The Cafe of the Inhabitants 6f the Tdwh and Tarifhol Qwyden^ in the County of Smrey ;• concerning the Great Oppreffions they If under, by reafon of the Unparallel'd Extbr- tions, and violent illegal and unwarrantable Profecutions of Do(ftor W^iUiain " r* m - — car Bumhly Prefentcd to the Confiderat'm of Padiam ent. ihamf ton-Shire-, in which he behaved himfclf Clergie-Man, as will apt5ear by the Articles 1,1 n^ i i,"" ^cnty years o^ger and living, was reftorcd to his Beitehc^ WlSh Sw ,«d and Offactatcd there in that capacity, but C/ewer would never navh m ?^^^^^ ges, fo that he might have Starved, if fome of the ^ I ^ 1 1 he did fometitncs Read Comfnon Prayers and Divinf ServTc/) relief, for which CW caufed him to be fenTfornn rn r I and being fo Oldehat he could .MRac mSn^'K ht°™ch^ k'®"®" ae^fluft wieh««w, nndkcptn. tc»^„ The Articles Exhibited againft the faid Clemr Bv the Aid follows. oy tne laid Vanjhtoners, were a: • •• • ArtkUsJ.MUui .gd„fl William Clewer, Jii;«i?cr ./• ' ^ AOitDn in the County of Northampton, FIrft, thatthefaidC/fTVfris a" very CovctCus'^Man md » j ■ ' to ex.a and extort Sntns of Money a Jd^tte h and others that he hath to deal fdr., ^ Panjhmers, , The (aid Clemr did unjuflly demand a Cow for a Herrioi- nf v. r it ■ Poor Widow, whofe Husband was then lately-yead and n;H r,a P ^ rijh was forced toBury him at their Charge: he iSv^rL AM t T ' .halt y'keTirwaX ttS (hetlwLSwrrSwS ^ P"y her weekly one ffliffngfor the main®,'nee Thefaid Clemr hzth feveral times unjullly'detained and'withheld the Wai>es of Labourers i.om them who had Painfully and fairhfu'lv done their n..ri' ^ He caufed a Poor Widow (whofe Husband vvas there latelv bead S n i k- r.iV left in Debt Hay pounds at lealf, A " r ' ►-* ^ tf . ■ - ( 2 ) ^ having four (mall Children unable to maintain themlelves ) to pay him the tenth 1^ • penny for a Calfwhichfhe (bid towards the Payment of her Husbands Debts ^ and ' enforced hertopaytwo pence for the Head and Pluck which flic had referved for r her felf. 'f. The laid Clewer hath pulled down a great part of the Parfonage Houle, and con- || verted the Materials thereof to his own ufe. The faid Clerver notwithftanding his Parfonage at AJhton-y is Worth one Hundred - and Twenty Pounds by the Year at leaft : yet for lucre of Money did undertake to ferve another Cure of Twenty Pounds by the Year, by means whereof he ferved neither of thera as he ought to do. The faid Clemr is a very Contentious Man, and doth much vex and trouble, and difquiet his Neighbours, Parifliioners arid others, by unjufl Suits and Malicious troubles. For, The faid Clemr did in a Clandeftine way,procure a Bond which was made to a Set" jeant at Arms for (ecurity, and fued one Budrvorthj who was Surety herein, upon the fame, and recovered Fifty Pounds of him, and caufed him to fpend Fiffy Pounds more at leaft, notwithftanding the Serjeant at Arms was never Damnified one pcny thereby. The faid Cleroer hath at the laft Affizcs in the County of Northampton indidted a Gentlewoman of his Parifti of good Parentage, and of Worth and (^ality, for Fe- lony, for Stealing of his Horlie s and himfelf, and his Wife, and Maid gave evi- dence thereupon, and would have brought the Gentlewomans Life in queftion if he polfibly could have done it: and when the Grand Jury had returned the Bill Igno- ramus-, he gave out in Speeches, that he had fufficiehtly diiparaged the Gentle- woman by what he had done. That he hath commencedSuits againfl: divers of his Parifliioners,who were willing to pay him his juft dues, becaufe they would not pay what he would unjuftly have ex- ad:ed and extorted from them. He hath refufed to pay jufl: Debts owing by him, and hath declared, he would rather fpend one hundred Pounds in Law , than pay five Pounds when he is fue^Jbr' it, though it were due. , A n The faid is very weak unable and infufticient for the Minifterial Fundfioii,; and idle,and will not take pains therein as he ought to do, nor perform what of Du- ty he ought : For He doth ordinarily Preach other Mens Works, Verbatim., that are in Print, which the Parifliioners have in their Hou(es, and can read at Home* ^^1 ^ He hath ftveral times in his Sermons uttered and (poke nonCenfe. He hath neglcfSed his Cure upon feveral Lords Dayes, to profecute contentious Suits and Quarrels, and for his own eafe,and procured none to fupply the fame. Refuted to Baptize the Child of a Vifible Believer, being tendred and the Fa- ther prefent. Refufed to Baptize the Child of a Souldier that was in Service, becaufe the. Father was not prefent, and the Child died within few dales. f /'A ; Mm ■4,1 - -Sy: f ■ i i 4/ ; isfef Wi J t 4-' 'the faid Clewer is fcandaktu in his Life and Gonverfation For, '. P"Irft, He is a Liar, and a cofhmon fpeaker of Untruths. Secondly, He did Privately keep in his Houfe one Miftris Bernard-, Widow, fix or feven Weeks together,and denied that fhe was there : and afterwards kept her publickly, having no relation to her, and now keepeth her as his Wife, but whe- ther they Were ever Married according to the Laws, is not known. That he the faid Clemr hath been Drunk, and abufed himfelf with excefs^ Hi The Kings Maje^y being reftored, the Sequeftred incumbent Dodor Whitfard ' cntred upon the faid Living, and Doftor Clemr being thereupon to feck for a be- nificc came to London-) and then pretended himfelf to be a zealous Son of the Church (though for ten years before he had poffeft the Sequeftred Living, and Violently Profecuted his Reader, for Reading Common-Prayer as aforefaid ) and not being well known about London, hearing that the Vicarage of Croydon was Void, made . Friends 'w ® ' E-CcJ- ' { ' 7 e .. w' Friends to the Earl of Clarenden then Lord Chancellour of England^to obtain the which he effededby thehelpof aGentlemanj ( to whom he prorhifed a good ,.Re- ward for his pains,to be paid him fo foop as the Prefentation (hould be Sealed^ which Gentleman having obtained the Prefentation, the Dodor got it from him j but ne- ver paid him to this day, as the Gentleman reported. That having