A Petition of the Inhabitants of Somersham, Colne and Pidley cum Fenton in the County of Huntingdon.

That your petitioners have long been compelled to pay their tithes all to one parsonage and that hath bene given from time to time unto one Deane or Doctor who hath served them with Curates of 10 libres per annum and seldom more; so that some of them had rarely any sermons but at their own procurement and charges; untill that Doctor Collins Regius Professor in Cambridge became theri parson, who was sequestres by the right honourable Earl of Manchester. And each parish allowed their own tithes and an able preacher ever since; which your petitioners have noe hope long to enjot unless it shall please your Honours to commiserate their cause and to alter that clause in the Bill against Pluralities, which alloweth forever the said Regious Professor for time being to be parson of Somersham, Colne and Pidley cum Fenton. We are assured your Honours would never have done this had you not bene misinformed, that it was all but one parish withtwo small hamlets; whereas in truth they are three large parishes with severall churches, each parish consisting of 60 families or more; and the tithes of the smallest church worth 100 libres per annum, and a dirty mile distant one from another; and from cambridge 9 or 10 miles when the way is best in Summer; but in floud times and the most part of winter, 13 or 14 very dirty miles, and sometimes not passable but by Huntingdon which is 18 miles.

Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the clause in the said Bill may be revised, and if it pleases your honours to allowe the said professor a parsonage, it may rather be Ditton, about 3 miles from Cambridge, sequestred alsoe from the said Doctor and late in the gift of the Bishopp of Ely; and it must needs be more convenient for the said professor and bring more profit to a conscientious man, that els must allowe good stipends to 3 Curates here; or els some other parsonage or way your wisdoms shall see fitter.

Signed
William Drury, Walter Welles, Richard Carter, Thomas King, Richard Hawkins, John Dawes, Jo. Cranwell, Jo. Taylor, Ben. Cranwell, Tho. taylor, William Seaborne, William Clarke, Jo. Owen, Robert Clarke, Jo. hubbard, Jo. Stones, Walter Lane, Tho. Higham, Robert Smith, Tho. Isaak, Jo. Richman, Tho. Middleton, Jo. Robinson, Tho. Bings, Will Elmer, Luke Clayton, John Barnes, Tho. Cope ju, John Cranwell, John Westmerland, Tho. Thredder, Francis Manning.


9th January 1642 Bill against Pluralities, brought from the House of Commons.
11th January read.
14th January read and committed.
16th January considered in committee and sent to the House of Commons.

From: Manuscripts of the House of Lords 1514-1714