Transcript of the Consistory Court, Domestic - Charles I
Jan 24 1638/39

Sentence in the Court of High Commission against Richard Northen,
Curate of Haither (alias Haydor) in the county of Lincoln.

It appeared that about seven years since said Northen baptised a child
of one Henry Nixe in the church of Haydor without using the sign of
the cross, and instead of the words "I do sign him or her &c.", he
used the words "I do sign him with the sign of a token".

And also that he has delivered the Holy Communion in both kinds to
divers of his parishioners sitting and not kneeling, especially to one
Sarah, wife of Henry Nixe of that parish.

And also that His Majesty having declared his intentions for the
honest and modest recreations of his subjects, good protestants, such
as frequented their parish churches duly, after evening prayers on the
Lords Day, the said Mr Northen said in his sermons that he was a theif
that did take any recreations on the "Saboath" day, and he was worse
than a thief, for he was a villian and a sacrilegious thief, that did
allow of them; and about a year and a half after so preaching, and
some two years after the publishing of the Kings Book for recreations
on a Sunday, being a feast day at Haither, some young people after
evening prayer got a piper named William Keale, and went to dance,
which while they were doing Mr Northen and the constable came and put
the piper in the stocks, where he lay about three hours, and then Mr
Northen and the constable coming to put one Coxe in the stocks, the
piper slipped out his foot and ran away, which Mr Northen perceiving
he took the pitchfork out of the hands of one Andrews, a watchman, and
followed the piper, and in a lane overtook him, and did beat him with
the pitchfork, and brought him back to the stocks, where he lay till
next morning.

And also, that in catechising in the church of Haither in 1635, upon
the eighth commandment, he delivered this doctrine, that there was a
theft in Kings and Princes in laying more burdens on their subjects
than they were able to bear, and that there was theft also in Judges,
Magistrates and Landlords.

And lastly, that he has oft omitted to wear the surplice, and
neglected on several Sundays and holy days to read divine service in
the chapels of Culverthorpe and Kelby under his care.

All of which being proved, the court fined him one thousand guineas to
His Majesty, comitted him to the gatehouse during the pleasure of the
court, ordered him to be suspended from his ministerial duties, and
condemned him in costs of suit.