got this Prefentation to CrflyiuM, he hafiened thither; the V'icarag^ confifis only of fmall Tythes, which at the utmoft Value, is not worth above Eighty Pounds>thisfor feme time was paid thcDr.per t^«;f«w,whowhen hehad been a little in the Parifh and had got all the Parifhioners Names into his Book, fell to his old Praftices ofOppreffionand Extortion, bringing frequently Vexations Suits againft all or moft of the Parifhioners fbecaufe they would not comply with his unconfci- onable and extravagant demands. Under thefe Horrid Oppreffions the Parifhioners having many years fu/fered, and fome hundreds of the Inhabitants ruined thereby", they joined together, and caufed the faid Dodor to be indidcd for a Common Bar- rater, was to have come to a Trial in Hillary term 1673, at the Kings-Bench Bar: ac- cordingly the Jury was fummoned, and the Informers ready to have made good the Indidment by above three-hundred WitnelTes : but about two daies before the faid Trial fhould have been, a Noli Profequi wiS entred, by means whereof the Trial was ftopt. This Noli Trofequi was obtained by fraud alfo, for Clevrer finding that the Parifh were refolved for to profecute, came to orietIi4r. Bickjerton-i who was then one of Mr. Bar on'turners ClexkSy tells him thereof, addinjg that he was like to be undone therer by,for that the Roguesfas he called |hem) would fware him to be zCpmvnQnBarratori then asked him whether he believed there could be fiich Rogues in England^To which the laid Bickerton replied, that he al waies fufpe<9:ed that a mifchief would come upon him,for his continued Vexations continued to his Poor Parilhioners 5 and wondred they had not done it fooner , adding, that he believed they had jqft caufe to pro<;eccI againft him,by what he underftood of his wayes in proceeding againft them in theEx7 chequer. Whereupon Clexver asked if there were no way to ftop the Trial for that Time ? beg'd his afliftance if poffible to do the famc,promifing to give him ten pounds ibr his pains if he fiicceeded therein : Upon which Mr. Bickerton advifed him to get a Noli Profeqai, for which purpofe a Petition was drawn, fetting forth that the Pa- lifhioners wereLitigious,fadious People,would pay him no Tythes,but forced him by means thereof to fue for his dues,and now had indited him for a Common Barrater, meerly for bringing fiich his lawful Suits againft them v therefore prayed Proceed-!- ings might be ftopt. This done, the faid Dodtor gave Bickerton a note under his hand to pay him ten Pounds if the Suit were ftopt that Term, and away he went with the Petition to a Perfbn that prefented it to his ( who, being mifinformed, and thinking that the faid Docftor might have juft occafion to fue as by Petition he pre- tended) did order Mr. Attorney General to enter a Noli Profequi i and accordingly a Noliprojeqjii reckiag his Majejlies Command was granted,andthe Suit ftopp'd,which done the raidDo fbnable Fees for their Burials, as if they had been buried by him in the Church-yard s thofe that would not comply with Kim, he fued and extorted great fumes of money from them f6r his Charges as well as Duties, before he would clear his Profccutipn. 13. He 13. He denied to receive his Tithes in kind of feveral of his Parifliioners, though duly tendered to him, and he delired to accept of them > demands of them what mo- neys he pleafes in liew thereof i And if they do not pay what he demands, hefues them at Law i and if they agree and pay for one, two, three, four, five, or fix years at the rate compounded for, then at the fix years end he demands of them thear- rears of Tithes, pretending the Tithes to be of greater yearly value then what he com- pounded for : and if the People will not pay what he demands above hiscompofirion- money paid for theft years part, then he lues them till rhey by frights, and being put to unreafonable trouble and charge, were enforced to give him what he demanded rather then be undone by contending with him i that being the lefTer evil of the too, by him-put to their choice. 14. Here by this violent Perfecution of diverfe poormen5hath forced them to leave their Wives and Children, and leek fhdter in remote places, to the utter ruine of their Families. 15. He demands of the poor Inhabitants the tenth Penny got by their day labour, and threatnes to compel them to bring their Milk into the Church-Porch to fell, and therp deliver him his tench: from feme he hath extorted great fums of money, on pfetaice that he had been at Law with them ftven years, whereas they were never ftrved with any Procefs ^ others he hath ftrved with Erocefs after, they had newly paid him his demands, to put them to further vexation and charge. One Proceft which he had taken out againft a man, he altered it, and made another man pay the charges as \i it had been originally made out againft him. i6» He frequently extorts great Sums of Money from his Parilhioners for Marry- ing out of the Parilh i and thoft that refufe to pay him what he demands for that Offence, he refufts to receive chcir Tythes, and then fues them for their Tythes and that together. . ' / / ■ : 17. Such perfbns as refufe to pay the laid DoAor his unjuft Demands,he will not fuffer the Clerk to receive his juft Dues, threatning to fue both for his Money and Clerk's Dues^ when as both hath been tendred, and might have been received with- out any Suit. ' 18. He hath arrefted feveral on pretended great AdHons, and thereby kept them in J^rifon, and ycf on the Tryal could prove nothing againft them i to the utter mine of thefe poor People imprifoned ; and hath forced feveral perfons to pay him five pounds, where his due is but twelve pence. By thefe and the like Extortions he makes his Eiving above 250/. fer aumnt', which never was worth to any his Predeceflbrs above 60 /. and enricheth himfelf by the mines of his Parifhioners, efpecially the poorer fort that live on the Common, whom he endeavours to enllave becaufe they are not able to contend with him at Law. That Petition and Articles were read, I * ■ The Kings moft