Earls Colne Wm Nicholls detected by the guardians of Chelmsford for that by common fame and the confession of one Mary Smith of the parish of Chelmsford he hath had the carnal knowledge of her body and hath begotten her with child 2s6d 12d Nicholls appeared at the house of commissary at Feering on 6.7. denies fact but admits fame to purge with three in church at Braintree