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 THU 
 
 HISTOMY 
 
 OF 
 
 NORWICH, 
 
 FROM 
 
 Carltest Eecottos 
 
 TO 
 
 BY P. BROWNE. 
 
 EACONj K1NXEBROOK,AKD CO. 4$D SOLO 
 BY AXD FOR R. CHJPPERFIELDt 
 
 1814,
 
 Entered at Stationers' Hall.
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY OF NORWICH. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Origin of the City, and Chronology of Re- 
 inarkable Events from its first Foundation 
 to the Reformation. 
 
 Anno. Do???.^ > 1LAUDIUS CJESAR, the Ro~ 
 
 46. \^ man Emperor., in the fourth 
 year of his reign, invaded this part of the island 
 of Great Britain, then inhabited by the potent 
 nation, called the Iccni the aborigines of the 
 country. This people submitted to the Ro- 
 mans, and sought an alliance with them, which 
 being accepted by Claudius, he departed, leav- 
 ing Ostorius his propraetor, or lieutenant, to 
 govern and keep in subjection to the Roman 
 yoke his new allies. In order to the fulfilling 
 of this trust, Ostorius took occasion to disarm 
 those inhabitants of whom he was suspicious; 
 these people being bred to arms, and naturally 
 brave, did not easily submit to such imperious 
 
 A 3 
 
 2000597
 
 treatment, but immediately rose against the Ro- 
 man governor. They were not able, however, 
 to contend with the Roman legions, who, for 
 military skill and discipline, then surpassed all 
 the nations in the world, but were quickly sub- 
 dued, and from this time lost their original li- 
 berty, which they never recovered, but remain- 
 ed slaves to the Roman power 400 years, and 
 afterwards fell successively under the dominion 
 of the Saxons, Danes, and Normans, with 
 whom they at length became so much inter- 
 mixed, that all traces of the original inhabitants 
 were, after a few centuries, entirely lost, 
 
 During the period the Romans were in pos- 
 session of the island there, is no mention made in 
 history of any town where Norwich now stands, 
 nor does the name occur in any Roman histo- 
 rian, although the Venta leenorum is very often 
 mentioned, and from which it is very probable 
 the river Wensum derived its name. Venta 
 leenorum is by some authors supposed to have 
 been situated where Castor now stands, and 
 where there are still the vestiges of the Roman 
 camp, while others have contended that North 
 Elmham was distinguished by that name. Which 
 ever of these it might have been, must still re- 
 main a doubt, nor is it of any consequence tow- 
 ards ascertaining the origin of this city, w T hich, 
 at the period alluded to, does not appear to 
 have contained a single building. The low 
 grounds lying between the hills on the East
 
 5 
 
 side, and the castle hill and other eminences on 
 the West, were entirely covered with water, 
 which gradually retreating 1 ., in length of time 
 this arm of the sea was reduced to the river, in 
 the same course in which it at present appears. 
 The hill, on which the castle stands, has by 
 some been supposed a natural, by others an 
 artificial promontory ; but in all probability it 
 partakes of the nature of both, and the situation 
 being very eligible for fixing a fortification, it 
 might be greatly improved by throwing up the 
 earth taken out of the ditch, in order to raise it 
 to such an eminence as to command both 
 the land and water, contiguous to which it 
 was then so conveniently situated. 
 
 400. The Romans finally abandoned this 
 island ; their camp at Castor was of course de- 
 serted ; the place itself fell into decay; and 
 the inhabitants, by degrees, removed and fixed 
 themselves here, for the convenience of carrying 
 on their profession of fishing. The first ap- 
 pearance of a town arose by the water-side, pro- 
 bably where Ber-street is now situated. 
 
 The defenceless inhabitants of this country 
 were no sooner forsaken by the Romans, than 
 they fell under the dominion of the Saxons, 
 who, about this period, made themselves masters 
 of the island, to the eastern part of which they 
 gave the name of the East Angles, including 
 under this title, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cam- 
 bridgeshire; the seat of the sovereignty was
 
 6 
 
 fixed here., and the monarchs were denominated 
 Kings of the East Angles. 446 is considered as 
 the date of the foundation of Norwich, which 
 name it obtained from the Saxon word (DSJl'f, 
 a winding river; to the North of which the 
 castle and a few other buildings were then or 
 soon after erected,, out of which the name was 
 compounded, and which it t6 this day retains. 
 
 575. UFFA, the first king of the East An- 
 gles,, built the castle, and made it the place of 
 his residence. In his reign the town increased 
 in buildings,, (probably to the North-west of 
 Ber-street) and population. 
 
 642. ANNA, king of the East Angles, kept 
 his court in the royal palace of Norwich castle, 
 which he greatly improved. 
 
 After this the castle was often won and lost 
 in the Danish wars, of which few records re- 
 maining, there is no account of Norwich extant 
 for a period of more than 200 years, during 
 which time the Christian religion was first 
 planted among the East Angles by St. Felix, a 
 Burgundian, brought over by kingSigebert from 
 France. It is probable some churches, or other 
 places of divine worship, were now first erected 
 here, and particular limits assigned to them^ as 
 it is generally agreed that it was about this time 
 that parishes began to be denominated after re- 
 ligious buildings. 
 
 872. ALFRED THE GREAT wholly subdued 
 the Danes. He greatly improved the forti^ca-
 
 tions of the castle, which, being before of earth, 
 he rebuilt with brick, after the Danish manner, 
 and bestowed it upon Gutrum, the Danish 
 king-, under a condition that he should not 
 join the Danes upon another invasion. This 
 condition Gutrum broke, whereupon Alfred 
 dispossed him of Norwich castle and the so- 
 vereignty. 
 
 901. EDWARD, the elder, succeeded Alfred, 
 and permitted Erioke, king of the Danes, to hold 
 these provinces ; but he rebelled, and was over- 
 thrown in battle and killed by king Edward, 
 who resumed the sovereignty. 
 
 912. ATHELSTANE, his son, totally subdued 
 the Danes, and brought the whole of the South- 
 ern part of England to an entire monarchy in 
 the year 925. He is supposed to have kept hi* 
 court here ; the country enjoyed a peace, and 
 this town is said to have flourished much. 
 
 941. EDMUND. In the reign of this king 
 the town increased in wealth and extent : proba- 
 bly several new parishes were formed and 
 churches built. 
 
 952. ELDRED is said to have made Norwich 
 a borough, and caused it to be governed by a 
 serjeant; he was not, however, chosen by the 
 inhabitants, but was merely an officer appoint- 
 ed by the king, to keep his courts and collect 
 his revenues. 
 
 981. ETHELDRED, in whose reign the Danes 
 again invaded England, and having razed Ex-
 
 8 
 
 eter to the ground, they came, under the com- 
 mand of Swaine (in 1003), their king, to Nor- 
 wich, with their whole fleet, and burnt and 
 destroyed the town ; so that from this period 
 begins the history of the present city. No part 
 of the ancient town escaped the general confla- 
 gration. 
 
 1004. The Danes being repulsed by king 
 Etheldred, returned to their ships, leaving Nor- 
 wich quite desolate, which continued so for six 
 years (1010), when they returned and settled 
 here. By them the city was rebuilt and re- 
 peopled, and was, most probably, begun on the 
 sdte of the old town. 
 
 1011. Swaine becoming king, rebuilt the 
 fortifications of the castle, and assigned the com- 
 mand of them, as well as of all Norfolk, to 
 Turkil or Turketel, a Danish nobleman, who 
 held it under Swaine during the life of that 
 usurper. 
 
 1014. CANUTE, his son, was made king after 
 his decease, by the Danish army ; but the En- 
 glish recalled Etheldred from Normandy, whither 
 he had fled upon the usurpation of Swaine ; he 
 drove Canute out of his dominions, who re- 
 turned into Denmark and reinforced his army. 
 Turkil still remained governor here, under king 
 Etheldred, but was not deserving of that trust, 
 for in 1016 he sailed with a fleet of nine ships 
 to Denmark, and persuaded Canute to return ; 
 which he did, accompanied by his brother Harold,
 
 then king of Denmark, with a navy of 160 ships. 
 Turkil was made -commander against the En- 
 glish, whom he quickly subdued. Etheldred 
 dying about the same time, the crown descend- 
 ed to 
 
 EDMUND, surnamed Ironsides,, who had a 
 long conflict and many battles with Canute, 
 none of which proving decisive, it was agreed 
 by both the contending parties, that it should 
 (according to the custom of the age) be de- 
 cided by single combat, and Canute was ?Q. 
 far disabled as to submit to a compromise, to 
 divide the country between them, leaving to 
 Edmund the kingdom of the East Angles, 
 which, however, he did not long enjoy, being 
 in the same year treacherously murdered 
 by Earl Edric, after a reign of only seven 
 months. 
 
 1017. Canute became sole monarch of all 
 England, and constituted the before-mentioned 
 Turkil governor of the castle of Norw ich, with 
 the newly-rebuilt town, and all the country sur- 
 rounding, that is to say, the county of Norfolk, 
 the boundary of which was probably ascertained 
 by him as it remains to this day. Upon this ac- 
 count he has been denominated the first lord 
 lieutenant of the county, constable of the castle, 
 and magistrate of the city, under the title of 
 Earl of Norwich. In this reign, (1018) it is 
 with great probability supposed, the present 
 castle was built by Turkil, who joining Edric, 
 
 B
 
 10 
 
 earl of Northumberland, in rebellion (1021), the 
 king banished them both, and took the govern- 
 ment of Norfolk into his own hands. 
 
 1036. HAROLD succeeded Canute; he held 
 the government here himself, and dying in 1039, 
 
 HARDICANUTE succeeded him ; he was last of 
 the Danish kings that sat on the English throne*. 
 
 Till this time Norwich was said to be a great 
 fishing town, the principal staithe being where 
 the church of St. Lawrence at present stands ; 
 but it appears that the waters retreated so much 
 as to leave the lower parts of it dry, in the same 
 manner as they now appear. From their low 
 situation they were called marshes, and were soon 
 after drained and built upon ; the river assumed 
 its present appearance, and that part of the city 
 extending from Conisford to Magdalen gate be- 
 gan to be erected, with its churches and reli- 
 gious buildings. 
 
 1049. EDWARD, the Confessor, gave the 
 earldom of the city to Harold, son of earl Good- 
 win, afterwards king of England ; on his rebel- 
 lion it was seized by Edward, and given to Al- 
 gar, son of Leofric, earl of Chester, who resign- 
 ed it to Harold on his return. 
 
 1052. On the death of earl Goodwin, Harold 
 g*ave the town, in 1055, again to Algar; but 
 he being banished, it fell into the king's hands, 
 and Algar being soon after recalled, the govern- 
 ment of the city, &c. was restored to him, and 
 he held it till his death.
 
 11 
 
 From the eleventh century, most of the 
 churches and religious buildings in this king- 
 dom date their first foundation. In large towns 
 where there were many inhabitants at that time, 
 we find many more parish churches,, or the re- 
 mains of them, at this day, than in those places, 
 now equally or more opulent, which have arisen 
 since that period : Norwich was then denomi- 
 nated a borough, and must have increased very 
 rapidly (in less than half a century) in extent, 
 population, and magnificence ; for in king Ed- 
 ward's survey, still preserved in domes-day book, 
 the borough was said to have had 1320 bur- 
 gesses, with their families dwelling therein, and 
 appears to have been divided into three parts or 
 manors, the first of which was the original (now 
 Ber-street), and belonged to the earl as consta- 
 ble of the castle ; the second, the lower town, 
 built upon the retreat of the sea (now Conis- 
 ford), belonged to the king ; and the other, the 
 newly erected churches and buildings (now 
 Tombland and St. Martin's plain), appertained 
 to the bishop of the East Angles, at that time 
 Stigand, afterwards archbishop of Canterbury, 
 the seat of whose episcopal government was 
 then at Thetford, although he appears to have 
 kept his courts here, probably in the church of 
 St. Simon and Jude or St. Michael on Tomb- 
 land, or perhaps in both, these churches being 
 then newly erected. The latter was the most 
 considerable church in the town, and was si-i 
 B %
 
 12 
 
 tuatcd a little to the South of where the obelisk 
 now stands ; the bury ing-ground was so large 
 as to comprehend the present scite of St. 
 George's and St. Mary's churches, as well as the 
 present street, and part of what is now the close, 
 and from the great number of persons interred 
 there, being the principal burying-ground, it 
 obtained the name of Tombland, which it re- 
 tains to this day. There were also twenty-three 
 other churches then standing, some of which 
 are yet remaining and in use, others arc demo- 
 lished and consolidated with other parishes. 
 Such was the appearance of Norwich prior to 
 the Norman conquest. The removal of the 
 episcopal see hither after that period, and the 
 introduction of foreigners since, contributed to 
 give it another form, and greatly to enlarge its 
 dimensions. 
 
 1066. HAROLD. In the short reign of this 
 king there is no other mention made of Norwich 
 by historians, than that it daily increased in 
 wealth and population, and was esteemed one of 
 the most considerable places in the kingdom. 
 
 1075. WILLIAM I. commonly called the Con- 
 queror, gave the earldom, with the government 
 of the castle and of the whole city, to Ralph de 
 "Waiet ; but he rebelling against his benefactor 
 and patron, caused a great contest in the city, 
 by which it suffered considerably, and Waiet 
 was at length subdued. The king (in 1077) 
 then constituted Roger Bigot constable of the
 
 13 
 
 castle, with a limited power; he was also to 
 collect the rents and revenues belonging- to the 
 crown. In 1086, William ordered a general 
 survey to be taken of his dominions, by which it 
 appeared, that Norwich contained 1565 bur- 
 gesses, householders, and 480 labourers, proba- 
 bly lodgers, and the churches and chapels had 
 increased to forty-three in number. A great ad- 
 dition was now made to the extent of the city. 
 Some of the Frenchmen who came over from 
 Normandy at the conquest, settled in that part 
 called Mancroft, which was granted to them by 
 the king, as part of the liberty of the castle; the 
 parish church there, dedicated to St. Peter, was 
 founded by Ralpho de Waiet, and given by him 
 to Wala, one of his chaplains, and was so named 
 after the church of St. Peter at Gloucester, of 
 which he afterwards became a monk. This 
 newly inhabited part of the city was then called 
 (he new borough, and soon afterwards increased 
 so much, that two more parishes were formed, 
 viz. St. Stephen and St. Giles. 
 
 Many Jews, likewise, in this reign, came from 
 Rouen, in Normandy, and settled here, who had 
 a synagogue assigned them for the exercise of 
 their religious worship. 
 
 1087. WILLIAM II. called Rufus. In the 
 beginning of this reign, Roger Bigot, constable 
 of the castle, rebelled against the king, but was 
 suppressed. It does not however appear that 
 be was dispossessed of his office, for he held it
 
 H 
 
 during the whole reign ; and it seems that he 
 conducted himself to the satisfaction of the king-, 
 who grunted to the city some privileges not be- 
 fore enjoyed. More foreign Jews settled in the 
 city at this time, being much favoured by Wil- 
 liam, on account of the personal wealth which 
 they brought into his dominions, 
 
 1094. Herbert de Lozinga removed the 
 episcopal see from Thetford to Norwich, found- 
 ed and endowed the cathedral church of the 
 holy trinity, the liberty of which he walled in 
 on all sides, except next the river, so that it had 
 the appearance of a little town of itself, in which 
 he had just before built the parish church of St. 
 Mary in the Marsh. This being the liberty of 
 the bishop of the East Angles, he fixed in it the 
 seat of the ecclesiastical government;, he like- 
 wise founded the episcopal palace on the north 
 side of the church, and on the south side the 
 priory, now converted into the deanery and the 
 prebendal houses. 
 
 1100. HENRY I. In the beginning of this 
 reign, Roger Bigot, William Bigot, and Hugh 
 Bigot, were successively constables of the castle, 
 and lieutenants or governors of the city and 
 county, and so continued until the king honour- 
 ed the city with his presence (1122), and kept 
 his Christmas here. He was so pleased with the 
 loyalty of the citizens and the accommodations 
 lie received, that he granted a charter, whereby 
 they should be governed by a magistrate of their
 
 15 
 
 own, chosen from among them by the king him- 
 self, who was to be called Praepositus, Provost, 
 or Portreeve. The castle, with its liberty, was 
 severed from the government of the city, as it 
 has ever since remained ; the liberty being then 
 much more extensive that it is at present, was 
 under the jurisdiction of the constable of the 
 castle and the sheriff of the county. This was 
 the first charter ever granted to the city. In 
 the beginning of this reign, it has been said the 
 city was visited with a grievous pestilence. The 
 castle first began to be used for a place of con- 
 finement for the king's prisoners. 
 
 1 135. STEPHEN, in the first year of his reign, 
 made Hugh Bigot constable of the castle and 
 earl of Norfolk. He was one of the greatest 
 men of his time. 
 
 1140. The Jews in this city crucified a boy 
 twelve years old, named William, and buried 
 him in Thorpe Wood ; but the body was found 
 five years after, and interred by fhe monks in 
 the cathedral church. This martyr was after- 
 wards canonized by the name of St. William in 
 the Wood, and had a chapel dedicated to him 
 within the liberty of Pockthorpe. 
 
 1 152. This king is said to have made Nor- 
 wich a corporation, by which is probably meant 
 that he granted the citizens the privilege of 
 electing their provost or chief magistrate them- 
 selves. 
 
 1154. HENRY II. 1158. The citizens raised
 
 16 
 
 the sum of 414A 13s. 4d. and presented it to the 
 king by way of a free gift a great sum at that 
 time. 
 
 1163. The king made Hugh Bigot, consta- 
 ble of the castle,, sole governor of the city,, and 
 the sheriff of Norfolk was to act under him. 
 
 1165. Jan. 26. A great shock of an earth- 
 quake w r as felt, so that the bells rang in the 
 steeples. 
 
 1174. The cathedral church was damaged 
 by an accidental fire, and much injury was done 
 to the city by the Flemings, who came to assist 
 Hugh Bigot in his rebellion against the king. 
 The citizens behaved themselves very bravely 
 in repelling these invaders (being probably weary 
 of Bigot's government), with which the king- 
 was so much pleased, that, on their petition, he 
 restored their forfeited liberties, and, in confima- 
 tion, granted them a new charter. 
 
 1189. RICHARD I. granted the city another 
 charter (1193), in which the inhabitants were 
 first stiled citizens, and their privileges were 
 greatly enlarged. They were now first em- 
 powered to choose a coroner. 
 
 1199. JOHN. In the year 1216 the city was 
 plundered by French invaders. 
 
 1223. HENRY III. granted a new charter to 
 the city, by which it was to be governed by four 
 bailiffs, instead of a provost as heretofore. 
 
 1233. Many Jews severely punished for cir- 
 cumcising a Christian's child, and keeping him
 
 17 
 
 up with an intention of crucifying him at Easter, 
 which being discovered, was prevented. 
 
 1243. The hospital in Bishopsgate-street 
 founded by bishop Suffield, 
 
 1252. The city was enclosed with a wide 
 and deep ditch. 
 
 1256. The king came to Norwich. 
 
 1266. The disinherited barons seized the 
 castle, plundered the city, and killed many of 
 the inhabitants. 
 
 1271. June 29. The spire of the cathedral 
 was struck down by lightning, during the time 
 of morning prayers. A great flood. 
 
 1272. Aug. 9. A furious dispute between 
 the citizens and the monks of the cathedral : 
 the church was plundered and part of it burnt. 
 The king came to Norwich to settle the differ- 
 ences and punish the offenders ; he seized the 
 liberties of the city, appointed keepers thereof, 
 and the liberties were not restored to the citi- 
 zens during his reign. 
 
 1272. EDWARD I. The city continued un- 
 der the interdict till 1275, when it was taken off 
 by this king. 
 
 1278. The cathedral church, being quite 
 repaired and finished, was re-consecrated on 
 Advent Sunday, by bishop Middleton, with 
 great solemnity ; the king assisting at the ce- 
 remony. 
 
 1280. Great damages done to the city by- 
 inundations and tempests.
 
 18 
 
 1285. A new charter granted by the king, 
 who was present. 
 
 1290. Jan. A great flood ; the water so 
 high., that it ran over White FriaiV bridge, and 
 destroyed several houses. 
 
 Many Jews were executed for* defacing the 
 coin. 
 
 1294. The city wall nfst began to be built. 
 
 1296. The city first sent representatives to 
 parliament. 
 
 1307. EDWARD II. 1312. Thomas de Bro- 
 therton, constable of the castle, repaired and 
 beautified the building, and crowned the upper 
 part with new battlements. 
 
 1314. A great famine and mortality for twd 
 years together, so that bread could not be ob- 
 tained for the king's household, and the living 
 were not sufficient in number to bury the dead. 
 
 1320. The city walls were finished. 
 
 1326. EDWARD III. 1328. This king by 
 a statute made Norwich a staple town for the 
 counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, by which the 
 trade of the city was much increased. 
 
 1336. A colony of Dutch and Flemish wea- 
 vers, who had been driven out of their country 
 by an inundation, settled in this city, where they 
 established the manufactory of worstead stuffs ; 
 for which Norwich has been ever since famous. 
 The stuffs were denominated worstead, from 
 being made of fine woollen yarn, the spinning 
 of which was first brought to perfection at or 
 near Worstead, in Norfolk.
 
 19 
 
 By this manufacture the city attained a pitcl| 
 of wealth and opulence never before known, 
 The trade was also further augmented by an act 
 of parliament which passed this year, to pro- 
 hibit the wearing any clothes made of foreign 
 manufacture by any person, except the royal 
 family and principal nobility. 
 
 1340. The castle was made the public gaol 
 for the county of Norfolk, and the custody com* 
 mitted to the sheriff. 
 
 A great tournament held at Norwich, at 
 which the king with his queen Philippa were 
 present; they kept their court. at the bishop's 
 palace, 
 
 The city gates, with the towers, were fortified 
 and furnished with the warlike instruments then 
 in use, chiefly at the expence and under the di- 
 rection of Richard Spynk, a worthy citizen and 
 great public benefactor. 
 
 1342. The king and queen honoured the 
 city with another visit. 
 
 1344. This year a new charter was granted, 
 by which the liberty of the castle was reduced 
 to the outward limits of the inner ditch, as it 
 now continues. By this charter the citizens 
 became proprietors of the ancient fee of the 
 castle ; that is, the castle ditches and the great 
 croft, now the marketplace, 
 
 1348. The great pestilence, of which above 
 7,000 persons died in Norwich in seven 
 months. Before this dreadful calamity befel 
 c 2
 
 20 
 
 the city, it is said to have contained 70,000 souls, 
 and had sixty-nine parish churches and eight 
 religious houses. 
 
 1350. A grand tournament was held here, 
 at which was present Edward, prince of Wales, 
 commonly called the Black Prince, for whom 
 the citizens provided a Magnificent entertain- 
 ment, at the expence of 311. 4s. 6d. 
 
 1355. The king, hy writ, required the city 
 to provide and arm 120 soldiers, to go with him 
 into France. 
 
 1361. A great dearth and plague. 
 
 Jan. 15, A high wind for six days did 
 much damage ; it overthrew the great tow r er of 
 the cathedral, which in its fall beat down a con- 
 siderable part of the choir, and was rebuilt; this 
 accounts for its being the most beautiful part 
 of the church ; the tower, with its elegant spire 
 now standing, was soon afterwards erected by 
 bishop Percy. 
 
 1365. The small-pox made Us first appear- 
 ance in this country. 
 
 1368. Twenty-four common-council men, 
 first chosen. 
 
 1369. The plague broke out again, and car- 
 ried off many people, who died very suddenly. 
 
 1371. The king, by writ, commanded the 
 citizens to equip and send out a good barge 
 against the common enemy. 
 
 1377. The battlements on the city walls, 
 gates, and towers being numbered, amounted 
 to 1630,
 
 21 
 
 1381. RICHARD II. The year of Wat Ty- 
 Jer's rebellion in London. 
 
 Insurrections became general in many parts 
 of the kingdom ; the Norwich rebels were com- 
 manded by John Lyster, Litcster, or Linster, a 
 dyer, and were very numerous. They were, 
 however, pursued to North Walsham by the 
 king's troops, under the command of Henry le 
 Spencer, bishop of Norwich, a prelate remark- 
 nble for his bravery and courage, and eminent 
 for his piety and charity. By him the rebels 
 were defeated, their leader and many of his 
 adherents taken, who were executed for high 
 treason. 
 
 1382. June 20. A violent shock of an earth- 
 quake was felt. 
 
 1383. The king and queen visited the city, 
 and were received with great pomp. 
 
 1385. The city walls, towers, and gates put 
 into a state of defence ; proper guards appoint- 
 ed to them, and the ditches cleaned and opened. 
 
 1389. The great John of Gaunt, duke of 
 Lancaster, visited this city, and was very ho- 
 nourably received. 
 
 1390. A great mortality in Norwich and 
 Norfolk. 
 
 1399. On the apprehension of an invasion 
 of England by the French, the city was put into 
 a state of complete defence, and the inhabitants 
 subjected to military regulations. 
 
 1403. HENRY IV. The king's writ came
 
 down to return four representatives to parlia- 
 ment, but the citizens employed all their intern^ 
 to reduce the number to two, as before, and 
 which has so continued ever since. 
 
 In this year the city received a new charter, 
 by which it was for ever to be governed by a 
 mayor, to be elected by a majority of the citi- 
 zens. The limits of the liberty of the city were 
 exactly ascertained, and it was made a county 
 of itself, to be for ever separated from the coun- 
 ty of Norfolk, to be called the county of the 
 city of Norwich ; and the citizens are annually 
 to elect two sheriffs, who are to execute that 
 office in the same manner and with the same 
 authority as the sheriffs of counties, William 
 Appleyard was the first mayor. As there was 
 then no court of aldermen, the mayor had power 
 to choose four assistant justices to constitute the 
 quorum. This charter was received by the citi- 
 zens with great demonstrations of joy. The 
 king sent them likewise a sword of state, to be 
 borne by or before the mayor, as the insignia of 
 his high office. 
 
 M06. His majesty, king Henry, visited this 
 city. 
 
 1412. HENRY V. 1413. A great part of 
 the city, with the church and convent of Black 
 Friars, was burnt down. 
 
 The sixty common council first instituted. 
 
 A new charter granted, appointing twenty- 
 four aldermen ; who, with the common coun-
 
 dt, <&c. are to constitute the corporation of the 
 city. This charter also established St. George's 
 company., for the greater addition to the honour 
 of the guild of the corporation. 
 
 1422. HENRY VI. In the beginning of this 
 reign the doctrines of the reformation first began 
 to be propagated here ; those who taught and 
 embraced them were called Lollards, persecuted 
 and treated with great severity. 
 
 William White, priest., a scholar and disciple 
 of Wickliffe, was burnt here. 
 
 1427. Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, held 
 the assizes, and several felons were tried before 
 him. 
 
 1428. Divers persons obliged to undergo 
 severe penances and whipping, for favouring 
 the doctrines of Wickliffe. 
 
 1440. The duke and duchess of Glouces- 
 ter magnificently entertained by the prior and 
 convent. 
 
 A great riot, in which the old water mills 
 were destroyed; they were four in number, 
 and stood higher up the stream than the present 
 or new mills, which had then been erected about 
 ten years ; the old mills were called Bumpstede 
 or Appilyerd Mills, and Ealk Mills, but did not 
 cross the main stream, the river being parted 
 into three cuts ; two of the mills stood on each 
 of the outer streams, and the middle one was 
 open ; these side streams are still remaining, 
 nd have islands between them anxl the river,
 
 The present mills obtained the name of the 
 New Mills from this circumstance, and they 
 still retain that name. 
 
 1443. The liberties of the city were seized 
 by the king, for a riot, and Sir John Clifton was 
 governor for four years, who greatly conciliated 
 the favour of the citizens. 
 
 1448. The king visited Norwich ; and in 
 1449 honoured the city a second time with his 
 presence. 
 
 1460. . EDWARD IV. 1463. A part of the 
 cathedral church was damaged by an accidental 
 fire. 
 
 1472. The first day of May appointed to be 
 the day of electing the mayor., instead of the 
 first of March. 
 
 1477. The plague raged with great violence 
 for two years. 
 
 1479. Dec. 28. A great shock of an earth- 
 quake felt. The city walls repaired, and the 
 ancient assessment renewed upon the several 
 wards of the city to keep them up. 
 
 1483. EDWARD V. RICHARD III. 
 
 1485. The city visited by a dreadful dis- 
 temper, called the sweating sickness, of which 
 many people died. 
 
 1486. HENRY VII. This king kept his 
 Christmas here, and was very honourably enter- 
 tained by the corporation. 
 
 1487. Another shock of an earthquake felt. 
 1493. Wheat sold in Norwich at six-pence 
 
 a bushel
 
 25 
 
 1497. King Henry, with his queen and her 
 mother, visited this city. 
 
 1501. The cross in the market-place built, 
 
 1505. Robert Adams, clerk, was burnt for 
 heresy. 
 
 A great part of the city destroyed by fire. 
 
 1 506. The sweating sickness broke out again. 
 St. Andrew's church built. 
 
 1507. Thomas Norris burnt for heresy. 
 
 A dreadful fire broke out April 25, and ano- 
 ther June 4, by which fires 718 houses were 
 destroyed. Most of the houses were at that time 
 built with wood. 
 
 The market-place was full of holes and pits, 
 for digging sand, till an order was published to 
 the contrary; it does not appear that any part 
 of the city was then paved. 
 
 1509. HENRY VIII. Part of the cathedral 
 church burnt, Dec. 21st. 
 
 1511. Thomas Bingay burnt for refusing 
 the sacraments of the church of Rome. 
 
 St. Mary's Coslany church built by John Stal- 
 ham, esq. sheriff of Norwich. 
 
 1517. Cardinal Wolsey visited the city. 
 
 1519. November 6. A great flood, called 
 St. Leonard's Flood. 
 
 1520. Queen Catharine and cardinal Wol- 
 sey entertained by the city. 
 
 The high steward of the city first appointed. 
 1524. The close, or precincts of the cathe- 
 dral, entirely separated from the 
 
 D
 
 26 
 
 1530. Thomas Bilney, an eminent martyr, 
 burnt without Bishop's gate. 
 
 1534. The council-chamber, in guildhall, re- 
 built. Several persons burnt for lollartly. 
 
 1535. Boxes set up in the several churches 
 in the city, to receive alms for the poor. 
 
 1538. All the images destroyed in the cathe- 
 dral and parish churches,, and the different orders 
 of friars and nuns in the religious houses in the 
 city suppressed. 
 
 On Trinity Sunday the prior and monks in 
 the cathedral church changed their monkish ap- 
 parel for the habits of deans, prebends, and se- 
 cular canons. The Protestant religion and 
 worship was established therein, and in all the 
 churches of the city. The supremacy of the 
 church of Rome, with its doctrines and disci- 
 pline, were abolished ; and the scriptures were 
 read and the gospel preached to the people in 
 their native tongue.
 
 CHAP. II, 
 
 Chronology of Remarkable Events from the 
 Reformation to the Death of Queen Anne. 
 
 GREAT rejoicing for the birth of that illus- 
 trious prince., king Edward VI. Parish 
 registers instituted, and first used in the churches. 
 
 1543. Hardley cross set up. The liberty of 
 the city, by the river, extends from Hellesdon 
 bridge to that place. 
 
 1544. The church of the Black Friars, and 
 all the site of that religious house, conveyed to 
 the corporation, and the guild feast kept there 
 for the first time. 
 
 1 546. The obsequies of king Henry VIII. 
 were celebrated by the bishop, the dean and 
 chapter, and the corporation, at the cathedral, 
 with great pomp and splendor. 
 
 EDWARD VI. 1548. Oct. 31. Edward Wood, 
 esq. died in his mayoralty, and William Rogers, 
 esq. was chosen to serve that office for the re- 
 mainder of the year. 
 
 1549. This year broke out the rebellion in 
 Norfolk, called Kett's Rebellion; which first 
 originated in the opposition made by the lower
 
 28 
 
 class of inhabitants of several villages in the 
 neighbourhood of Attleburgh and Wymondham, 
 to the inclosure of the commons and waste 
 lands, by several proprietors of large estates, by 
 which the poor and indigent people conceived 
 themselves to be greatly injured. On the 7th 
 of July the insurgents chose Robert Kett, a tan- 
 ner, and his brother, William Kett, a butcher, 
 both of Wymondham, to be their leaders or 
 captains, and under their command marched to 
 Norwjgfrj and encamped without Bishop's gate, 
 on Mousehold heath. Having taken possession 
 of the palace of the earl of Surrey, and of St. 
 Michael's chapel (ever since called Kett's castle), 
 they destroyed every thing which they could 
 find there, and proceeded to lay siege to the 
 city. These rebels stiled themselves the king's 
 friends and deputies, and held a pretended court 
 of judicature, at which Robert Kett presided, 
 under the branches of a spreading tree, which 
 they called the Oak of Reformation. Their 
 numbers being increased to 16,000, and their 
 camp strongly fortified and well supplied with 
 ammunition and provision, they summoned the 
 city to surrender, and commanded Thomas 
 Codde, the mayor, to deliver up the government 
 of the city, which this worthy citizen stoutly re- 
 fused to do, declaring he would sooner part 
 with his life. The rebels in the mean time took 
 many gentlemen prisoners, and extorted large 
 sums of money and stores of provision from the
 
 29 
 
 inhabitants, and many of the lower sort join- 
 ed them, so that their numbers quickly in- 
 creased to 20,000; who, though they could 
 not agree among' themselves, nor preserve any 
 degree of subordination in the camp, treated 
 their prisoners with the most wanton cruelty, 
 and executed many of them because they were 
 gentlemen. Complaint being made to king Ed- 
 ward VI. he sent a herald, commanding them to 
 lay down their arms, and promising them pardon 
 if they did so ; but this they positively refused, 
 and carried on the siege with greater vigour 
 than before. They made an attack on Bishop's 
 gate, where they were bravely repelled by the 
 citizens, till some of them passed the river, beat 
 off the guard from the gate, and opened that 
 passage for their whole force ; they seized the 
 mayor and many of the citizens, put them in 
 irons, conveyed them as prisoners to their camp, 
 and took from the citizens all kind of forage and 
 provision they stood in need of. 
 
 The king, in council, finding by the return 
 of the herald that the rebels were not inclined 
 to abandon the siege, sent the marquis of North- 
 ampton, with a strong force, who was gladly re- 
 ceived by the citizens. The night after their 
 arrival, the rebels made another furious assault 
 upon the city, which many of them entered, but 
 were forced to retreat ; having lost 300 men in 
 I he engagement, they retired to their camp. 
 The next day, being the first of August, they
 
 30 
 
 Crossed the river by the hospital, and a terrible 
 engagement commenced between them and the 
 marquis's force, on St. Martin's plain, where 
 many were killed on both sides ; among whom 
 was the much-lamented lord Sheffield, who was? 
 murdered with a club. The rebels broke into 
 the city on every side, ami by their numbers 
 obliged the marquis with his force* to retire. 
 Upon his retreat they fired the city in many 
 places. Whole streets were entirely consumed ; 
 and if a heavy rain had not providentially fallen, 
 the city would have probably been reduced to 
 ashes. During the fire the citizens were plun- 
 dered by the rebels of every thing' valuable. 
 
 This miserable state of affairs prevailed till 
 fresh succour arrived from the king*, who sent 
 John Dudley, earl of Warwick, accompanied 
 by some of the first generals, They arrived 
 on the 23d of August, when Kett having assum- 
 ed the government., the earl sent Norroy, king 
 at arms, to demand him to surrender it to the 
 king's forces. Kett obliged alderman Steward 
 and alderman Rugge to go and learn the earl's 
 pleasure ; who told them, that unless they im- 
 mediately opened their gates, they would be de- 
 clared traitors, and punished as such. The ci- 
 tizens assured the king at arms, that nothing 
 could be further from their intentions than fa- 
 vouring the rebels ; that they had done all in 
 their power to keep the citizens in good order 
 and dutiful obedience ; and that they hoped the
 
 31 
 
 eari would pardon the deluded followers of Kelt., 
 if they would submit to die king's forces, and 
 thereby stop the further effusion of blood. The 
 <earl on being informed of this, and fearing for 
 tire fate of those gentlemen whom the rebels 
 had detained in prison, sent the king at arms 
 with a herald, to offer to the rebels a genera' 
 pardon, on condition of laying down their arms 
 -and returning to their allegiance. This had no 
 effect. The rebels insulted the officers. The 
 earl of Warwick immediately stormed the city, 
 and breaking down the wall in many places on 
 the west side, he -entered it with his troops, 
 sword in hand, and took possession. The rebels 
 made an obstinate resistance, but at last were 
 forced to give way, leaving 130 dead on the 
 spot. A detachment of the rebels, in the mean 
 time, took possession of the earl's baggage and 
 ammunition, which he had advanced, intending 
 to storm the camp on the morrow. The guard 
 not being strong enough for their protection, 
 was obliged to give way, and leave them in the 
 the enemy's possession, the king's master gun- 
 uer being killed in the skirmish. The rebels 
 having now a fresh supply of ball and powder, 
 began a severe cannonade upon the city, and 
 did considerable damage, and would have done 
 much more, but for their want of skill in the 
 management of artillery. The earl immediate- 
 ly barricaded the gates, and ordered White 
 Friars* bridge to be broken down. Not with'
 
 32 
 
 standing- his precautions, the next day (Aug. 25; 
 a large body of the rebels crossed the river at 
 Conisford, and set fire to the houses in several 
 places, so that great quantities of goods and two 
 whole parishes were consumed. The earl'* 
 forces bravely opposed the rebels, determining 
 sooner to die than abandon the city. 
 
 The next day (Aug. 26) the earl, having re- 
 ceived a reinforcement, marched out of the city 
 to attack the rebels, but previously he again of- 
 fered them the king's pardon, on condition of 
 laying down their arms and returning to their 
 allegiance. This gracious offer was unanimous- 
 ly rejected. The earl gave orders to engage, 
 which the rebels perceiving, they placed all the 
 gentlemen whom they had detained prisoners 
 in the front of the battle, chained together, to 
 the intent that they might fall by the swords of 
 their friends ; but so prudently was the attack 
 conducted by captain Drury, that most of them 
 escaped. The king's standard bearer being 
 killed by a cannon ball, enraged the earl, and 
 he ordered a general discharge of his artillery 
 to be made among the rebels, which so much 
 disabled them as to render them an easy con- 
 quest to the horse, who coming in among them 
 broke their ranks and put them to flight, More 
 than 3500 of the rebels were killed, and a great 
 number wounded in the pursuit. 
 
 There remained still another party entrench- 
 ed, who seemed determined to hold out to the
 
 33 
 
 last extremity ; the earl therefore, to avoid the 
 further effusion of blood, once more offered 
 them pardon, on the same condition that he had 
 done the others, which they said they were ready 
 to accept, if they could be assured of their lives, 
 but that they considered this message as only a 
 stratagem to get them into the power of the 
 earl, and to make them his prisoners ; upon re- 
 ceiving this answer, orders were given for the 
 attack ; but before they were put in execution, 
 the earl sent once more to know whether, if he 
 came himself and assured them of pardon, they 
 would submit. This they promised to do ; upon 
 which, when the king at arms read the king's 
 proclamation, the whole company of the rebels 
 cried out " God save king Edward ;" and by 
 this prudent and compassionate conduct much 
 bloodshed was avoided. 
 
 The battle ended, the camp was given up to 
 be plundered by the king's troops, who sold the 
 toooty publicly in the market-place. Many 
 brave officers and distinguished soldiers fell in 
 the engagement. Kett was seized the next day 
 at Swannington ; on which day the earl and 
 other magistrates held a special assize at the 
 castle, and the two Ketts and nine of the ring- 
 leaders were tried before them. They were all 
 found guilty of treason and rebellion, and the 
 two Ketts sent to the tower of London ; the 
 other nine were carried to their old head quar- 
 ters, the Oak of Reformation, upon which they
 
 were hanged up, and then presently cut down 
 again, their bowels were pulled out and burned 
 before their faces, their bodies beheaded and 
 quartered, and their heads and quarters set up 
 on poles on the tops of the towers and gates, as 
 a terror to others ; thirty were executed in like 
 manner at the gallows without Magdalen gate, 
 forty at the gallows in the market-place, and 
 many in other places, so that in the whole 300 
 suffered death. 
 
 Aug. 29 was celebrated as a day of public 
 thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, for 
 the success of his Majesty's forces, in suppres- 
 sing the late rebellion. The day was observed 
 with ringing of bells and other demonstrations 
 of gladness. At seven o'clock in the morning 
 bishop Thirlby, with the mayor and corporation, 
 attended divine service at St. Peter's Mancroft 
 church ; and the day was for many years after- 
 wards kept as an annual civic festival. 
 
 Robert and William Kett were tried at Lon- 
 don for high treason and rebellion, and Nov. 29 
 they were delivered to Sir Ed. Windham, 
 knight, high sheriff of the counties of Norfolk 
 and Suffolk, to receive punishment. Robert 
 was conveyed to this city, and being brought to 
 the foot of the castle, was drawn up to a gibbet 
 erected at the top, and there left hanging alive 
 till he died by famine ; his body being en- 
 tirely wasted, at length fell down. The like, 
 sentence was executed upon William, who
 
 35 
 
 suspended alive on the top of Wymondham 
 steeple. 
 
 1550. This year the city walls, gates, and 
 towers, were repaired, fortified, and put in good 
 order. 
 
 In November following the king granted a 
 new charter to the city, and confirmed all former 
 privileges. 
 
 The king likewise granted and confirmed to 
 flic city, the free-school in the precincts of the 
 cathedral, the corporation being trustees thereof 
 for ever. 
 
 1551. In the month of April the sweating 
 sickness broke out, and carried off numbers of 
 people. It is remarkable that no alien died of it. 
 
 1553. The king's commissioners took away 
 the rich hangings and communion plate from 
 the churches, leaving to every church a cup and 
 table-cloth only. St. Stephen's church built. 
 
 MARY. On the first Sunday in October were 
 great public rejoicings in the city, to celebrate 
 the queen's coronation. 
 
 1554. A valuable present sent by the city to 
 the duke of Norfolk, at his palace at Kenning- 
 hall, to welcome him home, upon his deliverance 
 from his imprisonment in the tower. 
 
 The wall and towers between Pockthorpe and 
 Magdalen gates put into complete repair. 
 
 Robert Gold stood in the pillory, and had his 
 ears nailed thereto, for publishing treasonable 
 songs against the queen's majesty. 
 E 2
 
 36 
 
 15,35. Sept. 28. Died Felix Puttock, esq. 
 mayor of the city, and Thomas Codde, esq. was 
 appointed to succeed him for the remainder of 
 the year, being his second mayoralty. 
 
 A charter granted to the corporation,, exactly 
 ascertaining and determining the boundaries 
 and limits of the county of the city of Norwich,, 
 with authority for the mayor and citizens to pe- 
 rn mbulate the same so often as they shall think 
 proper; which boundary is preserved to this 
 day. 
 
 1556. In March, William Carman, of Hing- 
 Iiam, was burnt in Lollard's pit, without Bishop's 
 gate. He was charged with being an obstinate 
 heretic, and having in his possession a bible, a 
 testament, and three psalters, in the English 
 tongue. 
 
 July 13. Simon Miller, merchant, of Lynn, 
 and Elizabeth Cooper, a pewterer's wife, of the 
 parish of St. Andrew, w r ere burnt in the game 
 fire, in Lollard's pit, 
 
 Aug. 5. Richard Crashfield, of Wymond- 
 ham, was burnt in the same place. During the 
 time of his suffering, one Thomas Carman was 
 apprehended (probably for speaking favourably 
 of the martyr), and shortly afterwards burnt, 
 together with William Seaman and Thomas 
 Hudson. Cicely, the wife of Edmund Ormes, 
 of the parish of St. Lawrence, worstead weaver, 
 was burnt on the 23d of September. 
 
 1558. July 10. Richard Yeoman was burnt;
 
 37 
 
 a devout old minister, being seventy years of 
 as-e : he had been curate to that learned and 
 
 O ' 
 
 holy martyr., Dr. Taylor, of Hadleigli. 
 
 A great dearth and mortality, of which died 
 ten aldermen in the space of a year. 
 
 Ber-street gate and the city wall adjoining; 
 thereto repaired. 
 
 ELIZABETH ascended the throne on the 7th of 
 November., and was proclaimed on the 17th of 
 the same month ; the form of worship was 
 restored in the churches, and used in the same 
 manner as it was in the time of king Edward VI. 
 
 1 559. The first history and map or plan of 
 Norwich published by Dr. William Cunning- 
 ham, a physician/ of this city. 
 
 1561. The corner of the town close, be- 
 tween the two great London roads, was made 
 the common place of execution for criminals, 
 and a gibbet erected there, on which was hung 
 alive in irons, a lad about sixteen years of age, 
 for ravishing and quartering a child. 
 
 On the guild-day, in this year, the duke of 
 Norfolk and the earls of Northumberland and 
 Huntingdon, with many other nobility and gen- 
 try, dined with the mayor, William Mingay, 
 esq. at St. Andrew's hall, which could scarce 
 contain the company and their retinue. The 
 entertainment is said to have been very magnifi- 
 cent, and the expence of the feast amounted te 
 the sum of IL 12s. 9d. 
 
 1565, Three hundred and thirty Flemings
 
 38 
 
 and Walloons were invited to settle here, where 
 they introduced the manufacturing of bays,, says, 
 &c. which greatly augmented the trade and 
 opulence of the city. By their success many 
 others were induced to follow them,, so that the 
 number of these aliens in a short time amounted 
 to 3000, and in less than 20 years to 4679. For 
 the exercise of their religious worship, the Dutch 
 had the choir or chancel of the new hall assign- 
 ed them, and the Walloons or French congre- 
 gation the dissolved parish church of St. Mary 
 at Tombland. 
 
 1568. The west end of guildhall rebuilt. 
 
 1570. The art of printing was introduced 
 here by Anthony Solm, one of the strangers, 
 for which he was honoured with the freedom of 
 the city. 
 
 The great flood, called Candlemas Flood, 
 which carried away fye-bridge, laid all the lower 
 parts of the city under water, and did incredible 
 damage. It was occasioned by a deep snow 
 and a sudden thaw. 
 
 John Throgmorton, Thomas Brook, and G. 
 Dedman, were hanged and quartered for high 
 treason. 
 
 1572. Alderman John Rede died suddenly 
 in the council jchamber. He was a magistrate 
 highly esteemed. 
 
 1575. Many Dutch settled here; invented 
 the manufacture of bombasins., for which they 
 obtained an exclusive privilege.
 
 39 
 
 1 578. Matthew Hamond, of Hetherset, wheel- 
 wright, an obstinate heretic and blasphemer, 4 
 being convicted of reviling the queen's majesty, 
 and of denying the doctrine of the Trinity, the 
 authority of the scriptures, the godhead and 
 atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the ex- 
 istence of the Holy Ghost, was set in the pillory 
 May 13, and both his ears nailed, and afterwards, 
 on the 20th of May, was burnt in the castle 
 ditch. 
 
 1578. Saturday, Aug. 16, her majesty, queen 
 Elizabeth, with a most numerous retinue, ar- 
 rived here, and was received by the mayor and 
 citizens in a style of magnificence far superior 
 to any thing ever before witnessed in the city. 
 Without St. Stephen's gate, she was met by the 
 mayor, Robert Wood, esq. at the head of the 
 magistrates and commonalty ; the mayor saluted 
 her majesty, and delivering to her the sword of 
 the city, and at the same time presenting to her 
 a large standing cup of silver gilt, which was 
 filled with 100/. in gold, he made a Latin oration. 
 After which the procession passed through St. 
 Stephen's gate, which, as well as the streets of 
 the city through which the queen was to pass, 
 was decorated and set out with pageants, that 
 for ingenuity and expence, exceeded every thing 
 before seen. She was thus escorted to the ca- 
 thedral church, where the bishop and dean, with 
 the other members of the church, received and 
 conducted her to a magnificent throne prepared
 
 40 
 
 for her, on the north side of the high altar. 
 After divine service she went to the bishop's 
 palace,, which she made the place of her residence 
 while she continued in this city; and the follow- 
 ing day, being Sunday, she again publicly at- 
 tended divine service. 
 
 On the Tuesday following- the queen took the 
 diversion of hunting in Costessey park ; and in 
 her way thither, was entertained with a 
 grand pageant without St. Benedict's gate ; 
 on her return, the minister and congregation 
 of the Dutch church waited on her majesty, 
 and the former presented to her a silver cup, said 
 fo be worth 50/. and delivered an appropriate 
 Latin oration. 
 
 On Wednesday the queen honoured the earl 
 of Surrey with a visit, at his palace without 
 bishop's gate, the French ambassador and the 
 whole court being present On her return she 
 was entertained with shews and speeches, parti- 
 cularly a Latin oration delivered at the hospital 
 porch, by Stephen Limbert, master of the free 
 school. The following days were passed in feast- 
 ing and pageantry, according to the custom of 
 those times such a week of festivity was never 
 before or since beheld in Norwich ; and on Fri- 
 day her majesty conferred the honour of knight-' 
 hood on the mayor, and left the city highly 
 pleased with the loyal and honourable reception 
 she had experienced from the citizens. 
 
 The shire -house first erected on the castle
 
 41 
 
 hill, and the old shire-house on the ditches 
 disused. 
 
 1579. The city was visited with the plague, 
 whereof died 4817 pe'rsons, including ten 
 aldermen. The infection is said to have ori- 
 ginated from some of the queen's attendants hav- 
 ing brought it to town iri the preceding year. 
 
 1580. A shock of an earthquake felt here. 
 
 1582. The water was conveyed from the 
 new mills to the cross in the market-place. 
 
 1583. The plague broke out again, and be- 
 tween 8 and 900 persons died of it. 
 
 Sept. 18. John Lewes, an obstinate blas- 
 phemer and pretended prophet, was burnt in* 
 the castle ditch, for denying the divinity and 
 atonement of our Lord JesUs Christ. 
 
 George Shipdham was hanged on the gibbet, 
 in the town closd, for the murder of his wife 
 and children : the next year his brother had per- 
 mission to take his body down. 
 
 1587. Peter Cole, of Ipswich, tanner, burnt 
 in the castle ditch for blasphemy. 
 
 1588, The plague broke out again, but did 
 not rage violently. 
 
 Jan. 14. Francis Knight, alias Kett, A. JVL of 
 Wymondhain, burnt in the castle ditch for blas- 
 phemy and preaching against the established faith. 
 
 1591. White Friars and Coslany bridges re- 
 fcuit with stone, being before of timber. 
 
 Six hundred and seventy-two persons died of 
 the plague in less than four months.
 
 42 
 
 The guild-day fixed to be kepi on the Tues- 
 day before, Midsummer eve, which so continues 
 to this day. 
 
 The well in the old Haymarket built. A 
 pump is now placed there. 
 
 1594. The allowance for the charges of the 
 mayoralty increased to 100/. 
 
 1597 It was agreed in a court of mayoralty, 
 that no alderman should be obliged to serve the 
 office of mayor a second time before the expira- 
 tion of five years. 
 
 1599. One Kemp came dancing all the way 
 from London to Norwich, which at this time may 
 be considered as a wonder, as there were no 
 public road*; nor any surveyors appointed to 
 keep the beaten tracks in repair. 
 
 1601. April 29. Twenty feet of the upper 
 part of the spire of the cathedral church struck 
 down by lightning, and many breaches made in 
 the lower part of it. A person of the name of 
 Colne, walking in the nave of the church, was 
 struck down to the floor. 
 
 On Christmas day at noon another shock of an 
 earthquake was felt here. 
 
 1602. Three hundred men raised in this city 
 for the queen's service. 
 
 JAMES I. No rejoicing here on the accession 
 of this monarch on account of the plague, of 
 which in this year 3076 persons died. 
 
 1608. Sir John Pettus built fish-stalls near 
 Fye-b ridge.
 
 43 
 
 1609. He likewise built the house over the 
 spring without bishop's gate. 
 
 The plague broke out again but did not carry 
 oft* many persons. 
 
 1611. The guild kept with great splendour : 
 a grand pageant on torn bland, and in the even- 
 ing a fire -work, some part of which breaking, the 
 crowd of people was so great that no less than 
 33 persons were trodden down and pressed to 
 death, on which an order was made, that no more 
 fire-works should be played oft* on rejoicing 
 nights. 
 
 The precincts of the cathedral church were 
 severed from the jurisdiction of the city magis- 
 trates, and made a liberty, of which the dean 
 and prebends are governors and magistrates. 
 
 1615. Nov. 30. A great flood, called St. An- 
 drew's Flood. 
 
 Thomas Tunstall, a Romish priest, hanged, 
 drawn and quartered for high treason : his head 
 was *et up upon St. Benedict's gates, and his 
 quarters hang on four other gates. 
 
 1617. Great dispute at the summer assizes 
 between the sheriffs of Norfolk and Norwich, 
 about precedency : it was ordered that the judges 
 should be attended at guildhall by the city sheriffs 
 only, and should be attended in the county by 
 the high sheriff in like manner. 
 
 1619. For avoiding contention, it was order- 
 ed that the mayor should be chosen by seniority 
 
 1620 The boys' hospital founded.
 
 44 
 
 1(521. Bcr-street was entirely new paved. 
 
 1 625. CHARLES I. proclaimed here March 3 1 . 
 
 1626. One thousand, four hundred and thir- 
 ty-one persons died of the plague in this city. 
 
 1629. The mayor and sheriffs received a 
 letter from his majesty's secretaries of state, com- 
 plaining of the quality of the herring- pies, which, 
 according to established usage, are annually sent 
 to the king by the corporation, as the ancient 
 fee-farm of the city, and continued to this day. 
 This vyas a fishing town ; the lord of the manor 
 of East Carlton is bound to receive the pies 
 and carry them to the king, wherever he may 
 then be ; this manor being anciently held of the 
 erown under that service. The corporation of 
 Norwich to make and provide the pies, 24 in 
 number, containing a hundred herrings, by the 
 great hundred, in good standing pastry, and well 
 seasoned ; and they are to be made of the first 
 herrings which come to the city. The complaint 
 set forth, that they were not the first herrings 
 that were taken, according to the tenure the 
 pies were not well baked the herrings were 
 deficient in number : they should be 120, five in 
 each pve ; many of them broken in the carriage, 
 &c. The corporation being now lords of the 
 manor of East Carlton, the pies are sent up by 
 the sheriffs of the city annually, and placed on 
 the king's table. No complaint has ever since 
 been made concerning them, 
 
 1 630. The plague broke out again , and many
 
 persons died of it : a pest-house erected near the 
 great tower on Butler's hills. This year there 
 was a great scarcity of corn 
 
 1634. This year the winter assizes were held 
 here, and not at Thetford, for the only time ; 
 probably that borough might be then infected 
 by the plague. 
 
 1 63. The plague broke out again but few 
 died. 
 
 1637. July 9. Francis Briggs, ofHoning- 
 ham. clerk, deprived by the bishop for murder- 
 ing his maid servant, and hanged on the gibbet 
 in the town close. 
 
 1641. Thomas Carver, esq. the mayor elect, 
 died three weeks before the guild, upon which 
 Adrian Parmenter, esq. was elected in his room. 
 
 1642 The civil wars between the king and 
 parliament. 
 
 The city put in a state of defence. 
 
 William Gostling, esq. mayor, taken prisoner 
 by lord Grey, and sent to Cambridge castle, 
 ,\vhere he was confined three months. 
 
 Many soldiers raised to bear arms against the 
 king. 
 
 March 18. Three aldermen displaced for fa- 
 vouring the king. 
 
 1643. Weekly contributions extorted from 
 the inhabitants of the city for the support of the 
 parliament's army, and another contribution 
 for fortifying the town of Cambridge against 
 Uic kin**-.
 
 46 
 
 May *20. One hundred and ten pounds sent 
 to Cambridge to col. Cromwell, 
 
 July 6. The city gates ordered to be kept 
 shut, and guards and ordnance placed there. 
 
 Many of the inhabitants plundered by the 
 parliament forces and the magistrates who were 
 chosen by them. The vow and covenant forced 
 upon the inhabitants. 
 
 Aug. 12, The castle ordered to be fortified 
 for the service of Cromwell: many of the 
 inhabitants compelled to work on the dikes and 
 ramparts. 
 
 Sept. 11. Further contributions extorted 
 from the citizens for the service of lord Fairfax 
 
 Nov. 1. The goods of the bishop and clergy 
 sequestered, and great sums of sequestration- 
 money raised upon them. 
 
 Nov. 2. The excise first began. 
 
 Dec. 18. Five more aldermen displaced,, be- 
 ing royalists. 
 
 1644. Jan. 10. The fanatics stripped the 
 bishop's palace,, and turned bishop Hall out of 
 it ; the lead was taken from the roof and sold, 
 and the palace let out into small tenements. 
 They plundered the deanery and the cathedra!, 
 pulied down the organ, demolished the altar, 
 the painted windows, and the seats ; defaced 
 the carved work, disrobed the tombs of their 
 brasses, and in a few hours desolated the sanc- 
 tuary of God., and destroyed the work of ages ; 
 then collecting together the remnants of the.
 
 47 
 
 altar/ organ, seats, vestments, and books, the\ 
 carried them in triumph into the market-place^ 
 mimicking- and mocking the words and music* 
 of the service of the church, where they burned 
 these sacred effects. The sheriffs directed all 
 this by the authority of die parliament. The 
 chancel of the cathedral was turned into a meet- 
 ing-house ; the pulpit v. as placed against the 
 pillar on the south side of the chancel, where 
 bishop Overall's monument now is ; the altar 
 was pulled down, and the corporation sat at the 
 east end of the chancel., round a table, in the 
 manner of the Independents ; the congregation 
 sat on benches in the chancel : the rubric was 
 disused, and none but put puritans and fanatics 
 allowed to preach. The nave was converted 
 into a soldier's barrack. The ordnance being 
 discharged on the guild-day, the cathedral was 
 filled with musketeers, drinking and tobacconing 
 as freely as if it had turned ale-house. 
 
 Bishop Hairs Hard Measure, p. 63. 
 
 March 27. Being the king's coronation, in 
 order to cast the greater odium on his majesty, 
 <he court, now composed entirely of fanatics, 
 ordered a general fast, with preaching in the 
 day time and ringing of bells and bonfires in 
 the evening. 
 
 This year St. Andrew's hall vras new paved. % 
 
 1645. No guild kept, the court being appre- 
 hensive of riots. 
 
 Sept. The city divided into presbyteries by
 
 48 
 
 order of the parliament; the service of the 
 church discontinued, the ministers ejected from 
 the churches, and fanatical teachers appointed 
 to preach, &c. in them. The observing Christ- 
 mas-day ordered to be abolished. 
 
 1646. The plague broke but again ; and on 
 Nov. 15 there was so great a flood, that boat& 
 \vere rowed in several of the streets 
 
 1647. Several public houses opened in the 
 buildings late the bishop's palace. 
 
 1648. This year the mayor, John lltting, 
 esq. being a royalist, a petition was presented to 
 him, signed by about 150 fanatics, praying for 
 A more thorough reformation ; that several 
 images yet standing in the churches should be 
 defaced and removed, and the ejected ministers 
 should be strictly prohibited from preaching, 
 and more rigorously treated. The mayor, as 
 might be expected, taking little notice of thi* 
 request, they iniormed against him to the par- 
 liament, who issued an order to have him taken 
 into custody, and a pursuivant at arms was sent 
 to apprehend him ; but he being beloved by the 
 people in general, they assembled m great num- 
 bers, and a tumult ensued, in which, Lot for the 
 interference of the mayor, the pursuivant would 
 have been killed on the spot; the riot increased, 
 and the pursuivant was glad to escape with hi* 
 life, leaving town as fast as he could ; several 
 houses were plundered, and soldiers from the 
 neighbouring country were sent for. In the
 
 49 
 
 mean time the mob got possession of the com- 
 mittee-house, in Bethel-street, where the county 
 arms and ammunition were kept, and setting 
 fire to eighty barrels of gunpowder, blew up the 
 whole premises, and greatly damaged the adja- 
 cent buildings. Above 100 persons were killed 
 by the explosion. 
 
 On Christmas-day a special commission was 
 held for the trial of the persons concerned in 
 the late riots, by which eight were condemned, 
 and soon after executed, and many others fined 
 and imprisoned. 
 
 It was likewise ordered by the court, that all 
 persons concerned in the late tumults shall be 
 disqualified from serving any public office, or 
 on juries. 
 
 About this time two old women (one of whom, 
 named Tirrel, belonged to the hospital) were 
 burnt on a charge of witchcraft. 
 
 No guild was kept this year for fear of a 
 riot. 
 
 1649. Jan. 8. An address and congratula- 
 tion of the corporation voted to Oliver Crom- 
 well, for the service he had done the city, and 
 petitioning him to put the regulation of the 
 ministers of the churches under their authority. 
 An act for that purpose was accordingly made. 
 
 Jan. 30. King Charles I. beheaded. 
 
 THE USURPATION. Proclamation made, that 
 no king is to be proclaimed without the consent 
 of parliament. 
 
 G
 
 May 30. The act proclaimed for abolishing 
 kingly government. 
 
 1650. Many aldermen discharged for not 
 taking the covenant. 
 
 Several persons hanged for an intended in- 
 surrection in favour of king Charles II. 
 
 1651. Fresh mackerel were sold at seventeen 
 for a penny. 
 
 1653. Dec. 22. Oliver Cromwell proclaimed 
 lord protector. 
 
 165. A persecution of the Quakers; many 
 imprisoned and tried. It appears that this sect 
 was odious to Cromwell, because they would not 
 bear arms when required. 
 
 Aug. 29. An ordinance made for ejecting 
 all clergymen from the ministry, but those who 
 were most fit to serve the purpose of the times, 
 and a set of commissioners appointed to that 
 end. 
 
 1656. July 20. A most terrible storm of 
 thunder, lightning, and hail. 
 
 1657. July 1. Oliver Cromwell again pro- 
 claimed lord protector with great pomp. 
 
 1658. Spt. 3. x\ very high wind, which did 
 much damage. This day Oliver Cromwell died; 
 and Richard Cromwell, his eldest son, was pro- 
 claimed lord protector. 
 
 1659. Richard Cromwell deserted by his par- 
 ty, and turned out of his office of lord protector. 
 
 Mary Oliver burnt for witchcraft, and her 
 goods confiscated to the use of the city.
 
 1660. The monarchy restored by George 
 Monk, general of the parliament's forces. 
 
 CHARLES II. was proclaimed May 10., which 
 occasioned such joy, that there were continual 
 feasting and bonfires for three days together. 
 
 May 24. A general thanksgiving for the 
 "happy restoration of the royal family, and of the 
 ancient government in church and state. 
 
 June 25. The fee-farm of the city resigned 
 into his majesty's hands, and a loyal address, 
 with a present of 1000/. in gold, sent therewith, 
 by the hands of Joseph Payne, esq. mayor, the 
 sheriffs, and several of the aldermen, the town 
 clerk, and Thomas Rant, esq. one of the repre- 
 sentatives ; on the last of whom and the mayor 
 his majesty conferred the honour of knighthood. 
 He received them all very graciously, and pro- 
 miset! the city his favour and protection. 
 
 1661. April 23. Great rejoicing, being the 
 day of his majesty's coronation. 
 
 1663. The honourable Henry Howard pre* 
 sented to the city a silver basin and ewer, 
 worth 60/. 
 
 The charter of the city renewed, confirmed, 
 and further enlarged, respecting the court of 
 aldermen, the manner of their election, their 
 jurisdiction, &c. 
 
 1665. The plague raged in the city, whereof 
 died 2251 persons. 
 
 1666. This year of the plague died 699 
 personi. 
 
 G 2
 
 1669. The small-pox raged exceedingly ; 
 800 families caught the infection in less than a 
 fortnight. 
 
 Oct. 8. A woman exhibited as a shew, seven 
 feet and a half in stature. 
 
 1670. Lord Henry Howard presented the 
 corporation with a noble mace of silver gilt, and 
 a crimson velvet gown, to be worn by the mayor 
 on grand occasions. It is now disused. 
 
 1671. His majesty king Charles II. with the 
 queen and the dukes of York, Monmouth, and 
 Buckingham, visited the city. They kept their 
 court at the duke's palace, in Maddermarket, 
 and were magnificently entertained by lord 
 Henry Howard, afterwards duke of Norfolk. 
 His majesty attended divine service at the ca- 
 thedral, visited the bishop at his palace, and af- 
 terwards came to guildhall and shewed himself 
 to his subjects from the balcony, and dined with 
 the corporation at a sumptuous dinner provided 
 at the new hall, at the expence of 900/. After 
 dinner his majesty conferred the honour of 
 knighthood on Dr. Thomas Browne, one of the 
 most learned and worthy persons of the age. 
 The mayor, Thomas Thacker, esq. declined 
 that honour. This was the last visit of a king 
 or queen to this city, 
 
 1673, An extraordinary deep snow in Fe- 
 bruary, which laid seven weeks ; great damage 
 was done by the inundation after the thaw. 
 
 1675. A ship came up the river to Conis- 
 ford towers,
 
 53 
 
 1677. On the evening of the guild-day, al- 
 derman Richard Wen man, being through age 
 confined to his bed, was left alone, his family 
 being gone to see the guild ; in attempting to 
 light his pipe, he set fire to the bed, and was 
 burnt to death. 
 
 Seven aldermen were displaced. 
 
 1681. The small-pox carried off many per- 
 sons. 
 
 March 10, His royal highness James, duke 
 of York, visited the city, and was sumptuously 
 entertained. 
 
 1682. The charter of the city surrendered 
 to the king. A riot concerning the French 
 weavers, and a house stripped of its goods in St. 
 Andrew's. 
 
 1683. April 10. The earl of Yarmouth 
 brought down the new charter to the city, and 
 was received by the corporation with great de- 
 monstrations of joy. 
 
 1684. JAMES II. 1685. The well in the 
 market-place pulled down and a pump erected. 
 
 1686. Doughty's hospital founded. 
 
 1687. Liberty granted by the king to all 
 Papists and sectaries to have the free exercise 
 of their religious worship. 
 
 The Presbyterian meeting-house built. 
 
 The Independents' meeting-house built. 
 
 Nineteen common-council men and ten alder- 
 men, one of whom was sheriff, turned out of 
 their offices by the king's mandate.
 
 54 
 
 1688. A proclamation to restore all corpora- 
 tions to their former charters ; the old charter 
 brought down by the duke of Norfolk, which is 
 now in use. 
 
 Dec. 1. The (Juke of Norfolk, attended by 
 300 kn-ights and gentlemen,, rode into the mar- 
 ket-place, and declared for a free parliament. 
 
 7 and 8. A riot, in which the Romish chapel 
 at Black Friars w r as destroyed, and many Ro- 
 man Catholics had their houses pillaged. The 
 rioters were dispersed by the trained bands, and 
 several of them imprisoned and punished for 
 the offence. 
 
 1689. WILLIAM and MARY were proclaimed 
 in the city on the 13th of February. 
 
 1692. A soldier was shot in chapel-field for 
 desertion. 
 
 1693. Mr. Thomas Larwood chosen sheriff, 
 and, being a dissenter, refused to serve that 
 office, for which he was fined five marks by the 
 judges, who declared he was liable to be chosen 
 again, and on his refusal, to be fined at the dis- 
 cretion of the court. 
 
 1694. WILLIAM III. 1697. A mint set up 
 in Norwich, by order of the king, at which was 
 coined 259,37U 
 
 1699. The water-works at the new mills 
 begun, and completed in about two years. 
 
 1700. Jan. 7. Robert Watts, weaver, cut his 
 wife's throat, for which he was executed before 
 his own door, in St. Augustine's parish, Aug. 30.
 
 55 
 
 1701. The art of printing-, which had been 
 discontinued ntany years, was revived by Fran- 
 cis Burgess, who opened a printing-office near 
 the red well. 
 
 The act passed for lighting the streets ; also 
 an act for erecting a court of conscience, for 
 the recovery of small debts. 
 
 1702. ANNE. Great rejoicing for her ma- 
 jesty's coronation. 
 
 1703. Hardley cross repaired. 
 
 1704. A great struggle of parties in the elec- 
 tions of aldermen and members of parliament. 
 
 Wm. Blyth, esq. mayor, committed to the 
 custody of a sergeant at arms, for undue pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 1705. Weavers' hall broke open, and the 
 books destroyed ; since which time the sealing 
 of stuffs has been laid aside. 
 
 1706. The first newspaper, called the Nor- 
 wich Gazette, published by Henry Crossgrove. 
 
 Dec. 7. This year happened two great floods 
 in the month of November. 
 
 1707. June 8. The organ in St. Peter** 
 Mancroft church first erected. 
 
 The first turnpike road made in the kingdom, 
 from Norwich to Attleburgh, 
 
 1708. The shire-house, on the castle hill,, 
 altered and improved. 
 
 1709. The market cross was repaired, and 
 the new mills rebuilt. 
 
 1710. A fever and the small-pox raged.
 
 56 
 
 1711. An act of parliament passed for in- 
 corporating 1 the several parishes of the city into 
 a court of guardians. The precincts of the ca- 
 thedral are not included in this act. 
 
 1712. Nov. 5. The steeple of St. Andrew's 
 hall fell down. 
 
 1714. Aug. 1. Died, about seven in the 
 morning, her majesty queen Anne, a great be- 
 nefactor to the poor ecclesiastical benefices in 
 the city.
 
 57 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Chronology of Remarkable Events, from the 
 Accession of the House of Hanover to the 
 present Time. 
 
 GEORGE I. proclaimed Aug. 3. Great 
 rejoicing on the 20th of October, being 
 the day of his coronation. 
 
 Bethel hospital founded and endowed by Mi's. 
 Mary Chapman. 
 
 1715. Mr. Thomas Hall died, \vho founded 
 Hall's sacramental lecture, and gave 100/. for a 
 gold chain, to be worn by the mayor. It is now 
 worn, and weighs 23 oz. 6 dwt. 
 
 The artillery company raised, under the com- 
 mand of the right hon. lord Hobart. 
 
 1717. In this year died two mayors, Richard 
 Lubbock and Thomas Bubbin, esqrs. 
 
 1720. A mob in Pockthorpe dispersed by 
 the artillery company. 
 
 1722. An act passed for the better qualify- 
 ing manufacturers of stuffs and yarns in the 
 city to bear offices of magistracy, &c. 
 
 1734. The statue of justice placed on the 
 H
 
 58 
 
 west end of the balcony of guildhall, where it 
 now remains. 
 
 1725. St. Andrew's hall opened as an ex- 
 change,, but continued open only one year. 
 
 An act passed for laying a toll on all goods 
 brought to the city by water, towards repairing 
 the public bridges, &c. 
 
 1726. Ber-street gate and brazen doors re- 
 built. 
 
 1727. The fish-market was ne\v paved and 
 the stalls erected. 
 
 1729. GEORGE II. An act passed for the 
 better regulating the city elections. 
 
 1730. The remains of the foundations of 
 the parochial chapel of St. William in the 
 Wood, on Mousehold heath,, discovered by some 
 labourers who were digging; the walls were 
 thirty-three inches thick. 
 
 The newspaper called the Norwich Mercury 
 first published by Win. Chase. 
 
