ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



reduced bad results. In 1561 there were actually 136 parishes in the 

 archdeaconry of Suffolk without a resident ordained minister. Queen 

 Elizabeth visited Ipswich in July, 1561. 



Here, says Strype, her Majesty took a great dislike to the imprudent behaviour of many 

 of the ministers and readers, there being many weak ones amongst them, and little or no 

 order observed in the public service, and few or none wearing the surplice. And the 

 bishop of Norwich was thought remiss, and that he winked at schismatics. But more 

 particularly was she offended with the clergy's marriage ; and that in cathedrall colleges 

 there were so many wives and widows and children seen, which she said was contrary to 

 the interest of the founders, and so much tending to the interruption of the studies of those 

 who are placed there. Therefore she issued an order to all dignitaries, dated August gth 

 at Ipswich, to forbid all women to the lodgings of cathedralls or colleges, and that upon pain 

 of losing their ecclesiastical promotions. 1 



But there were more complaints against Bishop Parkhurst than his 

 strong Puritan sympathies. The historian of the diocese charges him with 

 being ' a man of expensive habits .... and showing a bad example in 

 making merchandise of the Church of God,' nor were the subsequent 

 Elizabethan prelates much better. 2 



There was not near so much trouble with the recusants, or zealous 

 adherents to the unreformed faith, in Suffolk as in some counties ; but the 

 persecution of the secret itinerant priests, and the severe harassing of the 

 estates and goods of the recusants continued throughout Elizabeth's reign. 



Henry Cumberford, precentor of Lichfield and rector of Norbury, 

 Staffordshire, who was one of the first clergy to be deprived of his benefices 

 on the accession of Elizabeth, was a native of Suffolk. In a list drawn up 

 early in this reign (probably in 1562) of ' Recusants which are abroad and 

 bound to certain places ' Cumberford's name occurs ; a marginal note 

 describes him as 'learned, but wilful and meet to be considered.' He was 

 bound over to remain in the county of Suffolk, but with liberty to travel 

 twice a year into Staffordshire, six weeks being allowed at each time of 

 his travel. 3 At this time (1562) Dr. Harpsfield, the deprived dean of 

 Norwich, was one of fourteen ' prisoners for religion since the first year of 

 the reign of Queen Elizabeth ' confined in the Fleet. 4 Cumberford seems to 

 have been one of the numerous religious prisoners either in the Fleet or the 

 Tower, and released with others on finding sureties as to residence. Eventu- 

 ally Cumberford resumed the active but secret exercise of his priesthood, 

 and was several times imprisoned. He died a prisoner in Hull Castle 

 in 1590, after having spent sixteen years in gaol for his religion during 

 Elizabeth's reign. 6 



Legislation immediately after Elizabeth's accession provided for a fine 

 of izd. on all absentees from the parish church on Sundays and holy days. 

 In 1581 this punishment was much intensified, for it was then laid down 

 that the immense fine of 20 a month was to be imposed on all recusants, 

 and that those who could not pay the fine within three months were to 

 be imprisoned. Further legislation gave the crown the power of seizing 

 two-thirds of the offender's lands and all his goods in default of payment. 

 From time to time these forfeitures were rigidly enforced in Suffolk and 



1 Collier, Eccl. Hist, vi, 226. ' fessopp, D'toc. Hist, of Norwich, 173-5. 



' S.P. Dom. Eliz. Add. xi, 45. 4 Had. MS. 360, fol. 7. 



5 Foley, Records, iii, 219, 221, 245, 803 ; Morris, Troubles, 3rd ser. 300. 



37 



