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. 283
