Sequestration of Stanford Rivers from Dr. Meredith.

From the Journals of the House of Lords, Volume 6 [1643]

Next this House took into Consideration the Charge against John Merdith, Doctor in Divinity, Parson of Stanford Rivers, in the County of Essex. And this Day he being by Order of this House to appear, and he failing, Richard Cox testified upon Oath,
“That he served the Order of this House, at his Lodgings, upon Wednesday last.”

Hereupon this House, taking this as a Contempt, proceeded against him; and these Witnesses were produced:

Richard Cox testified,
“That he hath not been at his Charge at Stanford Rivers this Nine Months.”

Francis Flewing, Richard Cranfield testified, that the said Dr.Meredith is at Oxford, with the King’s Army.

Hereupon this House, taking the whole Business into Consideration, adjudged,
“That for this Offence, the said Dr Meredith shall be sequestered from his Living of Stanford Rivers, and the Profits thereof; and that Matthew Elliston, Master of Arts is hereby appointed to officiate the said Cure during the Pleasure of this House, and shall be allowed such maintenance for the same as this House shall appoint, when they are informed of the value of the said Living; and the Profits of the said Living to be sequestered into responsible Hands.”

ORDERED, That the Person that is appointed by this House to officiate the Cure of Stanford Rivers, shall have the whole Profits allowed him for his Pains.

From the Memorials of Oxford, Volume 1 - All Souls College

Many of the wardens of this college highly distinguished themselves in the times in which they lived: but none went through such vicissitudes as Dr. John Meredith. He was sometime fellow of Eton, of which college he afterwards became provost; rector of Stanford Rivers, in Essex, in 1641, and chaplain to the earl of Newburgh; who being chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster bestowed on him the mastership of Wigston’s hospital at Leicester, on the sequestration of the celebrated Chillingworth, 1643-4; but the omnipotent House of Commons of that day interdicted the appointment.

He was also deprived of his rectory of Stanford Rivers in May following an arbitrary vote of the House of Lords. But he lived to be restored to all his preferments in 1660, nearly twenty years afterwards, and died in 1665.