excellent Majefty, his Royal Highnefs the Duke of and eighteen more of his Majefties mdtt Honourable Privy-Council were prefent, and the Order following was made. \ <■ • C <5 ) • « t At the Court at VVfntehal/, the z\ March-, '6-]z. \ Prefent ' The icing's moll Excellent Ma jelly. His R oval Highnefs the Duke of Tork. Earl of Arlingmi. Lord Chancellor. Earl of Lord Treafurer. Earl of ^ , - • , • Duke of ' Lord Vifcount Duke of OrwtfW. Loxdi Nervpert. ' Bridgwater. Lord Berkley, y " Earl oi Northampton. Mr. Sccxttzxy Coventry. ,y Earl of Anglefey. Mr. Chancellor of the Dutchy Earl oi Carlijle. " Maftcr of the Ordnance. ,■ Sir Thomas Osborne. THc Inhabitants of the Town of Croydon in the County of Surreyyhy their Petition this day read at the Board, humbly complaining of the many Oppreifions, Extortions, violent and unwarrantable Proceed- ings oiX>x.William Clewer.,Nic2LXo£ the fa id Paiiih of Croydon^z^zmli the Petitioners, under pretence of recovering his Tythes, infomuch that in a fhort time (if Relief be not given) tnoft ofthe Petitioners will be forced to leave their Dwellings, or be inevitably ruined, as feme of them with their Families have already been •, It was thereupon Ordered by his Majefty in CounciL That the Petitioners do forthwith deliver in to the Clerk of the Council attending, the Particulars wherewith they in- tend to charge the faid Dr. C/^'wer, to the end he may have a Copy thereof timely enough to conie prepared to make his Defence thereunto on Friday the 4th of next: which time his Majefty hath appointed to hear the faid Complaints, and doth command that all Parties con- cern'd do then give tWir attendance. , j , .. I ^ohu NlicholorS. • According to this Order,a fhort Paper was delivered in to the Ckrk of theOiun- cil, whereby the Parifliioners declared they wouldhnfift upon, - Opprejjion, Extortion-, common Barretry, Snbornatim of Perjury, Forgery, Felony, and feme more fuch like petty Crimes of his Dodorfliip. , 1 But before the Caufe came to be heard, the A6l oi Grace came out ^ zndBarretryy a thing never pardoned by any former Adl of Grace, was pardoned thereby. The fourth o(April i<573.his Majefty was gracioufly pleafed to come early to the Councifand together with his Royal Highnefs, and twenty more of the Lords of trie PrivyCouncilfate, with unfpeakable Patience heard the Charge againft the faid Dodor made good, which was done bythe Oaths of feveral-perfons in every par- ■ ticular mentioned in the faid Articles, and many others (it poflibie more wicked and hainous than the former) was proved againfthim. 1. Asfirjiy he being one ofthe frujleesfor the Alms-lmfes in Cxoydo\\rpould not Jiiffer Almes-men to be admitted till he had forced them to promife to aHono him one half of the profits of the fdid Alms-houfes, and ipo}^ Bond for the fame i rrhich done, he admitted them ; and would have turned one Edward Hmnfry out of hit Almf-houfe rvhen he amid no longer afford to pay him four Jhillings a month according to the J aid Bendy tvhicb Hum- iurnd out bythe faid VoClor. ^ , '2, Phat . . y r 7) 2. rrh^n at the Sacrament money hath been coUeEledfor the Poor-, he too}^ a third part of it to his ovpn ufe^ faying:. None was poorer than the Vicar, and kept itwhich hath fmce prevented mens Charity 3. That he fent for a man from London pretending he would pay himfome money which he owed his Father who w,ps dead the poor man came to Croydon to his houfe^ and was made wdcome^and had good meat and drinky after {which he was carried ly theVoclor into the Garden-^ made eat Fruits which done-^ he fent him away without a penny of mo- Hey : but that'was not alf forfoon after he arrejiedjhe poor man in an Adion of frefpafs (if two or three hundred pounds dammage for coming into his ground^kept him a prif ner till he was forced to feal him a general. Keleafe^ and fo cheated him of his Debt-, which was about thirty pound-ydnd grew due to his Father Mr.Prefton as aforefatd-,for officiating as Cu- rate for him at Afhton in Northamptonfhire* 4. fhey proved that the Doctor had two fpecial Baylijfs that do all his hufnefs, one of them hath been burnt in the hand-, the other a vile Kogue as is in the Country \ thefe Ar- rejl his Parijhioners-, then bringing them to his houfe-, there they are kept Prifoners till he force them to agree to what he pleafeth > which done,, he draws them into Judgments in- (lead of pretended Notes : and thefe are they whom he ufeth-, together with a moji\excellent Gentlewoman Mrs. ReamsV Daughter in law-who went there by the name i?/Mrj.Clewer, who by the report of the whole Country and People at Wcfiminfter, had a Child before her Marriage., lay in at t(\(inn(\cr.,and the Doctor was. much with her.,andjhe went for his Wife., though her Mother was then alive \ now lives in the DoSors houje., wholly governs him, to fay no worfe, makes him opprefs the People asJhepJeafeth^ and is bis conftant [Wit-* ncfs to ail his Agreements. 5. fhey proved that when the DoUor hath gone into the Pulpit to Preach-, he hath dropi bundles of Writs out of his Pockets taken out againji his Parijhioners j and being taken up and perujed, have been found to be raz^din the Dates and in the Names-, and new Dates and new Names put into them : which was a frequent thikg with him, he making twenty Warrants out againji twenty Perfons upon one (ingle Writ -, and making each per- Jon pay feven jl:illings fx pence for charges, when the Writ coji him not above three Jhil- lings s fo that be got above feven pound by a Writ, and_ made a property of hii Majejlies CQurt of Exchequer-, to the enriching himfelf and impoverifhing his Parijhioners' And af ter, when he jhould have been Preaching on Sundayes, did ufe to ride to London to follow Suits againji his Parijhionersjeaving them without any one to Preach or read Prayers for them. 6* That he fent for the Parijhioners to come to his houfe to pay their 'tithes, and when they hadfi done, f requently Arrejied fome of them in Adions of trefpafsfor coming upon his ground, thereby putting therh to great charge, and ruined feme of them* 7. T'hat he hired a Carrier to bring his goods to London, which was done, and in London an old Deskjwas jiole out of the Carriers Warehoufe, by his letting his goods lie there three week/ ^fter brought up j but the man that ftole it was catcht, the Desl^brought hackjo the Inn, was opened, not kftowing whofe it was, and there was only in it a pair of Slippers and one old Law Book* Uoe Dodor arrejls the Carrier, declares againji him for ipol. pretended to be in the faid Desk* T'he Carrier telling his Landlord thereof, he produced the fatd Desk^^'ith the things aforefaid in it \ fo that Suit ceafed. 