A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 



he saw two years since go in a cloke with a Spanish cape, and a rapier by 

 his side ; that one Mr. Smith, another prebendary, kept at Swyneshead in 

 Lincolnshire, and was neither priest nor preacher; that none preached, but 

 my lord bishop and the said respondent ; and that Sir John Toller, one of the 

 canons, was a great brawler and kept another man's wife.^ This respondent 

 presented that the prebendaries should be all priests and resident at home, and 

 that some provision be made to save the woods from spoiling, which were now 

 much spoiled ; but he stated that the church was in better reparation than 

 it was these forty years. 



and godly uses, as to the releife of poverte, to poore schollers, orphanes, highwaies, mariage of poor maidens, 

 and such like. Whether your Hospitals and Almeshouses be justly used, according to the foundacion Sc 

 auncient ordinaunces of the same. Whether ther be any other pkced in them than poore, impotent, and 

 needy persons, that hath not otherwise wherewith or whereby to live. 



Item, whether there be any which of late haue bequeathed in their test.iments, or other waies there be 

 appointed by ordinaries, any sumes of mony, jewelles, Plate, Ornamets, or annuities for y' erectio of any 

 obites, dirigcs, trentals, or any such like use, now by the lawes of this Realm not permitted ; and if there be, 

 that you present the names of such executors, the quantity and quality of the guifte, that order may be taken 

 therein accordingly. 



Item, whether there be any mony or stoke appertaininge to anye parishe Churche in any mannes handes 

 that refuse or differeth to p.iy the same : or that useth fr.iude, deceit or delaye to make any accompt in the 

 presence of the Honestye in the parishe, for the same. Whether your churchwardens and others, aforetyme, 

 have geuen the yearely accompte, according unto the custom as it hath been aforetime used. Whether the 

 store of the poore mennes boxe be openly & indifferently given where neede is, with out parcial affection. 

 Vl'hether any stocke of cattell or graine appertaining to youre churches, be deciied : by whose negligence, and 

 in whose handes. 



Item, whether your schoolcmaisters be of a sincere religion, and be diligent in teaching and bringing up 

 of youth. Whether they teache any other grammar than such as is appointed by the Quenes Maiesties 

 Injunctions, annexed to the same, or not. 



Item, whether there be any amonge you that use sorcerie or inchauntement, magike, incantations, or 

 nigromancie, or that be suspected of the same. 



Item, whether there be any in these partes that have married within degrees of affinity or consanguinitie, 

 bv the lawes of God forbidden, so set oute in a table for an Admonition. Any man that hath two wives, or 

 anie woman that hath two husbandes. Anie that being deuorceJ or seper.ited aside hath m.iried againe. Any 

 married that have made precontracts. Anye that have m.iried without banes thrise solcmncly asked. Anye 

 couples maried that live not together, but slanderouslie live apart : any that haue maried oute of the parishe 

 churche wher thei ought to have the same solemnised. 



Item, whether any your Ordinaries within this diocese, their Chauncellor, Officialls, Commissaries, 

 Registrars, and all and singular others that haue or do exercise any visitation or jurisdiction ecclesiasticall within 

 any part of this diocese, have uprightly, faithfully and unfaynedly to y' uttermoste of their powers observed in 

 theyr owne persons and towards all other, put in due execution the Queues Maiesties ecclesiasticall lawes, 

 Statutes, Injunctions, and al her highnes other Commandements published for uniformity of doctrine and due 

 order of the publik ministration of God's holy word and sacr.iments, and have commended and favored all such 

 as sought the same, and condignely punished all suche as soughte the contrarye. 



Item, whether any of them at anye time wittingly suffered faultes and transgressions to remaine 

 unpunished, for mony, gayne, pleasure, friendshippe, or any other aflectionate respecte, or } ff any of them 

 be or haue been burdensome to y' subiectes of their seuerall Jurisdictions, by exacting or taking excessive 

 fees, procurations, any rewardes or commodities by the w.iy of promotion, gilt, contribution, helpe, loane, 

 redemption of penance, omission of quarter sermons, obtaining of any benefice or office, or any other like 

 wages or means. 



Generally, whether there be any euill liver.s or offenders of the l.awes of Almighty God ; anye suspected 

 of any notorious sinne, fault or crime, to the oflence of Ciiri^tlan people committed: anie that stubbornlie 

 refuse to conlorine themselves to unitie and good religion. Anie that bruiteth abroad rumors of the alteration 

 of the same, or otherwise that disturbcth good orders, and the quietnesse of Christcs churche, and Christian 

 trongregitlon. B. M. T. 1015 (i). 



These very se.irching articles of inquiry are prefaced by instructions to the Commissioners for the Diocese 

 of Norwiche : First that you doe with all diligence tr.ivell to reduce the state of the clerg} e unto one uniforme 

 order in their ministration and preaching. . . . 



Additional testimony as to the very early hours at which church services were held at this time is to be 

 found in the Records of the Corporation of Yarmouth, llijf. I\1SS. Com. Rep. ix, 3061J, 10 Augt. 15 Eliz. : 

 Ordered that Sir James, the Minister, shall keep his howers at the churche for morning prayer as followeth : 

 from Hallowmas until Candlemas, to beginne his seruice at fyue of the clock, and so to contynewe winter and 

 summer : And that if he doe neglecte his dewtye therein, he shall loose ibr euery defauhe xii d to be deducted 

 from his wage. 



' Strype, Life of Parker, i, 492 ; iii, 161. 



266 