 1731. The market-place was new paved. 
 Feb. 24. One hundred and sixty-one free- 
 men admitted and sworn. 
 
 Oct. 30. A large sturgeon, taken in a poor 
 fisherman's net at Sherringham, was brought 
 hither; it measured twelve feet in length, and 
 the liver alone weighed five stone and a half* 
 
 Sf. George's company resigned their charter, 
 books, and property, into the hands of the cor* 
 poration, and the present procession on the 
 guild-day was fixed.
 
 Fifty pounds added to the corporation gift for 
 the expences of the mayoralty ; and <he guild 
 feast, as now given, substituted for the break- 
 fast and mayor's feasts usually given in May 
 and August. 
 
 1732. Charing- cross and the market cross 
 taken down. 
 
 1733. Sir Robert Walpole presented with 
 the freedom of the city in a gold box, and sworn 
 in in person. 
 
 This year Tombland was new paved, and the 
 front of St. Stephen's gate beautified. 
 
 1734. Sir Robert Walpole presented to the 
 corporation a noble mace of silver, doubly gilt, 
 nearly like that presented by lord Howard, 
 weighing 168 oz. It was first carried Before 
 the court on the 29th of May. 
 
 May 22. A strongly-contested county elec- 
 tion, at which 6302 freeholders were polled ; 
 the greatest number ever assembled here up to 
 this period on a similar occasion. The candi- 
 dates were Sir Edmund Bacon, bart. Win. 
 Wodehouse, esq. Wm. Morden, esq. and Ro- 
 bert Coke, esq. The two former were elected, 
 
 Dec. 31. A great flood. 
 
 1 736. Hog hill was paved. 
 
 1737. Oct. 4. The lower part of the city 
 was flooded. 
 
 1738. The ditches, on the south side of the 
 castle, levelled, and the cattle market first kept 
 there.
 
 60 
 
 1739. Thomas Emerson, of London, esq. 
 presented to the city two gold chains, to be 
 worn by the sheriffs, which cost 100 guineas 
 each. 
 
 A remarkably severe winter, and a prodigious 
 flood upon the breaking up of the frost. Tin's 
 has ever since been denominated the hard 
 winter. 
 
 London porter first advertised for sale. 
 
 1740. May 5. The season so sharp, that 
 snow hung on the spire of the cathedral from 
 the top to the second window. 
 
 This year the cathedral was repaired and 
 beautified. 
 
 A great riot, occasioned by the dearne?s of 
 provisions ; the assistance of the military was 
 exerted before the tumult could be suppressed ; 
 six or seven lives were lost. Two of the rioters 
 were hanged on the castle hill. 
 
 1741. May 3. It was ordered by the cor- 
 porate assembly, that no foreigner should ex- 
 ercise any trade in the city more than three 
 months, without taking up his freedom. 
 
 1742. The history of Norwich published by 
 the Rev. Francis Blomfield, A. M. The great- 
 est and most accurate work ever published in 
 the city. 
 
 1746. Sept. 30. The shirehouse on the caa^ 
 tie hill burnt down. 
 
 Oct. 9. The general thanksgiving for the 
 suppression of the rebellion in Scotland; a
 
 61 
 
 magnificent arch was erected in the market- 
 
 ^ 
 
 place, and the whole city illuminated. 
 
 1747. An act passed for holding- the sum- 
 mer assizes and sessions for the county at the 
 sniildhall, till the shirehouse should be rebuilt. 
 
 fS ' 
 
 1750. No guild feast. 
 
 1751. Oct. 22. Bridewell and several ad- 
 JQiniiii>- houses burnt. That extraordinary per- 
 son. Peter the Wild Man, wai at that time 
 confined there. 
 
 1753. The corporation went the bounds of 
 the city. 
 
 July 28. Another fire broke out in the 
 bridewell. 
 
 1754. The assembly-house built on the site 
 chapel-field house. 
 
 The presbyterian meeting-house rebuilt in a 
 very elegant style ; it has since been called the 
 Octagon Chapel. 
 
 1756. Jan. 31. The first bank opened in 
 the city by Charles Weston, esq. 
 
 Feb. 14. One of the four spires of the great 
 tower of the cathedral w r as blown down. 
 
 This year Mr. Matthew Goss presented to 
 the city a beautiful gold chain and medal, to be 
 worn by the mayor, and was honoured with the 
 freedom of the city. 
 
 1757. The militia act put in force, by which 
 Norwich raised 151 men by ballot. 
 
 1758. Jan. 31. The new theatre was open- 
 ed with the comedy called " The Way of the 
 World."
 
 62 
 
 175. Jan. 21. A very violent storm of hail 
 did great damage. 
 
 Feb. 2. The pageant of bishop Blaize ex- 
 hibited by the wool combers. 
 
 July 4 and 5. The Norfolk militia marched 
 to Portsmouth. 
 
 1760. Oct. 30. His present majesty wa 
 proclaimed, amidst the repeated and unanimouf 
 acclamations of his subjects. 
 
 GEORGE III. 1761. July 18. The Norfolk 
 Chronicle first published by John Grouse. 
 
 July 28. A coach to London in one dat 
 established. 
 
 St. Andrew's steps levelled and made passa- 
 ble for carriages. 
 
 Sept. 22. The coronation of their majesties 
 celebrated with great splendour. A congratu- 
 latory address presented to the king by Thomas 
 Churchman, csq. mayor, William Crowe and 
 Peter Columbine, esqrs. The mayor was 
 knighted on the occasion. f 
 
 An address w r as presented to the queen by 
 the city members. 
 
 1762. Jan. 12. A very violent storm and 
 tempest. 
 
 yhty 3. Sworn coal meters appointed in 
 Norwich, and rules and orders for their regu- 
 lation. 
 
 It was likewise determined to prosecute all 
 persons who should sell goods or merchandize 
 by retail, contrary to the customs of the city.
 
 63 
 
 Oct. 27. A great inundation, which laid 300 
 houses and eight parish churches under water. 
 
 Dec. 3. Trowse mills destroyed by an acci- 
 dental fire. 
 
 1763. A hackney coach first set up in Nor- 
 wich by William Huggins. 
 
 Oct. 18. His royal highness William, duke 
 of Cumberland, visited the city. 
 
 1765. The earl of Buckinghamshire gave 
 100/. to Doughty's hospital. Alderman Thomas 
 Harvey also gave 100/. 
 
 Mr. Robert Page, stone-mason, gave 100/. 
 to be discharged from all public offices in the 
 city. 
 
 This year the right honourable lord Camden 
 held the summer assizes, and was received by 
 'the corporation and inhabitants with extraor- 
 dinary marks of respect 
 
 In this year Mr. Jeremiah Berry was chosen 
 one of the sheriffs, and pleaded his privilege to 
 be discharged from serving the office, he being 
 an attorney in the court of king's bench. It 
 was argued before the judges, and he was dis- 
 charged from serving that and all other city 
 offices. 
 
 1766. The range of elegant buildings ia 
 Surrey-strreet were erected by Mr. Ivory, ar- 
 chitect. 
 
 Jan. 22. The new peal of six musical belli 
 were opened in the steeple of St. John's Mad- 
 dermarket church.
 
 64 
 
 Sept. 27< About noon broke out, among the 
 lower class of inhabitants,, a dreadful riot, occa- 
 sioned by a scarcity of provisions. The rioters 
 damaged the houses and destroyed the furniture 
 of several bakers, pulled down part of the new 
 mills, and destroyed a large quantity of flour 
 there; they likewise burned to the ground a 
 large malt-house without Conisford gate. They 
 \vere suppressed the next day, about five in the 
 afternoon, whilst destroying a baker's house on 
 Tombland, by the magistrates and inhabitants, 
 without the assistance of the military ; thirty of 
 the ringleaders were taken, and tried for the 
 
 O* * 
 
 offence at an assize holden by special commis- 
 sion, on the 1st day of December following ; 
 eight received sentence of death, but only two 
 were ordered for execution. 
 
 On the night of Dec. 24, the house of Mr. 
 Ward, butcher, in Bcr-street, was consumed by 
 an accidental lire, and his wife, mother, two 
 children, a grand child, and maid servant, pe- 
 rished in the flames. 
 
 1767. Jan. A great dearth and scarcity of 
 all kinds of provision in the city and neighbour- 
 hood. The liberality and benevolence of the 
 nobility and gentry to the distressed poor, de- 
 serves to be recorded with the highest praise, 
 
 .April 2. The cathedral was shut up in order 
 to be repaired and beautified. 
 
 Sunday, April 19. Four hundred and se- 
 venty poor boys, clothed by a benefaction of
 
 65 
 
 Harbord Harbord, esq. one of the city mem- 
 bers, attended divine service at St. Peter's Man- 
 croft church. 
 
 May 31. The greatest storm of hail, rain, 
 thunder, and lightning, ever remembered ; 
 many persons hurt by it, and the temporary 
 bridges at Hartford bridges carried away. 
 
 This year the cathedral being under repair, 
 the guild sermon was preached at St. Peter's 
 church, and likewise the sermon at the summer 
 assizes. 
 
 1768. March 8. A new theatre, called Con- 
 
 . ' 
 cert-hall, licenced by act of parliament, and 
 
 made a theatre-royal. 
 
 March 18. The great contested election for 
 the city, between Sir Harbord Harbord, iiart. 
 Edward Bacon, esq. and Thomas Beevor, esq. 
 of whom the two former were elected ; and the 
 Wednesday following the long-remembered con- 
 test for the county of Norfolk, Wodehouse and 
 De Grey against Astley and Coke, when Sir 
 Edward Astley, bart. and Thomas De Grey, 
 esq. obtained the majority, and were returned 
 members for the county. 
 
 Aug. 11. A tremendous storm of thunder 
 and lightning, by which a boy was struck dead 
 at a house near Brazen-doors. 
 
 Oct. 5. Ten yards of the wall between Mag- 
 dalen gates and St. Augustine's gates fell down 
 through decay, by which a cottage adjoining 
 was destroyed. 
 
 i
 
 66 
 
 1769. Jan. 7. The church belonging to the 
 Dutch congregation first used as a chapel for 
 the poor of the work-houses. 
 
 June 13. An uncommon storm of hail and 
 rain, confined to the parishes of St. Augustine, 
 St. Paul, and St. Saviour. 
 
 1770. March 16. A newly-erected house, 
 near Brazen -doors, was beat down by the city 
 -wall, which was undermined, falling upon it. 
 
 Nov. 19. A great flood. 
 
 In this year was first set on foot the noble 
 project of erecting a general county hospital, 
 and large sums of money were liberally sub- 
 scribed by the inhabitants of Norfolk and Nor- 
 wich, for carrying the design into effect. 
 
 Dec. 19 happened a terrible storm of rain 
 and wind, which tore the lead from the roofs of 
 several of the churches, demolished many win- 
 dows, and did much other damage in the city 
 and neighbourhood. 
 
 Turnpike roads made from Ber-street gate to 
 Trowse, from St. Giles's gate to Watton, and 
 from St. Benedict's gate to Swaffham. 
 
 1771. Tuesday, March 5. The foundation 
 of the Norfolk and Norwich hospital was laid 
 by the benevolent William Fellowes, esq. pa- 
 tron and treasurer, in the presence of many of 
 the subscribers and other spectators. 
 
 1772. The corporation went the bounds of 
 the city. 
 
 July 11. The Norfolk and Norwich hos-
 
 67 
 
 pital first opened for out-patients ; for in-pa- 
 tients Nov. 7. 
 
 Aug. 28. The first anniversary sermon 
 preached at the cathedral for the benefit of the 
 hospital. 
 
 1773. Feb. Upwards of 1600Z. subscribed 
 for relieving 1 the poor of the city with bread. 
 
 Feb. 15. A fire in the county gaol, by which 
 two felons were suffocated. 
 
 1774. June 17. A violent thunder storm da- 
 maged the church of St. Peter's Southgate. 
 
 St. Andrew's hall underwent a complete al- 
 teration : the gate, wall., and several houses 
 pulled down, and the porch and city library 
 handsomely rebuilt. 
 
 The castle hill repaired, and the ditch and 
 sides planted. 
 
 In the beginning of this year was first begun 
 that benevolent institution, called the society 
 for releasing persons confined for small debts. 
 
 This year the city and county prisons were 
 repaired, cleaned, and improved, according to 
 the direction of an act of parliament lately 
 passed. 
 
 In the month of August the right honourable 
 the earl of Buckinghamshire gave the sum of 
 2001. towards the expence of building a wall 
 round the premises of the Norfolk and Nor- 
 wich hospital 
 
 Wednesday, Oct. 26. Sir Edward Astley, 
 bart. and Thomas Wenman Coke, esq. elected 
 i 2
 
 68 
 
 representatives for the county of Norfolk, with- 
 out opposition = 
 
 About this time was instituted the humane 
 society, for encouraging and promoting every 
 exertion for the recovery of persons apparently 
 drowned. 
 
 Nov. 10, died John Langley Watts, esq. 
 mayor. Alderman James Crowe was sworn 
 to serve the office for the remainder of the 
 year. 
 
 Dec. 17. John Howard, esq. the philan- 
 thropist, in the course of his humane visits came 
 to the city, and inspected the prisons and hos- 
 pitals. He pointed out several modes of im- 
 provement in them, which met the approba- 
 tion of the magistrates, and have been since 
 adopted. 
 
 1775. Wednesday, June 21. A grand ora- 
 torio of sacred music at St. Peter's Mancroft 
 church ; after which was opened the new and 
 harmonious peal of twelve bells, cast by Messrs. 
 Pack and Chapman, of London, and put up by 
 a voluntary subscription of the parishioners 
 and the inhabitants of the city and county in 
 general. 
 
 Nov. 22. A complete peal of 5170 changes 
 rung on St. Peter's twelve bells, in four hours 
 and one minute, being the first attempt of the 
 kind. 
 
 1776. May 8. Thomas William Coke, esq. 
 unanimously elected one of the knights of the
 
 69 
 
 nb ire for the county of Norfolk, in the room of 
 his father, the late Thomas Wenman Coke, 
 esq. deceased. 
 
 June 22. Two houses, near White Friar'i 
 bridge, destroyed by fire. 
 
 Dec. 24. In the course of the day the wea- 
 ther several times changed from temperate to 
 extreme cold ; in the evening was a very sharp 
 storm of hail and rain, attended with thunder 
 and lightning. 
 
 The turnpike road from Bishop's gate to 
 Caister near Yarmouth made. 
 
 1778. Feb. 26. Several houses in Common- 
 pump-street burnt down. 
 
 March 16. At St. Peter's Man croft was 
 rung a peal of 6240 changes, in five hours and 
 twenty-two minutes. 
 
 Wm. Crotch, M. D. now of the university of 
 Oxford, a native of the city, began to astonish 
 the musical world with his performances at the 
 age of two years and nine months. 
 
 1779. This year was ushered in with one of 
 the most terrible storms of wind known in the 
 memory of any person living, by which many 
 churches and houses were much damaged, in 
 particular the lead on the north side of St. Aiv 
 drew's church was entirely torn oflT, being rolled 
 up and carried into the alley on the south side 
 of the church yard. 
 
 1780. Jan. 20. At a numerous county meet- 
 ing a petition was agreed to and signed, pray-
 
 70 
 
 ing- the house of commons to guard against all 
 unnecessary expenditure, to abolish sinecure 
 places and pensions, and to resist the increasing 
 influence of the crown. Against the proceed- 
 ings of this meeting a strong protest was after- 
 wards presented. 
 
 1781. Aug. 4. The beautiful painted east 
 window of the cathedral was opened for public 
 view, representing the tranfiguration of Christ; 
 and about the same time many alterations and 
 improvements were made in the lower close, 
 which was converted into an elegant square, 
 and planted with trees, in the same manner as 
 it now appears. 
 
 This year Simon Wilkin, esq. was chosen one 
 of the sheriffs, but, being a dissenter, refused to 
 be sworn into the said office, and to qualify him- 
 self according to the corporation act ; the case 
 was referred to the decision of the judges, who 
 granted a mandamus for his being discharged, 
 whereupon another sheriff was elected and 
 sworn. 
 
 1782. June 4. His majesty's birth-day was 
 celebrated by an illumination and other tokens 
 o f joy- 
 
 1783. The foundation of the new bridge, at 
 Black Friars, was laid by Starling Day, esq. 
 mayor. 
 
 Monday, March 24, the public were enter- 
 tained with the wool-combers' jubilee, on occa- 
 sion of the return of peace, which has necessa-
 
 71 
 
 rily a great effect on this as well as on every 
 other manufacturing town. The pageant of the 
 golden fleece, or, as it is commonly called, the 
 procession of bishop Blaize, was exhibited in a 
 style far surpassing any thing of the kind ever 
 before seen in this city ; it consisted of several 
 hundred persons, all of whom were employed 
 or concerned in the trade of wool-combing. 
 The characters were dressed with the greatest 
 propriety, particularly the shepherds and shep- 
 herdesses, who were ornamented with all the 
 embellishments that fancy could invent or inge- 
 nuity devise ; and the characters of Jason and 
 the venerable bishop Blaize w r ere supported 
 with a propriety which did their representatives 
 great credit. At ten o'clock in the morning 
 the procession set out from the public-house 
 called the Cellar, in St. Martin's at Oak, pre- 
 ceded by trumpets and other musical instru- 
 ments ; forty argonauts rode on horseback, ac- 
 companying the golden fleece, which was pre- 
 ceded by Hercules, Peace, Plenty, and the ban- 
 ner of Britannia ; the trophy was borne by four 
 men on a grand palanquin, followed by Or- 
 pheus. Next came Jason, the hero of the day, 
 drawn by four horses in a phaeton, attended by 
 Castor and Pollux. Then followed bishop 
 Blaize,* in an open chariot, drawn by six 
 
 * St. Blasius, or Blaze, bishop of Alexander and Mar- 
 tjti, winter the emperor Dioclesun, hi the time of the ge.
 
 72 
 
 horses; he was dressed in the episcopal cos- 
 tume., crowned with a mitre, curiously con- 
 trived of woo^ and attended by vergers,, a band 
 of music, the standard of the city, a chaplain, 
 and several orators, who in every street delivered 
 an appropriate oration, composed for the pur- 
 pose. The rear of the procession was brought 
 up by seven companies of wool-combers on foot, 
 followed by five companies on horseback, with 
 their proper attendants and insignia ; and the 
 whole procession, which extended above half a 
 mile in length, was conducted with the greatest 
 order and regularity. It passed through all the 
 principal streets of the city ; and so greatly 
 were the public delighted with the spectacle, 
 that it was represented at the theatre for several 
 successive nights to crouded audiences, and the 
 same persons employed on the stage who com- 
 posed the public pageant. 
 
 1783. On Monday, the 1st of Dec. the new- 
 erected bridge at Black Friars was opened for 
 carriages. 
 
 1784. On Monday, Feb. 16, the firs't air 
 balloon ever launched in the city ascended from 
 Quantrell's garden, without St. Stephen's gate, 
 and afforded great satisfaction to many hun- 
 dreds of spectators, whom the novelty of the 
 
 oeral persecution, A. D. 282. He w.ss a liberal promcf r 
 of the woollen maiiHfactory, and being afterwards c;u 
 noni/ed, the wool-combers have ever since honoured him 
 with the appellation of their tutelar saint and patron.
 
 73 
 
 sight had assembled. And on Monday, March 
 15, two air balloons were let off the first from 
 Quantrell's garden, at half-past twelve o'clock 
 at noon, and the second from Dunn's garden, $t 
 five o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 On the 26th of Aug. the tower of the parish 
 church of St. John at Timberhill suddenly fell 
 down. It had stood Upwards of 700 years, and 
 was built in the time of William the Conqueror. 
 
 1783. March 25. Mail coaches to London 
 first established. 
 
 On Monday, June 1, Mr. James Decker as- 
 cended in a car affixed to an air balloon, from 
 Quantrell's garden, at ten minutes before four 
 o'clock in the afternoon. He was carried to an 
 height almost incredible, and continued near 
 half an hour suspended in the air, and then 
 safely descended at Sizeland, near Loddon, ten 
 miles from Norwich. 
 
 On the 23d of the same month Mr. Decker 
 undertook another ascent in the car of a very 
 elegant balloon, which left Quantrell's garden 
 about five minutes past three in the afternoon. 
 The weather was very favourable to the expe- 
 riment. Mr. Decker was carried much higher 
 than in his former voyage, and remained longer 
 in the air, being full three quarters of an hour, 
 when he descended in a field in the parish of 
 Topcroft, twelve miles distant from the city. 
 
 But the enterprize which terminated most 
 hazardously was that by Major Money, of
 
 74 
 
 Trovrse Newton, made with the same balloon 
 which had ascended with Count Zambeccari 
 and Sir Edward Vernon some time before. 
 Lieutenant Blake,, of the royal navy, and Mr. 
 Loekwoodj of London, were to have accompa- 
 nied the major in this aerial excursion, but from 
 some deficiency in preparing the apparatus, the 
 balloon was not sufficiently inflated to be capa- 
 ble of ascending- with more than one person j 
 accordingly on Saturday, July 23, at twenty- 
 five minutes past four in the afternoon, the ma- 
 jor ascended from Qiiantrell's garden, in the 
 presence of thousands of spectators, in a car 
 something resembling a pleasure boat, attached 
 to a balloon of great magnitude and beauty. 
 At first it rose but slowly, but after the major 
 had lightened it a little by throwing out his 
 great coat, it ascended higher than any of the 
 former balloons, having first passed over some 
 part of the town, and returned again, so as to 
 be nearly over the place of its first ascension ; 
 it then took a north-east direction, and after be- 
 coming a very diminished object, finally disap- 
 peared from the sight of the anxious spectators, 
 having been about forty-five minutes in their 
 view. The balloon continued its course towards 
 Yarmouth, when the wind veering a little, it 
 altered its direction, and was seen over Lowes- 
 toft. It then entered a cloud, and took a direc- 
 tion over the sea. About six o'clock, the air 
 escaping too fast through the valve in the bal-
 
 / ,) 
 
 loon, it descended very rapidly till the boat 
 touched the sea, and was filled with water; the 
 air remaining in the balloon was however suf- 
 ficient to keep it above the head of the major, 
 who continued in this perilous situation till ten 
 o'clock, when the night became dark and' 
 cloudy, and greatly augmented the horrors of 
 His dreadful situation. During this time his 
 immediate existence depended upon his keep- 
 ing the balloon in such a state as to prevent the 
 escape of the air, and it required all the exertions 
 he was capable of making. He, however, so 
 far succeeded, as to be able to manage the ma- 
 chine till half-past eleven o'clock, when he was 
 taken up by the Argus revenue cutter, of Har- 
 wich, commanded by captain Haggis, and land- 
 ed at Lowestoft at eight o'clock the next morn- 
 ing; from whence be proceeded to Norwich, 
 where he arrived about two o'clock, to the in- 
 expressible joy of his numerous friends, and to 
 the satisfaction of the public,, who were in the 
 utmost anxiety for his safety. 
 
 1786. In May the water-house on Tomb- 
 land was taken down, and the pyramidal pillar, 
 which contains the aqueduct, was erected in it* 
 place. 
 
 In July a numeration of the inhabitants of 
 the kingdom took place by order of govern- 
 ment, when the number of the inhabitants of 
 the city, with its liberties, was found to amount 
 to 40,051, being 3882 souls more than at the 
 K 2
 
 76 
 
 last census in 1752, and 11, 170 more than at 
 that which took place in 1693. This account 
 did not include the precincts of the close, nor 
 the soldiers quartered, supposed in the whole to 
 amount to 1000. 
 
 Sept. 15. A contested election took place 
 for a representative to serve in parliament for 
 the city., in the room of Sir Harbord Harbord. 
 who was created a peer. The candidates were, 
 the Hon. Henry Hobart and Sir Thomas Bee- 
 vor, bart. The contest was carried on with in- 
 credible zeal by the respective partizans of the 
 candidates, which at last increased to a riot, and 
 much damage was done at the King's Head inn, 
 and many persons were knocked down. The 
 sheriffs adjourned the poll till the next morning 1 , 
 when it was again opened and continued till six 
 o'clock, at which time it w r as finally closed, al- 
 though about half an hour before several elec- 
 tors who had not voted demanded a poll for 
 Robert John Buxton, esq. On casting up 
 the numbers at the close of the poll, they 
 stood as follows : For the Hon. Henry Hobart 
 1450 Sir Thomas Beevor 1383 Robert John 
 Buxton, esq. 10. 
 
 Sir Thomas Beevor then demanded a scruti- 
 ny, which delayed the return for four days, 
 \\licn it w r as given up, and the sheriffs declared 
 Mr. Hobert duly elected, and returned him ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 Sir Thomas Beevor shortly afterwards pre-
 
 sentcd a petition to the house of common* 
 against the return, and prayed for a new 
 election. 
 
 In October, the Sunday schools, for the in- 
 struction of the children of the poor inhabit- 
 ants of the city, were first established. 
 
 1787. A committee of the house of com- 
 mons having set the election aside, on the 
 ground of treating, a new writ was issued for 
 the city, and the election came on again on 
 Thursday, March 15. The same two gen- 
 tlemen stood the poll, which was carried on 
 with great spirit and activity by the friends of 
 both parties, till seven o'clock in the evening, 
 when it was closed by mutual consent. On 
 casting up the poll, the numbers were For the 
 Hon. Henry Hobart 1393 Sir Thomas Beevor 
 1313 majority 80 ; whereupon Mr. Hobart 
 was declared duly elected. A scrutiny was then 
 demanded by the friends of Sir T. Beevor, but 
 was not long persisted in. 
 
 Mr. Hobart continued to represent Nonvich 
 to the day of his death ; his attachment to the 
 interests of the city in general, as well as the 
 many acts of kindness to every individual whom 
 it was in his power to serve or oblige, con- 
 ciliated the esteem and respect of all who knew 
 him. He died universally lamented, May 10, 
 1799. 
 
 1787. September 16. The benevolent and 
 philanthropic Mr. Howard arrived here, and
 
 78 
 
 Visited the several prisons and hospitals ; he 
 was pleased to express his entire satisfaction at 
 the improvements suggested on his former visit, 
 and which had since that time, through his re- 
 commendation,, been carried into effect. 
 
 In the month of Sept. Mrs. Siddous perform- 
 ed eight nights at the theatre-royal, to the great 
 satisfaction of all lovers of the drama ; and by 
 her astonishing powers drew from the audience 
 the fullest acknowledgment. The theatre was 
 filled every night, at the London prices, with 
 the first company in the city and county. 
 
 This year Mr. Woodrow, being elected she- 
 riff, refused to serve the office or pay the fine of 
 80/. unless he could be thereby excused from 
 Ihe office for ever. This the corporation de- 
 nied, conceiving that they had no power to 
 grant such an exemption, and as Mr. Woodrow 
 refused to appear on Michaelmas-day to be 
 sworn into office, the case was referred to the 
 court of king's bench, who confirmed the de- 
 cision of the corporation, whereupon Mr. Wood- 
 row consented to accept the office, and was 
 sworn accordingly. 
 
 Sept. 24, 25, and 26, was a grand perform- 
 ance of sacred music in St. Peter's Mancroft 
 church and St. Andrew's hall. The principal 
 performers were Madam Mara, Mrs. Ambrose, 
 and Mr. Harrison, with a very numerous band of 
 the first musicians. The festival wag attended 
 by all the county families
 
 79 
 
 Nov. 5, being the centenary of the glorious 
 revolution of 1688, was observed with great de- 
 monstrations of joy ; in the evening was an illu- 
 mination, and a bonfire in the market-place. 
 
 1789. The beginning of the year was mark- 
 ed by the city, as well as in many other parts of 
 the kingdom, with every manifestation of the 
 most unfeigned sorrow, for the dangerous and 
 long-continued indisposition of our beloved so- 
 vereign, which was only to be dispelled by that 
 dispensation of Providence, his most unexpect- 
 ed, recovery, which diffused joy into the hearts 
 of his afflicted subjects, and which displayed it- 
 self in the most remote parts of the kingdom ; 
 but in no place with more splendour, gaiety, 
 and festivity, than in Norwich. The citizens 
 vied with each other in testifying their thank- 
 fulness, by ringing of bells, firing of guns, 
 feasting., and illuminations, and which they most 
 laudably crowned by hospitality, charity, and 
 feasting and regaling their poor neighbours, 
 not excepting the poor in the workhouses and 
 the convicts in the prisons, so diffusive were the 
 effects of the general joy. 
 
 The 23d day of April being set apart by 
 royal proclamation for a general thanksgiving 
 for this happy event, was observed with every 
 religious solemnity : the corporation attended 
 - diTine service at the cathedral, which, as well 
 as the parish churches and other places of 
 divine worship of every denomination,, were
 
 80 
 
 crowded with their respective congregations., 
 who all seemed united in one grateful senti- 
 ment. After service the shops were kept shut,, 
 the bells rung, the magistrates dined in public, 
 and the poor were regaled. This day was ob- 
 served in a similar manner in every borough 
 and market-town in Norfolk. 
 
 At Michaelmas, John Beevor, esq. M. D, 
 being elected one of the sheriffs,, refused to take 
 upon himself the said office,, being a doctor of 
 physic, in extensive practice. Application was 
 made to the court of king's bench for a rule to 
 shew cause ; upon a hearing the rule was dis- 
 charged, and the plea of the doctor admitted 
 and confirmed. 
 
 1790. Sept. 8 was another grand musical 
 festival at St. Peter's Mancroft church and St. 
 Andrew's hall, which continued several days, 
 when the public were highly gratified by the 
 powers of Signora Storace, Miss Poole, Messrs. 
 Kelly and Meredith, with other eminent musical 
 performers from the metropolis. 
 
 1791. In this year it was proposed to erect 
 a new bridge over the river near King-street 
 gate, but the design was abandoned. 
 
 1792. Rochester-lane (now Orford-street) 
 widened, and a good carriage road made across 
 the castle ditches to the new opening in King- 
 street, by public subscription. 
 
 The gentleman's walk, in the market, paved 
 with Scotch gran i to.
 
 81 
 
 Several of the city gates were taken down. 
 
 1793. Two openings made in the city wall, 
 at the south-east corner of Chapel-feld and 
 near Ber-street gate, for the convenience of 
 
 carnages. 
 
 Aug. 8 was a great rejoicing, occasioned by 
 the surrender of Valenciennes to the British 
 forces under the command of his royal highness 
 the duke of York: it was celebrated by the- 
 ringing of bells and firing of guns. A bullock 
 of fifty stone weight was roasted whole in Ber- 
 street, and given to the populace, with four 
 barrels of beer and upwards of 2000 loaves of 
 bread. The festive scene was honoured with 
 the presence of the mayor and some of the fa- 
 milies of the first distinction in the city. 
 
 The new county gaol., adjoining to the castle, 
 finished. 
 
 1794. Feb. The hay engine was taken 
 down, and a weighing machine constructed 
 on the castle ditches, adjoining to the guard- 
 house. 
 
 On the 15th of May, Isaac Saint, a publican, 
 in the parish of St. Mary, was apprehended on 
 a charge of treasonable and seditious practices,, 
 he being secretary to the corresponding society; 
 he and his books were conveyed to London, 
 where he was detained till the heads of that so- 
 ciety, who were then under indictments, were 
 tried at the old bailey, and they being acquit- 
 ted, he was liberated. 
 
 L
 
 83 
 
 Nov. 6. Heigham-street was laid under water 
 by a sudden and violent flood. 
 
 1795. -Feb. A rapid thaw occasioned ano- 
 ther, equally distressing to the inhabitants, 
 
 June 16., being guild-day, Jeremiah Ives, esq. 
 was sworn mayor of the city a second time : 
 this was the first instance of a gentleman serv- 
 ing the office, in rotation, a second time. The 
 inhabitants of the parish of St. Clement, of 
 which he was a parishioner, erected a grand 
 triumphal arch at the east end of the church, 
 out of their great respect to the worthy chief 
 magistrate, and in the evening it was illu- 
 minated. 
 
 1796. Feb. Some workmen employed on 
 the premises of James Crowe, esq. at Laken- 
 liam, discovered about 100 human skeletons, 
 supposed to have been deposited there during 
 the plague in 1665, of which 2251 persons died 
 in the city in the same year. 
 
 April 25. Fine flour having risen to 70s. 
 per sack, several bakers' shops were attacked 
 by a mob, which was suppressed by the activity 
 of the magistrates and their officers, and three 
 persons taken into custody. 
 
 May 17. A dreadful affray took place in 
 Bishopsgate-street, between the privates of the 
 Northumberland and Warwickshire regiments 
 of militia ; several men were bruised, and two 
 or three wounded with bayonets, before their 
 officers could part them.
 
 83 
 
 On the 25th of May was a contested election 
 for the city ; on casting' up the numbers, after a 
 very spirited poll, they stood as follows : The 
 lion. Henry Hobart 1622 the rig-lit hon. Wil- 
 liam Windham 1159 Bajrtlett Gurney, esq. 
 1076; whereupon the two former were declar- 
 ed duly elected. 
 
 July. A petition was presented to parlia- 
 ment, praying 1 to have the lent assizes holden at 
 Norwich instead of Thetford ; upon which the 
 magistracy of that borough presented, by their 
 members., a counter petition, stating that the 
 assizes had been held there for 562 years. The 
 bill was much opposed in the house of com- 
 mons,, and lost. 
 
 1797. In the month of February the bank 
 of England, by the advice of the privy council, 
 suspended the issue of cash, and the Norfolk 
 and Norwich bankers judged it expedient for a 
 time to do the same. The joyful intelligence 
 of the defeat of the Spanish fleet, by admiral St. 
 John Jarv is (now earl St. Vincent), which was 
 received on Saturday, the 4th day of March, had 
 a great effect in dissipating the general gloom 
 which at this time pervaded the public mind. 
 
 April 2. His royal highness major-general 
 prince William Frederick of Gloucester arrived 
 here, to take upon him the command of the 
 troops in the eastern district. The mayor and 
 corporation waited on him in due form, and at 
 the aisembl/ on the 3d of May, voted the free- 
 
 L 2
 
 dom of the city to his royal highness and admiral 
 Sir Horatio Nelson. His royal highness was 
 initiated into the society of the ancient and 
 honourable Gregorians, and was elected their 
 Grand. 
 
 Various attempts were at this time made in 
 the city., as \vell as in other parts of the king- 
 dom,, to seduce the military from their allegi- 
 ance. On the 27th of May, Mr. Thehvall ar- 
 rived in this city ; he was one of the persons 
 who were tried by a special commission., at the 
 old bailey,, for treasonable and seditious prac- 
 tices,, and who were acquitted. On May 28 he 
 opened his lecture in the great room at the 
 King's Arms (since taken down), nearGurneys' 
 bank ; on the following day a party of the 
 Inniskilling dragoons, then lying here, and 
 amongst whom inflammatory hand-bills had 
 been previously circulated, proceeded to his 
 lecture room, dispersed the audience, and de- 
 stroyed the tribune and seats, Thehvall fled to 
 the Shakespear public-house, near adjoining, 
 whither he was followed by the soldiers, and 
 escaping by a back way, immediately went to 
 London : the soldiers destroyed all the furni- 
 ture and demolished part of the house, but re- 
 treated peaceably on the appearance of their 
 officers. The master of the house, on being 
 pursued by the soldiers, threw himself from the 
 garret into the street, and received considera- 
 ble injury. At the subsequent assizes Mr.
 
 85 
 
 Luke Rice, a tailor, was indicted for aiding and 
 enCoaragtng the soldiers |n the riot, but was 
 acquitted. 
 
 June 20, being guild-day, James Crowe, esq. 
 was sworn into the office of mayor the second 
 time (although not in rotation) ; being indis- 
 posed, the court waited on him at his house at 
 Laktmham, where he received his charge and 
 the insignia of his office ; there was no pro- 
 cession to the cathedral, nor any public feast, 
 neither on this day nor during the year of his 
 mayoralty. 
 
 Oct. 14. Intelligence was received of the 
 defeat of the Dutch fleet by admiral (now lord) 
 Duncan, on the llth of this month, for which 
 there were great rejoicings. Many of the 
 wounded British seamen were brought here and 
 admitted into the county hospital, and on their 
 recovery were entertained with a feast at the 
 public expence. Above 1700/. was raised for 
 the relief of the sick and wounded. 
 
 Oct. 27. The prince of Orange visited the 
 city. 
 
 Nov. 20. Major-general prince William 
 (now duke) of Gloucester assumed the military 
 command of the eastern district. 
 
 1798. Jan. The sword of the Spanish ad- 
 miral, Don Xavier Winthuysen, presented to 
 the corporation by admiral Nelson. 
 
 In February voluntary contributions were 
 raised throughout the kingdom, for the support
 
 86 
 
 of government., in repelling the threatened in- 
 vasion of this country by the French nation. 
 The subscription made by the inhabitants of the 
 city amounted to more than 8000/. 
 
 At a special assembly of the corporation, 
 holden in the month of February, alderman 
 Benjamin Day resigned his seat and office of 
 alderman, being the sixth who has resigned his 
 gown since the commencement of the present 
 century; viz. 
 
 1704. Christopher Gibbs, alderman of North 
 Conisford ward. 
 
 1724. Daniel Meadows, East "Wymer 
 
 1773. Benjamin Hancock, Mancroft. 
 
 1779. Sir Harbord Harbord, bart East 
 Wymer. 
 
 1783. Thomas Rogers, Fyebridge. 
 
 1798. Benjamin Day, Coslany, 
 
 In the month of April many of the inhabit- 
 ants came to the resolution of enrolling them^ 
 selves as volunteers for the defence of the 
 country. 
 
 In May several of the parishes received let- 
 ters from the lord lieutenant of the county, sig- 
 nifying that his majesty had been pleased to ac- 
 cept their services. 
 
 The following is a list of the parochial corps, 
 with their respective commanders : 
 
 Mancroft Volunteers. Capt. John Browne. 
 
 St. Stephen's. Capt. Hardj^. 
 
 East Nowvich. Capt. Thomas Blake, jun.
 
 87 
 
 St. Peter's Permountergate. Capt. Herring. 
 
 St. Saviour's and St. Clement's. Capt. Fisk. 
 
 St. Andrew's. Capt, J. A. Murray. 
 
 The total number of the yeomanry cavalry in 
 JSorfoIk and Norwich at this time was 632 ; in 
 the kingdom, 19,190. 
 
 On Sunday, July 29, a sailor boy, of the 
 name of Roberts, aged thirteen years, who came 
 from Yarmouth, went to the cathedral church 
 in the time of service, and having obtained per- 
 mission of the subsacrist, w r ent to the upper 
 window of the spire ; not thinking this elevation 
 sufficient, he got out of the window, and 
 climbing by the crochets, which are a yard dis- 
 tant from each other, he ascended to the top of 
 the spire, which he walked twice round. After 
 having amused himself as long as he pleased 
 with turning the weathercock round, he de~ 
 cended in the same manner as he went up, in 
 the presence of a great many spectators. 
 
 The concluding part of the year was marked 
 in the annals of Great Britain by the most glo- 
 rious triumph with which its arms were ever 
 blessed. The splendid victory obtained by our 
 immortal countryman, lord Nelson, over the 
 French fleet, at Alexandria, in Egypt, on the 1st 
 day of August, was so complete, and atchieved 
 
 with so much magnanimity, as to place all for- 
 mer naval victories at a distance. 
 
 Oct. 2 was marked by a degree of enthusiasm 
 
 never before excited ; but no part of the king-
 
 88 
 
 dom was more zealous and active in every de- 
 monstration of joy, than this the native county 
 of the illustrious hero of the Nile. 
 
 The general satisfaction was greatly aug- 
 mented by the joyful intelligence, which reach- 
 ed the city on the 22d of the same month, of the 
 glorious capture of the Brest squadron, by Sir 
 John Borlase Warren. 
 
 Thursday, the 29th day of December., was 
 the day fixed by government for a general 
 thanksgiving to Almighty God, for this great. 
 and glorious victory, and was- observed with 
 every mark of joy and festivity. The civil and 
 military powers attended divine service at the 
 cathedral, in the grandest possession ever wit- 
 nessed ; after which a feu-de-joie was fired, and 
 the military and populace regaled with a bul- 
 lock, roasted whole in the market-place, and sis 
 barrels of strong beer; in the evening was a 
 grand bonfire, round which the corporation 
 walked in procession, and an illumination 
 extended to the most remote corners of the city, 
 and displaying all the variety and taste that in- 
 genuity could invent or fancy suggest. 
 
 This year the water was conveyed from the 
 new mills into the reservoir in chapel-field, in- 
 stead of the water-house; and on the former 
 being completed with a tower on the north side, 
 in which is an engine for carrying the water to 
 the highest parts of the city, the water-house 
 was taken down, and the ground cleared. The
 
 89 
 
 water, however, on the morning of Sunday, 
 Oct. 28, burst from its confines, through a sand 
 gall, or vein of sand, which, unable to support 
 the weight of above 50,000 barrels of water, 
 suddenly gave way ; the water forced a passage 
 into the bowels of the earth with a noise re- 
 sembling the roaring of the sea, and in three 
 hours the basin was left empty, and the excava- 
 tions occasioned by it were from six to twenty 
 feet wide, and as much in depth, both within 
 and without the embankment; they were soon 
 after properly filled up and secured against 
 future accidents of a like nature. 
 
 1799. On Monday, May 27, was a contested 
 election for a representative in parliament for 
 the city, occasioned by the death of the hon. 
 Henry Hobart. The candidates were John 
 Prere, esq. and Robert Fellowes, esq. when the 
 former was elected by a majority of 159. 
 
 In the first week in November 3746 soldiers 
 of the guards and other regiments passed 
 through the city, on their march from Yar- 
 mouth to London, having landed at the former 
 place but a few days before from Holland. The 
 populace seemed anxious to relieve the fatigue 
 of the wearied soldiers, and to afford them all 
 possible assistance; and the attention of the 
 mayor (John Herring, esq.) to provide them 
 every accommodation which their uncomforta- 
 ble situation required, was returned by the 
 most distinguished acknowledgments of the g;o- 
 
 M
 
 90 
 
 vernment as well as of his majesty, to whom he 
 was presented on the occasion, and offered the 
 honour of knighthood, which he declined. 
 
 On Sunday, Nov. 3, his royal highness Fre- 
 derick, duke of York, field marshal and com- 
 mander in chief of his majesty's forces, honour- 
 ed the city with his presence. 
 
 On Sunday, Dec. 29, the present archbishop 
 of Canterbury, then bishop of Norwich, preach- 
 ed a sermon in the evening for the benefit of 
 the humane society, for the recovery of persons 
 apparently drowned, at. the parish church of St. 
 George at Colegate ; a selection of sacred music 
 was introduced in the course of divine service, 
 at which sixty performers assisted ; the mayor 
 and corporation attended. Thirty-six persons, 
 who had by the means recommended and en- 
 couraged by this laudable institution been res- 
 cued from a watery grave, were placed in the 
 chancel, to whom his grace addressed part of 
 his discourse, with that persuasive energy with 
 w r hich his eloquent style of preaching is so hap- 
 pily marked: 131. 16s. 6d. was collected. 
 
 1800, May 24. At a full assembly of the 
 corporation, it was unanimously agreed to pre- 
 sent a loyal address of congratulation to his 
 majesty on his providential escape from assassi- 
 nation by Hadfield, who fired a pistol at the 
 king whilst in his box at Drury-lane theatre. 
 The address was presented by John Herring, 
 esq. mayor, and Robert Harvey, esq. mayor
 
 91 
 
 elect, both of whom were offered the honour of 
 knighthood, which they declined. An address 
 was likewise presented on the same occasion 
 from the county of Norfolk, by Roger Kerrison, 
 esq. high sheriff who received the honour of 
 knighthood on the occasion. 
 
 June 17, being guild-day, Robert Harvey, 
 esq, was sworn into the office of mayor for the 
 second time. 
 
 By an act of parliament passed in the begin- 
 ning of the year 1801, a census was to be taken 
 on the 10th day of March, in the same year,, by 
 the overseers of the poor of every parish in 
 Great Britain, and a return made to the house 
 of commons, stating the number of inhabited 
 and uninhabited houses, arid the number of 
 souls, male and female, in their respective pa- 
 parishes. The return from Norwich stood as 
 follows : 
 
 M 2
 
 PARISHES. Famil. 
 
 All Saints 199 
 
 St. Andrew 236 
 
 St. Augustine .... 338 
 
 St. Benedict 205 
 
 St. Clement 173 
 
 St. Edmund J* 107 
 
 St. Etheldred ....I 65 
 St. George Tomb, j 130 
 St.GeorgeColegate 293 
 
 St. Giles i 270 
 
 St. Gregory ! 224 
 
 St. Helen ! 74 
 
 St. John Madderm.! 176 
 
 St. James j 149 
 
 St. John Sepclchrei 303 
 St.JohnTimberhill' 237 
 
 St. Julian 197 
 
 vSt. Lawrence ,.,. 248 
 St. Margaret .... 1 83 
 St. Martin at Oak 413 
 St. Marti natPalace 264 
 
 St. Mary 303 
 
 261 
 80 
 361 
 375 
 104 
 483 
 311 
 102 
 235 
 83 
 572 
 138 
 255 
 204 
 136 
 
 HOUSES. 
 Inhab. Unin 
 
 172 [ 4 
 
 224 : 11 
 327 i 75 
 
 / - - - - 
 
 St. MichaelCoslany 
 St. Michael Plea.. 
 St. Michael Thorn 
 
 St. Paul 
 
 St. Peter Hungate 
 St. Peter Mancroft 
 St. PeterPermount. 
 St. Peter Southgate 
 
 St. Saviour , 
 
 St. Simon and Jude 
 
 St. Stephen 
 
 St. Swithin 
 
 Pockthorpe 
 
 Heigham 
 
 Prects. of Cathedral 
 
 200 
 135 
 
 92 
 
 64 
 108 
 246 
 235 
 212 
 
 74 
 148 
 128 
 292 
 228 
 190 
 245 
 151 
 336 
 226 
 277 
 224 
 
 72 
 353 
 323 
 
 85 
 441 
 298 
 102 
 203 
 
 77 
 509 
 113 
 214 
 213 
 118 
 
 29 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 37 
 4 
 9 
 6 
 
 12 
 23 
 
 20 
 24 
 22 
 34 
 27 
 29 
 31 
 
 49 
 55 
 
 3 
 19 
 18 
 21 
 22 
 
 6 
 31 
 
 7 
 27 
 14 
 
 Mates 
 292 
 770 
 537 
 364 
 851 
 182 
 112 
 299 
 462 
 443 
 439 
 195 
 1435 
 280 
 481 
 406 
 297 
 375 
 262 
 754 
 418 
 404 
 435 
 183 
 531 
 609 
 158 
 893 
 519 
 171 
 410 
 151 
 913 
 2'>5 
 398 
 381 
 255 
 
 Femal 
 408 
 
 1088 
 695 
 474 
 502 
 191 
 140 
 453 
 670 
 633 
 618 
 198 
 
 1219 
 290 
 663 
 482 
 365 
 524 
 400 
 993 
 518 
 573 
 596 
 263 
 667 
 786 
 913 
 
 1226 
 831 
 207 
 574 
 182 
 
 1298 
 278 
 581 
 473 
 361 
 
 Souls. 
 
 701 
 
 1858 
 
 1232 
 
 835 
 
 853 
 
 373 
 
 252 
 
 752 
 
 1132 
 
 1076 
 
 1057 
 
 393 
 
 2654 
 
 520 
 
 1114 
 
 975 
 
 846 
 
 1018 
 
 859 
 
 2163 
 
 1109 
 
 1202 
 
 1185 
 
 502 
 
 1442 
 
 1681 
 
 394 
 
 2229 
 
 1350 
 
 378 
 
 984 
 
 333 
 
 2211 
 
 503 
 
 979 
 
 954 
 
 616
 
 In this year some of the members of the cor- 
 poration thought proper to enforce the act of 
 Charles II. called the corporation act, whereby 
 several gentlemen chosen to be common coun- 
 cilmen at the usual time of election were ob- 
 jected to., as dissenters, and not qualified to be 
 members of that body, they not having within 
 one year then last past received the sacrament, 
 according to the rites of the church of Eng- 
 land, by the said act required ; but the electors 
 being still determined to support them, no re- 
 turn was then made. On reference of the case 
 to the court of king's bench, the court set the 
 election aside ; upon which the mayor directed 
 the town clerk to take the necessary steps for 
 procuring a mandamus empowering him to pro- 
 ceed to a new election, A new election for 
 common council took place in the month of 
 May, and the same parties were again elected. 
 
 On Thursday, June 25, about two o'clock in 
 the afternoon, a sudden and terrible fire broke 
 out in the west end of the roof of the cathedral 
 church, which at first seemed to threaten the 
 destruction of that beautiful edifice. The con- 
 flagration was very rapid, and above forty yards 
 of the wood roof, with its cov ering of lead, was 
 destroyed before the fire was got under, and 
 which was at last extinguished with extreme dif- 
 ficulty ; fortunately the stone roof within side 
 did not receive any injury. The accident was 
 occasioned by the carelessness of the plumber*
 
 employed to repair some breaches in the lead, 
 who left their work to go to dinner,, without se- 
 curing their fire, which by some means commu- 
 nicated itself to the spars of the roof. 
 
 Oct. 3 the news of the preliminaries of peace 
 being signed between this kingdom and France 
 arrived, and was welcomed by the inhabitants 
 with every expression of joy ; and on Wednes- 
 day, the 21st of the same month, a general illu- 
 mination took place. 
 
 Nov. 20. The son of alderman Patteson was 
 baptized at St. Stephen's church. The cere- 
 mony was conducted in a style superior to any 
 thing ever before witnessed here on such an 
 occasion. The sacrament of baptism was per- 
 formed by the lord bishop of Norwich ; and a 
 prince of the blood, his royal highness prince 
 William, now duke of Gloucester, was one of 
 the sponsors, who came to town expressly for 
 that purpose. 
 
 1802. On Tuesday, May 4, peace was pro- 
 claimed here with great solemnity, on which oc- 
 casion a general illumination took place. 
 
 July 5. A strong contested election for the 
 city ; the candidates, with the numbers respec- 
 tively polled by them, were as follows : for 
 Robert Fellovves, esq. 1532 William Smith, 
 esq. 1439 the right hon. William Wimlham 
 1356 John Frere, esq. 1328. 
 
 A contested election for the county of Nor- 
 folk was begun on Monday, the 1 9th of July,
 
 which terminated on the VTednesday in the fol- 
 lowing week, when the state of the poll was 
 for Thomas William Coke, esq. 4317 Sir Jacob 
 Henry Astley, bart. 3612 the hon. Col. \Vode- 
 house 3517. 
 
 The two first were declared duly elected; but 
 the colonel demanded a scrutiny, which conti- 
 nued open eight days, and at length terminated 
 in favour of the sitting members. 
 
 A grand musical festival at St. Peter's Man- 
 croft church, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and 
 Thursday mornings, the 5th, 6th, and 7th of 
 October ; and on Monday, Tuesday, Wednes- 
 day, and Thursday evenings, the 4th, 5th, 6th, 
 and 7th, at St. Andrew's hall. Mr. Braham, 
 Mr. Bartleman, Mrs. Billington, and Miss 
 Sharp, were the principal singers. 
 
 1803. March 7. An address of the corpora- 
 tion, congratulating his majesty on his escape 
 from the wicked conspiracy of Col. Despard, 
 was presented to the king on Wednesday, March 
 16, by Sir Roger Kerrison, knt. mayor, Robert 
 Fellowes, esq. and alderman John Harvey, and 
 was very graciously received. 
 
 May 18. The corporation and inhabitants 
 perambulated the boundary of the city and its 
 county, according to the tenure of the charter ' 
 dated 1555. The two last preceding times of 
 marking the boundaries were May 31, 1753, 
 and May 7, 1793. 
 
 On June 13 his royal highness the duke of
 
 96 
 
 Cambridge visited the city, and was greeted by 
 the inhabitants with those marks of loyalty and 
 attachment which they have ever shewn to the 
 illustrious family now on the throne. 
 
 July 6. Another address was presented to 
 his majesty., at St. James's, by John Morse, esq. 
 mayor, Sir Roger Kerrison, and J. Patteson, 
 csq. on the momeHtous state, of the public affairs 
 of this kingdom, and a renewal of hostilities on 
 the part of the French nation. 
 
 July 28. A meeting took place at the King's 
 Head, in the market-place; to form a company 
 of volunteer riflemen, to act in defence of the 
 realm, Mr. Sheriff Black in the chair. Resolu- 
 tions were entered into, and the Norwich rifle- 
 men formed ; they afterwards increased to three 
 companies, and were under the command of 
 major Richard Mackenzie Bacon. 
 
 Aug. 15. -A meeting of the inhabitants took 
 place at guildhall., in order to establish a regi- 
 ment of volunteers. A subscription of 6,200/ 
 was raised, and the city of Norwich regiment, 
 commanded by lieut.-col. Harvey, was imme- 
 diately trained. 
 
 1804. Jan. 18. The city regiment of volun- 
 teers took the oath of allegiance, and received 
 their colours. The ceremony, which was very 
 impressive, was perfonned in the market-place. 
 The Rev. Mr. Prebendary Thurlow performed 
 the office of consecration, with suitable exhorta- 
 tions and devotions. The colours were thea
 
 97 
 
 presented by the mayor, attended by the court 
 of aldermen, 
 
 In this year Norwich was appointed by go* 
 vernment to be a garrison town., and the differ- 
 ent volunteer regiments were brigaded,, and 
 did permanent duty at Yarmouth, Norwich 
 and Lynn, 
 
 Nov. 14, the new cast-iron bridge, at St. Mi- 
 chael Coslany, was opened for the passage of 
 the public. 
 
 1805. In this year was first set on foot the 
 asylum for the indigent blind of the city, to 
 which the benevolent projector, Thos. Taw ell, 
 esq. gave a house and ground in Magdalen- 
 street, which he had recently purchased for the 
 purpose of an hospital for their reception, at the 
 expence of 1050/. and voluntary contributions 
 soon enabled him to carry the design into effect. 
 
 Nov. 8, arrived the important news of the 
 total defeat of the combined fleets of France 
 and Spain by the British squadron under the 
 command of admiral lord Nelson, who was 
 killed in the moment of victory, in the glorious 
 action. On this occasion the corporation moved 
 in a special assembly, a loyal and dutiful address 
 to the throne. 
 
 Dec. 5 was the day of the general thanks- 
 giving for the victory at Trafalgar, which was 
 observed with a degree of religious solemnity 
 befitting the important occasion. 
 
 1806. June 1,3. The royal assent was given 
 
 N.
 
 98 
 
 to the act of parliament for better paving, light- 
 ing, cleansing, watching, and otherwise im- 
 proving the city; by which act two classes of 
 commissioners were appointed for carrying the 
 same into- execution the first consists of the 
 magistrates and many of the principal inhabit- 
 ants of the city, the succession of whom is to be 
 kept up by the majority of the remaining com- 
 missioners, having a power to* fill up vacancies 
 on the demise of any of the persons named in 
 the act, and as often as any vacancies shall hap- 
 pen, they are empowered to- da so for ever 
 The second class are to be chosen by the pa- 
 rishioners in Easter week yearly, m the same 
 manner as other parish officers, one or more for 
 each parish, in proportion to its extent and po- 
 pulation ; the parish of St. Peter's Mancroft 
 are to elect three commissioners, the parishes of 
 St. Peter Permountergate, St. Stephen, St. 
 Giles, St. Andrew, St. George Tombland, and 
 St. George Colegate, two commissioners each, 
 and the rest of the parishes in the city one com- 
 missioner each, qualified as in and by the saW 
 act of parliament is directed. By this act the 
 streets are to be new paved, on the same plan 
 as London and other large places ; all nuisances 
 are to be removed, narrow passages widened, 
 and the principal streets greatly improved ; the 
 expence to be levied upon the owners and oc- 
 cupiers of houses, &c. within the city, and to be 
 collected by the parish officers, in the same 
 manner as other parochial assessments.
 
 99 
 
 This year the cathedral church was shut up, 
 in order to undergo a thorough repair. The 
 guild and assize sermons were preached in St. 
 Peter's Man-croft church ; tlie oratorio for the 
 henefit of the Norfolk and Norwich hospital 
 was also performed there, and the sermon 
 preached by the lord bishop of Norwich. 
 
 Nov. 5 and 6. A strong contested election 
 for the city, which continued two days: the 
 numbers of tlie poll, on being cast up, stood as 
 follows: for John Pattesou, esq. 1733 Ro- 
 bert Fellowes, esq. 1370 William Smith., esq. 
 1333; whereupon the two former were declared 
 duly elected. 
 
 Nov. 13. A contested election for the coun- 
 ty of Norfolk, which continued for seven suc- 
 cessive days, when the numbers were for 
 Thomas William Coke,, esq. 4118 right lion. 
 William Windham 3722 hon. jjoh-n Wode- 
 house 3365. The two former, of course, were 
 ^returned ; but a petition against the election 
 was presented soon after the meeting of par- 
 liament. 
 
 1807. Sunday, Jan. 18, ab&ut <wie o'clock 
 in the afternoon, near forty yards of the city 
 wail, near Ber-street gate, fell into the ditch 
 with a tremendous crash 5 five cows, in an ad- 
 joining shed, were killed, but no other injury 
 was done. 
 
 March 4. The petition against the late re- 
 turn of members in parliament for the county 
 v 2
 
 of Norfolk, having been heard in a committee 
 of the house, after nearly two hundred witnesses 
 had been examined on the charges of excessive 
 treating, bribery, corruption, and ministerial 
 influence, the election was set aside and a new 
 writ issued, and this day Sir Jacob Henry Astley, 
 bart. and Edward Coke, esq. were elected with- 
 out opposition. 
 
 April 20. The new pavement begun under 
 the authority of the act of parliament ; the first 
 stone was laid on the site where St. Stephen's 
 gate formerly stood, 
 
 May 4. In consequence of the dissolution of 
 parliament, came on a contested election for the 
 city ; at the close of the poll the numbers were, 
 for John Patteson, esq. 1474 William Smith, 
 esq, 1156 Robert Pellowes, esq. 546; where- 
 upon the two former gentlemen were declared 
 duly elected. 
 
 May 12. At the general election for the 
 county of Norfolk, Sir Jacob Henry Astley, bart. 
 and Thomas William Coke, esq. were returned 
 without opposition. 
 
 June 16, being guild-day, the city maces 
 were new gilt on the occasion. The mayor's 
 feast was kept this year at chapel-field house for 
 the third time; the first was in 1544 and the 
 second in 1561. 
 
 July 1 . Robert Herring, esq. mayor, present- 
 ed to the city IfXV. towards the expences of the 
 new pavement.
 
 101 
 
 October 6. The quarter sessions for the city 
 first held on Tuesday, having- always been held 
 before on a Friday. 
 
 1808. Feb. 11. The greatest fall of snow 
 \vhich had been remembered for many years 
 past ; most of the roads were blocked up, and 
 but few of the carriers could reach the city on 
 the Saturday following. In the neighbourhood 
 the snow was not completely wasted for eight 
 weeks afterwards. 
 
 Coslany or St. Martin's gate, Magdalen, and 
 Ber-street gates taken down. 
 
 April 6. The greatest contest ever known 
 for common-council for Wymer ward ; the ex- 
 pences to the day of election were computed at 
 nearly 3000Z. 
 
 July 29. At a special assembly of the cor- 
 poration, it was agreed to present an address of 
 thanks to his majesty, for his great, prompt, and 
 liberal support of the Spanish patriots, in their 
 resistance of French tyranny and oppression. 
 
 Dec. 13. A meeting was held to consider of 
 the propriety of an application to parliament 
 for an act to erect a bridge over the river at 
 Carrow-abbey. This measure met with much 
 opposition. 
 
 1809. Jan. 28. A very great flood, which 
 laid the lower parts of the city under water, 
 The waters overflowed Fyebridge quay and 
 Bishopsgate-street, and boats were rowed in the 
 street of St. Martin's at Oak.
 
 Feb. 3.- It was decided in the court of king's 
 bench, that militia-men, while on actual service 
 in any part of the united kingdom, whose fami- 
 lies reside in Norwich., have a legal right to vote; 
 at elections for mayor, aldermen, sheriffs, and 
 common councilmen, 
 
 Feb. 13. A portion of lieut.-col. Patteson's 
 and col. Harvey's volunteers having tendered 
 their services to government, many were accept* 
 ed under the local militia act, and some of the 
 officers appointed who had held commissions 
 under the volunteer establishment 
 
 May 31. This day the act of parliament 
 was passed for erecting a bridge over the river, 
 from Carrow-abbey to the road leading to 
 Yarmouth. 
 
 Oct. 25. This day his majesty commencing 
 the fiftieth year of his reign, the same was ob- 
 served as a jubilee throughout the united king- 
 dom. In the morning divine service was per- 
 formed in all the churches, and sermons on the 
 occasion preached in the different places of re- 
 ligious worship. The corporation attended at 
 the cathedral in great slate, with the military, 
 , &c. who were liberally regaled. Several public 
 dinners were given, and the day was observed 
 with every demonstration of joy. Such a dis- 
 play of loyalty and liberality was never before 
 ; witnessed, all parties striving to excel each other 
 in demonstrations of affection to their sovereign 
 and charity to the poor.
 
 10.3 
 
 1810. April 26. The first stone of Carrow 
 bridge laid by Thomas Back, esq. mayor, in 
 the presence of the magistracy and commonalty 
 of the city. 
 
 July 12. A new chapel, founded by the 
 methodists in connection of the late John Wes- 
 ley, in Calvert-street. The first stone was laid 
 by the Rev. Mr. Gilpin, with appropriate re- 
 ligious solemnities. 
 
 August 6. The first stone of the Foundery 
 bridge laid by Jonathan Davey, esq. alderman. 
 
 1811. Feb. 24. At the assembly held this 
 day, it was agreed to extend the freedom of the 
 city to foreigners, with the consent of the com- 
 mon council. 
 
 March 17. A terrible fire broke out early on a 
 Sunday morning, intlpper Market-street, where- 
 by the houses of Messrs. Culley and Freeman 
 were consumed, and others damaged. 
 
 April. Contributions made in all the churches 
 for the relief of the British prisoners in France. 
 
 May 1 . A great contest for mayor, between 
 aldermen Cole, Patteson, and Davey ; the for- 
 mer of whom was chosen. The election con- 
 tinued two days. 
 
 27. The census of the population taken by 
 act of parliament. 
 
 NUMBER OF SOULS. 
 
 1693. 
 
 28,881 
 
 1752. 
 36,169 
 
 1786. 
 40,051 
 
 1801. 
 36,832 
 
 1811. 
 37,263
 
 104 
 
 June 20. The new methodists 1 chapel, in 
 Calvert-street, opened by the Rev. Thomas 
 Coke, LL. D. successor to the late Rev. John 
 Wesley. . 
 
 Sept 11. A great meeting held in St. An- 
 drew's hall, for the purpose of establishing an 
 auxiliary bible society. The lord bishop of 
 Norwich presided. There were present most 
 of the distinguished characters in the city and 
 neighbourhood, and the hall was filled with per- 
 sons of all religious denominations, who so ear- 
 nestly concurred in this undertaking, that up- 
 wards of 800Z. was immediately subscribed,, 
 which has since been augmented to more 
 than 2600/. besides annual subscriptions to 
 the amount of 600/. 
 
 Oct. 8. At the quarter sessions, the city gaol 
 was presented by the grand jury to be in a state 
 of decay and insecurity. 
 
 A grand musical festival for three mornings 
 at St. Peter's Mancroft church, and three even- 
 ings at St. Andrew's hall. The vocal parts 
 were supported by Madame Catalani, from the 
 king's theatre, and several other London per- 
 formers of great musical eminence. 
 
 Dec. 9. The floor of a room at the Three 
 Tuns tavern, St. Andrew's Steps, fell through 
 with fifty persons, none of whom received any 
 considerable injury. 
 
 1812. Jan. 19. A fire near Coslany bridge. 
 April 23, Several skeletons dug up on the
 
 105 
 
 9 
 
 site of the demolished church of the Holy Cross, 
 in Wymer-street, which had been buried before 
 the year 1551. 
 
 June 16. No guild sermon nor feast. Al- 
 derman Davey eatertained 700 freemen at his 
 seat, at Eaton. 
 
 25. A new baptists' chapel, in St. Mary's, 
 opened by the Rev. J. Kinghorne. 
 
 July 17. A meeting at the shirehall of the 
 nobility and gentry of the city and county, for 
 forming an auxiliary society, for educating the 
 children of the poor in the principles of the 
 church of England. \bOOl. subscribed on the 
 occasion. 
 
 19. A sermon preached at St. Peter's Man- 
 croft church for that purpose, and 371, 17s. 6d. 
 collected, which was followed by other liberal 
 contributions. 
 
 August 1. The whole amounted to 2,388 
 I Os. and the annual subscriptions to 305/. 8s. 6d. 
 
 17. Great rejoicings for the splendid victory 
 obtained by Lord Wellington over the French 
 army in Spain. 
 
 27. A new street built from the site of the 
 King's Head, in the Market-place, to the Castle 
 Ditches, and called Davey-place. fH 
 
 September 14, The first stone of the new 
 baptists' chapel, St. Clement's, was laid by the 
 Rev. Mark Wilks and aid. Davey. 
 
 October 7. A sharply contested election for 
 members to represent the city in parliament: 
 
 o
 
 106 
 
 the numbers were for Wm. Smith, esq. 1544 
 Chas. Harvey, esq. 1137 John Patteson, esq. 
 1050. The two former were returned. 
 
 8. Another grand meeting of the bible so- 
 ciety,, at St. Andrew's hall. 
 
 14. The county election. Sir Jacob Henry 
 Astley and Thos. Wm. Coke, esq. were unani- 
 mously elected. 
 
 20. A blanket society, for the comfort of 
 the poor, first formed. 
 
 24. On account of the prevalence of the 
 small pox, 1317 persons were vaccinated from 
 the beginning of the year to this time. 
 
 November. A dispute took place between 
 the right hon. lord Suffield, lord lieutenant and 
 custos rotulorum of the county of Norfolk, and 
 John Turner Hales, high sheriff, concerning 
 the property of the shirehall, on the castle hill : 
 on reference, however, to great legal authority, 
 it did not appear to be vested in either, but in 
 the justices for all public purposes. 
 
 13. His royal highness George prince of 
 Wales visited the city. 
 
 20. His royal highness the duke of Cam- 
 bridge likewise honoured the city with his pre- 
 sence. 
 
 December. The season was marked by many 
 charitable distributions. ' 
 
 22. Intelligence arrived of the total defeat 
 of the French army in Russia, and the private 
 escape of Bonaparte to Paris. 
 
 1813. Jan. 16. A plan proposed for having
 
 107 
 
 evening service, on Sundays, at some of the 
 parish churches. 
 
 30. The evening lectures commenced at the 
 churches of St. Stephen, St. Andrew, and St. 
 Lawrence. 
 
 Feb, 2. The charitable Mr. Webb visited 
 the city and distributed a great deal of money 
 among the poor in small donations. 
 
 March. A new charity school established: 
 for the accommodation of the scholars it was 
 proposed to erect a gallery in St. Andrew's 
 church. 
 
 May 1. A great contest for mayor ; the elec- 
 tion continued two days, between John Harvey, 
 esq. and Jonathan Davey, esq. who had a ma- 
 jority of thirty-seven votes, but the court did not 
 return him. 
 
 22. The opinion of serjeant Lens was taken 
 on the case, who decided that alderman Harvey 
 was ineligible to the office, not being a resident 
 inhabitant of the city. No return was made at 
 this time. 
 
 28. The court of king's bench was moved 
 for a mandamus to elect a mayor. 
 
 June 7. The election took place : a sharp 
 contest between aldermen Leman, Davey, and 
 Harvey, the former of wljoni was chosen to the 
 office. 
 
 22. No guild-day sermon, procession, nor feast. 
 
 Sept. A large gallery erected in St. An- 
 drew's church 
 
 o *> 
 
 u .-
 
 108 
 
 18. The first returns made under the act of 
 parliament of corn and grain bought by the 
 millers and bakers. 
 
 26. Sermons preached this day in aid of the 
 church missionary society. 
 
 . S. D. 
 
 Morning St. Gregory's church 25 5 Of: 
 St. Peter's Hungate 19 1 11 
 
 Afternoon St. Lawrence 21 11 11^ 
 
 St. George's Colegate 22 8 1 
 St. Augustine's .... 10 9 5 
 
 Evening St. Andrew's 43 10 11| 
 
 St. Lawrence 30 15 6 
 
 Total collections 173 2 1H 
 
 2 
 
 29. The society held another grand meeting 
 at St. Andrew's hall ; the first characters in the 
 city and county, both clergy and laity, attend- 
 ing. In the evening a sermon was preached in 
 St. Andrew's church, and the sum of 44/. 13s. 
 10|d. collected. 
 
 30. A great meeting of the auxiliary bible 
 society at St. Andrew's hall. 
 
 Oct. b, 6, 7. A grand musicaj festival, at St. 
 Peter's Mancroft church in the mornings, and 
 at St. Andrew's hall in the evenings. , 
 
 Nov. 4. Intelligence received by a gazette 
 extraordinary of the total defeat of the French 
 under the command of Bonaparte, by the allied 
 armies, and of the surrender of Leipsic and 
 Bremen.
 
 109 
 
 14. Great rejoicings for the successes of the 
 British and allied armies ; a bullock, weighing 
 upwards of fifty-one stone, roasted in the mar- 
 ket-place, and distributed with large quantities 
 of bread and beer to the populace, followed by 
 a bonfire in the evening. Many public and 
 private dinners and other demonstrations of joy. 
 
 1814. Jan. 13. This day was observed as a 
 public thanksgiving to God for the late great 
 and splendid victories. 
 
 17. A great snow and very severe frost; the 
 navigation to Yarmouth stopped by the river 
 being completely frozen up. 
 
 21. Many of the roads wholly impassable 
 from the snow, which in some places was up 
 wards of twenty feet deep. 
 
 22. The portrait of Thos. Wm. Coke, esq. 
 M. P. for the county, painted by public sub- 
 scription, placed in the chamber of the grand 
 jury in the shirehall. 
 
 26. A meeting took place at guildhall to 
 consider of the best means of relieving the dis- 
 tressed inhabitants. Upwards of 800/. was 
 subscribed. 
 
 Feb. 1, 4. The most intense cold and severe 
 frost ever remembered. Liberal subscriptions 
 made for the relief of the poor, and visitors of 
 their distresses appointed in the several parishes* 
 
 April 5. Extraordinary rejoicings on account 
 of the allied armies having entered Paris. 
 
 8. The ground observed to be clear from 
 snow, having lain thirteen weeks and two days.
 
 110 
 
 9. News arrived of the final overthrow of 
 Bonaparte., and the prospect of an immediate 
 restoration of the ancient government of France. 
 
 29. The newly-erected organ in St. Ste- 
 phen's church opened with a performance of 
 sacred music. 
 
 May 2. A scrutiny on the election of a 
 mayor, between alderman Davey and alderman 
 Robberds. No return made at this time. 
 
 3. Pour thousand persons and upward as- 
 sembled in the market on a report that the 
 mayor had ordered it to be completely cleared, 
 and all the stalls to be removed, as for some 
 particular public purpose, which excited general 
 curiosity, but which turned out to be a hoax. 
 
