ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



can well be imagined how this somewhat peremptory insistence on an 

 excellent practice might irritate the citizens of Norwich at this juncture.^ 



In April, 1635, Sir Nathaniel Brent held a metropolitical visitation in 

 the diocese as Laud's vicar-general.'' It furnishes a most interesting account 

 of the condition of the churches visited, which suggests that the noncon- 

 formity in Norfolk was not so virulent as that of Suffolk, but shows a 

 lamentable state of neglect in many parishes. The report of Norwich, 

 visited 6, 7, 8 April, is that — 



the Cathedral Church is much out of order. The hangings of the choir are nought, 

 the pavement not good, the spire of the steeple is quite down, the copes are fair, but want 

 mending. The churchyard is very ill-kept . . . There is likewise a window that letteth 

 smoke and casteth an ill-savour into the north side of the church. . . . Many ministers 

 appeared without priests' cloaks, and some of them are suspected for non-conformity, but 

 they carried themselves so warily that nothing can be proved against them. . . . The 

 Mayor and his brethren came not to visit me at my coming in. Afterwards I convented 

 them for walking indecently in the cathedral church every Sunday in prayer-time before the 

 sermon, and I admonished them to forbear for the future. . . . — Swaffham, lo April: Few 

 Puritans in this place, but much drunkenness, accompanied with all such vices as usually do 

 attend upon it. The church is very fair and very well kept. Half of it was built by 

 one Chapman, a pedlar. — Lynn, 13 April : Since the Court of High Commission took in 

 hand some of their schismatics, few of that fiery spirit remain there or in the parts thereabout. 

 But there are divers papists who speak scandalously of the Scriptures and of our religion. 

 . . . The three churches in Lynn are exceeding fair and well kept, and the three ministers 

 are very conformable and agree exceeding well, only in the principal church, called 

 St. Margaret's, the communion table wanted a rail, and at the upper end of the choir 

 instead of divine sentences of Scripture, divers sayings out of the Fathers were painted. 

 ... In these parts divers parsonage houses have been ruined, and much glebe land is 

 embezzled. — Fakenhajn, 15 April: One Mr. Sline, a vicar, standing excommunicate, did 

 officiate in his parisii church, for which I have suspended him, and think fit he should be 

 called into the High Commission Court next term. In these parts many parsonage houses 

 are ruinous, for the repairing whereof a strict charge is given. — Yarmouth, 17 April: I 

 was there entertained by the magistrates with very great solemnity. The town is now in 

 quiet, and the chiefest promise absolute obedience to the laws of the church. Their church 

 is very fair ; it had two pulpits in it, standing one against the other, one of which I have 

 caused to be taken down. The east end of the chancel is severed from the residue. The 

 roof of the church is very ruinous. Two doors at the west end kept shut in time of divine 

 service, and the churchyard thereunto adjoining it kept very indecently. . . . The 

 magistrates desire a lecturer, but I find no inclination in them to give the choice of him to 

 your grace.' 



The following year other changes were ordered in the church of Great 

 Yarmouth, where some inconvenient pews had been erected. At the 

 visitation of the church by the bishop's commissioners, Drs. Corbet and 



' The dean of Norwich mentioned in this connexion was a proUgi of Elizabeth queen of Bohemia. 

 On 10 December, 1624, he had written that he feared to misuse the queen of Bohemia's influence by 

 accepting so poora preferment as the deanery of Norwich, worth only i6o/r a year. {Cal. S. P. Dom. 1623-5.) 

 On the death of Bishop Corbet she wrote to Archbishop Laud commending to him Dr. Hassall, dean of 

 Norwich, for whom she could answer that he was deserving and no Puritan. She added that she heard 

 the bishop of Norwich was dead ; that she said no more, but left all to the archbishop. This indirect but 

 very plain request for the bishopric for this dean, who was no Puritan, received a courteous but very uncom- 

 promising refusal from the archbishop, who, in explaining why he had not promoted th: suit ot the dean, 

 made it clear that he considered Dr. Hassall guilty of overweening presumption in aspiring to the dignity. 



* Cal. S. P. Dom. 1635. Abstract of Metropolitical Visitation, Pref. xxx, xxxi. 



' Under the year 1636, Blomefield, iii, 379, says that 'the pinnacle of the cathedral which had been 

 injured by fire was re-edified. And now commotions began in the church, the citizens petitioning the mayor to 

 get new lectures, catechizings, evening readings, &c., and to be performed by such factious persons as they should 

 appoint. But the mayor and court refused them all, and would not apply to the Council as they desired.' 

 Evidently all the onus for the discouragement of 'powerful preaching' did not rest with the bishop. As 

 a matter of fact the moderate of both sides learnt to dread the lecturers as bitter instigators of strife and faction. 



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