8. He hath cmfed the Gentry to leave the Town,to the Kuine ther€of,^oUed the School, fa that no Gentle mens Sons come at it. He hath caufed Lands and Houfe s to fall in their Kents, brought down the Price of them in their Sale above three years Purchajiy mak/s Tenants that they will tak/ no Leafe,unlefs Landlords rrill Covenant to fecure them againji him s To^hicb they dare not do, and fo the Houfes and Lands jiand empty and lie wajie*- And he hath forced the P'arijlnoners to leave their Parijh-Church, and to keep from re-' ceiving the Sacrament, infomuch that there are not above ten or twelve in the Parijh 'hefides Almspeople (who are obliged) that wiU come to the Church or Sacrament s hut if a jiran- ' ger at any time do Preach, there comes at leaji fix,feven,or eight hundred. , Laftly-^ That the jaid Dodor endeavpured to part Husbands from their Wives, raiffng falfe Stories of them ? offered himfelf to fue out Divorces. And many more Ctimcs of this nature. Thefe matters ,and alfb the aforefaid Articles, being clearly proved, the faid Dodlor only for defence offered, that the Parifhioners would pay him no Tithes v thereupon was forced to Sue them for his Dues, and prayM time to make defence, •Whereupon the Order following was made. ( 8 ) At Whitehall the fourth of April \6^y Prefentj The King's moft Excellent Majefty. His Royal Highnefsthe Duke of Tork. His Highnefs Prince Rupert, Lord Chancellor, Lord Treafurer. Duke oi Lauderdale. . Duke of Ormond. Marquefs of Werce^er, Earl of Ogle, Earl of Offory, Lord Great-Chamberlain. Earl of Bridgxoater. Earl ot Northampton, Ear! of Anglefe^. Earl of Caritjle. . 'RzxXoi Craven. Earl of Arlington. ' Earl ot Carbttry. Vifcount Hallifax. Mr. Secretary Coventry. Mr. Chancellor of the Dutchy. Matter of the Ordnance. IS Majefty having this day heard at large the complaints of the Inhabitants of the Parilh of Croydon in Surreyj againft Dodor C/m'^r,Vicarof that Place,concerningfeveralexorbitantCourfes by him pra,difed for recovery of his Tithes, was pleafed to refer the whole mat- ter to his Grace the Lord Arch-Biftiop of and to the Earle of Shaftsbury Lord High Chancellor of England; who requiring the faid Dodor, and fbme of the principal perfons of the faid Parifli, to attend them, are to endeavour to fettle the bufinefs for the future ^quiet of tL. Parifhioners, and that there may be a conftant maintenance for the Vicar there: which if their Lordfliips fliall not be able to etfed, they are to return their Opinion and Advice to his Maj etty what they conceive fit to be done therein. ■ Nicholas^ * . with this Order his Gracethe Lord Arch Bilhop oiCtrnterhitry, and the Right Ho- nourable the Lord High Chancellor oi England being attended, they we^e pleafed to appoint a day in May lafi: paft,when both.parties, with their Wituefles, fhould attend their Lordihips at Lambeth-Honfe, where the matters aforetaict were made manifeft. As alio, That the faid Dodor Ckwer was a notorious and coaimon I'keif, that ufed to come into Bookfellers Shops and Ileal Books and carry them away, fcveral Mallets of Shops gave Teftimony thereof. To which the Dodor being to give anfwer, de- clared that true it was, that he was fitting in a Shop, readme a Book, and faw a Gentleman come by that he had occalion to fceak ^with, and in nafieian- alter hirn and forgot to lay down the Book and carried it with himi but the man prefently followed him and took it of him. But alas, good Gentleman ! he had often liad this chance of following his Friends with qtlicr mens Books under his Cloak- If he had done fo but once, it miglit have pafled as forg^tfulnefs: But it fell out. veiy uhliickily, that at bisShop at the BiWc on Ludgate'HiUJuc came in and took away a Book of good value, carried it beyond Fket-Bridge, ^nd^there was overtaken, and brought back, and beg'd Pardon, declaring who he waS. Mr. Sarvbridg thereupon'; Joth to bring any (candal upon a man of his Coat, went with him into Fetter-Lane toa Gentlemans Houfcto inquire of him, and finding that he was Dpiifor Cleiver-, and Vicar QiCroydan-i refolved,to make no raprc noife of it, if he would ingenuoully O con- % r?) ^ ' confefs what Books he had formerly ftolen from him v for that he had often been at his Shop, and he had often loft Books, but never knew who to charge with them- Thereupon he promifcd he would go home, look over all his Books, and bring him the names of them, as alio money for them > that he never came there again, orient the Catalogue of the Books he had ftolen, but, he did fend his Wife to the Shop with about thirty nine (hillings, and-flie paid the fame for the Books he had ftolen i fo that it was not alwayes forgetfuliiefs, or running after Friends that made him car- ry Books out ot the Shops. The faid Dodtor being then asked, why after fo many Arrefts, and fo may fuits a- gainfl his Parifluoners, he never brought any one of them to Trial whereby the mo- dus decimandi might have been fettled ? It was proved againft him, that being de- manded the fame queftion in the Exchequer, he declared moft falfely and Scanda- loufly of his Grace of Cmterbury^ that his Grace had direded him not to do it, becaufe the then Lord Chief BaroU'^ (now Lord-Chief-Juftice Hales) was an Enemy to the Church of 'England. . ; Upon the whole mater, his Grace and the Lord Chancellor propofed to the Parifh to fettle a certain Mainten ance upon their Vicar for the future, that lb no more fuits might