 5. The new Baptists' chapel opened in Cole- 
 gate-street; said to have cost 3000/. in building. 
 
 14. Great dissatisfaction expressed among 
 the lower classes of people, respecting the bill 
 pending in parliament, to prohibit the importa- 
 tion of foreign corn. 
 
 i6. The news confirmed of the complete 
 restoration of the ancient royal family of France, 
 the accession of Louis XVIII. to the throne, 
 and the banishment of Bonaparte to the isle of 
 Elba. The emperor of Russia, the king ol 
 Prussia, and other the allied powers, daily e\- 
 .pected to arrive on a visit to this united kingdom. 
 
 June 16. Fresh mackerel were sold two for 
 a penny. 
 
 A general and splendid illumination upon the
 
 Ill 
 
 confirmation of the news of the general peace ; 
 the greatest taste, ingenuity, and variety was dis- 
 played by the inhabitants, each vieing to exceed 
 others in splendour and expressions of joy and 
 approbation of the unexpected termination of a 
 war which had continued more than twenty-two 
 years, and greatly injured the commercial in- 
 terests of the city. 
 
 22, 23, 24. A grand musical festival (in com- 
 memoration of the late great and glorious events), 
 at St. Peter's Mancroft church in the morning, 
 and St. Andrew's hall in the evening. Several 
 eminent performers from London attended on 
 the occasion, among whom was Madame Cata- 
 lani, of the king's theatre. 
 
 All parts of the kingdom expressing their joy 
 for the restoration of peace : in every town and 
 village festivals, public dinners, bonfires, illumi- 
 nations, treating the poor, and other demonstra- 
 tions of rejoicing, every town in Norfolk and 
 Suffolk vicing with each other in acts of liberali- 
 ty, hospitality, and public spirit. 
 
 27. Peace proclaimed with great solemnity, 
 the whole corporation attending. The procla- 
 mation was first made in the market-place, and 
 repeated at the following places, viz. St. Ste- 
 phen's corner, Timber-hill, Upper Close, Tomb- 
 land, Stump-cross, St Mary's plain, and Char- 
 ing-cross. 
 
 July 7. A general thanksgiving, by procla- 
 mation, for the blessings of peace. The cor-
 
 poration went in grand procession, to attend 
 public worship at the cathedral ; the poor chil- 
 dren of the national school were regaled in St. 
 Andrew's hall, many acts of public and private 
 benevolence, several public and private dinners, 
 ringing of bells, &c. 
 
 13. The clapper of St. Peter's tenor de- 
 tached from its hold (occasioned by the slipping 
 of the bolt), by which means that noble bell was 
 broken in pieces.
 
 113 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Of the Government of the City, Civil, Eccle- 
 siastical, and Military, Trade, Population, 
 Police, fyc. 
 
 THE city of Norwich, with the county of 
 the same, sends two representatives to 
 the imperial parliament, and its civil govern- 
 ment is vested by charter in a mayor, twenty- 
 three aldermen, two sheriffs., a recorder, high 
 steward, a chamberlain, a town clerk, who is 
 clerk of the peace, and sixty common council. 
 
 The representatives are elected by a majori- 
 ty of the freemen ; and the city and its liberty 
 being a county of itself, the freeholders enjoy 
 the same privilege, which greatly increases the 
 number of voters ; and there is no place in the 
 kingdom where the elections have been carried 
 on with more spirit, or more tenaciously disput- 
 ed. The sheriffs are the returning officers. 
 
 The aldermen are elected by the resident 
 freemen of the great ward (or fourth part of the 
 city) in which the vacancy happens, and the 
 election must take place within five days after 
 death or resignation. The alderman so elected
 
 114 
 
 is sworn into his office at the next court of 
 mayoralty, which he holds for life., except the 
 said court at any time should think proper to 
 accept his resignation. The aldermen are jus- 
 tices of the peace in the wards for which they 
 are chosen respectively, and have the style of 
 'worshipful. 
 
 The mayor is annually elected by the free* 
 men at large on the first day of May, and sworn 
 into his office on the guild-day (the Tuesday 
 preceding midsummer eve) ; the mode of elec- 
 tion is by nominating four of the aldermen who 
 have served the office of sheriff, and have not 
 been mayor for five preceding years ; the two 
 aldermen who stand the highest on the poll are 
 returned to the remainder of the court of alder- 
 men, who select one of them at their discretion, 
 but it is more customary to appoint the senior 
 alderman who has been sheriff and has not serv- 
 ed the mayoralty ; and if there be no alderman 
 in the court below the chair so qualified (as has 
 lately been several times the case), the senior 
 alderman above the chair is appointed. The 
 mayor is chief magistrate, has the style of right 
 worshipful, is justice of the quorum, not only 
 during his mayoralty, but ever afterwards ; he 
 is conservator of the peace of the city, county, 
 and river, holds the quarter sessions (with the 
 other aldermen), and is president of the court 
 of mayoralty ; the alderman who last served the 
 office of mayor is his deputy, and sits in his ab-
 
 115 
 
 sence. The mayor holds courts every Wednes- 
 day and Saturday at guild-hall, to hear com- 
 plaints and superintend the preservation of the 
 peace and government of the city. For the 
 support of his dignity, he is attended by a sword 
 bearer, two Serjeants at mace, and four beadles 
 (one of whom is bell-man or common crier), 
 and a special constable to execute his warrants ; 
 he has likewise under him the police of the city, 
 consisting of two coroners, a chief constable, 
 twenty-four petty constables, and the governor 
 or keeper of the city bridewell. 
 
 The two sheriffs are annually elected, one by 
 the court of aldermen, at some court between 
 midsummer and michaelmas, the other by the 
 freemen on the last Tuesday in August ; and 
 they are sworn into the office on michaelmas- 
 day. They hold courts in guild-hall, for trial 
 of actions of debt and trespass, and have each 
 an under sheriff, chosen by themselves, to assist 
 them in the return of the king's writs, in im- 
 pannelling juries, and other duty incidental to 
 their office. They keep the quarter sessions, 
 before the mayor and aldermen, on the Tuesday 
 before the Norfolk sessions, and have eight ser- 
 jeants or sheriff's officers, appointed by them- 
 selves, to execute their writs, and the gaoler or 
 governor of the city gaol to take the custody of 
 their prisoners. 
 
 The recorder (who is always a barrister at 
 law) assists in the mayor's courts, and quarter 
 P 2
 
 116 
 
 sessions, as chief judge. He is always a justice 
 of the quorum, and one of the counsel for the 
 
 city. 
 
 The high steward (who is also a barrister) 
 assists in the sheriffs' court as chief judge, in 
 the absence of the recorder; he is likewise jus- 
 tice of the quorum, and the other counsel for 
 the city. The recorder and steward hold their 
 offices for life. 
 
 The town clerk is clerk of the peace for the 
 city and county, and attorney for the city. 
 
 The chamberlain is treasurer and solicitor for 
 the city, and has an under chamberlain to assist 
 him in the execution of his office. 
 
 The town clerk, chamberlain, and sub-cham- 
 berlain, hold their places for life. 
 
 The common council are elected by the resi- 
 dent freemen of the four great wards respective- 
 ly, on the first four days of the week but one 
 before caster (called cleansing week.) By the 
 custom of the city, three nominees are elected 
 by the freemen for each ward, who chuse the 
 rest of their brethren ; the elections of these 
 nominees are usually contested with much vi- 
 gour. The common council so chosen are 
 sworn in on the 3d of May, and appoint one of 
 their body their speaker ; they are attended by 
 a beadle, who serves the speaker's summons and 
 keeps the door of the council-chamber. 
 
 The water bailiff is appointed by the mayor, 
 and acts as constable in preserving the peace on
 
 nr 
 
 Hie river, and apprehending persons guilty of 
 piracy, &c. thereon. 
 
 The chief constable is appointed by the court 
 of mayoralty, and the twenty-four petty consta- 
 bles, two for each ward, are appointed one by 
 the aldermen and the other by the common 
 council of the ward respectively. 
 
 As it has been customary in all places and 
 times to assign to magistrates and governors of 
 large and populous towns certain appropriate 
 habits, the 'better to distinguish them in their 
 offices, and to excite a greater degree of respect 
 and veneration towards their persons, the fol- 
 lowing habits are worn by the magistracy and 
 officers of this corporation, according to the 
 order of the court of mayoralty made in 1755. 
 
 The aldermen, on Sundays, great festivals, 
 and holidays, wear gowns of fine scarlet cloth, 
 faced with black velvet ; at other times gowns 
 of fine violet cloth, faced in the same manner. 
 
 The mayor, when he is sworn into office, has, 
 besides his gown, a robe or mantle, worn over 
 the left shoulder, composed of crimson silk, shot 
 with blue, which is called the cloak of justice,* 
 which he wears for life.f During his mayoralty 
 
 * I put on righteousness and it cloathed me ; my judg- 
 ment was a robe and a diadem. JOB xxix. v. 14. 
 
 f The mayor and justices wear the cloak of justice on 
 the following days, viz. the guild-day, christmas-day, 
 easter-day, whitsunday, the king's restoration, the king's 
 birth-day, the king's coronation, the king's accession, and
 
 he wears the gold chain and medal presented 
 by Mr. Matthew Goss in 1757. The old city 
 chain, purchased in 1715,, is worn by the deputy 
 mayor till the new mayor is elected, who then 
 puts it on and wears it till the guild-day. 
 
 The sheriffs appear in gowns of fine purple 
 cloth, faced with black velvet, except when the 
 aldermen are in violet, and then the sheriffs 
 appear in black; they likewise, during their 
 shrievealty wear about their necks the gold 
 chains given by Thos. Emerson, esq. in 1739; 
 and at assizes and sessions bear white wands. 
 
 On fast days the mayor is in purple, the al- 
 dermen and sheriffs in black. 
 
 The recorder and steward, on such days as 
 the cloaks of justice are worn, appear in gowns 
 of rich black satin, tufted with silk; at other 
 times in plain bar gowns. 
 
 The dress of the town clerk and chamberlain 
 is a black silk gown, tufted with silk. 
 
 The sword-bearer wears a black silk tufted 
 gown, and a hat of crimson velvet, embroidered 
 with gold, with strings and tassels of the same, 
 nearly of the form commonly worn in the time 
 of queen Elizabeth. On days when the cloaks 
 of justice are worn, he wears the cap of main- 
 gunpowder treason ; likewise on alt days of public thanks, 
 giving. At the assize sermon the mayor only. 
 
 N. B. The crimson velvet gown, given to the mayor by 
 lord Henry Howard in 1670, is, by length of time, fallen 
 into decay, and therefore disused.
 
 119 
 
 tenance, of grey fur, with gold strings and tas- 
 sels, which is exactly similar to that worn by the 
 sword-bearer of the city of London. 
 
 The common-council wear black gowns ; such 
 of them as have been sheriffs, violet ; the speaker 
 and coroner, black silk. 
 
 The sub-chamberlain and two Serjeants at 
 mace have black gowns ; the beadles blue coats, 
 of the fashion of queen Elizabeth's reign, and 
 silver badges, with the city arms. 
 
 The beadle to the commons a blue coat, with 
 gold lace. 
 
 The sheriffs' officers in liveries, according to 
 the pleasure of the sheriffs. 
 
 The city regalia consists of the following par- 
 ticulars : The sword of justice, borne, before 
 the mayor in all public processions.* King 
 Henry IV. with the charter first appointing a 
 mayor, gave the city a sword of state, and which, 
 by the said charter, is authorised to be borne 
 erect in the presence of the greatest men of the 
 realm, even the royal blood, saving only the pre- 
 sence of the king's majesty. 
 
 The blade is of fine polished steel, the pom- 
 mel and cross bar of silver gilt, the scabbard is 
 of crimson velvet, chapped with silver, richly 
 chased and gilt, f When the sword-bearer car- 
 
 * He beareth not the sword in vain, for be is the minis* 
 ter of God, a revenger, to execute wrath upon him that 
 doeth evil. ROMANS xiii. v. 4. 
 
 + There is a mourning scabbard, similar in its orna- 
 ments, but of black velvet instead of crimson.
 
 120 
 
 ries the sword before the mayor, he wears the 
 hat or cap of maintenance before described, and 
 is permitted to ride in the same carriage. IV. 
 this charter the mayor is authorised to have 
 borne before him any maces or other insignia 
 of authority, with the king's arms thereon, even 
 in the royal presence. * 
 
 The mace or sceptre, given by queen Eliza- 
 beth, is of chrystal, set in silver gilt ; and for 
 the beauty its workmanship is considered as a 
 great curiosity : it is designed as an emblem of 
 government, and is borne by the chamberlain 
 or sub-chamberlain, on such days only as the 
 cloaks of justice are worn. 
 
 Two large maces of silver, doubly gilt, are 
 borne in all public processions by the mayor's 
 Serjeants at mace ; one was given to the city by 
 lord Henry Howard, Jan. 5th, 1670; the other 
 was the gift of sir Robert Walpole, in 1734. 
 
 Four beadles' staves, with the heads of silver, 
 were given by St. George's company, A.D. 1 704 ; 
 the staffer mace, borne by the beadle before the 
 commons, handsomely painted, instead of that 
 given by king Henry V. to be carried before 
 the aldermen of St. George's company, and 
 now disused. 
 
 Twenty-four long painted staves, for the con- 
 stables of the several wards. 
 
 The two city standards, used only on the 
 
 J The sword now used was presented by die guild of 
 St. Gorge*s company, A. D. 1764.
 
 UN 
 
 guild-day, the first blue and silver, with the 
 figure of Britannia on it, is borne before the 
 commons; the second, of crimson and gold, with 
 the city arms, before the mayor and aldermen, 
 with proper habits and caps for the standard 
 bearers, corresponding with the standards. 
 
 The snap-dragon is the last remains of St. 
 George's company. This peculiarity to Nor- 
 wich guild, from length of time, .fell into decay ; 
 but a new one has been made, and was first ex- 
 hibited on the guild-day, 1795. 
 
 The arms of the city are, ruby, a castle, 
 triple towered pearl, below it, a lion of Eng- 
 land passant-guardant. carb. first added by king 
 Edward III. The supporters are two arch- 
 angels, with their wings expanded, proper: 
 and for the crest, the cap of maintenance. The 
 lower part is usually embellished with the sword 
 and maces, all proper. 
 
 The numerous poor of the city are governed 
 by the corporation of guardians, first incorpo- 
 rated A. D. 1711, which is composed of a go- 
 vernor, deputy governor, treasurer, auditor, and 
 clerk ; the mayor, sheriffs, recorder, high stew- 
 ard, aldermen, and common council for the time 
 being, and thirty-two guardians, annually elect- 
 ed ont of the inhabitants of the several parishes 
 of the city and hamlets, assisted by the church- 
 wardens and overseers of the poor of the several 
 parishes ; they have under them a beadle, an 
 assistant beadle, two visitors, the governor of 
 
 9
 
 122 
 
 the infirmary, and the governor of the work- 
 house. There are also four city surgeons and 
 one man midwife, to attend the poor when ne- 
 cessary. 
 
 The ecclesiasical government of the city is 
 under the lord bishop of Norwich,, who holds 
 his consistorial in the chapel of St. Mary the 
 Less, within the cathedral church. The several 
 parishes of the city and its liberty constitute the 
 deanry of Norwich, subject to the archdeacon, 
 who holds his court in the parish church of St. 
 Michael at the Pleas for the said deanry, four 
 parishes excepted,* which are the peculiars of 
 the dean and chapter, who hold their court in 
 Jesus' chapel, within the cathedral church. The 
 arms of the see are, top. three mitres string, 
 carb of the deanry, arg. a cross, sab. 
 
 T?he military government is regulated by the 
 lieutenant of the city and county of Norwich, 
 which is in the appointment of the king, and is 
 annexed to the lieutenancy of the county of 
 Norfolk, who appoints the deputy lieutenants 
 for the same. A great portion of the Norfolk 
 militia are raised in the city, besides the substi- 
 tutes procured for other places, whose good 
 conduct and discipline have gained them much 
 respect in his majesty's service. 
 
 * St. Mary in the Marsh, St. Paul, St. James, and the 
 hamlet of Pockthorpe (i. e. Little Thorpe), formerly of 
 the parish of St. William, and now united to St. James.
 
 123 
 
 The trade of the city lias for many years past 
 been very extensive in the worstead manufac- 
 tory, the staple commodities of which are crapes, 
 bombasins, and camblets, besides which da- 
 masks, satins, and alopeens were made in' great 
 abundance. To these has lately been added 
 the introduction of linen, cotton, woollen, and 
 gauze manufactories, in a very extensive degree, 
 as well as of shawls and a variety of fancy goods 
 of the same kind, for dress and furniture, which 
 give employment to a great number of ingeni- 
 ous mechanics, as do the iron founderies and 
 strong beer and porter breweries, which are 
 very extensive, and in which are brewed large 
 quantities of that excellent beer called nog, not 
 only for the consumption of the city, but of all 
 the neighbouring country. The staple manu- 
 facture is exported to Holland, Russia, Qstend, 
 Hamburgh, the Baltic, Spain, Portugal, Italy, 
 and the East and West Indies, Jn return, great 
 quantities of foreign merchandise are imported 
 at Yarmouth, to be sent to Norwich, the com- 
 munication being by barges called keels and 
 wherries, which navigate the river Wensum, 
 and are from twenty to sixty tons burden. The 
 importations are chiefly coals, Irish yarn, fish. 
 oil, and foreign wine. It has been supposed, 
 that within half a century last past, Norwich 
 has supplied the recruiting service for the army 
 and navy with ten thousand recruits, without 
 feeling any present inconvenience from the loss
 
 124 
 
 of such a number of the labouring hand; but 
 the really industrious seldom enlist. 
 
 The city is pleasantly situated nearly in the 
 centre of the county of Norfolk, in the latitude 
 of 52 deg. 42 min. N. 112 miles North-east from 
 London, in the midst of a fertile country., agree- 
 ably interspersed with delightful villas and gen- 
 tlemen's seats. The roads are spacious and 
 good, most of them being turnpikes, and the 
 magistrates of the present day will be entitled 
 to the thanks of posterity, for their attention to 
 every thing which can improve the appearance, 
 and contribute to the general welfare of the 
 city. The inhabitants in general are remarked 
 for their urbanity, hospitality, and the readiness 
 with which they contribute to all public and 
 private charitable institutions, the better classes 
 for their taste and munificence ; and greatly to 
 the credit of the lower classes, much less of that 
 inclination to Dissoluteness of manners prevails 
 among them than is usually found in large and 
 populous cities. So strict is the attention of the 
 magistrates, in checking in its earliest existence 
 the progress of vice and immorality, that the 
 execution of a criminal in thq city does not 
 occur for many years together; there have 
 ately been instances both at assizes and sessions 
 when not a single prisoner has appeared on the 
 calendar for trial. 
 
 The city contains within its liberty one ca- 
 thedral and thirty-eight parish churches, two
 
 125 
 
 foreign churches, two Roman catholic chapels, 
 three presbyterian, one independent, four ana- 
 baptist, three methodist, and two quaker's meet- 
 ing houses, three public halls, three common 
 prisons, eight public hospitals, eleven charity 
 schools, one dispensary, seven common bridges, 
 a theatre-royal and an assembly-house, horse 
 and foot barracks, 8396 houses, and above 
 37,000 inhabitants. 
 
 For the better conservation of the peace, the 
 city is divided into four great wards, called 
 Conisford ward, Mancroft ward, Wymer ward, 
 and the Northern ward: these are subdivided 
 into three smaller divisions, each of which is 
 under the jurisdiction of an alderman and two 
 constables. The streets are lighted by lamps 
 in the winter season. There are also firemen, 
 who are always ready in case of any accident 
 happening by fire ; and there are several en- 
 gines in the guildhall and parish churches, with 
 fire buckets and plugs, belonging to the water^ 
 works, which likewise supply the inhabitants 
 with water, brought to the houses by pipes laid 
 under the streets, in the same manner as the 
 new river water- works in London. The great- 
 est extent of the city within the walls, from the 
 north to the south, is about two miles ; and from 
 the west to the east, more than a mile. The 
 walls are said to include a space of more than 
 three miles in circumference, but the whole has 
 never yet been built upon, large portions of
 
 126 
 
 ground in the extremities next the walls being 
 kid out in gardens and orchards, which gives the 
 city a more rural appearance than many towns 
 of riot one quarter of its extent ; beside the large 
 open spaces of chapel-field and the castle- 
 ditches. The hamlets in the liberty without the 
 walls are very thinly inhabited., and extend 
 about a mile from the gates on the east and 
 north sides of the city, and two miles on the 
 sides of the south and west.
 
 127 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Contsford* Ward, with its Churches and other 
 Buildings, and its Hamlets, described. 
 
 BY reason of its great antiquity, this ward 
 claims the precedency, being the old 
 burgh of the castle, where the inhabitants first 
 settled themselves for the conveniency of fish- 
 ing, and in which the first public buildings were 
 erected. The street called King-street, next 
 the river., extends the whole length of this ward, 
 from south to north, and is a place of great re- 
 sort for all persons who do business in the craft 
 which navigate the river between Norwich and 
 Yarmouth, and carry to that place great quan- 
 tities of corn and other goods for exportation or 
 
 * Conlsford: some have derived it from Conesford 
 (i. e. Cowsforcl or Kinesford), being divided from Cowhoha 
 by a brook (now Stone-bridge), over which the cows 
 forded to that pasture long before the conquest. Others 
 have derived it from Coningsford (i. e. King's Ford), tho 
 lands on the south side of the brook being in the liberty 
 of the castle, which was the king's royalty or manor, as 
 that on the north side was the bishop's. If this be ad. 
 mitted, the modern name of King-street is certainly a very 
 appropriate appellation.
 
 128 
 
 the coasting trade, and return laden with coals 
 for the supply of the city and the neighbouring- 
 country. All goods for exportation are brought 
 here on carts, and put on board the keels or 
 barges, the east side of the street having several 
 convenient wharfs for that purpose. This great 
 ward is sub-divided into three small wards, called 
 South Conisford, North Conisford, and Berv 
 street. 
 
 SOUTH CONISFORD WARD 
 
 
 
 Contains three parishes, viz. St. Peter Southgate, 
 St. Etheldred, and St. Julian. 
 
 1.* ST. PETERf SOUTHGATE. 
 
 This church is a rectory, in the patronage of 
 the bishop of Norwich, in right of the lordship 
 of the abbey and convent of St. Benedict at the 
 Holm. It was founded before the year 1217, 
 and is a small building, consisting of a nave and 
 chancel, with a square tower, but meanly fitted 
 up. In the latter are three bells,, and on the 
 top is a tall shaft, with a vane resembling a drar 
 
 * The churches now in use are numbered, in order t 
 distinguish them from other religious buildings, the name* 
 of which will frequently occur in the course of this de- 
 scription. 
 
 i The first settlers here being fishermen, it is not won. 
 derful that one of the first.built churches should be dedi. 
 cated to their tutelar saint; ami the gild of St. Peter, or 
 the fishermen's gild, was anciently kept in it.
 
 129 
 
 gon. On the north side of the church is a small 
 transept or chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, 
 formerly used as a vestry. The inside of the 
 church contains nothing remarkable. The pa- 
 rish is small, and the revenues of the church so 
 inconsiderable, that divine service is performed 
 here only once a fortnight. 
 
 There is neither street nor lane in this parish, 
 except a small part of King-street, on the east 
 side of the church, and a steep winding passage 
 leading from the church-yard to Ber-street gate. 
 
 Opposite this church, on the east side of the 
 street, formerly stood St. Olave's chapel, which 
 was parochial before the conquest ; but being 
 consolidated to St. Peter's in the reign of 
 Edw. III. was pulled down before 1345, and 
 the parishes united. 
 
 On the south-west side of the church lie But- 
 ler's-hill, corruptly called Butter-hills, from John 
 le Boteler, who gave the hills to Carrow abbey, 
 long before the year 1500. These hills are 
 very steep and in some parts inaccessible. That 
 side of the hill bounded in by the city wall is 
 planted with trees, and was formerly called the 
 Wilderness, but is now a public garden, under 
 the name of Richmond-hill Gardens. 
 
 At the south end of King-street stood Conis- 
 ford gate, a small mean building, taken down in 
 1793. The city wall, from the gate to the river, 
 is in ruins : on the sides of the river stand the 
 remains of two towers, between which was for- 
 
 R
 
 130 
 
 merly the old boom or beam,, which went across 
 the river, and was placed there to stop vessels 
 till they had paid the toll of the river. The 
 tower on the west side of the river is in ruins, 
 but that on the east is in better preservation ; 
 in the inside are the remains of a staircase, and 
 on the summit three turrets, probably to fix fire 
 beacons upon to give light in the night to the 
 vessels coming up the river : the upper part is 
 going to decay. The city wall adjoining to the 
 gate is built upon on the outside, but it is pro- 
 bable the buildings will never be carried any 
 further, as the wall runs up the steep hills before 
 mentioned, and will for many years remain a 
 specimen of the ancient manner of civil fortifi- 
 cations. On the wall ascending the hill is a 
 tower, and on the summit stands the great black 
 tower, or the governor's tower, as it has been 
 sometimes called (and which might probably 
 be the residence of the military commander in 
 times when the city was besieged) ; from the top 
 of it is an extensive view of the country and 
 river, and the present proprietor has erected 
 an observatory. 
 
 Just without Conisford gate is situated the 
 hamlet of 
 
 CARROW,* 
 Or CarrOw abbey, formerly a nunnery and a 
 
 * Carrow, or Carboe, i. e. the hill by the carr's side; 
 hoc signifying a hill and carr a watering place.
 
 131 
 
 parish church, dedicated to St. James. The 
 nunnery was dedicated to St. Mary and St. 
 John, and was founded by two ladies named 
 Seyna and Leftelina, A. D. 1 146. It was richly 
 endowed by king Stephen, who settled upon it 
 all his then uncultivated lands lying 1 in the city. 
 At the general dissolution of monasteries, it 
 shared the fate of other religious houses, and 
 the parish was united to Lakenham. The site 
 of the abbey, which contained ten acres within 
 its walls, became private property, by grant 
 from king Henry VIII. The church dedicated 
 to St. James the apostle, and the hospital or 
 nunnery dedicated to St. Mary and St. John, 
 containing in the whole about ten acres, were 
 disposed of by the crown, and became private 
 property. King Stephen having annexed to 
 this nunnery the patronage of the churches of 
 St. Etheldred ai)d All-Saints, the right of pre- 
 sentation to them still remains in the proprietor 
 of this manor, of which little at present is re- 
 maining, except the house of the Rev. Mr. Wai- 
 pole. It was several years in agitation to erect 
 a bridge over the river at this place, but it was 
 a measure which met with much opposition ; it 
 was at last however carried into effect. On the 
 31st of May, 1809, an act of parliament was 
 passed for that purpose, and the foundation 
 stone thereof was laid by Thomas Back, esq. 
 mayor, the 26th of April, 1810. T^he bridge is 
 neatly constructed of stone and cast iron, in one 
 
 R 2
 
 arch, over the river, from whence a good car- 
 riage road has been made to communicate with 
 the Yarmouth road at Thorpe ; and it is proba- 
 ble the buildings will speedily increase, as the 
 situation by means of the bridge is very conve- 
 nient. The road here, turning to the west, falls 
 into the turnpike on Bracondale-hill. 
 
 2. ST. ETHELDRED'S* CHURCH 
 Is a small building, consisting only of a nave 
 
 * Saint Etheldred or Etheldreda, virgin, foundress and 
 first abbess of the monastery and abbey of Ely, daughter 
 of Anna or Annas, king of the East Angles, who kept his 
 court in the castle of Norwich, where most probably she 
 was born. Being solicited in marriage by Tombert, prince 
 of the Girvii, a people who inhabited what is now called 
 the Fens of Lincolnshire, her father settled on her the 
 whole of the isle of Ely, which Avas from that time held 
 by castle. guard service of him and his successors. The 
 lady went to reside with her husband at Ely, but in con. 
 sequence of a former vow of perpetual virginity, the mar- 
 riage was never consummated ; he therefore married ano- 
 ther wife, and Etheldreda founded the conventual church 
 of Ely, A. D. 673, of which she became the first abbess. 
 These meritorious acts were so highly thought of by the 
 church of Rome, that a few 3 ears afterwards she was ca- 
 nonized, and the day on which she died, October 17, sot 
 apart to her memory, as it stands at present in the calen- 
 dar. In 1081, Simeon, the ninth abbot, founded the new 
 conventual church, which Harvey, bishop of Bangor, con. 
 verted into a cathedral (as it still continues), and of which 
 he became the first bishop, A. D. 1109. King Henry I. 
 released the bishop from the services due to the crown, and 
 settled on him and his successors the government or lieu.
 
 133 
 
 and chancel and a south porch. The tower at 
 the west end is round at the bottom,, but octan- 
 gular in the upper part, and is no higher than 
 the nave,, though there is no doubt that it was 
 formerly carried to a considerable height ; at 
 present it is quite plain, and contains only one 
 small bell. The church withinside is neat and 
 convenient,, and is a rectory in the presentation 
 of the corporation of the city. Divine service is 
 performed only once in a fortnight. There is 
 no account when or by w r hom this church wa* 
 founded, although it may fairly be presumed to 
 
 tenancy of the whole isle of Ely, with the power of ap- 
 pointing all inferior magistrates and officers, and which 
 jurisdiction the bishops of Ely continue to enjoy to this 
 day. The shrine of the deceased St. Etheldreda attracted 
 many of the devout from all parts on the day of her festi- 
 ral ; and, as was the custom in those times, many chapmen, 
 brought different kinds of goods to dispose of, particularly 
 ribands and other haberdashery wares, which gave rise to 
 a large annual fair, still kept at Ely on the 17th of Octo- 
 ber. In the the broad provincial dialect of that time and 
 country, it was usually called St. Audrey's fair. The in- 
 sulated situation of the inhabitants made them glad of any 
 opportunity of purchasing those kinds of goods, of which 
 the merchants took advantage, and used to carry such as 
 were inferior in quality, knowing they would there find a 
 ready sale; and when any ribands or other articles of de- 
 coration were shewy and worthless, they used to say they 
 were ? Audrey ; that is, that they were fit only for St. Au- 
 drey's fair. The lordship of this fair was in the prior and 
 monks till the dissolution, and is now in the dean and 
 chapter of Ely.
 
 134 
 
 be one of the most ancient date in the city, 
 
 mention being made of it before the year 1272, 
 
 and it belonged to the prior and convent of 
 
 Norwich till the reign of Edward VI. by whom 
 
 it was settled on the corporation., as part of the 
 
 revenue of St. Giles's hospital. The parish is 
 
 very small., containing only a part of King-street 
 
 and the lane on the North side of the church. 
 
 It is said that many families of distinction had 
 
 formerly their city houses in this parish., viz. 
 
 Goosehill Hall, the dwelling of Sir Thomas de 
 
 Helgheton, knt. of Henry de Norwich, of the 
 
 abbot of Wymondham, of Sir James Hobart, 
 
 knt. of Sir Robert de Salle, killed by the rebels 
 
 in the reign of Edward III. no remains of any of 
 
 which are now existing. The ancient house, 
 
 known by the name of the music-house,, was 
 
 built before the reign of king John, probably 
 
 by Moses, one of the rich Jews who settled here 
 
 in the reign of William Rufus ; it afterwards 
 
 became the property of his grandson Isaac, at 
 
 whose death (probably on pretence of treason, 
 
 for the sake of his wealth) it escheated to the 
 
 crown. Henry III. gave it to Sir William dc 
 
 Yaleres, knt. and in 1^90 it was the residence 
 
 of Alan de Frcston, archdeacon of Norfolk, who 
 
 had a public chapel there for divine service; but 
 
 this being found prejudicial to the parish church, 
 
 by diminishing the voluntary offerings, it was 
 
 after his death quite disused. The house, in 
 
 1626, was the property of John Pastpn, esq. and
 
 135 
 
 in 1633 the city house of lord chief justice Coke. 
 It has for many years past been and still is a 
 public-house. 
 
 
 3. ST. JULIAN S* CHURCH. 
 
 This is the smallest building of any of the 
 churches in the city, and consists only of a nave 
 and chancel, the inside of which is however de- 
 cently furnished. To the west end adjoins the 
 tower, which is round from the bottom to the 
 top, battlemented, and adorned with a handsome 
 vane. Within it hangs one small bell, and on 
 the first floor is to be seen an empty coffin, 
 without a lid, but there is no tradition how it 
 came to be placed there. This church is a rec- 
 tory, but the augmentation of the living is so 
 small, that service is performed in it only once 
 in a fortnight. The foundation is very ancient, 
 supposed to have been before the conquest, from 
 which time till the reign of king Stephen, it was 
 in the patronage of the crown, but it was by 
 that prince settled, with the church of All-Saints, 
 on the abbey of Carrow, and the presentation 
 to it is still in the lord of that manor. The pa- 
 rish is small, and contains no buildings worth 
 notice. Part of King-street is comprehended in 
 it, with some of the adjoining lanes, which are 
 
 * St. Julian was a monk and confessor of the church of 
 Antiocb, who most probably suffered martyrdom A.D. 358. 
 He was commemorated in the ancient Latin calendar on 
 th 9th day of January.
 
 steep, narrow, and disagreeable ; it likewise in- 
 cludes the sites of the dissolved parish churches 
 of St. Edward, St. Clement, and- St. Ann, and 
 Hildebrond's hospital, no remains of any of 
 which are now extant, nor of an anchorage, 
 formerly situated between the church-yard and 
 King-street. 
 
 NORTH CONISFORD WARD., 
 4- ST. PETER PERMOUNTERGATE 
 
 Received that name from its vicinity to the an- 
 cient outward gate of the castle, near the foot of 
 the mount. It was originally built by Roger 
 Bigot, earl of Norfolk and governor of the 
 castle, by whom it was given to the prior and 
 convent of the cathedral church, and it is to this 
 day a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the dean 
 and chapter. In the year 1486 the prior and 
 convent pulled down the old church, and on its 
 site erected the present handsome and regular 
 building, consisting of a spacious nave and 
 chancel, with very fair windows ; there are no 
 pillars within the building,, but the pulpit and 
 reading desk, with the pews, are regular and 
 handsome ; the altar is very neatly fitted up, 
 and in addition to the ten commandments, lord's 
 prayer, and creed, the upper part is adorned 
 with an historical picture, painted and present- 
 ed by an inhabitant of this parish (not a profes- 
 sional man) in 1780 the subject is the crowing
 
 of the cock and St. Peter weeping ; it has been 
 allowed to be a good painting. The chapel of 
 St. Mary, which adjoins the east end of the 
 chancel., is now used as a vestry. The tower is 
 a square regular building of stone, surrounded 
 at the top with a battlement,, and has a small 
 vane. Within the tower are five bells and a 
 clock, with the dial on the east side, command- 
 ing the street. Divine service is performed 
 every Sunday, and there is an annual sermon in 
 the afternoon of the Sunday next before the 
 feast of St. Thomas, in commemoration of 
 Thomas Codd, esq. mayor of Norwich in the 
 reign of Edward VI. and a great benefactor to 
 this parish, at which the corporation attend as 
 the trustees of his several charities. Within the 
 chancel are several ancient monuments. The 
 parish is very extensive, and takes in all the 
 north end of King-street, with the several streets 
 or lanes called Common Pump-street (so named 
 from a public pump for the use of the inhabit- 
 ants, and to which adjoins the parish watch- 
 house), St. Faith's-lane, Rose-lane, a great part 
 of the Castle Meadow, and the two new-made 
 openings, one at Griffin-corner and the other at 
 Rose-corner ; at the former of which is the re- 
 gistry-office of the archdeaconries of Norfolk 
 and Suffolk. Within this parish are also the 
 sites of several religious buildings, long since 
 dissolved, viz. St. Michael's church, Austin Friars, 
 St. John the Evangelist, and St. Francis's 
 
 I
 
 138 
 
 church, in the convent of the Grey Friars or 
 Franciscans, no existing vestiges of any of which 
 are now to be traced, the parishes being united 
 to St. Peter's, as also that of St. Vedast or St. 
 Faith, in Rose-lane, near the site of which now 
 stands 
 
 COOKE'S HOSPITAL, 
 
 Founded and endowed by Robert and Thomas 
 Cooke, esqrs. brothers, and aldermen of the city. 
 It consists of two small ranges of alms-houses, 
 five on each side, with a yard in the middle, in- 
 habited by ten ancient women, either maids or 
 widows, who are required by the will of the 
 founders to have been for ten years previous to 
 their nomination inhabitants of the city, and to 
 have maintained a good character : they have 
 each a small weekly allowance for their support. 
 The lands eastward from this hospital, now 
 chiefly gardens, were the site of the dissolved 
 churches of St. Vedast, St. Cuthbert, and the 
 Grey Friars. This last was said to have been 
 a very noble building, 300 feet in length and 
 80 in breadth, with spacious cloisters and con- 
 ventual buildings, not a stone of which is now 
 remaining to mark out their situation. On the 
 south side of St. Faith's-lane was situated the 
 church and convent of the Augustine Friars, 
 which has likewise shared the same fate. The 
 premises are next the street, bounded by a wall, 
 and extend eastward to the river : they formerly
 
 139 
 
 went by the name of my Lord's Garden. The 
 church, which was said to be very grand, was 
 dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin and St. Augus- 
 tine, and likewise a chapel to our lady, called 
 Scala Coali, or the Steps of Heaven, much re- 
 sorted to in those times on account of the privi- 
 leges it enjoyed,, and of the pardons and indul- 
 gences granted to it. Between Rose-lane and 
 the river are the premises [called Vinegar-yard, 
 and also an extensive iron foundery ; adjoining 
 to which is 
 
 THE FOUNDERY BRIDGE, 
 
 So named from its situation. This is a neat 
 bridge over the main river, constructed chiefly 
 of timber, and forming one large arch. It was 
 founded by J. Davey, esq. alderman of the 
 city, the 6th of August, 1810, and soon after 
 opened for carriages, having a good road made 
 to communicate with the Yarmouth road on the 
 other side of the water. 
 
 Here is likewise a small brook, communicat- 
 ing with the river, which now terminates at 
 Stone-bridge. This was the ancient boundary 
 which separated the lands of the king; to the 
 south, and those of the bishop to the north of it. 
 Eastward of Stone-bridge is the old horse-fair, 
 or market for cattle, long since disused. 
 
 In this ward is also contained a part of the 
 parishes of St. George's Tombland and St. Mi- 
 chael at Plea, which constituted the parishes of 
 s 2
 
 140 
 
 St. Mary the Less, united to the latter, and 
 which will afterwards be noticed, and the St. 
 Cuthberts, at the north end of King-street, near 
 Tombland, which lias been demolished ever 
 since the year 1530; likewise part of the parish 
 of St. Albert, which will be spoken of when 
 we treat of the precincts of the cathedral. 
 At the south end of Tombland formerly stood 
 the water-house, a large building of red brick, 
 having a spacious reservoir for water on the 
 roof; it was taken down in 1786, and near 
 the same was erected a pillar or obelisk, con- 
 taining an hydraulic machine, which answers 
 the same purpose, namely, that of forcing the 
 water through the pipes to the highest part of 
 the city. On this spot anciently stood the chapel 
 of St. Michael, one of the first religious build- 
 ings erected in the city, founded by one of the 
 carls of the East Angles, when Norwich was 
 first inhabited. It appears to have been appro- 
 priated to the use of the bishops of the East 
 Angles, who had a house on Tombland before 
 the see was removed hither or the cathedral 
 founded; soon after it was pulled down, and 
 a stone cross erected on the spot ; a chapel 
 was also built on the summit of the hill without 
 Bishopsgate, and dedicated to St. Michael, by 
 bishop Herbert (who founded the cathedral), 
 in recompense for this chapel, which he had de^ 
 molished.
 
 141 
 
 BER-STREET* WARD. 
 5. ST. MICHAEL AT THORN 
 
 Received that name from being formerly sur- 
 rounded with a hedge or fence of thorns, a large 
 one still remaining near the west end of the 
 church-yard to perpetuate the appellation. The 
 building is ancient, being founded before the 
 conquest. The tower was built in 1430: it is 
 square, and contains three small bells; both it 
 and the church, ^hich is low and narrow, con- 
 sisting only of a nave and south porch, are all 
 very plain, and destitute of any ornament either 
 within or without. It is only considered as a 
 curacy, with a very small revenue ; service is 
 performed in it only once in a fortnight. The 
 presentation is in the Right Hon. Lord Suffield, 
 in right of Lady Caroline Harbord his wife, 
 which she inherits from her father the late Earl 
 of Buckinghamshire. This parish, owing to its 
 union with St. Martin in the Baily, is rather ex- 
 tensive, as it takes in a great part of Ber-street; 
 the lane by the church leading to King-street, 
 called Sandgate, or St. MichaePs-hill, being very 
 steep in the descent. The triangular piece of 
 
 * Ber-street, a contraction of Burgli High-street. This 
 being the principal street when Norwich was only a borough, 
 and it has been said was the first street that was built ; and 
 the direct way leading from the castle to the Roman camp 
 or military station at Caister.
 
 142 
 
 ground, bounded by the Rising Sun-lanes, was 
 the site of the church of St. Martin, in the baili- 
 wick of the castle, to which it was the parish 
 church, and was entirely exempt from all epis- 
 copal and archdeacon jurisdiction ; all per- 
 sons dying in the castle had a right of burial 
 here. In the year 1562 it was totally demolish- 
 ed, and the lead of the roof, with two bells in the 
 steeple, were sold by licence from Queen Eliza- 
 beth. The parish was united to St. Michael's, 
 and ever since the right of burial of persons 
 dying in the castle, and of criminals executed 
 there, has been conveyed to St. Michael's ; and 
 upon these melancholy occasions the bell of this 
 church is tolled. St. Martin's church had a 
 priory or house of friars attached to it, and also 
 a school, the scholars of which used to play upon 
 the little green adjoining, and which still re- 
 tains the name of Scole's (school) Green. 
 
 6. ST. JOHN OF TIMBERHILL, 
 
 So called from the timber market anciently 
 kept on the plain on the south side of the 
 church, consists of a nave, chancel, and two side 
 aisles, with chapels at their ends ; that on the 
 north was called our Lady's Chapel, part of 
 which now forms the vestry. The tower was 
 square, and had five bells ; it appeared to be in 
 a state of decay, and before any order was made 
 for its reparation, suddenly fell down on the 26th 
 of Aug. 1784, damaging the west end of the
 
 U3 
 
 church ; several of the bells were broken with 
 the fall : it has not been rebuilt, but the west 
 end of the church was repaired in a very proper 
 manner, with a new west window, over which 
 rises a neat turret, surmounted with a dome and 
 weathercock ; within is one small bell. The 
 inside of the church is neatly fitted up a brass 
 branch hanging in the centre; the altar has the 
 commandments, &c. with Moses and Aaron. 
 The plate is valuable and handsome. This 
 church was founded before the year 1494, and is 
 a perpetual curacy in the nomination of the dean 
 and chapter. Service is performed every Sun- 
 day, and the sermon called Hall's Lecture,* in 
 the afternoon on the Friday before the first Sun- 
 day in the months of February, June, and Octo- 
 ber. This parish comprehends the Golden Ball- 
 lane, lately opened and made a good street; 
 Timber-hill, properly so called; Hog-hill, (which 
 was the cattle market till it was removed to the 
 Castle-ditches; and Rochester-lane, the princi- 
 pal entrance to the Castle-ditches, which was 
 
 ' 
 
 * This lecture was founded iu 1715 by Thomas Hall, 
 esq. late of London, merchant, who was buried in the church 
 of St. George at Colegate. He left the interest of 200/. 
 yearly for its support: it is to be preached monthly in that 
 church, and any three others which the corporation, who are 
 the trustees, may think proper to fix. The preacher is to 
 be appointed by them. The subject of the lectures is the 
 sacraments of the church of England; and the preacher is 
 changed every year.
 
 144 
 
 opened and enlarged, and a good road made 
 cross the ditches to the new opening at the Grif- 
 fin corner, in 1792. This work was accom- 
 plished by public subscriptions. The late George 
 Eai 1 of Orford very liberally contributed, which 
 occasioned the new street to be called Orford- 
 street ; and this compliment has since been 
 extended to the whole hill, now called Orford- 
 Inll. 
 
 The Castle-ditches were confirmed to the 
 city by Edward III. in 1344. This was the 
 site of the two outward moats of the castle ; the 
 principal or first gate of entrance being where 
 Golden Ball-street now is : here was situated 
 the barbican with the watch-tower, and a bridge 
 over the outward ditch, within which was the 
 second ; here was also a bridge and a gate, the 
 foundations of which are still discernible: this 
 afterwards was the site of the ancient shirehouse, 
 which continued to be used till the old shirehouse 
 on the Castle-hill was first erected. It is now 
 the place of executing the city criminals: here 
 also stands the guard-house, formerly appropri- 
 ated as a depository for military stores. At the 
 North end a steelyard for weighing hay, on the 
 new principle, was erected when the hay-mar- 
 ket was removed hither in 1794. Here likewise 
 was kept the city ordnance, consisting of five 
 large iron cannon, which used to be fired four 
 times on the guild-day, also five small brass 
 pieces, which were discharged four times every
 
 145 
 
 guild, and on all state and holidays ; but these 
 customs have now been discontinued for nearly 
 thirty years, and the guns have since been re- 
 moved and sold The hay-market is kept every 
 day in the week (except Sunday); and there is 
 a great weekly market on Saturdays for cattle, 
 horses, sheep, swine, &c. and a fair yearly for 
 the same kind of stock on the Thursday be- 
 fore Easter. 
 
 7. ST. JOHN SEPULCHRE, 
 
 As it is commonly called, being dedicated to 
 St. John the Baptist; the holy sepulchre was 
 built in the reign of Edward the Confessor, and 
 continued private property till the year 1136, 
 when Eborard, bishop of Norwich, purchased 
 the advowson, and appropriated it to the cathe- 
 dral, as it to this day remains, being a perpetual 
 curacy in the nomination of the dean and chap- 
 ter, which, together with the other churches ia 
 their gifts, are attached to the minor canonries. 
 Divine service is performed every Sunday, The 
 church is built in the form of a cross, with two 
 transepts, one of which is converted into a fami- 
 ly seat and the other into a vestry. The tower 
 is lofty, and has within it a clock and five bells ; 
 on the summit is a plain battlement, with a vane 
 at one of the corners, and at another a small 
 lanthorn, containing the clock bell. The dial 
 is on the north side of the tower. This parish 
 is chiefly inhabited by butchers, the killing of
 
 146 
 
 beasts for the market being restricted to Ber- 
 street, the whole south part of which lies therein. 
 Finket-street, as it was anciently named, is now 
 called Church-street. Holgate and Skeygate 
 lead to King-street, but they are both steep, de- 
 YIOUS, and disagreeable ; in the former is the 
 burying-ground belonging to the Jews, in which 
 is a head-stone with an Hebrew inscription. St. 
 Bartholomew's church stood on the east side of 
 Ber-street, at the south corner of Skeygate, and 
 was appropriated to the priory of Wymondham, 
 on the dissolution of which, in 1549, it was de- 
 secrated, and the parish was united to St. John 
 Sepulchre, to which two bells and all the other 
 moveables were carried. Part of it is atill stand- 
 ing, being converted into an out-house ; the site 
 of the church-yard is wholly built upon. In 
 the centre of the street was formerly a large pit 
 of water and a common draw-well ; the first has 
 been filled up and paved over, and a pump 
 erected in the place of the latter. The street 
 terminated southward by 
 
 BER-STREET GATE, 
 
 One of the first which was erected. It consisted 
 of a strong arch, with a chamber over it for 
 the porter, aud was placed between two lofty- 
 towers. The whole was grown so ruinous, that 
 in the year 1726 it was taken down, and rebuilt 
 with red brick in a very neat manner. Over 
 the arch, in the inside, the city arms were
 
 147 
 
 placed, the south tower was entirely removed,, 
 and that on the north converted into a residence 
 for the keeper. When the gates were no longer 
 kept closed in the night, the office of keepers of 
 the several gates was discontinued. The tower 
 was then used for depositing military stores. 
 The arch was pulled down in ISO?, and not long- 
 after the north tower was demolished, and the 
 way laid open. 
 
 In the city wall, on the south side of the 
 church, were two towers. One of them, called 
 the Watch Tower, was loftier than any of the 
 others, and used anciently to exhibit lights. It 
 had been for many years in a state of decay, 
 when on Sunday, January 18, 1807, about noon, 
 it fell down, and also a great part of the wall, 
 with a tremendous crash, beating down with it 
 all the out-houses adjoining, by which four cows 
 were killed, but fortunately no person received 
 any injury. The ground has been since cleared 
 and built upon. From Ber-street gate is the 
 way to the following places : 
 
 Trowse road. Claxton 7 miles, Caiiton 8, 
 Ashby 8, Chedgrave 10, Loddon 10, Hecking- 
 ham 13, Norton Subcourse 14, Kirby Cane 13, 
 Beccles 18 ; Bixley 3, Great Poringland 4, Lit- 
 tle Poringland 5, Brooke 6, Kirstcad 7, Wood- 
 ton 10, Bedingham 12, Hedingham 12, Bungay 
 14, Halesworth 23. 
 
 Caister road. Caister St. Edmund 3, Stoke 
 Holy Cross 5, Shottishams 6, Hempnall 9, Pul- 
 T 2
 
 148 
 
 ham St. Mary Magdalen 16., Pulham St. Mary 
 the Virgin 17, Starston 18, Harleston 20, Al- 
 burgh 15. 
 
 Immediately without the gate is situated the 
 pleasant hamlet of 
 
 BRACONDALE,* 
 
 Which consists of a row of well-built houses, 
 one of which w r as honoured by the residence of 
 his royal highness William duke of Gloucester, 
 during the time he had the command of the 
 eastern district. Adjoining to one of the prin- 
 cipal houses is a square tower of red brick, with 
 a very handsome dial ; on the summit is a large 
 turret, wherein hangs a bell, on which the clock 
 strikes. Opposite, at the corner of the road 
 leading to Carrow bridge, formerly stood the 
 parochial chapel of St. Nicholas, of which not a 
 single stone remains. The parish has long been 
 united to Lakenham. 
 
 A little further lies the hamlet of Trowse 
 Millgate, the bridge at the extremity of which is 
 the boundary of the liberty of the city. To 
 this bridge the river is navigable for barges, and 
 about a mile to the east it unites with the prin- 
 cipal stream. Here formerly stood a stone 
 tower, to mark the limits of the city's jurisdic- 
 
 * Bracondale, anciently Brakendon, the brakey down 
 or hills, so called from the brakes with "which the hills 
 were formerly covered.
 
 tion, but it has long since been destroyed. Near 
 the bridge is a water-mill called Trowse Mill,* 
 the river continuing to be the city boundary 
 from hence to 
 
 8. LAKENHAM,f 
 
 A vicarage in the nomination of the dean and 
 chapter. The church stands on the hill, not far 
 from the river, and is dedicated to St. James the 
 apostle. It consists of a nave and chancel, has 
 a square tower, containing three small bells, and 
 is ornamented with a vane. Divine service is 
 performed in it every Sunday. Near the church 
 is a bridge over the river, built of stone, with 
 three arches, and a water-mill. The parish is 
 extensive, comprehending all the lands formerly 
 called Tuck's Wood. Here was a charter for a 
 fair yearly on Lammas day, but it has for many 
 years been discontinued. A small street of 
 mean houses, near the church, constitutes the 
 inhabited part of the parish. The manor-house 
 
 * The rest of the parish, called Trowse Newton, lies in 
 the county of Norfolk. The church stands just over the 
 bridge, on the right hand; the tower is square, with a 
 clock and one bell. The organ was built and erected by 
 .Mr. Edward Whetstone, parish clerk, at his own expence, 
 about the year 1794. The church is a vicarage, in the 
 presentation of the dean and chapter, aud has service 
 every Sunday. 
 
 i The feamlet by the side of the lake.
 
 150 
 
 js an elegant modern building. In the extremi- 
 ty of the parish, at the intersection of the two 
 great roads, are situated Hertford bridges, where 
 the river divides the liberty of the city from the 
 county. These were formerly only foot-bridges ; 
 the cattle fording through the water, occasioned 
 the place being called Herdford. The bridges 
 arc now substantially built of stone. North of 
 the bridges are two cottages, fronted with stone 
 in the gothic taste,, which have a good effect; 
 but the greatest improvement to the road was 
 that of easing the sharp descent of the hill, by 
 taking away the steepest part of it. This work 
 of public utility was effected by voluntary sub- 
 scription about the year 1804, by the exertions 
 of Mr. D'Oyley, a clergyman, who solicited do- 
 nations over a very large tract of country for 
 this and similar improvements. 
 
 Returning to Ber-street, we next notice ano- 
 ther improvement, made in 1793, by taking 
 down a part of the city wall near St. John's 
 church, and making a good passage for car- 
 riages. Here begins the New Buckenham turn- 
 pike, communicating with the following towns : 
 Mulbarton 5 miles, Bracon Ash 6, Hethel 7, 
 Ashwellthorpe 9, Tacolneston 10, Carlton Rode 
 12, Forncett 11, New Buckenham 15, Old 
 Buckenham 16, Winfarthing 18, Shelfanger 
 19, Diss 22, Kenninghall 19, Harling 20. 
 Immediately within this opening formerly
 
 151 
 
 stood the church of St. Catherine* or St. Winc- 
 waloy.f This parish being depopulated in the 
 great pestilence, 1349, the church was dissolved, 
 and the parish has ever since remained united 
 to St. Stephen. In the city wall adjoining was 
 a tower called the Broad, which might probably, 
 in the times of defence, have been used for an 
 arsenal. The remains of it are scarcely visible, 
 the wall on the outside being wholly built upon. 
 The way on the north side was called St. Cathe- 
 rine's-street, and now St. Catherine's-hill. Here 
 are two passages leading into Ber-street, in one 
 of which is situated 
 
 THE NEW METHODISTS' CHAPEL. 
 
 The congregation are seceders from the con- 
 nection of the late Rev. John Wesley, but use 
 the same forms of worship. This chapel is a 
 neat building of about twenty years standing, 
 and is open three times every Sunday and seve- 
 ral evenings in the week. 
 
 9. ALL SAINTS' CHURCH 
 
 Was a rectory in the patronage of the crown 
 till king Stephen settled it with St. Julian's upon 
 Carrow-abbey ; it is now in the gift of Samuel 
 
 * St. Catherine, princess of Alexandria, and martyr 
 A.D. 205. Her festival is still marked in the calendar, 
 Nov. 25. 
 
 t Commonly called Winal, who was formerly com- 
 memorated March 3.
 
 152 
 
 Thornton Astell, esq. in the right of his lordship 
 of the said manor. The church consists of a 
 nave, chancel, north aisle, and south porch. 
 The tower is square and plain, with a vane : it 
 contains three bells. The inside is neatly fitted 
 up, and has a branch of brass, and some good 
 communion plate, particularly a cup, given by 
 alderman Atkinson, who was mayor in 1702. 
 West of the church is All-Saints'-lane ; and on 
 the south a wide plain called All-Saints'-green, 
 formerly the swine-market, and the most ancient 
 market for cattle in the city : here was a large 
 piece of water called Jack's-pit, long since filled 
 up, and now partly built upon. Southward the 
 street w r as called Newgate-street, from its lead- 
 ing to the new gate, "which was the last erected 
 of any of the city gates, the distance between 
 Ber-street and St. Stephen's gates being found 
 too long; this gate afterwards obtained the 
 name of Brazen-doors ; at first only a postern, 
 afterwards a large red building, battlemented at 
 the top, having a wide arch with a chamber 
 over it for the keeper. In 1793 it was pulled 
 down. The street has received the name of 
 Rodney-street. Part of the city wall, a little to 
 the east of this gate, in 1770, suddenly fell 
 down, involving two newly-erected houses in 
 the ruins, but no person received any hurt. 
 Without the gate is a road, which at a little dis- 
 tance falls into the great London road. Here 
 i$ a private asylum for lunatics. The way
 
 153 
 
 under the wall leading to St. Stephen's gate is 
 called the Mews. 
 
 Having thus concluded our survey of Conis- 
 ford ward, we have only to remark, that it re- 
 turns twelve members to the common council 
 chamber, annually elected on the Monday in 
 the fifth week in Lent* 
 
 MANCROFT WARD. 
 
 This ward is not subdivided, as the rest., into 
 small wards, but into three large parishes, be- 
 ing the most extensive and populous of any 
 within the city, viz. St. Stephen, St. Peter, and 
 St. Giles. 
 
 ST. STEPHEN, 
 
 Anciently called Needham, from an infirmary 
 or poor-house founded here for all the sick 
 and needy within the fee of the castle, long 
 before the conquest, and to which the original 
 church served as a chapel. The patronage be- 
 ing then in the crown> it was given by Henry I. 
 and confirmed by Henry II. to the prior and 
 convent of the cathedral and about that time 
 it may be presumed the present regular and 
 elegant church was erected. It is a perpetual 
 curacy, in the presentation of the dean and 
 chapter. The church consists of a nave, with 
 two side aisles, much admired for the lightness 
 of its construction and the slenderness of its pil- 
 lars. The best view of the outside is from the
 
 154 
 
 south-west corner of the church -yard, which was 
 enlarged and consecrated by the present arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury, then bishop of Norwich, 
 in 1793. On the summit of the west end was a 
 beautiful gothic lanthorn of stone, in which the 
 saint's bell hung, but falling into decay, it has 
 lately been taken down. The inside of the 
 church is pewed with the utmost regularity ; a 
 brass branch hangs in the centre; the pulpit, 
 reading-desk, and the altar, are modern and 
 elegant. The ten commandments are of oiar- 
 ble, neatly carved and gilt; and the east 
 window has been repaired with painted glass ; 
 in the centre is a figure of St. Stephen. In the 
 large west window are coats of arms. The or- 
 gan is neat and fine toned ; it was erected, to- 
 gether with the gallery it stands on, by a volun- 
 tary subscription of the inhabitants of this pa- 
 rish, in the year 1814. Here are several good 
 monuments, particularly one on the south side 
 of the altar, to the memory of the lady of aid, 
 Robert Harvey, jun. At the east end of the 
 south aisle is the chapel of St. John and St. 
 Mary Magdalen* now used as a vestry. The 
 east end of the north aisle was called Brazier's 
 Chantry, or our Lady's Chapel. On the north 
 side of the north aisle is a small chantry or cha- 
 pel, now converted into pews ; the upper part 
 is a gallery, on the front of which is an elegant 
 dial. In the lower part of this chapel were for- 
 merly held the courts of the chancellors of Nor-
 
 155 
 
 \vich and of the archdeacons of Norfolk. On 
 the same side of the church stands the tower, 
 which is square, and much inferior to the other 
 parts of the building ; it is without any orna- 
 ment, except an upright shaft with a vane. 
 There were formerly within it six bells, at pre- 
 sent there is only one and the saint's bell. Di- 
 vine service is performed twice every Sunday, 
 and prayers on Wednesdays, Fridays, and ho- 
 lidays. 
 
 This large and populous parish extends from 
 the city wall by the west side of Chapel Field- 
 house, taking in Chapel Field-lane, Rampant 
 Horse-street, Gun-lane, Briggs'sMane, Wastle- 
 gate, Red Lion-street, St. Stephen's-street, Sur- 
 rey-street, and the London road without the 
 gate; also several particular buildings, among 
 we shall notice 
 
 CHAPEL FIELD-HOUSE, 
 
 Originally an hospital, and perhaps the prin- 
 cipal of several in this part of the town, from 
 which this parish obtained the name of Need- 
 ham. It was founded before the year 1250, by 
 
 * Briggs's.lane took its name from Augustine Briggs, 
 esq. mayor in 1G70, who was proprietor of the greatest 
 part of it, and by whom it probably was rebuilt. It is in- 
 tended to take one side of it down in order to make a wide 
 street ; an improvement greatly to be desired. More than 
 700/. has already been subscribed for that purpose, through 
 the efforts of Mr. D'Oyley. 
 
 u 2
 
 156 
 
 John Le Bmn, a priest, one of the Normans, 
 who were settled here at the conquest. By 
 numerous liberal benefactions it became a 
 noble college, consisting of a dean and ten 
 dignitaries, beside a great number of infe- 
 rior priests and lay brethren. The dean was 
 collated by the bishop of the diocese. The 
 founder was the first dean, and his successors 
 uninterruptedly enjoyed that dignity till the 
 general dissolution of religious houses. The 
 liberties of the college, which were very exten- 
 sive, were at that time granted to the city. The 
 church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, by 
 the name of St. Mary in the Fields ; it was a 
 noble structure, adorned with all the pomp of 
 monkish magnificence; but not a single trace 
 of it can now be discovered. At the dissolution 
 it was granted by Henry VIII. to Miles Spen- 
 'cer, the last dean ; and for some years it conti- 
 nued in his family, by whom it descended to 
 the Cornwallis's, and was afterwards purchased 
 by the noble family of Hobart, created earls of 
 Buckinghamshire, in the reign of George II, 
 The present proprietors purchase^} ty of the 
 earl, and on its site is erected 
 
 THE ASSEMBLY-HOUSE; 
 
 An elegant modern building of red brick, 200 
 feet in length, consisting of two handsome 
 rooms, fitted up in a style of much elegance as 
 well as convenience ; the partition between them
 
 157 
 
 is so contrived that it may be occasionally 
 removed, and the two rooms laid into one, 
 thereby forming a ball-room exceeded by few 
 in the kingdom. The cielings are of very neat 
 stucco work., from which are suspended several 
 chandeliers of cut glass, with corresponding lus- 
 tres on the sides of the room. The other parts 
 of the house are disposed into smaller rooms for 
 card parties, &c. In the front is a spacious 
 vestibule, and on the back part of the building 
 a recess, in which is a refectory, where wines, 
 tea, coffee, &c. are distributed to the company. 
 Here are assemblies on the guild-day, in the 
 assize and sessions' weeks, &c: which are ho- 
 noured with the presence of the families of the 
 first distinction in Norwich and Norfolk, like- 
 wise monthly assemblies, balls, concerts, &c. 
 Public dinners are sometimes given in this 
 house, and the guild feasts have occasionally 
 been kept here. 
 
 A fair for horses was anciently held in the 
 street by the church, where is now the inn 
 called the Rampant-horse, from which the street 
 receives its name, 
 
 A triangular pile of buildings, by the common 
 sewer, near Briggs's-lane, were called Wastle- 
 gate. 5 ^ This was the most ancient brewery in 
 
 * Some have derived Wastlegate from the white bread 
 market ; others from strong drink, probably on account 
 $f the brew-house, when first erected here. 
 
 "The king doth wake to-night, and takes his rouze; 
 " Keeps Wassail." SJIAKESPIARE.
 
 158 
 
 / 
 
 the city; it was afterwards a workhouse for the 
 poor of this parish, and continued so till the 
 whole city w r as united by the act of the 9th of 
 queen Anne. 
 
 Surrey-street is one of the best in the city, 
 and received its name from the palace of the 
 carls of Surrey, which formerly stood on the 
 north side of it, and w r as called Surrey -house. 
 Some of the best private buildings in the city 
 are in this street. Here is kept the register 
 office of the archdeacon of Norfolk. 
 
 The principal street, formerly called Need- 
 ham and now St. Stephen's-street, is a place of 
 the greatest traffic in the whole city, being the 
 entrance from London, &c. This street has 
 lately been very much improved. 
 
 On the 20th of April, 1807, the first stone of 
 the new pavement of the city was laid on the 
 spot where formerly stood 
 
 ST. STEPHEN'S GATE, 
 
 The principal of all the city gates, which was a 
 large building, in the most gloomy style of an- 
 cient fortification ; it consisted of a gothic arch 
 of stone ; over it was a chamber, which had for- 
 merly been an hermitage, and afterwards a cha- 
 pel ; on the sides were two lofty towers, square 
 on the inside next the street, and round on the 
 outside towards the country; the western tower 
 had a postern, used as a footway for passengers. 
 The whole was surrounded with battlements 
 and enlightened with embrasures ; the crown
 
 159 
 
 of the arch, on the side next the city, was orna- 
 mented with the city arms, sword, maces, &c. 
 In the reign of Henry VI. an order of court was 
 made, that every new mayor, within one month 
 after his taking upon him the said office, shall 
 publicly ride round the city walls, both with in 
 and without, and carefully inspect the gates and 
 towers, and where any part shall be found de- 
 fective, shall give orders for its immediate re- 
 paration, and shall take care that the pomae- 
 rium, or way under the wall, be kept clean and 
 open, and no buildings be suffered to be erected 
 on or near the walls or gates. The latter were 
 closed in the night by strong doors and a port- 
 cullis. 
 
 In Henry Vlllth's reign the toll at this gate 
 was let for the yearly rent of II. 2s. 8d, The 
 gate was kept in good repair till the year 1793, 
 when (with several others) it was pulled down 
 and the way laid open. 
 
 The outside of the walls was surrounded with 
 a wide ditch or fosse, which is still remaining in 
 some places; from the inequality of the situa- 
 tion there never could be much water in it; the 
 only part now containing any is on the west lide 
 of this gate, where there is a pit, called St. Ste- 
 phen's-pit ; but this is considered as a nuisance, 
 and it is intended that it should be filled up. 
 The outside of the wall from hence to St. Giles's 
 gate is but little built upon, and is the most per- 
 fect of any 'part now remaining.
 
 160 
 
 Immediately without the gate, on the east 
 side of the road, is a public-house and rural 
 ji-arden, called Ranelas'h : it contains several 
 
 O y O. * 
 
 acres of ground, and is laid out in long gravel 
 walks, shaded by lofty trees, to which lamps of 
 different colours are affixed, and when lighted 
 in the evening, they produce a pleasing effect. 
 The walks are terminated by different devices,, 
 transparencies, &c. The first entrance of the 
 garden is laid out in grass plats, surrounded by 
 covered boxes for the accommodation of the 
 company. In the front is a raised orchestra, 
 very tastefully decorated ; likewise a mount, with 
 an artificial grotto, from whence fire-works are 
 displayed on gala nights, and a large room for 
 dancing, &c. also a spacious building, on an oc- 
 tangular plan, called the Pantheon, where con- 
 certs are performed. The public nights are the 
 king's birth-night, the guild-night, and every 
 evening in the assize-week, with public break- 
 fasting, music, and singing in the morning, 
 when there is usually a great deal of company, 
 the price of admission being very moderate. 
 
 The street without the gate is composed of 
 modern well-built houses. On the west side is 
 situated 
 
 THE NORFOLK AND NORWICH HOSPITAL. 
 
 This great ornament of the city and * county, 
 founded in the year 1771, was begun, complet- 
 ed, and is still supported by voluntary contribu-
 
 161 
 
 tions: since its opening above 30,000 patients 
 have been admitted, of which number more than 
 20,000 have been cured, and upwards of 4000 
 otherwise relieved. The government of this 
 hospital is vested in a committee of the subscri- 
 bers, who meet every Saturday, at eleven o'clock 
 in the forenoon, to transact the necessary busi- 
 ness : they have the appointment of a treasurer, 
 three physicians, three surgeons., an assistant, a 
 secretary, an apothecary, who resides in and 
 rules the house, with the assistance of a matron. 
 The average number of patients is about 300. 
 Days of admission for recommended cases are 
 Saturdays, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, 
 but accidents and casualties are received at all 
 times. Here is likewise a dispensary, open 
 every Tuesday, at eleven o'clock in the fore- 
 noon, for such out-door patients as are recom- 
 mended by the subscribers. The public day is 
 the Thursday in the assize week, when the an- 
 nual sermon is preached at the cathedral, and 
 the new stewards are appointed. This hospital 
 is built of red brick, in the form of the Roman 
 letter H, the rooms are spacious, and well en- 
 lightened by large sash windows. Over the hall 
 or entrance is a large room where the commit- 
 tee meet, and which also serves as a chapel. On 
 the west side is a spacious garden, the whole 
 surrounded by a brick wall. On the front or 
 cast side is an open court, with palisades and 
 two gate* of cast iron. 
 
 x
 
 162 
 
 A little to the south of the hospital is situated 
 the Town Close : this was the ancient fee-farm 
 and common pasture of the city, and for many 
 years was open from this place to Hertford 
 bridges, but is now inclosed, and a handsome 
 house and premises erected upon it. It is let 
 by the corporation, and the rent is annually 
 distributed among- the freemen. Here the road 
 is divided into two branches ; that to the east 
 leads directly to Hertford bridges, and has of 
 late years been greatly improved, particularly 
 by levelling a very sharp descent, about half a 
 mile from the bridges. Opposite the Town 
 Close is a beautiful house, in the cottage style, 
 with extensive gardens ; next to which is a pub- 
 lic-house and pleasure garden, known by the 
 sign of the King of Prussia ; adjoining are 
 very extensive nursery grounds, bounded on 
 the south by a cross road leading to Laken- 
 ham; opposite to which is another cross road 
 leading to Mile-end ; a large farm occupies all 
 the rest of the land, as rar as the boundary. 
 Here the river, being parted into two streams, 
 forms a small island, through which the road 
 passing, occasions a necessity for two bridges ; 
 that to the south being the extent of the boun- 
 dary, which is continued with the river from 
 hence to Eaton. From Hertford bridge the 
 road is turnpike the whole way to London, 
 which it enters by way of Stratford Bow and 
 Whitechapel at Aldgate.
 
 163 
 
 To Long Stratton 10 miles, Dickleburgh 17, 
 Osmondeston otherwise Scole 20, Stonham 32, 
 Ipswich 43, Neodham Market 40, Copdock 45, 
 Stratford 52, Colchester 59, Kelvedon 69, Wit- 
 ham 73, Chelmsford 81, London 112. 
 
 The road on the west side of the Town Close 
 is also a turnpike to London, entering- at Bishop- 
 gate. That part of it which lies in the county 
 of Norfolk is said to have been the first turnpike 
 road ever made by an act of parliament. Mile- 
 end is a single house, built in a modern and 
 genteel style. A little more than a mile farther 
 is situated the village and hamlet of 
 
 EATON;* 
 
 Which consists of a small street of houses, OR 
 the east side of which, in a low meadow, is si^ 
 tuated the parish church, dedicated to St. An- 
 drew ; it is of very ancient foundation, and wai 
 a rectory in the gift of the bishop of Norwich 
 till the year 1204, when bishop De Gray appro* 
 priated it to the sacrist of the cathedral, with 
 whom it remained till the reformation, and it 
 has ever since been a perpetual curacy, in the 
 nomination of the dean and chapter. The 
 church and chancel are very mean buildings; 
 the tower is square, surrounded with a battle- 
 ment, with a shaft and vane ; it formerly con-? 
 
 * Sometimes formerly wrote Aietune, or Ettune (prob.i. 
 bly for Eautune, Norman French), the town by th water 
 
 x 2
 
 164 
 
 t&incd three bells,, but now only one. Divine 
 service is performed here weekly, Eaton hall, 
 a large handsome modern building', is the seat 
 of Jonathan Davey, esq. an alderman of the 
 city. On the descent of the hill leading- into 
 the town, the city and county assizes always 
 commence, by the sheriffs of the county and 
 city, with all their retinue, receiving the judges, 
 and escorting them in a grand cavalcade from 
 this place to the several courts of judicature. 
 
