12th Report, App. IX. p. 378 sq.; ibid. Various Reports, vol. i. p. 350, and passim, Surtees Society, vol. xxii. &c.
page 264 note 2 In addition to those printed in such texts as the Surtees Society, vol. lxxxiv.
page 264 note 3 Cf. Ecclesiastical Documents (Chancery and Exchequer), passim, and Significavits (Petty Bag, Cursitors Records, passim). Mr. Ford has in his possession a contemporary MS. (attributed to the Rev. Simon Ford, D.D.), containing the process of confession and absolution of a penitent, who had been prevailed on to take the oath of allegiance to the Pretender in 1715. The offence seems to have been dealt with canonically as a case of ‘false swearing.’ Mr. Ford has also communicated a MS. Form of Reconciliation of a penitent of a still later date, which was apparently the conventional form in use in the middle of the eighteenth century.
page 265 note 1 Nos. 2 to 7, 9, 10. In No. 12 the date of penance is deliberately fixed after Lent.
page 265 note 2 Nos. 1, 8, n and 14.
page 266 note 1 The dates were left blank and were subsequently filled in, as in the case of the remaining documents.
page 266 note 2 Probably Richard Bridgwater, M.A., Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, and one time Public Orator and Proctor.
page 267 note 1 See Prefatory Note.
page 271 note 1 It will be observed that Robert Stennell and William Fowler are not included in this certificate.
page 272 note 1 Probably a relative of Sir John Amye, a Chancery Master at this date, like Dr. Thomas Legge.
page 275 note 1 The document is arranged in this order of date in the collection; but it is now impossible to determine whether the year should be 1595 or 1596.
page 276 note 1 of MS.
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