then the Rev. Mr. Samuel Bentham succeeded in this office on Nov. 9, 1716.1 Later on there may be traced appointments to the office of Confessor to the King's Houshold. It does not seem to have ceased until the middle of the nineteenth century. The list of Confessors from 1606 to 1833 is given by Dr. Sheppard, the last being appointed in that year and succeeded in 1859 by a clergyman with a new name of office: Chaplain at the Palace of St. James'.3 It The word absolution does not always mean during this period a solemn administration of a rite, either in Church or in Court. is used loosely, not as a word of art. The episcopal absolution seems to be spoken of in an irregular sort of way. The Dean of Durham, Dr. Denis Granville, wishing to clear himself to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Sancroft, on Easter Even, 1685, says: As for any infirmities and imprudences in this transaction, I beg God's, my lord's [of Durham], and particularly your Grace's absolution.1 So also Miss Burney, when at Bath, says they had a most excellent sermon on the Sunday from the Bishop of Peterborough, Dr. Hinchcliffe, who after dinner "proposed a frolic," which was to drink tea at Spring Gardens. Mrs. Thrale had invited company, and, on returning from this "frolic," found her house full of people. She "was in horrid confusion; but as the Bishop gave her absolution, her apologies were very good naturedly accepted in general ".5 Dr. Haweis, one of the more prominent Calvinistic clergymen in the Church of England at the end of the eighteenth century, is credited with an attack upon Dr. Pretyman Tomline, the Bishop of Lincoln mentioned above, in which he remarks, not without sarcasm, that if what he says cannot be made good, "I shall then take shame to myself, and implore your Lordship's absolution "." 1 The Old Cheque Book, ed. Rimbault, Camden Society, 1872. New Series III. pp. 15, 26, 28. 2 See Cardanus Rider, Sheet Almanack for 1778, p. 76, and Royal Kalendar for 1181, p. 130, and Rider's British Merlin for 1829 under Chapel Royal when the Confessor of the Household is Henry Fly, D.D. F.R. and A.S. "J. Edgar Sheppard, Memorials of St. James's Palace, Longmans, 1894, vol. ii. p. 299. Miscellanea, Surtees Society, 1861, vol. xxxvii. p. 210. Diary and Letters of Madame d'Arblay, 1780, June, London, Colburn, 1842, vol. i. p. 371. p. 19. Church of England vindicated from Misrepresentation, London, Mawman, 1801, APPENDIX TO CHAPTER VIII. [BRITISH MUseum, add. mS. 32,415.] f. 229 b.] By vertue of an order from the reverend Mr. Tanner, Comissary of the Archdeaconry for Amy King to do penance in the Parish Church of Helmingham. 1 To be repeated by the Person doing Penance after the Minister as followeth.2 NB. After the service, before the Psalms, and Sermon I Amy King, late of the Parish of Helmingham, do here, in the presence of Almighty God, and this congregation, humbly confess and acknowledge, that I have, most grievously, offended his divine Majesty, in defiling my body, by committing, the heinous Sin of Fornication, with William Pells of Otley, For which, my said foul offence, I am heartily sorry, and do sincerely, repent thereof, and beg of God, mercy and forgiveness, for the same. Desiring all you, here present, to take warning, at this my punishment, for the avoiding, any the like wickedness, and to pray God, for me and with me, that his wrath, and plagues, threatned against whoremongers, adulterers, fornicators, and all such unclean persons, may be turned away, from me, and this parish town, wherein I now dwell, desiring also, all good people, to forgive me, this scandal, which I have given them, and the profession, of Christianity, And I do promise, by Gods grace, for the remainder of my days, to live soberly, chastly, and godly, which that I may do, I desire you all, to joyn with me, in prayer, and 5 say the Lords Prayer.5 Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingd. come; Thy will be done in Earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us, And lead us not into Tempt: 7 but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingd. and the Power, and the glory, for ever and ever, amen. f. 229.] After this you may say to the apparitor I won't insist upon the 1 It was done the 5th of Aug. 1733. To... followeth: underlined. [The punctuation in the confession is due to the necessity of reciting the form slowly, "after the Minister".] 5-5 and... Prayer: interlined. 