Committee of Plundered Ministers

Legal papers created by the Committee for Plundered Ministers, 1646-1647, relating to the trial for delinquency of Dr. Henry Watkins, Rector of Sutton-upon-Brailes, Gloucestershire, including the following.
1. Copy, certified by John Crisp, clerk, of depositions of witnesses taken at Banbury between January and March 1647. (8 leaves. 12" x 7¾").
2. Copy of depositions of witnesses taken at Gloucester between March and November 1647, with a copy of the answer of Dr. Watkins to the charge exhibited against him, 8 May 1647. (18 leaves. 12" x 7¾").
3. Copy, certified by Francis Harris, clerk of the court, of further depositions taken and cross-examinations made, October 1647. (2 leaves. 13¾ x 12").
4. Copy, certified by John Phelpes, of a resolution of Parliament of 11 November 1647 that the wives and children of persons suffering sequestration shall have a fifth part allowed to them; signed by Henry Elsynge, clerk of the House of Commons. (Single sheet. 12" x 7¾").
5. Interrogatories exhibited by Dr. Henry Watkins to certain witnesses produced by him before the Committee [of Plundered Ministers] appointed by ordinance of Parliament for the county of Gloucester. (4 leaves. 12" x 7¾").
6. Petition by the inhabitants of 'Sutton under Brayles, Co.Glos.', to the Committee for Plundered Ministers to take action in the matter of Dr. Henry Watkins. (2 leaves. 12" x 7¾").
7. Second copy, certified by John Phelpes, of articles exhibited against Dr. Watkins at the Committee of Plundered Ministers, 18 December 1646. (2 leaves. 12" x 7¾").

The Committee of Plundered Ministers was set up by the Puritan party in 1643, during the English Civil War, for the purpose of replacing those clergy who were loyal to the King. THese displaced clergy were described as 'scandalous', though this mainly related to their political and theological views. The Committee heard evidence, often from local parishioners, of the misdeeds of the parish priest. If the allegations were proved, the rector would be removed from his position, and his goods and monies sequestrated.
Dr Henry Watkins was the Rector of Sutton-upon-Brailes, Gloucestershire (transferred to the county of Warwickshire in 1844).

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Bought from Messrs. Walford in 1957.

Collection level description.

As given in the Scope and Content.

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Records of the Committee of Plundered Ministers are held in the Public Record Office. Sermons and papers of Henry Watkins are held at the Bodleian Library, Oxford University.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.