A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 



It was in Norwich and Norfolk that the Independent party first began 



to grow into a powerful body ; in the beginning under the leadership of 



Robert Browne, but after his withdrawal, under the far more capable and 



admirable John Robinson of Norwich. Considerable light is thrown on the 



relations of the Presbyterian and Independent parties in Norwich in 1646 



by two pamphlets entitled respectively Vox Populi : or, The Peoples Cry 



against the Clergy^ and Vox Norivici,^ an answer to the same, described on 



the title-page as — 



An Hue or Cry after Vox Populi, or an Answer to Vox Diaboli, or a Libellous Pamphlet 

 falsely styled Vox Populi, reviling the Magistracy and Ministry of Norwich. Wherein is 

 laid downe. The Truth of the Rise and Progress of the said Ministers of Norwich their late 

 Remonstrance, Together with the deceitfuU dealing of the Independent Faction in getting 

 hands to their Petition there annexed, and their juggling in other petitions in that city. As 

 also what entertainment their Petition found in the Court of Maioralty and Committee for 

 the County. Together with the Entertainment of this scurrilous Pamphlet in that city. 



The Vox Populi thus retorted upon had also on its title-page a similar ampli- 

 fication, which explains it as — 



containing the Rise, Progress, and Ruine of the Norwich Remonstrance framed and fomented 

 by the late Ministers of that city, being encouraged thereunto by some great persons from 

 above ; or The Humble Petition of the Knights, Gentlemen, Freeholders, and Inhabitants of 

 the county of Northfolk and City of Norwich. A Protest against dissensions and oppressions 

 practised in Norwich and Petition that the Church Government might be settled according 

 to our Covenant. 



Vox Populi had attacked the ministers who had presented a remonstrance 

 against the declaration of 17 April previous, and especially against 

 Mr. Thornbecke, who preached before the magistrates, 16 June, 1646, the 

 day on which the mayor was sworn, and Masters Carter, Stinnet, Fletcher, 

 Bond, Stukeley, Toft and Michel, who next day waited on the mayor to ask 

 leave to present the remonstrance. It mentions that out of thirty-six parishes 

 in Norwich, twenty-six were without ministers. 



Vox Norwici vindicates the ministers, and sets forth that — 



the City of Norwich, viz : the court of Maioraltie and Common Councell by their Act of 

 Assemblie; the Rest of the well affected Citizens and Inhabitants, by the subscription of their 

 names thereunto, doe vindicate their ministers. Master Thornbecke, etc. from the foule and 

 false aspersions and slanders, which are unchristianly throwne upon them in a lying and 

 scurrilous Libell, lately come forth, intituled Vox Populi, or the People's Cry against the 

 Clergy, or rather the voice of a Schismaticke projecting the discouragement, and driving 

 away, of our faithfuU Teachers, but we hope his lies shall not so affect it.' 



This pamphlet informs the reader that the ministers themselves ' will 

 not be perswaded to ingage their pens in answering that fardell of untruths,' 

 also that by an Act of Common Council the mayor and citizens disclaim all 

 connexion with or responsibility for Vox Populi. On the whole it surpasses 

 the other in abusiveness, and does not attempt to refute the assertion that 

 twenty-six out of thirty-six Norwich churches are empty ; on the contrary, 

 its line of defence seems to be that the godly have something more serious 

 on hand than filling such posts.* 



' B. M. Pamphlets, E. 351 (7). ' Ibid. E. 358 (4). 



' It gives an account of the lives of the ministers vindicated by it, and mentions that Master Carter hath 

 lived minister of St. Peter's parish these seventeen years, except when he was banished by Bishop Wren and 

 his chancellor, and because of his objecting to prelatical ceremonies was unmercifully persecuted by Bishop 

 Wren and his chancellor and suspended, deprived and molested ; that Mr. Stinnet hath been troubled and 



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