arife. To which the Parifliionersmoft willingly alfented, provided the Dodbr ' might be removed and have no benefit thereof s and propofed,as poor as he had made them, yet to be rid of him, and to have a good Learned Orthodox and Peaceable Man fetled amongft them, they would make a certain allowance of an hundred and twen- , ty Poandsper amum^ to be paid to the fucceeding Vicar by quarterly Payments with- out charge and trouble. No fooner was this Propofal made, but Dodtor Clewer^ who the World knows is a Notorious Lyar, (and the old Proverb is, A Liar had need to have a good memory) ftarts up j and .although juft before he had told their Lord(hips he was forced to bring his Adions, and to have multiplicity of Suits becaufe his Parilhioners would, pay him nothing , that although he had offered them his Vicarage at 60, 50, nay 30 /. per amum-,th,ty refuied to take the fatrie j he told them that 120 /. was nothing, for that the Parilh had offered him 1801. themfelves. Note^ht podfor let the Tithes for three years to one at 60 Lfer annum-^ and the faid received the Tithes of theTennants, paid him his Rents, and after- wards the Dotftor fued the Pariftiioners, and made many of them, to their utter Ruin, pay -him the faid Tithes over again, though they had Woods difcharge for the fame. ^ Neverthclefs to be rid of the Dodor the Parifh then propofed to allow an hundred and fixty pound per annum to the furviving Vicar. The conclufion of this meeting was that the Parifhioners fhould draw up their Pro- pofals in Writing, put them under their hands, and prefcnt them to the Lord High Chancellor of England: accordingly they were drawn up and figned by above three hundred Perfons, and prefented to hisLordfhip, and a Copy to his Grace of terhury , and one other Copy annexed to a Petition was prefented to his Majefly iii Council, the Purport whereof was as follows. 1. That provided Do (^t the Comt at VyhitehallzSo/ May, 0 Prefcnt^ I i The mopt Excellent (^Tajefty, His Royal Highnefs the Duke of Yori. Lord Arch-Bilhop of Canterbury. Lord Chancellor. Lord T reafurer. Lord Privy-Seal. Duke of LauderdaiI. Earle of Ogle. Earle of Bridgwater,. Earle of Bath, Earle of Carlijle. Earle of Arlington. Earle of graven. Earle oiCarbury. Vifcount of Halii fax. Lord Maynard. Lord Newfort. Lord HoUes. Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, Mr. Secretary Coventry. Mr. Chancellor of the Excheq. Mr.Chancellor of the Dutchy. Mr. of the Ordnance. Sr. Yhornas Osburn, Mr. Speaker. "T TT THcreas, upon hearing the Complaints of the Inhabitants of V T the PariOi of in the County of Surrey, againft Dr. Clewer Vicar of that Place, concerning feveral exorbitant courfes by him pradifed for recovery of his Tithes; it was the 4of April laft referred to his Grace the Lord Arch-Bifliop of Canterbitry) and the Lord High- Chancellor of B,ngland^ to endeavour to fettle the Bufinefs for the future quiet of the Parilhioners, and that there may be a conftant Maintenance for the Vicar there. Andthefaid Inhabitants by their Humble Peti- tion this day read at the Board, Praying his Majefty to receive a Report from r 13) From the Lords References of their Proceedings theitin/ and to fufpend the faid Dodor, and give the Petitioners leave to proceed at Law againft hIm,or otherwiHe to relieve them; it \vas thereupon Ordered by his Ma-' jefiy in Council, that it be again referred to his Grace the Lord Arch- oi Canterbury, and the Right Honourable the Lord High Chan- cellor of England) who calling a.11 ^Parties before them, are to endeavour , to.cornpofe and fettle the faid Bufinefs according to the Propofals made ■ by the faid Inhabitants of Croy den : but if they cannot effe<5f the famei then it is Ordered that the laid matter in difference be heard'at this* Board on Wcdncfday the nth of ^une next, at which time all Parties (Concerned are to give their attendance. Edmrd miket. ■ ■ j ' Before the time for this Hearing came, unluckily it fell out that Dr. denser having taken a little too much of the Creature in London, being upon his Journey hottj'e, jull as God would pleafe to have it (to (hew what he delerved ) againft the Gallows near Net^ington-Butts h\s Horfe threw him, or he fell off frotn his Horfe, broke his Leg in three pieces, and put his Shoulder out: there he lay and none would help him, the people thereabouts knowing him fo 'wcll that one cried, Lhere lies the Vicar o/Croy-s don his Leg broke^ I mmld to God he had broken his nec\\ the Church would then be no more feandalized by fuch a Kogue^ nor the poor Feople tormented. Others wifhed more fcvere things, which favoured not of Cbriftianity, therefore we will not mention them •, but certain it is no one would help to remove him till they were paid before- hand, becaufe lie is counted fo great- a Knave that none would trulf him v nor would d Coach-man take him up to carry him to Dr. fVdden's houfe ( the Parfon of J^ea- inzhn ) before he had ten fliillings in ha^nd, which is not half a Mile : And when he wis at Dodtor Welden^s houfe, hefcnt. for one Dodor thorland the Bohe-fetter from tmdon, who found him in a very ill condition, but very glad he faw him at all : for fit happened about twenty years lince an accident of th^ fame nature befel him in NorthamPtonjlnre, of which the faid Dodtor Lhorlani cured him, but to this day was ncvev paid for it: Neverthelefs the good man, as became a Chriflian, pitied .the Do- dor, and feeing his mifery, applied himfelf to his Cure, and effedcd the fame in about three months, when he demanded for his pains in this and the former Cure fifty pounds ; but the Dodor v/Ould not pay him , upon which he arrcfted him: thereupon lie pleaded hiinlelf his MajelHes Chaplain, fhewed a Certificate of his be- ing fworn in that capacity, and fo got off without paying for his Cure. And as unworthily he ferved Dodor Welden, in whofc houfe he fo long lay fick, to the great trouble and diforder of his family, prejudice and fpoyling of his Goods. By this means theCaufe could not come to a Hearing, as by the Order of z%tb 