A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 



22 Auo-ust, 1578,* . . . Ruckwood and Robert Downes were ordered to 

 remain in the gaol of the county, they having been formerly communicated 

 with, and stood obstinate ; Humphrey Bedingfield of Quidenham, Robert de 

 Grey of Martin, John Downes of Bowghton, esqres., and John Drury of 

 Godwitt, gent., who had already previously been dealt with by the bishop, 

 had to enter into bonds of 200 ii apiece, not to leave their lodgings in Nor- 

 wich ; and Thomas Lovell, Robert Lovell, and Ferdinando Paris were also 

 committed to remain in their lodgings and to find bonds. So many impor- 

 tant Norfolk families furnished members of the recusant party that the county 

 came to be looked on as a stronghold of popery, and attracted particular 

 notice from the central government. In the same month two justices of the 

 peace in Norfolk were instructed to take order for displacing and putting out 

 of service of such servants of Sir Henry Bedingfield as do not conform and 

 come to church.- In September, the bishop was congratulated on his diligent 

 travail, by which he had reclaimed Thomas Lovell and others, and was in- 

 structed to send up Dr. Wyndham to their lordships, since he remained 

 obstinate and no mild course would reform him ;' and he was required in 

 another letter to give orders for the apprehension of one Derham, a priest, 

 attendant for the most part about the Lady Jerningham, for that he was sus- 

 pected to be one that useth bad practices to the disturbance of the common 

 quiet of this kingdom.* 



Bishop Parkhurst had died 2 February, 1575, his last days being much 

 disturbed by disputes with the archbishop about the suppression of prophesy- 

 ings, which he would have liked to encourage, as well as the use of the wafer, 

 to which he strongly objected. His successor Bishop Freake, as far as he 

 dared, dealt tenderly with the recusants, and in a certificate he had to send 

 in 29 October, 1577,^ said that many would probably conform, and that Lady 

 Jerningham, being often troubled with certain melancholy passions, had 

 service in English said in her own house. Bishop Parkhurst had previously 

 written of her ' she is noted to be a great enemy to religion." 



The political aspect assumed by recusancy led to the promulgation of 

 severer law^s against it, and their enforcement meant ruin to some of the Nor- 

 folk gentry, terrible impoverishment by fines, and continuous imprisonment 

 for others. However leniently the bishop might try to apply the laws, the 

 laws were stern, and he had no choice but to administer them. In January, 

 1578-9, he was informed that as Sir Henry Bedingfield could not conveniently 

 repair to the city of Norwich to be conferred with on matters of religion, by 

 reason of a disease in his leg. Sir Henry was to remain in his house, and the 

 bishop and commissioners were to repair to him.'^ The following month he 

 received orders to return to the Privy Council the names of those persons, 

 ' of whom their lordships have heard that in Thetford and other places in his 

 diocese have been seen, not long since, in some men's houses, certain images, 

 which either are reserved to the private use of them that keep them for idoli- 

 trie, or for other dangerous purpose of sorcerie or witchcraft.' ' In January, 

 I 579-80, orders were issued concerning the arrest of Edward Jackson, a priest, 



'Vol. X, 310. ' Ac(s P.C.x, ii6. 'Ibid. 333. 



* Ibid. 325. " Ca/. S. P. Dom. 1547-S0, p. 562. 



' Public Library, Cambridge, EE. 2, 34, fol. 1 10 r. ' Acts P.C.xi, 15. 



' IbiJ. xi, 36. 