 The southern boundary of this parish termi- 
 nates the liberty of the city at Eaton bridges,* 
 the first of which is of stone, with two arches*, 
 the second is of brick ; the river continuing the 
 boundary of the city from this place to Earlham. 
 
 On this great road to London are situated the 
 following towns: Hetherset 5 miles, Wymond- 
 ham 8, Attleburgh 16, Thetford 29, Barton 
 Mills 39, Newmarket 50, Cambridge 62, Bourn 
 Bridge 6J, Hockeril 81, Epping 94, and Lon- 
 don 109. 
 
 12. ST. PETER'S MANCROFT CHURCH 
 
 Is the largest and best parish church in the city, 
 of which this is the principal parish. In the 
 beginning of the reign of Edward the Confes- 
 sor, this parish was a wide open field, called 
 
 * Ta Eaton bridges joins the parish of Cringleford, con- 
 taining a large water-mill on the stream and several good 
 houses; the church stands on the brow of the hill, and is 
 a small neat building, with a plain square tower.
 
 1G5 
 
 Mancroft,* which soon afterwards began to be 
 inhabited, probably by the attendants belonging 1 
 to the castle, to which it then appertained, being 
 in the conqueror's survey owned and held by 
 Jlalpho de Waict, or Guader, earl of Norfolk, 
 then constable of the castle, who surrendered it 
 into the king's hands, to make the new burgh, 
 which contained the parishes of St. Peter and 
 St. Giles. The said Waiet founded a church, 
 and dedicated it to St. Peter and St. Paul, as a 
 place of worship for the inhabitants newly set- 
 tled here, and gave the same to his chaplains ; 
 on his rebellion, it was forfeited to the king, who 
 gave it to one of his own chaplains, of the name 
 of Wala, it being then worth 31. per annum.f 
 
 By Wala it was (with the approbation of the 
 king) given to the abbot and monks of the ca- 
 thedral church of St. Peter, at Gloucester, of 
 whom Wala became one, but William Turbus, 
 bishop of Norwich, would not consent to its 
 being appropriated to a distant monastery; it 
 how ever continued a rectory in the presentation 
 
 * Mancroft, q. d. Magna Crofta, the great croft belong- 
 ing to the castle, on the outward western ditch of which it 
 abutted. Crofta, or croft, signified a close adjoining to a 
 mansion-house, from the old English word craeaft, skill, 
 because such grounds were cultivated for the use and or- 
 nament of the domain, while the lands lying more remote 
 were not so much attended to. 
 
 + Before this gift, the chaplain paid an ounce of gold 
 yearly to the sheriff, of which tax it may now be supposed 
 to have been discharged.
 
 166 
 
 t)f the said abbot and monks till 1383, when it 
 was appropriated to the college of St Mary in 
 the Fields; on the dissolution of which house in 
 1545 it fell into the king's hands. In 1552 Ed- 
 ward VI. gave it to the manor of East Green- 
 wich, in Kent, and it continued in the presenta- 
 tion of the lords of that manor till 1581, 
 when the presentation was purchased by the 
 parishioners, and it has ever since remained an 
 elective perpetual curacy in the nomination of 
 the inhabitants of the parish, or the majority of 
 them. 
 
 Besides the minister, there is also a lecturer or 
 assistant minister, who was first appointed by the 
 parish in 1595., and ever since continued, so that 
 there are two sermons preached every Sunday, 
 Originally the minister performed service every 
 Sunday morning, and the lecturer in the after- 
 noon, as in London ; but at present the two 
 ministers officiate morning and afternoon alter- 
 nately. The upper minister reads prayers on 
 the festivals and fasts, and takes the parochial 
 duty, and surplice fees during the two first 
 months, and the assistant minister during the 
 last month of each quarter. There is likewise 
 a reader of daily prayers, first established in 
 1680, and supported by subscription of the in- 
 habitants of the parish. Here is also a sermon 
 preached every Tuesday morning by the upper 
 minister, and a sermon on the feast of St. John 
 the Evangelist, in the afternoon, founded by
 
 167 
 
 Mr. John Blackhead, in 1651. Mr. Hall's lec- 
 ture is likewise preached once in four month*., 
 viz. in March, July, and November. 
 
 In 1430 the old church was pulled down, 
 and the present regular and beautiful structure 
 erected, which was finished and consecrated in 
 1455 ; it is built of white stone, in the form of 
 a cross, and consists of a nave 150 feet in lene:th 
 
 a 
 
 and 60 feet in height, with north and south 
 aisles, each 120 feet long, and the two transepts 
 13 feet by 15, besides two porches, and a 
 large building adjoining to the east end of the 
 church, called the old vestry, with a chamber 
 over it called the treasury, and under it an arch, 
 now used as a wine vault. 
 
 The inside of this beautiful church is much 
 admired for the lightness of its construction, the 
 slenderness of its pillars, and the number and 
 size of its windows. The pews are regular and 
 uniform, being mostly of wainscot, and the pul- 
 pit, which stands on the south side, is remarka- 
 bly handsome. Opposite the pulpit is a seat for 
 the corporation when they attend divine service 
 here, with sword and mace-irons, decorated 
 with arms, inscriptions, &c. The high altar 
 is very advantageously situated on an emi- 
 nence, under which is a large arch, formerly a 
 common passage, but now stopped up. The 
 altar is ascended by several steps, and surround- 
 ed by a handsome painted skreen, ornamented 
 with the ten commandments, &c. In the cen-
 
 168 
 
 tre is a large historical painting, presented to 
 this parish by aid. Starling, in the year 1768, 
 painted by Mr. Catton, of London, a native 
 of the city ; the subject of which is, the angel 
 delivering St. Peter out of prison ;* above this 
 is a smaller painting of the Holy Ghost, sur- 
 rounded by cherubim. The whole east end of 
 the church is one larffe srothic window, which 
 
 o o * 
 
 has lately been set with curious stained glass, 
 taken out of the two side windows, containing 
 historical subjects from the New Testament, &c. 
 The altar is covered with crimson velvet, fringed 
 and embroidered with gold. The plate is of 
 silver, all of which, except one cup, is doubly 
 gilt ; viz. an old cup and patin, a small cup with 
 a cover, three flagons, a round offering plate, 
 an octagonal patin, a large spoon, a large silver 
 cup not gilt, and a beautiful large standing cup 
 and cover, on which is curiously represented 
 the history of Abigail bringing presents to Da- 
 vid, presented to this church by Sir Peter Gleane, 
 knt. A. D. 1633. At the west end of the church 
 stands the organ ; the loft or gallery is of very 
 curious workmanship, with a neat time-piece in 
 front, and is supported by four Corinthian pil- 
 lars, with gilt capitals. Behind the organ is a 
 
 * The old painting which was taken down represented 
 a perspective view of the inside of a building; probablj 
 designed for Solomon's porch, or the beautiful gate of the 
 temple at Jerusalem, where St. Peter and St. John wrought 
 their first miracle.
 
 
 169 
 
 representation of a window of stained glass, added 
 in the year 1811. The organ (erected in 1707) 
 is large, elegant, and much admired for its tone: ' 
 on the summit stands a fine gilt statue of St. 
 Peter. The organ is used on Sundays, at mor- 
 ning prayer, and on all festivals, which is not 
 the custom in any other parish church in Eng- 
 land. In the centre of the church hangs a large 
 branch, with twenty-four sockets of brass doubly 
 gilt. The east end of the north aisle was for- 
 merly a chapel, dedicated to the name of Jesus 
 and St. John the Baptist : the north transept 
 was a chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas, the south 
 transept was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and 
 the east end of the south aisle was a chapel de- 
 dicated to St. Anne, which is now the vestry : 
 on the east side of it is a tapestry hanging, which 
 probably belonged to the altar, representing the 
 resurrection of Christ : there is likewise a good 
 old painting of the apostle Paul, and another of 
 the resurrection. In this vestry is also a portrait 
 of that eminent physician Sir Thomas Browne, 
 knt. given by Dr. Howman, one of his descen- 
 dants, with a neat old painted carving in alabas- 
 ter, of nine female saints, the principal of which 
 are said to represent St. Margaret, St. Hildas, 
 St. Barbary, &c. He likewise gave several 
 scarce books to the church. Here is an iron 
 chest, in which are deposited the evidences of 
 the parish, and a fair octavo manuscript bible, 
 written in 1340, and a folio manuscript, much
 
 170 
 
 more ancient, containing the epistles of St. 
 Paul, with a commentary, beautifully illumined., 
 and which formerly belonged to Robert de 
 Nowell. 
 
 In this church are a great many monuments 
 and inscriptions,, which would far exceed the 
 limits of this work to particularise. The inqui- 
 sitive stranger will be gratified by examining 
 the following, which are the most remarkable : 
 Sir Thomas Browne, Lady Browne, Mingay 
 Osborne, Isaac Fransham, John Osborne, seve- 
 ral belonging to the family of Starling, Curtis, 
 Addey, Patteson, Coleburne, Brigges, Macka- 
 rell, &c. this last has a very long Latin inscrip- 
 tion, and at the bottom are three lines of He- 
 brew, being the 6th verse of the 1 12th psalm ; 
 also a monument on the north side of the altar 
 for the much-esteemed Dr. Harington, assistant 
 minister of this church ; and on the south side 
 a large and beautiful monument, lately erected 
 by a subscription of the inhabitants of the 
 parish, as a testimony of their respect to the 
 memory of their late minister, the Rev. John 
 -Peele, esteemed the best preacher in Norwich 
 ; in his time. 
 
 The font (formerly enclosed with rails) stands 
 at the west end of the north aisle ; it is large 
 and heavy, though painted and gilt, with many 
 appropriate inscriptions, but it seems out of 
 repair ; two old paintings, one of which repre- 
 sents the resurrection, the other the last supper,
 
 171 
 
 have been lately removed. At the upper end 
 of this aisle is a large monument, much defaced, 
 which does not appear ever to have had any 
 date or inscription ; it has the bust of a judge 
 in his robes, and the arms of Windham. Blom- 
 field says it was erected for Francis Windham, 
 esq. one of the judges of the court of common 
 pleas, who died at his house in this parish in 
 1592. The inhabitants of this parish having 
 the privilege of electing their own minister, 
 have ever reflected on themselves the greatest 
 credit in the exercise of this right, by the choice 
 of divines of the greatest ability, and no church 
 has been more fortunate in a succession of the 
 best preachers : Archbishop Jennison was mi- 
 nister here in 1674, and since that time Dr. 
 Jeffery, archdeacon of Norwich, Mr. Whitefoot, 
 Dr. Camel, Mr. Manlove, Dr. Francis, Dr. 
 Bates, Mr. Peele, and Dr. Harington, whose 
 names will long be remembered with that re- 
 spect and veneration which is so justly their due. 
 On the demise of the upper minister, it has been 
 customary to choose the under minister as his 
 successor. 
 
 The outside of this noble church corresponds 
 with the inside, being cased with freestone, in 
 complete repair, and the lower parts of the 
 building are ornamented with flints, curiously 
 squared and faced. The two transepts have 
 each a front, with a door ascended to by several 
 steps. The grand entrance is immediately un 
 Y 2
 
 172 
 
 der the tower; the view of the inside of the 
 church from thence is very fine. The tower is 
 large, strong, and ornamented with arches on its 
 four sides, with double buttresses at the corners., 
 reaching' to the top, which is upwards of 100 
 feet, and a noble west window. Tt has a clock 
 with a dial on the north side. From the top, 
 which is plain, rises a spire, covered with lead, 
 with a weathercock, both of which are much 
 too small for the noble building they are design- 
 ed to ornament. Within the tower are twelve 
 large and musical bells, put up by a voluntary 
 subscription of the parishioners and the inhabit- 
 ants of the city in general, in the year 1775 ; 
 the, exact weight of which are as follows: 
 
 Treble 
 Second 
 Third 
 Fourth 
 Fifth 
 Sixth 
 
 Total weight of metal, 9 tons, 4 cwt. and 24 Ibs. 
 The expence of casting and hanging this har- 
 monious peal of bells amounted to more than 
 800/. exclusive of the value of the old peal often 
 large bells. Within the tower are two belfries, 
 the lowest having been deemed too far from the 
 bells ; here the lovers of campanology are en- 
 tertained with several painted inscriptions, rela- 
 tive to some famous performances of the ringers 
 
 e . . 
 d .. 
 
 net. qrs. Ibs. 
 
 ..635 
 ..6 2 15 
 6 3 20 
 
 Seventh . . 
 Eighth ... 
 Ninth .... 
 
 cist. qrs. Ibs. 
 
 11 2 7 
 14 18 
 19 1 27 
 
 h .. 
 
 .,738 
 995 
 
 Tenth 
 Eleventh . 
 
 21 3 6 
 
 28 2 2 
 
 
 ,9 3 19 
 
 Tenor , 
 
 41 1 4
 
 173 
 
 of this steeple, who are said to be equal (if not 
 superior) to any company in the kingdom : these 
 bells are constantly rung- on all state holidays 
 and civic festivals. The curfew or evening bell 
 is rung every night throughout the year (except 
 on Sundays), at eight o'clock,, and the morning 
 bell at four, in the winter half year only. These 
 bells were established by Peter Reade, gent, 
 who died in 1658, and settled an estate near St. 
 Giles's church upon this parish for that purpose. 
 The great bell was broken on the 13th of July, 
 1814, by the clapper in its revolution catching 
 upon a part of the frame; an order of vestry 
 was however soon after made by the parishion- 
 ers for its being re-cast. In the grand en- 
 trance under the tower are kept two large and 
 one small engines, with pipes and fire buckets. 
 At the east end of the church are two turrets of 
 stone \vork. There is a common passage lead- 
 ing through the north side of the church-yard ; 
 the handsome iron gate at the west end of which 
 was presented to the parishioners by John 
 Browne, esq. aid. in the year 1800. 
 
 This extensive parish, which forms a small 
 ward of itself, contains the whole of the Mar- 
 ket-place, part of Cockey-lane, including part 
 of the Castle-ditches, the Back of the Inns, part 
 of Orford-hill, the Old Hay-market, part of 
 Chapel-field and Lane, Lady's-lane, and part of 
 Bethel-street, with a newly-opened street from- 
 thence into Chapel-field.
 
 174 
 
 THE MARKET-PLACE 
 
 Is a large oblong open square, said to be the 
 finest in England, and the most plentifully sup- 
 plied with all kinds of provisions : there is a 
 charter for three weekly markets, viz. on Wed- 
 nesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the latter be- 
 ing the principal market day; but the Friday 
 market has for some years past been disconti- 
 nued. In the centre of the market formerly 
 stood the market cross, first erected in the reign 
 of Edward III. it was an elegant gothic struc- 
 ture, but falling into decay, it was taken down 
 in 1732, and the ground paved over. 
 
 The centre of the market is appropriated to 
 persons from the country, who on market days 
 sit here with stalls, hampers, and pads, for the 
 tale of butter, cheese, eggs, poultry, and but- 
 cher's meat; there are three, large pairs of 
 scales, with weights, provided by the committee, 
 which all persons may freely use ; and there is 
 no toll demanded for any of the before-men- 
 tioned articles. The east side of the market- 
 place is for the sale of garden stuff, the north 
 end for fish, and the south end is the fruit mar- 
 ket. Herbage and fruit pay a small toll, col- 
 lected by the clerk of the market; these last 
 articles are sold here every day of the week, and 
 on Sundays all stalls, &c, are taken away. The 
 upper market is situated on the west side of the 
 great market, near the north entrance of St.
 
 175 
 
 Peter's church ; to the west of which is the but- 
 chery and the shambles ; between these lies the 
 fish-market. At the north-west corner of the 
 great market stands 
 
 THE GUILDHALL, 
 
 A large handsome building, constructed of black 
 flint ; the cornices,, window frames, and battle- 
 ments are of white Portland stone, and the 
 porch, with the room over it, are of red brick. 
 Here are kept the several courts of justice, and 
 it was formerly the common gaol of the city. 
 It was originally a small mean building,, covered 
 with thatch, erected for a toll-house to the mar- 
 ket. The present building was erected in 1407, 
 at the public expence, and afterwards in 1435 
 the porch and tower on the north side, called 
 the Treasury, were built, with the prison under 
 it, called Little Ease ; and in 1440 all the city 
 records were deposited there. The stalls which 
 joined to the hall were the ancient scriptories, 
 or places where the writers sat at elections ; but 
 they have long since been taken down. In 
 1511 the roof of the council chamber (at the 
 east end of the hall) and the treasury fell down ; 
 the council chamber was repaired in 1523, but 
 the treasury tower was never rebuilt. In 1635 
 the hall was greatly damaged by the servants of 
 the deputies for salt petre undermining the 
 council chamber more than three feet below 
 the foundation., and would not be persuaded to
 
 176 
 
 forbear till some of the aldermen attended the 
 king's council at London, and obtained an order 
 for them to desist. In 1660 the lower room at 
 the west end was set apart for a cloth hall, and 
 the chamber over it for the sale of foreign wool 
 and yarn ; every pack paid 4d. to the city, and 
 each cloth 2d. The uppermost chamber of the 
 west part of the hall was the old magazine and 
 armoury. In 1 597 the gaol was removed from 
 hence to the place where it is now kept. 
 
 The sheriffs' office was on the north side of 
 the hall till 1625, when it was removed into the 
 guildhall chapel, which stood adjoining to the 
 south side of the hall ; it w as dedicated to St. 
 Barbara,* and served for a chapel for the pri- 
 soners, as well as for the court to attend divine 
 service at when they assemble on public busi- 
 ness. It has long since been pulled down, and 
 the present porch erected, which is the principal 
 entrance into the hall, and in the chamber over 
 it is kept the sheriffs' offji Adjoining to the 
 east side of the porch is the engine-house, where 
 the city engines are kept : over which is the 
 grand jury chamber, the roof of which is flat 
 and covered with lead, surrounded with an iron 
 
 * St. Barbara, virgin and martyr, A. D. 283, under Dio. 
 clesia;i and Maxiniian. She was shut up in a tower and 
 starved to death ; on which account she was looked upon 
 as the patroness of prisoners, and is always represented 
 holding a figure of a tower in her hand. Her festival \vas 
 celebrated in the Latin church, Dec. 4.
 
 balustrade, which serves as a balcony, and com- 
 mands a view of the market. At the west end 
 is an arched pavilion, and at the east a statue of 
 Justice of gilt bronze. The east end of the 
 hall is ornamented with neat chequer work of 
 black and white stone, the king's arms, the 
 arms of the city, &c. are now quite defaced. 
 The great court on the ground floor in the 
 western part of the hall is the common place of 
 judgment for the city, and is conveniently fitted 
 up with a tribunal ; over which is the king's 
 arms and appropriate texts of scripture. On 
 each side of the chair are the benches for the 
 magistrates, the seats for the sheriffs being in 
 the extremities. The bail dock is moveable, 
 and is placed in the centre of the court at such 
 times only as there are prisoners to take their 
 trial. The assizes for the city and county of the 
 city of Norwich are held here, and the quarter 
 sessions for the same, which are always on the 
 Tuesday in the same week in which the sessions 
 for the county of Norfolk are held. In this 
 court likewise the mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs 
 are publicly sworn into their respective offices. 
 Here are likewise kept all elections of ma- 
 gistrates, common council, and public officers, 
 and the election of representatives in parlia- 
 ment ; on which occasion, if there be a contested 
 election, hustings or poll-booths are erected 
 one at the east end of the hall, and the other at 
 the south end of the market, for the convenieney 
 
 z
 
 178 
 
 of taking the polls ; and the candidates are 
 chaired round the inside of the market-place. 
 On the east side of the hall is a flight of steps 
 leading to the apartments above. The room at 
 the east end of the hall is called the sword- 
 bearer's office ; here the mayor and some of 
 the aldermen daily sit to administer justice and 
 preserve the peace of the city. The upper part 
 of the stairs leads to a large vestibule,, supported 
 by fluted pillars of the Corinthian order, and 
 ornamented with a representation of the city 
 regalia. On the east side of this is the mayor's 
 council chamber, the inside of which is elegant- 
 ly fitted up : the seats for the mayor and alder- 
 men are ancient, and have been preserved with 
 great care ; and the large window and two small 
 ones are of beautiful stained glass.* This room 
 is adorned with pictures of many of the ancient 
 members of the corporation and other benefac- 
 
 * These windows were formerly painted with allegorical 
 subjects relating to the administration of justice. One of 
 them contained the story of the corrupt judge, who was 
 flayed alive for false judgment; the next had a representa- 
 tion of the execution of the law by a king surrounded by 
 his guards, who were placing a person before him on his 
 knees ; on the other side sat a man in a winding sheet, and 
 the sodiers preparing to shoot him to death with arrows ; 
 the third whi'Jovv contained the judgment of king Solomon 
 between the two harlots; all of which were illustrated by 
 English verses; but the windows have been so much 
 altered by repairing, that no part of the original designs 
 are now to be discovered.
 
 179 
 
 tors of the city, among whom are William and 
 Mary, Thomas White (alderman of London), 
 Sir Peter Reade, Alderman Holmes,, Sir Francis 
 Southwell., Alderman Layer, Alderman Briggs, 
 Alderman Carver (who died mayor elect),, Alder- 
 man Parmenter, Alderman Norman, William 
 Doughty, gent, (the founder of Doughty's hos- 
 pitial), Lord Chief Justice Coke, Sir Benjamin 
 Wrenche, Recorder Hobart, Alderman Arnam, 
 Serjeant Windham (recorder), &c. &c. But 
 the greatest curiosity in this room is the elegant 
 naval trophy in honour of the illustrious lord 
 Nelson, in which is placed the sword of the 
 Spanish admiral, presented by his lordship to 
 the corporation of the city, inclosed, with a glass 
 before it, and supported by a device represent- 
 ing an anchor, to the ring of which is suspended 
 a yard and sail, which appears to be torn in, 
 action, having on it the following inscription: 
 " The sword of the Spanish admiral, Don Xavier 
 Winthuysen, who died of the wounds he receiv- 
 ed in an engagement with the British fleet under 
 the command of admiral earl St. Vincent, 14th 
 of February, 1797, which ended in the most 
 brilliant victory ever obtained by this country 
 over the enemy at sea, wherein the heroic valour 
 and cool determined courage of rear-admiral 
 Sir Horatio Nelson, K. B. had ample scope. He 
 being a native of Norfolk, honoured the city by 
 presenting ^his sword, surrendered to him in 
 
 that action." Under the inscription is the arms 
 z 2
 
 180 
 
 of lord Nelson. Within the glass is likewise 
 placed (enveloping- the sword) the letter which 
 accompanied this present., which is the more 
 valuable as it is all in his lordship's hand- 
 writing. 
 
 The large room to the west is the common 
 council chamber, which is elegantly fitted up in 
 a very modern style, and has lately been much 
 enlarged., repaired, and beautified. Here are 
 also kept the town clerk's and chamberlain's 
 offices. 
 
 In a covered frame, on the roof of the half, 
 hangs a small bell, which is sometimes rung 
 when the corporation assemble here.* Oppo- 
 site the north door of the hall stands 
 
 THE CJTY GAOL, 
 
 Originally the Lamb inn, but it has been the 
 common prison for the city ever since the year 
 1597. In the reign of Henry VII. it was pur- 
 chased by St. George's company, and used for 
 their guildhall. It was by them assigned to the 
 city : it has at different times been enlarged, and 
 has lately received considerable improvements. 
 The northern side of it is in the parish of St. 
 
 * From Guildhall to the extremity of the liberties of the 
 city, the distances by measure are said to be as follows : 
 To Mile Cross, north, 1 mile, 6 furlongs; to Thorpe 
 bounds, east, 1 mile, 4 furlongs; to Hertford bridges, 
 outh, 2 miles, 2 furlongs; and to Earlh*n bridge, west, 
 2 miles, 4 furlongs.
 
 181 
 
 John's Maddermarfret, in which part is a con- 
 venient chapel, where divine service is perform- 
 ed to the prisoners once a fortnight. On the 
 upper part of the front of the gaol, next the 
 street, hangs a small bell. This street was the 
 ancient pillcaria, or hatter's- row. 
 
 At the corner of Dove-lane, leading from the 
 north end of the Market-place, formerly stood 
 the hoi tor, or old tower (from which the lane 
 was called Holtor-lane), built by the Jews in the 
 reign of William Rufus for a synagogue : it was 
 afterwards a public-house, called the Dove ; but 
 being burnt down in the great fire, there are 
 now no remains of it, the site being built upon. 
 From Dove-lane to Smiths'-row was the an- 
 cient Aurifabria, or Goldsmiths'-row, and the 
 lane obtained the appellation of Smiths'-row, 
 from the working goldsmiths who inhabited it. 
 The house formerly the Tuns tavern was ori- 
 ginally the mansion of John le Brun, founder of 
 the chapel in the fields, and was afterwards the 
 goldsmiths' hall, having been re-built by that 
 company, The lane is now called Cockey-lane, 
 from the water falling that way in the cockey 
 or common sewer, which was formerly an open 
 ditch. 
 
 At the north end of the Market-place is now 
 the printing-office of Messrs. Stevenson, Mat- 
 chett, and Stevenson, where the paper called 
 the Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette is 
 published every Saturday.
 
 182 
 
 The houses which surround the Market-place 
 are lofty and elegant ; many of them have been 
 lately new fronted, and some re-built : they are 
 in general shops, and where the principal trades- 
 men in the city inhabit.* 
 
 At the north end of the Market-place stood 
 a common well, and near it a corn exchange, 
 pillory., cage, and stocks, all of which were 
 taken away more than a century ago. 
 
 The northern corner of the market was for- 
 merly called Jenny's-corner, from its original 
 proprietor, John Jenny, who was one of the 
 bailiffs in the years 1368 and 1373. Cockey- 
 lane, as far as the Back of the Inns, has at dif- 
 ferent times been called by the several names of 
 Latoner, or Tinman's-row, and Hosier-gate. 
 
 On the east side of the market was formerly 
 an inn called the King's Head, being the princi- 
 pal inn in the city, which was taken down in 
 1813, and a beautiful street of modern buildings 
 erected on its site, giving a view of the castle 
 by an opening continued on the east side of 
 the Back of the Inns. The whole of these im- 
 provements were begun and completed by Jona- 
 than Davey, esq. and is now called Davey-place. 
 
 * Prior to the reign of Edw. III. all dealers of different 
 denominations lived near each other, and the rows of 
 houses which they inhabited were called by the name of 
 the commodity they dealt in or the trade they followed ; 
 after which time they intermixed, and many of the original 
 names of the rows are since lost.
 
 183 
 
 Behind the south-west corner of White Lion- 
 lane was the Fons de Sellaria, or Saddlegate 
 Common Well, but how long; it has been disused 
 there is no account of. 
 
 The whole premises bounded by the Market- 
 place, west, White Lion-lane, north, Orford-hill, 
 east, and Wastlegate, south, was aciently ap- 
 propriated to the residence of the Jews, and was 
 called the Jewry.* In the centre of this was 
 their synagogue and school, to \vhich were three 
 entrances one from the Market-place, one from 
 Wastlegate, and another from Hog-hill. The 
 high priest had a house adjoining, where Aid. 
 Anguish afterwards dwelt. It was purchased 
 by the learned Sir Thomas Browne, who rebuilt 
 it, and from whom it descended to Dr. Howman. 
 After the Jews were expelled from hence, the 
 synagogue and school were pulled down, and 
 part of the premises were settled on the mass of 
 Jesus in St. Peter's church, and made a com- 
 mon inn by the sign of the Holy Lamb, as it now 
 remains, being called the Lamb Inn. 
 
 The whole row from Cockey-lane to Wastle- 
 gate is now called the Gentleman's Walk.f 
 
 * When the foreign Jews were first permitted to settle 
 in England, and for many years afterwards, they dwelt 
 all together in some place contiguous to their synagogue ; 
 the places obtained the scriptural name of Jewry, as in 
 London the Old Jewry and the New Jewry, now called 
 Jewin-street. 
 
 i Northward from Davey-place it was anciently called
 
 184 
 
 Mere are several large inns, the principal of 
 which is the Angel. The King's Head was the 
 first in the city, and had the honor of enter- 
 taining his royal highness the duke of York. A 
 little to the north of it is situated the Post-office. 
 From the Angel two royal mail coaches set out 
 every day, and a coach by Bury and Sudbury 
 three times a week. The Angel inn had the 
 honor of entertaining his royal highness the 
 Prince Regent, on his visit to the city, Nov. 
 13th, 1812. The other inns are the Star (where 
 the York waggon comes in every Tuesday and 
 goes out every Friday) and the Lamb. On the 
 Gentleman's Walk is also Skeele's coffee-house ; 
 and the bank of Messrs. Bignold and Son is 
 situated at the south extremity of the market, 
 where also is kept the Union Fire and Life- 
 office. 
 
 White Lion-lane was anciently known by se- 
 veral different names : in the time of Edward I. 
 it was called Sellaria or Saddle-gate; in Ed- 
 ward II. Sadler-row or Lorimer's-row ; in Ed- 
 ward III. Bridlesmith's-row ; in Henry IV. Spoo- 
 ner's-row; and in Edward IV. Sporow-lane. 
 It has since obtained its present name from the 
 White Lion, a well-known inn on the north 
 side of it. 
 
 The Back of the Inns (which received its 
 
 Caligara, or Hosiers'-rovr ; and southward from thence it 
 was talle.l Cordwaineria and Calceria, Cordwainer's, Cor. 
 diuer's, or Shoemaker's-rovy.
 
 185 
 
 name from its situation with respect to the pub- 
 lic inns which front the market) was anciently 
 part of the second and outward castle ditches, 
 and though but a narrow lane is a place of 
 great traffic. 
 
 On the east side of Orford-hill is the Norwich 
 Fire-office, and opposite to it is the bank of 
 Messrs. Kett and Back. 
 
 At the south end of the Market-place for- 
 merly stood Abraham's-hall, which derived its 
 name from Abraham, the son of Deulecresse, a 
 Jew, who about the year 1277 was burnt for 
 blasphemy, and his estates forfeited to the crown. 
 From the time of Edward 1. to that of Edward 
 III. it was held by grant from the crown by the 
 family of De Kirby ; it afterwards became the 
 property of the city, and was converted to pub- 
 lic uses; for about the year 1400 the assizes 
 used to be held in it ; subsequently it was a pub- 
 lic inn, which it continued to be for many years, 
 and was still called Abraham's-hall ; the sign 
 was Abraham offering up his son Isaac. About 
 forty years ago it was pulled down, and a hand- 
 some court and row of houses erected on its site 
 The back part of the premises lie in the parish 
 of St. Stephen. To the west side of it adjoins 
 the George inn, from which the Bury waggon 
 goes every week; facing it stands a common 
 pump and a row of houses, which if they were 
 taken away, would be a great improvement to 
 
 A a
 
 186 
 
 this part of the market,* where is now held a 
 market for raw skins. A little to the east for- 
 merly stood an engine for weighing hay, which 
 was taken down in 1794, when the hay market 
 was removed to the castle ditches. At the east 
 end of the church is a lane called Weavers' - 
 lane,f from being composed of shops, occupied 
 by dealers in Suffolk and Norfolk hempen cloth. 
 Near the end of this is a narrow row, called 
 Pudding-lane, having been formerly inhabited 
 by cooks, who sold victuals ready dressed. The 
 middle row, between the fish-market on the west 
 and the great market on the east, is composed 
 of butchers' stalls, built upon. jHere was an- 
 ciently the Murage-house, called also the Mu- 
 rage-loft, and toller, where the muragej and 
 market toll used to be collected. 
 
 The corner house, opposite the south porch 
 of the church, is the charity school of this parish, 
 founded by Mr. John Risebrow, in 1721. At 
 the south-west corner is the White Hart inn. 
 
 Opposite the west door of the church is a 
 large inn, called the White Swan. Here the 
 society of Gregorians used to hold their chap- 
 ters, but their meetings are now discontinued ; 
 and from this inn the Expedition (a double-bo- 
 
 * This was anciently called the Cheese.market. 
 
 f Ancienty called Cobler's-row. 
 
 | Murage was a tax or toll paid upon all commodities 
 sold in the market, towards the expence of keeping the 
 city walls, gates, and towers in repair.
 
 187 
 
 died coach) to London comes in and goes out 
 every day, also a Lynn coach, except on Sun- 
 days. At the west end of the yard is a building, 
 which was formerly the theatre, and is now used 
 as the office for the Expedition and Lynn 
 coaches. The way to the south is the site of 
 old Lady's-lane. 
 
 The south part of Upper Market-street was 
 formerly called the Linen E)rapery. Many of 
 the houses have of late years been rebuilt, in a 
 good style. Behind these premises was former- 
 ly the barley-market, which had two entrances, 
 one from Bethel-street and the other (which was 
 the principal) from Barley-marketrlane, former- 
 ly called Herlewyn's-lane, and now Wounded 
 Heart-lane, from the inn of that name adjoin- 
 ing it. 
 
 Opposite the west end of the hall is the Pope's 
 Head inn, and the bank of Messrs. Westons, the 
 original banking-house in the city. 
 
 On the south side of Chapelfield-lane, on the 
 western part of the premises formerly Chapel- 
 field-house, now stands 
 
 THE THEATRE-ROYAL, 
 
 A handsome building, erected in the year 1757, 
 and opened on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 1758, with 
 the comedy called The Way of the World." 
 It was then called Concert-hall, by which name 
 it went till 1764, when it was licensed by his 
 majesty's letters patent. The inside was built
 
 188 
 
 after the model of the old theatre-royal, in 
 Drury-lane.* In 1800 the whole house under- 
 went a thorough alteration ; a colonade was 
 erected at the east end and additional building's 
 to the sides, by which the passages were ren- 
 dered more commodious ; the boxes and gallery 
 were entirely rebuilt, decorated, and ornament- 
 ed. The present appearance of the house is 
 nearly that of the segment of an oval, the front 
 of the stage forming the cross line. The boxes 
 of the two upper circles are lined with painted 
 canvas, and aired by proper ventilators ; at the 
 division of each is a gilt pilaster, apparently in- 
 tended both for ornament and support. The 
 pannels are painted with emblematical devices 
 and arabesques. Four private boxes, richly de- 
 corated with treillis in gold, are placed on the 
 extremity of the front of the stage, the whole 
 being lighted by patent chandeliers. The stage 
 was at the same time rebuilt, and the scenes are 
 worked upon an improved principle, by which 
 all the wings are moved at once. Within the first 
 entrance are inward wings, which hide the actors 
 from the view of the spectators in the boxes 
 till they make their appearance on the stage.f 
 
 * The architect who superintended the building of the 
 theatre and assembly-house was Mr. Ivory, who was said 
 to have been assisted by Sir James Burroughs, LL. D. 
 Master of Gonville and Caius-college, Cambridge, one of 
 the best designers in his time. 
 
 t The theatre was again improted in 1813.
 
 189 
 
 By the tenour of the patent this theatre is 
 open from the 1st clay of January till the 1st 
 day of June in every year, and in the assize 
 week. The patentee and performers are 
 styled his majesty's servants, and perform at 
 the circuit theatres, in Norfolk, Suffolk., Essex,, 
 and Cambridge, when this theatre is shut.* 
 Prices of admission upper boxes 4s. lower 
 ditto 3s. pit 2s. 6d. gallery Is. At the en- 
 trance of the theatre is a bar, where refresh- 
 ments are sold to the company. The site of the 
 theatre is the property of the proprietors of 
 chapelfield-house, but the theatre, with its fixed 
 and travelling scenery and wardrobe, belongs to 
 a company, who usually dispose of the patent 
 by demise, for a term of years, with the appur- 
 tenance of the stage and the management of the 
 theatre. Besides the profits of the lease, each 
 proprietor has a free ticket, which entities one 
 person to admission, every night of performing, 
 to any part of the house ; there are also appen- 
 dant to the theatre a certain number of silver 
 tickets, issued when it was first built, and the 
 profit applied towards the expences ; they are 
 transferable, and admit one person each to any 
 part of the house before the curtain. 
 
 * The theatrical circuit is as follows: June, Yarmouth; 
 July, Ipswich ; August, Yarmouth ; September, Cam- 
 bridge; October, Bur/; NoTeraber, Colchester; and De- 
 cember, Ipswich.
 
 190 
 
 The eastern part of the premises, not now 
 belonging to the proprietors of chapelfield-house, 
 is converted into a large and commodious bowl- 
 ing-green and tavern. 
 
 In this parish also lies the greater part of Cha- 
 pel-field,* corruptly called Chaply-field, which 
 has long been the property of the corporation, 
 and let by them to different persons. In 1668 
 it was used as the city artillery ground, and the 
 militia were mustered and annually reviewed 
 here. In 1707 it was railed in and laid out into 
 pleasant walks, being planted with trees, which 
 now remain. In 1792 the field was leased to 
 the proprietors of the water-works, by whom a 
 large reservoir was constructed in the centre, 
 which is strongly banked and paled round ; on 
 the north side is a large circular tower, containing 
 the machinery for raising the water, erected 
 instead of the old water-house at the north-east 
 corner of the field. The water is conveyed hither 
 from the New Mills. The south-west side of 
 the field is bounded by the city wall from the 
 new opening, in which there has lately been a 
 good road made to the bowling-green corner. 
 The wall from the opening to St. Giles's gate, 
 with part of three towers, is in tolerable pre- 
 servation, and is not built upon within side and 
 very little without ; being but weak, in order to 
 
 * From its adjoining to the chapel of St. Mary in th 
 Fields, and to which it formerly appertained.
 
 191 
 
 prevent accidents, the battlements and upper 
 part of it were taken down in 1807. 
 
 Bethel-street was formerly called Over or 
 Upper Newport,,* and that part lying- within 
 this parish was called the Ropery, because the 
 cord and rope makers anciently dwelt there. It 
 takes its present name from the principal build- 
 ing in it, called 
 
 BETHEL HOSPITAL, 
 
 Which stands on part of the site of the ancient 
 Committee-house, which was blown up by 98 
 barrels of gunpowder, in a tumult, in 1648. 
 This hospital was founded by Mrs. Mary Chap- 
 man, A. D, 1713, for the reception of poor 
 lunatics, where those unfortunate objects are 
 maintained and taken care of at a very trifling 
 expence, paid by their friends, or the parish to 
 which they belong. The charity is not limited 
 to any place or county, and has been greatly 
 augmented by subsequent benefactions. The 
 building is of red brick, and has two fronts, one 
 on the north side next the street, and the other 
 on the south side towards the garden. A very 
 handsome committee-room has been erected, 
 adorned with portaits of the foundress and other 
 benefactors, and several convenient addition! 
 have lately been made on the premises. The 
 
 * From its leading to the port or gate of the New Burgh, 
 slnc called St. Giles's gate.
 
 192 
 
 government of this hospital is vested in a presi- 
 dent, six governors, a treasurer, and two physi- 
 cians, who appoint a surgeon, an apothecary, a 
 clerk, a steward, and a master or keeper. By 
 the will of the foundress, the master is required 
 to be of a good, religious, and moral character. 
 The committee day is the first Monday in every 
 month. Strangers are admitted to view the 
 hospital from ten in the morning till five in the 
 afternoon, Sundays excepted. 
 
 On the west side of Bethel is the new street 
 or opening into Chapelfield, the buildings of 
 which make a very neat appearance. A hand- 
 some row of houses on the east side of Bethel 
 \vere erected on the remainder of the site of the 
 ruins of the ancient committee-house. 
 
 Lady's-lane lies something more to the east, 
 and was so called because it led directly to the 
 chapel of Our Lady in the Fields. 
 
 13. ST. GILES'S CHURCH 
 
 Is & handsome building, containing a nave and 
 two side aisles ; the chancel (which appears to 
 have been as long as the church) has been de- 
 molished ever since the year 1581. The inside 
 is handsomely fitted up, and is much admired for 
 its slender pillars and large windows. The altar 
 is very elegant, and the communion plate is 
 handsome and valuable ; it was given by Robert 
 Snell, gent, in 1738, and consists of a large offer- 
 ing dish, a patin, two large flag-gens, and two
 
 193 
 
 chalices, with covers, all of silver, doubly gilt. 
 From the old plate which was sold was pur- 
 chased a handsome branch of polished brass, 
 which hangs in the nave, In this church are 
 many ancient inscriptions in high preserva- 
 tion, and several handsome modern monuments, 
 among which those of Dr. Offley and Sir Thos. 
 Churchman deserve notice, particularly the lat- 
 ter. At the west end of the church is a large 
 and elegant gallery, erected by the parishioners 
 in 1807. Adjoining to the west end of the 
 church stands a large square tower, upwards of 
 an 100 feet high ; the top is crowned with a bat- 
 tlement, and in the middle is a large cupola, in 
 which hangs the clock bell, and over it rises a 
 dome, which is seen to a great distance; the 
 whole is surmounted by a golden ball and wea- 
 thercock. The dial is on the east side, and is 
 large and handsome, being newly gilt in 1808. 
 Within the tower are the clock and eight musi- 
 cal bells ; there is also a curfew, or evening bell, 
 founded by John Colton, in 1457. It is rung 
 the summer half year at nine o'clock, and in the 
 winter at eight; the morning bell is tolled at 
 five o'clock in the summer and six in the winter, 
 at the expence of the parish. The church was 
 first founded in the reign of William the Con- 
 queror, by Elwyn, a priest. The triangular 
 piece of land on which it stands, being his own 
 estate, he gave to the monks of the cathedral 
 
 church, with whom it always remained ; and it 
 B b
 
 is now a perpetual curacy in the donation of the 
 dean and chapter. The church and tower were 
 rebuilt in the reign of Richard II. Divine ser- 
 vice is performed twice every Sunday., and a 
 sermon preached once. Prayers are also read 
 on a Friday. The numerous benefactors have 
 made the annual gifts to the poor inhabitants 
 very considerable 
 
 This parish was originally part of the new 
 burgh ; it constitutes a small ward, and is 
 esteemed the pleasantcst part of the city. The 
 church-yard is large, and stands on an emi- 
 nence ; it commands a very extensive view. 
 The houses are for the most part modern and 
 handsome. This parish is extensive, and con- 
 tains part of Bethel-street., Pit-lane, part of Cha- 
 pel-field, High-street, part of Pottergate-strect, 
 Willow-lane, Broad-street, and part of Fishers'- 
 lane. The boundary of the parish passes across 
 Chapel-field through the reservoir. In High- 
 street formerly lived Henry Crossgrove, printer, 
 who published the first Norwich newspaper in 
 1706. The elegant house opposite the south 
 door of the church was built by Sir Thomas 
 Churchman, knt. who served his mayoralty there 
 in 1761. Broad-street is esteemed the best 
 street in the city; the houses are modern and 
 regular. On the south side of this street is kept 
 the general stamp-office; near which is the 
 office of Mack's London waggons, which go and 
 return to and from London every week: and
 
 195 
 
 the Lynn waggon sets out from the Black Horse, 
 in the same street. 
 
 At the north-east corner of Fishers'-lane, 
 formerly stood a small hospital., called God's 
 House, founded by John le Grant, in the reign 
 of Kdward I, but it was dissolved with all other 
 religious houses. The remains of the gateway 
 were pulled down many years since., and its site 
 built upon. 
 
 At the end of High-street formerly stood 
 
 ST. GILES'S GATE, 
 
 Which was a plain square bulging ; the upper 
 part surrounded with battleinents j but falling 
 into decay, it was taken <Jown in 1792, and the 
 passage laid open. The wall fro,m St. Giles's 
 gate to Pottergate tower is built upon the de- 
 scent of a hill, and had one tower not far from 
 the gate, where the wall i$ now built upon 
 within and without. Potter gate, from which 
 the long street to the east of it took its name, 
 was formerly a postern, but it has been stopped 
 up some time ; it is a large tower, and now con- 
 verted into a habitable house. The wall from 
 hence to St. Benedict's gate is partly built upon 
 both within and without. 
 
 From St. Giles's gate is a turnpike road to 
 Brandon, through the following places ; Bar- 
 ford 7 miles, Kimberley 10, Hingham 14, Shipd- 
 ham 19, Watton 21, Brandon 33; from whence 
 
 there is a great road to Mildenhall, Ely, Cam- 
 sb 2
 
 196 
 
 bridge., March, Chattcris, Huntingdon,, North- 
 ampton, Peterborough, &c. 
 
 There is also another road leading from St. 
 Giles's gate, which falls into the London road 
 near Eaton hall. 
 
 Near the gates formerly stood an hospital or 
 sick-house. It was originally a leper-house. 
 
 About two miles from St. Giles's gate is si- 
 tuated the village and hamlet of 
 
 14. EARLHAM. 
 
 The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and is a 
 small mean building; the tower is low, plain, 
 and square, and contains two small bells ; on the 
 north side is a small chapel, dedicated to St. 
 John the Baptist. Divine service is performed 
 once in a fortnight. This church is a vicarage 
 in the presentation of the heirs of the late Ri- 
 chard Lubbock, M. D. Earlham hall adjoins 
 the north side of the church.* 
 
 Earlham bridge is the boundary of the liberty 
 of the city, and was first built of stone by Thomas 
 Bachcroft, of Little Melton, 1502; it was re- 
 
 * About a mile to the north lies the township of Bow- 
 thorpe, which had a parochial chapel ; but there being no 
 inhabitants except at the hall, it was desecrated and conso- 
 lidated to this parish about twenty years ago, although it 
 is still in the county of Norfolk. The chapel was a neat 
 building, standing at the extremity of a larg<j burying 
 ground, and had a turret of stone at the west end, iu which 
 hung one small bell.
 
 197 
 
 built in 1579, and again in 1744. The village 
 consists of only a few scattered houses and a 
 handsome seat, the residence of J. J. Gur- 
 ney, esq. 
 
 At Earlham bridge the river ceases, its course 
 being from the westward, to be the boundary of 
 the liberty of the city, which runs in nearly a 
 a straight direction northward from hence to 
 Hellesdon bridge, about two miles to the west 
 
 of the city. 
 
 J 
 
 Mancroft ward elects sixteen common coun- 
 cilmen annually on the Tuesday of the election 
 week.
 
 198 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 A Description of Wymer Ward, with the 
 CJiurches and other Public Buildings. 
 
 THIS ward runs through the whole extent 
 of the city from west to east, and is said 
 to take its name from Wymer, who lived in the 
 time of the Conqueror's survey, and probably 
 built or possessed some part of it, he being one 
 of the most considerable persons in the city at 
 that time. This ward is subdivided into three 
 small wards, called West Wymer, Middle Wy- 
 mer, and East Wymer wards., each of which 
 contains several parishes. 
 
 WEST Wl'MER WARD 
 
 Contains the parishes of St. Benedict, with the 
 hamlet of Heigham, St. S with in, St. Margaret,. 
 St. Lawrence, and St. Gregory. 
 
 15. ST. BENEDICT'S* CHURCH 
 
 Stands in the most westerly part of the city, and 
 is said to be of ancient foundation, but the pre- 
 
 * St. Benedict, a famous abbot, founder and principal of 
 the ordt r of Benedictines, lived in ^he time of Justinian I.
 
 199 
 
 sent building has a modern appeara "? it con- 
 tains a nave and chancel, with an -> the 
 north side. The tower is round in the lower 
 part, and octangular towards the top, from 
 which rises a lofty shaft, with a vane : within it 
 are three bells. Tins church is a rectory, and 
 was anciently appropriated to the priory of 
 Buckenham, in Norfolk, and at the dissolution 
 it fell into the king's haiids, of whom it wa 
 purchased by the parish, and is now in the gift 
 of the parishioners. Divine service is perform" 
 ed in it only once a fortnight. The inside is 
 very neat, but has no monumental inscriptions. 
 The communion plate is of silver, and is modern 
 and elegant. Instead of a communion table, 
 the east end is fitted up with an altar. With- 
 in this parish is a small part of Pottergate- 
 street, the west end of Upper Westwick, now 
 called St. Benedict's-street, and the south side of 
 Heigham-street without the walls. St. Bene- 
 dict's-street is a place of great resort in the corn 
 trade, and has several inns; the principal of 
 which are the White Lion, the Crown, and the 
 Bee-hive. In Pottergate-street is the bank of 
 Messrs. Days. At the west end of this street stood 
 
 WESTWICK, OR ST. BENEDICT'S GATE, 
 
 A large heavy building, taken down in 1793, 
 which greatly improved the appearance of the 
 
 A. D. 534. After his death he was canonized, and his fei- 
 was celebrated yearly on the 21st of March.
 
 street. Prom this gate is a great turnpike road 
 leading as follows : To Easton 6 miles, Honing- 
 ham 1, Hockering 10, Mattishall 12, East Dere- 
 ham 16, Swaffham 28, and King's Lynn 42; 
 from whence lies the road leading to Boston, 
 Grantham, Lincoln, Hull, York, Durham, New- 
 castle, Berwick-upon-Tweed, &c. to Edinburgh. 
 The wall from St. Benedict to Heigham gate 
 is but little visible, being built upon within and 
 without.* At the northern extremity formerly 
 stood , 
 
 HEIGHAM GATE, 
 
 Anciently called Hell Gate.f It was an ancient 
 mean building, and never a passage of much 
 traffic, being originally only a postern. In the 
 beginning of the last century it fell down, and 
 was never rebuilt, the way being laid open for 
 carriages. 
 
 The city 'wall reaches from the site of this 
 gate to the small stream called the Old River, 
 where it was terminated by a tower, now in 
 ruins; and all the upper part of the wall is 
 
 * The row of houses next the site of the gate, on the 
 north side, are said to have been chiefly built with the stone 
 brought from the cathedral church, when the west front 
 was new built in the beginning of the last century. 
 
 f la old evidences, Portea Inferni, from the low dismal 
 appearance of the street which communicated with it, the 
 deep descent of which, when viewed from Chariug-cross, 
 was thought to resemble the limbus of the anciant poets.
 
 201 
 
 going fast to decay. Just without St. Bene- 
 dict's, at the south-east corner of the great road> 
 formerly stood the ancient leper-house, called 
 St. Benedict's hospital, the site of Which is now 
 a garden. On the south side of Heigham -street 
 is a small public-house, called the Crocodile, 
 where there is an exhibition of natural cUri- 
 osities. 
 
 About a mile distant from St. Benedict's and 
 Heigham gates stands the parish church of 
 
 16. HEIGHAM,* 
 
 Dedicated to St. Bartholomew ; it is of ancient 
 foundation, and was appendant to the abbey of 
 St; Benedict at the Holm, at the time of the con- 
 quest, and has so continued ever since. That 
 abbey being temporal barony of the lord bishop 
 of Norwich, it still continues a rectory in his 
 gift. The parish being very extensive and sub- 
 ject to tithes, renders it the most valuable living 
 within the liberties of the city.f The church 
 stands by itself in the fields, and is a very de- 
 cent building, consisting of a nave and chancel, 
 with a wide aisle on the south side ; the tower 
 is small and square, with a battlement at the 
 top ; within it are three small bells. The pul- 
 pit, reading desk, and skreen of the altar, are 
 
 * Ea.ham, i. e. the hamlet by the water, it being situat- 
 ed adjoining to the south side of the river. 
 
 i Though this church is within the liberty of the city, 
 it is not iu Norwich, but in Humbleyard deanery . 
 
 c c
 
 handsome, the former being* newly erected at 
 the expence of the Rev. Mr. Parr, the late 
 rector. In this church are several monuments, 
 particularly a very curious one to the memory of 
 the pious and unfortunate bishop Hall. Divine 
 service is performed once a week. This large 
 parish comprehends all the lands lying between 
 the London road on the east, Eaton on the 
 south, Earlham on the west, and the river on the 
 north, with the north side of Heigham-street on 
 the old stream, adjoining to which formerly 
 stood the old mills, called Chase's, Bumpstede's, 
 Appleyard's, or Westwick Mills, of which there 
 are now no remains. Heigham hall was an old 
 building, but has lately been rebuilt in a modern 
 style. Opposite the hall is another handsome 
 mansion. A little more to the west is an ancient 
 house, formerly the property of the pious bishop 
 Hall, to which he retired on being deprived of 
 his bishoprick by the fanatics in the time of the 
 great rebellion, and ended his life in obscurity. 
 It has for many years past been a public-house 
 and garden, known by the sign of the Dolphin. 
 About a mile more to the westward is situated 
 the hamlet and village of 
 
 HELLESDON, 
 
 Which consists of one small street of houses and a 
 large water mill standing across the river Wen- 
 sum. A little to the east of the mill is Hellesdon 
 bridge, which is built of timber, and is passable
 
 203 
 
 for carriages. The whole river from hence is 
 in the jurisdiction of the city as far as Hardley- 
 cross, where it is joined by the river Waveney, an 
 extent of more than twenty miles. The boun- 
 dary of the liberty of the city passes between 
 the street and the church,* and from thence it 
 leads north to Mile-cross ; where compassing 
 the north side of the city about a mile distant, it 
 leads by Magdalen-chapel to Mousehold-heath ; 
 where bounding the eastern limits, it turns sud- 
 denly to the southward, parting the liberty of 
 Pockthorpe from the village of Thorpe, in which 
 direction it meets the river Wensum opposite 
 Trowse Hythe, where the boundary tower an- 
 ciently stood. 
 
 Eastward from St. Benedict's clwrch, in Upper 
 Westwick, on the opposite side of the street, 
 stands 
 
 17. ST. SWITHIN'sf ClIURCHj 
 
 A rectory, in the presentation of tjie bishop, but 
 
 * Hellesdon church is not within the liberty of the city, 
 though the parish is. It is a small building, with a chancel ; 
 the tower is plain and square, and has three bells ; from 
 the summit rises a small spire. This church is a rectory, 
 in the presentation of the dean and chapter, and has divine 
 service weekly. The living is valuable, 
 
 t St. Swithin's festival is the 15th of July. He was 
 bishop of Winchester, to which he was promoted A. D. 852, 
 and was a prelate of great learning and piety, but of so 
 melancholy a constitution, that he is memorable for la- 
 menting with tears the licentiousness of the age in which 
 
 cc 2
 
 204 
 
 the value of it is so small, that there is service 
 only once in a fortnight. The church is a neat 
 building, containing a nave, with two aisles ; the 
 inside is commodious and handsome; at the 
 altar, which is a building and not a table, is a 
 good painting of Moses and Aaron. The com- 
 munion plate is valuable, consisting of a basin, 
 flaggon, patin, chalice and cover, all of silver ; 
 within the church are several good monuments. 
 The tower is square and small, surrounded at 
 the top by a plain battlement, and has within it 
 three small bells and a saint ? s bell. There is an 
 annual sermon on new-year's day, with a new- 
 year's gift to tl>e poor inhabitants of the parish, 
 founded by Mr. Edward Temple in 1701. 
 
 Within this parish lie part of Upper West- 
 wick, St. Swithin's-lane, the whole of Nether 
 Westvvick, now called St. Swithin's-street, ancj 
 Church-lane. On the west side of St. Swithin's- 
 lane is situated 
 
 THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL, 
 
 A small neat building of brick, the inside of 
 which is adorned in the manner of the church 
 of Rome. The altar is. at the wes,t cnjl, the 
 carved work of which is very elegant, and it has 
 a good old painting of the crucifixion, and six 
 candlesticks of silver gilt : at the east end is .a 
 
 he lived, for which lie has by some been denominated the 
 Christian Heraclitus.
 
 205 
 
 gallery, supported by pillars. The service of 
 the church of Rome is performed here twice 
 every Sunday,, and a sermon preached in En- 
 glish ; there is likewise service in the morning 
 of all festivals and fasts, and also at other times. 
 Between the east end of the chapel and the 
 lane is a good dwelling-house for the residence 
 of the priest. 
 
 In the north-west part of this parish, on the 
 river Wensum, is situated 
 
 THE NEW MILLS, 
 
 So called in distinction from the old mills, of 
 which there were several on the different 
 branches of the river more to the westward. 
 The mills were first erected when the old mills 
 were demolished, about the year 1459, and were 
 afterwards greatly improved when the water 
 works were added to them. They are the pro- 
 perty of the corporation, and formerly all the 
 bakers in the city were obliged to grind their 
 corn here. In 1706 they were leased for eighty- 
 seven years, which term expiring in 1793, they 
 were let to Messrs. White and Crane, the pre- 
 sent lessees, for the term of ninety-nine years. 
 Besides the corn mills., here are mills for fulling 
 cloth and cutting logwood, and also the water 
 works for supplying the city with water, which 
 is raised by an engine, constructed with great, 
 ingenuity and expence by the proprietors, and 
 by which the water is carried to the reservoir in
 
 206 
 
 Chapel-field, from whence the highest parts of 
 the city are plentifully supplied, and there are 
 fire plugs for filling the engines in case of fire. 
 There has also been lately established a gauze 
 manufactory, of great extent, by the Messrs. 
 Grout. This beautiful fabric employs a very 
 large number of hands, and promises to be 
 highly advantageous to the city. On the east 
 side of the mills is a commodious bridge for car- 
 riages, which forms a communication between 
 the parishes of St. Swithin and St. Martin at 
 Oak ; and from this bridge the river is navigable 
 for keels or barges of fifty or sixty tons burthen 
 to the port of Yarmouth. 
 
 A little to the east of St. S within 's stands 
 
 18. ST. MARGARET'S* CHURCH, 
 
 A plain building, consisting of a nave and chan- 
 cel, with an aisle on the south side. The tower 
 is plain and square, with a battlement of brick- 
 work on the top ; within it are five bells, and a 
 small saint's bell, now disused. The inside is 
 commodiously fitted up, and at the altar is a 
 good painting of Moses and Aaron ; but there 
 are no monuments which deserve notice. This 
 church (which appears to have been founded 
 before the year 1226) is a rectory in the pre- 
 
 . 
 
 * St. Margaret was a virgin and martyr of Aatioch ? 
 
 who suffered under Decius, by order of OJibius, bis lieute. 
 nant, A. D. 278. Her festival is marked in the caleiidai 
 the 20th of July.
 
 207 
 
 sentation of the bishop of Norwich, but its value 
 is so inconsiderable that divine service is per- 
 formed only once a fortnight. In this parish 
 lie part of Upper Westwick, St. Margaret's- 
 lane, part of Pottergate-street, Church-street, 
 St. Margaret's-plain, and a small part of Nether 
 Westvvick. On the north side of the plain is 
 situated 
 
 THE NORWICH DISPENSARY, 
 
 For relieving the sick poor with medical assist- 
 ance. This truly benevolent institution was 
 first opened in the year 1804., and is supported 
 by voluntary contributions. It is under the di- 
 rection of a patron, president, fourteen vice- 
 presidents, and two physicians, who appoint a 
 treasurer, an apothecary, and a secretary. The 
 dispensary is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, 
 and Fridays, at nine in the morning, when one 
 of the physicians always attends. So beneficial 
 has this charity proved to the poor, and so 
 highly has it answered the purpose of the sub- 
 scribers, that in the last year no less than 801 
 persons were admitted and benefited, of which 
 number 167 were attended at their own habita- 
 tions. At the south-west corner of St. Marga- 
 ret's-lane, next Pottergate-street, is 
 
 THE BAPTISTS' MEETING-HOUSE, 
 
 A. small neat building of brick, erected about 
 twenty -four years ago, the inside of which is well
 
 208 
 
 fitted up, and there is a brass branch hanging- 
 in the middle ; there is preaching twice every 
 Sunday. More eastward from St. Margaret's 
 stands 
 
 19. ST. LAWRENCE'S* CHURCH,, 
 
 Upon the very spot of ground which in ancient 
 days, before the retreat of the sea, when Nor- 
 wich was a great fishing town, was the quay 
 where all the fish were landed. It belonged to 
 the bishops of the East Angles, who, in the time 
 of Edward the Confessor, founded a small church 
 here, which he settled on the abbey of Bury St. 
 Edmund's, about the year 1038. In 1460 the 
 old church was pulled down, and the present 
 noble and regular structure began to be erected, 
 which was finished in 1472. The tower is a 
 handsome square building, 112 feet high, with 
 a door and window on the west side ; and over 
 the corners of the arch of the door are two curi- 
 ous pieces of ancient carved work ; that on the 
 north part represents the martyrdom of the saint 
 to whom the church is dedicated, who is here to 
 
 * St. Lawrence was much celebrated in the church of 
 Rome (though only a deacon) for the sanctity of his life, 
 his powerful preaching, and the miracles whfch he is said 
 to have performed, but more especially for his unparelleled 
 patience and constancy in suffering martyrdom for th 
 truths which he preached ; being condemned by the Em. 
 peror Decian, A. D. 259, to suffer a most cruel death. 
 He was laid on a gridiron or frame, and broiled alive over 
 a slow fire. His festival was celebrated August 10
 
 209 
 
 be seen broiling on the gridiron, and the soldiers 
 tending- the fire ; near them stands the emperor 
 Decian, at whose command this cruelty was ex- 
 ecuted,, and behind him is a figure of the Al- 
 mighty, with a crown on his head, and a sword 
 in his hand strking at the emperor, who is seen 
 falling under the stroke. The carving on the 
 south part represents the martyrdom of St. Ed- 
 rnund, the king of the East Angles, who is seen 
 tied to a tree, and the Danish soldiers are shoot- 
 ing him to death with their arrows. The upper 
 part of the tower is ornamented with pinnacles 
 and a handsome battlement, having in the centre 
 a lofty shaft, supporting a vane resembling a 
 gridiron, on which is seen the body of St. Law- 
 rence. Within the tower are a clock (the dial 
 of which is on the east side) and six large and 
 musical bells ; the tenor, weighing upwards of 
 15 cwt. is rung as a curfew bell every evening 
 at eight o'clock. This church being built upon 
 the spot which, before the retreat of the sea, was 
 a quay or landing place, appears, when viewed 
 on the north side, to stand on an eminence, and 
 on the contrary, when seen on the south, to be 
 so much sunk that the street lies much above it, 
 and the approach is by a descent of several 
 steps, of which there is also a double flight both 
 at the east and west ends of the church; the 
 former being very spacious and convenient, it is 
 a place of great traffic. The inside of the 
 church is lofty and regular, the windows are 
 DC!
 
 210 
 
 large, and the pillars slender. The pulpit and 
 altar-piece* are modern and elegant ; but there 
 are no monuments within the church. Before 
 the dissolution this church and rectory were in 
 the gift of the abbot and convent of Bury St. 
 Edmund's ; afterwards it became private pro- 
 perty, but in 1639 it fell to the crown, by which 
 it has since been presented, or else held in se- 
 questration, as it now is. Divine service is per- 
 formed once every Sunday. 
 
 Within this parish lie the eastern part of 
 Upper West wick (now better known by the 
 name of Upper St. Lawrence-street), St. Law- 
 rence-lane, part of Pottergate-street, Fishers'- 
 lane, a part of the north side of Broad-street, 
 the whole east end of Nether Westwick (now 
 called Lower St. Lawrence-street), and Bridge- 
 street. 
 
 In Lower St. Lawrence-street is a common 
 pump, the water of which was brought from St. 
 Lawrence well (several yards more to the north- 
 ward behind the houses), by Robert Gybson, in 
 1 576 : it is now called St. Lawrence Pump, and 
 is in the front of the north side of the street, 
 
 - 'Hie old altar-piece falling into decay, about thirty 
 years ago the present was erected at the e"xpence of the 
 parish. On the summit of the pediment the architect 
 placed a small cross of wood, which gave offence to the 
 archdeacon's visitors, as being contrary to the canon, who 
 ordered it to be taken down. The vacancy was supplied 
 "by a metalic ornauieut, now remaining.
 
 an 
 
 with curious inscriptions, which were revived 
 when the pump was repaired and beautified 
 about six years since. 
 
 At the north end of Bridge-street is situated 
 
 COSLAKY BRIDGE, 
 
 The oldest in the city, uniting this parish with 
 that of St. Michael's Coslany. It was re-built 
 in 1805., in a strong and substantial manner, of 
 cast iron. The old bridge having two small 
 arches, was a great obstruction to the free pas- 
 sage of the water in the event of a flood, to re- 
 medy which there was a cut or channel from the 
 river, beginning about 400 yards west of the 
 bridge, which (forming an island) fell into the 
 river again about 200 yards east of the bridge ; 
 and another cut began at the bridge, and joined 
 with the former about 180 yards eastward, over 
 which were bridges ; and these channels were 
 designed to carry the water from that part of 
 the river above the bridge to that part below it. 
 From the construction of the present bridge 
 they were no longer necessary, and are now 
 filled up. 
 
 20. ST. GREGORY'S* CHURCH 
 
 Is a large handsome building, the inside of 
 which deserves notice. The high altar is so ad- 
 
 * Probably Pope Gregory I. surnamed the Great, 
 A. D. 590. His festival was March 12. 
 
 od 2
 
 Yantageously situated as to have a wide common 
 passage under it ; it is adorned with curious 
 carved work, and the paintings of Moses and 
 Aaron ; the carpet or covering of the altar is 
 ancient and curiously embroidered ; the plate is 
 handsome and valuable. The font is the finest 
 in England : in 1626 it was adorned and beauti- 
 fied, being surrounded with a rail and orna- 
 mented with curious carvings ; in 1776 it was 
 again put into thorough repair, painted, and 
 gilt : it stands in the centre of the western part 
 of the church, and is so large, that the pews are 
 contracted to afford a passage round it. This 
 church has a light appearance, having large 
 windows and slender pillars. . The pews are re- 
 gular and the pulpit handsome. Before it stands 
 a noble brass eagle, with its wings expanded, at 
 which the service was formerly read. In the 
 middle of the nave is a brass branch of sixteen 
 sockets, presented by Mrs. Eliz. Goose, in 1703. 
 Within the church are several ancient and curi- 
 ous monuments; particularly that of Sir Francis 
 Bacon, one of the judges in the point of king's 
 bench during the reign of Charles II. it is 
 adorned with curious carvings, and has the 
 longest inscription that is to be seen on any 
 monument, ancient or modern, in this kingdom. 
 There is also an ancient monument of Sir 
 Joseph Payne, knt. A.D. 1668; and another of 
 Sir Peter Seaman, knt. A.D. 1715; besides se- 
 veral handsome modern ones. Over the front
 
 213 
 
 of the south porch is a clock with a dial, which 
 has a device to show the phases of the moon. 
 The tower is square, and has five bells within it ; 
 the top is surrounded with a battlement, from 
 which rises a lofty spire, covered with lead, 
 bearing date 1597. The upper part of it was 
 blown down in 1806, but has since been repair- 
 ed by the parish, and a Ian thorn or turret placed 
 thereon, covered with a dome, from which rises 
 a vane, and within it is the bell on which the 
 clock strikes. This church is of ancient founda- 
 tion, consisting of a nave and two side aisles, 
 and was probably built in the 12th or 13th cen- 
 turv. It was at first a rectory, in the advowson 
 of the family of the Valoine, who were foreigners 
 (probably Normans who came over with the 
 Conqueror), and by. whom the church was, most 
 likely, in great part built or endowed. In 1276 
 John Fitz Bernard, one of the last of that fami- 
 ly, appropriated it to the cathedral church, to 
 which it has ever since been appendant, and is 
 now a perpetual curacy in the nomination of 
 the dean and chapter. Divine service is per- 
 formed once every Sunday ; and here are three 
 annual sermons, one on the feast of the Epipha- 
 ny, the others are on the feast of the nativity of 
 St. John the Baptist, and the feast of St. John 
 the Evangelist; the two last were founded by 
 John Weaver, a London carrier, who died in 
 1625. The commemoration sermon of Sir Joseph 
 Payne is preached on the 19th day of August, in
 
 214 
 
 the afternoon, or the Sunday after, when the 
 corporation attends. 
 
 The parish extends to the river on the north, 
 and takes in Charin g-cross, part of Pottergate- 
 street, and the two lanes called Goat-lanes. The 
 shearmen or cloth-cutters formerly dwelt tog-e- 
 ther in the north-east part of this parish, called 
 Shearer's-hill ; and at the meeting of the three 
 streets formerly stood a neat stone cross, called 
 Shearers'-cross, which name the street still re- 
 tains,, though custom has corrupted the sound 
 to Charing-cross. The cross was taken -down 
 in 1732. On the north side of the street is a 
 lane which leads to the river, called Nailors'-lane, 
 being formerly inhabited by nail- makers. Stone- 
 gate Magna, in this parish, now called Upper 
 Goat-lane, is a street of great traffic, as it leads 
 directly to the market-place. Stonegate Parva 
 is now called Lower Goat-lane, on the west side 
 of which stands 
 
 THE QUAKERS' MEETING-HOUSE, 
 
 A small building, distinguished by that peculiar 
 plainness and neatness which characterises the 
 society to which it belongs. The friends meet 
 here every Sunday and Tuesday in the fore- 
 noon. 
 
 MIDDLE WVMER WARD 
 
 Contains the parishes of St. John's Maddermar- 
 ket, St. Andrew, St. Michael at Plea, and the
 
 215 
 
 dissolved parishes of Holy Cross and St. Chris- 
 topher. 
 
 21. ST. JOHN'S MADDERMARKET* 
 
 Consists of a nave and two aisles ; the inside is 
 commodious., and at the west end is a small gal- 
 lery. This church abounds in ancient inscrip- 
 tions and monuments, and it has a very handsome 
 modern one, erected in the year 1792, to the 
 memory of Lady Margaret, duchess of Norfolk, 
 (daughter of Thomas Lord Audley, of Walden, 
 in Essex, lord chancellor of England, who died 
 in February, 1563, aged twenty-three years) by 
 her descendant, John Lord Howard, of Walden. 
 She was second wife to Thomas Howard, duke 
 of Norfolk, who was beheaded in the reign of 
 queen Elizabeth, and lies interred in the parish 
 church of Fersfield, in Norfolk. The tower is 
 lofty and handsome, and has a common passage 
 under it, with a carved stone arch ; it is crowned 
 with a battlement and the symbols of the four 
 evangelists, in the middle of which rises a shaft 
 with a vane ; within it are six musical belis, 
 which were new cast in 1766. This church H 
 a rectory, in the presentation of the custos and 
 fellows of Winchester-college, commonly called 
 . 
 
 * St. John Baptist in Madclermarket took its name from 
 a market, kept on the north side of the church-yard, for the 
 sale of madder, a plant much used by the dyers. Though 
 the market has been discontinued for seieral centuries, the 
 place still retains the name.
 
 216 
 
 New- college, Oxford; and divine service is per- 
 formed in it every Sunday. Here is an annual 
 sermon upon the feast of St. Andrew, founded by 
 Mr. Francis Gillians, worstead-weaver, who died 
 in 1719; he also founded a lecture, to be 
 preached on the Sunday evening-, by the minis- 
 ter who preaches on the morning of the same 
 day at the cathedral church, from the first to 
 the sixth Sunday after Easter, and from the first 
 to the last Sunday after Trinity. 
 
 This parish contains Maddermarket, properly 
 so called, part of Pottergate-street, Dove-lane, 
 formerly called Holtor-lane, the site of the late 
 duke's palace, and the west end of Wymer- 
 street, now more commonly called St. Andrew's 
 Broad-street. 
 
