Mar. 19, 164. Mar. 21, 164. Smith; and by the means of my Lord Kimbolton" (a great patron of such men) obtain this Order following: "Die Jovis, 17 Martii, 1641. "Upon the reading of the Petition of the parishioners of St. Leonard's, Foster-Lane, London, it is ordered by the Lords in Parliament, that Mr. George Smith, elected and approved by the Dean of Westminster, and the parishioners of St. Leonard's, Foster-Lane, be especially recommended to the Ld. Archbp. of Canterbury his Grace from this (86) House, that the said Mr. Smith may be forthwith presented to the parish church of the said St. Leonard. "JOHN BROWN, Clericus Parliament." с This order was brought me by the Churchwardens, and some of the parish, on Saturday, March 19. I was sorry for the honest Incumbent's sake, Mr. Ward; and troubled in myself to have such an order sent me: especially, considering that the Lords' former order (though, as I was informed, against all law, yet) was so moderate as to suffer me to nominate to benefices, so that the men were without exception. I put them off till Monday. In the meantime I advised with my learned counsel, and other friends. All of them agreed in this; That it was a great and a violent injustice put upon me; yet in regard of the time, and my condition, they persuaded me to give way to their power, and present their clerk. On Monday, Mar. 21, they repaired to me again: I sent them to my Register, to draw a presentation according to the Order of Parliament, and advised them while that was in drawing, to send Mr. Smith to me. One of them told me very boldly, that it was not in the Order of Parliament, that Mr. Smith should come to me; and another told me that Mr. Smith would not come to me. Upon this unworthy usage of me, I dismissed them again, having first, in obedience to the order, sealed and set my hand to the presentation, ready for delivery when Mr. Smith came for it. '['was' originally written 'am'] [Edward Montagu, the eldest son of the Earl of Manchester.] 2 2 ['told me' on opposite page.] P. 81 [of original MS. See vol. iii. p. 451.] 193 Mar. 24, 164. of me and my obedience to the Lords; and that therefore I would give their Lps. in writing an account of my proccedings'; but would deliver the presentation to Mr. Smith when The Ld. Primate cried shame of them to their faces; so they went away. he came. On Thursday, March 24, in an humble petition I informed. the Lords how ready I was to obey; only desired that Mr. Smith might come to me, that I might see his orders, and examine his sufficiency; to both which I stood bound both in conscience and by law. Upon reading of this petition, some Lords said Mr. Smith was an unmannerly fellow, not to come to me; but the L. Kimbolton told them he was a very worthy man, and that he might go to me afterward; but it was fit their order should be obeyed. And the E. of Warwick added, that I desired Mr. Smith (87) might come to me, only that I might pick a quarrel with him, to frustrate the order of the House. Upon this there followed instantly a peremptory order, commanding me to present obedience'. So Mr. Smith was left to come to me afterwards, if he pleased; and he came not at all, which was as good as if he had come, to have his sufficiency examined for that which he had already in possession. But how worthy and fit he proved, I refer to all honest men that heard him afterwards. Upon this order, according to the former advice of my friends', I delivered the presentation to the churchwardens and parishioners; and if anything proved amiss in the man, (as after did in a high measure,) or hurtful in the thing itself, I humbly besought God to have mercy on me, and to call for an account of them who laid this pressure upon me. [Originally proceedings herein;'] h [Rob. Rich.] "Upon reading the petition of the Archbishop of Canterbury, it is ordered, That he shall confer forthwith the presentation of St. Leonard's Foster Lane, upon George Smith, Clerk, according to former orders of this House."] k year. On his death he was succeeded by James Nalton, who was appointed, April 13, 1643, "ad recommendationem sive nominationem honorabilium Virorum Dominorum in suprema curia Parliamenti congregatorum, juxta ordinem in ea parte editam." (Newcourt, Repert. vol. i. p. 395.)] [P. 86 (of orig. MS.) See above, 1 |