1673, v/as direcSted. But during this the Dodors frcknefs, he was fevetal times font unto by his Grace of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellor, to know if he would refigne i he declared that he would fo loon as there were indifferent Perfoiis nominated to Arbitrate the Diffe- rcnce between him and his Parifhioners concerning arrears of Tithes. Thereupon his Parifliioners prelented the Petition annexed, afid had the Order ofReferenceundef-written made thereupon. To his Grace the Lord Jrch^Bip)Op of CzntCTbnry^ and the %gln f-ionorabk the Lord high Chancellor of England. The Humble Petitiofl of the Inhabitants oiCrtydon. F . ■ ■ ^ Humbly Shcweth, _ r • TBAt your Vetitioners mofl thankfully acknowledge your Lordjhips great favour in giving them hopes of the removal o/PoSorClewer their Vicar^ and placing mmgft them \Ir. HAcoit who hath been ttpo Stindayesrpith them and Preached^ and the whole C 2 Tanjhingemrhl fatisfied tPJth himy and are ready to mak£ good their farmer FropofaU under their hands for makj^g a ftttled maintenaytce of one hundred, and fixty pounds per anil, to be jecured and paid in fuch manner M therein vpos propopd. Sunday the 22 day of - June in^la^t the Church Voores were Jhut upy there being no Terfon to Treacher read Frayeirsy Michwoi a great difcouragement to the Tarijh. fhat VoUor Cle wer, vpho( as your Tetitioners are informed) hadrefigned his Vicarage (or promifed on Friday lafi was feven night fo to have done ) doth now refufe to make fuch Jurrendery until by pur Lord' JhipSy two Gentlemen be nominated and appointed to arbitrate the matter in difference be^ tween him andfome of the Parijhioners concerni^^g his 'lithes in arrears^ to which your P^- titioners readily confent, 'that by the Order of his Majejiy and Councily upon the laji Tetition prefented by yoUr Fetitimersy it was referred to your Lordjhips to end this hufnefsif you couldyor otherwife the Caufe upon the faid Tetition to have been heard at that Board the iiih of June lafi paft h 'that your Tetitioners have none to Freach to them^ or Chrijieny Marryy or Bury > Mr. He(cott being gone into the Country• • « The Prcmifes confidered, they moft humbly implore your Lordfhips Favour to no- niiiiateand appoint under your Hands two Peifons to arbitrate the difference • aforefaid, and defire them to meet and end the fame, and that Dodtor Clewet may give his final determination whether he will furrender or not» and the Caufe thereupon to be fet down to be heard in Council > and in the mean time that you will be pleafed to appoint fome good man to Preach amongft them. # And as in Duty hound they JhaU Ft ay* July 24 1673. E do nominate and a^^int Sir Adam Brown Baronet^ and Sir William Haward, to I'e the Perfons to Arbitrate the matter in difference about "lithes in Arrears between Dr. Clewer, and the Inhabitants ^Croydon, and do dejire that they will undertake the trouble offending thefe differences between them. ' ' Gilb. Cant. Shaftsbury C. Whereupon Sir Adam Frorvny and Sir WiUiam appointed to meet at Cr0ydoHt\ie ^tb of Auguft 1573. where they met that day, and on the 7, and :^8th of Augujl and on the 2d and pth of Septembery to hear and compofei the matters in difference between the faid Vicar and his Pariftiioners. - And they heard,and determined about two hundred and fifty differences, and made their Report in expiefs words as foUoweth. To his Grace the Lord Jrch-Bijhop ^Canterbury, and the Eight Honora- ble the Lord High Chancellor of ■ May it pleafeyour LordJhipSy IN purfuance of your Lordihips Reference unto us made, upon the Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of in the County of ^arry, dated the 2^th o£ June lafi, we have been feveral dayes upon the Place (to witJ)on the 5th, dth, 7th, and 25th of Augujl lafl, and the 2d and ^th of September inftant, to endeavour to compofc the matter in difference betwixt Dr. Jftlliatn Clewer, and thole of his Parilh with whom he had any controverfie. On the •^tb of Augufi, the Doctor after fome delay came to us to the Cearge-Inn, where many of the Pariffiioncrs being prelcnc we examined as many of their Cales as we could before ten of the Clock at Night, when the Dodlor would ftay no longer, though a hundred of People were waiting, fo we adjourned to eight a Clock the next morning v when the Dodor rcfuftd to come to us, alledging indifpofition of Body. Whereupon refolving to proccgtl as far as we could, we went to his hcule, and continued fitting frpm eight iutheir.or- ning till half an hour paft twelve at night, without any intermiifion to eate, in which time we were Ibmetimes told by the Dodor that we needed not to trouble our felvcs any farther for that he and thofc that were then in Arrears to him (and which we had ) C 13 ) had not before determined fliould agree. But upon the irtiportnnity of the Poor we ftayed and heard all Pcrfons that the Dodtor then complained againit, and determin- ed every Cafe then before us, fo that we thought to have made our Report. But afterwards accidentally riding through the Town, 'hearing frefh Complaints upon the^dehrc of many of the Inhabitants, we appointed to meet again on the 2'yth p( AHgufi laft, when accordingly we came to the Tovvn, and fent for the Dodfor^ who rcfufed to come to us. Whereupon we again went down tohisHoufe, but were fo delayed by him, that we could not in the forenoon difpatch above eight or nine Pcrfoiis. Herefufing toktthofebe called chat were pic^fent,.and ready to pay money, and calling upon others that were not there, and who only owed him for Chrillenings and Offerings. And having fat till one of the Clocki we went to the George to dinner, defiring the Dodfors company witli us, offered him the convenience of a Coach becaufe of his Lamcnefs, and left the fame to bring him, went our felves on foot, the which we rather did becaufe his own HoUft;.