 On the north side of the church-yard is a 
 common pump, called St. John's pump, kept in 
 repair by the parish ; and on the west side 
 stands 
 
 THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL, 
 
 A large handsome building of brick, erected in 
 the year 1794. The inside is very commodi- 
 ously fitted up ; the pulpit is extremely neat, 
 and stands against a pillar on the east side ; 
 the roof is supported by two rows of slender 
 pillars ; ranging with them are galleries on the 
 sides, and an organ-loft at the south end, on 
 which is a neat organ. At the north end is
 
 the altar,* which is elevated by several steps, 
 and beautifully adorned with pillars of plaster 
 work ; in the middle is a fine painting of the 
 crucifixion,, and in the extremities are curious 
 carvings of the three theological virtues. On 
 the altar are a crucifix and six candlesticks of 
 silver gilt. There is a sermon preached in Rn- 
 glish every Sunday morning; after which high 
 mass is sung., accompanied by the organ ; and 
 in the afternoon vespers are sung. Service is 
 likewise performed on all the festivals and fasts 
 of the church of Rome. 
 
 In the most northerly part of this parish,; 
 bounded by the river, is the site of 
 
 THE DUKE'S PALACE, 
 
 Anciently the seat of the dukes of Norfolk,, being 
 purchased by Henry, duke of Norfolk, in the 
 reign of Henry VIII. In 1602 the duke of Nor- 
 folk pulled down the old house and began to 
 build a most magnificent palace; which his 
 grandson Thomas, duke of Norfolk, had scarce- 
 ly finished, when a great dispute arose between 
 the duke and the mayor, Thomas Havers, esq. 
 the latter not permitting the duke's company of 
 
 * The church of Rome appears to have of late dispensed 
 with the position of due east and west, to which such par- 
 ticular attention was paid in the structure of ail the ancient 
 churches. la the catholic chapel in St. Swithiu's.lane the 
 altar is at the west end; in the old chapel at the Duke's- 
 palace it stood north. 
 
 F, C
 
 18 
 
 
 comedians (who had a theatre in the palace) to 
 enter the city with trumpets, banners, &c. as 
 they had always before done, which the duke 
 so much resented, that he pulled the greatest 
 part of it down, and left the city ; from which 
 time it has been entirely neglected till the be- 
 ginning of the present century. That part of 
 the building which remained was hired by the 
 corporation of guardians for a workhouse for 
 the city poor ; but their lease expiring in 1801, 
 the poor were soon afterwards removed to the 
 new workhouse, and the premises being sold by 
 the noble proprietor, the building late the work- 
 house has since been pulled down, the ground 
 cleared, and granaries, coal bins, &c. built 
 thereon. On part of the site stands a public- 
 house, known by the sign of the Duke's Palace ; 
 and on the south part, next Wymer-street, is 
 situated 
 
 THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, 
 
 A very neat building, formerly a chapel for the 
 Roman catholic religion, under the patronag* 
 of the duke of Norfolk. "When the chapel in 
 St. John's church-yard was erected, this build- 
 ing was leased of the duke, for the purpose to 
 which it is now applied, and for which it is very 
 convenient. In October, 1794, the library was 
 removed hither from the city library-room, in 
 St. Andrew's-hall, where it had been kept from 
 the time of its first institution in the year 1784.
 
 219 
 
 The terms of admission are two guineas and a 
 half; after which the subscription is twelve shil- 
 lings annually. The collection of books con- 
 sists of upwards of 6000 volumes, which in- 
 creases. There are at present more than 500 
 subscribers., twenty-four of whom constitute a 
 committee, exclusive of the president, vice-pre- 
 sident, and ex-president. Twelve of the com- 
 mittee are chosen annually, and each member 
 sits two years. The librarian takes care of and 
 delivers out the books every day between the 
 hours of eleven and two, and seven and nine in 
 the evening from the first of September to the 
 last day in April, Sundays and some particular 
 festivals excepted. The committee meets on 
 the second Monday in every month, and an 
 annual meeting of the subscribers is held in the 
 first week in September, when the subscriptions 
 become due. 
 
 On the south side of this street formerly stood 
 
 THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS,* 
 
 Which was built before the year 1272; and 
 from the time of Richard I. the advowson of it 
 
 * It was dedicated to the invention or finding of the 
 holy cross (A. D. 31(5, by Helena, mother to Cot.stantine 
 the Great, to the memory of which was a yearly festival 
 May 3d), and was commonly denominated St. Crowches ; 
 and from the brethren of the holy cross, the site of their 
 monastery in the city of London still retains the name of 
 Crutched Friars, 
 
 EC 2
 
 220 
 
 belonged to the prior and convent of the cathe- 
 dral, who settled it on the infirmary; hut it was 
 afterwards confirmed to St. Giles's hospital, to 
 which the site now belongs. On the 14th of 
 Oct. 1551, it was desecrated and demolished, 
 and the parish was from thenceforth united to 
 St. John's. A part of the building is still stand- 
 ing, being converted into a public-house, known 
 by the sign of the Hole in the Wall. 
 
 22. ST ANDREW'S CHURCH 
 
 Is of ancient foundation, being built before the 
 conquest, and belonged to John le J3mn, who 
 gave it to his college of St. Mary in the Fields, 
 which it remained wjth till the dissolution, when 
 it fell to the crown, Jn 1552, Edward VI. 
 granted the advowspn to William Mingay and 
 William Necton, and their heirs, pf whom in 
 1559 it was purchased by the parish, so that it 
 remains to this day a donative in the gift of the 
 parishioners, the majority of whom elect the 
 minister. 
 
 In 1478 the tower was rebuilt; it is large, 
 lofty, and very handsome ; the upper part has 
 lately been repaired, ornamented, and crowned 
 with a vane; within it are a clock and eight 
 large bells,* and on the north side; of the jsteeple 
 is a handsome dial, 
 
 * The great bell has on it this curious distich : 
 Let us sound and tune together, 
 England's sweet peace for erer,
 
 221 
 
 In 1500 the old church was pulled down, and 
 the present regular and beautiful structure 
 erected; it was finished and opened in 1506, 
 and is now the best parish church in the city 
 (except St. Peter's Mancroft), containing a nave 
 and two side aisles, which are spacious ; the roof 
 is supported by slender gothic pillars, and the 
 whole enlightened by large windows; that at 
 the east end being the remains of an old paint- 
 ing intended to represent the brazen serpent in 
 the wilderness.* The altar is handsome but 
 heavy, and is adorned with Moses and Aaron 
 larger than life. The plate belonging to it is 
 ancient, but handsome and valuable. The church 
 is regularly pewed, and in the centre stands the 
 pulpit and reading desk, after the manner of 
 some of the new churches in London, erected 
 by Dr. Ben. Joseph Ellis, rector, in 1741 ; be- 
 fore it hangs a brass branch of sixteen sockets. 
 At the West end is a neat organ, erected by the 
 parishioners in .1808, and below a handsome 
 dial. In this church are many fine ancient mo- 
 numents in high preservation, particularly that 
 of Sir John Suckling, knt. (father of Sir John, 
 Suckling, the poet) who died March 27, 1627, 
 and was buried here. There are also some good 
 modern monuments ; and in the vestry are se- 
 veral old books. Divine sen-ice is performed 
 
 * The painter was injudicious in the choice of his colours, 
 as lie has made the brazen serpent blue. Below is a group 
 of figures illustrative of the subject.
 
 222 
 
 here twice every Sunday, and a sermon in the 
 afternoon ; prayers are read on all festivals and 
 fasts, and a lecture preached every Thursday 
 in the forenoon. The commemoration sermon 
 for Lady Suckling is on the Friday next after 
 the feast of St. Simon and Jude, and that of Sir 
 John Suckling on the first Sunday in Novem- 
 ber, both in the afternoon, and at which the 
 corporation attend. Mr. Hall's sacramental lec- 
 ture is preached here once every four months.* 
 At the north-east corner of the church -yard is a 
 common pump. 
 
 The parish contains the east end of Wymer 
 or St. Andrew's Broad-street, Bridge-street, St. 
 Andrew's-hill, the east end of Pottergate-street, 
 St. Andrew's-steps, Bridewell-alley, London- 
 Jane, part of Cockey-lane, part of the Back 
 of the Inns, Swan-lane, formerly called Rackey- 
 lane, and Great Cockey-lane, formerly called 
 Smithy-lane or Smith's-row. 
 
 In Wymer-street, at the corner of the church- 
 yard, is kept the office belonging to the Sun Fire 
 Insurance, London ; near which is the parson- 
 age-house and a house for the parish clerk. 
 
 Bridge-street extends from the church to 
 
 BLACK FRIARS' BRIDGE, 
 So called from its adjoining the ancient convent 
 
 * On the Friday before the first Sunday in the month? 
 of April, August, and December.
 
 223 
 
 of the black friars. It was built of timber, in 
 the time of Henry V. rebuilt in the same manner 
 in the reign of Edward IV. and first built of 
 stone in the year 1586. In 1783 it was taken 
 down and re-erected on an elegant plan, con- 
 sisting of one large arch of Portland stone, with 
 an iron balustrade on each side, and a descent 
 of stone steps to the river at the south-east cor- 
 ner. The expence of taking down and re-build- 
 ing it amounted to 1290/. On the east side of 
 Bridge-street is situated 
 
 ST. ANDREW'S HALL,* 
 
 Formerly the convent of the Friars de Sacco, 
 or Brethren of the Sac. The whole premises 
 bounded by Bridge-street on the west, by the 
 river north, by Elm-hill east, and the street 
 leading to Hungate south, was settled on them 
 about the year 1250, where they built a church, 
 dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and which stood 
 where the hall now stands. The Friar Preach- 
 ers, Dominicans, or Black Friars,f were united 
 
 * The whole of the east side of Bridge-street lies in East 
 Wymer ward, but having long been taken for a part of St. 
 Andrew's parish, I hare continued the description in this 
 place. 
 
 f They were called Friar Preachers from their public 
 preaching, and many of them possessed great eloquence; 
 they were also called Dominicans, from St. D >minic, th/eir 
 founder, who died in 1221, and was canonized in 1223; 
 and Black Friars from their habit.
 
 221 
 
 to them before the year 1308, being removed 
 hither from the other side of the water. They 
 enlarged this convent, which they continued to 
 inhabit till May 4, 1413, when the church and 
 convent were burnt down by an accidental fire, 
 by which they were obliged to return to their 
 old habitation, while this convent and church 
 were rebuilding ; they were however compelled 
 to return before it was completed., being burnt 
 out there also in 1449. 
 
 The noble fabric now standing was erected 
 by Sir Thomas Erpingham, knt. who died in 
 1428, before it was completely finished, which 
 was effected by his son, Sir Robert Erpingham, 
 rector of Bracon Ash, a friar of this convent, 
 whose arms are on many parts of the outside of 
 the building. The church was built in the form 
 of a cathedral, with the tower between the nave 
 and the chancel, but it does not appear that 
 there ever were any transepts. The whole 
 building is in a very perfect state, except the 
 tower, which was of stone, the upper part sex- 
 angular, but being in decay, it fell down, through 
 neglect, Nov. 6, 1712, the weather being then 
 very calm, and much damaged the nave and 
 chance!, which were afterwards effectually re- 
 paired. The present building was dedicated to 
 St. John the Baptist by the black friars, as the 
 church of their old convent was; the bur) ing- 
 ground was on the south side of it, and all per- 
 ions who died of the plague in St. Andrew's
 
 parish were buried there. In the time of the 
 great rebellion, it was made a depot fur the arms 
 of the artillery company. The most westerly 
 part was the preaching yard of the friars ; at 
 the south-west extremity stood the gate or grand 
 entrance, built by Sir Thos. Kemp, chaplain, in 
 1542. The building was afterwards used for 
 the sword- bearer's office, &c. In 1608 it was 
 made a public city library, and continued so till 
 1774, when the gate, buildings, and wall were 
 taken down, the library was removed to the 
 new porch adjoining the hall, and the ground 
 laid open to the street, as it now appears ; the 
 cast part of it was enclosed with a wall and pali- 
 sade, and converted into a neat garden. 
 
 The church and convent, at the general dis- 
 solution, fell into the king's hands, who granted 
 it (through the interest of the duke of Norfolk) 
 to the mayor and corporation for the use of the 
 city for ever ; accordingly the whole of the con- 
 Ventual buildings were converted to different 
 purposes ; these were situated on the north side 
 of the church, between it and the river, and 
 contained the cloister and common hall, with 
 the dormitories of the friars, since used for a 
 workhouse, and other parts of it were let to 
 different persons. The chancel was used as a 
 public chapel, and the before-mentioned Mr. 
 John Kemp appointed chaplain ; but after his 
 death the daily service ceased, no other chaplain 
 being appointed; and the Dutch 6r Walloon 
 
 Ff
 
 226 
 
 congregation petitioned to have it for a place of 
 public worship, which was granted, and they 
 enjoyed it till 1650, when the corporation 
 had the forenoon service in it on Sundays, in- 
 stead of the cathedral, and the sermons which 
 used to be preached at the cross in the green 
 yard there, were then preached in the old 
 preaching-yard of the friars ; and the Dutch 
 were permitted to assemble in St. Peter of Hun- 
 gate. In 1661 the pulpit and seats were re- 
 moved from hence to the cathedral again, where 
 the corporation have ever since attended, and 
 the Dutch have had possession of the chancel. 
 In 1687 the Roman catholics petitioned to have 
 it for the exercise of their religious worship, but 
 the Dutch kept possession of it, and the catho- 
 lics were permitted the use of the west granary 
 on the north side of the church, which had 
 lately been used by the Independents, as the 
 east granary had been by the Presbyterians,, but 
 which they had then quitted, having been per- 
 mitted to erect meeting-houses for themselves 
 in other parts of the city. The Roman catho- 
 lics used this place till they were provided with 
 a chapel at the duke's palace. The hall was 
 afterwards used as an exchange for the mer- 
 chants and tradesmen to meet in ; but it has 
 long been discontinued. Formerly the assizes 
 for the city were held in it, but were after- 
 wards removed to guildhall, where they are 
 now kept. Here were likewise kept the feasts
 
 227 
 
 of the several companies of tradesmen, all of 
 which are now abolished ; but the mayor's 
 feast,* on the guild-day, is usually held here, 
 and it is the grandest corporation dinner in this 
 kingdom, out of the city of London. 
 
 The building in its present state is a regular 
 and beautiful structure, consisting of a nave and 
 two side aisles, more than fifty yards in length 
 and thirty in breadth. The roof, which is very 
 lofty, is supported by twelve slender gothic pil- 
 lars ; the whole is enlightened by spacious win- 
 dows, which were anciently of painted glass, but 
 none of them are now remaining. The pave- 
 ment was new laid in 1646. Between the nave 
 and chancel, where the tower formerly stood, 
 the stone mullions only of the windows remain, 
 the glass being demolished, ^he chancel is of 
 only one roof, without pillars, and is above forty 
 yards long. In the place where the tower for- 
 merly stood is erected a neat sexangular turret, 
 crowned with a dome, from which rises a gilt 
 ball : within it is a small bell ; it is rung when 
 the corporation meet here to attend divine ser- 
 vice in procession. f 
 
 * The first mayor's feast held here was in the year 
 1544. This feast was then a part of the guild of St. 
 George's company, which will be particularly described 
 hereafter. 
 
 r The guild-day is an exception to this, when the cor. 
 poration meet at guildhall; and also the assize sermon, 
 when they aUajs assemble at the free.school. 
 Ff 2
 
 223 
 
 In the centre of the east end of the nave is a 
 handsome clock (which strikes on the bell in the 
 turret), over which is placed'a fine gilt figure of 
 justice ; her eyes blinded by a bandage ; in 
 her right hand is a sword, in her left a pair of 
 scales, suspended in equilibrio. Under the clock 
 is the royal arms, richly emblazoned, carved, 
 painted, and gilt. The rest of this fine front 
 view is covered with paintings of several royal 
 and noble benefactors to the city and other dis- 
 tinguished personages, drawn at full length, 
 large as life, and set in elegant frames, carved 
 in great variety, and superbly gilt. In like 
 manner on the walls under the windows of the 
 north and south aisles are placed, elegantly 
 framed, portraits of many gentlemen who have 
 filled the different offices of magistracy in the 
 city with dignity and honour to themselves and 
 advantage to their fellow citizens; and serve as 
 a public testimony of the great esteem in which 
 they were held, as well as of the ability and 
 ingenuity of the artists by whom they were 
 executed. 
 
 There is a large window at the west end of 
 the nave, under which is a gallery, supported by 
 pillars ; over the upper part of the window is 
 placed ah ensign, sixty feet in length, supported 
 by a staff, at the north end of the gallery. At 
 the bottom of the west window is fixed an orna- 
 mented shield, on which is the arms of Sir Ed- 
 ward Berry, knt. and the following inscription r
 
 229 
 
 " The ensign of the French ship Genereux, 
 taken in the Mediterranean., Feb. 18, 1800, by 
 his majesty's ship Foudroyant and squadron, 
 commanded by Lord Nelson. The Genereux, 
 with the Guillaume Tell, since taken by the 
 Foudroyant, Lion, and Penelope, were the only 
 chips which escaped the memorable victory ob- 
 tained by Lord Nelson over the French at the 
 Nile, Aug. 1st, 1798. In testimony of his gra- 
 titude for the honours conferred on him by the 
 city of Norwich, this trophy is presented in the 
 second mayoralty of Robert Harvey, esq. by Sir 
 Edward Berry, knt. captain of his majesty's 
 ship Foudroyant, 1800." 
 
 Undejr this is placed the arms of the city of 
 Norwich. 
 
 On the north side of the trophy is placed the 
 joiner's arms, and under it the carpenter's arms, 
 both neatly carved and painted ; and on the 
 south side, the plumber's and baker's, executed 
 in the same manner. 
 
 At the west end of the north aisle is fixed up 
 a table of benefactions to the charity schools in 
 the city.* 
 
 In the north aisle are placed seventeen por- 
 traits, which, beginning from the west end, are 
 ranged as follows : 
 
 1. Benjamin Hancock, esq. mayor in 1764. 
 
 2. Jeremy Harcourt, esq. mayor in 1762. 
 
 * An account of these schools will be hereafter given.
 
 3. Sir Thomas Churchman, knt. mayor in 
 1761. 
 
 4. Nockold Tompson, esq. speaker of the 
 common council, by whom this picture was pre- 
 sented, mayor 1759. 
 
 5. Robert Rogers, esq. mayor in 1758. 
 
 6. John Goodman, esq. mayor in 1757. 
 
 7. Jeremiah Ives, esq. (presented by the gre- 
 g-orians) mayor in 1756. 
 
 8. Peter Colombine, esq. mayor 1755. 
 
 9. John Gay, esq. mayor 1754. 
 
 10. John Press, esq. mayor in 1753. 
 
 11. Thomas Hurnard, esq. mayor in 1752. 
 
 12. Thomas Harvey, esq. mayor in 1748. 
 
 13. William Crowe, esq. mayor in 1747 ; in 
 the costume of the artillery company, of which 
 he was captain ; his fusil rests against a tree 
 at his feet lie the robes of magistracy. 
 
 14. Simeon Waller, esq. mayor in 1745. 
 
 15. William Wiggett, esq. mayor in 1742. 
 
 16. William Clarke, esq. mayor in 1739. 
 
 17. Robert Harvey, esq. mayor in 1738. 
 
 A table of the subscription to the boys' hos- 
 pital. 
 
 At the north-east corner of this aisle is fixed 
 the weaver's arms. 
 
 At the east end of the aisle are two pictures 
 
 1. Charles Harvey, esq. recorder of the city. 
 
 2. The right honourable William Windham, 
 formerly one of the members in parliament for 
 the city.
 
 At the east end of the nave, on the north side 
 of the clock, her majesty queen Anne;* pre- 
 sented by St. George's company ; in her full 
 royal robes, with the crown on her head, holding 
 the sceptre and ball. 
 
 On the south side of the clock, his royal high- 
 ness Prince George of Denmark. 
 
 On the north side of the king's arms 
 
 . 1. Horatio Walpole, esq. formerly member 
 for the city ; presented by himself in 1741. 
 
 2. The right hon. Robert, earl of Orford. 
 
 On the south side of the king's arms 
 
 1. The right hon. John Lord Hobart, lord 
 lieutenant of the county. 
 
 2. Thomas Vere, Esq. member for the city, 
 and mayor in 1735. 
 
 Immediately under the king's arms is a fine 
 picture of Lord Nelson, presented by the cor- 
 poration in 1804 ; the frame of which is in a 
 style of superior elegance, with his lordship's 
 arms emblazoned at the top. He is represented 
 in the full dress uniform of a British admiral, 
 standing on the quarter deck of a man of war, 
 the rigging of which is finely represented. In 
 his left hand is a drawn sword, and he appears 
 in the act of giving the command ; on the 
 carriage of a gun lies his hat, ornamented with 
 
 * Queen Anne ought to be considered as a great bene- 
 factress to the city, most of the small livings having beeu 
 augmented by her bounty.
 
 the aigrette presented to him by the Turkish 
 emperor ; he likewise \Vears the star and garter 
 of the order of the bath, the insignia of the 
 order of St. Joachim,, &c. It is a striking like- 
 ness, and was painted by Sir Wm. Beechey. 
 
 On the north and south sides of the last-men- 
 tioned picture are placed two very fine historical 
 paintings, each measuring 12 feet by 11, in 
 handsome gilt frames ; presented to the city by 
 Mr. Martin, an eminent painter of London and 
 a native of the city, June, 1787. That on the 
 north side is the story of Edward and Eleonora, 
 and that on the south the execution of Lady 
 Jane Grey. 
 
 At the east end of the south aisle are two pic- 
 tures 
 
 1. Sir Harbord Harbord, bart. (lord Suffield) 
 one of the city members and alderman. 
 
 2. The hon. Henry Hobart, member in par- 
 liament for the city in 1803. 
 
 At the south-east corner is the arms of St. 
 George's company ; over which is a neatly- 
 carved figure of St. George encountering the 
 dragon.* 
 
 In the south aisle is a table of the benefactions 
 to the great hospital, and seventeen portraits, 
 arranged as follows : 
 
 * Here formerly stood the stone tomb of Robert Bar- 
 nard, esq. at which St. George's company used to hold 
 Oioir meetings.
 
 233 
 
 1. Thomas Back, esq. mayor in 1809. 
 
 2. John Patteson, esq. mayor in 1788, lieut.- 
 col. of the first regiment of Norwich volunteers; 
 in the uniform of the corps. 
 
 3. Thomas Harwood, esq. mayor in 1728, 
 treasurer of the charity schools. 
 
 4. Jeremiah Ives, esq. chairman of the com- 
 pany of the yarn-makers, who presented this 
 picture in 1781 ; twice mayor, viz, 1756 and 
 1795. 
 
 5. John Spurrell, esq. mayor in 1737. 
 
 6. Timothy Balderston, esq. captain of the 
 honourable artillery company mayor in 1736; 
 in the full uniform of that corps. 
 
 7. Francis Arnam, esq. mayor in 1732. 
 
 8. Robert Marsh, esq. mayor in 1731. 
 
 9. Benjamin Nuthall, esq. mayor in 1721 and 
 1749. 
 
 10. John Herring-, esq. mayor in 1799,, who 
 received the thanks of the government, commu- 
 nicated by the duke of Portland, for his kind 
 attention to the troops on their return from the 
 continent, in their march through the city in the 
 time of his mayoralty ; in the back ground a 
 view of the street leading to Tombland, in which 
 the soldiers are seen filing off to their quarters 
 in parties some through weariness resting on 
 the ground ; on a table by the side of the mayor 
 is spread a letter, signed Portland. 
 
 11. J6hn Harvey, esq. major of the Norwich
 
 234 
 
 light horse volunteers, 1797 mayor in 1794; in 
 the uniform of the corps. 
 
 12. Robert Partridge, esq. mayor in 1784. 
 
 13. Elisha De Hague, esq. speaker of the 
 common council, by whom this picture was pre- 
 sented, 1764. 
 
 14. Samuel Harmer, esq. speaker of the com- 
 mon council. 
 
 15. Thomas Starling, esq. mayor in 1767. 
 
 16. James Poole, esq. mayor in 1765. 
 
 17. John Dersley, esq. mayor in 1764. 
 
 At the west end of this aisle is a table of the 
 benefactions to the charity schools. 
 
 The principal entrance into the hall is through 
 the great south porch, rebuilt in the year 1774, 
 which is of white brick, in the gothic taste ; in 
 the chamber of which is 
 
 THE CITY LIBRARY, 
 
 First established in the year 1608, and which 
 has been much increased by subsequent bene- 
 factions. In this room the corporation assemble 
 before they go publicly to church ; and in this 
 porch is also kept the court of conscience, for 
 the recovery of debts under forty shillings, first 
 established by act of parliament in 1701, the 
 commissioners of which sit here every Monday. 
 On the north side of the hall is the court of the 
 guardians of the poor, who sit every Tuesday 
 and Friday. The hall is used (by permission 
 of the mayor) on Saturdays for a corn exchange
 
 from eleven to two o'clock. The chancel or 
 choir is now called 
 
 THE DUTCH CHURCH, 
 
 That congregation having still a right of meet- 
 ing here for divine worship (though not an ex- 
 clusive one), for ever. Since the year 1769 it 
 has been ordered by the court of guardians, that 
 the poor in the workhouse should attend divine 
 service here, a chaplain being appointed for 
 that purpose by the court of mayoraly to per- 
 form it once on every Sunday, so that the ser- 
 vice is alternate between the two congregations. 
 Though large, it is very meanly fitted up, and 
 no bell is rung for service. The east end is 
 raised high, and fronted with a balustrade, con- 
 taining a large table, with seats surrounding it, 
 for receiving the Lord's supper according to the 
 practice of the church of Geneva, whose disci- 
 pline the Dutch congregation professes to fol- 
 low. At the west end are seats raised in the 
 form of a gallery for the poor children belong- 
 ing to the workhouse. In the centre is a com- 
 modious seat for the gentlemen of the commit- 
 tee, some of whom always attend. Prom the 
 north side of the hall to the river, the whole 
 premises are now 
 
 THE CITY WORKHOUSE. 
 
 ' The remainder of the convent of the black friars 
 not before noticed, was made one of the city
 
 workhouses when the act passed for incorporat- 
 ing the several parishes in the city and hamlets 
 in the year 1711. The other workhouse was at 
 the duke's palace (before mentioned), and so 
 continued till 1804, when the new buildings 
 next the river were completed., to which the 
 poor were removed. These buildings are spa- 
 cious and commodious ; the front is of red brick, 
 and extends from the old workhouse to the 
 bridge. On the east side of St. Andrew's-hiU 
 anciently stood 
 
 st. CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH,* 
 
 One of the oldest in the city, but being burnt 
 down in the great fire during the reign of 
 Henry III. was never rebuilt. The greatest 
 part of the parish was united to St. Andrew's, 
 and the remainder to St. Michael at Plea. 
 
 On the east side of St. Andrew's church 
 (ranging the whole length of it) is situated 
 
 THE CITY BRIDEWELL, 
 
 A noted building of flint, the north wall of which 
 (next the church-yard) is esteemed one of the 
 greatest curiosities of the kind in England. It 
 extends seventy-six feet in length, and is about 
 
 * St. Christopher was a saint famous in the Romish 
 church by the story of his carrying our Saviour over the 
 water, who appeared to him in the form of a little child. 
 He suffered in 354, under Julian the Apostate, and had a 
 festival to fcis memory, in the Latin calendar, July 26th.
 
 237 
 
 twenty-five feet high. The Hints are so neatly 
 cut and squared,, that the edge of a knife cannot 
 be inserted between the joints ; most of them 
 are about three inches square ; the surface is 
 smooth, and no mortar appears. 
 
 This house was anciently the property of Bar- 
 tholomew Appilyard, bailiff of the city in 1372 ; 
 but the present building was erected by William 
 Appilyard., his eldest son, who was the first 
 mayor of Norwich., and kept his mayoralty 
 therein in the year 1403. It extended at that 
 time to Pottergate-street on the south, and after- 
 wards falling into the hands of the corporation, 
 it was converted into the house of correction for 
 the city, as it has ever since continued. A 
 great addition was made to the buildings in 1782 
 by erecting several ranges of new cells on the 
 west side of the yard next Bridewell-alley. It 
 is now a very convenient penitentiary-house, 
 and has within it a chapel for the prisoners, the 
 chaplain being appointed by the corporation. 
 
 In Cockey-lane, at the corner of the Back of 
 the Inns, is the printing-office of Bacon, Kinne- 
 brook, and Co. printers of the paper called the 
 Norwich Mercury, first published by Mr. Win. 
 Chase in 1730. 
 
 23. ST. MICHAEL AT. PLEA. 
 
 This church derives its name from the pleas 
 or courts of the archdeacon of Norwich, which 
 have been and still are kept in it, for which rea- 
 son it has been called in some old evidences St.
 
 23S 
 
 Michael at Motstow, and had the precedence of 
 all the parish churches in the city ; it has also 
 been called St. Michael at Muspool (i. e. Much- 
 pool), there having been a large pool, where 
 the red well afterwards stood. This church is 
 built in the form of a cross, having- a nave, 
 chancel, and two transepts ; that on the north 
 is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and the 
 south to the Virgin Mary. The inside is neatly 
 fitted up, and between the nave and the chancel 
 are some curious old paintings, representing the 
 Salutation, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, 
 our Lady of Pity,* Judas betraying Christ, St. 
 John, St. Margaret, St. Benedict, and St. Au- 
 gustine. In the nave is a brass branch, pre- 
 sented by Mr. Gibbs. The communion plate 
 is handsome, consisting of an offering dish, two 
 flagons, a cup with a cover, and a patin. The 
 tower is square, and had five bells, but the upper 
 part of it falling into decay, was taken down 
 and the bells sold. It was repaire t d, as it now 
 appears, with a large handsome gothic turret, 
 (crowned with a vane) in which hangs a 
 small bell. In the tower is a clock, with a dial 
 on the south side. In this church are many cu- 
 rious monuments and inscriptions ;f it appears 
 
 * Represented by the Virgin Mary, surveying the dead 
 body of our Saviour. 
 
 + On a stone in the church wall is this laconic inscription : 
 Here lieth the body of honest Tho. Page 3 
 Who died in the 25th year of his age. 
 1705.
 
 239 
 
 to have been founded before the year 1147, and 
 is a rectory in the patronage of the lords of the 
 manors of Horsford and Sprowston,* who pre- 
 sent it alternately. Divine service is performed 
 in it every Sunday. In this parish is Queen- 
 street, Bank-street,, Bank-place (formerly called 
 Red Well and anciently Muspoolf), King's 
 Arms-lane,, part of London-lane, and Mermaid- 
 lane. 
 
 The house on the north side of Queen-street, 
 adjoining the church -yard, is the rectory -house 
 of the parish. 
 
 In Bank-place is the bank of Messrs. Gurneys, 
 from which the street takes its present name. In 
 this place the first printing-office in the city was 
 opened by Francis Burgess in 1701. King's 
 Arms-lane was so called from an inn of that 
 name, where was formerly the old assembly- 
 room, the whole of which has lately been taken 
 down, the street widened, and made passable 
 for carriages. At the end of this street is a very 
 neat row of houses, called Paragon Buildings. 
 
 Mermaid-lane is so called from a well-known 
 tavern of that name. 
 
 To this parish is united the principal part of 
 the dissolved parish of St, Mary the Less, though 
 the whole is still considered as part of the ward 
 
 * The first is John Morse the younger, esq. the latter 
 the right hon. Lady Dacrc. 
 
 t The pool was filled up, and the red well and pump 
 first made in 1629.
 
 240 
 
 of North Conisford. The church stands on the 
 north side of Queen-street; it is supposed to 
 have been first erected about the bee'innino- of 
 
 o o 
 
 the thirteenth century, and it was cevlied St. 
 Mary's at the Monastery Gate, from its situation 
 with respect to the cathedral church., to which 
 it was appropriated, and it continued parochial 
 tHl after the reformation, when the parish being- 
 consolidated to St. George at Tombland and to 
 St. Michael at Plea, the building was sold by 
 the dean and chapter to the corporation for 
 20/. who fitted it up for a cloth exchange in 
 1564. In the year 1623 it was made a hall for 
 the sale of worstead yarn, and so continued till 
 1631, when it was suffered to fall into decay. 
 
 In 1637 it was granted to the congregation of 
 French protestants, called the Walloon Com- 
 pany, who completely fitted it up for divine 
 worship in the manner in which it now appears. 
 It is commonly called the French Church, and 
 is composed of a tower, nave, and chancel. It 
 is regularly pewed ; and over the communion 
 table are placed the ten commandments, &c. in 
 the French language. The tower is square, 
 but has no bell in it. The minister is chosen 
 by the congregation, and performs divine wor- 
 ship every Sunday. 
 
 Several eminent divines of different dis- 
 senting persusions have occasionally preached 
 in it.
 
 241 
 
 EAST WY.MER WARD 
 
 Contains five parish churches., viz. St. Peter of 
 Hungate, St. George at Tombland, St. Simon 
 and Jude, St. Martin at the Palace, and St. 
 Helen ; besides the site of the black friars (which 
 has been already described) and the dissolved 
 parish church of St. Matthew. 
 
 24. ST. PETER OF HUNGATE, 
 
 Or Houndsgate (so called because the bishop's 
 hounds were anciently kept near it), is a church 
 of very ancient foundation., having been present- 
 ed by the dean and chapter of the college of St. 
 Mary in the Fields, before the year 1271. The 
 dean and chapter, in 1458, conveyed the advovr- 
 son to John Paston, esq. and Margaret his wife, 
 who pulled down the old church and erected 
 the present small but neat building, in the form 
 of a cross, that is, a nave, two transepts, and the 
 chancel. The tower is square and plain, and 
 contains three small bells. The church is very 
 neat within side, with a handsome altar, the 
 plate belonging to which, consisting of a curious 
 wrought cup and cover, a large patin, two fla- 
 gons, and an offering dish, are, for their weight 
 and antiquity, very valuable, also a modern cup, 
 the gift of Mr. Matthew Goss. The church is 
 a rectory in the. appointment of the lord bishop 
 of Norwich, as it has been ever since the year 
 1638, and divine service is performed in^it every 
 
 nh
 
 Sunday. This parish contains Hungate-street 
 and Elm-hill., with a part of Elm-lane, which 
 are all contained within a very small compass ; 
 part of the site of the black friars was originally 
 within it, but was severed from it when they 
 were settled there,, and which has continued 
 extra-parochial ever since. 
 
 Elm-hill takes its name from a large elm tree 
 still growing- there,, near which is a common 
 pump., kept in repair by the parish. 
 
 25. ST. GEORGE* AT TOMBLAND,f 
 
 Anciently called St. George at the Monastery 
 Gate, was a rectory belonging to the college of 
 St. Mary in the Fields before the year 1290, at 
 the dissolution of which it fell to the crown, and 
 was by queen Elizabeth granted to the bishop 
 of Ely, in whose presentation it still remains. It 
 is a good building, the iipper part of the nave 
 
 * St. George, martyr of Cappadocia, suffered crucifixion 
 umlerDioclesian in 283. The story of his encountering the 
 dragon was probably takep from some fabulous legend. 
 He has been accounted the tutelar saint of England ever 
 since he appeared (according to the story) to Robert, duke 
 of Normandy, son to William the Conqueror, when be. 
 sieging the city of Ant toe h, and occasioned his obtaining a 
 complete victory over the Saracens 
 
 See IVheatley on the Common Prayer, p. 64, 
 
 i Tombland was an ancient common burying-place when 
 the city was first inhabited, which name it has ever since 
 retained.
 
 243 
 
 bring rebuilt with brick., and it has a chancel 
 nnd l\vo side aisles. The inside is handsomely 
 fitted up, and has spacious galleries. The pul- 
 pit and altar are remarkably neat. The com- 
 munion plate, which consists of a large offering 
 dish, pa (in, two large flagons, and t\vo cups with 
 covers, all of silver, doubly gilt, were the gift of 
 Stephen Gardiner, esq. In the church are se- 
 veral handsome monuments. The tower, rebuilt 
 bv the parish in 1445, is handsome and regular; 
 it is square, and crowned at the top with a bat- 
 tlement and a shaft with a vane, besides a small 
 turret, in which the clock bell hangs ; within it 
 are five bells and a clock, the dial of which is 
 on the south side. Divine service is performed 
 here every Sunday. 
 
 This parish contains Tombland, the east end 
 of Hungate, and the north end of King-street. 
 
 The corner house at the east end of the 
 church is the registry-office of the lord bishop 
 of Norwich. 
 
 On the west side of Tombland, opposite the 
 cathedral gate, is a large house, commonly called 
 Sampson and Hercules, the portico of which 
 was formerly supported by two large figures of 
 those heroes, in wood encrusted with a rough 
 kind of stucco; the first held in one hand a 
 jaw-bone, in the other a fox ; the latter was en- 
 veloped in a lion's skin, and held a club; but 
 i lie front of the house having been altered, the 
 lures are removed to the sides of the door 
 Hh 2
 
 244 
 
 within the court, and have been said to be. the 
 best gigantic statues in the kingdom, next to 
 those in guildhall, London. This house was 
 formerly the domain of Sir John Fastolf, knight, 
 afterwards of the Countess of Lincoln, and 
 then of the duchess of Suffolk, in the time of 
 Henry VII. 
 
 On the east side of Tombland are the ware- 
 house^ of Mr. S. Marsh, from whence go the 
 London and Cambridge waggons twice a week ; 
 also Hadfield's old York waggon, which con- 
 veys goods to Manchester, Birmingham, Shef- 
 field, York, and all the manufacturing towns 
 in Yorkshire. 
 
 There is a charter for three yearly fairs to be 
 kept on Tombland, viz. on Thursday before 
 Easter,* on Whitsun eve, and on Trinity eve.f 
 The first of these fairs is very considerable for 
 cattle and horses, but this part of the fair has 
 been kept on the castle ditches ever s since the 
 market for cattle has been held there. The 
 shew of lambs used to be on the north end of 
 
 * Anciently kept on Good Friday. 
 
 f Originally these two fairs were but one, beginning on 
 Whitsiui evp., in the morning, and continuing from that 
 Time till the day .after Trinity Sunday at night. These 
 fairs at first belonged to the convent of the cathedral 
 church; in the reign of Edward I. they were divided be- 
 tweea the monks and the citizens, and at the dissolution 
 they fell into the hands of the corporation, who are still 
 lords of (he fair.
 
 Tombland, but it has ceased of late years. 
 The fair now kept on the south part of Tomb- 
 land is a mart for wicker and turnery wares, 
 toys, hardware, and ginderbread. The two last 
 fairs are entirely discontinued. There was for- 
 merly a common pump on the north part of 
 Tombland, which now stands on the east side 
 against the wall, near the cathedral gate. The 
 south end of Tombland and part of King-street, 
 within this parish, lie in Conisford ward, as have 
 been already described. 
 
 . 
 
 26. THE CHURCH OF ST. SIMON AND JUDE 
 
 Is of very ancient foundation, and belonged to 
 the bishops of the East Angles before the see 
 was settled at Norwich. From the year 1329 
 it was united with the rectories of St. Swithin, 
 in Norwich and Crostweyt, now Crostwick, 
 in Norfolk, and so continued till 1546, when 
 they were severed, and have remained so ever 
 since., this church being still a rectory in the 
 presentation of the lord bishop of Norwich ; 
 it has a nave and chancel, with a plain 
 square tower, in which are five bells. The in- 
 side is commodious, and has several old mo- 
 numents, particularly those belonging to the 
 family of Pettus, remarkable for the length 
 of the Latin inscriptions. Their commemora- 
 tion sermon is on the first Sunday in August. 
 Divine service is performed here every Sun- 
 day. This parish adjoins the river, and con-
 
 246 
 
 tains Cook-row, which is the principal street, 
 part of Elm-lane, part of Elm-street, and 
 Fye-bridge quay. On the east side of Cook- 
 row, behind the site of the houses, next the 
 street, formerly stood the chapel of St. Simon 
 and Jude, which was probably founded be- 
 fore the church, and served as a chapel to 
 the bishop's house, which joined the south 
 side qf it, and was the ancient city residence 
 of the bishops of the East Angles till the see 
 was removed to Norwich and the present 
 palace built. The bishop's house was con- 
 verted to other purposes, but the chapel was 
 appropriated by the bishop to St. Giles's hospital, 
 although it continued to be used for a place of 
 divine worship till after the year 1314, being- 
 kept in repair by the said hospital. In the year 
 1400 it was called the hospital house, (being 
 then desecrated) and the site still remains the 
 property o that foundation. The site of the 
 bishop's house afterwards became the Molde 
 Fish or Murtle Fish tavern, but has for many 
 years been called the Maid's Head, being one of 
 the principal inns in the city, and the public 
 office of the chancellor of Norwich is still open- 
 ed here for the clergy and churchwardens at 
 the time of the bishop's general visitations. 
 The north end of Cook-row* joins to 
 
 * Cook-row, or Coke row, took its name from Coke- 
 stool, or Cucke-stool adjoining to Fye.bridge. This
 
 TVE-BRIDGE.* 
 
 At first abridge of timber, but rebuilt of stone in 
 
 O * ^ 
 
 the reign of Henry IV. It fell into decay in the 
 time of Henry VIII. was broken down by 
 a flood in 1570, and was strongly rebuilt of 
 stone in 1573, with a great arch and a small 
 one, as it now remains ; the large arch is 
 twenty-six feet wide. This bridge is th^ most 
 frequented of any in the city, being the prin- 
 cipal passage from the northern parts of the 
 county. There is a strong brick wall along 
 the side of- the river, extending the whole 
 length of Fye-bridge quay, at the end of which 
 is Fye-bridge staithe. This was formerly a 
 great fish market, and there were likewise se- 
 veral butchers' stalls as well as fish stalls, all 
 of which were taken down in 1662. 
 
 Cucke.stool was the ordinary punishment of prostitutes, 
 strumpets, and common scolds, who by clamorous brawl- 
 ing were a nuisance to their neighbours. By the regu- 
 lations made by the court in 1562 it was ordered that 
 women of the above descriptions were to ride in a cart, 
 holding in her hand a paper, on which her accusation 
 was inscribed; a brass basin tinkling before her, and 
 at one o'clock to be taken to the cucke.stool and there 
 ducked in the rifer. Margaret Grove, a common scold, 
 was the last that underwent this whimsical punishment, 
 who in 1507 was sentenced to be carried with a basin 
 rung before her to the cucke-stool at Fye-bridge, and 
 there three times ducked. 
 
 * Fye-bridge, i. e. Five-bridge, being the fifth bridge 
 that was erected in the city.
 
 248 
 
 27. ST. MARTIN* AT THE PALACEf 
 
 Belonged to the bishops of the East Angles 
 till bishop Herbert gave it to the cathedral, 
 then newly founded by him, with which it has 
 since remained, and is now a donative in 
 the presentation of the dean and chapter. 
 The church contains a nave and chancel,, with 
 two ^fde aisles and a square tower at the 
 west end, the upper part of which fell down 
 through decay in 1783, and was repaired., as 
 it now appears, with four pinacles and a vane, 
 and one small bell within it. 
 
 In 1300 mention is made of a school being- 
 kept in the parvicej for teaching children to 
 read and sing;, and probably the children of the 
 choir were taught here. 
 
 * St. Martin, bishop of Tours, in France. He died 
 in 400; his festival is in the cak'iidar, Nov. llth. 
 
 t So called from its situation opposite the gate of 
 the episcopal palace, sometimes calhd St. Martin on 
 the Plain, from standing in the middle of a large open 
 piece of ground, and this must have been its original 
 name, as it was founded ^ong before- the palace was built. 
 
 j The parvice was in the most westerly part of the 
 church, and in many places the school for children 
 was kept there, and whence it derived the name, " a 
 1'arvis Pueris ibidem edoctis," and here the catechumens 
 were anciently placed, for which reason the font stands 
 in this part of the church. Courts, both spiritual and 
 temporal, were sometimes held in the parvice, and the 
 leet of the hundred kept in them, but this was after, 
 wards prohibited by the canons.
 
 Divine service is performed here every Sun- 
 day. The North side of this parish is bounded 
 by the river,, and in it we find the following 
 places : The great plain on which the church 
 stands, St. Martin's-street, Norman's or Pig- 
 Jane, another lane leading to Pye-bridge quay, 
 called Badding's-lane, Bridge-street, World's- 
 end-lane, and Tabernacle-lane, with the lane 
 or way leading from the Tabernacle to Bishops- 
 gate-street, which has not a dwelling-house in 
 it. St. Martin's street leads from Tombland to 
 the church ; the south side of it is in the liberty 
 of the precincts of the cathedral, from which 
 the wall is continued which surrounds the pre- 
 cincts and the bishop's palace. 
 
 At the north end of Bridge-street is 
 
 WHITE FRIARS' BRIDGE, 
 
 Which took its name from the monastery of 
 the white friars near it. It is strongly built 
 of white stone, with one large arch, and had 
 formerly two turrets to keep the passage, which 
 were taken down in the reign of James I. At 
 the north-east corner of St. Martin's-plain is 
 the World's-end-lane, so called from a public- 
 house known by the sign of the world's End, 
 representing the day of judgment ; the un- 
 wary stranger take this lane for a street of 
 common passage, but coming to the east end 
 of it finds his mistake, and is obliged to return 
 by the same way which he came. 
 
 i i
 
 At the other corner, opposite the east end of 
 the church, there is a public-house,, with the 
 sign of Cupid and his Bow : near this place 
 was the scene of the bloody engagement between 
 the citizens and the rebels, in the time of Kett's 
 rebellion, which continued from morning till 
 noon., when the gallant lord Sheffield was most 
 barbarously massacred by a cruel wretch, named 
 Fulke, a butcher, when he was thrown from 
 his horse and called for quarter. The spot 
 where this melancholy catastrophe happened 
 was marked by a flat stone in the pavement, 
 near the before mentioned public-house, and 
 it is remembered to have been there by per- 
 sons now living, but it is not still to be seen. 
 
 At the south-east corner of this street, 
 abutting on the bishop's garden, formerly stood 
 
 ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH. 
 
 This was a rectory in the presentation of the 
 Archdeacon of Norwich. It was small, and fell 
 into decay about the year 1300, when it was 
 suffered to go to ruin, and the parish was united 
 to St Martin's. 
 
 Opposite to St. Matthew's church, at the 
 north-east corner of the same street, formerly 
 stood the old grammar school, which was under 
 the patronage of the bishop, and by whom the 
 masters were appointed ; the same foundation 
 included the singing school for the choristers, 
 and which was probably that kept in St. Mar-
 
 251 
 
 tin's church by some person appointed by the 
 master of this school to educate the choristers 
 and other children in English, while he con- 
 fined himself to the superior scholars, there 
 being- generally an inhibition published by the 
 bishop, prohibiting all persons from teaching 
 grammar or singing in the city except the mas- 
 ter of this school or his assistants. At the re- 
 formation, when the new grammar school was 
 founded, this was dissolved, and the building 
 was let out into tenements. It went by the 
 name of Rome Hall, and some part of it was 
 standing in 1760, when (having become private 
 property) it was sold and pulled down and on 
 its site was erected and now stands 
 
 THE METHODIST'S MEETING-HOUSE, 
 
 Belonging to the followers of the Rev. George 
 Whitfield. This house was opened by him, and 
 he afterwards preached several times in it. It 
 was erected by subscription, and for some time 
 it belonged to Mr. James Wheatley, and was 
 called the Tabernacle. It was afterwards sold 
 to the right honourable Selina, countess of 
 Huntington, then patroness of the metho- 
 dists of the Calvinistic persuasion, and was 
 denominated Lady Huntington's Chapel. It 
 was served by her own chaplains, who sometimes 
 read the service of the church in it ; after her 
 death it became the property of the congrega- 
 tion, as it still continues, and who hold the Cal- 
 li 2
 
 252 
 
 vinistic doctrines. It is a uniform handsome 
 building, erected and fitted up on the plan of the 
 tabernacle in Tottenham Court Road,, London. 
 It has a large gallery on all the four sides ; the 
 pulpit is large, and stands on four pillars near the 
 west-end; in the front of it is the communion 
 table. There is a dial in the front of the east 
 gallery, and a large branch hangs in the centre. 
 On the south side, next the street, is an inclosed 
 court, at the east end of which is a good house 
 for the minister. There are three sermons 
 preached in it every Sunday, and two lectures 
 in the evening on the week days. 
 
 28. ST. HELEN'S PARISH 
 
 Is situated in the most easterly part of the city, 
 bounded by the river on the north and east, and 
 by the precincts of the cathedral church on the 
 south and part of the west side, where the lat- 
 ter, as* well as this parish, joins St. Martin's. It 
 has only one street, or row of houses, namely 
 Bishopsgate-street*, on the south side of which 
 anciently stood 
 
 ST. HELEN'S CHURCH, 
 
 Which belonged to the monks of the cathedral, 
 on whose liberty it was situated. It has been 
 
 * Called in all old evidences Holm-street Holm sig- 
 nifying a marsh ; this being part of Cowholm. It took the 
 name of Bishopsgate from being anciently the liberty 
 of the bishops, and the gate was always repaired by them.
 
 253 
 
 pulled down since the year 1256, and the ehurch 
 and parish united to 
 
 ST. GILES'S* HOSPITAL, 
 
 Commonly called the Great Hospital, or Old 
 People's Hospital, which was founded by Walter 
 de Suffield, or Calthorpe, bishop of Norwich, in 
 124-9, for maintaining four chaplains to cele- 
 brate divine service and to pray for his soul for 
 ever, and also to be an asylum for the aged, de- 
 crepit, and infirm clergy in the diocese of Nor- 
 wich, as well as to support thirteen poor old 
 people, who were to have their lodging and one 
 meal in a day for life. When the building was 
 completed it was made parochial for the parish 
 of St. Helen's, the old church being pulled 
 down ; and that part of the hospital which is 
 now used as a chapel to the house has ever since 
 been and still is the parish church. 
 
 In 1253 the hospital was put upon a more 
 ample footing ; the statutes were confirmed by 
 
 * St. Giles, a holy man and hermit, whose festival is in 
 the calendar on the first of September. He was accidentally 
 wounded by the servants of the king of France as they 
 were hunting, so that he was lame the remainder of his life, 
 and for this reason esteemed the patron of the decrepit, 
 maimed, and wounded. Hospitals for such objects were in 
 old time generally dedicated to him, amongst which was 
 the famous hospital of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London ; and 
 when any poor person appeared decrepit enough to become 
 an object of such charities, he was proverbially called " A 
 Ume Giles." St. Giles died in the year 795.
 
 254 
 
 a bull from pope Alexander IV. by which the 
 foundation was to consist of a master and four 
 chaplains, who were all required to be in priests' 
 orders, two clerks in deacons' orders, and four 
 lay sisters, e-ich fifty years old, to be their ser- 
 vants. The master and chaplains lived toge- 
 ther, and were in the collation of the bishop, 
 who vras perpetual visitor and corrector of the 
 house. Thirteen poor old people had their din- 
 ner daily, with liberty of warming 1 themselves at 
 the common fire ; seven scholars, educated and 
 named by the master of the free grammar school 
 in St. Matthew's, had their dinner daily: as 
 they went off others succeeded. All poor stran- 
 gers and pilgrims, particularly clergy, were re- 
 lieved, refreshed, and lodged; if they were sick 
 or lame they were nursed and cured, and if 
 through age, accident, or infirmity, they were 
 incapable of going away, they were maintained 
 and taken care of during their lives. From 
 
 O 
 
 Lady-day to the feast of the Assumption of the 
 Virgin Mary,* at a certain hour, the great bell 
 was rung every day, and bread given to all poor 
 persons who were then present. The house 
 was called the House of God and of the bishop 
 of Norwich, and as often as he or any other 
 bishop should pass by that house, he should go 
 in and give his blessing to the sick there, on 
 which day the thirteen lay pensioners were 
 
 * August the 15th.
 
 255 
 
 wholly maintained, and a solemn mass was to 
 be sung-. Four more lay brothers were ap- 
 pointed to do the work of the house and wait on 
 the rest. The master every Sunday held a 
 chapter to correct offences, and he had the 
 sole nomination to all the vacancies that hap- 
 pened among the brethren and sisters. He was 
 to be a priest, and obliged to perpetual resi- 
 dence, if he was possessed of no other ecclesias- 
 tical benefice. The common seal of the hos- 
 pital was kept by the master and senior priest, 
 and was never used but at a general chapter. 
 At the death of the master, the government of 
 the hospital was committed to one of the priests 
 appointed by the bishop, till a new master was 
 inducted. The hospital was exempt in all things 
 within its own precincts, from all spiritual and 
 temporal jurisdiction whatever, except the right 
 of patronage and power of visitation, which was 
 reserved by the founder to his successors, bishops 
 of Norwich. The chapel, with the burying 
 ground, was consecrated by the founder, and 
 after his death, which happened in 1257, the 
 hospital was greatly augmented by William de 
 Donewyco, or Dunwich, a burgess of Norwich, 
 one of the four bailiffs of the city, whose bene- 
 factions were so considerable that he was es- 
 teemed a co-founder with the bishop, and com- 
 memorated accordingly. The largeness of his 
 gifts to this hospital proves him to have been a 
 person of great riches and consequence. From
 
 256 
 
 this time till 1430 the augmentations and bene- 
 factions to this charitable foundation exceeded 
 all credibility, and it must at this time have 
 been very richly endowed, when, by licence 
 from Henry VI. it was allowed to purchase more 
 land for the support of the establishment, which 
 at that time consisted of the master, eight chap- 
 lains, two clerks, seven poor scholars, who were 
 choristers, eight poor bedrid people, entirely 
 supported and maintained in the house ; thirteen 
 poor people dined and warmed there, besides all 
 strangers and pilgrims, who had a night's lodg- 
 ing and accommodation gratis, if there were 
 beds to hold them, besides the lay sisters and 
 poor clergy of the diocese, worn out by age or 
 infirmity, who were constantly maintained in it. 
 
 About the year 1469 this hospital was obliged 
 to provide a chaplain to officiate at the chapel 
 of St. Barbara at Guildhall, and to attend the 
 prisoners there. 
 
 In this state the hospital continued till the 
 reformation, when at the general dissolution of 
 religious houses it fell, with all its possessions, 
 into the hands of Henry VIII. who designed, 
 after dissolving the hospital, to have granted it to 
 the city, exempt from payment of all first 
 fruits, tenths, &c. but he died before this was 
 done ; nevertheless, in pursuance of his will, his 
 son and successor, Edward VI A. D. 1574, re- 
 leased the hospital to the mayor, sheriffs, citi- 
 zens, and commonalty of the city of Norwich,
 
 257 
 
 and their successors for ever, to hold the same 
 of the king in soccage, in fealty only, and that 
 it should from thenceforth be a place and house 
 for relief of poor people, by the name of God's 
 House, or the House of the Poor, in Holm- 
 street, of the foundation of Henry VIII. and 
 Edward VI. 
 
 By this new foundation it was ordered and 
 confirmed that the part of the church which 
 had been used for divine service should still 
 be for the use of the master and poor people, 
 and likewise for the inhabitants of the parish 
 of St. Helen* as their parish church ; and the 
 hospital for ever hereafter to be called God's 
 House, or the House of the Poor. And that 
 a priest should be appointed to serve the cure 
 of the parish, as parish chaplain and chaplain 
 to the hospital; his stipend to be paid out of 
 the revenues of the foundation, and the pre- 
 sentation to be in the corporation, which has 
 so continued to this day. The minister, be- 
 sides his stipend, to have a dwelling-house within 
 the precincts of the hospital. And also another 
 chaplain to officiate at the guildhall and to at- 
 tend the city prisoners, and to pray with such 
 as are condemned, and attend them to the 
 place of execution, whose stipend is to be paid 
 out of the revenues of this hospital. 
 
 * St. Helen was mother to Constautine, the first Chris* 
 tian Emperor.
 
 258 
 
 N. B. He is now ordinary or chaplain to the 
 city gaol, and officiates in the chapel in that 
 prison. 
 
 In the hospital was also founded a free gram- 
 mar school, instead of the one in the parish 
 of St. Matthew, then dissolved, for the mainte- 
 nance of a master and usher, to teach the Lai in 
 Grammar, without other fee or reward than their 
 stipends, to be paid them out of the revenues of 
 this house, but it was not expressed what num- 
 ber of poor scholars were to be taught. This 
 school was soon afterwards removed to the cha- 
 pel of St. John, in the precincts of the cathe- 
 dral., as it now remains, and will be noticed in 
 our account of that place. 
 
 There was also to be appointed a caterer or 
 steward, to provide for and maintain the poor in 
 this hospital ; a steward to collect the revenues, 
 a porter, cook, baker, and brewer; all of whom 
 are to be in the nomination of the mayor and a 
 majority of the court of aldermen. The foun- 
 dation to consist of forty poor people of both 
 sexes, who were to be entirely maintained and 
 provided for in the hospital, and to be conti- 
 nually resident therein, and four women to 
 wait upon and nurse them when necessary, to 
 make the beds, &c. and to be maintained and 
 cloathed in the same manner as the other poor 
 people. The corporation to have full power 
 to receive all future donations and charitable be- 
 quests made lo the said hospital, as well as full
 
 259 
 
 and ample possession of all the lands, messuages, 
 and appurtenances which it then possessed, 
 with power and privilege of appointing and 
 presenting to every future vacancy that should 
 happen in the hospital, either among the officers 
 or pensioners, as the only guardians of the same 
 for ever; all which was confirmed unto the said 
 corporation of the city of Norwich by charter 
 under the great seal of England, dated at West- 
 minster the 7th day of May, 1549, in the third 
 year of Edward VI. 
 
 In 1571, her majesty queen Elizabeth further 
 augmented the hospital with the lands of Robert 
 Redman, grocer, of Norwich, who being at- 
 tainted of high treason, forfeited his estates to 
 the crown ; out of which her majesty likewise 
 settled an exhibition to a poor Norwich scholar, 
 being in any of the colleges in the university of 
 Cambridge ; .and granted to the corporation 
 licence in mortmain, to purchase lands for the 
 support of the hospital ; from the increased value 
 of which since that time, and a great number of 
 sebsequent benefactions,, the revenues are so 
 much enlarged as to enable the corporation to 
 increase the number of pensioners, to augment the 
 salaries of the officers, and greatly to better the 
 maintenance of the poor people, as well as to 
 enlarge, repair, and beautify all the buildings 
 and premises, which are now in a state of neat- 
 ness and convenience, not to be exceeded by 
 any charitable foundation in this kingdom.
 
 260 
 
 The present establishment consists of (l.e 
 minister, (who is properly the custos^ or master 
 of the hospital,) chaplain to the house, and per- 
 petual curate of the parish of St. Helen. The 
 governor, whose office it is to superintend and 
 take care of the internal government of the 
 Jiouse and the poor people in it, ,who now 
 amount to 100, that is to say, fifty of each sex, 
 inclusive of the nurses. ' They are all cloathed 
 in blue, and must be sixty years of age, of good 
 repute, and have lived in and belong to the city. 
 The presentation is in the court of aldermen, by 
 rotation. 
 
 The church is built like a cathedral, in form 
 of a cross, with a nave, tower, two side aisles, 
 chancel, and south transept ; the north transept 
 is not now standing. The nave is divided into two 
 equal parts ; the most westerly of which is parted 
 by a strong floor into the upper and lower men's 
 waids ; the latter has lately been fitted up in a 
 style of peculiar neatness, in gothic work, and 
 resembles the cells of a convent. At the east 
 end is a bust of aid. Church, a liberal benefactor. 
 In all other respects a general description at- 
 taches to all the wards ; viz. the beds (one of 
 which each pensioner occupies) are placed on 
 the sides, with any little couveniencies the owners 
 may be possessed of; in the middle of the ward 
 is a long table, at which the inhabitants dine ; at 
 one end is a box to receive the occasional gra- 
 tuities of such strangers as may visit the hos- 
 
 "-
 
 pilal, and at the other, the book of common 
 prayer and bible of the largest edition ; over the 
 middle of each table is suspended a large glass 
 lantern ; a large fire-place is at one or both ends 
 of the ward, as its extent requires. 
 
 In the north 'aisle is a small ward, with beds 
 on one side only. The eastern part of the nave 
 is now used for the parish church of St. Helen 
 and as a chapel to the hospital. It is spacious and 
 commodious, be'ing properly fitted up, though 
 somewhat different from the accustomed plan of 
 parish churches: the pulpit is at the cast end of 
 the south aisle ; at the end of the nave is the 
 s.eat for the corporation, who attend divine ser- 
 vice here on the Wednesday in Easter week, in 
 the afternon, when a sermon is preached by the 
 mayor's chaplain, and all the benefactors to this 
 charity are commemorated, and the annual feast 
 kept. There is likewise a sermon yearly on the 
 Wednesday in Whitsun week, in the afternoon. 
 The altar is on the east side of the south tran- 
 sept ; opposite which is a seat of curious carved 
 work, in the gothic style, erected by John Ivory, 
 esq. when he lived in this parish. This transept 
 was a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary ; the 
 roof is of stone, curiously carved. The inter- 
 actions of the spandrils springing from the cor- 
 ners are painted and gilt, with small figures re- 
 presenting the Virgin, the Apostles, Evangelists, 
 &c. Here are monuments and inscriptions for 
 several eminent persons interred here; among
 
 262 
 
 the rest lies that judicious antiquan',, Mr. John 
 Kirkpatrick, treasurer to this hospital, who took 
 a large north-east prospect of this city.* Over 
 this transept is the inlimary or sick rooms, one 
 for the men and the other for the women. A 
 little more to the west is a large gothic porch, 
 which ranges with the street, and over it is a 
 ward for the women. At the south front is a dial, 
 and an inscription in honour of Henry VIII. 
 Edward VI. and Elizabeth. The tower adjoins 
 the south-west corner of the nave ; it is square 
 and plain, and has lately been repaired; within 
 it hangs one small bell. Divine service is per- 
 formed once every Sunday, and prayers read 
 every Wednesday and Friday. The pensioners 
 are always required to attend divine service, un- 
 less prevented by sickness. 
 
 The new chancel or choir was built by the 
 benefactions of bishop Spencer and others in 
 1383. It is a handsome regular building, com- 
 posed of one large aisle, and is now converted 
 into two wards for the women, one below and 
 
 * Mr. Blomfieldv (History of Norwich, p. 379) says he 
 published tins prospect; but the prospect now extant, and 
 in my possession, was published by his son, Mr. Thomas 
 Kirkpatrick, and d< dicutvd to the most noble Lord Charles 
 Viscou it Townshend, lord lieutenant of the city and coun- 
 ty; it is five feet in length and two in depth, and is the 
 largest and most accurate view ever published ; to it is 
 Annexed au illustrative plan. He was chamberlain of this 
 city.
 
 263 
 
 one above; that below is ornamented at one 
 end with the city arms and the kings arms at the 
 other; the ceiling of the upper ward is of very 
 curious fret-work, painted and gilt, and has re- 
 mained there ever since the choir was used for 
 divine worship. The church-yard and burying- 
 ground lie on the south, east., and north sides 
 of the chancel. The cloister adjoins the north 
 side of the church ; it is a neat quadrangle, 20 
 yards square, with a burying-ground in the mid- 
 dle, in which are some old head-stones, but no 
 person has been interred there of late years. 
 
 The cloister, with the master's lodge, and the 
 west end of the nave and tower, were rebuilt by 
 bishop Lyhert, JohnMolet, prior of Norwich, and 
 other benefactors. The refectory, or eating hall, 
 joins the west side of the cloister, and is now 
 converted into the new ward for men, which is 
 very conveniently fitted up. 
 
 The old lodge for the master stood on the 
 east side of the cloister, the site of which is now 
 the garden ; his habitation being on the east side 
 of the great court or square in front of the hos- 
 pital; on the north side of the court is a good 
 house for the minister. This court was formerly 
 inclosed with several buildings next the street, 
 with an old gate, and chamber on the west, all 
 which were taken down about twenty years since, 
 and the court laid open to the street, by which 
 improvement it is rendered extremely pleasant, 
 being separated from the street only by an iron
 
 264 
 
 palisade the inside is laid out in a grass plat, 
 with gravel walks. 
 
 On the west side of the court is situated an 
 elegant house, with spacious gardens ; it was 
 erected by Thomas Ivory, esq. son of the inge- 
 nious architect who built the assembly-house, 
 theatre, and the elegant range of buildings in 
 Surrey-street, and it is now called St. Helen's 
 Placet 
 
 Tiie lands adjoining belong to the hospital, 
 as far as the river on the north and east sides, 
 and and are called the hospital meadows ; at the 
 north-east extremity of which, adjoining the 
 river, stands a large round tower of red brick; 
 it is fifty-two feet in height arrd twenty-four feet 
 in diameter, on the south side of it is the remains 
 of a spiral stair-case the top is surrounded by 
 a battlement. It was anciently called the dun- 
 geon, being originally built for a prison ; it 
 had a floor, on which was a chamber, with a fire- 
 place, as appears by what now remain. It was 
 some time a toll-house, where the custom of the 
 river was collected, which then belonged to the 
 prior of the cathedral, who also used it for a 
 place of confinement for persons sued in the ec- 
 clesiastical courts. It was assigned, with the 
 land on which it stands, to the hospital, and 
 was suffered to remain in a ruinous state ; but 
 in 1378 it was conveyed to the use of the city, by 
 whom it was rebuilt in its present form in 1390, 
 at a great expense. In 1565 it was hired by
 
 265 
 
 Lord Maltravers, (for what purpose is not 
 known.) Since that time no use has been made 
 of it, and it is going fast to decay. 
 At the east end of the street stood 
 
 BISHOP'S GATE, 
 
 So called because it led directly to the bishop's 
 palace., and was originally built and repaired by 
 the bishops of Norwich till 1393; ever since it 
 belonged to and was repaired by the city ; the 
 bridge called Bishops Bridge adjoined the east 
 side of it. The gate was a neat gothic building, 
 (by far the lightest and handsomest of any of the 
 city gates,) the upper part was crowned with a 
 battlement, and at the extremities were four 
 turrets. It was taken down in 1791, and the 
 bridge repaired. 
 
 From this gate there is a turnpike road, as 
 follows: To Blofield 6 miles, Burlingham 9, 
 Acle 11, Fishley 12, Filby 16, Castor 19, Great 
 Yarmouth 23. 
 
 Wymer ward elects twenty common council- 
 men annually on the Wednesday in the week 
 next but one before Easter. 
 
 Ll
 
 266 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 The Northern Ward, with its Churches and 
 other Public Buildings described. 
 
 THIS is so called on account of its situation 
 with respect to the other three wards, it 
 lying wholly on the north side of the river ; like 
 those before described it is sub-divided into three 
 small wards, called Coslany, Colegate, and Fye- 
 Bridge. 
 
 COSLANY WARD 
 
 Contains three parishes, viz. St. Michael, St 
 Mary, and St. Martin at Oak. 
 
 29. ST. MICHAEL'S COSLANY,* 
 
 A rectory in the presentation of the master and 
 fellows of Gonvil and Caius-college, Cambridge ; 
 it is of ancient foundation, having been a rectory 
 before the year 1300. The present church is a 
 noble, large, and beautiful building, both without 
 and within ; it consists of a nave, rebuilt by 
 
 * Coslany, i. e. Coast-lane the street or lane lying 
 along the coast or side of the mer.
 
 267 
 
 John and Stephen Stallon, sheriffs of Norwich, 
 A. D 1511 and 12, a chancel, and a wide north 
 aisle ; on the other side is a large chapel of beau* 
 tiful workmanship, founded by Robert Thorpe 
 in the time of Henry VII. and joins the south 
 aisle, which was built by Gregory Claris aid, 
 who died in 1479. The wall of this chapel it 
 encrusted with squared black flints, in the same 
 manner as the wall of bridewell, which is so 
 much admired. The inside of the church is 
 lilted up in a very handsome manner; the pulpit 
 and reading desk, which stand on the south side, 
 being of wainscot; in the nave are two branches 
 of brass. The chancel is decorated in a style 
 of peculiar elegance. The screen of the altar 
 is of wainscot, forming a colonnade of the Co- 
 rinthian order; in the centre of which, over the 
 Lord's table, is a large and bautiful painting, re- 
 presenting the resurrection of Christ, painted by 
 Mr. Heins about th year 1740, and also the 
 four evangelists, as large as life. The pavement 
 of the altar is of black and white marble, brought 
 
 ' O 
 
 from the Earl of Yarmouth's private chapel, at 
 Oxnead, by Mr. Wm. Tuck, who purchased it 
 and presented it to the church. The commu- 
 nion plate is neat and uniform. There was a 
 fine brass eagle standing in the middle of the 
 chancel as late as the year 1774, at wliich the 
 lessons were formerly read, but it has been since 
 taken away. The font stands at the west end of 
 the north aisle, and is very large. In this church 
 L! 2
 
 268 
 
 are many monuments, some of which are antique 
 and curious ; among the more modern is a very 
 handsome one to the metnory of Edmund Hooke, 
 esq. barrister at law. Divine service is perform* 
 ed once every Sunday. 
 
 Mr. Henry Fawcett, who died 21st January, 
 1619., (a liberal benefactor to the city in general, 
 and this parish in particular,) lies buried here, 
 for whom there is a commemoration sermon 
 every New Year's Day ; the mayor and corpo- 
 ration attend divine service, and his numerous 
 benefactions are recited. 
 
 The tower stands at the west end of the nave ; 
 it is a noble building and very lofty; the upper 
 part of it has lately been repaired. From the 
 middle rises a lofty pinnacle, with a vane; within 
 it are eight large bells, and a clock with chimes, 
 which play every three hours. Over the west 
 door is the dial. On the south side was formerly 
 a porch ; the door a mausoleum, painted, with 
 a long inscription to the memory of Queen Eliza- 
 beth, but the porch was taken away about fifty 
 years ago. 
 
 There was formerly in this parish an hospital, 
 called St. Saviour's in Coslany, founded by Rich- 
 ard de Breckles, chaplain of this church, in the 
 reign of Edward I. It is not known in what part 
 of the parish it was situated, or how long it has been 
 dissolved. Many brass plates were reaved from 
 the stones, and stolen out of this church in the 
 year 1739. The robbers were never discovered.
 
 The south and west sides of this parish are 
 bounded by the river. The streets within it are 
 Bridge-street, Coslany-street, St. Michael's-street, 
 and a small part of Rosemary-lane. 
 
 On the east side of Bridge-street is a noble 
 house, formerly the residence of Aid. Hancock, 
 and late of Aid. Watson, and an elegant house 
 built by the late Edmund, Hooke, esq. both 
 which, with their extensive gardens to the east, 
 are now converted into barracks for foot soldiers. 
 On the west side of the street is an ancient house, 
 formerly the residence of aid. Poole, in which 
 were some antique arms and other carvings; it 
 it not improbable that this house was the site of 
 St. Saviour's hospital. 
 
 On the east side of Coslany-street is an excel- 
 lent rectory house, rebuilt by the Rev. Charles 
 Tuck, rector, about the year 1756. 
 
 30. ST. MARY'S CHURCH 
 
 Is a neat building in the form of a cross, standing 
 in a large church-yard. It was first built before 
 the year 1366, but was rebuilt in the manner in 
 which it now appears in the year 1477. The 
 inside is handsomely fitted up, and the plate for 
 the communion is valuable. The north transept 
 was dedicated to St. Thomas, and the south tran- 
 sept, as well as the church, to the Virgin Mary. 
 The commemoration of aid. Maltby is on the 
 28th day of October, when the corporation attend 
 once in three years. The tower is round, with a
 
 270 
 
 vane; in it are five small bells and a saint's bell. 
 This church is a donative of small value, in the 
 presentation of the most noble Marquis Towns- 
 hcnd. Divine service is performed every Sunday. 
 
