Page:Calendar of the Tavistock parish records.djvu/130

 1 1 6 Tavistock Records. [1682

and brawling with one of the wardens touching the quantity of wine provided ; and with falling in a passion after service, and not permitting the wardens to publish the names of the elected officers of the parish according to custom.

6. Charges Cann with converting offertory money (appa- rently at the Communion) to his own use and private disposal.

7. Charges disobedience to the orders, mandates, and monitions of the Ordinary concerning the wearing of the ' surplis.' Having been ordered to wear it, 'thou y'' sd m'" Cann did positively declare thou wouldst never do it'; that the Bishop could do his worst, and that 'thou wert Bishop in Tavestocke.' IMoreover that on the previous Easter Monday he said to the Masters and parishioners assembled in the 'Chancell' on the parish Concerns that he did ' not care a straw or a Rush for the Bp ' — one of the peers of the Realm — to the manifest contempt of the Bishop and his authority.

8. Alleges the practice of private baptism when un- necessary ; the non-certifying of such baptisms, taking fees of from lOs. to is., according to the quality of the persons concerned ; offering people choice of public or private baptism, and omission of 'y'' lawful! use of y*^ Crosse in Baptism.'

9. Charges omission of catechising.

10. Charges omission to kneel oftentimes when repeating the prayers. Part of this article appears also to deal with docrtine, as Cann is stated to have told his people that they were all guilty of the blood of the Lord.

11. Alleges refusal to baptise the base child of

White, though another might do so if he were paid his fees ; also with refusing a child — apparently the same — Christian burial.

12. Charges improper conduct at the election of the wardens to take charge of the Land, Stock, and Rents of the parish ('of the value of ^2000'), and endeavouring to 'obtrude' one William Canter. The masters and officers proceeding to their election chose Andrew Dodge for the town and John Row for the parish, whom Cann approved as ' worthy and honest men.' Nevertheless he had William Canter sworn one of the wardens, making himself both 'party and judge.' Apparently the outgoing wardens nominated four persons, of whom two were chosen.

13. Charges Cann with having spoken profanely and

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