^v^as Inconvenient, and we were much incommoded there,by the rmalnefsof his Room, and the heat occalioned by the croud of Peoples but the Dodlor would not come to us. So that after fending for Hto feveral times, and he refuling to come, we writ to him, and appointed him to meet us on the 2d of September inftant, Exprelly defiring him to prepare us a Lilt of the Perfons jnamesthat owed him any money, and how much each owed him, and and for what 5 that fo we might lofe no more time in fearching his Books and Pa- pers, for all the men that came before us, which much hind red our proceedings j which,done we difmift thofe that attended, who loft that dayes work, and appointed them to attend on the laid fe^nd of September^: But on the firft of September the faid -DoiSor prevailed (upon pretence that he was ill by Preaching the Sunday before) to defer the meeting till the pth September^ when hepromifed to come to the George to us, and that in the mean time the Parifliioners fhould have notice thereof. Never- thelels, we loth todifappoint them, come to Croydon the faid 2d o£ .Septemberi and found many of the Inhabitants waiting, having had no timely notice, and there-v fore fent to the Dodor, defired him to come to us and difpatch them (being inform- cd he was well and went abroad that day:) but though we fent often down, he refu- fed to come, andfowe were forc't to difmifs them with the lofs of that day alfoy which muclytroubled us , appointing them to appear again the ptb of September., when we ajgain attended, ^ and lent for the Do<5for, wi^io at firft refu fed to come > pretending he had not promifed fo to do, whereby hefpent great part ofour time, in- fomuch that we could do nothing till after dinner •, when we fat, and the Inhabitants being prefent, We demanded the Lift aforefauL but could not prevail for the fame, fo that moft part of our time (as formerly) was fpeiit in his turning over his Neverthckfs we fat till ten at night, and difpachk all thai: were prefent, unlcfs /ome few which the Dodftor would not ftay to end, though he continued longer in the houfe then we believe would havedifpatckd them ; nor would he agree, though wedelired it, to appear the next morning to end the fame, Co that they loft their labour. And we do humbly ccrtifie that having examined about two* hundred and fifty fcveral Cafes, we did find that the occafion of the differences between the Dodror and them was the unrcafonabk demands of Tithes,and other undue impofitions he had en- deavoured to impole upon molt of them,being the poorer fort of the Inhabitants, who being illiterate, were by undue means drawn either into exorbitant Agreements, penal Bills,or Judgments, by Arrefting and keeping them in durance,till they complied with him thercinv whereby many Families were put to very great expence, and thereby much impoverilhed foraeofthem, totally ruined others, forced them to run from their Houfes, and leave their Wives and Children tothe Parifti *, by which means we conceive that he himfelf in fomeraeafure hath been the occafion of the non-pay- ment of what was his juft dues, which otherwife might probably have been had with the Affecftions of the People. And for ground of this our belief, we take leave further • to inform your good Lordlhips, That every perfon that appeared before us, and with whom the Dodor had any conteft, moft willingly fubmitted to whatever we fhould determine between thems whereupon we proceeded to examine his Demands, and upon deliberate Confideration of what was alkdged on each fide, found them very extravagant, and not fitting to be fubmitted unto i therefore moderated the iame, giving him in fome cafts but the twentieth, in others the twelfth,tenth,fixth or fourth part of what was demanded, which in many cafes was more than they ought to have D paid C.H ) paid i Ncverthelefs they moft readily fubmittcd thereunto^ and all of them paid the fame in hopes ofthe Doctor's being removed, fo that tliey may not farther be troubled with him > the which he feemed to inlinuate his readinefs unto, and was the great Motive that in many cafes invited us to do what we did , excepting fonie poor Alms- men, from whom he had gotten Judgments for (everal fums of money, who being unable to pay the fame, the Pariih rather than they (hould go to Goal, offered to pay a Part thereof: Whereupon rinding little or no ground for the faid Judgments,we re- duced the (ums demanded tea third part, and the Parifh undertook tofatisrie the fame, with which the Dodfor rcricd fatisricd ; and alfo two or three fmall fums not exceeding rive pounds in the whole, for payment whereof we have given feme (hort time. And we did determine all the Cafes that came before us, except one of Chrifh- pher Joyner dcccakd^ of whofe Executors he demanded ten pounds per amum for ten years arrears of Tithes, when-as he had not above twenty pounds j&er annum iw the Parifh 5 and Sir PHrbeck^T:emple and ihnmas^ Bowrx Cafes, the difference between whom had been before fubmitted to References and Awards made therein ^ Never- thelefs they fubmitted to our determination. And Sir PurbeckT^emple tendered the money according to his Award, which would not be aceptedi And excepting alio theCa(eof Ed%pard Harvy the which had alfo been fubmitted unto Reference, and one Award made therein (though he be not able to pay any part of the money) which Cafes we were forced to leave as we found, the Doctor refufing to refer him- felf to us therein. And having thus proceeded (being weary with thefe dclayesX we left tjie faid Parifhioners, who moft humbly and unanimoufly implore your good Lordfliips favour to remove from amongft them the faid Dodor, and that^a good man may be placed amongft them i In which Suit we alfo humbly ioyn to your Honours, as>a thing which for the reafons aforefaid, we do judge very convenient i All which neverthelefswc humbly fubmit to your Lordfliips Judgments, and re-^ main, - i > , i ^ u ' // ' My Lords, CroydoM-, Septemb. lo. ■ , , >' Your Lord (hips moft humble Servants, 1573. - ' Adam Brown* William Haward* , ■ . ' i ThisReport is not the ter^^h part fo bad as the matter a: fpeared againft the Dodor^ the particular Cafes decided are too long to infert h but if they were, it would