 This parish abuts on the river on the west, 
 and has in it a small part of Coslany-street, St. 
 Mary's-plain, part of Rosemary-lane, the street 
 on the south side of the church which adjoins to 
 Southergate, and Tooley-street. 
 
 Opposite the south side of the church is si- 
 tuated 
 
 THE BAPTISTS' CHAPEL. 
 
 This was a very commodious building, having 
 about thirty years ago been greatly enlarged ; 
 but being still too small for the congregation, 
 who are numerous and very respectable, it was 
 taken down in the year 1811, and the present 
 noble and elegant chapel erected on the site, at 
 the expence of 5000/. The north end next the 
 street is of white brick, fronted with a grand 
 colonnade of pillars, of the Doric order, ap- 
 proached by several steps, and inclosed with an 
 iron railing. The building is nearly seventy 
 feet in length and thirty in breadth. The inside 
 is very beautifully fitted up, having the pulpit at 
 the south end ; at the front of which is the com- 
 munion table and baptistry. On the other three 
 sides it is surrounded with spacious galleries, the 
 ascents to which are very commodious. The 
 whole of the inside is decorated with every thing
 
 271 
 
 contributing to its appearance that the nature 
 of the place will admit. Two sermons are 
 preached every Sunday, and a lecture one even- 
 ing in the week. 
 
 The east end of the new mills are in this pa- 
 rish, and were sometimes called Gregory's Mills, 
 and also the lane leading from the mills, on the 
 south side of which is an extensive strong beer 
 brewery. 
 
 31. ST. MARTIN'S AT THE OAK 
 
 Takes its name from an oak tree standing in the 
 church-yard, near the steeple,* and is of ancient 
 though of uncertain foundation ; containing a 
 nave, chancel, and south aisle, which was built 
 by Thomas Wilkyns, aid. who died in 1491. 
 The inside is commodiously fitted up, but does 
 not contain any thing remarkable. The tower 
 
 * It was originally called St. Martin's in Coslany, and 
 did not take its present name till about the time of Ed w. II. 
 on account of a great oak then standing at the west end of 
 the church-yard, next the street, in which was placed au 
 image of the Virgin Mary, called our LadjMn the Oak; to 
 which so much superstitious adoration was paid, that in the 
 beginning of the reign of Edw. IV. the image was taken 
 away and the tree cut down. The present tree is not of 
 more than 158 years standing; for it appears by the regis- 
 ter book that John Tabor, constable and overseer, brought 
 it before him on his horse from Ranworth hall, near Hor- 
 ning Ferry, and planted it the 9th of March, 1656, proba- 
 bly by order of the parishioners, to preserve a name to 
 which they had long been accustomed.
 
 272 
 
 is square and plain, and contains three bells ; on 
 the top is a vane. This church is a perpetual 
 curacy., in the presentation of the dean and 
 chapter ; and divine service is performed every 
 Sunday. 
 
 The Rev. Jeremiah Revans founded a school 
 for six poor girls, and a yearly sermon on the 
 12th of July, in commemoration of his wife, 
 A.D. 1611.. 
 
 The contents of this parish (which on the 
 west side is bounded by the river) are, the north 
 end of Coslany-street, now called St. Martin's- 
 street, FulIerVhole, Jenkin's-lane, anciently 
 called Gog-lane, Gilden-croft, or Quaker's-lane, 
 and St. Martin's-lane. 
 
 There are several lanes on the west side of 
 St. Martin's-street, which lead down to the water 
 side, one of which, now called Water-lane, was 
 formerly called Mill-lane ; at the bottom of 
 which stood Calk Mill,* over a small stream, 
 running- from the river at Fuller's-hole, and 
 which here joins the river again. On the west 
 side of this street is the brewery of Morse and 
 Adams ; and at the north end lately stood 
 
 ST. MARTIN'S GATE, 
 
 Anciently called Coslany gate, a small plain 
 gateway, with a chamber, chiefly built of white 
 
 * Probably from one of the name of Calk, who might 
 originally erect it.
 
 brick, and the top surrounded with a battlement, 
 It was taken down in 1808, and the passage 
 laid open. The west side of its site adjoins a 
 small piece of wall, at the end of which is the 
 remains of a tower with several arches, but it is 
 going very fast to ruin ; the rivulet being at 
 some distance west from the tower, it is probable 
 its channel is altered, as this stream was un- 
 doubtedly designed to meet the wall, which it 
 might be impossible to continue as far as the 
 real stream of the river, on account of the soil 
 being marshy. On the wall from this place to 
 St. Augustine's gate are several towers, now 
 converted iuto habitations, and the wall is chief- 
 ly built upon both within and without. 
 
 From the gate the road leads to mile cross, 
 where it joins the great, road. On the west side 
 of this road, adjoining to the gate, is a double 
 row of buildings, of the meanest description, 
 known by the name of Fuller's-hole, part of 
 which are level with the road, and others at the 
 bottom of a deep defile, which being originally 
 filled with water, defended the approach to the 
 wall and tower ; on this stream stood a fulling mill, 
 from which the name of the place was derived. 
 
 COLEGATE* WARD 
 
 Contains the parish churches of St. George at 
 Colegate and St. Augustine, and the dissolved 
 
 * Coiegate, i. e. Coalgate, being near the staithe where 
 coals were formerly landed. 
 
 M m
 
 274: 
 
 parishes of St. Clave, St. John, and St. Marga- 
 ret Newbridge. 
 
 32. ST. GEORGE AT COLEGATE,* 
 
 A perpetual curacy in the donation of the dean 
 and chapter,, is a neat regular building; the 
 nave was rebuilt in the year 1459 ;f the chancel 
 was finished about 1498; the north aisle, with 
 the chapel of St. Mary at the east end, was built 
 in 1504, and the south aisle in 1513, with the 
 chapel of St. Peter at the east end. The inside 
 of this church is elegantly fitted up ; the altar, 
 pulpit, reading-desk, and pews, are all of wain- 
 scot ; the organ is neat and fine toned ; it was 
 erected by the parishioners in 1801. In the 
 front of the organ-loft is a dial, and over it a gilt 
 figure of St. George and the Dragon. In the 
 nave hang two large branches of brass, and a 
 small one in the chancel Here are several 
 handsome monuments, particularly those of Aid. 
 Balderstone, Mr. Dyball, Dr. Lubbock, the late 
 Philip Meadows, esq. of Diss, and one lately 
 erected for John Herring, esq. who was mayor 
 of this city in the year 1799 ; also a monument 
 to the memory of Thomas Hall, esq. the founder 
 
 * Its ancient name vra.s St. George in Coslany, and it 
 was sometimes called St. George at Mnspool, i.e. Muck, 
 pool, from a pit or pool in the middle of what is now 
 called St. George's-plain. 
 
 f There is no doubt but that here was an ancient church 
 dedicated to St. George, which must probably was founded 
 art or near the time of the conquest.
 
 275 
 
 ?f the sacramental lecture (before mentioned), 
 and which is preached here once every four 
 months.* Divine service is performed twice 
 every Sunday, and a sermon preached once. 
 The tower is square, lofty, and handsome, and 
 contains three bells ; the great bell is rung as a 
 morning- bell throughout the year at five o'clock. 
 Within the tower is a clock, with a dial on the 
 east side. The upper part is crowned with a 
 battlement. In the centre is a turret, wherein 
 hangs the bell on which the clock strikes, and a 
 vane on the summit. 
 
 This parish lies against the river on the south 
 side, and comprehends St. George's-plain and 
 Southergate, formerly called Muspool, Church- 
 alley, Alms'-house-lane, part of Tooley-street or 
 Pit-street, Cherry-lane, formerly called Cherry- 
 tree-alley, Green's-lane, Gildengate-street, Snail- 
 gate-street, now called Calvert-street, Cow-cross, 
 now called Cross-street, Colegate-street, Bridge- 
 street, and Water-lane. 
 
 * Viz. in January, May, and September. By the 
 of the founder, these lectures are to be preached on th 
 Friday in the afternoon before the first Sunday in every 
 month, in whatever churches the corporation of Norwich 
 shall please to appoint, so as this church be one. It is 
 accordingly preached here and at the principal church in 
 each of the other three great wards; namely, St. John's 
 Timberhill, St. Peter's Mancroft, and St. Andrew's. The 
 preacher is appointed by the corporation, at a general as- 
 sembly, and holds it for ope year only. The corporation 
 are the- trustees. 
 
 Mm 2
 
 276 
 
 In Alms* -house-lane is a row of alms houses, 
 belonging to the parish. 
 
 On the east side of Tooley-street, next the 
 north corner of Cherry-lane,, formerly stood 
 
 ST. OLAVE'S* CHURCH, 
 
 Which was of very ancient foundation, and was 
 repaired in 1504, and so continued till 1546, 
 when it was demolished, and the parish consoli- 
 dated to St. George in Colegate. 
 
 On the opposite corner of the lane stands 
 
 THE METHODISTS' MEETING-HOUSE, 
 
 Founded about the year 1765, by the Methodists 
 in the connection of the late Rev. John Wesley, 
 who always preached in it when he visited the 
 city; to which congregation it belonged till the 
 year 1811, when their new chapel being com- 
 pleted, they sold it to an independent congrega- 
 tion of Protestant dissenters, who now worship 
 in it. Nothing was removed but the time-piece 
 in the front of the gallery. The present pro- 
 prietors have, however, made some alterations, 
 by taking down part of the gallery, on the north 
 side, which formerly surrounded the whole ; in 
 the same place the pulpit is now erected, with 
 
 * St. Olave, king and martyr. He was son to Harold I. 
 and reigned in Normandy, where he fell a sacrifice to the 
 fury of the Danes, A. D. 1017. He is sometimes called St. 
 Toolcy, from which the street obtained its name.
 
 o 
 
 77 
 
 the communion table before it. The chapel is 
 square, of red brick, and has preaching in it 
 three times every Sunday. 
 
 At the corner of Gildengate-street, .opposite 
 St. George's church, is an Ktrcient house, with 
 walls of flint-stones, built by Henry Bacon, who 
 kept his mayoralty therein in the year 1566. 
 
 In Snailgate-street is the office belonging to 
 the Royal Exchange fire-office, London. 
 
 Snailgate obtained the name of Calvert-street 
 from an elegant house built by T. Calvert, esq. 
 which stands on the east side of it, 
 
 At the corner of this street, next Colegate, an- 
 ciently stood the church of 
 
 ST. JOHN BAPTIST, 
 
 Which was originally a parish church ; but 
 when the Dominicans, or friars' preachers, settled 
 here in 1226, it was given to them, and the 
 parish was united to St. George at Colegate. 
 They immediately built a convent in this place., 
 and the church was used by them for a chapel, 
 till they removed to their new convent at Black- 
 friars, in 1308, but they still continued to of- 
 ficiate in this church, or chapel as it was then 
 called. Being burnt out of their new habitation 
 on the 14th of May, 1413, they returned to this 
 convent while the other was re-building, but 
 were forced to go there again before it was 
 finished, the like calamity happening to them 
 here. This church and convent were destroyed
 
 78 
 
 by an accidental fire, A. D. 1449. On its silo 
 afterwards stood the Presbyterian meeting- 
 house,, erected in 1687, but in the year 175G 
 it was pulled down ; and in the same place now 
 stands 
 
 THE OCTAGON CHAPEL, 
 
 One of the most spacious, noble, and elegant 
 buildings of the kind in the kingdom ; justly 
 admired for the neatness and regularity of its 
 structure, as well as for its internal decorations. 
 The plan is an octagon, surmounted by a dome, 
 enlightened by circular port-hole windows, sup- 
 ported by eight pillars of the Corinthian order, 
 in imitation of marble. The pews, pulpit, 
 prayer-desk, and gallery, are all of wainscot; 
 the pulpit stands nearly in the centre, a little to 
 the west of the middle aisle ; opposite to it is the 
 communion table, with seats surrounding it, 
 after the manner of the foreign chinches; the 
 plate belonging to it is modern, elegant, and va- 
 luable. The porch or vestibule is on the south 
 side, with large folding doors without, and glass 
 doors within. The gallery surrounds the chapel, 
 and rests on the pillars which support the dome. 
 Opposite the entrance, on the north side of the 
 gallery, is the organ, which is fine toned ; and 
 in the front of the gallery, under the organ, is a 
 noble time-piece. Against the walls are several 
 monuments ; and there is a large bnrying-ground 
 behind the chapel on the north side. The front
 
 279 
 
 is southward, having a grand portico, supported 
 by pillars of the doric order, and is ascended by 
 a spacious flight of steps, A wide court extends 
 to the street, which it is entered from by one 
 large and two small gates of cast iron. This 
 elegant structure was built by Thos. Ivory, esq. 
 the ingenious architect, who erected the assem- 
 bly-house, theatre, &c. at a vast expence. 
 
 The congregation who assemble here are de- 
 nominated Unitarians ; and several of the pas- 
 tors have been distinguished for learning and 
 ability. There are two sermons preached every 
 
 Sunday. 
 
 Opposite to this chapel, on the south side of 
 the street, on the site of the inn formerly the 
 sign of the Black Boys, is now situated 
 
 THE NEW BAPTISTS' CHAPEL, 
 
 Finished in the year 1814. The expence of 
 erecting and fitting up this handsome and com- 
 modious place of worship is said to have ex- 
 ceeded 4000?. The foundation was laid by Jo- 
 nathan Davey, esq. and the Rev. Mark Wilks, 
 the pastor of the congregation who assemble in 
 it, and who formerly met in his chapel in Rotten- 
 row, since pulled down. This building is en- 
 tirely of brick; the inside is plain, neat, and 
 commodious ; the pulpit is placed at the south 
 end, in front of which stands the communion 
 table, which being removed, under it is disco- 
 vered the baptistery, with pipes for filling it and
 
 280 
 
 carrying off the water. The north end and two 
 sides have galleries, supported by slender pillars 
 This chapel is open for divine worship three 
 times every Sunday and one evening in the 
 week. The eourt is not yet completed ; it is 
 intended for a burying-ground. 
 
 On the west side of Bridge-street is a com- 
 mon pump, kept in repair by the parish. 
 
 ST. MARGARET'S AT NEW BRIDGE. 
 
 This church was anciently a rectory, and was 
 situated near the new bridge (now called Black- 
 friars' Bridge), on the west side of the street, 
 the premises being bounded on the north by 
 Little Water-lane. This parish was depopulat- 
 ed by the great pestilence in 1349, from which 
 time the church ceased to be parochial, and the 
 parish was annexed to St. George's Colegate. 
 The premises, after the church was pulled down, 
 were made a common inn, known by the name 
 of the Margaret Inn, and is now the brewery of 
 Charles Weston, esq. Water-lane, with the 
 staithe at the bottom of it, was formerly called 
 St. Margaret's Staithe. 
 
 33. ST. AUGUSTINE'S* CHURCH 
 
 Was originally a rectory, in the patronage of 
 Lenton priory, by Gloucester, but in the year 
 
 * Augustine, a monk, sent by pope Gregory to convert 
 the inhabitants of South Britain to Christianity: he landed
 
 1303 it became the property of the prior and 
 convent of Norwich, with whom it continued till 
 the reformation, since which time it has remain- 
 ed a donative in the presentation of the dean 
 and chapter. The church contains a nave, 
 chancel, and two side aisles ; the ins : de is neat 
 and commodious, and has a brass branch hang- 
 ing in the nave. The tower, which is square, 
 was rebuilt with red brick in 1687; the upper 
 part is crowned with a battlement of white stone, 
 with a turret, saint's bell, and vane, and contains 
 a clock and three bells ; the dial is on the east 
 side. Divine service is performed here every 
 Sunday. Against the east wall of the church- 
 yard stands the parish pump. 
 
 This parish contains the Gilden-croft, St. Au- 
 gustine's-street, Church-row, and the east ends 
 of Pit-street, Gilden-gate, and Snail-gate. 
 
 GILDEN* CROFT, 
 
 A small field adjoining to the west side of the 
 church-yard, which now belongs to the corpora- 
 
 in the Isle of Thanet, and so great was lus success, that he 
 was soon after made the first archbishop of Canterbury, 
 an'l has been styled the Apostle of England. He dif d in 
 610; and being afterwards canonized, his festival was kept 
 May 26, the dav on which he died. 
 
 * Gilda or Geld, from the Saxon word Giletan, vhich 
 signifies a tribute ad sometimes an amerciament. It w.is 
 here that the tenants of the manor of Tolthorpc met to pay 
 their geld or rent, and do their suit and service, the courts 
 being kept here. 
 
 v n
 
 28.2 
 
 tion, and has lately been enclfosed, but was origi- 
 nally the demesnes of the manor of Tolthorpe, 
 and was anciently very extensive to the north- 
 ward before the city wall was built, after which 
 it was bounded by the wall on the north, and ex- 
 tended to St. Martin's-street on the west, all 
 which lands are by length of time become pri- 
 vate property, and the croft reduced to about 
 two acres. The most northerly part next the 
 wall was anciently called Jousting Acre, being 
 the common place of exercise for tilts, tourna- 
 ments, or jousting, and afterwards but-hills were 
 cast up here, for exercising those who shot with 
 the cross bow ; the south part of the Gilden Croft 
 extended to St. Martin's-lane, on the north-west 
 part of which premises now stands 
 
 THE QUAKERS' MEETING-HOUSE, 
 
 An extensive, strong, and commodious building, 
 with a large bury ing-ground on the east side of 
 it ; the friends (who in this city are numerous 
 and respectable) meet here every Sunday in the 
 afternoon. 
 
 In St. Augustine's (commonly called St. Au- 
 stin's) street is a large well-known inn, called 
 the Rose. At the north end of this street stood 
 
 ST. AUGUSTINE'S GATE, 
 
 A plain building of brick, the upper part of 
 which was surrounded with a battlement; it 
 stood till 1794, when it was taken down and
 
 283 
 
 the passage laid open. Without this gate the 
 road divides into several branches, one of which 
 leads to Lynn, through Mileham, Litcham, Gay- 
 ton,, &c. another road leads to Fakenham, 25 
 miles, Walsingham 27, Burnham 32; another 
 road by Reepham, II miles, to Holt 22; likewise 
 a turnpike road to Aylsham, 11 miles.* 
 
 The city wall from this gate to Magdalen gate 
 is partly built upon within side, and the towers 
 converted into cottages; on the outside it is 
 nearly built up, with some of the best buildings 
 which are to be found on the walls ; about half 
 way from" the gate is a public-house called the 
 Pye, where there is a steelyard for weighing 
 hay. 
 
 FYE-BRIDGE WARD 
 
 Contains five parish churches, viz. St. Clement's, 
 St. Edmund's, St. Saviour's, St. Paul's, and St. 
 James's, besides several others long since dig- 
 solved. 
 
 34. ST. CLEMENT'sf CHURCH, 
 
 One of the most ancient in the city, and origi- 
 
 * At Horsham St. Faith's, three miles from this gate, is 
 a large fair, kr-pt yearly on the 17th and 18th of October. 
 The sale of Scotch cattle continues for nearly three weeks. 
 
 t St. Clement was bishop of Rome in the reign of the Em. 
 peror Trajan, under whom he suffered martyrdom, A.D. 92, 
 being cast into the sea with an anchor tied about his ueck. 
 His festival vraf celebrated Nov. 23. 
 BD 2
 
 nally belonged to the manor of Tokethorpe,* or 
 Tolthorpe.,-f- (before mentioned) with Pelthorpe, 
 which afterwards became the property of the 
 prior of Mendham, and so continued till the re- 
 formation ; it then, with some other estates, be- 
 came the property of the woods of Bracon Ash, 
 with the presentation to the living, which was 
 afterwards purchased by the master and fellows 
 of Gonvil and Caiu^-college, Cambridge, who 
 are now the patrons of it, and it has for several 
 presentations been united with Stratton St. Vary, 
 in Norfolk, commonly called Long Stratton. 
 The church is a neat building, consisting of a 
 nave and chancel only ; the inside is handsome 
 and commodious, with a large gallery at the west 
 end. The communion plate is ancient and 
 weighty. The tower is square, with a vane at 
 one corner, and contains a clock and three bells; 
 it has a dial on the east side. Divine service is 
 performed here every Sunday. 
 
 In this church are several very handsome mo- 
 numents, and without the south door is an old 
 decayed tomb, which is whitened over every 
 Ascension-day, being the commemoration of 
 archbishop Parker, when the corporation attend 
 divine service in the afternoon, and a sermon is 
 
 * Took its name from To!:*, who held it of Stigaud, 
 bishop of Thetfi.rcl, in the time oi Edward the Confessor. 
 
 f Henry ToJthorpe was i's owna some time before the 
 year. 1250, \>y whose daughter auJ heiress it was settled ou 
 the Frior of Meudham.
 
 preached by the Master of Corpus Christi-eol- 
 lege, Cambridge, or one of the Fellows appoint- 
 ed by him.* This tomb was erected by the 
 archbishop for his father and mother. Near it 
 is another, which stands north and south,, and is 
 commonly called the Leper's Tomb,, because it is 
 said a leper was buried here, who was refused in- 
 terment by several other parishes, though he had 
 demised his lands to any parish who would give 
 him burial. f 
 
 This parish lies in two detached parts, in the 
 first of which, adjoining to the church, is com- 
 prehended the church-alley, the east end of Cole- 
 gate, the south end of Great Magdalen -street, 
 the West end of Fisher Gate or St. Clement's- 
 street, and Bridge-street, adjoining to Fye 
 Bridge, the south side of the parish being bound- 
 ed by the river. 
 
 In a court on the north side of Colegate, on 
 
 * The preacher of this sermon is, by the archbishop's 
 direction, to preach in Rogation Week, as follows: 
 
 Sunday, at St. Peter's Church, Thetford, before the cor- 
 poration. 
 
 Mouday, at Wyraondham church. 
 
 Tuesday, at Mattishall church. Mattishall Ghant or 
 Great Fair. 
 
 Thursday, at St. Clement's, where the archbishop's 
 father and mother are burieJ. 
 
 Sunday morning, at the common place in the cathedral 
 church. 
 
 Sunday evening, at St. John's Maddermarket of course. 
 
 t This tradition is entirely unfounded.
 
 286 
 
 part of the site of the old black friars' garden, 
 stands 
 
 THE INDEPENDENTS' MEETING-HOUSE, 
 
 Finished in the year 1693. It is a large and 
 noble building of red brick, very handsomely 
 fronted with four pilasters of the Corinthian 
 order, and has a hipped roof, flat at the top. 
 The inside is neatly pewed, with galleries on the 
 east, south, and west sides, and the pulpit on the 
 north, before which stands the communion table, 
 and from the ceiling are suspended two brass 
 branches. Here are two sermons preached 
 every Sunday, and a lecture on the Sunday even- 
 ing. This house has several handsome monu- 
 ments, and is surrounded by a burying ground, 
 in which are many tornbs and inscriptions. 
 
 In Magdalen-street is a large inn called the 
 Bull. Here is kept the general excise office for 
 the city and county. The other part of this 
 parish (originally part of Tolthorpe manor, be- 
 fore mentioned,) lies without the walls between 
 St. Augustine's and Magdalen gates, and extends 
 to the bounds of the city near Catton, in the road 
 leading to which place from St. Augustine's gate 
 is situated 
 
 THE INFIRMARY, 
 
 Anciently a lazar-house, founded by one of the 
 bishops of Norwich, and was dedicated to the 
 Virgin Mary and St. Clement. It now belongs
 
 287 
 
 to the city, the land on which it stands being 
 held by lease of the bishop, and is used fora com- 
 fortable asylum for old and decayed citizens and 
 their widows., who are here maintained, clothed, 
 and provided for during their lives, without la- 
 bour. The buildings have lately been much en- 
 larged and improved; they consist of a wide 
 court, surrounded by the habitations of the go- 
 vernor and pensioners, who are placed there by 
 the court of guardians. This hospital is sup- 
 ported out of the parochial assessments of the 
 city. 
 
 35. ST. SAVIOUR'S* CHURCH 
 
 Stands on the east side of Magdalen-street, and 
 is a good building, consisting of a nave and chan- 
 cel, very neatly fitted up, with a large gallery at 
 the west end, a brass branch in the nave, and se- 
 veral handsome monuments. The tower is a re- 
 gular square building, in which is a clock and one 
 bell ; the dial is on the west side next the street 
 The top is ornamented with battlements, from 
 the centre of which rises a turret, which is sur- 
 mounted with a vane, and in it hangs the saint's 
 bell. Divine service is performed every Sunday. 
 This church was given by John de Oxford, bi- 
 shop of Norwich, to the almoner of the convent, 
 at whose expence the chancel was rebuit; and it 
 
 * The church of the Transfiguration of our Saviour, biog 
 dedicated to the honour of that event.
 
 288 
 
 remains to this day a donative in the presentation 
 of the dean and chapter. 
 
 To this parish pertains the principal part of 
 Great Magdalen-street, Buttolph-street, Church- 
 lane,, Brent lane, (now called Golden Dog-lane,) 
 and a part of the east end of Snailgate The 
 parting between Buttolph-street and Magdalen- 
 street was called Stump Cross., from the ruins of a 
 cross long; since removed; behind the point, be- 
 tween the two streets, formerly stood 
 
 ST. BUTTOLPH'S* CHURCH, 
 
 A rectory founded before the year I3CO, and 
 which continued a parish church tilll 1544,, when 
 it became private property, being granted by 
 Henry VIII. to Wm Gordon, who in 1548 pull- 
 ed it down, and the parish was united to Saint 
 Saviour's. 
 
 Near Snailgate, within the bounds of this pa- 
 rish, is situated 
 
 Pounded by Wm. Doughty, gent, by his last 
 will and testament, dated April 25, 1687, for 
 twenty-four men and eight poor women, of the 
 age of 60 years,f who have their habitations, 
 
 * St. Buttolph, one of the firt abbots of Canterbury. 
 His name is not in the Roman calendar. 
 
 t By the increase of the value of the estates and subse. 
 quent benefactions they are now au^on-nted to t.'.irty.eight 
 pensioners, viz. twenty. nine men and nine women.
 
 389 
 
 firing., and a weekly allowance of money ; they 
 are under the superintendance of a master, and 
 there are a surgeon and nurses to attend them 
 in sickness. The master and pensioners are 
 put in by the court of aldermen, who present in 
 rotation. They are clothed in purple, renewed 
 once in two years, and are required to conform 
 to the regulations of the hospital, inscribed on a 
 stone at the entrance; viz. to live peaceably 
 with the governor and with each other, to wear 
 the clothing of the foundation, to reside con- 
 stantly in their respective apartments, and to 
 lead Christian lives not keeping bad hours, 
 and refraining from cursing, swearing, and 
 drunkenness. 
 
 This hospital has been, since its first founda- 
 tion, greatly augmented by subsequent benefac- 
 tions. The building is a square of neat alms- 
 houses, with a garden in the centre. The only 
 entrance is from the street called Snailgate or 
 Calvert-street ; adjoining the north side of 
 which stands 
 
 THE METHODISTS' CHAPEL, 
 
 Erected by the methodists' conference and vo- 
 luntary subscriptions, in the year 1810, at the 
 expence of more than 30001. The foundation 
 was laid by the Rev. Mr. Gilpin, July 12, and it 
 was opened for public worship by the Rev. 
 Thomas Coke, LL. D. successor to the late Rev. 
 John Wesley, on the 20th of July, 1811. The 
 
 o o
 
 290 
 
 building, which is of red brick, is one of the 
 largest in this part of the kingdom, being twen- 
 ty-four yards long and sixteen wide. It has a 
 noble front at the west end (next the street); 
 but the inside by no means corresponds, being 
 fitted up in the plainest manner: the gal- 
 leries on the west end and sides are very spa- 
 cious, capable of containing a great number of 
 persons, and supported by small pillars of cast 
 iron. The pulpit stands in the centre, towards 
 the east, before which is a kind of raised orches- 
 tra for the singers. Behind the pulpit is a 
 space where the communion table is placed. 
 There are sermons three times every Sunday, 
 and on different evenings in the week. The 
 ministers are stationed by the general yearly 
 conference of the methodists' connexion, and 
 the doctrines taught are those denominated the 
 Arminian.* Over the front door is a table of 
 white stone, with this inscription Calvert-street 
 Chapel, 1810. 
 
 * Strictly speaking, the methodists do not teach all the 
 doctrines of Arminius, but they strongly inculcate the tenets 
 of universal redemption, freedom of agency, &c. Their 
 founder professed himself a conscientious member of the 
 church of England, but differed more essentially from the 
 articles of the church than most other sects of dissenters. 
 Their spiritual and mor.tl discipline was entirely of his 
 own prescription, but in some points it has been altered 
 by his successors. Since his death this sect has greatly 
 increased in Great Britain, Ireland, and America; and 
 they are now stated to amount to upwards of 367,000 
 persons.
 
 291 
 
 Brent-lane took its name from the parish 
 church of 
 
 ST. MARY UNBRENT,* 
 
 Which stood near the east end of the narrow- 
 part of this lane, on the south^ide, where there 
 is a gateway at the corner., which formerly led 
 into the church-yard. The church was demo- 
 lished at the dissolution, and the parish united 
 to St. Saviour's, to which all the moveables were 
 carried; it had two small bells, one of which is 
 no\v the saint's bell to St. Saviour's steeple. 
 
 Adjoining the west side of the site of the 
 church-yards stjod 
 
 THE GIRLS* HOSPITAL, 
 
 Founded in 1649, by Robert Baron, esq. mayor 
 of the city, for the maintenance, clothing, and 
 education of twenty-four girls ; by whom it was 
 endowed with 250/. which not being sufficient 
 for the purpose of erecting a house proper for 
 their reception, the corporation appropriated 
 a house to them, adjoining St. Andrew's hall, 
 part of the convent of the Black Friars. Sub- 
 sequent benefactions, however, soon enabled the 
 corporation to fit up this house for an hospital ; 
 
 * Unbrent, i. e. Uuburnt. In combusto loco, in that 
 part of the city burnt in the great fire in the time of Wil- 
 liam the Conqueror, but which it may be presumed this 
 church escaped. Mr. Blomfield thinks otherwise, and that 
 this church was then consumed and afterwards rebuilt; 
 and that it was through error written in the evidences 
 incombuslo, instead of in combusto.
 
 292 
 
 and the governess and pupils were first placed 
 here on Michaelmas-day, 1664. In 1670 the 
 hospital was rebuilt in a strong and handsome 
 manner,, but the best front of the house was on 
 the south side., next the garden. The girls were 
 boarded, clothed in blue, and instructed in read- 
 ing, knitting, and sewing, and made fit for ap- 
 prentices or servants. They were under the 
 same charter and rules as the boys' hospital, 
 (hereafter described) from which they were at 
 first separated, and to which they have lately 
 been again united. The house at present is 
 empty and shut up. 
 
 This lane is now called Golden Dog-lane, 
 from a tavern of that name which formei'ly stood 
 near it, but which is not now in existence. 
 
 36. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, 
 
 Originally an hospital, founded by Eborard, se- 
 cond bishop of Norwich, and Ingulf, the first 
 prior, with the consent of the convent, who 
 settled on it the whole of Norman's pital manor, 
 and made it also a parochial church ; it took 
 the name of Norman's from a monk of that 
 name, who was the first master thereof; it was 
 also enriched by several subsequent benefactors, 
 and maintained several poor old men and women 
 till the year 1429, when it was made an hospital 
 for women only. At the reformation it was 
 t^ssolvedj but its endowments became the pro- 
 perty of the dean and chapter, as it had beforp
 
 293 
 
 belonged to the prior and convent. The site 
 of the hospital was on the south side of Nor- 
 man 's-lane, opposite the church ; and after its 
 dissolution it was used for a house of correction 
 till the year 1585, when the present bridewell 
 w r as purchased for that purpose. At present it 
 is private property. The parish is one of the 
 peculiars of the dean and chapter, to whom all 
 the revenues belong, and by whom the perpe- 
 tual curate is appointed. The church is a large 
 but inelegant structure, containing a nave and 
 chancel, with an aisle on the north side ; none 
 of which contain any thing that deserves notice. 
 The tower is slender and round, except at the 
 top, which is octangular, and is adorned after 
 the gothic manner, containing three small bells. 
 Divine service is performed once in a fortnight. 
 
 This parish, which comprehends two dissolv- 
 ed churches annexed to it, contains the whole 
 site of Norman's hospital, Norman's-lane, Rot- 
 ten-row, the north end of Magdalen -street, and 
 Cowgate or All-Saints'-street, which the inha- 
 bitants now call Little Magdalen-street. 
 
 At the corner of Norman's-lane and Rotten- 
 row stood 
 
 THE BAPTISTS' MEETING-HOUSE, 
 
 A modern brick building, which has belonged 
 to several different congregations since it was 
 first erected ; but for several years past it be- 
 longed to the Baptists, and so continued till
 
 their new chapel in Colegate was erected ; since 
 which time it has been pulled down, and the site 
 of it built upon. 
 
 At the south-east corner of Norman's-lane is 
 an ancient house,, formerly called FastolfV 
 place, which was built by the great Sir John 
 Fastolf, knt. of Castor by Yarmouth,, for his city 
 house ; there was a few years ago in the great hall 
 a bow window,, with some fragments of painted 
 glass, representing several saints, &c. It has 
 many years been converted into a baking-office. 
 
 On the west side of Magdalen-street., near the 
 gate, formerly stood the parish church of 
 
 ST. MARGARET IN FYEBRIDGE GATE. 
 
 This church was of ancient foundation, and was 
 appropriated to the monastery of the cathedral 
 church. There is no account how long it has 
 been dissolved ; the site is become private pro- 
 perty. The parish was united to All-Saints, 
 and with that to St. Paul's. When the common 
 place of execution was without Magdalen gate, 
 the criminals were buried in this church-yard ; 
 from the south-west corner of which there was 
 a street or way leading to St. Augustine's, which 
 came out where the Rose inn now is ; but it has 
 been put by for several centuries. The whole of 
 the land next the city wall is still called St. Mar- 
 garet's croft. 
 
 A little to the south of the site of this church 
 is a handsome house, now converted into
 
 295 
 
 AN ASYLUM FOR THE INDIGENT BLIND. 
 
 This humane institution is indebted for its origin 
 
 O 
 
 to Thomas Tawell, esq. who in the year 1805 
 
 land, purchased by himself for that purpose at 
 the expence of 1000 guineas ; and it has since 
 met with such liberal support, that upwards of 
 10001. more has been subscribed to it. The 
 annual subscriptions at this time amount to 
 about 400Z. The institution admits of two 
 classes of objects : first, aged blind persons ; 
 secondly, poor blind children ; who are all main- 
 tained, and the latter instructed in manufactur- 
 ing several small articles, by which they may be 
 enabled to obtain a livelihood. The young 
 pupils bear the proportion of two .to one of the 
 aged persons. 
 
 The school was first opened Oct. 14, 1805, 
 when several pupils were admitted, whose im- 
 provements and ingenuity have amply gratified 
 the wishes and answered the expectations of the 
 humane and liberal patron and subscribers, who 
 have taken this method of alleviating one of the 
 most dreadful calamities incident to humanity, 
 and of being " Eyes to the blind." 
 
 The government of the charity is vested in a 
 president, four vice-presidents, four trustees, a 
 committee of twelve subscribers, two auditors, 
 and a treasurer, who appoint a matron or go- 
 verness of the house and a teacher or instructor
 
 296 
 
 of (he blind. The house has a front towards 
 the garden ; and in the front next Magdalen- 
 street are the emblematical representations of 
 Faith, Hope, and Charity. 
 At the end of the street stood 
 
 MAGDALEN GATE., 
 
 Anciently called Fye-bridge Gate, a strong 
 building of brick and stone ; taken down in 
 1808, being the last of the city gates. 
 
 The wall next the gates is partly built upon ; 
 from hence it formed an angle inwards, and 
 here were two round towers, and also a curious 
 large tower, whose base was a demi-octagon ; 
 these, with the whole of the wall for above 300 
 yards, now lie buried in their own ruins, having 
 fallen down through decay arid neglect. 
 
 Cowgate or All-Saints'-street took its name 
 from 
 
 ALL-SAINTS' CHURCH, 
 
 Which stood at the south-west corner of it, and 
 was built before the conquest. At the founda- 
 tion of the cathedral it was appropriated to the 
 prior and convent, and at the reformation to the 
 dean and chapter. It is said to have had a very 
 fine front, erected in 1477. In 1559 it was sold 
 and pulled down, when the parish, with that of 
 St. Margaret, which had for many years been 
 annexed to it, was added to St. Paul's. The site 
 of the church-yard is now a garden.
 
 Without the gate formerly stood a leper- 
 house, it was afterwards converted into an alms- 
 house,, then into a workhouse, and is now an ale- 
 house. 
 
 About a quarter of a mile from the gate is a 
 triangular piece of ground, where the gallows 
 formerly stood ; the left hand road leads to Cat- 
 ton,* &c. the road to the right hand leads to 
 Worstead, 14 miles, and to Cromer, 22 miles, 
 through Sprowston, part of which village lies 
 in the countyf of Norfolk and part in the liberty 
 of the city. Here are the remains of Magdalen 
 Hospital, the only part of which now standing is 
 
 Originally founded by bishop Herbert de Lo- 
 zinga as an hospital for lepers, and endowed by 
 him and other subsequent benefactors. It \\ as a 
 place of public worship till the year 1547, when 
 it was dissolved ; it is now converted into a barn 
 and is in a state of decay, To this place was 
 
 * Catton is a delightful Tillage, in the county of Nor- 
 folk, and contains many good houses. The church It a 
 small neat building, dedicated to St. Margaret. 
 
 f Sprowston church is in the county of Norfolk; it is a 
 small building, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Margaret. 
 
 J Dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen, one of the female 
 disciples of Christ ; her festival in the church of Rome is 
 July 22, and was retained in the church of England till the 
 time of Elizabeth, when the service for the day wag laid 
 aside. 
 
 * P
 
 298 
 
 formerly a grand procession of the mayor, she- 
 riffs, and aldermen, every year, on the feast of 
 St. Mary Magdalen ; it has been discontinued 
 ever since the reign of James I. but a large fair 
 is kept annually on the same day, O. S. August 
 2, for cattle, &c. Sprowston hall is a good 
 building. 
 
 37 ST EDMUND'S* CHURCH 
 
 Is a mean building, consisting of a nave, chancel, 
 and south aisle, with a chapel of the Blessed 
 Virgin, at the east end of it, but nothing re- 
 markable either within or without. The tower 
 is plain and square, and contained five bells, but 
 now only one. This church was founded before 
 the year 1300, and is a rectory ; the presenta- 
 tion was always private property, and has fre- 
 quently changed its owner ; it is at present in 
 the gift of Adolphus Hamilton Beckwith, esq. 
 Divine service is performed every Sunday. 
 
 St. Edmund's parish lies against the river, on 
 the south, between Fye Bridge and White 
 
 * Edmund, king of the East Angles, and martyr A. D. 
 94*2; whose festival was No?. 20. Hinguar, the Danish 
 general, who had him taken prisoner, ordered him to be 
 tied to a tree, and commanded his soldiers to shoot him to 
 death with arrows; which when he found they could not 
 do, he ordered his head to be struck off. A piece of hLs 
 raiment is said to have been preserved in this church in a 
 glass case, and visited with great reverence in the times of 
 Popish superstition.
 
 299 
 
 Friar's Bridge, and has in it Fishergate, St. Ed- 
 mund's Watering, Peacock-street, and Bridge- 
 street. 
 
 St. Edmund's Watering was an ancient staithe, 
 called the Water Gate, and was inhabited by 
 fishermen, who used to land their fish here, from 
 which the street obtained the name of Fisher- 
 gate, though now it is more commonly called St. 
 Edmund's-street. 
 
 In this street, nearly opposite the church, 
 stands 
 
 THE BOYS' HOSPITAL, 
 
 Founded bv Thomas Anguish, esq. A. D. 1617. 
 By his will, bearing the date of the same year, 
 he bequeathed and endowed the house, for the 
 maintenance and bringing up of young and 
 "Very poor childien born in the city of Norwich 
 the corporation being trustees for ever. 
 
 The annual commemoration of the founder 
 and all the benefactors is at St. Edmund's church 
 yearly, on the feast of the Epiphany, in the after- 
 noon, when the corporation and children attend, 
 and the will of the founder is read, with the list 
 of benefactions, which from the foundation to 
 the present time have greatly augmented this 
 excellent charity. 
 
 This hospital, with all its houses, lands, and 
 tenements, and other rights, were confirmed to 
 the corporation, with power to make all rules, 
 regulations, and alterations, for the better sup-
 
 300 
 
 porting and governing thereof, by a charter un- 
 der the great seal, dated at Westminster the 2Sth 
 day of November, in the fourth year of the reign 
 of Charles I. 
 
 The hospital was originally founded for poor 
 children of both sexes, and so continued till after 
 the girls' hospital was founded,, and in 1652 the 
 girls were removed thither. The foundation 
 consisted at first of fourteen boys, but subsequent 
 benefactions enabled the corporation to make 
 such additions from time to time, that afterwards 
 thirty-six boys were cloathed, maintained., edu- 
 cated,, and put out to apprenticeships. 
 
 The building is a good old house, with a court 
 in the middle. 
 
 In February, 1798., it was ordered by the court 
 of mayoralty that the boys should no longer be 
 boarded in the house, but that the parents of 
 each boy should receive 8/. per annum for his 
 maintenance, and the master 21. per annum for 
 his education ; they are still cloathed by the cor- 
 poration, and are obliged to wear the cloathing, 
 which is blue, with red caps, and are to attend 
 divine service with the master, as it has been 
 customary ever since the foundation of the hos- 
 pital ; they are likewise to have the annual din- 
 ner on the Wednesday in the Easter week, and 
 walk in procession before the corporation to the 
 hospital sermon at St. Helen's church. Each 
 boy, at the age of fourteen years, to be bound 
 apprentice, with a premium of 10/. to a master,
 
 301 
 
 to be approved of by the court of mayoralty. 
 From the improved state of the revenues of this 
 excellent charity, ten more boys were added to 
 the foundation in ISO?. 
 
 38. ST. JAMES'S CHURCH 
 
 Was founded in the Conqueror's time, and was 
 at first a well endowed rectory, the lands within 
 the parish being very extensive, the whole of 
 the hamlet of Pockthope (reaching as far as the 
 boundary of the city,) lying within it, and making 
 a part of it. ^bout the year 1201 John de 
 Grey, bishop of Norwich, appropriated it to the 
 prior and convent of the cathedral church, who 
 were to provide the parish priest as it has ever 
 since remained, being annexed to the deanry of 
 Norwich, and is one of the peculiars of the dean 
 and chapter, by whom the curate is apppointed. 
 The church is small, and consists of a nave, 
 chancel, and south aisle, with a small chapel at 
 the end dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The 
 tower is low and square, on the upper part is an 
 octangular lanthorn of white brick, in which hangs 
 three small bells. It was rebuilt in 1743. Divine 
 service is performed once a fortnight. 
 
 This parish, including the hamlet of Pock- 
 thorpe, is very extensive ; that part which lies 
 within the walls contains White Friars'-street 
 and Bargate, (now called St. James's-street). 
 The whole of the premises bounded by these two 
 streets on the west and north, the city wall on the
 
 302 
 
 east, and the river on the south, was anciently 
 the site of the monastery of 
 
 THE WHITE FRIARS 
 
 Or Carmelites,* founded by Philip de Cowgatef 
 in 1256. It had a noble church dedicated to the 
 Virgin Mary, with extensive conventual build- 
 ings, and by a continual succession of benefac- 
 tors it was iichly endowed. 
 
 In 1400, Thomas Arundell, archbishop of 
 Canterbury, went his metropolitical visitation, 
 and during his stay at Norwich he lodged in 
 this convent. 
 
 In 1539, one John Pratt, servant to Ralph 
 Salter, of Harpley, came to this convent and 
 told the prior and friars he had a commission 
 from the lord privy seal to suppress the house ; 
 but not being able to produce his commission, 
 he was apprehended as an impostor, and carried 
 before the magistrates, (o whom he confessed 
 the cheat, acknowledging that he expected to 
 have obtained forty shillings or four pounds of 
 
 * They were called White Friars from their habit, and 
 Carmelites from the monastery of St. Mary, of Mount 
 Carmel, in Palestine, the place of their first resdence, from 
 which they were driven by S.i!adin, the Saracen, about the 
 year 1238; after which they settled in different parts of 
 the world. 
 
 f All this part of the city was then called Cowgate, be- 
 ing open fields where the cows fed. He assumed this name 
 from his estates, being the principal person in these parts.
 
 303 
 
 the prior. He was, however, soon made to re- 
 pent of the imposition, for he was ordered by 
 the court to be carried round the market, with 
 a basin rung before him, and- a paper, on which 
 was written ec for false feyning ;" after which 
 he was set in the pillory, to which both his ears 
 were nailed, and then cut off. 
 
 In 1543 the convent was suppressed ; the 
 church was taken down, and its site built upon ; 
 the rest of the buildings became private proper- 
 ty, as they now remain. The only vestiges of 
 this once famous convent are a part of the 
 cloister, now the cellar of a public-house called 
 the White Friars, and the friars' hall, now con- 
 verted into 
 
 THE BAPTISTS' MEETING-HOUSE, 
 
 Belonging to the society called General Bap- 
 tists ; the inside of which is commodiously fitted 
 up. There is preaching twice every Sunday. 
 On the south side is a small burying-place. 
 At the east end of St. James's-street stood 
 
 POCKTMORPE GATE, 
 
 A small building of stone and red brick, which 
 was taken down in the year 1792, and the pas- 
 sage laid open. 
 
 A little to the north, at the turn of the wall, 
 is a large tower, now converted into a dwelling- 
 house, and the wall between it and the site of 
 the gate is built up on the outbkle; from the
 
 304 
 
 gate the wall extends to the river side, where it 
 finishes with a round tower, now converted into 
 a cottage ; and there are a few more built on 
 the inside of the wall. 
 
 Prom the gate to the north-east is a road 
 which leads to Woodbastwick, Ludhanr, &c. 
 over a hill called the Shooting Ground, from 
 which eminence Mr. Kirkpatrick took his pros- 
 pect of Norwich ; and a more suitable situation 
 could not have been pitched upon, as it com- 
 mands a view of every pub-ic building in the 
 city, and which he accurately delineated. 
 
 Immediately without the gate lies 
 
 THE HAMLET OF POCK/THORPE,* 
 
 In which is only one street, called Barrack- 
 street, which leads, in a winding direction, by 
 the side of the river, to Bishop's-gate ; the end 
 of the street is at the bend of the river, opposite 
 the great tower, from which corner was former- 
 ly (according to Mr. Kirkpatrick's plan) a brook 
 or ditch to Pockthorpe-gate, and which commu- 
 nicated with the fosse or ditch with which the 
 city wall was encompassed. 
 
 The manor of P^ckthorpe belongs to the 
 dean and chapter, who hold their courts in it, 
 and which were formerly kept at the ancient 
 manor house called the Lathes ; it was a large 
 
 * Pockthorpe a Pauca, i. e. Little Thorpe, so called to 
 distinguish it from the parish of Thorpe next adjoining.
 
 305 
 
 house, let off into different tenements, and went 
 by the name of Hasset's House, from William 
 Bleverhayset. esq. to whom it was leased by the 
 dean and chapter in 1550; he was a person of 
 considerable account., and in 1547 obtained a 
 lease of the whole manor, with the sheep-walk 
 on Moswold Heath, called the Lathe Course, 
 and of all the tithes of the parish of St. James 
 belonging to the dean and chapter ; after him, 
 no mention is made by historians who possessed 
 this house, which was standing in 1791, though 
 nearly in ruins, when the dean and chapter 
 leased it for a long term of years to govern- 
 ment, and it was pulled down, and on its site 
 was erected 
 
 THE HORSE BARRACKS, 
 
 From which the street receives its present name ; 
 this is a noble building, and said to be one of 
 the best pieces of modern architecture in this 
 eity. It is surrounded with ahigh wall, inclosing 
 an extent of above ten acres. The buildings, 
 which are of red brick, stand on the north, west, 
 and east sides ; the centre building is for the 
 accommodation of the officers; on the upper 
 part of it are his majesty's arms, finely carved 
 in white stone, and ornamented with military 
 trophies ; the wings are appropriated to the 
 reception of the soldiers, and are capable of 
 containing upwards of 250 men and as many 
 horses. The expense of this building has been
 
 306 
 
 estimated at 20,000/. and it was completed in 
 the year 1794. 
 
 In this hamlet were anciently four religious 
 buildings, the principal of which was 
 
 ST. CATHERINE'S CHAPEL, 
 
 Which stood about a mile north-east of tho 
 street ; it was founded about the time of the con- 
 quest, and was esteemed a parochial chapel for 
 this hamlet while it was standing. It was after- 
 wards re-consecrated to the honour of St. Wil- 
 liam,* and so continued till the dissolution, when 
 it was demolished, and the parish perpetually 
 united to that of St. James, as it now continues. 
 A great part of the wood was also cleared about 
 this period, and was an open plain called 
 the Race Ground, where there were formerly 
 
 * St. William in the wood he was the son of Wenstan 
 and Elwina, who lived somewhere in this neighbourhood, 
 and was bound to a tanner, in Norwich. About Easter, 
 1137, some of the Jews (of whom there were then a great 
 many in this city, having been greatly patronized by Wil- 
 liam Rufus on account of their wealth,) enticed him into 
 one of their houses, and on Good Friday they scourged 
 and crucified him, in contempt of our Saviour; on the 
 morning of Easter Day they put his body into a sack, and 
 carried it to Thorpe Wood, near this chapel, where it was 
 afterwards found, and buried in the burial ground belong- 
 ing to the cathedral, but it was afterwards removed into 
 the choir ; he was soon after canonized, had the 24th of 
 March consecrated to his memory, and many miracles ar 
 reported to have been wrought at his shrine.
 
 307 
 
 races, -which have for many years been discon- 
 tinued ; the starting post was standing some 
 years since, but the land has lately been enclosed. 
 
 In 1730, some labourers, digging in the site 
 of this chapel, discovered the foundations, which 
 were thirty-three inches thick. 
 
 Near this chapel also stood that of St. 
 Thomas-a-Becket, which was not parochial, but 
 supported chiefly by the contributions of the 
 gild of St. Thomas, held here on the day dedi- 
 cated to his memory.* No traces of the build- 
 ing are now to be discovered. Opposite to 
 Bishop's Gate, on the summit of a hill, at the 
 edge of Mousehold Heath, stands the remains of 
 
 ST. MICHAEL'S CHAPEL, 
 
 Which was founded by Bishop Herbert, when 
 he pulled down St. Michael's chapel on Tomb- 
 land ; it continued in use till the dissolution, 
 but was demolished by the rebel Kett, who, with 
 his company, encamped near it, which occasioned 
 its being called Kett's Castle, by which name it 
 is known at this day ; the ruins now remaining 
 are part of the west end and the north side, by 
 which it appears to have been about fifteen 
 
 * The feast of St. Thomas.a-Becket is still marked ia 
 the calendar the 7th of July. He was chancellor to Henry 
 II. and archbishop of Canterbury, and was murdered ia 
 his own cathedral, Dec. 29, 1173. Fox's Acts and Menu, 
 eats, page 224.
 
 yards long and six wide. A little to the south 
 thereof stood 
 
 THE CHURCH AND PRIORY OF ST. LEONARD.* 
 
 Built by Bishop Herbert before he built the 
 cathedral., and here he placed the monks while 
 the priory was building; it slill continued a 
 public church and a cell or chapel to the monas- 
 tery till the dissolution, when Henry VIII. gave 
 it to Thomas., duke of Norfolk, whose son, 
 Henry, earl of Surrey, built a sumptuous house 
 on the site, which was called Surrey House, and 
 the hill on which it stood Mount Surrey. 
 
 When this unfortunate earl was beheaded it 
 was forfeited to the crown, and so remained till 
 1562, when Queen Elizabeth granted it to Thos. 
 duke of Norfolk, and his heirs, and honoured 
 it with her presence when she visited this city. 
 In 1602 it was confirmed by James I. to Thos. 
 How r ard, earl of Suffolk, and his heirs. 
 
 All that now remains of this once noble build- 
 ing is an old piece of stonewall, in which is an 
 arch, and adjoining it a small farm-house, the 
 wte of the original buildings being ploughed over. 
 Under this promontory is a low valley, part of 
 which is a garden belonging to the King's Arms 
 public-house, at the corner of the road, and was 
 formerly called Lollard's Pit, in which the fol- 
 
 * St. Leonard the Coiifessor, of Bavaria, died about th 
 year 500; his festival was Nov. 6.
 
 309 
 
 lowers of the doctrines of Wickliffe, who first 
 opposed the worship of the church of Rome, 
 were burnt for Lollarday, as it was then called,* 
 and here it was that the eminent martyr Thomas 
 Bilney and many other pious protestants of both 
 sexes sealed the truth of their religion with their 
 blood, being burnt alive in this pit for the true 
 profession of the gospel. 
 
 On the north side of Bishop's Bridge is a 
 spring of pleasant water, running from under 
 the hill, and formerly much resorted to, which 
 occasioned Sir John Pettus, knt. to erect a 
 handsome conduit over it in 1611, which still re- 
 mains. 
 
 A fair is kept here on the Monday and Tuei* 
 day in Easter and Whitsun week. 
 
 Great quantities of gravel and chalk have been 
 dug from these hillls, and also an immense quan- 
 tity of black flint, with which most of the parish 
 churches, public buildings, and ancient houses 
 are constructed. 
 
 These hills are very steep and in some places 
 inaccessible, and were formerly open, but the 
 whole brow, sides, and bottom of the hill hav 
 lately been enclosed. The summit of the hill 
 is a large plain called Mousehold Heath, f an- 
 
 * Probably from Loliura, (tares) they being accounted 
 by the priests, tares among the Lord's wheat. 
 
 t Some have thought from Mosswold, an open plain, 
 overgrown with moss ; bat it is most probable it was 
 originally called Monkhold, as it belonged to the monks f
 
 310 
 
 eiently covered with a wood called Thorpe Wood, 
 but from which it has for many centuries been 
 in a great measure cleared; it extends from 
 four to five miles in length and breadth, and laid 
 open till within these few years, but the greatest 
 part of it is now enclosed. The bounds of the 
 city crosses it from Sprowston to Thorpe,* 
 where it joins the river. 
 
 We shall take our leave of this ward with ob- 
 serving, that it chooses twelve common-council- 
 men, elected annually on the Thursday in the 
 week next before Easter. 
 
 And now having noticed every remarkable 
 
 particular in the four great wards of the city and 
 their hamlets, we shall proceed to notice the two 
 exempt jurisdictions, namely, the Precincts of 
 the Cathedral and the Liberty of the Castle. 
 
 the cathedral church, who always had their cows kept by 
 tbeir cowherd there. 
 
 * Thorpe, by Norwich, is a beautiful village, lying on 
 the north side of the river; it contains many houses, de. 
 lightfully situated. The church is a neat building, and is 
 dedicated to St. Andrew. Thorpe is an additional name 
 to a great many towns in Norfolk and other counties, and 
 appears to have originally been designed to signify a lodge 
 r hamlet to some larger town of the same name.
 
 311 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Of the Close, or Precincts of the Cathedral 
 Church, with a particular description of that 
 ancient and venerable structure, including a 
 biographical account of its Bishops, Deans, 
 
 THE Close, or Precincts of the Cathedral 
 Church, is composed of the parish of St. 
 Mary in the Marsh and part of the parish of St. 
 Ethelbert.* It was accounted one of the plea- 
 santest parts of the town, and is divided into the 
 Upper and Lower Closes. This precinct is en- 
 tirely separate from the jurisdiction of the cor- 
 poration of the city, as well as from that of the 
 magistrates of the county of Norfolk,f the civil 
 government being vested in the dean and 
 chapter. 
 
 * When St. Ethelbert's chapel was disolved, that part 
 of the parish 1\ ing without the wall of the precinct was 
 added to St. George's Tombland. 
 
 t This exemption is to be understood witb somo limita- 
 tions, for it is assessed t:> the taxes by the commissioner* 
 for the city ; the freeholders vote at the city election for 
 representatives in parliament, and the iiihabiUuiti are sub.
 
 312 
 
 THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY. 
 
 This ancient., venerable, and noble struc- 
 ture, which is 400 feet long 1 from the entrance 
 of the west door to the east end, is one of 
 the finest remains of Saxon architecture in 
 this country.* The west front, which was 
 repaired in 1790, is very handsome and uniform, 
 adorned with the arms of the see and those of 
 Bishop Alnwyck, with figures of him and Henry 
 VI. The upper part of the west end is orna- 
 mented with four turrets of stone work, and one 
 
 ject to the act of parliament for paving, lighting, and watch, 
 ing the city. The magistrates of the precinct are justices 
 of quorum for the county, and all offences committed here 
 are tried at the county assizes or quarter sessions, although 
 the magistrates of the precinct have a power to hold a ses- 
 sions of the peace therein yet the custon of doing so is 
 discontinued, and the government of the prison is a sine, 
 cure. In every other respect it is entirely separate from 
 the city and county, and the overseers of the precinct 
 maintain and support the poor in the workhouse belonging 
 to it. 
 
 * The nave and transepts are built with round arches, 
 after the Saxon and Danish manner ; the upper part of the 
 chancel, which is of later date, is more inclining to the 
 gothic ; the same is to be observed of the cathedral church 
 of Ely, founded much about the same period. A similarity 
 of ornamental work strongly mark the outside of the cathe. 
 dral and that of the castle, both being completed about the 
 reign of Henry I. the slender style of gothic architecture, 
 with the pointed arches, so much admired' in the structure 
 of Westminster Abbe) , not being introduced into this king- 
 dom till a century after that period.
 
 313 
 
 large and two small doors which form the grand 
 entrance. Over the middle door is a large 
 gothic window extending the whole breadth and 
 depth of the nave. The two transepts extend 
 the length of 180 feet from north to south. The 
 north front is ornamented with two pinnacles of 
 stone., and over the middle door is carved a figure 
 of Bishop Herbert, the founder. The south 
 front has likewise two pinnacles of stone, be- 
 tween which, in the pediment of the roof, is a 
 handsome dial. 
 
 This cathedral was founded by Bishop Her- 
 bert in 1096, and the original nave, transepts, 
 and chancel were built by him ; the west end of 
 the nave was built by his successor, Bishop 
 Eborard; the west front by Bishop Alnwyck; 
 the upper part of the magnificent tower, with its 
 lofty spire, by Bishop Percy, in 1361 ; Bishop 
 Goldwell rebuilt the upper part of the chancel 
 in a style of architecture far superior to the 
 other parts of the church ; and succeeding bene- 
 factors added the cloisters and chapels, by which 
 the whole was nearly surrounded. The inside 
 has experienced many vicissitudes of fortune : 
 sometimes it has been crowded with altars, 
 adorned with shrines, enriched with offerings, 
 and honoured with the presence of many of our 
 English sovereigns, attended by their courtiers, 
 the prelacy, the body of the clergy, and the cor- 
 poration of the magistracy : at other times it has 
 been defaced, plundered, and profaned in the 
 
 B r
 
 314 
 
 civil commotions. From the year 1740 it has 
 been in a state of progressive improvement, the 
 inside having lately been thoroughly repaired 
 and completely adorned and beautified by the 
 munificence of the present dean and chapter. 
 On entering the west door the eye is agreeably 
 struck with the neatness and uniformity of the 
 building, being 204 feet to the entrance of the 
 
 O- 7 O 
 
 choir, through the nave, which is fifty-four feet 
 wide and seventy high. The roof is of stone, 
 supported by two roofs of massy pillars, and is 
 curiously arched and carved full of small figures, 
 representing many sacred histories of the old and 
 new testament; the figures are in a state of the 
 highest preservation, though they have existed 
 ever since the year 1463. The roofs of the 
 north and south transepts also exhibit the same 
 curious kind of workmanship j the whole of the 
 roofs are highly esteemed by the curious, and it 
 has been said that they are the only carvings of 
 this kind in the w r orld. The roof of the chancel 
 is above 84 feet high, and the arches and carved 
 figures in it are very curious. 
 
 The organ stands on a gallery of stone nearly 
 in the centre of the church : it is very large, and 
 has two noble fronts one to the west and the 
 other to the east, with a neat choir organ. 
 
 The choir is spacious and beautiful; the stalls 
 of the dean, vice-dean, archdeacons, prebenda- 
 ries, and cannons are of curious gothic carved 
 
 work, as is likewise the bishop's throne ajid chan- 
 
 1
 
 315 
 
 teller's seat, between which the pulpit is placed 
 at such times as a sermon is preached ; at other 
 times it is removed. The high altar stands on 
 an eminence, ascended by several steps; the 
 east end is circular, and is enclosed by a skreen 
 of neat plaster-work. The episcopal chair and 
 communiontable are newly covered with purple 
 velvet. The books and plate belonging to the 
 latter are grand and valuable,, consisting of a 
 double service of massy silver, which have lately 
 been gilt. There are four painted windows at 
 cast end of the choir, the lowest representing 
 our Saviour's transfiguration, and the three up- 
 per windows, the Apostles, Evangelists, and 
 Prophets, with the arms of the ancient benefac- 
 tors. The full cathedral service is performed 
 in the choir every day, at a quarter past ten in 
 the forenoon and at a quarter past four in the af- 
 ternoon.* Here is a sermon in the morning of 
 all Sundays and great festivals, and the Lord's 
 supper is celebrated at the high altar every 
 Sunday. The corporation attend divine ser- 
 vice on Sundays and state holidays in their robes 
 of magistracy ; and here are preached the guild 
 and assize sermons, and the anniversary sermon 
 for the benefit of the Norfolk and Norwich 
 Hospital. 
 
 * Formerly there were early prayers read at six in the 
 morning in the summer, and at seven in the winter season, 
 but of late years they have been discontinued. 
 RF 2
 
 316 
 
 Iii this cathedral are a great number of monu- 
 ments., both ancient and modern; among the 
 former the most remarkable are those of Bishop 
 Herbert, Bishop Goldwell, Bishop Overall,, Sir 
 William Bullen, great grandfather to Queen 
 Elizabeth; Sir James Hobart, attorney-general 
 to Henry VII. Bishop Nix, Bishop Parkhurst, 
 and Lady Calthorp. The modern monuments 
 of Bishop Home., Dr. Lloyd, dean of this cathe- 
 dral ; Dr. Moore, John Chamber, esq. recorder of 
 Norwich ; Dr. Plumptre, master of Queen's-col- 
 lege, Cambridge, and prebendary of this cathe- 
 dral, are much worth the attention of strangers.* 
 In the south transept is a piece of ancient clock- 
 work, which has two small figures of men in ar- 
 mour, which are so contrived as to turn them- 
 selves and strike the quarters of the hour on two 
 small bells : under them is a dial. 
 
 The tower rises in the middle of the church, at 
 the meeting of the four roofs, directly over the 
 choir, the lanthorn of which is very handsome, 
 having two stone galleries running round it, and 
 being enlightened with twelve windows. The 
 ceiling is upwards of 100 feet from the ground, 
 
 * For a particular description of the several monuments, 
 with the inscriptions on tliem, and of the communion plate, 
 &c. with every thing else that is interesting in this ancient 
 and beautiful cathedral and its precincts, see my Account 
 and Description of the Cathedral Church, Norwich, pub- 
 lished by authority of the Dean and Chapter. Printed by 
 R. M. Bacon, Norwich, 1807.
 
 317 
 
 and beautifully painted. The tower is above 
 140 feet high,, and the out side of it is adorned 
 with curious gothic arched work ; it is crowned 
 on the top with a battlement and four neat small 
 spires of stone, in the middle of which rises the 
 great spire, which is of brick, cased with white 
 stone, and is the second of the kind in Ertgland, 
 its height from the ground beiqg 306 feet ; the 
 top is surmounted with a cross of iron and a 
 weather-cock, which though more than a yard in 
 length, is apparently much too small for the 
 eminence on which it is placed. Within the 
 tower are five bells, and a saint's bell on which 
 the clock strikes. 
 
 The chancel, like most other ancient cathe- 
 drals, was formerly surrounded by chapels, some 
 of which are now standing and others are demo- 
 lished. The first adjoins to the east side of the 
 north transept, and is now used as a store-house. 
 The next was 
 
 ST. SYTHE'S OR ST. OSYTH'S CHAPEL, 
 NOW demolished. To this adjoined 
 
 ST. STEPHEN'S CHAPEL, 
 
 Now likewise demolished ; and the site of both 
 these chapels turned into a store-yard. 
 
 To the north-east corner of the chancel adjoins 
 
 JESUS' CHAPEL, 
 Now the chapter-house and court of the pecu-
 
 318 
 
 liars of the dean and chapter, and likewise their 
 vestry. Here was also the ancient confessionary. 
 Over this chapel is the plumbery. 
 
 To the east end of the chancel formerly ad- 
 joined 
 
 THE CHAPEL OP ST. MARY THE GREAT, 
 
 Built by Walter de Suffield, bishop of Norwich, 
 and said to have been a large and grand struc- 
 ture ; but falling into decay,, it was pulled down 
 above 200 years ago, and no traces even of its 
 foundations now remain, the site being a garden. 
 Adjoining to the south-east corner of the 
 chancel is 
 
 ST. LUKE'S CHAPEL, 
 
 Now used as the parish church for the inhabi- 
 tants of the precinct, and is fitted up with the 
 font, pews, &c. brought hither from the demo- 
 lished church of St. Mary in the Marsh. The 
 altar is under the east window, and the pulpit is 
 fixed on the west wall opposite to it. One sin- 
 gularity is observable; here is no reading desk, 
 the prayers being read in the pulpit. The pre- 
 cinct is one of the peculiars of the dean and 
 chapter, and a perpetual curacy in their nomi- 
 nation. Divine service is performed here every 
 Sunday. 
 
 Over this chapel is the treasury of the dean 
 and chapter. 
 
 On the north side of the chancel is
 
 319 
 
 THE CHAPEL OF ST. MARY THE LESS, 
 
 Founded by Willaim de Bello Campo, or Beau- 
 champ., in the time of Edward II. and from him 
 called Beauchamp's Chapel ; here is kept the 
 consistorial ecclesiastical court of the lord bishop 
 and chancellor of Norwich ; for which purpose 
 it is very elegantly fitted up. The roof of this 
 chapel is of stone, most curiously carved, in the 
 same manner as the roof of the nave. 
 
 To the north side of this chapel formerly ad- 
 joined 
 
 HEYDON'S CHAPEL, 
 
 Many years since entirely demolished, and like- 
 wise 
 
 THE OLD CHAPTER-HOUSE; 
 
 Of neither of which are there now any remains, 
 the site being the yard belonging to 
 
 THE GAOL, 
 
 Or common place of confinement for the pre- 
 cinct, which adjoins to the east side of the south 
 transept. From St. Luke's chapel to this tran- 
 sept the whole aisle is considered as the parish 
 church, and is separated from the transept by a 
 skreen of curious carved gothic work, which has 
 lately been thoroughly repaired. 
 
 Against the south end of this transept is the 
 school for the choristers ; and here formerly stood
 
 320 
 
 ST. EDMUND'S CHAPEL, 
 
 Commonly called the Prior's Chapel, long since 
 demolished, and the site is now converted into 
 stone-mason's yaid. 
 
 To the south side of the nave joins 
 
 THE CLOISTER,, 
 
 One of the largest and most beautiful quadran- 
 gles in England., begun by Bishop Radulphde 
 Warpole, and finished by Bishop John Salmon, 
 A. D. 1279. It is about 174 feet square, each 
 of the four sides being more than twelve feet 
 wide ; the arches are gothic, and the windows 
 were formerly glazed with painted glass. The 
 roof is full of historical figures, the subjects from 
 the gospel, the Revelations, and ecclesiastical 
 history, and is upwards of fifteen feet high. At 
 the south-west corner are two lavatories, orna- 
 mented with curious carved work, representing 
 the inveterate antipathy which the Monks bore 
 to the secular clergy. These curious roofs con- 
 tain no less than 418 historical figures, which, 
 added to 746 of the same kind in the church, 
 make the whole number 1164. The space in 
 the middle of the cloister has many years been 
 used for a church-yard by the inhabitants of the 
 precinct. The principal entrance was formerly 
 at the south-west corner, but it is now put by. 
 Oyer the door is carved a figure of the epousals 
 or sacrament of matrimony, represented by our
 
 321 
 
 first parents. On the north side of the cathe- 
 dral is situated 
 
 THE BISHOP'S PALACE^ 
 
 Founded by Bishop Herbert when he built the 
 church, and rebuilt by Bishop Salmon about the 
 same time that he built the cloister; it has since 
 received very considerable alterations., particular- 
 ly by the addition of a good modern building 
 towards the west ; so that now it is a large range 
 of buildings, and has more the resemblance of a 
 small town than a single dwelling, surrounded by 
 the gardens,, which are very extensive. 
 
 Adjoining to the east part of the palace stands 
 .S'fBWpa-s'flssCl hsllR'j iai ,m>R'.} vr#<x.l ?>tiT 
 
 THE BISHOP'S CHAPEL, 
 
 Dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, rebuilt by 
 Bishop Reynolds after the restoration. It is a 
 neat and spacious fabric of white stone, the in- 
 side is fitted up in the form of a choir ; the altar 
 is at the east end, and the pulpit and reading- 
 desk on the north side. At the west end is a tur- 
 ret, in which hangs one small bell. 
 
 In the middle of the garden, at some littte dis- 
 tance north of the chapel, is part of the remains 
 of the original palace; it is a real gothic arch, 
 with pointed arches on all sides, and is said to have 
 been the grand entrance into the palace. The 
 upper part of it is falling into decay. 
 
 The principal entrance into the palace is from 
 St Martin's-plain, through the porter's lodge, 
 
 s s
 
 322 
 
 which is a large and ancient gate., with an orna- 
 mented gothic arch. The whole premises are 
 surrounded with a strong high stone wall on all 
 sides except that next the church, to which some 
 part of the palace adjoins. This wall is con- 
 tinued entirely round the precinct., except on the 
 east side, where it is bounded by the river, over 
 which there is a common ferry, known by the 
 name of 
 
 SANDLIN'S FERRY, 
 
 From one of that name, who formerly kept it. 
 Here is a double arch of black flint, with a cham- 
 ber over it. 
 
 The Lower Close, is called Dean's-square, 
 planted, enclosed, and laid out by Dean Lloyd 
 in 1782. Between which and the church stands 
 
 THE DEANERY, 
 
 
 
 Originally the prior's lodge, built by Bishop 
 Herbert when he founded the church ; it has at 
 different times been so much altered and im- 
 proved, that little or no part of the original build- 
 ing remains. The house and garden are com- 
 plete and elegant. 
 
 Adjoining is the dean and chapter pecu- 
 liar's office. The rest of the conventual build- 
 ings extended the whole length of the south side 
 of the church; none of which are now remain- 
 ing, except the shafts of three gothic pillars, the 
 arches of which are decayed and gone ; these
 
 323 
 
 being esteemed curious remains of antiquity, 
 were left standing when the old building, called 
 the Dormitory, was pulled down in 1803. 
 
