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The key documents here are all from 1632. There is a list of complaints against Daggett, two petitions from him, and a response from the Vestry. The response is dated 1632 April 24, so the complaint and petitions are presumably earlier. One petition seems, by its orthography and language, to be earlier than the other. It's in a more casual hand, and makes no mention of the distress emphasized in the other more formal petition.

Minutes of the Vestry for 1632 are missing, but earlier entries suggest issues arose with Daggett well in advance of the 1632 resolution.

    From the minutes of the Vestry  

Vestry Minutes, 1617 June 16 (p.483):
Item it is ordered that Lambert Daggett, for his attendance at Vestries and other his service about parish business when occasion shall require, shall have 40s wages per annum to be paid him quarterly, and the first payment to begin at Midsummer next.

Vestry Minutes, 1618 July 6 (p.489):
Item it is ordered that to Christopher Fawsett and Lambert Daggett shall be paid £5 per annum viz £3 to Fawsett and 40s to Daggett to be paid quarterly for their pains in searching out inmates, and to the end they shall prevent newcomers that may be chargeable by reason of their children to the parish. The first payment thereof to begin at Michaelmas next, and it is ordered that they shall every month bring in a bill to the churchwardens to show what they do herein.

Vestry Minutes, 1618 December 15 (p.491):
Also it is ordered that in regard Christopher Fawsett hath been found very diligent and careful in searching for inmates and preventing charge that might come to the parish by poor women great with child and other newcomers with children, that he shall have the whole fee of £5 per annum after this quarter ended which before was divided betwixt him and Daggett, who hath done little or nothing that way this quarter, having been otherwise employed. And that Daggett shall be considered by the churchwardens for such business as he shall be employed in extraordinarily after the churchwardens' discretions, over and above the 40s per annum for his wages.

Vestry Minutes, 1621 August 29 (p.508):
Also at this Vestry Lambert Daggett was chosen by a general consent to have the place which old Selwood had in the Church and the benefit thereunto belonging.

Vestry Minutes, 1625 October 7 (p.547):
This day Edward Collins and Richard Paxton were in choice for clerk of the Vestry, and Edward Collins was chosen. This day Lambert Daggett and Richard Cliff were in choice for sexton, and Lambert Daggett was chosen.

Vestry Minutes, 1626 December 6 (p.560):
It is also ordered, that Mr. Stapley shall survey the month's bills between this day and next Vestry day and then make known to the house, what hath been taken by the sexton Daggett for bells at burials in the Church more than was due, and of whom in particular, to the end further order therein may be taken.

Vestry Minutes, 1626/7 February 27 (p.561):
This day also Mr. Stapley sent into this house the note of the names of such as the sexton Daggett had taken more than he ought to do for ringing of the bells at their burials, containing in number 13 several persons, for which this house thinketh fit that the said Daggett shall repay back the sum of 4s apiece, which money is to be brought into this house forthwith.

Vestry Minutes, 1628 August 23 (p.572):
The controversy between widow Collinson and Lambert Daggett is referred to Mr. Stapley, Mr. Wright, Mr. Nicholson, and Mr. Norman to determine.

    Complaints to the Vestry. TLA, P92/SAV/0437  

Upon due examination had this day concerning diverse complaints brought into this house against Lambert Daggett Sexton by diverse Mr Moreton minisher Mr Madox one of this house Mr Sherlock & divers others of this parish & some in the name of strangers for taking of undue fees & [unreadable] & detaining money given to the ringers & other presumptions in his office & negligences of some of which he hath formerly been warned It is thereupon ordered at this Vestry by the whole consent of the house that the said Lambert Daggett be suspended from the execution of his place of a Sexton in that parish for the space of 6 months from this present day & that in the meantime Edward Stokes shall look to the ringing of the bells (as occasion shall require) & give account to the parish church clerk of the profits & severally by others that he may furnish the same & may give account thereof in his bills to the said Stokes for his pains therein during the time of the said suspension And further the said Daggett shall in the meantime make restitution not only of such moneys as he was to restore by an order of this house made the 27 of February 1626[/7] to the parties therein mentioned but also give satisfaction to any persons as have now complained of him And for the better satisfaction of this house shall bring the same testified under their hands.

It is ordered that from henceforth the Sexton shall make no more bills of charges for burials but the parish clerk to make all the bills & get 2 churchwardens' hands to them & receive all the moneys as formerly hath been accustomed.


    The first petition. TLA, P92/SAV/0438  

To the worshipful the churchwardens &
other the vestrymen of the parish
of St Saviour in Southwark

The humble petition of Lambert Daggit Sexton

Whereas upon complaint against your petitioner for an offence which since he conceiveth to be worse than at first he deemed it to be, your worships did take from him a stipend of £4 per annum & have ever since debarred him your presence or coming to perform the service he was wont to do.

Your petitioner being heartily sorry he should give any cause of offence to your worships, that of your wonted favour & clemency you would be pleased to take off your former displeasure conceived against him, & to receive him into your favorable opinions as before, & to restore him to his former stipend again, And your poor petitioner for the time to come shall endeavour with all diligence to deserve your good opinions by his future service as that he hopeth you shall never repent of that favour you shall be pleased to bestow or cast upon him, who doth hereby solemnly promise that he will never hereafter presume to move your worships to take any compassion on him if he shall again at any time be detected for any the least offence, but account himself a man most unhappy & rest content with that unhappy fortune.

And your petitioner shall (as he hath been ever bound) do your worships all trusty and true service, & pray for the continuance of your healths with all happiness both of this life & of the life to come.


    The second petition. TLA, P92/SAV/0439  

To the worshipful churchwardens & other the
vestrymen of St Saviour in Southwark

The humble petition of Lambert Daggett

Humbly sheweth unto your worships that whereas your petitioner was heretofore charged with several offenses & misdemeanors in the caring of his place of Sexton and was thereupon by order of this house suspended from the execution thereof for 6 months and enjoined to make restitution to the parties wronged, as that by certificate under their hands it might appear they are satisfied with suspension, your petitioner hath hitherto patiently undergone & hath given satisfaction according to the said order as by the certificate hereunto annexed may appear.

Now your petitioner being enforced by necessity having no means to live on (his fees and wages of Sexon being taken from him) most humbly prayeth & beseecheth your worships for god's cause to take some pity upon him (being poor aged and distressed and having served this parish almost 20 years) and to restore him to his place and office of Sexton again thereby to make trial of his service once more which if he shall neglect or fail to do his office faithfully hereafter he shall never presume again to move you to take compassion of him but utterly to reject him as one unworthy of any favour from your worships.

And your petitioner shall (as he ever hath been bound) do your worships all trusty and faithful service and make his prayers daily to the Almighty for the good & prosperous estates of every one of this assembly & for the long continuance of the same with length of days much happiness.




    The settlement. TLA, P92/SAV/0440  

Whereas Lambert Daggett Sexton for abusing his place was upon due examination had the 24th of April 1632 censured by this vestry, six months suspension from his said office, & enjoined to make restitution, and to give such satisfaction to the parties wronged, as that by a certificate under their hands it may appear they are satisfied, we whose names are under written do certify that upon his submission & repayment by him made or offered to be made with promise of reformation we rest satisfied.

[Names subscribed randomly on the page]
Nicholas Morton
William Madox
Thomas Acland
Thomas Woodstocke
We ringers are satisfied & we subscribe our names
Roger Cotton
Robert Hooke
Edward Benk
Thomas Jembe
John Comber
Jonan Newell
William Lak
John Dallison