The morals of the laity during the 17th century were a matter for examination and correction by the ecclesiastical courts. Here the Archdeacon of Ely’s Court gives precise instructions to the Minister and Churchwardens of St Sepulchre, Cambridge as to the penance to be carried out by one Lazarus Betts.
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Penance for Lazarus Betts
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Kneeling in the main aisle of the church before the assembled congregation at morning service "in audible voice" he was to declare himself "guilty of committing fornication with my now wife before our marriage." For this sin he had to acknowledge that he had greatly offended Almighty God and had been "the occasion of scandal to all good people."
There is no record of Bett’s marriage in the Holy Sepulchre registers, but the baptism of John son of Lazarus and and his wife Katherine is recorded on 28 January 1684.
Source:
The original document is among the parish records of Holy Sepulchre Church, Cambridge, held at Cambridgeshire Archives, reference P21/7/1.