Suffolk Committees for Scandalous Ministers


The Suffolk Committees for Scandalous Ministers were two committees commissioned by the Earl of Manchester between 24 February and 15 March 1644 in accordance with an ordinance published on 22 January 1644. Manchester had been pressing for authorisation to remove 'scandalous ministers' for some time. This term referred to "any minister who was non-resident, incompetent or idle, scandalous either in life or in doctrine, or in any way ill-affected to Parliament".

Committeemen

First Commission

Transcribed by Francis Hill.
NameLocationHigh Sherriff of SuffolkOther positionsNotesRefs
Sir Edmund BaconRedgrave1634-
Sir William SpringPakenham1641Deputy Lieutenant from 1642
William SoameLittle Thurlow1633-
Maurice BarrowBarningham1643
Brampton Gurdon (senior)Assington1629MP for Sudbury 1621–1622-
Henry North (senior)Laxfield1620-
Thomas TirrellGipping-
Edmund HarveyWickham Skeith-
Brampton Gurdon (junior)Assington-
Samuel MoodyBury St EdmundsMP for Bury St Edmunds 1654–1659-

Second Commission

Transcribed by Francis Hill.
NameLocationHigh Sherriff of SuffolkOther positionsNotesRefs
Sir John WentworthSomerleyton1619-
Francis BaconIpswich
Nathaniel BaconIpswich-
Nathaniel BaconFriston
Francis BrewsterWrentham-
William BloisGrundisburgh1620-
Robert BrewsterWrentham-
Robert DunconIpswichBrother of Samuel Duncon-
Peter FisherIpswich-
John BaseSaxmundham-