The Petition and Articles of severall Charge[s] exhibited in Parliament against Edward Finch Vicar of Christs Church in London,

£1,800 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

Wing E2157. Relatively common institutionally in both the UK and North America but quite rare at auction. A shocking account of the supposed behaviour of the Laudian clergyman, Edward Finch who was ousted from his incumbency at Christ Church Newgate after accusations of drunkenness, “Popish practices” and sexual impropriety. The pamphlet outlines the “evil and scandalous life and conversation” of Finch while vicar of Christ Church Newgate in London noting how he extracts “unreasonable Fees and summes of money” from his parishioners, adopts Catholic practices when administering the sacraments and allows “singing, Organs, and other Instruments of Musicke” in his Church. (p.1-2) One particularly shocking accusation states that Finch, “was so drunke” when asked to deliver the Sacrament to a dying woman, “that there he was not able to pronounce the Lords Prayer…he was not able to rise off from his knees without helpe, nor being up to sit down…” (p.8) Finch later asked the family of the dying woman to leave the room and acted towards her when alone in an inappropriate manner. Finch is also accused of associating with various women in notorious taverns around London, on one occasion, Finch and a number of other men where witnessed in a room with various women: “…this Coachman being called up into the room unto them, saw them all use these women, in his presence, with most vile and obscene gestures, upon beds, even to the utmost of what hands could do under their clothes…“ (p.9). The

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