not be poflible for any man to believe there could be fb many horrid Opprellions and Frauds put upon poor People by any Clergy-man living. ■ Of this Report there were twoCopies fignedi> the one of them the Referrces prefen- ted to my Lords Gr^ccof Canterbury^the other to thehte Lord Chancellor, who there- upon promifed to do what in them lay to remove the faid Dodcr : accordingly he was fent for,promifed his Grace that he would refigne 5 and came to the Lord Chan- cellor and told him the fame alfo, And that when-ever his Lordfliip {hould defire the fame, he would do it *, adding, that hii Grace commanded him to tell his Lordfhip that he wouldprefent to Croydon fuch a Perfon as his Lordjhip would appoint* And upon this Confideration the Lord Chancellor promifed the faid Clewer to provide for him fome other Living, bidding him rely upon his Honour for it, affuring him he (hould have the fir(t convenient Living that fell in his gift, or to that eifed:: Whereupon the faidDodor promifed to conform to hisLordfhips defires,bat neglcded to do the fame, fhuffling and endeavouring to "put tricks upon their Lordfliips. This neceflitated the Parifhioners to petition his Majelfy and Council once more,'therein fetting forth what the Rcferrees had done, annexing their Report to the (aid Petition, (hewing the Nc- cetlity of the Dodfor's being removed, or the Towns being ruined : Therefore hum- bly implored his Removal, or that they might have his Majeiiies Royal leave for to' infert a Claufe into the Ad of Parliament then drawing,, to iettle the i6o I. per An- mm on the Vicar i to make the faid Dodor incapable of any preferment in Church or State. This Petition being read, the Kings mofi: Excellent Majcfty Pref nt, the Parilkio ners were called in, and told by the Lord Chancellor that their Petition had been read, and that hisMajefties Royal plealiire was, that in Cafe the faid Dodor did not furrender before the Bills defigned to be brought into Parliament for letling the main- tenance aforefaid fliould be prefeiited to the Parliament, that theu, tliey (hould put f ri5) in fuch a Claufe into the faid Bill, wilWng the Parifli to hafteii the faid Bill. This the Lord Chancellor declared to them in his Majefties Prefence. Befides this, the Or- ccr following was made- At the Court at Jf^hitehal Octob, 1^75. Prefent • < The Kings mofl excellent Majeft/ iti Council UPpn reading the Petition of the Inhabitants of Croydon, complain- ing againil Dr. WiHUmClewer their Vicar, and praying that he may be removed for feveral B.cafons at large fet forth in the Petition ; His Majefty in Council hath this day declared. That when the Inhabi- tants of the faid Pariih of Croydon dial provide to fettle a hundred & fixty pounds by the year, as a maintenance for the Vicar of; the faidParifh^ according to their Propofal in the faid Petition, in order to the pafling of an A(51 to confirm the fame for ever on the Vicarage of the faid Pa- rifli, then his Majefty will give effedual Order for removing of the pre- fent Incombent Dodor Clevoer. Kobert SouthweL Upon this the Paridiioners immediately went home, and Publifhed in the Market and at the Church his Majefties Gracious Anfwer, defiring all the Inhabitants to meet at the Veitry to iign a Declaration teftifying their Confents to the Pafling of the Bill aforefaid > and accordingly mod of them did meet> Signed and Sealed foch Certi- dcate of their Confents, and their humble Petition to both Houfes of Parliament to pafs the faid Bill, and impoweringa Sollicitor to profecute the Palling thereof. This donCj i^^ill was draw :ifdrawn, caie fame was co; m an^ fuch a Claufe as a forefyd was contained Aer^i>-^; 3|)ied, and one Copy carried, mid left with his gWcc of ' ]ante]rbHry^ the other with the then Lord Chancellor : Theyjhaving perufed the fame, 'My Lord of Canterbury referred the Amendment thereof to Mr. Phillips of the Inner- Temple, his Graces Counfel > and the Lord Chancellor, to Mr. Attorney ; both were attended, and they made their feveral Amendments, with which the fame was fairly copied, and put into Sir Adam Brown's hand to prefent in OHober laft : But the Prorogation of Parliament prevented the fame. All this time the faid Docftor had notice of it, knew of the Claufe, Promifed to furrender fo it might be left out went to both his Grace of Canterbury-yZnA from him to the Lord Chancellor, frequently declaring the fame : And my Lord Chancellor offered him an other Living , which he kept void for him, ( and fo m truth it was till the very day his Majefiy was pleafed to fond for the Seal from his Lordfliip ) But the Do6lor refolving to perfifl in his Villanies to ruine the Pariih of Croydon (as he fre- quently declares he will do before he leaves it) refufod to furrender, but continues to go on in his horrid cpprellions and vexations,commencing fuits againft his Farilhi- oners without colour of Cauie, to their unfpeakable damage. V Under thefc fad Opprcffions the poor Parifh having lain thefoxhirteen years languilh- ing, they now become humble Supplicants to the Parliament England^ To Enable them by an Adt to give fuch Maintenance to a fucceeding Min|ftcr, as may be an En- couragement to a Sober, Learned,Orthodox and Peaceable Mj ^ mongil them. Todo the Church that Right as tojemove fo wicked and^ of it, and for the Honour and V indication ot the Religion ( to make him for ever uncapable of forving in the Church agaj advantage can be done to the Church of England at this tii For tl ]c faid Docftor is a frequenter of houles of debauci beggarly diforderly Alehoufo in a by-place within the R D 2 £•1 ;1 , I ( i<5) , , . oufly infamous for entertainment of lewd Perfon's, where the Officers (having notice given them) about midnight found him (upon fearchj hid in a Garret,and were carrying him to the Counter, or Prifon in the Burroughs tili he dilcovered himfclf to be a Clergy-man, and befought their civility, entreating that they would not dif- grace him publickly, whereupon they rcleafcd him. 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