 On the remaining site of the convent are now 
 situated the prebeudal houses; and in different 
 parts of the precinct are the houses of the minor 
 canons, lay-clerks, &c. 
 
 On the south side of the square formerly stood 
 the parish church of 
 
 ST. MARY IN THE MARSH,* 
 
 Which was of very ancient foundation, being a 
 chapel to Thorpe, which Bishop Herbert pulled 
 down and built the church in its place before he 
 
 * Called Cow Holm, (holm signifying a marsh) because 
 these were low ft-eiliiiy g/ouuds be/ore the conquest. North 
 of the river was called Cow Gate, and south of the brook, 
 now a stone bridge, was called Cowes Ford, Conisford, or 
 Kinp's Foid, because the cows forded over there to feed ia 
 thpf-p nia:-sbes, winch Mere all in the parish of Thorpe, (to 
 which St. Mary s was a chapel) belonging to the bishop of 
 Thetford ; so that when it came into the possession of 
 Bishop Herbert, being a spacious unoccupied place, he fixed 
 upon it to build his cathedral church. The draining of the 
 marshes and making the situation firm enough to bear 
 the pr.>dff>iuus weight of such a building, was a work which 
 must have been effected with incredible pains and labour; 
 and s.> completely was it accomplished, that no part of the 
 buiKiing was ever known to give way. There vtas a canal 
 from the Lower Close to Sandlin's Ferry, which it is pre- 
 sumed was cut to receive the waters when the marsh wa* 
 drained; this was existing about thirty years ago, but it is 
 BOW filled up and built upon. 
 
 ss 2
 
 324 
 
 founded the cathedral,, and settled it on the prior 
 and convent., with whom it remained till the 
 dissolution, when it was confirmed to the dean 
 and chapter, as it still remains. It was dese- 
 crated in 1564, and all the furniture and orna- 
 ments were brought to the south aisle of the chan- 
 cel of the cathedral, called St. John's Aisle, which 
 was used for the parish church hy the inhabi- 
 tants of the precinct till St. Luke's chapel was 
 fitted up for that purpose. The bells were 
 sold,, and the building turned into a dwelling- 
 house; it was standing in the year 1773, but has 
 since been pulled down, and a handsome row. 
 of houses erected on its site. 
 
 At the south-west corner of the Upper Close 
 is the library-room of the dean and chapter. 
 
 The little green at the south end of the Upper 
 Close was called Almonry Green, from the alms 
 houses which anciently stood there adjoining 
 the wall, afterwards converted into a workhouse. 
 To it joins 
 
 THE MONASTERY GATE, 
 
 To which adjoined the parochial chapel of St. 
 Ethelbert or Albert,* founded before the ca- 
 thedral, and probably was parochial before St. 
 Mary's in the Marsh, as a great part of the 
 
 * St. Ethelbert, or Albert, first Christian King of Kent. 
 He founded the cathedral church of St. Paul, London, for 
 which he was canonized, and died A. D. 617.
 
 325 
 
 parish laid without the precinct. It was burnt 
 down in the great insurrection., A. D. 1272 ; in 
 recompense for which the present gate was built 
 at the charge of the city ; itis a noble gothic struc- 
 ture,, with a fine vaulted arch , adorned with curious 
 carved figures, in the same style as the roof of the 
 church. Over the arch is the chapel called St. 
 Ethelbert's at the Monastery Gate. It has been 
 disused as a place of worship ever since the year 
 1500. In 1519 it was a dwelling-house; after 
 which it was converted into a repository to the 
 bishop's office, in which the evidences were de- 
 posited ; but another place having of late years 
 been fitted up for that purpose, it is now used as 
 a concert-room, and the west front has lately been 
 repaired and beautified. The house adjoining 
 it is a well-known tavern called the Gate- 
 house. 
 
 At the north end of the Upper Close stands 
 
 - 
 
 ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL, 
 
 Anciently called the Charnel-house, consisting 
 of an upper and lower charnel, founded by 
 Bishop Salmon about the year 1315. The lower 
 charnal or crypt was a receptacle for bones; 
 whenever they were thrown out of any graves 
 in the city they w r cre to be brought and deposited 
 here, provided they were dry. This vault is 
 supported by one row of pillars, and is now used 
 as a wine-vault. The upper charnel was a 
 
 .
 
 326 
 
 chapel for divine service, and so continued till 
 the reformation, when it was converted into 
 
 THE KIND'S SCHOOL, 
 
 Founded by Edward VI. instead of the old 
 school in St. Matthew's parish, then dissolved. 
 By letters patent, dated 1547, he confirmed all 
 the revenues of this chapel to the corporation of 
 the city of Norwich, whom he made trustees 
 thereof for ever, for the maintenance of a master 
 and usher. They are both in the nomination of 
 the court of mayoralty, and the master is required 
 to be a Clergyman in priest's orders and a master 
 of arts, or bachelor of divinity or Jaw ; the usher 
 must be a clergyman in deacon's orders, and a 
 bachelor of arts. It has with great justice been 
 remarked that the masters have been men of the 
 greatest reputation for learning, ability, and 
 piety, and the number of eminent persons who 
 have received the first rudiments of their educa- 
 tion in this seminary, are the best proofs of the 
 truth of this assertion. At the west end of the 
 chapel is a turret in which a small bell hangs. 
 The buildings adjoining the west end of the 
 chapel are the houses for the residence of the 
 master and scholars. 
 
 To the south-west corner of the house adjoins 
 . 
 
 ERPINGHAM GATE,, 
 
 So called from its founder, Sir Thomas Erping- 
 ham, who, it is said, having, on a suspicion of
 
 Lollardy, or favouring the first reformers, fallen 
 under the displeasure of the prior and monks, wag 
 obliged to erect this gate by way of a penance, 
 and it is probable that there was a gate here 
 before, which was then pulled down. It stands 
 directly before the west front of the cathedral,, to 
 which it is the principal entrance, and consists 
 of a single gothic arch, with one front, which is 
 next Tombland, and is adorned with a great 
 variety of neat carved work, containing the figure 
 of the founder, and many others, besides emblems, 
 coats of arms, &c. which are all in a state of pre- 
 servation. 
 
 There are two other entrances to the precinct, 
 one on the south side, leading to St. Faith's-lane, 
 and the other on the east next Bishop's Gate 
 street. These gates are all kept shut in the 
 night, an officer being appointed by the dean to 
 have the care of them. 
 
 A Biographical Account of the Bishops of 
 Norwich. 
 
 The Christian religion was first introduced 
 into East Anglia about the year of Christ 600, 
 by Sigebert, who returned from France, to 
 which he had been banished during the life of 
 Gerpenwald ; his misfortune was by providence 
 directed to procure him the greatest of all advan- 
 tages, for during his exile he was converted to 
 the Christian faith. On his being recalled to the
 
 328 
 
 throne, he brought over with him St. Felix, a priest, 
 a native of Burgundy , (who probably by his 
 peaching had been instrumental to his conver- 
 sion.) and made him bishop of the East Angles ; 
 being the first who preached the gospel of truth 
 here; he has been styled the apostle of this part 
 of England, in which he was so successful that 
 he lived to see the true religion established in 
 every part of his patron's dominions. He fixed 
 the chair of his ecclesiastical government at 
 Dunwich, in Suffolk, where he founded the first 
 Christian church, and his example was quickly 
 followed, and places of public worship were es- 
 tablished in every part of his diocese, which com- 
 prehended Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Isle of 
 Ely. He was consecrated by Honorius arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury, and governed this extensive 
 see for seventeen years. He is said to have been 
 a prelate of great learning and astonishing elo- 
 quence,, and what he daily taught he carefully 
 practised. He died on the 8th of March, 647, 
 and was buried in his cathedral church at Dun- 
 wich. He was afterwards canonized, and had 
 the 8th of March consecrated to his memory. 
 In 673, Bifus, the fourth bishop of the East 
 Angles, divided the diocese into two parts, one he 
 continued at Dunwich and the other he establish- 
 ed at North Elmham, and this seems to have 
 been the original of the two counties of Nor- 
 folk and Suffolk. After the death of Humbert, 
 the tenth and last bishop of Elmham, both sees
 
 329 
 
 laid vacant upwards of 100 years, from the de-> 
 vastations of the Danes. In A. D. 995., the sees 
 were united, as they have ever since remained. 
 The episcopal chair was fixed and remained 
 at Elmham till 1075, when Arfastus, (chaplain 
 to William the Conqueror,) removed the see to 
 Thetford, where it continued till 1098, there be- 
 ing but three bishops of The! ford, and it was (in 
 the reign of William Rufus) translated to Nor- 
 wich. 
 
 BISHOPS OF NORWICH. 
 
 1. Herbert de Lozinga is said by some to have 
 been born at Orford, in Suffolk, but his monu- 
 ment says at Hiems, in Normandy, and brought 
 up in the monastery of Fescamp, of which he af- 
 terwards became prior and chaplain to William 
 Rufus, with whom, in 1088, he came to England, 
 and who bestowed on him preferment; He was 
 Lord Chancellor to William Rufus and Henry 
 I. the former made him Abbot of Ramsey, in Hun- 
 tingdonshire, by which he grew so rich, as to be 
 able in 1091 to purchase the abbotcy of Win- 
 chester for his father, and the bishoprick of 
 Thetford for himself, at no less expense than 
 2900/. (a prodigious sum in those days) ; but his 
 conscience sharply reproached him for such 
 practices, aud repenting of the simony he had 
 been guilty of, he went privately to Rome, and 
 presenting himself to Pascal II. resigned his 
 pastoral staff into his hands. The pope granted 
 
 T t
 
 330 
 
 him absolution., on condition of his building and 
 endowing certain churches and monasteries as a 
 penance, and granted him a license to translate 
 the episcopal see from Thetford to Norwich. 
 On his return he purchased Cowholm of the 
 king and the citizens, and there he founded the 
 cathedral church., dedicated to the Holy Trinity, 
 of which he laid the first stone in the year 1096. 
 He likewise founded the bishop's palace and the 
 monastery, and endowed it, and placed a prior 
 and sixty monks therein. He also built the 
 church of St. Nicholas in Great Yarmouth, St. 
 Margaret's at Lynn, St. Mary's at North Elm- 
 ham, St. Michael's and St. Leonard's on the 
 Hill, and St. Mary's in the Marsh ; all which he 
 lived to see completed. In 1116 he went as am- 
 bassador to Rome, with Ralf, archbishop of Can^ 
 terbury, and on his return was taken sick at Pla~ 
 centia, where he laid ten days without eating or 
 speaking, but at last recovered, and returned safa 
 to his palace in Norwich. 
 
 He was a prelate of great abilities and address, 
 by which he obtained such high preferment, and 
 which occasioned him to be surnamed Lozinga, 
 the Courtier, Flatterer, or Lyar ; sparing neither 
 art or expence to accomplish his purpose. He 
 is, however, said to have been an excellent 
 scholar, and so venerable of aspect, that those 
 who knew him not might discover him to be a 
 bishop. Though he never can be fully acquitted 
 of the charge of simony, by which he acquired
 
 331 
 
 his preferment, yet it is certainly palliated by the 
 good use he made of his acquisitions and the 
 manner in which he spent the latter part of his 
 life ; there is no doubt he was a holy bishop and 
 an example to his flock of liberality and charity, 
 as his many religious foundations prove that the 
 wealth he acquired by the favour of his king he 
 expended in the service of his Maker. His mild 
 and affable disposition, though it caused him to 
 be stigmatised with the appellation of Flatterer, 
 was so far honourable as it tended to soften the 
 manners of a court and government then rude 
 and barbarous beyond all present conception. 
 
 He died the 22d day of July, 1119, and was 
 buried in the centre of the choir of the cathe- 
 dral,, where there is a monument to his memory. 
 After his decease there was a vacancy in the see 
 for three years, at the end of which succeded 
 
 2. Eborard, archdeacon of Salisbury, son of 
 Roger, earl of Arundel, chaplain to William 
 Rufus and Henry I- He built or finished the 
 nave of the cathedral, and founded the church 
 and hospital of St. Paul. On some account he 
 was deposed in 1 145, when he retired into York- 
 shire, where he died in 1 149. There is a figure 
 of him on the south side of the west window. 
 
 3. William Turbus, (by birth a Norman) a 
 monk and prior of this church, became bishop 
 in 1146. He was principally concerned in 
 the foundation of Old Buckenhara priory. He 
 
 Tt 2
 
 died Jan. 17th., 1174., and was buried on the 
 north side of the choir. 
 
 4. John of Oxford, dean of Salisbury. He 
 was a man of great learning and very active for 
 the good of the church. He completely repair- 
 ed the cathedral and built the parish church of 
 the Holy Trinity at Ipswich. He was one of the 
 king's judges, and wrote several political works. 
 He died June 2d, 1200, and was buried on the 
 north side of the choir. 
 
 5. John de Grey, secretary and chaplain to 
 John, over whom he had great ascendancy, of 
 which he made good use for the benefit of the 
 church. He was one of the keepers of the great 
 seal and lord chief justice of England; he was 
 also some time lord deputy of Ireland, and after 
 his return from thence he went on an embassy to 
 Rome, and died on his way home at St. John 
 de Angelo, near Poictiers, Oct. 18th, 1214, from 
 whence his body was brought and buried in 
 the cathedral. After his death the see was 
 vacant seven years. 
 
 6. Pandulf, surnamed Masea, the pope's le- 
 gate, by birth an Italian. He is said to have 
 been the chief instrument in persuading John to 
 resign his crown and kingdom to the pope, who 
 in return excommunicated the king and his sub- 
 jects, and instigated Philip, king of France, 
 
 to invade the realm and usurp the crown. He 
 died in Italy, Sept. 16th, 1226, but was buried 
 jn the cathedral. There is a figure of him.
 
 333 
 
 on the north side of the west window, in the 
 habit of a cardinal. 
 
 7. Thomas de Blundville. He died Aug. 
 16th, 1236. 
 
 8. Radulph; died in 1237. The see wai 
 vacant three years. 
 
 9. William de Raleigh, chaplain to Henry 
 III. prebendary of London and Litchfield. In 
 1243 he was translated to Winchester. 
 
 10. Walter de Suffield or de Calthorpe. He 
 repaired the bishop's palace at Eccles, where he 
 resided, and founded and endowed St. Giles's 
 hospital. He was so charitably inclined, that 
 in a year of scarcity he sold all his plate, and 
 with the money he bought bread, which he gave 
 to the poor. He founded the beautiful chapel 
 of St. Mary the Great at the East end of the 
 cathedral, long since destroyed. He died at 
 Colchester, May 20th, 1257, possessed of im- 
 mense wealth, all of which he bequeathed to 
 religious and charitable purposes. 
 
 1 1 . Simon de Waltone, chaplain to Henry III. 
 and one of the judges in the court of common 
 pleas. He died Jan. 2d, 1265, and was buried 
 in the chapel of Mary the Great. 
 
 12 Roger de Seaming, (so called from the 
 place of his nativity,) was prior of the convent, 
 to which he was elected in 1257, and was chosen 
 bishop in 1265. In his time the cathedral was 
 set on fire in a commotion between the monks 

 
 334 
 
 and citizens. He died Jan 22d, 1278, and wa 
 buried in the chapel of St. Mary the Great. 
 
 13. William de Middleton, archdeacon of 
 Canterbury and prebend of St. Paul's, London. 
 He was enthroned on Advent Sunday, being the 
 same day the cathedral was reconsecrated after 
 the damage done to it by the fire, the repairs 
 being then finished : at which solemnity was pre- 
 sent Edward I. with his queen and divers bishop* 
 and other nobility. He was an eloquent preacher, 
 and in great repute for his learning and morality. 
 This bishop consecrated the church of St. Ni- 
 cholas, in Great Yarmouth, which he had re- 
 built. He died the last day of August, 1288, 
 and was buried in the chapel of St. Mary the 
 Great. 
 
 14. Radulph de Walpole, archdeacon of Ely, 
 He began the building of the cloister, which is 
 said to be the most regular building of the kind 
 in the kingdom, and much advanced the family 
 of the Walpoles, (his relations) from whom the 
 present Earl of Orford is descended. In 1299 
 he was translated to Ely, where he died, and was 
 buried in that cathedral. 
 
 15. John Salmon, prior of Ely, (who in 1320 
 was made lord chancellor of England,) founded the 
 chapel of St. John (now the free school) and the 
 charnel-house under it, which he endowed ; he 
 likewise founded the chapel in the bishop's pa- 
 lace, and built the great hall, a curious arch, 
 part of the ruins of which are now standing. He
 
 335 
 
 died July 6th, 1325., and was buried in the bishop's 
 chapel. 
 
 16. Robert de Boldok, lord chancellor and 
 archdeacon of Middlesex, after being bishop for 
 a year, on being informed that the pope had pro- 
 vided far the see before he was elected, resigned 
 it. Being accused of treason in 1326 by Isabel 
 and Edward, he was apprehended and committed 
 to Newgate, where he died of grief, and was 
 buried in St. Paul's, London, May 2d, 1327. 
 
 17. William de Ayermine, a great pluralist, 
 holding no less than ten prebends, besides other 
 high preferments; he was also lord treasurer and 
 lord keeper of the great seal. He died March 
 27th, 1336, and was buried before the high altar 
 in this cathedral. 
 
 18. Thomas de Hemmenhall,, a monk of this 
 priory, was elected, but not consecrated, being 
 by the pope appointed to the see of Worcester. 
 
 19. Anthony de Beck, dean of Lincoln, was so 
 haugty and imperious that he was deservedly 
 hated by the monks, whom he deprived of many 
 of their ancient privileges. He was at last 
 poisoned by his own servants, probably in- 
 stigated by the monks. He died Dec. 19th, 
 1343, and was buried in the cathedral. 
 
 20. William Batemah was collated to the arch- 
 deaconry of Norwich in 1328; after which he 
 went to Rome, where his piety and abilities so 
 much distinguished him, that Clement VI. made 
 him auditor of his palace, and nominated him
 
 336 
 
 dean of Lincoln, besides making- him twice hit 
 his nuncio. At last this see becoming vacant, 
 he was nominated thereto, and confirmed by the 
 pope himself, Jan. 23d, 1343 : he then returned 
 to Norwich after many years absence, and 
 governed the see during the remainder of his life 
 with deserved reputation, for piety, charity, gene- 
 rosity, and hospitality. In 1347 he founded 
 Trinity-hall, in Cambridge, for the study of the 
 civil and canon law ; and, on account of his great 
 abilities, was several times appointed by the 
 king to foreign embassies, in the last of which 
 (to the court of Rome in 1354, whither he went 
 with Henry, duke of Lancaster, to settle a peace 
 between England and France,) he died at Avig- 
 non, where the pope then resided. 
 
 21. Thomas Percy, brother to Henry Percy, 
 earl of Northumberland. In his time (15th 
 Jan. 1361) the great tower of this cathedral was 
 blown down by a high wind, which falling on 
 the choir, much damaged the building. He gave 
 400/. out of his own purse, and obtained an aid 
 from his clergy of nine-pence in the pound, 
 which enabled him to rebuild the tower with its 
 lofty spire, in the elegant form it now appears. 
 In 1368 the dread of a French invasion was so 
 prevalent that this bishop, with all the clergy in 
 the diocese, were put under arms. He died 
 Aug. 8th, 1369, and was buried in the nave, on 
 the West side of the organ. 
 
 22. Henry Spencer, canon of Salisbury, wa
 
 337 
 
 bred to arms in his youth, and therefore called 
 the Warlike Bishop. After being advanced to 
 that dignity he still continued to distinguish him- 
 self in his former profession by going to France 
 at the head of a great military force to assert the 
 pontifical rights of Pope Urban VI. against the 
 Anti-pope Clement VII He was a severe pro- 
 secutor of all heretics, not suffering any Lol- 
 lards or followers of the doctrines of Wickliffe, 
 (which were then becoming very prevalent) to 
 dwell within his diocese. He was a very active 
 and upright magistrate, in which capacity he 
 greatly distinguished himself. In private life 
 he was exemplary for his pious and charitable 
 deeds ; and died August 23d, 1406, and was 
 buried near the steps of the altar. 
 
 23. Alexander de Tottington, prior of Nor- 
 wich, was chosen by the convent, but Henry 
 IV. not only refused to accept their election, 
 but also imprisoned the bishop a whole year in 
 Windsor castle. However, on the petition of 
 the citizens and the great interest made in his 
 behalf by Thomas Arundel, archbishop of Can- 
 terbury, he was released. He repaired the 
 bishop's palace, which had fallen into decay ; 
 died April 28th, 1413, and was buried in the 
 chapel of St. Mary the Great. 
 
 24. Richard Courtney, LL. D. prebend of 
 St. Paul's, London. He was a person of great 
 learning and ability, and much esteemed for his 
 piety as well as admired for his uncommon elo- 
 
 v u
 
 338 
 
 quence. He attended Henry V. in Nomandy, 
 and was present at the siege of Harfleur, where 
 he died of a dysentery Sept. 15th, 1415. His 
 body was brought to England and buried among 
 the kings, in the collegiate church of St. 
 Peter at Westminster, in St. Edward's chapel, 
 behind the high altar. 
 
 25. John Wakeryng, rector of St. Bennet's 
 Sherhog, London, canon of Wells, and lord 
 keeper of the great seal. He was a severe dis- 
 ciplinarian, forbidding persons in Norwich from 
 opening their shops and the barbers from shaving 
 on Sundays, except in time of harvest. His 
 general character was pious, chaste, bounti- 
 ful, and affable. He built the cloister of the 
 bishop's palace, (not now standing) and the 
 chapter-house on the south side of the chancel, 
 which is likewise demolished. He died on Eas- 
 ter Monday, 1425, and was buried near the altar 
 steps. 
 
 26. William Alnwyk, LL. D. derived his 
 name from Alnwick, in Northumberland, the 
 place of his family. He was keeper of the privy 
 seal under Henry V. and archdeacon of Salisbury. 
 He built the great gate of entrance to the 
 bishop's palace, and new fronted the west end of 
 the cathedral, where his effigy still remains, with 
 that of Henry V. He was translated to Lin- 
 coln, Sept. 19th, 1436, where he died Dec. 5th< 
 1449, and was interred in the nave of that cathe- 
 dral.
 
 27. Thomas Browne,, LL. D. dean of Salis- 
 bury, and bishop of Rochester. He died Dec. 
 6th, 1445,, and lies buried in the nave. 
 
 28. John Stanberry, D. D. was nominated to 
 this see, but never took possession of it, being 
 made bishop of Bangor, and afterwards of Here- 
 ford, where he died, and was buried near the 
 high altar of that cathedral. 
 
 29. Walter Hart, or Lyhert, new paved the 
 cathedral, and adorned the nave with the curious 
 arched roof, beautifully painted and gilded, con- 
 taining the sacred history of the old and new 
 testaments, in such variety of figures as is not to 
 be seen in any church in the world ; he likewise 
 built the stone screen or rood loft at the entrance 
 of the choir, which is now the organ loft, before 
 which he lies buried. He died May 24th, 1472. 
 
 30. James Goldwell, canon of Windsor and 
 Chichester, and principal secretary of state to 
 Edward IV. He beautified the choir and adorn- 
 ed it with an arched carved stone roof. He 
 died Feb. 15th, 1498, and was buried in the 
 choir, on the south side of which is an ancient 
 monument to his memory, on which is his effigy 
 at full length. 
 
 31. Thomas Jau, archdeacon of Essex and 
 dean of the chapel-royal. He died in Sept 
 1500, and was buried in the cathedral. 
 
 32. Richard Nix. He adorned the roofs of 
 the north and south transepts with a beautiful 
 arched ceiling, full of scripture history, nearly
 
 340 
 
 similar to that of the nave, and did many repairs 
 to the church. He was otherwise a man of bad 
 character, and historians have asserted that there 
 were no vices to which he was not addicted ; he 
 was a most violent persecutor of the reformed 
 religion (then beginning to gain ground), and 
 caused many to be burnt alive at Norwich for 
 the true profession of the gospel, among whom 
 was that eminent martyr, Thomas Bilney . After 
 suffering a long imprisonment in the marshaisea 
 for secretly aiding the pope against Henry VII. 
 and paying a fine of 1000 marks, he was re- 
 leased, but in his old age he became blind 
 and decrepit, and died Jan. 14, 1535; being 
 buried in the nave on the south side, where his 
 tomb is still to be seen. 
 
 33. William Rugg, or Reppes, D. D. died 
 1550, and was buried in the choir. 
 
 34. Thomas Thirlby, the first and last bishop 
 of Westminster ; after which he was bishop 
 here, and was translated to Ely,, 1554, where he 
 died, and was buried in the chancel of St. Mary's 
 church in that city. 
 
 35. John Hopton, D. D. a zealous adherent 
 to the Princess Mary, who coming to the throne, 
 promoted him to this see. He was a bigoted 
 papist and a furious persecutor of the protes- 
 tants. The death of the queen had such an ef- 
 fect upon him, that he died of grief and the fear 
 of a change in the national religion. He wai 
 buried in the cathedral A. D. 1559.
 
 341 
 
 36. Richard Cox, D. D. a zealous friend to 
 the reformation, was nominated to this see by 
 Elizabeth, but before his consecration he was 
 preferred to that of Ely. 
 
 37. John Parkhurst, D. D. an excellent 
 bishop and a great promoter of the reformed 
 religion, deservedly esteemed for his charity and 
 hospitality. He was required by writ from 
 Elizabeth to return the state of his diocese, as 
 all the other bishops of that time undoubtedly 
 were.* He died Feb. 2, 1574, and was buried 
 on the south side of the nave, where there ig 
 still a monument to his memory. 
 
 38. Edmund Freek, D. D. canon of Westmin- 
 ster, archdeacon of Canterbury, and bishop of 
 Rochester, from which he was translated to this 
 see, 1575, and after having sat nine years, was 
 
 * From the return made by the bishop to this writ, it 
 appeared that the diocese of Norwich at that time con- 
 tained the following ecclesiastical preferments : Four 
 archdeaconries, viz. Norwich, containing 12 deaneries 
 and 280 parish churches, of whom there were 168 rectories, 
 
 41 vicarages full and 80 void, and 2 chapels of ease. Nor- 
 folk, containing 12 deaneries, 402 parisb churches, 184 
 rectories, 36 vicarages full and 182 void, and 3 chapels of 
 ease. Suffolk, containing 13 deaneries, 114 rectories, and 
 
 42 vicarages, with 8 chapels of ease. Sudbury, containing 
 8 deaneries, 182 rectories, 31 vicarages, and 2 chapels of 
 ease. In this diocese are 3 peculiars to the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, 1 peculiar to the Bishop of Rochester, and 14 
 to the Dean and Chapter of Norwich. There are now in 
 this diocese 1353 parish churches and chapels.
 
 342 
 
 translated from hence to Worcester, where he 
 died in 1590, and is interred in that cathedral. 
 There is a monument to his memory. 
 
 39. Edmund Seamier, D. D. bishop of Peter- 
 borough, from whence he was translated to this 
 ee, which after having governed ten years he 
 died May 7th., 1594, and was buried in the nave 
 of the cathedral, where a large monument was 
 erected to his memory; but this being entirely 
 destroyed in the great rebellion, a neat monu- 
 ment was put up in its place by his great grand- 
 son, which remained there till the alterations 
 which took place in 1806, when it was removed 
 into the south transept, where it is now to be 
 seen. 
 
 40. William Redman, D. D. said to be one of 
 the divines concerned in the compilation of the 
 book of common prayer. He was bishop seven 
 years and three quarters, and died Sept. 25, 
 1602, and was buried in the cathedral. 
 
 41. John Jegon, D. D. master of Corpus 
 Christi college, Cambridge, dean, and afterwards 
 bishop of Norwich ; was much despised and 
 hated, being inhospitable and penurious. He 
 died March 13, 1617, and was buried in the 
 parish church of Aylsham, where his monument 
 is still to be seen, though much defaced. 
 
 42. John Overall, D. D. a native of Hadleigh, 
 in Suffolk. He was first student and then fellow 
 of Trinity college, Cambridge, regius professor 
 of divinity, and afterwards master of Catherine
 
 343 
 
 hall. In 1592 he was instituted to the vicarage 
 of Epping, in Essex,, and in 1602 was made dean 
 of the cathedral church, of St. Paul, London. 
 On the 3d of April, 1614, he was consecrated 
 bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, from whence 
 he was translated to Norwich, May 21, 1618. 
 He was very strict in enforcing the discipline of 
 the church, and is said to have assisted in some 
 amendments and enlargements of the book of 
 common prayer which took 'place in his time. 
 He died May 12, 1619, and was buried on the 
 south side of the choir, near the steps of the altar, 
 where there is still a handsome old monument 
 to his memory. 
 
 43. Samuel Harsnett, D. D. master of Pem- 
 broke-hall, Cambridge, and bishop of Chiches- 
 ter, translated to this see, Augusts, 1619 ; which 
 having governed with great diligence for nine 
 years, he was appointed archbishop of York, by 
 James I. 
 
 44. Francis White, D. D. of Huntingdon, 
 dean of Carlisle and afterwards bishop, chaplain 
 and almoner to James I. a great writer in the 
 controversies of that day in defence of the 
 church of England against Papists. He was 
 translated to this see in 1628, and in Dec. 1631, 
 translated to Ely. 
 
 45. Richard Corbet, D. D. dean of Christ- 
 church and prebend of Salisbury, afterwards 
 bishop of Oxford, from whence he was trans- 
 lated to Norwich. Died July 28, 1635, and was 
 buried in the choir.
 
 344 
 
 46. Matthew Wren, D. D. master of Peter- 
 house, Cambridge, dean of Windsor, chaplain 
 and clerk of the closet to Charles I. After he 
 had been three years bishop, he was translated 
 to Ely, 1638. He died in London, April 24, 
 1667, and was buried in the chapel of Pem- 
 broke-hall, Cambridge, which he built and con- 
 secrated. He was father to Sir Christopher 
 Wren, the great architect who rebuilt St. Paul's 
 cathedral. 
 
 47. Richard Montague, D. D. prebend of 
 Wells, archdeacon and dean of Hereford, after- 
 wards bishop of Chichester, and last of Norwich. 
 
 He was a great writer in the unhappy contro- 
 versies of his time, in which he distinguished 
 himself. In his time the king (Charles I.) in- 
 tended to divide the see in two parts, and to found 
 a new bishopric either at Bury or Sudbury, but 
 the troublesome times prevented its being carried 
 into effect. He died in 1641, and was buried 
 in the choir. 
 
 48. Joseph Hall, D. D. born at Ashby-de-Ia- 
 Zouch, in the county of Leicester, July 1st, 
 1574, was fellow of Emmanuel-college, Cam- 
 bridge, and rector of Hawstead, in Suffolk, and 
 Waltham Abbey, in Essex, prebendary of Wol- 
 verhampton, and dean of Worcester. In 1627 
 he was consecrated bishop of Exeter, and trans- 
 lated to the see of Norwich in 1641. He lived 
 in the troublesome times of the civil war, when 
 the bishops were excluded from their seats in 
 parliament, several of whom, and among the rest
 
 Bishop Hall, protested against the laws made in 
 their forced absence, upon which account they 
 were committed to the tower Jan 30th, 1642. 
 He was not released till June following 1 , and then 
 was obliged to give bail to the amount of 5000/. 
 Having obtained his liberty, he returned to Nor- 
 wich, where he lived till April, 1643, when an 
 order passed for sequestrating his estates, eccle- 
 siastical and personal; upon which a fanatical 
 rabble, headed by Sheriff Tofts and Alderman 
 Lindsey, plundered his palace of all the furniture; 
 and after the bishop was dispossessed of it, it was 
 let out in small tenements. These furious bigots 
 
 o 
 
 likewise stripped the cathedral of all its books, 
 vestments, &c. pulled down the altar, demolished 
 the organ, and defaced the monuments and other 
 carved work : then collecting together the spoils 
 of the church and palace, they carried them into 
 the market-place, where they were publickly 
 burnt. The unfortunate prelate retired to 
 Heigham, where he died on the 8th of Sept. 
 1656, in the 83d year of his age : he was inter- 
 red in Heigham church, where there is still a 
 curious monument to his memory on the south 
 side of the chancel. 
 
 After his death there was no bishop of this or 
 any other see till it pleased God to restore his 
 Majesty, Charles II. and with him our happy and 
 excellent constitution in church and state. 
 
 49. Edward Reynolds, D. D. was elected bi- 
 shop at the restoration, and consecrated Jan. 6th, 
 x x
 
 346 
 
 1660. He had formerly been dean of Christ's 
 church, Oxford, and rector of St Lawrence, 
 London,, where he was esteemed a very popular 
 preacher, and had great interest, being a zealous 
 Presbyterian, one who had taken the covenant, 
 and preached against episcopacy ; but he is said 
 to have been afterwards an excllent bishop, high- 
 ly esteemed for his virtues both in his public and 
 private character. He was a great writer, and 
 his works were published after his death, which 
 happened the 28th of July, 1676. He repaired 
 the bishop's palace, which (owing to the devasta- 
 tions of the rebels) was in a ruinous state, and 
 pulling down the old chapel, built the present 
 new and elegant structure adjoining to the east 
 side of the palace, in which he was interred, and 
 where there is a good monument to his memory 
 on the south side of the altar. 
 
 50. Anthony Sparrow, D. D. master of 
 Queen's college, Cambridge, archdeacon of Sud- 
 bury, and prebendary of Ely. He was conse- 
 crated to the see of Exeter in 1667, and after 
 having sat there nine years was translated to 
 Norwich. He died May 19th, 1685, and was 
 buried in the bishop's chapel, where he has a 
 monument on the north side of the altar. 
 
 51. William Lloyd, D. D. prebend of Salis- 
 bury, bishop of Llandaff, and afterwards of 
 Peterborough, from which he was translated to 
 Norwich in 1685. He was one of the seven 
 bishops who were sent to the tower by James II.
 
 347 
 
 for remonstrating against the liberty granted by 
 him to the Papists; notwithstanding which he 
 refused to take the oaths of abjuration and alle- 
 giance to William III. for which he was deprived 
 of his bishopric. He retired to Hammersmith, 
 in Middlesex, where he lived privately for about 
 twenty years, still supporting the character of a 
 nonjurimr bishop, and continuing (though con- 
 trary to law) to perform episcopal functions, 
 even to his death, which happened Jan. 1st, 
 1709. when he was buried in Hammersmith 
 chapel. 
 
 52. John Moore, D. D. prebendary of Ely, 
 rector of St. Andrew's, Holborn, London, and 
 St. Ann's, Sobo, Westminster, was consecrated 
 to this see July 5th, 1691, where he sat till 1707, 
 when he was translated to Ely. He died in 
 1714, and was buried on the north side of the 
 choir of Ely cathedral. 
 
 53. Charles Trimnel, D. D. prebendary of 
 Norwich, archdeacon of Norfolk, and rector of 
 St. James's, Westminster, consecrated Feb. 8th, 
 1707. In 1721 he was translated to Win- 
 chester. 
 
 54. Thomas Green, D. D. was born in the 
 parish of St. Peter's Mancroft, in this city, and re- 
 ceived the rudiments of his education at the free 
 school ; he was afterwards admitted of Corpus 
 Christi-college, Cambridge, where he was suc- 
 cessively scholar, fellow, and master; he was 
 also vicar of St. Martin's in the Fields, Wet- 
 
 xx 2
 
 348 
 
 minster,, archdeacon and prebendary of Canter- 
 bury, and chaplain to Archbishop Tenison. He 
 was consecrated to this see Oct. 8th, 1721, and 
 having sat two years, was translated to Ely. He 
 died in 1738, and was interred on the north side 
 of the choir of Ely cathedral. 
 
 55. John Leng, D. D. He died in London of 
 the small-pox. Oct. 26, 1727, and was buried in 
 the parish church of St. Margaret, Westminster, 
 where there is a monument to his memory on the 
 south side of the chancel. He was a prelate 
 highly esteemed for his meekness, piety, and 
 charity, as well as for his preaching, in which he 
 was very eminent. 
 
 56. William Baker, D. D. archdeacon of Ox- 
 ford, first bishop of Kilmore and Armagh, in 
 Ireland, and afterwards of Bangor, and thence 
 translated to this see in 1727. Died at Bath, 
 Dec. 4, 1732, and lies interred in the nave of the 
 abbey church, where there is a monument for 
 him against the third pillar on (lie south side. 
 
 57. Robert Butts, D. D. first dean of Norwich 
 and afterwards bishop, was consecrated in 1733, 
 and in 1738 translated to Ely, 
 
 58. Thomas Gooch, D. D. master of Gonville 
 and Cams-college, Cambridge, who was three 
 successive years vice-chancellor of the university, 
 in which time he raised by contributions nearly 
 10,000/. with which the noble building called the 
 Senate- house was erected. He was first rector 
 of St. Clement's, East Cheap, London, and chap-
 
 349 
 
 lain to Queen Anne, afterwards archdeacon of 
 Essex, canon residentiary of Chichester, and 
 prebendary of Canterbury. He was consecrated 
 to the see of Bangor, April, 1737, and translated 
 to Norwich, Nov. 1738. He repaired and beau- 
 tified the bishop's palace, and will be long remem- 
 bered for procuring from his majesty, George I. 
 two charters for incorporating the societies for 
 the government of the charity for the relief of 
 the widows and children of the poor clergy in 
 the diocese of Norwich. Having governed this 
 see ten years, he was translated to Ely, where 
 he died, and was buried in the cathedral church. 
 
 59. Samuel Lisle, D. D. sat but one year, 
 when he died, and was succeeded by 
 
 60. Thomas Hayter, D. D. chaplain to his 
 royal highness Frederick, prince of Wales, and* 
 preceptor to his present majesty, After having 
 governed this see for twelve years with distin- 
 guished reputation, he was translated to London. 
 On his translation, 
 
 61. Philip Yonge, D. D. succeeded; a truly 
 Christian prelate, who governed this diocese with 
 the greatest attention for twenty-two years, be- 
 ing consecrated to the same in 1761. His ill 
 state of health did not permit him to be perpe- 
 tually resident at his palace, although he con- 
 stantly passed some part of the summer there. 
 He died much respected, April 23, 1783, and 
 was interred in South Audley-street chapel, 
 Westminster.
 
 350 
 
 62. Lewis Bagot, LL D. dean of Christ's- 
 church and bishop of Bristol, a prelate of extra- 
 ordinary abilities, of fervent piety, and most ex- 
 emplary life : in the pulpit he was eloquent and 
 in the chair impressive. The effects of his strict 
 attention to the discipline of the church was dis- 
 played in his visitation, by reforming- abuses, 
 enforcing the canons for repairing the churches 
 (many of which were in a very indecent state,) 
 and insisting on a strict attention of the clergy to 
 their pastoral duty. In April, 1790, he was 
 translated to the see of St. Asaph, where he died, 
 June 4, 1802, greatly lamented by the poor of 
 his diocese, to whom he was very liberal. 
 
 63. George Home, D. D. dean of Canterbury 
 and president of Magdalen-college, Oxford, was 
 cansecrated to the see or" Norwich on the trans- 
 lation of Dr. Bagot; to all which dignities he 
 rose without solicitation, by the aid solely of his 
 learning and piety. His constitution was much 
 injured by too close an application to theolo- 
 gical studies, and though greatly beloved both 
 by the clergy and people of his diocese, they 
 never had an opportunity of beholding his abili- 
 ties in their pristine vigour, his health being 
 greatly impaired, and his life drawing to a close be- 
 fore his advancement to this see. He died at Bath 
 in the second year of his consecration, the 17th 
 day of Jan. 1792, in the 62d year of his age, and 
 was buried at Eltham church, in Kent, where 
 there is a monument to his memory, and also
 
 351 
 
 one in the choir of this cathedral ; but the best 
 memorial of this excellent prelate are his nume- 
 rous writings. 
 
 64. Charles Manners Sutton, D. D. dean of 
 Peterborough,, dean of Windsor, and prelate of 
 the order of the garter ; a descendant of the 
 royal family of England, being the grandson of 
 John, duke of Rutland, who was the sixth in de- 
 scent from Thomas Manners, first earl of Rut- 
 land, the grandson in the female line of Richard, 
 duke of York, great grandson of Edward III. 
 was consecrated to this see, 1792. He was an 
 excellent prelate in the church, strictly attentive 
 to his pastoral duty, and enforcing the same on 
 those who were subject to his jurisdiction. Hi* 
 eloquent discourses, dignified deportment, and 
 attention to whatever was conducive to the good 
 of his diocese, and the zeal with which he pro- 
 moted every institution of public charity or utili- 
 ty, conciliated to him the veneration and respect 
 of all. His brilliant abilities recommended him 
 in so forcible a manner to the favour of his majes- 
 ty, that on the demise of Archbishop Moore he 
 was, without solicitation, nominated to the archie- 
 piscopal see of Canterbury in the year 1805, to 
 which he was translated, and of which he is the 
 present metropolitan. 
 
 65. Henry Bathurst, LL. D. is the present 
 worthy and much respected diocesan, whose truly 
 Christian deportment, conciliatory manners, and
 
 extensive charity, have endeared him to this city 
 and diocese. 
 
 The lord bishop of Norwich sits in the house 
 of peers as lord abbott of ihe abbey of St. Bene- 
 dict in the Holm, in the parish of Ludham, in 
 Norfolk, and which has for many centuries been 
 united to the bishopric, and though not now ex- 
 isting, was never dissolved in form, as the other 
 abbeys were at the reformation. His ecclesiasti- 
 cal jurisdiction extends throughout Norfolk, Suf- 
 folk, and part of Cambridgeshire. 
 
 The bishops of Norwich, by custom immemo- 
 rial, always have and st'll do enjoy a power of 
 union of any two cures of any value within the 
 diocese, which right has never been disputed 
 by any superior power. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF THE DEANS OF NORWICH. 
 
 Bishop Herbert, when he founded this cathe- 
 dral church, by licence from Anselmo, archbi- 
 shop of Canterbury, instituted a prior, sub-prior, 
 and fifty-eight monks, to celebrate divine service 
 daily, and to preach to people who resorted to it 
 for the purpose of religion ; the prior was elected 
 by the rest of the monks from their own frater- 
 nity, and his duty consisted solely in governing 
 the convent and regulating the service The 
 prior and monks lived together in the monastery, 
 which adjoined the south side of the church, and 
 being what were then called regular clergy, were 
 obliged to a life of celibacy.
 
 The following is a list of the Priors, with tht 
 dates of their several Installations. 
 
 1. Ingulphus, the first prior, appointed by 
 
 bishop Herbert, when he founded the 
 church and priory, installed A. D. 1101. 
 
 2. William Turbus, 1121 he was afterward* 
 
 bishop. 
 
 3. Helias, 1146. 
 
 4. Richard, 1149. 
 
 5. Rannulph, 1158 
 
 6. John, 1170. 
 
 7. Elric, ditto. 
 
 8. Tancred, ditto. 
 
 9. Gerard, ditto. 
 
 10. William de Walsham, 1201. 
 
 11. Radulph de Warham, 1218. 
 
 12. William Ode, 1219. 
 
 13. Simon de Elmham, 1235. 
 
 14. Roger deSkernyng, 1257, afterwards bishop. 
 
 15. Nicholas de Brampton, 1266. 
 
 16. William de Burnham, 1267. 
 
 17. William de Kirby, 1272. 
 
 18. Henry de Lakenham, 1289. 
 
 19. Robert de Lang-ele, 1311. 
 
 20. William de Claxtone, 1326. 
 
 21. Simon Bozoun, 1334. 
 
 22. Laurence de Leek, 1352. 
 
 23. Nicholas de Hoe, 1357. 
 
 24. Alexander de Tottington, 1382 afterward* 
 
 bishop. 
 
 vy
 
 354 
 
 25. Robert de Burnham, 1407. 
 
 26. William de Worsted, 1427. 
 
 27. John Hevorlond, 1436. 
 
 28. John Molet, 1453. 
 
 29. Thomas Bozoun, 147L 
 
 30. John de Bunwell, 1480. 
 
 31. William Spynke, 1488, 
 
 32. Willian Baconsthorpe, 1502. 
 
 33. Robert Bronde, 1504. 
 
 34. William Castleton, 1529, who was afterwards 
 
 dean of the new foundation, the succes- 
 sion of which is as follows : 
 L William Castleton, a man whose reli- 
 gion shifted with the times and varied with the 
 pleasure of his sovereign, for Henry VIII. in the 
 30th year, having dissolved the monastery, he 
 surrendered it into the king's hands, with all it* 
 valuable possessions. 
 
 In the same year, 1738, on the2d day of May, 
 the king new founded the church and made him 
 the first dean, constituting his chapter of six of 
 the monks, who became prebends, and sixteen 
 others who became vicars choral, or secular 
 canons, as they continue to this day; the rest 
 of the monks were turned out to subsist as well 
 as they could, and on Trinity Sunday following 
 the dean and the other members of the church 
 appeared in the choir in their new capacity, 
 It appears as if the dean's conscience did not 
 entirely approve of his proceedings, for the next 
 year he resigned his deanery, and had a pension 
 iettled on him for life.
 
 355 
 
 2. John Salisbury., suffragan bishop of Thet- 
 fbrd, and archdeacon of Anglesea, was installed 
 1539, and presided in the chapter during the re- 
 mainder of the reign of Henry VIII. and Edward 
 VI. but in 1554 he was deprived by Mary; how- 
 ever, through the interest of Thomas, duke of 
 Norfolk, he retained his" living of Lopham, and 
 that nobleman also procured him the living of 
 Diss and the chancellorship of Lincoln. On his 
 deprivation, 
 
 3. John Christopherson, D. D. master of Tri- 
 nity-college, was made dean by Mary ; he was a 
 zealous papist and a furious persecutor, and there- 
 fore more agreeable to the queen, who in 1557 
 promoted him to the bishopric of Chichester. 
 
 4. John Boxball, archdeacon of Ely, secretary 
 of state, prebendary of Winchester, and warden 
 of Winchester college, dean of Peterborough, 
 and afterwards of Norwich ; and at the same 
 time prebend of London, York, and Salisbury. 
 Though a confirmed papist, he was no perse- 
 cutor, always declaring his disapprobation of 
 persecuting for the sake of religion. In 1558 he 
 resigned his deanery, and on the accesssion of 
 Elizabeth he was deprived of all his preferments, 
 and ended his life in confinement. 
 
 5. John Harpsfield, prebend of St. Paul's, a 
 bloody persecutor, chaplain to bishop Bonner; 
 he was deprived by Elizabeth, and died in ob- 
 scurity. On his deprivation, John Salisbury was 
 
 yy 2
 
 356 
 
 restored to the deanery and held it to his death,, 
 1573. 
 
 6. George Gardiner,, D. D. was first minor 
 canon, then prebend, next archdeacon of Nor- 
 wich, and lastly dean; he died in 1589, and was 
 buried in the south aisle of the nave, where there 
 is a monument to his memory. 
 
 7. Thomas Dove, D. D. chaplain to Elizabeth, 
 an eloquent orator and most excellent preacher, 
 installed here in 1588, and held the deanery till 
 1600, when he was consecrated Bishop of Peter- 
 borough, in which see he died Aug. 30th 1630, 
 aged 75, and was buried in Peterborough cathe- 
 dral. 
 
 8. John Jegon, D. D. afterwards bishop. 
 
 9. George Montgomery, bishop of Derry, and 
 afterwards of Cloghen, in Ireland ; being trans- 
 lated to the see of Meath, he resigned this 
 deanery in 1614. 
 
 10. Edmund Suckling, D. D. died in 1628, 
 and was buried in this cathedral. 
 
 11. John Ilassal, D. D. prebendary of Litch- 
 field. He was deprived of his deanery and re- 
 tired to his living of Creak, where not being 
 permitted to preach, or enjoy any of the profits 
 of his benefice, but plundered of all his personal 
 property, he lived in great poverty, and at last 
 died in want, leaving his family to be maintained 
 by the parish 
 
 12. John Crofts, D. D. who succeeded him 
 after an interval of 1,7 year?, was installed Aug.
 
 357 
 
 7th, 1660. He fitted up the church, which had 
 been plundered and defaced by the rebels, and 
 erected the organ, the pipes of which were 
 curiously painted of many colours. He died the 
 S7th of July, 1670, interred under the organ of 
 this cathedral. 
 
 13. Herbert Astley, D. D. died in June, 1681, 
 and was buried in the nave of the church. 
 
 14. John Sharpe, D. D. archdeacon of Berks, 
 rector of St. Batholomew by the Exchange, 
 London, afterwards of St. Giles' in the Fields, 
 and prebend of Norwich, was installed dean June 
 8th, 1681, which he resigned in Nov. 1689, be- 
 ing made dean of St. Paul's, London; and in 
 1691 he was consecrated archbishop of York. 
 On his resignation, 
 
 15. Henry Fairfax, D. D. was installed dean. 
 He was the third son of Thomas Lord Fairfax, 
 and had this deanery conferred on him as a re- 
 compence for the ill treatment he had received 
 in the reign of James II. from Lord Chancellor 
 Jeffreys, being, with twenty-six others, expelled 
 Magdalen-college, Oxford, for the firm and 
 manly resistance made by them to the arbitrary 
 measures of the king in imposing on that college 
 a master, contrary to the statutes of that founda- 
 tion, confirmed by several kings, and which they 
 (the fellows) had sworn to support. Dr. Fairfax 
 enjoyed thig deanery above twenty years, and 
 died May 20th, 1702, aged 68. He was interred 
 in the nave of the cathedral, where there is a 
 handsome monument to his memory.
 
 35S 
 
 16. Humphrey Prideaux, D. D. first prebend 
 and then dean of this cathedral, much esteemed 
 for his writings. He had the misfortune to 
 labour under that dreadful complaint, the stone ; 
 which, from improper management, after having 
 undergone the operation of cutting, confined 
 him to his room. Being deprived of the power 
 of being publicly useful, he continued to write on 
 religious subjects till his death, which happened 
 Nov. 1st, 1724. He was buried in the nave of 
 the cathedral, where there is a stone inscribed to 
 his memory, the inscription being composed by 
 himself. 
 
 17. Thomas Cole, D. D. a native of Shrop- 
 shire, rector of both the Rainhams, was installed 
 in May, 1724, died in Feb. 1730, and was bu- 
 ried in the parish church of East Rainham. 
 
 18. Robert Butts, D. D. afterwards bishop. 
 
 19. John Barren, D. D. archdeacon of Nor- 
 folk. He died June llth, 1739, and was buried 
 in the parish church of Saxlingham, of which he 
 was rector. 
 
 20. Tomas Bullock, D. D. was a native of 
 Herefordshire, fellow of Brazen nose -college, 
 Oxford, chaplain and secretary to Bishop Leng, 
 by whom he was preferred to the rectory of Ashby 
 with Oby and Thyme, and afterwards to North 
 Creake. He was installed dean in 1739, and he 
 sustained his office with the greatest honour to 
 himself and benefit to the cathedral, w r hich then 
 stood greatly in need of such a benefactor, be-
 
 359 
 
 ing out of repair, ruinous, dirty, and neglected. 
 He new paved the floor, repaired the tower, 
 white-washed and beautified the inside of the 
 church, made great alterations in the choir, and 
 ornamented and gilded the organ. He conti- 
 nued dean till his death, May 30th, 1760, and 
 was buried in the cathedral, in the aisle behind 
 the high altar, where there is a stone inscribed 
 to his memory. 
 
 21. Edward Townshend, D. D. rector of the 
 Pulhams and the Tivetshalls, brother and chap- 
 lain to the most noble Lord Charles Viscount 
 Townshend. He died in 1765, and was suc- 
 ceeded by 
 
 22. Philip Lloyd, D. D. rector of Piddleton, 
 in Dorsetshire. He was a man of extraordinary 
 learning and superior judgment. In the early 
 part of his life he was a fellow of New-college, 
 Oxford, and tutor in the family of the Hon. Mr. 
 Grenville, through whose interest he was pro- 
 moted to this deanery, in which he will be long 
 remembered with esteem and respect for his 
 solicitous attention to every thing which con- 
 cerned the interest of the cathedral, and for the 
 many improvements made by him in it and other 
 parts of the precinct. He ornamented and 
 beautified the choir, and added the painted win- 
 dows, which were adopted, set, and painted by 
 .Mrs. Lloyd. In private life he was not less 
 eminent for his sincere piety, entensive charity, 
 and well-directed benevolence. He died May
 
 360 
 
 v 
 
 3Ist, 1790, aged 63 years, and was buried in the 
 choir,, where a handsome monument is erected 
 to his memory. 
 
 23. Joseph Turner, D. D. the present dean, 
 master of Pembroke-hall, Cambridge, has far ex- 
 ceeded all his predecessors in repairing and beau- 
 tifying the church. By his direction the whole 
 of the inside has lately been white-washed, 
 the choir new painted, the organ elegantly gilt, 
 the hangings and furniture renewed, and the 
 whole church brought into the complete state in 
 which it now appears, and for which it is so 
 much admired by all strangers and others who 
 visit it. 
 
 The cathedral was refounded by Edward VI. 
 in the second year of his reign, by the style of 
 the cathedral church of the holy and undivided 
 trinity, of the foundation of Edward VI. The 
 dean is head of the chapter., consisting of six pre- 
 bendaries, which are all in the gift of the king, 
 and one of them is annexed to the mastership of 
 Catherine-hall, Cambridge. The chapter, clerk, 
 and auditor are appointed by the dean. The 
 vicars choral are eight minor canons, from 
 among whom the dean appoints the sacrist, 
 precentor, gospeller, and epistoler. In the 
 appointment of the dean are likewise the organist 
 and eight lay clerks or singing men, a master 
 and eight choristers, a beadle, who is also organ 
 blower, two vergers, and two subsacrists or bell 
 ringers. Six alms-men are supported out of the
 
 361 
 
 revenues of the church ; they are obliged to at- 
 tend divine service, and are in the appointment 
 of the crown. 
 
 The civil government of the precinct is by a 
 charter, (bearing date in the seventh year of 
 the reign of James I.) vested in the dean and 
 chapter, the high steward, (who is always a no- 
 bleman) and the deputy steward, (always a 
 barrister-at-law) : they are justices of peace and 
 quorum for the precinct; and the dean has the 
 sole power of appointing two cap-tal coroners, 
 two deputy coroners, the bailiff of the liberty, 
 the ferryman, the porter, and the gaoler. The 
 constables are appointed at the court leet. The 
 porter has the care of the gates of the precinct, 
 which are kept closed every night. 
 
 Observations on Ecclesiastical Buildings. 
 
 The general plan of our cathedral churches is 
 a long cross, though the transept aisles in most of 
 them appear to have been added some years after 
 the original foundation of the church, which ac- 
 counts for the difference in the style of architec- 
 ture, the appearance being something more mo- 
 dern, and in some of the cathedrals, as Ely and Pe- 
 terborough,, superior in point of building, to the 
 naves, as the eastern extremity or chancel gene- 
 rally exceeds both in these particulars. From 
 the meeting of the four roofs rise the towers or 
 lanterns, in all the cathedrals except that of 
 Bangor; some of the transepts are built like the 
 z z
 
 naves and chancels, with a body and side aisles, 
 but in general they want those appendages;* 
 some of the cathedrals have second transepts, in 
 general shorter than the principal ones, forming 
 in the plan a double cross ; such are Canterbury, 
 Lincoln, Rochester, Salisbury, St. Asaph's, and 
 Worcester ; those which have only two tran- 
 septs, meeting as before mentioned, are St. 
 Paul's, London, both ancient and modern, St. 
 Peter's, Westminster, Chichester, Ely, Peter- 
 borough, Oxford, Bath, Wells, Hereford, Litch- 
 field, St. David's, Gloucester, Winchester, York, 
 Chester, Durham, and Carlisle ; the rest of the 
 cathedrals do not come under either of these 
 descriptions; and it is undecided under which to 
 place the church we have been attempting to de- 
 scribe ; the south-east transept is undoubtedly 
 existing in the chapel of St. Mary ; now the con- 
 sistorial court opposite to it was anciently the 
 chapel of St. Stephen, which, from what we may 
 judge by the traces of the building, formed 
 the north-east transept, the arch of communica- 
 
 * There are several parish churches in Norwich and 
 Norfolk which are built in the form of a perfect cross, bjr 
 the addition of two chapels or transepts; viz. St. Peter's 
 Mancroft, St Peter's Hungate, St. John's Sepulchre, St. 
 Michael at Plea, St. Mary in Coslany, in the city, and the 
 churches of St. Nicholas at Yarmouth and St. Margaret at 
 Lynn. The church of East Dereham is a good specimen of 
 this plan of building, having a lantern tower rising in the 
 middle. The church of the adjoining parish of Gressen- 
 hiill is built OB the same plan.
 
 363 
 
 tion with the north aisle, though built up for time * 
 immemorial, forming the exact counterpart of 
 the former. To every side of the chancels of 
 these churches joined a number of chapels, 
 which were added at different times, and used as 
 chantries, where mass was daily said for the re- 
 pose of the souls of their respective founders, 
 and which in the present day serve for burying 
 places, courts, vestries, and other needful appen- 
 dages. In the cathedral church was anciently 
 performed all the various religious offices for the 
 whole diocese ; little was done in parochial insti- 
 tutions, except the daily devotions of morning 
 and evening ; but hither was the great resort of 
 the devout to worship at the high altar, to hea* 
 sermons, &c. The church was of old, as among 
 the primitive Christians, after the model of the 
 Jewish temple, divided into three separate parts ; 
 the nave, answering to the outward court, was 
 for the body of the people : the most western 
 part of which was in some churches called the 
 Gallilee, in allusion most probably to the Gallilee 
 of the Gentiles, where our Saviour first preached, 
 lying in the most remote part of the Holy Land, 
 and farthest from the sanctuary. This was the 
 place of the penitents, where they used to sit 
 till their re-admission into the church, when the 
 penalties of their excommunication being re- 
 mitted, they were recalled into the congregation, 
 and admitted to the privileges of Christianity, 
 from which they had for their offences been 
 zz 2
 
 364 
 
 before excluded. Further eastward in the nave 
 was the place of preaching, as in some cathedrals 
 it still continues. On the eighth pillar on the 
 south side is to be seen the place where the pulpit 
 was fixed. When the congretations grew too 
 large to gain admission into the church, pulpits 
 were erected in the yards adjoining; and in the 
 seventh arch on the north side is still the remains 
 of the door-way into the Friars' preaching-yard, 
 now the garden of the episcopal palace.* In 
 the western part of the nave stood the font, with 
 a limitary 1 ar, which none might pass who had 
 not undergone the sacrament of initiation into 
 Christianity. More eastward a building was 
 erected, generally of stone, forming a kind of 
 gallery ; on this was placed a crucifix, nearly as 
 large as life; and this was called the Rood Loft, 
 and which now, in most of our cathedrals, serves 
 for the organ to stand on. Beyond this laid the 
 choir, typically considered as a figure of the ce- 
 lestial world, the only entrance to which was the 
 arch under the rood loft, signify ing that whoever 
 
 * This corresponded with St. Paul's cross at London, so 
 famous in history. The origin of cross preaching migiir at 
 first be accidental ; the cross was a place of great public re. 
 sort, both of husiness a. id devotion ; a zealous Friar, taking 
 the opportunity of .so iar^e a concourse of people, might 
 harangue them from the steps of the cross, or place where 
 the criers used to make proclamation. Pulpit crosses be. 
 came general at most of the cathedrals, and so continued till 
 the reformation.
 
 365 
 
 should enter that blessed place must pass under 
 the cross ; that is, must suffer tribulation. In re- 
 ference to the temple at Jerusalem,, the choir an- 
 swered to to the holy place or court of the priests, 
 and therefore obtained the name of the Presby- 
 tery. Here were performed the daily offices of 
 religion, matins and vespers, as the morning and 
 evening service are at the present day. The 
 chancel or most eastern part was the sanctum 
 sanctorum, or holy of holies, as the western ex- 
 tremity was in the temple, with this difference, 
 that the latter was inclosed with a veil, so that 
 it was accessible to the high priest alone; this 
 was open to the view of the congregation, and 
 not only the bishop, but the presbyters sat within 
 it. It was always ascended by several steps, so 
 as to be plainly seen in the most distant parts of 
 the church, signifying thereby, that by the Chris- 
 tian dispensation the veil of obscurity, which 
 covered that of the Jews, was removed, and glo- 
 ries of heaven were revealed to mankind. In 
 Mr. Wheatley's description of the ancient Chris- 
 tian church, this distincion of the several parts is 
 clearly laid down ; the eastern extremity appears 
 circular, with the altar standing in the middle of 
 the chancel; eastward of which sat the bishop 
 with his presbyters; the episcopal chair in the 
 centre, and somewhat elevated. It is to be 
 doubted if the remains of any place of this de- 
 scription are now in existence, except in this 
 church; but whoever walks round the eastern
 
 366 
 
 aisle, can plainly discern the stone work of these 
 seats ; that of the bishop in the middle arch,, be- 
 hind the new screen of the present altar. Before 
 the great alterations made in the choir, 1740, 
 the altar was fixed more forward, and this eastern 
 part was separated by a hanging of tapestry 
 (probably put up at the reformation), and no 
 notice was taken of the space behind, in which 
 state it appears to have remained ever since it 
 became usual to have the altar in the most east- 
 ern part, and the bishop and presbytery entirely 
 relinquished their seats at the back, which was 
 probably when the stalls of the present choir 
 were erected. 
 
 From the plan we pass to notice the style of 
 building which prevails in these national monu- 
 ments of antiquity ; this hath from long (though 
 improper) usage been denominated Gothic Archi- 
 tecture, in which general character has been un- 
 fortunately confounded every species of style 
 and decoration, from the semi-circular to the 
 iharp-pointed arch ; and at the same time that 
 Westminster Abbey was esteemed a perfect 
 model of this species of building, the author of 
 the History of Norwich describes this cathedral 
 to be a fine gothic structure. Later and more 
 elegant writers have very judiciously exploded this 
 term as unappropriate, being originally intended 
 to imply contempt, and convey an idea of barba- 
 rism. Most of our cathedral churches are a 
 compound of Saxon, Norman, and what is more
 
 367 
 
 properly termed ancient English architecture, 
 each prevailing in different parts of the same 
 building, and corresponding with the succeeding 
 periods in which they were severally erected. 
 The author of the Dissertation on the Cathedral 
 Church of Ely has divided these several styles of 
 building into five different periods or ages, com- 
 mencing with the first introduction of Christianity 
 in this island, and concluding the first period with 
 the conquest by the Normans in 1066 ; the se- 
 cond ending 1200, including a period of one hun- 
 dred and thirty-four years, in which a great num- 
 ber of religious edifices, and amongst them this 
 church date their foundations ; the third age 
 contains an entire century, in which the style of 
 architecture most commonly denominated Gothic, 
 but now more properly Ancient English, came 
 into use : the name English is certinly more ap- 
 propriate, as it was in this country that it was 
 introduced, improved, and carried to its greatest 
 perfection, as is still to be seen in our ancient 
 ecclesiastical buildings, and comprehended the 
 three last divisons of the progressive state of im- 
 provement of this species of architecture, and 
 which was in use not only for religious founda- 
 tions, but for castles, halls, and other public 
 edifices, as well as the palaces of the great and 
 opulent, during the different periods included in 
 the time before mentioned, that is to say within 
 the space of 600 years.
 
 368 
 
 First Age or Period Saxonviz. From the 
 introduction of Christianity, to the conquest 
 of this country by the Normans in 1066. 
 
 The characteristics of this style of building 
 were plainness and solidity, with low columns and 
 semi-circular arches. The capitals sometimes 
 exhibited a rude imitation of some of the Grecian 
 ornaments, but sparingly introduced. The win- 
 dows generally of one light, with semi-circular 
 heads, some of them so narrow as to be little 
 wider than loop-holes or embrazures, expanding 
 inwards through the enormous thickness of the 
 walls, which were plain, without external but- 
 tresses, seldom rising above one tier of arches: 
 the form of these churches was in genera] a pa- 
 rallelogram, consit'ng of a nave and two side 
 aisles, with a chancel of smaller dimensions, gene- 
 rally consisting only of a nave; the east end 
 turned in a semi-circle. Some had no distinct 
 chancel; the towers were low, and placed be- 
 tween the chancel and the body of the church, 
 chiefly intended as a lantern to give light to the 
 latter. Of this form we may reasonably con- 
 ceive the original cathedral of Norwich to have 
 been as erected by Bishop Herbert, no part of 
 which can be traced as now existing. 
 
 As some persons have been extremely soli- 
 citous as to the reason of towers and steeples be- 
 ing general to churches in all periods, it may not 
 be amiss to introduce a word or two here on that
 
 369 
 
 subject. Prom the earliest ages of the world, 
 mankind appear inclined to have preferred emi- 
 nences for the worship of the Deity ; it was the 
 constant practice of the patriarchs to erect their 
 altars on the highest summit of mountains; nor 
 do we find that it met with any reprehension 
 from him. In process of time these eminences 
 became abused to the purposes of idolatry, 
 and then it was that God prohibited his people 
 from worshipping in high places; afterwards it 
 became again in some measure tolerated,, as at 
 Ramah, Moriah, and Gibeon where the true God 
 was the object of adoration. When the inha- 
 bitants were closely pent in populous cities, the 
 roofs of their buildings became substitutes for 
 natural eminences and towers ; turrets and 
 cupolas ornamented the places of devotion, 
 known in holy writ by the appellation of the 
 "House-top;" but that which far exceeded all 
 other buildings, whether civil or ecclesiastical, 
 was the temple of Solomon ; this we are express- 
 ly informed was ornamented with a tower or 
 cupola, which rose immediately over the porch, 
 in the exact situation of our cathedral steeples, 
 between the most holy place and the exterior 
 temple, the height of which was an hundred and 
 twenty cubits, which, taking the cubit at the 
 largest measure, (answering to a yard with us) 
 was equal to the loftiest buildings of the present 
 day, and ornamented, both without and within, 
 in a style of magnificence far exceeding any 
 
 3 A
 
 370 
 
 thing we at present have any conception of. 
 Among the heathen these lofty buildings were 
 inseparably connected with their temples. Quere. 
 Here it is said the augurs used to ascend in the 
 times of sieges., to inspect the positions of the 
 besiegers, and to advise proceedings; and from 
 which the whole of the sacred buildings obtained 
 the name of temples. From the heathens just 
 then converted they easily passed to Christianity; 
 and as the minarets in that period had obtained 
 among the Mahometans the use of being ascend- 
 ed by the Imans to call the people to their devo- 
 tions, so among the Christians a bell hung in the 
 steeples answered the same purpose. Towards 
 the latter end of this period, large and heavy 
 bells came into general use,, and with them towers 
 at the west end of churches ; transepts were 
 added to those parts already erected, which 
 rendered the steeple at their intersection too 
 weak to support so great a weight, and these 
 seldom contained more than the sacring bell, 
 as is still retained in some churches, though only 
 a. small cupola exists between the church and 
 chancel. 
 
 We have few remains of the buildings erected 
 in the foregoing period ; the ruins of St. Michael 
 on the Mount, (built by Bishop Herbert before 
 this cathedral,) is probably the only relique, and 
 this too much defaced by time to exhibit any 
 other appearance than a naked piece of wall.
 
 371 
 
 Second, or Norman Age, from 1066 to 1200. 
 Temp. Richard I. 
 
 It was in this period that this and most of the 
 cathedrals were erected., and it is sufficiently 
 characterised by the semi-circular arches, rising 
 to three tiers of windows, the walls prodigiously 
 thick, with very few external buttresses those 
 projecting but little and entirely plain, as is seen 
 on the outside of this church; the windows have 
 round arches, but higher than in the former age, 
 as is observable in both the transepts. Perhaps 
 this church is one of the most perfect specimens 
 of this style of architecture now extant: at this 
 period the dimensions of churches were more 
 ample than formeily, with the East ends semi- 
 circular; the columns were very massy, and the 
 roofs a plain stone vaulting. 
 
 Third, (the early English) from 1200 to 1300. 
 Temp. Edward I. 
 
 The sharp-pointed arch and lancet-shaped 
 windows properly mark this period. High 
 pitched roofs, with many intersections, spring- 
 ing from columns much more slender; the inter- 
 sections ornamented with flowers, faces, legen- 
 dary stories, and sacred histories, conveyed an 
 idea of a grove overshadowed by the intersecting 
 branches of a double row of lofty trees. West- 
 minster Abbey is the most perfect specimen of 
 this kind of work now extant ; but no roof in 
 3a 2
 
 372 
 
 the \vorld can equal the three principal ones of 
 this church in point of historical sculptures, 
 tracing the whole period of sacred writ., and the 
 perfect preservation of the figures from their 
 situation,, which happily bade defiance to the in- 
 dustrious zeal of fanatical reformation. This 
 period gave rise likewise to lofty towers,, cupolas, 
 lanterns, and spires, among which kinds of 
 building the tower and spires of this church has 
 been deservedly esteemed one of the first, and the 
 cloister is one of the most perfect specimens of 
 this age now in existence. 
 
 Fourth, or Ornamental English Style, from 
 1300 to 1460. Henri/ VI. 
 
 Progressive improvement is observable in the 
 works of this age. The form of the arches was 
 changed and gradually assumed a less acute 
 head to the windows; many in this church are 
 nearly square. The larger arches now reached 
 the perfection of what has been vulgarly and 
 improperly termed Gothic : witness the three 
 beautiful gates of the precinct, spires, orna- 
 mented with crockets, erected at every angle of 
 the church, four lofty ones at the west end, 
 (taken down in the beginning of the last 
 century,) as also two others on the east sides 
 of the transepts near the great tower, rising 
 a considerable height over the two principal 
 staircases, and are to be seen in old views of the 
 ehurch.
 
 373 
 
 Fifth, or Last Age, from 1460 to 1537. Temp. 
 Henri/ VIII. and which has been denominated 
 the Florid English Style. 
 
 The works of the ornamental kind carried to 
 the highest degree of perfection, particularly 
 roofs of fret-work, as in Henry the Seventh's 
 Chapel, at Westminster ; an exuberance of or- 
 naments in every part, figures of saints and angels 
 in relievo, niches, shrines, tabernacles, canopies, 
 mouldings, fasciae, pendants, and finials, of the 
 richest design and elaborate workmanship, both 
 in stone and wood : of the latter, various screens 
 and stalls, whose heads and seats exhibit an ap- 
 pearance of regular uniformity, and yet indivi- 
 dually differ in design ; the former, as this choir 
 shews, having all the foliage so varied that scarce- 
 ly two of them will be found to agree, and the 
 latter, though seldom noticed, are well worth 
 the attention of the curious. The seats are to 
 be used r up or down at pleasure; when turned 
 up they exhibit a great variety of figures some 
 sacred, others emblematical, satyrical, or grossly 
 ludicrous : they appear cut out of solid wood, or 
 put together with the nicest art. Stained-glass 
 windows were in this period brought to their 
 highest degree of perfection ; and effigies of 
 angels, saints, kings, bishops, and priors, with 
 the storied legend of divine truth, or supersti- 
 tious fiction, reflected a religious gloom on the 
 insides of these ample and magnificent structures.
 
 374 
 
 From the solidity of the materials and the 
 strength of the colours, these works of art and 
 industry were well calculated to bid defiance to 
 the decaying hand of time, and to endure to dis- 
 tant ages, had not the succeeding reign put a 
 sudden and irrevocable period to all their glory. 
 The doctrines of the reformation impelled the 
 partizans of religious bigotry to turn their rage 
 on these inanimate objects of superstition, and 
 the unwearied hand of the fanatic completed the 
 devastation.
 
