A HISTORY OF NORFOLK out of order, and the bishop himself not without his imperfections." In a letter to Lady Bacon ' he accounts for the very special interest he felt in the diocese, by saying Norfolk was his own county, and therefore dear to him, which indeed he proved by the many fellowships he procured for Norfolk at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge/ The archbishop's letters leave the impression not only that the bishop was responsible for some of the abuses existing, but also that his want of support of and even opposition to the archbishop were a great hindrance to reform. It is extremely instructive to compare the injunctions issued in both visitations.* The answers to his in these very changeable times, the wife of a clergyman was so often not his social equal, that at last the parson was frequently required to ask the consent of his bishop to his marriage ; and that before his appointment to a benefice, if married, not only the candidate, but his wife, had to undergo examination at his application. (B.M. 5 I 55, aa. 8.) The answers to articles of inquiry at this and subsequent visitations show great neglect and disorder, and lack of things necessary, such as surplices, cloths for the communion table, &c. on the one hand, and a certain adherence to the older forms on the other. The Ordinary's visitation books teem with complaints of non- compliance with the queen's injunctions. In 1 563, at Marsham, ' the Rood Loft is not pluckt down ' ; at Morton, ' the Rood Doors not stopped, and 8 Tabernacles remain in the wall ' ; at Bristow, ' they have pictures and other superstitious things hidden in the Rood loft' (quoted in Notf. Arch, i, 239). But in many cases the churches were much defaced by the tearing down of all ' images,' and it was years before the necessary steps for hiding the damage done were taken ; at Upton, after the removal of the altar, as late as 1597 the archdeacon found it necessary to order ' the pavement of the s"* chauncell where the hygh altar stoode to be repayred and comelie paved.' (Percival O. Hill, Hist, of Upton, iii.) In any case the prescribed whitewashing over of mural paintings, and the painting of te.xts of scripture over the whitened spaces can have hardly had a beautifying effect. ' Strype, Life of Parker, i, 489. ' Ibid. 495. ' Masters, Hist, of Corpus Chr'uti College, 9, 98, &c. "Articles to be inquired of at the metropolitical visitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1567: Imprimis, whether Divine service be sayde or songe by your Minister or Ministers in your severall churches, duely and reverently, as it is set forth by the lawes of this realme, without any kind of variation. And whether the holy Sacramentes be likewise ministred reverently in such manner as by the lawes of this Realme, and by the Queues Maiesties Iniunctions, and by thadvertisements set forthe by publike authority, is appointed and prescribed. Item, whether you have in your paryshe churches all things necessary and requisite for Common Prayer and administration of the Sacraments, specially the booke of Common Prayer, the Bible in y' largest volume, the Homilyes, with the Paraphrases of Erasmus : A convenient pulpit well placed ; a comly and decent table for the holy Communion, covered decently, and set in y' place prescribed by y' Quenes Maiesties Injunctions : The chest or boxe for the pore men, and al other things necessary in and to the premises. And whether your Aulters bee taken downe, according to y" commaundemente in that behalf geuen. Item, whether your Priestes, Curates, or ministers do use in the time of the celebration of divine service to weare a surples, prescribed by y° Quenes Maiesties Injunctions and the boke of Common Prayer. And whether they do celebrate the same divine service in the Chauncel or in the churche, and do use all Rites and orders prescribed in the boke of Common prayer, and none other. Item, whether your curates or ministers do publiquely in their open churches read in manner appointed the Queue's Maiesties Injunctions and Homilyes : The Advertisements latelye sette forthe by publique authoritye. And whether the same in all poyntes be duely observed. Item, whether your Curates or Ministers or any of them doe use to minister the sacramente of Baptisme in basons or els in the fonte standing in the place accustomed. And whether the same fonte be decently kepte. And whether they do use to minister the Holye Communion in wafer bread according to the Quenes Maiesties Injunctions, or els in common bread. And also whether they do minister in any prophane Cuppes, Bowles, disshes, or Chalices heretofore used at Masse, or els in a decent Communion Cuppe provided and kept for the same purpose only. And whether the Communicants do use to receyve the holy Communion standinge, sittinge, or els knelynge. Item, whether ymages and all other monuments of Idolatry and superstition be destroyed and abolyshed in your severall paryshes : and whether your churches and chauncells be well adorned and conveniently kepte without waste, destruction or abuse of anythinge. Whether the roode lofte bee pulled downe, according to the order prescribed ; and if the partition between the chauncell and the churche be kepte. Whether your churchyardes be well fensed and cleanly kepte. Whether any sale have bene made of your Churche goods, by whome and to whomc, and what hath been don with the monye thereof comming. Whether your Chauncels and Parsonages be well and sufficiently repayred : whether any man haue pulled downe or discouered any Church, Chauncel, Chappell, Almeshouse, or such like, or have plucked donn y" bells, or have felled or spoyled any wood or tembere in any Church yarde. Item, whether there be any Parsons that intrude themselfe, and presume to exercise any kind of mynistery in the churche of God, without imposition of handes & ordinary aucthoritie. Whether their Churche or 264
