rs on p. 48
of the earliest book this curious entry: "Edward Milnes Vicar of Pickering
rent out all these following leaves." The missing pages contained the
entries from 1602 to 1615, and this coincides with the years of Milnes's
tenure of the living, for he appears to have come to Pickering in 1602,
and he was deprived in 1615. The reasons for removing this vicar are
recorded as follows in the last pages of the register, but the motives
that prompted him to tear out these thirtyfive parchment pages from the
register do not appear:--

"A true copie of the Order of the Councel ther in Pickering Lith asserted?
obtained by Mr Lawrence Trotter attornie at the Common law Ano do[=m]i
1615.

[Sidenote: [Much thumbed at the edge.]]

"At the Court at Greenewich on Sunday the 21 of May 1615 in the afternoone:
present L. Archbishop of Canterburie, L. Chancelor, L. Knolls, L.
Treasurer Mr Secretarie Winwood, D. of Linnox, Mr Chanceler of the Excheq,
E. of Worcester, L. Chiefe iusice, E. of Pembrooke, Mr of y^e Rolles, L.
Souch, Sir Thomas Lake.

[Transcriber's Note: [_P] and [_p] was used to represent a P or p with a
horizontal stroke through the lower part of the stem.]

"Complaint having bin made unto the boarde by the Inhabitants of the towne
and parish of Pickering in the Countie of Yorke. That that personage now
in possession of the bishop of Bristoll Deane of Yorke (it being an
indowment of the said Deanerie) such slender care hath bene had by him for
the preaching of the Gospell unto the said parishioners, and giving them
that Christianlike and necessarie instru[~c]on which is fitting, as for a
long time they scarce had any sermon at all amongest them. Where upon
their Lordships were pleased to direct their Letters unto the s^d Lord
Bishop admonishing and requiring him to give speedie order for the
redresse of so great an inconvenience and so scandalous to his ma^ties
most Christian goverm^t. But receaving answer from his Lordship that in
respect the said [_P]sonage being an impropria[~c]on is indued w^th a
Vicarage and a Viccar presented thereunto he held him selfe freed in Law
from any further charge, and that the said [_P]snage was in Lease w^th.
such other like excuses but that notwithstanding he was contented to
procure them 12 sermons every yeare, their Lordships thought fitting this
day to call him to the boarde, and to let him sea in reason of State,
besides the great obligacon they had as Christians it behoved