7-7" but.. evil" added in margin. riguour to have her stand all the time of the sermon; You may take 1of her sheet; 2 and let her sit in the lower end of the Church. INSCR. A schedule of penance enjoined the 13' day of June in the year of our Lord 1733, by the worshipful John Tanner Clerke Master of arts in and throughout the whole archdeaconry Official lawfully constituted to be performed by William Pells of Otley and Amy King of Helmingham in the county of Suffolk and Archdeaconry aforesaid for the Crime of fornication by them committed. The said William Pells and Amy King shall be present in the Parish Churches of Otley and Helmingh[am] aforesaid on some sunday or sundays before the last day of August next ensuing standing penitently in the middle Alley before the Ministers seat or the pulpit, cloathed in a white sheet, holding a white rod or wand in their hands, having papers pinn'd upon their breasts describing their faults or sin, And then and there in such sort to continue during the whole time of divine service-and at the end of the same before the congregation is dismiss'd and the blessing given shall upon their knees make their humble confession repeating every word after the Minister with an audible voice as followeth : [end of f. 229] [BODLEIAN LIBRARY, MS. OXF. ARCHD. PAPERS, OXON. C. 130. FO. 85.] In the Archdeaconry Court of Oxford. Bridges against Castle. A Schedule of Penance enjoined Thomas Catle† of the parish of Saint Ebbe in the city and Archdeaconry of Oxford by the Reverend William Brown clerk Master of Arts surrogate of the Reverend George Turner clerk Master of Arts Official Principal of the Reverend the Archdeacon of Oxford lawfully constituted to be by him performed in the parish church of Saint Ebbe aforesaid on Sunday the twenty second day of February in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one. The said Thomas Castle shall on the day and year aforesaid in the parish church of Saint Ebbe aforesaid immediately after Morning Prayers and Sermon ended before the Minister churchwardens and two other Parishioners of the said parish, after the Minister distinctly repeat the following words. Good People. Whereas I contrary to good manners and Christian Charity have unjustly reproached and defamed Elizabeth 3 Scored through in MS. 1 sic. Bridges wife of John Bridges of the Chapelry of North Hincksey in the county of Berks, by saying to her "You are a strumpet and I knew you when you lay on the Botley Road," of which I am convicted in the said Court by my own Confession and by the decree of that Court am come hither to acknowledge my Fault, which I heartily do, and am sorry that I have so defamed and injured the said Elizabeth Bridges and do hereby ask forgiveness of the same. This agrees with the Acts of Court. Andw Walsh This schedule of Penance was duly performed by the said Thomas Castle in the parish Church of Saint Ebbe aforesaid on the day and time above mentioned in the presence of us [Here follow names of Minister, Churchwardens, and two parishioners.] CHAPTER IX. CHURCH SOCIETIES. WHEN the storm of the Rebellion was over, Little Gidding could hardly fail to inspire some to follow its example. And though many of the schemes proposed in our period came to nought, yet it is good to see the idea of a life devoted in common to recollection, prayer, study, or charity, springing up in so many quarters, and encouraged during our period by those who can speak with authority. The first of these projects took shape but a short time before the return of the King. On September 3, 1659, thus six months before the Restoration, good Mr. Evelyn wrote from Says-Court to the famous Robert Boyle, explaining his intention to quit the world, and found a society "to preserve science and cultivate themselves". First, thirty or forty acres of land were to be purchased near London; the building was to be divided up so that each apartment "should contain a small bed chamber, an outward room, a closet, and a private garden, somewhat after the manner of the Carthusians. There should likewise be one laboratory, with a repository for rarities and things of nature; aviary, dovehouse, physick garden, kitchen garden, and a plantation of orchard fruit &c." He has already said there was to be "a pretty chapel" and there was also to be a chaplain. As to diet, there was to be: "At one meal a day, of two dishes only (unless some little extraordinary upon particular days or occasions, then never exceeding three) of plain and wholesome meat; a small refection at night". In the following "Orders" it may be particularly noted that "the principal end of the institution" is "the promotion of experimental knowledge". ORDERS. At six in summer prayers in the chapel. To study till half an hour after eleven. Dinner in the refectory till one. Retire till four. Then |