A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK 



The recusants of Suffolk continued to have hard times during the reigns 

 of the first two Stuarts. The execution of Ambrose Rookwood belongs more 

 to political than religious history. During the comparatively mild episco- 

 pates of the four bishops who held the East Anglian diocese from 1603-32 

 ' sectaries ' multiplied and many irregular clergy were ordained, whose only 

 title was the chaplaincy of an often nominal employer. Such clergy escaped 

 all episcopal jurisdiction, and, as 'lecturers,' usually propagated views that 

 were quite out of harmony with the doctrines of the Church of England. 



In May, 1632, Bishop Corbett was translated from Oxford to Norwich. 

 The next year Laud, the uncompromising opponent of Puritanism, became 

 primate. In Dr. Corbett he found considerable support. The lecturers at 

 Bury St. Edmunds and at Ipswich were silenced. The bishop in his answers 

 to Laud's inquiries congratulated himself that he had made ' two wandering 

 preachers run out of his diocese ; ' nevertheless, he added, ' lectures abound 

 in Suffolk, and many set up by private gentlemen even without so much as 

 the knowledge of the ordinary.' * 



Bishop Corbett died in July, 1635, and was succeeded by Dr. Matthew 

 Wren, a distinguished Cambridge scholar, who held this see for three years 

 until his translation to Ely. He at once held a visitation of his diocese, 

 following the exact lines laid down by his primate, and so sternly suppressing 

 the sectaries that many fled over the seas. 2 



In the year that Wren left this diocese, the archdeacon of Suffolk, who 

 was evidently in accord with both Wren and Laud, held his visitation. 

 ' Articles to be Enquired of in the Ordinary Visitation of the Right 

 Wirshipfull Doctor Pearson, Archdeacon of Suffolke ' were issued and 

 printed in i638. 3 They follow for the most part, with some variants, the 

 customary form of such articles in the reign of Charles I, but are of greater 

 length and detail than several other examples. Thus the archdeacon inquired 

 whether the 



Blessed Sacrament hath beene delivered unto any or received by any of the Communi- 

 cants within youre Parish that did unreverently either sit or stand or leane, or that did not 

 devoutly and humbly kneele upon their knees, in plaine and open view without collusion or 

 hypocrisie. 



They had also to answer whether any of the inhabitants of their company 

 ever ' bring their Hawkes into the Church or usually suffer their dogges of 

 any kinde to come with them thither.' Chapter four of the articles, with 

 its five items, is entirely concerned with the steeple and the bells. The 

 particulars as to daily service and saints' day services, with due tolling of 

 bell, the use of the Athanasian Creed on all appointed days, the Commination 

 Service, and the Litany every Wednesday and Friday, are most explicit. So 

 too with regard to not preaching in the surplice, or the improper use of 'any 

 Bason or paile or other Vessel set into the Font ' at baptism. 



A book of presentments in the Dean's Court of Bocking from 163741, 

 termed Liber Actorum, is extant, which supplies many instances of the juris- 

 diction then exercised over the morals of the parishioners of this peculiar, 



1 None. Diof. Hist. 187-8. 



* Perry, Hist, of Ct. ofEng. \\, App. B, where the ' particulars, orders, directions, and remembrances ' of 

 Wren's primary visitation are set forth at length. 

 "Press Mark, B.M. 5155,^. 23. 



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