 375 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Of the Liberty of the Castle of Norwich. 
 
 
 
 NORWICH Castle, with its liberty, (which 
 was formerly much more extensive than it is 
 atpresent,) never belonged to the city, but alwayg 
 was and now is a part of the county of Norfolk, 
 of which it is usually considered as the chief 
 public building. Its origin, with respect to the 
 date of its first foundation, is uncertain, although 
 it is conjectured to have been first built in the 
 reign of Uffa, a king of the East Angles, about 
 the year 575, by whom it was strongly fortified 
 and made a place of defence. It was made a 
 royal castle in 642 : afterwards it was improved 
 by Alfred the Great about the year 872, but 
 entirely destroyed by Swaine, the Dane, in 1004, 
 and rebuilt by his son Canute about 1018. At 
 the conquest it fell into the king's hands, by 
 whom it had been besieged, and was given with 
 the earldom of Norfolk to Roger Bigot, the 
 king's lieutenant, by whom the present building 
 was most probably erected. Before the year 
 1135 it was appointed a place of confinement 
 for state prisoners, (as all the houses of the
 
 376 
 
 great barons usually were,) though not appro- 
 priated to this purpose only, for there is no 
 doubt the Bigots and their successors resided in 
 the castle till the immediate custody of it was 
 committed to the sheriff of the county, when 
 it was made the common prison. 
 
 In 1189 Richard I. made Roger, son of Hugh 
 Bigot, or Bigod, constable or lieutenant of the 
 castle ; but he having joined the rebellious 
 barons in 1212, was dispossessed; on his sub- 
 mitting to the king, he was reinstated in his 
 pffice, and died constable in 1220. In l&K) 
 the custody of the castle is said to have been 
 committed to the sheriff, but this is to be under- 
 stood only of that part where the king's pri- 
 soners were confined, so that the sheriff has 
 power to bring their bodies before the king's 
 justices for trial without any permission from 
 the constable or lieutenant. 
 
 In 1312 Thomas de Brotherton was ap- 
 pointed constable: he new cased the outside 
 of the building with curious carved arched 
 work, which now remains, though its beauty 
 is greatly impaired by time ; he likewise crowned 
 the upper ramparts with battlements, turrets, 
 and pinnacles, not now existing. It may be 
 presumed he was the last constable who per- 
 sonally resided in the castle. 
 
 In 1325 it was ordered that the general quar- 
 ter sessions for the county of Norfolk should 
 be held in the shire-house, which stood within
 
 377 
 
 the liberty of the castle, near the present guard- 
 house, and probably was part of the gate of 
 the second bridge. 
 
 In 1339 the castle, with its liberty, was 
 granted by Edward III. to the sheriff of the 
 county of Norfolk for a public gaol for the said 
 county. This grant produced an enquiry to as- 
 certain the property of the fee of the castle, 
 when it appeared to belong solely to the king, 
 who in 1334, being then present in Norwich, 
 personally, by his own hands, gave, released, 
 and confirmed by charter, the whole to the 
 city for ever, except the old shire-house (before 
 mentioned) and the site of the castle, as far as 
 the outward bank of the inward ditch. This 
 boundary is carefully preserved to this day; 
 but the site of the old shire-house, since its de- 
 molition, is too small to be taken any notice of. 
 Since this time it has always been called the 
 County Gaol. 
 
 In 1381 John de Gray was appointed con- 
 stable for life, with a stipend of 20/. per annum, 
 paid out of the exchequer, being the same al- 
 lowance as had always been made to the con- 
 stable of the said castle. This is the last ap- 
 pointment of a constable we hear of; and the 
 office after his decease appears to have devolved 
 on the lord lieutenant of the county, who nomi- 
 nated a bailiff to keep the peace there. The 
 gaoler always was and now is in the appoint- 
 ment of the sheriff, and holds his office for one 
 3 B
 
 378 
 
 year, being removable at the pleasure of the 
 new sheriff, who may choose any person he ap- 
 proves to that office during his shrievalty. 
 
 In 1579, the old shire-house falling into de- 
 cay, was deserted and afterwards pulled down, 
 and a new shire-house erected adjoining the 
 north side of the castle ; all the county courts 
 from that time have been kept, and business 
 transacted there. It is said to have been a very 
 convenient and commodious building. 
 
 In the beginning of the last century the 
 upper part of the castle was repaired, the old 
 battlements (being decayed) were taken down, 
 and a plain battlement of white stone elected, 
 as it now appears. 
 
 September 30th, 1 746, a sudden and terrible 
 fire broke out in the shire-hall, about one 
 o'clock in the afternoon, which in a few hours 
 reduced the whole building to ashes ; soon after 
 which accident the present shire-house was 
 erected. 
 
 No notice appears to have been taken of the 
 dtich which surrounded the castle before the 
 year 1774, when it was ordered that a bank 
 should be thrown up round the upper part, 
 and the sides of the hill planted with trees, at a 
 considerable expence to the county, although 
 it answered very little purpose at that time ; but 
 soon afterwards the ditch was divided into variou* 
 allotments, which were given to such persons 
 as chose to accept of them, on condition of
 
 379 
 
 keeping up the fences. By this means the hill 
 has since been kept in good repair, the planta- 
 tions on the sides are in a flourishing state, and 
 the gardens in the bottom, differing in style 
 from each other, according to i\\e respective 
 tastes of the several occupiers, produce so pleasing 
 an effect, that strangers have acknowledged the 
 general view of the gardens and of the city, from 
 the summit of the hill, to be one of the most 
 agreeable prospects in Europe. 
 
 The castle is situated on the summit of the 
 hill, towards the south-west part of it. The 
 building is nearly square, and does not stand ex- 
 actly agreeable to the compass, but a little in- 
 clining to the south, though not enough to jus- 
 tify any variation from the cardinal points in 
 giving a description of it. 
 
 The extent of the building from east to west, 
 including the tower formerly the principal en- 
 trance, is 110ft. 3 in. and from north to south 
 92ft. 10 in. The walls are 96 ft. 6 in. high, 
 and from 10 to 13 ft. in thickness, and had for- 
 merly within them a royal chapel, dedicated to 
 St. Nicholas, which was free from all episcopal 
 and archidiaeonal visitation and jurisdiction 
 whatever. 
 
 In 1221, Richard, the first rural dean of the 
 deanery of Norwich, then just established, pre- 
 tended to spiritual jurisdiction in this chapel, for 
 which he was obliged to supplicate pardon of the 
 king; in consequence of which, its rights and 
 SB 2
 
 liberties were more fully established and con- 
 firmed, and which have never since been dis- 
 puted. 
 
 The shire-house, adjoining to the north side 
 of the castle, was built by Mr. Brettingham, after 
 the fire of 1746, with black flint and white slone. 
 It has two courts of justice, a large grand jury 
 chamber, and other convenient apartments. 
 The portico on the west side, which greatly 
 adds to the convenience of the courts, was added 
 in the year 1784. The court at the north end 
 is for trying law-suits, the other is the common 
 tribunal or place of judgment for the county. 
 Here are held the assizes before the judges 
 on the circuit, and the quarter sessions before 
 the county justices. Here also are held the elec- 
 tions of knights of shire to represent the county 
 in parliament, coroners, &c and the sheriff holds 
 a general county court every fourth Wednesday. 
 In the event of a contested election, booths are 
 erected in the front of the shire-house for the 
 convenience of taking the poll, and the members 
 are chaired round the castle. This is also the 
 common place for the execution of the county 
 criminals. 
 
 The ascent to the hill is on the South side, by 
 a bridge of stone, extending over the ditch, of a 
 single arch forty-one feet in diameter, said to be 
 one of the largest in the kingdom. At the upper 
 extremity of the bridge are two strong fortresses, 
 between which there was anciently a gate, to the
 
 381 
 
 towers of which these buildings appear to have 
 been the foundations. At the north-east corner 
 of the hill is another ascent ; at the upper part 
 are nineteen steps of white stone., below which is 
 a path for foot passengers only. 
 
 In 1793 the inside of the castle underwent an 
 entire alteration., so that no part of the original 
 building within is now to be seen ; and a great 
 addition was made on the east side,, in order to 
 render it more commodious, and capable of con- 
 taining a greater number of prisoners with more 
 security. It may not be improper in this place 
 to give a description of the inside of the castle 
 prior to that alteration. 
 
 The entrance was on the east, by a small door 
 leading into three rooms, under the arches of the 
 eastern wall,, which were little better than dun- 
 geons, and were called clinks ; from the middle 
 one was a passage into the yard within the castle. 
 At the south-east corner was a large upright 
 stone staircase, leading to a row of apartments 
 occupied by the debtors, and was called the Ex- 
 change. The tower near the north-east corner, 
 called Bi god's Tower, was converted into apart- 
 ments for the same purpose. The upper yard 
 was a stone court, with a breast wall, which 
 looked into the lower or felons' yard; the apart- 
 ments were inhabited by debtors, and were 
 called the master's side ; those debtors who were 
 not able to hire commodious apartments, were 
 lodged in miserable habitations at the entrance of
 
 382 
 
 the felons' yard, called the common side. From 
 hence, through a strong door, was the passage 
 to the inner yard, where the felons were con- 
 fined ; their rooms being on the ground floor, 
 under the before mentioned debtors' rooms and 
 the upper or debtors' yard. It was a large 
 arched dungeon of stone, in which the felons 
 of the worst description were secured in the 
 night. At the south-west corner of the yard 
 was a small mean building, called St. Nicholas 
 Chapel, from the royal chapel of that name for- 
 merly within the castle ; it was used for divine 
 service by the county chaplain, who officiated, 
 but it was destitute of every ornament, and even 
 convenience. At the north-west corner of the 
 yard was a modern building of brick, the lower 
 apartments of which contained a bath-house, 
 and over it were apartments for female convicts. 
 The hospital OF sick room was at the south- west 
 corner, within the wall of the original building, 
 and was small and incommodious. From hence 
 there was a spiral staircase ascending the para- 
 pet which leads round the top of the wall, as it 
 still continues. A beacon, or signal, was placed 
 at the south-west corner of the building by order 
 of government, but has since been taken down. 
 At the north-east corner there was another stair- 
 case, nearly blocked up with rubbish, on descend- 
 ing which from the top it led to several small 
 empty rooms or galleries within the substance 
 of the wall, enlightened by embrasures next the
 
 383 
 
 outside. The bottom of this staircase was so 
 blocked up as to preclude the possibilty of de- 
 scending lower, having- been stopped up and 
 disused for many centuries ; but it had pro- 
 bably its entrance from Bigod's tower. At the 
 south-east corner of the hill stood the house of 
 the gaoler, and which till the late act of par- 
 liament passed, prohibiting the selling of wine, 
 &c. in gaols, was a well-known tavern. 
 
 In the year 1795 William Wilkins, esq. of 
 Norwick, published an essay towards a history 
 of the Venta Icenorum of the Romans and of 
 Norwich Castle, which was read at the society 
 of antiquaries, in the month of June in the same 
 year, and from which I have taken the liberty 
 of making the few following extracts, for the 
 information of such readers as have not had an 
 opportunity of perusing that learned and inge- 
 nious performance. 
 
 Mr. Wilkins fixes the date of the first castle 
 or fortress which was erected here in the time 
 of Uffa, the first Saxon king, A. D. 575, when 
 he assumed the dominion of that part of this 
 island called the East Angles, comprehending 
 the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cam- 
 bridge, including the isle of Ely; it was then 
 called in the Saxon tongue Northwic, from 
 its relative situation to the ancient Venta Iceno- 
 rum, being about three miles to the north of it, 
 on a cape bounded by the. river Wensum, which
 
 384 
 
 at this point makes an acute* winding from the 
 west to the south-west. About this period the 
 Venta Icenorum, now the village of Castor, 
 being deserted, and the Romans having entirely 
 abandoned this island,, it is supposed the first 
 inhabitants settled in the neighbourhood of the 
 castle, for the sake of the defence it afforded 
 them ; on which account it may certainly claim 
 the priority of foundation to any other building 
 in Norwich. 
 
 In 6 42 it was a royal castle and one of the 
 seats of Anna, the seventh king of the East 
 Angles. Tombert, a prince of the South Girvii, 
 married Etheldrada, the daughter of King Anna, 
 in the year 652, by which marriage the isle of 
 Ely was settled on her in dower, and after the 
 death of her husband part of the possessions of 
 the monastery which she founded there was held 
 by castle guard service of the castle of Norwich. 
 This circumstance shews the great antiquity of 
 this royal fortress ; and the sum of money paid 
 afterwards by Havey, the first bishop of Ely, to 
 Henry I. for that king's transferring the service 
 of those who held that church by knights' ser- 
 
 * Wic, in the Saxon tongue, properly signified a winding 
 or acute angle;- from hence comes the word wicker, be- 
 cause those twigs may be bent into acute angles without 
 breaking. The Latin name, Nordovico, was probably of 
 monkish original ; they disdaining a Saxon etymology, 
 gave it the Latin name, still in use, signifying north 
 town.
 
 385 
 
 vice from Norwich castle to the isle of Ely, 
 shews also the great possessions appertaining 
 to this castle in Anna's time.* 
 
 When the Danes made an inroad into this 
 land, about 866 and in 870, they wintered at 
 Thetford, slew Edmund, king of the East Aa- 
 gles, and routed his army, they are said to have 
 taken possession of this castle ; however, in the 
 reign of Alfred we find him in possession of it, 
 and he fortified it with brick and stone buildings. 
 When the kingdom of the East Angles was 
 again subject to the Saxon kings, the castle 
 continued in their possession through the reigns 
 of Athelstan, Edmund, Edred or Eldred, Edwin, 
 Edgar, and Edward the Martyr ; but in Ethel- 
 dred's reign the castle and town are said to 
 have been destroyed by Swaine, king of Den- 
 mark, who invaded Norwich with a fleet in the 
 year 1004. f 
 
 The Danes being defeated by Ulfkettle, earl 
 of the East Angles, they retreated to their ships, 
 and returning to their own country, they did 
 
 * Mr. Bentham, history of Ely, p. 132, says, the sum 
 paid by the bishop to the king was 1000/. an amazing 
 purchase in those days. 
 
 t The circumstance of coining to Norwich with a fleet 
 ounds very strange at this time ; but it must be remem- 
 bered, that the whole of the valley lying between the hills 
 of Mousehold on the east, and the higher parts of the 
 town, as Ber.street, &c. on the west, was then an estuary, 
 which washed the outward fortification* of this castle. 
 
 3c
 
 386 
 
 not make another invasion for the space of six 
 years, during which time Norwich continued in 
 the same desolate state in which they left it; but 
 in 1010 they returned again with a stronger 
 force, and, having defeated Ulfkettle, took pos- 
 session of the whole province, and the Danish 
 Earl Turkell having expelled Ulfkettle, held the 
 government till Canute became sole monarch in 
 1017, who continued him in his government, 
 and committed the castle to his custody. Roger 
 Bigod was made constable to the castle by Wil- 
 liam the Conqueror about the year 1077, and 
 the family of the Bigods continued in that office, 
 with little intermission, until Roger Bigod, his 
 fifth successor, surrendered it to Edward III. in 
 1225 ; but in 1273 it was again granted to the 
 Bigods, and in 1293 Roger Bigod, as earl of 
 Norfolk, was constable of the castle, where the 
 sheriff of the county was to keep criminals in 
 safe custody till the coming of the justices itine- 
 rant and gaol delivery; notwithstanding which 
 the constables often refused the sheriffs that 
 power, till it was confirmed to them by act of 
 parliament, 14th Edward III. From this time 
 the office of constable was an honorary sinecure 
 in the appointment of the king, and of late year* 
 annexed to the lord lieutenant of the county. 
 
 Canute, who was cautious in securing his An- 
 glian possessions, erected several strong forts 
 and castles, and by him in all probability the 
 present building was erected; and though it is
 
 387 
 
 of Danish workmanship, it is, notwithstanding, in 
 the taste of architecture practised by the Saxons 
 long before England became subject to the 
 Danes, and it has the best exterior specimens of 
 this kind of architecture extant* 
 
 * It has been conjectured that this hill is of much remoter 
 antiquity than any building now standing, or formerly ex- 
 isting upon it ; that it w as the work of the ancient Abori- 
 gines of this island; and might probably have been one of 
 those high places in which not only the inhabitants of Pales- 
 tine, hut the Greeks and all the barbarous nations wor- 
 shipped their deities; and where natural mountains did not 
 afford these opportunities, they cast up artificial ones, with 
 incredible industry. Their reasons for preferring these 
 elevated situations being probably the following : first, 
 because they approached the nearest to heaven, the ac- 
 knowledged residence of the deity ; seocndly, because 
 more secure from inundations, which near the site of these 
 hills frequently deluged the plains ; thirdly, because their 
 religious rites and mysteries were by the priests more effec- 
 tually secured from vulgar intrusion, the idols and their 
 altars being seen at a great distance on these eminences, 
 and an immense number of people could worship them 
 at the foot of the mount; that this custom prevailed parti, 
 cularly in the East Angles the similarity of the other castle 
 mounts, (as Rising, Thetford, Buckenham, and Framling- 
 ham,) seems to justify. When they had afterwards been 
 visited by strangers, who came in ships from other coun. 
 tries, it is probable that some kind of buildings were 
 erected upon the promontories near the sea, in the nature 
 of fire beacons, to afford safety to the navigation in ports 
 whose entrances must at that time have been particularly 
 dangerous. After having experienced the horrors of inva- 
 sion from the Roman and other foreign enemies, they then 
 first erected fortresses upon these heights, with all the means 
 
 3e 2
 
 388 
 
 The altitude of the promontory on which the 
 keep of this castle is built, appears to be chiefly 
 the work of nature, excepting what has proba- 
 bly been thrown out from the inner vallum, for 
 it may be observed that the ground from the 
 castle for the best part of a mile southward is 
 nearly level with the upper ballium, although it 
 dips to the west, and most rapidly *o the east. 
 The ascent of the promontory is very- steep on 
 all sides except the north, and in some places 
 inaccessible; the upper ballium is an irregular 
 circle on the summit of the promontory, the 
 narrowest diameter of which, from the south-east 
 
 of offence and defence then in their power. Something of 
 this kind might have been existing here at the time the 
 Romans invaded this island, which gave rise to the old 
 tradition of the castle being as antient as Julius Caesar, to 
 which that learned antiquary, Sir Thomas Browne, refers, 
 in the following passage : 
 
 <( Vulgar chronology will have Norwich castle as old as 
 Julius Caesar ; but his distance from these parts, and its 
 gothick form of structure, abridgeth such antiquity. The 
 British coins afford conjecture of earlier habitations in 
 these parts, though the city of Norwich arose from the 
 mines of Venta^ and though perhaps not without some 
 habitation before, was enlarged, builded, and nominated 
 by the Saxons. In what bulk or populosity it stood in 
 the old East Angle monarchy, tradition and history are 
 silent. Considerable it was in the Danish eruptions, when 
 Sueno burnt Thetford and Norwich, and Vlfketel, the 
 governor thereof, was able to make some resistance, and 
 after endeavoured to burn the Danish navy." 
 Uydriotaphia, or a Treatise of Urue.Burial, p. ISth. 
 By Thos. Browne, Doctor of Phytic. Printed 1651.
 
 389 
 
 to the north-west, is about 100 yards; the op- 
 posite direction, where it is the widest, extends 
 about ten yards farther. The building stands 
 at the south-west extremity, within ten yards 
 of the bridge. The fosse or ditch is forty yards 
 wide, from the inward to the outward fence, 
 the present boundary of the liberty of the 
 castle. Originally there were 3 ditches sur- 
 rounding the castle, which could not compre- 
 hend less than 23 acres : each ditch had a bridge 
 over it similar to that now remaining: these 
 have been long demolished, and the two outward 
 ditches are in part levelled and in part built 
 upon. The bridges were on a line with each 
 other, inclining to the South-east, the extremity 
 of the first being exactly where Golden Ball- 
 street now begins. The inner ballium was 
 from nine to twenty-eight feet wide, surrounded 
 by the second ditch, the breadth of which 
 was thirty feet: this ditch is still remaining on 
 the west side, and is built upon from the Castle 
 Inn to King's Arms-lane. Between the houses 
 are several passages, which are all so steep as to 
 be ascended by steps ; from hence to the site of 
 the second bridge the ground was levelled about 
 thirty years ago ; but the foundations of the 
 bridge were extensive and solid, and not to be 
 cleared away without a great deal of labour. 
 The outer ballium was something wider than 
 the middle, and the ditch was 40 feet wide : this 
 ascent is still very steep in some places, as is to be
 
 390 
 
 seen on Hog-hill,, (now called Orford-hill) ; from 
 whence it reached, in a circular direction, to the 
 western extremity, extending as far as the Mar- 
 ket-place, then the Great Croft belonging to the 
 castle;* whence., turning northward., it is still 
 visible in the descent called St. Andrew's Steps. 
 Places of the same kind are to be met with on 
 the side of the east near King-street, and the 
 declivity of the ground is still more visible in 
 Common Pump-street and the lanes leading 
 thereto. The barbican, or lodge, belonging to the 
 watch tower began at the opening called Orford- 
 street, and in the widest part it was about forty 
 yards broad, gradually decreasing at the extremi- 
 ties : its length was about 220 yards. The road 
 passed through the middle of the barbican, 
 exactly where Golden Ball-street now is, at the 
 south-east end of which stood the watch tower: 
 the street leading from hence towatd the Venta 
 Icenorum was called Burg-street, because it was 
 situated in the royal burgh of the castle, and is 
 to this day corruptedly called Ber-street.f 
 
 A vast pile of building was begun in the year 
 1790, and completed in 1793, somewhat resem- 
 
 * Magna Crofta, i. e. the Great Croft, from which the 
 parish of St. Peter, as well as the whole ward, obtained the 
 name of Mancroft. 
 
 + Those who wish for further information respecting the 
 architecture, carving, antique ornaments, and embellish, 
 ments of this ancient building, are referred to the excellent 
 work from which I hare abstracted the abore remarks.
 
 391 
 
 bling the architecture of the old castle., to the 
 east side of which it adjoins, and is called the 
 New County Gaol. The walls are built with 
 the stone called Scotch Granite,, and are strong, 
 massive, and solid. The outside has a very 
 heavy and inelegant appearance; within are the 
 gaoler's house and commodious apartments for 
 debtors. The new chapel on the west side of 
 the great entrance is neat and convenient. The 
 inside of the old castle was at the same time 
 cleared of all the former-described buildings, 
 and a triple row of cells erected in their room for 
 the confinement of felons : these buildings, which 
 are ranged on the north-east and south sides of 
 the keep, are so constructed as to leave a passage 
 between the original wall and the new work, 
 which is of red brick, ascended by stone stair- 
 cases with iron railings. These improvements 
 have effectually prevented escapes, which before 
 but too frequently happened; and were com- 
 pleted at an expence to the county of about 
 15,000/. 
 
 The fee of the liberty of the castle, as ascer- 
 tained by Edward III. continued to belong to 
 the crown till the year 1805, when his present 
 Majesty, out of his great regard to his subjects 
 in this county, freely gave, presented, released, 
 settled, and confirmed the fee property and in- 
 heritance of this ancient and royal demesne to 
 the county of Norfolk for ever, as Edward HI. 
 did the fee of the outward liberty to the city of
 
 392 
 
 Norwich, to be and remain in the possession of 
 the high sheriff and justices of the peace for the 
 county of Norfolk, in trust, for their preserving 
 and keeping up the same for the administration 
 of justice, the freedom of elections,, and the 
 confinement of the county prisoners. The trus- 
 tees, truly sensible of this act of royal munifi- 
 cence, and desirous of evincing their gratitude 
 to his majesty for this valuable gift, immediately 
 ordered such alterations, amendments, and im- 
 provements to be made in the said liberty as may 
 be correspondent to the purposes for which the 
 donation was intended. It was, therefore, pro- 
 jected that the old paling and fences which in- 
 inclosed the ditch, both above and below, should 
 be removed, and part of the trees, which ob- 
 structed the prospect of the castle, should be 
 taken down : an elegant iron railing, elevated 
 on a stone base of peculiar neat and excellent 
 workmanship, has been since erected, inclosing 
 the edge of the hill, the extremity of the ditch, 
 and the parapet of the bridge. The admissions 
 to the gardens at the foot of the hill is by six iron 
 gates, between columns of free stone, and the 
 whole lighted by lamps. At the foot of the 
 bridge are erected two square towers of Portland 
 stone, forming a complete porter's lodge, with 
 gates of cast iron, of which there is also another 
 at the back descent of the hill : these gates are 
 kept closed in the night, and secure the pre- 
 mises from the intrusion of ill-disposed persons,
 
 393 
 
 and tend to prevent the escape of any of the pri- 
 soners, or the commission of any depredations 
 on the property of the occupiers of the gardens. 
 These decorations and improvements are com- 
 pleted, and renders this inclosure one of the 
 most pleasant and delightful places of the kind 
 in Europe. Other alterations and improvements 
 are also made in the shire-hall, particularly the 
 enlarging both the courts, in order to render 
 them more convenient and capable of accommo- 
 dation for a greater number of persons, and all 
 the offices and their avenues are made more hand- 
 some and capacious. Another great improve- 
 ment is the supplying the castle with river water, 
 by means of pipes brought from the new mills 
 with great ingenuity and expence, crossing the 
 castle ditches and over the bridge ; thereby en- 
 suring a constant supply of water, which is pre- 
 served in a reservoir, in case of any accident 
 happening by fire. There was no water before 
 for the use of the castle but what was procured 
 from a deep well.
 
 394 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 Biographical Account of some eminent 
 sons residing in or having some connection 
 with the City. 
 
 WILLIAM White, a priest, commonly 
 called William of Kent, was the first 
 preacher who publicly propagated the doctrines 
 of the reformation in the city. He openly de- 
 nied the supremacy of the pope, and declaimed 
 vehemently against the worshipping of images, 
 saints, and reliques ; by which he incurred the 
 hatred and persecution of the monks, at whose 
 instigation he was apprehended and sent to Can- 
 terbury : there he was brought before archbi- 
 shop Chickley, where he boldly maintained and 
 asserted the truth of the doctrines he had 
 preached; but being threatened with death if 
 he did not forego his principles, his courage 
 failed him, and he submitted to sign a recanta- 
 tion of his opinions : upon this he was dismissed 
 and returned to Noiwich, where he preached 
 his doctrines with more boldness than he had 
 done before, by which he gained numbers of 
 proselytes to his opinions : this awakened all the
 
 395 
 
 fury of the monks against him, and he was a 
 second time apprehended and brought before 
 bishop Wakeryng, and they exhibited against 
 him thirty articles of heresy., of every one of 
 which he was convicted, and condemned to be 
 burnt alive, which sentence was carried into 
 execution in September, 1424. He was a man 
 of holy conversation, very eloquent in preach- 
 ing, and the protestant protomartyr of ihe city. 
 He died with great courage and constancy. 
 
 Thomas Bilney, bachelor of laws, an eminent 
 divine, and renowned martyr, was born (as is 
 generally believed) either in or near this city : 
 this holy man was admitted, when very young, 
 of Trinity-hall, Cambridge, and was made cross- 
 bearer in the university. Here he was first con- 
 verted from the errors and corruptions of the 
 church of Rome by reading the works of Luther. 
 He began preaching the truth in the univer- 
 sity, where he converted several of his ac- 
 quaintances, and among the rest, Thomas Arthur, 
 and Hugh Latimer, afterwards bishop of Win- 
 chester, and a famous martyr. He left the 
 university, in company with Thomas Arthur, 
 and travelled to London, propagating their reli- 
 gious opinions : there they were apprehended 
 and brought before Cardinal Wolsey, and Bon- 
 ner, bishop of London, and accused of being 
 obstinate heretics, denying and contradicting all 
 the fundamental doctrines of the church of Rome :
 
 for this they were examined and afterwards con- 
 victed. Arthur recanted and submitted to the 
 discipline and penance ; but Bilney utterly re- 
 fused to return to the Romish church ; where- 
 upon he was brought to a more formal trial be- 
 fore the cardinal and other bishops, in the chap- 
 ter-house at Westminster, where divers articles 
 of heresy where proved upon him out of his own 
 sermons : these being read to him, the bishop of 
 London admonished him to abjure and recant, 
 but this Bilney could not be persuaded to do, on 
 \vhich the bishop pronounced him to be convicted 
 of heresy, but delayed passing the sentence until 
 the next day, when he was again brought before 
 the court and admonished to abjure : he requested 
 3. day or two to consider of it, which was granted 
 Jiim ; at the end of which time he submitted him- 
 self to the sentence of the court and signed his 
 abjuration. Being absolved he underwent his 
 penance, which was to bear a faggot bare-headed 
 at the procession at St. Paul's, and to stand be- 
 fore the preacher at the cross all the time of the 
 sermon, and to remain in prison during the 
 pleasure of Cardinal Wolsey; he was shortly 
 after released. 
 
 Being set at liberty, he returned to Cambridge ; 
 but his conscience reproaching him for what he 
 Jiad done, he could not rest- at last (about a 
 year after) he determined again openly to avow 
 file opinions which he had abjured. Reaving
 
 397 
 
 Cambridge he came to Norwich to some of his 
 friends, whom he had before converted to the 
 truth ; he preached at first in their houses, but 
 afterwards openly in the fields, acknowledging 
 and lamenting his shameful abjuration of those 
 truths which he now more fervently than ever 
 inculcated : upon this he was apprehended and 
 sent to the gaol in the guildhall, there to remain 
 till bishop Nix sent for a writ to burn him as an 
 obstinate relapsed heretic. On the arrival of the 
 writ he was brought before the suffragan bishop 
 and the chancellor in the ecclesiastical court in 
 the cathedral, and, and there degraded from the 
 priesthood and deprived of his orders ; after 
 which he was committed to the custody of Nicho- 
 las Sotherton and Thomas Necton, sheriffs of 
 Norwich, to be by them kept in the guildhall till 
 his execution. 
 
 As Sheriff Necton was one of his friends and 
 converts, he was treated by him with all the in- 
 dulgence in his power, and he permitted his 
 friends to see him and hear him preach, which he 
 did to the very last; on the night before his ex- 
 ecution, many of his hearers came to take their 
 last farewell of him, they found him at supper 
 perfectly resigned and cheerful. He took an 
 opportunity of giving them an exhortation to 
 constancy in the true religion; and it was on 
 this occasion that he gave that admirable demon- 
 stration of his fortitude by holding his hand in
 
 398 
 
 the flame of the candle till one of his fingers 
 was consumed.* 
 
 On Saturday, Aug. 18th., 1531,, he was con- 
 ducted on foot by the officers of the city, with 
 their halberds, to the place of execution without 
 Bishop's Gate, where there was a stake pre- 
 pared, with a ledge or rail for him to stand on 
 that he might the better be seen by the people. 
 Having made an address to the surrounding 
 multitude, he was stripped df his layman's habit, 
 and when he had ended his devotions, he was 
 placed on the rail and chained to the stake : he is 
 said to have been small in stature, and of a very 
 pleasing countenance. After taking leave of his 
 friends, he was accosted by several of the monks 
 who had been witnesses against him, and who 
 now were near enough to come to him and re- 
 quest that he would not lay his death to their 
 charge, lest the people should abate their accus- 
 
 * This transaction is recorded by Fox, in his Book of 
 Martyrs, who says he often put his finger in the candle to 
 try his constancy, and that he now discoursed from Isaiah, 
 ch. 43, v. 2. " When thou passeth through the fire thou 
 shall not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon 
 thee." This discourse, under such circumstances, made au 
 impression upon his audience, which was never after- 
 wards effaced from their minds. In the original book, fo. 
 1012, there is a wooden cut of Bilney holding his finger in 
 the lighted candle with the bible laying on the table before 
 him. 
 
 It is also mentioned by Sir Matthew Hale, in his admira- 
 ble treatise " Of Afflictions," page 71.
 
 399 
 
 tomed respect and liberality to them ; where- 
 upon he spoke loudly to the people, acquitting 
 the monks of his death, and begging that they 
 might not be thought the worse of upon that 
 accoumt. A great fire of reeds and faggots was 
 then kindled round him, by which he was burnt 
 till his face was disfigured : he still continued loud 
 and fervent in his prayers. The wind being 
 very high, blew the fire away from him for some 
 time ; after which the faggots below taking fire, 
 one of the officers knocking out the staple (which 
 confined the chain) with his halberd, and his body 
 falling into the fire at the bottom, was consumed 
 to ashes. 
 
 Matthew Parker, archbishop of Canterbury, 
 in which see he succeeded Archbishop Cranmer, 
 was born in the parish of St. Saviour, in this city, 
 Aug 6th, 1504, and received the first rudiments 
 of his education in the old free grammar school, 
 in St. Matthew's parish, of which he must have 
 been one of the last scholars, and was afterwards 
 fellow of Corpus Christi-college, Cambridge, to 
 which he was a liberal benefactor. He was 
 chaplain to Anne Boleyn and tutor to Elizabeth. 
 In the reign of Edward VI. he was dean of Lin- 
 coln, and a zealous promoter of the reformed 
 religion : during the reign of Mary he was 
 deprived of his preferments and obliged to live 
 in retirement; but on the accession of Eliza- 
 beth he returned to court, where he was high in 
 favour, and was advanced to the archbishoprick
 
 400 
 
 of Canterbury., which he held till his death, May 
 17th, 1575, and was buried at Lambeth. 
 
 Thomas Codd, mayor of this city in the time 
 of Kett's rebellion, a person of great activity, 
 courage, and prudence. He died in 1558, and 
 was buried in the church of St. Peter Permoun- 
 tergate, in this city. 
 
 John Kaye, or Caius, an eminent physician, 
 born in this city Oct. 6th, 1510, where he re- 
 ceived the first rudiments of his education. He 
 was admitted of Gonville-hall, in the university 
 of Cambridge, when very young, and applied 
 himself to the study of physic, in which he made 
 such a proficiency that he afterwards became one 
 of the greatest physicians of his time. After he 
 was admitted doctor of physic, he travelled into 
 Italy, and studied at Padua under John Baptist 
 Montanus of Verona, a celebrated Italian physi- 
 cian. Returning to England he practiced physic 
 at Shrewsbury, but soon quitted that place and 
 came and resided in this city till 1551, when the 
 disease, called the Sweating Sickness, breaking 
 out, the successful manner in which he treated 
 that dreadful distemper rendered him so famous 
 that he was sent for to London and appointed 
 physician to Edward VI. and continued to hold 
 that office under Mary and Elizabeth, by which 
 having acquired great riches, he applied to the 
 queen for leave to advance the hall wherein he 
 had been educated, and which had neither been 
 endowed nor incorporated : he obtained a char-
 
 401 
 
 ter for its refoundation by the name of GonviUe 
 and Cai us -college, and was himself at the ex- 
 pence of all the new buildings, which cost him 
 the sum of 1834?. and so careful was he of this 
 college, that he himself presided as master from 
 1559 to 1573, when he resigned the mastership, 
 and resided as a fellow commoner in his own 
 college to the day of his death, 29th of July, 
 1573, and he was buried in the chapel of the 
 college. 
 
 ; Sir Thomas Erpingham, knight, warden of the 
 cinque ports and lord chamberlain to Henry IV. 
 was a benefactor to this city. Being suspected 
 by the monks of lollardy, or favouring the doc- 
 trines of the reformation, he was obliged, by way 
 of penance, to build the West gate of the cathe- 
 dral, an elegant gothic structure, which to this 
 day bears his name: he also rebuilt the church 
 of the Black Friars in the same style of architec- 
 ture, (now St. Andrew's Hall,) which he did not 
 live entirely to finish, dying in 1428 : he was 
 buried in the cathedral. 
 
 John Cozen, D. D. bishop of Durham, was 
 born in this city Nov. 30lh, 1594. He was 
 fellow of Gonville and Caius-college, Cambridge, 
 and chaplain in ordinary to Charles I. At the 
 commencement of the civil war, (being then pre- 
 bendary and archdeacon of York,) he was the 
 first clergyman who suffered deprivation for his 
 loyalty and attachment to the king ; he therefore 
 went and resided at Paris, where he lived in 
 SE
 
 402 
 
 exile till the restoration, when he returned with 
 Charles II. \vho promoted him to the deanery of 
 Peterborough, and afterwards to the bishoprick 
 of Durham, which he held till his death,, Jan. 
 15th, 1672, and was buried in that cathedral, 
 where there is a small monument to his memory. 
 Sir John Pettus, knight, was mayor of this 
 city in 1608, in which year he built the fish 
 stalls by Fye-bridge, (not now standing) and the 
 next year he erected the conduit without Bishop's 
 Gate. He died in 1604, and was buried in the 
 parish church of St. Simon and Jude, where 
 there is a monument to his memory. 
 
 William Cunningham, M. D. was born in this 
 city in 1531, and in 1559 published a book en- 
 titled the "Cosmographical Glass," which among 
 other subjects, contained the first description of 
 this city ever attempted, with a kind of map or plan 
 of the same, as it appeared in his time. He died 
 at the early age of twenty-eight years, leaving 
 behind htm seven other treatises in manuscript, 
 > which were never printed. It is to be lamented 
 
 that the works of such an original genius should 
 have been lost. 
 
 Augustine Briggs, esq. was born in the year 
 1617, and was an alderman of this city: in the 
 reign of Charles I. for his loyalty and attach- 
 ment to that unfortunate monarch, he was expel- 
 led the corporation, and lived privately till aftgr 
 the restoration, when he was again elected an 
 alderman, and was very serviceable to the city in
 
 403 
 
 composing the difference between the citizens 
 and the dean and chapter, and he procured to 
 the city a new charter. He was mayor in 1670, 
 and represented the city in four parliaments ; he 
 was also major of the trained bands or city militia. 
 He died Aug. 28th, 1684, greatly beloved and 
 lamented, and was buried in the parish church of 
 St. Peter's Mancroft. 
 
 Sir Thomas Browne, knight, a celebrated 
 physician and author, was born in the parish of 
 St. Michael, Cheapside, London, Oct. 19th, 
 160o. He was educated in Win Chester- college, 
 and afterwards in Pembroke- college, Oxford, 
 where he commenced bachelor of physic : he 
 then travelled through Ireland, Prance, Italy, and 
 Holland, and was made doctor of physic in the 
 university of Leyden. In 1634 he returned to 
 London, and in 1636 he settled in this city as a 
 physician, and the year following was admitted a 
 doctor of physic in the university of Oxford. In 
 1643 he published "Religio Medica," and in the 
 next year " A Treasise on Vulgar Errors;" in 
 1655 he was admitted an honorary member of the 
 college of physicians, London; in 1658 he pub- 
 lished " Hydriotaphia, or a Discourse upon Urn- 
 burial," and also " The Garden of Cyrus ;" and in 
 September, 1671, he received the honor of kni-ht- 
 hood from Charles II. at the guildhall in this city. 
 He died on his birth-day, 1682, aged seventy-six, 
 and was buried in the church of St. Peter's Man- 
 croft, where there is a monument to hi< memory
 
 404 
 
 His " Repertorium, or Antiquities of the Cathe- 
 dral Church of Norwich/' was published af^-r his 
 death, with others of his posthumous works. He 
 was a person of most extensive learning- airi m*o- 
 found judgment, and very eminent in his medical 
 profession ; he was a sincere professor of the 
 church of England, which he dignified by his 
 unaffected pietv, strict morality, unbo-inrirc! cha- 
 rily, and benevolence: his probity rendered him 
 universally respected, and his beneficence gene- 
 rally beloved : in his person he was comely and 
 venerable, as appears from his picture, which 
 hangs in the vestry of St. Peter's Mancroft 
 church. 
 
 Edward Browne, M. D. president of the col- 
 lege of physicians, was a son of Sir Thomas 
 Browne, and was born in this city about the year 
 1642. He received his first education in the f see 
 grammar school, from whence he removed to 
 Cambridge, and afterwards to Merton-coilege, 
 Oxford, where he took his degree of doctor of 
 physic, 1667. Having travelled through a great 
 part of Europe, he retuvned to London, and was 
 made physician to Charles II. and in 1682 he 
 was appointed a physician to St. Bartholomew's 
 Hospital. He was a man whose learning was 
 both profound and extensive, and he is said to 
 have united the erudition of the college with the 
 manners oi the court. He died, greatly esteemed, 
 at hie seat, at Northfleet, near Greenhithe, in 
 Kent, Augu&t, 1708.
 
 405 
 
 Thomas Anguish,, esq. alderman of this city, 
 was mayor in 1611, and founded the boys' hos- 
 pital in 1617. He died about the year 1620, 
 and was buried in the parish church of St. Ed- 
 mund. 
 
 William Doughty, gent, the benevolent foun- 
 der of Doughty's hospital ; to which, (by his wi]J, 
 dated in 165?,) he bequeathed the sum of 6000/. 
 Robert Barron, esq. alderman of this city. He 
 founded the girls' hospital in 1649, and in the 
 same year he died in his mayoralty. 
 
 Thomas Tennison, D. D. archbishop of Can- 
 terbury, was fellow of Corpus Chisti-colJege, 
 Cambridge. He was upper minister of St. 
 Peter's Mancroft church in 1674, and chaplain 
 to the Earl of Manchester. He resigned St 
 Peter's on being instituted vicar of St. Martin's 
 in the Fields, Westminster, and was appointed 
 chaplain in ordinary to Charles II. and arch- 
 deacon of London : he was afterwards Bishop of 
 Lincoln, from whence he was translated to the 
 metropolitan see of Canterbury. 
 
 Samuel Clarke, D. D. a learned and eminent 
 divine, born in this city Oct. llth, 1675, was 
 son to Edw. Clarke, esq. alderman and member 
 of parliament for Norwich. In the younger 
 part of his life he was highly distinguished in the 
 university of Cambridge, particularly in the 
 mathematics : he afterwards applied himself to 
 divinity with equal success, being soon admitted 
 to a doctor's degree, and made chaplain to Bishop
 
 406 
 
 Moore, wh^ presented him to the rectory of 
 Dray ton, in Norfolk. In 1706 he translated Sir 
 Isaac Newton's Optics into Latin, and being re- 
 commended by his patron, Bishop Moore, to 
 Queen Anne, was presented by her to the rectory 
 of St. James's, Westminster. In 1710 he pub- 
 lished a folio edition of " Caesar's Commentaries/' 
 said to be one of the most splendid works ever 
 produced in this kingdom ; in 1712 he published 
 his fc Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity/' and in 
 1717 his " Correspondence with the Professor 
 Leibnitz, on the Principles of Natural Philosophy 
 and Religion." In 1729 he published the first 
 twelve books of Homer's Iliad with annotations, 
 dedicated to the Duke of Cumberland, but did 
 not live to finish the rest, dying suddenly the 
 17th of May, 1729, aged fifty-three years. He 
 was author of many other works, some of which 
 he published in his life time, and others were 
 published after his death by his brother, Dr. 
 John Clarke, dean of Salisbury. 
 
 Francis Blom field, A. M. rector of Ferefield, 
 in Norfolk, an eminent divine and a learned, in- 
 genious, and laborious antiquary, the author of 
 "The History of Norwich," a valuable work, 
 comprising every thing worthy of notice in this 
 city, from the earliest accounts to the year 1743, 
 when it was published ; he began a similar his- 
 tory of the county of Norfolk, which he did not 
 live to finish, dying before it was completed, 
 and he was buried in the parish church of
 
 407 
 
 Fersfield, where there is a handsome monument 
 to his memory. 
 
 William Fellowes, esq. of Sbotesham, one of 
 his majesty's justices of the peace for the county 
 of Norfolk, of which he was an active and impar- 
 tial magistrate: from his general similitude to 
 Pope's " Man of Ross/' his friends dintinguished 
 him by the appellation of" The Man of Shotes- 
 ham." His benevolence was unbounded, and he 
 was the first to promote every species of charity, 
 particularly such as were of general and public 
 utility. Having long formed a plan for erecting 1 
 a general hospital for this city and county, he set 
 on foot the noble design, to which he was the first 
 contributor, and he had the satisfaction to find his 
 charitable exertions seconded by all the principal 
 persons in Norwich and Norfolk. In 1769 he 
 laid the foundation of that noble institution, the 
 Norfolk and Norwich hospital, the interests of 
 which he never abandoned, but continued i*s 
 patron, governor, and benefactor till his death, 
 which happened the 30th day of Jan. 1775. 
 He was buried in the parish church of Shotesham, 
 where he had all his life resided, in the true style 
 of a country gentleman; and by his will, among 
 other charities, he bequeathed, in addition to all 
 his former benefactions to the hospital he had 
 founded, the sum 1000J. 
 
 Samuel Parr, LL. D. formerly of Emmanuel- 
 college, Cambridge, rector of Asterby, in War- 
 wick-shire, was elected master of the free gram-
 
 408 
 
 mar school in this city by the corporation in 177$. 
 He was greatly admired for his eloquence in the 
 pulpit, and exceeded by few in the depth and extent 
 of his learning; in 1792 he resigned the master- 
 ship on being' presented to the rectory of Buck- 
 den, in Lincolnshire. 
 
 Giles Linnett Barrett, an excellent comedian, 
 of very extensive capacity, who in all kinds of 
 dramatic characters was equally successful in 
 pleasing the taste of the public : in 1782 he be- 
 came patentee and manager of the theatre, which 
 he greatly improved in its internal decorations 
 and in the variety and novelty of its entertain- 
 ments. He resigned the patent in 1788. 
 
 Henry Harington, D. D. assistant minister of 
 St. Peters Mancroft, was formerly fellow of 
 Queen 's-college, Oxford, and in 1777 was ap- 
 pointed one of the vicars choral of Norwich cathe- 
 dral ; he was also rector of Haynford and North 
 Cove, in Norfolk ; of Wilh'ngham St. Mary, in 
 Suffolk; and perpetual curate of St. George at 
 Colegate, in this city. In 1785 he was collated 
 to a oanonry in the cathedral church of Wells, 
 which he held till his death, Dec. 25th, 1793: 
 he was interred in St. Peter's Mancroft church, 
 where there is a handsome monument to his 
 memory. 
 
 He was a very eloquent and impressive preach- 
 er, and in private life was greatly esteemed for 
 the elegance of his manners and for the many vir- 
 tues which Vr ere conspicuous in his character*
 
 409 
 
 Thomas Thurlow, D. D. born at Bracon Ash ; 
 he was the son of the Rev. Mr, Thurlow, rector 
 of that parish, and received the first rudiments of 
 his education in the free grammar school of this 
 city. Through the interest of his brother, Lord 
 Chancellor Thurlow, united to his own great abi- 
 lities, he first obtained the mastership of the tem- 
 ple and deanery of St. Paul's, London: soon 
 afterwards he was consecrated bishop of Lincoln, 
 from which he was translated to the valuable see 
 of Durham in 1789, of which he died bishop, at 
 his house in Portland-place, London, May 27, 
 1791. 
 
 George Walpole, earl of Oxford, lord lieutenant 
 of the county of Norfolk, and of the city and 
 county of the city of Norwich, ranger and keeper 
 of St. James's and Hyde Parks, high steward of 
 the corporations of Yarmouth and Lynn, and pre- 
 sident of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, was 
 born the 2d of April, 1730. He was highly es- 
 teemed for the benevolence of his disposition, and 
 for the readiness with which he promoted every 
 kind of public and private charity. Being many 
 years colonel of the Norfolk militia, he was great- 
 ly esteemed by the officers and soldiers. To the 
 city he was a great benefactor, and subscribed 
 very liberally towards every improvement made 
 in his time, lie died, universally esteemed and 
 lamented, the 5th December, 1791. Being 
 never married his title devolved to his uncle, the 
 Hon. Horatio Walpole, member of parliament for
 
 410 
 
 Lynn, well known in the literary world, \vhtf 
 dying a bachelor in 1792,, the title became extinct, 
 but it has been since revived in the person of the 
 Right Hon. Lord Walpole, father to the present 
 EaiiofOrford. 
 
 John Hobart, earl of Buckinghamshire, was 
 born Aug. 17th, 1723, and was member of parlia- 
 ment for this city in 1747, which he continued to 
 represent till he succeeded to the peerage on the 
 death of his father, in 1756. He was a benefac- 
 tor to the city, a promoter of the public improve- 
 ments, and a liberal subscriber to all charitable 
 institutions. He died Sept. 3d, 1793. 
 
 Horatio Nelson, Baron Nelson of the Nile, and 
 Burnham Thorpe, in the county of Norfolk, Duke 
 of Bronte, in the kingdom of Sicily, and K. B. 
 the glory of Great Britain, and the pride of the 
 British navy, the protector of his country, and the 
 scourge of France and Spain : this renowned 
 hero was the son of the Rev. Edward Nelson, 
 rector of Burnham Thorpe, by Catherine, daugh- 
 ter of the Rev. Dr. Suckling, prebendary of West- 
 minster. His Lordship was born the 29th day of 
 September, 1758, and received the first part of his 
 education at the free grammar school in this city ; 
 from whence he was removed to North Wals- 
 ham, where he terminated his literary pursuits, 
 and immediately entered in the service of his 
 king and country, which he never quitted to the, 
 last moment of his glorious life. 
 
 The unparalleled success which attended the ca-
 
 reer of this illustrious commander, his most deter* 
 mined bravery under the controul of the greatest 
 prudence and foresight, contributed to advance 
 his fame to an eminence never before attained by 
 any admiral in this or any other country ; and 
 the important advantages resulting from his at- 
 tempts to humble the pride of the national enemy, 
 and advance the triumphs of the British flag, so 
 much endeared him to his sovereign, as well as to 
 all ranks of his fellow subjects, that all parties and 
 denominations of persons vied with each other in 
 every testimony of applause to the achievements 
 jmd respect to the person of the hero. 
 
 Of his many signal victories, after he was pro- 
 moted to a superior command in the navy, the bat- 
 tle of the Nile will stand the most prominent, not 
 only in the life of Lord Nelson, but in the annals 
 of naval tactics. By a method of engaging the 
 enemy, entirely his own, and not before attempted 
 by any other commander, he in one night destroy- 
 ed the naval force of Prance, precluded the pos- 
 sibility of a quick restoration of their marine 
 power, and secured to Great Britain its preroga- 
 tive of sovereign of the seas. 
 
 It is not intended to enumerate the particular 
 actions of his lordship's life, or to attempt a deli- 
 neation of his public and private character : the 
 former has been most ably and faithfully done by 
 more than one biographer, and the latter is too 
 generally known and esteemed to admit the ad- 
 dition of a single eulogium ; but it is with a great
 
 412 
 
 degree of exultation that this city lays claim to an 
 affinity with a hero whom a whole nation has 
 been emulous to honour a claim sanctioned by 
 his lordship himself, who has shewn such distin- 
 guished marks of regard to a place, which was the 
 scene of his youthful days ; and to do honour to 
 which he has adorned our courts of judicature 
 with a portion of the spoils of our vanquished ene- 
 mies, which every time they are viewed serve to 
 recal the services he rendered to his country, and 
 to endear his memory to posterity.* 
 
 The battle of Cape Trafalgar, Oct. 21st, 1805, 
 at once crowned and terminated his lordship's ca- 
 reer of glory : after completely vanquishing the 
 combined enemies of his country, by an unfortu- 
 nate shot he fell at the moment of victory. The 
 joyful intelligence was received with sentiments 
 of the deepest regret by the whole nation, and the 
 brilliant achievements of the British navy were 
 for the moment clouded with universal sympathy 
 for the loss of their beloved hero. The splendid 
 funeral procession which took place at his inter- 
 ment, the sumptuous monument erected to his 
 memory in St. Paul's cathedral, and the honours 
 paid to his family, sufficiently demonstrate the 
 exalted opinion which the king and government 
 entertained of his merits and services, while the 
 
 * The sword taken from the Spanish Admiral, 
 AYinthuysen, presented to the city by Lord Nelson, is 
 placed la the council chamber in the guildhall.
 
 413 
 
 unaffected sorrow and voluntary mourning which 
 took place among all ranks of persons, in all parts 
 of the united kingdom, evince the unfeigned affec- 
 tion entertained for him by his fellow subjects. 
 
 William Enfield, LL. D. an eminent divine, 
 formerly of the dissenters' academy, at Warring- 
 ton, and many years pastor of the Octagon chapel 
 in this city. He was a person of learning and 
 piety, an impressive preacher, and well known to 
 the world by his ingenious compilations and ele- 
 gant writings. He was greatly beloved by his 
 congregation, and died much lamented, Nov. 2d, 
 1797., in the fifty-seventh year of his age: he 
 was buried in the Octagon chapel, over which he 
 had for some years presided, and where there is a 
 monument to his memory. 
 
 John Peele, A. M. vicar of Tilney and rector 
 of Bawsey, in Norfolk, and upper minister of St. 
 Peter's Mancroft church, in this city. He was 
 eminently distinguished by his piety, learning, 
 and eloquence, in the exemplary discharge of 
 his pastoral duty, and by the ability and integrity 
 which he displayed in the execution of various 
 trusts and the management of secular concerns ; 
 there being no public charitable institutions of 
 which he was not a promoter, and few which he 
 did not take an active part in conducting ; in these 
 and in the service of his private friends, as well as 
 in kind and humane attentions to the wants and 
 distresses of the poor, his zeal was unwearied and 
 his alacrity incessant; his discourses will be long
 
 414 
 
 remembered and esteemed for the elegance of their 
 composition, and the sound reasoning with which 
 his instructions were enforced. He died univer- 
 sally lamented the 26th of October, 1804, in the 
 eighty-fourth year of his age, and was buried 
 near the steps of the high altar of his own church, 
 where an elegant monument is erected to his 
 memory at the expence of the parishioners, in 
 token of the estimation in which he was held by 
 them during his long and assiduous ministry. 
 
 Edward Lord Thurlow, an eminent statesman, 
 was the son of the Rev. Mr. Thurlow, of Bracon 
 Ash, where he was born. He received the first 
 rudiments of his education at the free grammar 
 school in this city, and was afterwards a student 
 in the temple : in the early part of his life he prac- 
 ticed at the bar, and having, by his great merit 
 and uncommon abilities, been successively pro- 
 moted to the office of solicitor-general, attorney- 
 general, and master of the rolls, he was appointed 
 by his majesty lord chancellor of Great Britain, 
 and called to the house of peers, by the title of 
 Baron Thurlow, in the year 1778: the duties of 
 this high office he sustained with the most in- 
 flexible regard to justice. In 1793 he resigned 
 the seals, and was appointed one of the tellers of 
 the exchequer. He died at Brighton (unmarried) 
 the 12th day of September, 1806. 
 
 George Sandby, D. D. chancellor of the diocese 
 of Norwich, rector of Denton and Skeyton, in 
 Norfolk. He was a very eloquent preacher, and
 
 so eminently skilled in the ecclesiastical laws of 
 this kingdonm, that although he personally pre- 
 sided in the consistorial court of the lord bishop of 
 Norwich for nearly thirty years, there never was 
 a decree passed by him during that time which 
 was reversed by any superior court. He died de- 
 servedly lamented the 17th of March, 1807, in the 
 ninety-first year of his age. 
 
 George Townshend, Marquis Townshend of* 
 Rainham, Viscount and Baron Townshend of 
 Lynn Regis, and a baronet, lord lieutenant and 
 custos rotulorum of Norfolk and Norwich, field 
 marshal, colonel of the second regiment of dragoon 
 guards, governor of Jersey, and high steward of 
 Tamworth, in Staffordshire, and of Great Yar- 
 mouth, in Norfolk. He was elected to represent 
 the county of Norfolk in parliament in the year 
 1747, which he continued to do till his accession 
 to the house of peers in 1764. He was briga- 
 dier-general, and the third in command at the 
 taking of Quebec in 1759. When General 
 Wolfe was killed in the moment of victory, and 
 General Monkton carried off from the field wound- 
 ed, the command devolved on him. In 1768 he 
 was appointed Viceroy of Ireland, in which high 
 station he continued till 1772, greatly beloved and 
 respected : he was appointed lord lieutenant of 
 Norfolk and Norwich on the death of Lord 
 Orford, in 1792. He died Sept. 14th, 1807, and 
 was interred in the family vault in Rainham. 
 Richard Lubbock, M. D. a very eminent pro-
 
 416 
 
 fossor of medicine, was born in this city in the 
 year 1759., and received his first education in the 
 free grammar school ; after which he studied in 
 the university of Edinburgh,, and obtained his 
 degree in 1784 : here it was that he distinguished 
 himself by his "Thesis de Principio sorbile," by 
 which he obtained great credit. On his return to 
 this city he commenced practice as a physician, 
 and though his medical opinions were many of 
 them peculiarly his own, the extraordinary success 
 which attended his application of them proves that 
 they were in general well founded. In private 
 life he was no less conspicuous for the many virtues 
 which adorned his character, than he was eminent 
 for his professional skill and unremitted attention. 
 He died universally lamented Sept. 1st,, 1808, 
 and lies interred in the church of Earlham.
 
 417 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 tythe Charity Schools in this city, St. George's 
 Company, the manner of holding the Guild, 
 Assizes, and several United Societies, not 
 ^mentioned under any of the former heads. 
 
 THE charity schools in this city were first 
 established about the year 1700, and have 
 fever since been and are stiE supported by dona- 
 tions, benefactions, voluntary contributions, and 
 subscriptions : a list of the subscribers is yearly 
 published, and every subscriber of twenty shil- 
 lings per annum and upwards is a trustee of 
 course : the trustees elect a treasurer and clerk, 
 feind nieet on the first Tuesday in every month, 
 January excepted, at eleven o'clock in the fore- 
 noon, in the council chamber at the guildhall. 
 Tables of benefactions to this charitable institu- 
 tion are placed in St. Andrew's Hall, and the state 
 of the income and expenditure is published every 
 year: there is a charity sermon preached an- 
 nually at the cathedral church on Quinquagesima 
 Sunday in the forenoon j* on the six Sundays in 
 
 * Till tlie year 1784 this sermon was always preached on 
 As'n \Vedw-stlay, in the afternoon, attended by all th 
 masters, and the scholars in their new clothing.
 
 418 
 
 Lent, in the afternoon, at six parish churches ; 
 on Good Friday, in the afternoon, at St. Peter's 
 Mancroft church, attended by all the scholars; 
 and on the five Sundays after Easter, in the after- 
 noon, at five other parish churches : the preach- 
 ers are appointed by the bishop : the masters are 
 elected by the majority of the trustees, and are not 
 confined to live in any parish, except the school 
 in St. Peter's Mancroft, which has a very excel- 
 lent school-house. By the present regulations 
 there are three masters, who teach 308 boys, and 
 one mistress, who teaches 105 girls ; the boys 
 are instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic, 
 and clothed in drab-ctloured coats ; the girls are 
 instructed in reading, knitting, and sewing, and 
 clothed in dark-coloured camblet gowns : they 
 are nominated by the trustees in rotation, and the 
 method of recommendation is by signing their 
 baptismal register, which must be put on the file 
 before they are eight years old. 
 
 St. George's company, a fraternity first began 
 in the year 1385 ; it was originally a religious in- 
 stitution, and took its rise from some opulent de- 
 votees of both sexes, who founded a chantry on 
 the South side of the high altar of the cathedral 
 church, (in honor of St. George the martyr,) 
 with a priest to perform service daily for the welfare 
 of the brethren and sisters while living, and the 
 repose of their souls when dead : this fraternity 
 kept increasing till the reign of Henry V. who in 
 1416 granted them a charter of incorporation by
 
 419 
 
 the name of <c The Alderman, Masters, Brethren, 
 and Sisters of the Fraternity and Gild of St. 
 George, in Norwich," by which they were re- 
 cognised as a civil institution and part of the cor- 
 poration of the city; consequently they were not 
 dissolved with other religious foundations. By 
 the original charter they were empowered yearly 
 to elect one alderman and two masters, and to 
 make all reasonable orders and constitutions for 
 their own government, to have and wear a livery 
 after the manner of the incorporated companies 
 in London, to have a yearly feast and a common 
 seal, and to be a body corporate, being enabled 
 to commence and sustain actions and suits in law 
 and equity, with licence to purchase 10. per an- 
 num in mortmain. The prior, mayor, sheriffs, 
 and aldermen of the gild had power to remove 
 any members for offending against the statutes 
 and regulations of the company, and afterwards 
 ordinances were made for their government, by 
 which there were to be yearly chosen one alder- 
 man, four masters, and twenty.four for the assem- 
 bly or common-council, who are all to take the 
 oath prescribed at their admission: these were 
 to elect an unlimited number of brethren and 
 sisters, who were all to be sworn in like manner. 
 The grand annual feast or guild, on St. George's 
 day, (April 23d) was a sumptuous festival, when a 
 splendid procession was made through the city to 
 the cathedral, on which occasion the magistrates 
 ef the city, with all the officers of the corporation
 
 420 
 
 the aldermen., masters, brethren, and sisters of 
 the company rode on horseback: one of the bre- 
 thren was habited to represent St. George, and 
 one of the sisters St. Margaret, called the Lady 
 of the Guild; before them marched the sreat 
 
 * o 
 
 snap-dragon, curiously constructed of wicker 
 work, covered with canvas, painted, and gilt : 
 the streets were strewed and adorned with 
 pageants, trophies, and shews, according to the 
 taste of the respective inhabitants ; and the din- 
 ner was at St. Andrew's hall,, whereto all the 
 cpulent inhabitants of the city and county were 
 invited: on this day the brethren wore hoods of 
 mixed coloured silk on their shoulders, from which 
 they were called Pluckmen ; and the decayed 
 brethren were called Almsmen, who were sup- 
 ported at the company's expence. 
 
 From the year 1451 the company increased in 
 honor, wealth, and opulence, and persons of the 
 first distinction in the city and county were ad- 
 mitted brethren and Bisters of the guild, and 
 were able to lend the city 100 or 150/. when 
 it was required : their number amounted to 
 264. 
 
 In 1558 St. George and St. Margaret were 
 abolished, being thought popish and supersti- 
 tious, but the dragon was permitted to come out 
 and shew himself for the diversion of the popu- 
 lace, who would not willingly have been deprived 
 of this annual exhibition. 
 
 In 1612 it was ordered that the aldermen and
 
 421 
 
 common council should find tapestry to hang 
 the sides of the hall on the guild day, that build- 
 ing- not being then adorned with pictures as it is 
 at present. 
 
 In 1704 the company presented to the mayor 
 the noble sword of state, (now borne before him), 
 with the crimson and mourning scabbards belong;- 
 
 O o 
 
 inff to it, and two beadles' staves with silver 
 
 o * 
 
 heads. 
 
 In 1731 this ancient company was dissolved, 
 and an inventory of their goods, utensils., and 
 effects was delivered to a committee appointed to 
 receive the same, whereby they became the pro- 
 perty of the corporation, and to be used in the 
 annual mayor's feast, now called the Guild, when 
 the mayor, according to the order of the court 
 made the 9th of June, 1591, is sworn into his 
 office. 
 
 The guild, or mayor's day, by this order is al- 
 ways held on the Tuesday next before the eve of 
 the feast of the nativity of St. John the Baptist ; 
 the customary ceremonies of which are observed 
 as follows: 
 
 About nine o'clock in the morning the officers 
 of the corporation wait on the mayor at his house, 
 from whence they attend him to the house of 
 the mayor elect, and are entertained by him 
 with a breakfast : at eleven o'clock they proceed 
 to the guildhall, where the aldermen and com- 
 -mon-eouncil being assembled, a grand proces- 
 sion is made to the cathedral church : the
 
 422 
 
 snap- dragon is carried before the procession,* 
 attended by four whifflers or swordsmen, who 
 dear the way for the procession, which is led by 
 the two city beadles and a band of music, with 
 the standard of the city, of blue and silver, 
 carried before the common council, in their 
 gowns, attended by their beadle with his staff; 
 the rear brought up by their speaker, in his 
 gown of office, and the city coroners : next fol- 
 low the two city marshals and the city waits, 
 with the standard of justice, of crimson and 
 gold, the mace-bearers and under-chamberlain, 
 on horseback, the sword borne before the mayor, 
 the mayor elect, the recorder and high steward, 
 the aldermen above the chair, the sheriffs, and the 
 aldermen below the chair ; the procession closed 
 by the-sheriffs'officers.f The cathedral, accord- 
 ing to custom immemorial, is strewed with the 
 
 * The old dragon, left by St. George's company, soon 
 afterwards fell into decay, and was laid aside. After art 
 interval of several years, a beautiful large dragon was made 
 expressly for the guild; it was painted of red and goltl, and 
 wrought by the man who carried it; it continued in use till 
 1792, when it was laid aside through age. The present 
 dragon was new in 1795; it is smaller than the old one, 
 *oJ is painted green and gold. 
 
 t The corporation ride in their carriages, but before tbt 
 year 1772 the whole procession went on horseback, which 
 was allowed by all strangers to be the grandest public caval. 
 cade in England. The orators, and the club-bearer and his 
 man, called the Mayor's Fools, caused unspeakable diver- 
 sion to the populace, but are novr disused.
 
 423 
 
 sweet-scented sedge of rushes,, and decorated with 
 green boughs. The doors are kept shut, to assert 
 the exclusive right of the dean and chapter to the 
 fivil government of the precinct, the corporation 
 of the city only attending divine service there by 
 permission,, which is requested by the beadle 
 giving, with his staff, three loud and distinct 
 knocks, three times repeated, in honor of the three 
 glorious persons in the Godhead, to whom the 
 cathedral is dedicated ; the permission is granted, 
 by the door being immediately opened by the 
 beadle of the church, and the whole corporation 
 walk on the rushes to the choir, the organ playing 
 a voluntary. They are met by the dean and 
 chapter, and being seated in the choir, the ser- 
 vice of the day is sung, and an anthem performed, 
 after which the guild sermon is preached by the 
 mayor's chaplain. On their return out of the 
 church, the corporation halts at the free school, 
 where, according to the charter of its foundation, 
 an oration in Latin, composed for the occasion, is 
 delivered by one of the scholars ; then the proces- 
 sion returns to guild-hall, where the court of 
 mayoralty being opened, the new mayor is 
 sworn into his office : after taking the accustomed 
 oaths, he is seated in the chair of magistracy, and 
 the gold chain being put round his neck, the city 
 regalia are severally put into his hands, upon 
 which occasion it is customary for the recorder to 
 address the new and old mayors in suitable 
 speeches. The mayor immediately enters upon
 
 424 
 
 his office by ordering- his charge to be made to the 
 citizens, which is read by the town clerk; after 
 which the court is adjourned and the procession 
 continued to St. Andrew's hail, where the mayor's 
 feast is held, to which a very numerous company 
 of persons, of the iirst distinction in the city and 
 neighbourhood, are invited; the tables are set out 
 with great taste and elegance, and at five o'clock 
 the company,, generally from 7 to 900, sit do\yn 
 to a sumptuous banquet, consisting of a profusion 
 of all the delicacies in season ; a band of music is 
 provided to play in the gallery during the dinner ; 
 and this is allowed to be the most sumptuous feast, 
 next to the lord mayor's day, at London, and the 
 only corporation dinner in England (London 
 excepted) which is graced by the company of the 
 ladies, and a greater assemblage of beauty, fashion, 
 and elegance is seldom witnessed. The festivi- 
 ties of the day are concluded by a ball at the as- 
 sembly-house, to which the greater part of the 
 company usually adjourn. This day being es- 
 teemed a civic festival, is celebrated among the 
 populace by ringing of bells, firing of guns, and 
 decorating the streets, especially in the neighr 
 bourhood of the new mayor. ' ^ 
 
 The quarterly assemblies of the corporation are 
 held on St. Matthias's day, Feb t 24th; on the 
 feast of the invention of the holy cross, May 3d ; 
 on the eve of the guild-day; and on St. Matthew's 
 day, Sept. 21st ; at which all public city business 
 ii transacted; but in order to give validity to
 
 425 
 
 the acts of the assembly, it is necessary that there 
 should be a majority of the aldermen and common 
 council-men present. 
 
 The mayor is also empowered to call special 
 assemblies, whenever it is necessary to transact 
 any public business. 
 
 The assizes and general sessions of oyer and 
 terminer, and gaol delivery for the city and 
 county of the city of Norwich, are always holden 
 at the same time the assizes are held for the 
 county of Norfolk,, before the judges on the Nor- 
 folk circuit (of which this is always the last assize 
 town) in the summer assizes only, the assizes for 
 the county of Norfolk, for the spring circuit, being 
 holden at Thetford, so that here is only one gaol 
 delivery in the year ; and although several appli- 
 cations have been, at different times, made to 
 government, to have the lent assizes held here, 
 they have not yet been attended with any success. 
 Although the assizes for the city and county 
 are held at the same time, and before the same 
 judges, each is under a separate commission, and 
 the grand jury for the city is composed of the 
 most respectable inhabitants, exclusive of such as 
 are in any office of magistracy. 
 
 When the day appointed by the judges for 
 holding the assizes is come, the two city sheriffs, 
 with their under-sheriffs and officers, and the 
 high sheriff of the county of Norfolk, with his 
 under sheriff and sheriff's men, led by their mar- 
 shall, with trumpets and banners, go to meet 
 3m
 
 426 
 
 his majesty's judges as far as the bounds of the 
 city., (generally at Eaton), where the judges are 
 received by the high sheriff in his carriage, and 
 escorted by the cavalcade on horseback, through 
 the city, to the shire-house, on the castle hill: 
 being come to the foot of the bridge, the city 
 sheriffs, with their retinue, wait on the castle 
 ditches, and the high sheriff, with the judges, enter 
 the shire-house, and open the several commis- 
 sions; after which, being joined by the city she- 
 riffs, they proceed to the guildhall, at the porch 
 of which the high sheriff, with his posse, wait in 
 like manner, and the judges being, by the sheriffs 
 conducted into the court, the several commissions 
 are then read; after which the judges are again 
 conducted by the city and county sheriffs to their 
 lodgings. 
 
 The next day the same procession is made to 
 the cathedral church, where the judges are re- 
 ceived by the corporation, when, the loud organ 
 playing, they are conducted into the choir. After 
 the service for the day has been sung, and an an- 
 them performed, the assize sermon is preached by 
 the high sheriff's chaplain. After service, the 
 corporation, with one of the judges, proceed to 
 the guildhall, and the high sheriff, with the other, 
 to the shire-house, when the business of the as- 
 sizes is commenced, and continued till all is con- 
 
 / 
 
 eluded. 
 
 The assize week, by reason of the attendance 
 on the courts, causes a great influx of company
 
 427 
 
 from the country, and occasions its being a week 
 of great festivity. There are public dinners at 
 the great inns, the theatre is open every evening, 
 public breakfasting in the morning, at the garden 
 without St. Stephen's gate, with concerts, and in 
 the evenings, entertainments of music, fire-works, 
 illuminations, &c. 
 
 On the Thursday morning there is a sermon 
 preached at the cathedral, for the benefit of the 
 Norfolk and Norwich hospital, with a grand per- 
 formance of sacred music ; a liberal collection is 
 made, which is applied towards the support of 
 that excellent charity. 
 
 The following Public Institutions., not being con- 
 fined to any particular Parish, could not be 
 introduced into any of the fore going descrip- 
 tions, and therefore are inserted here as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 THE HUMANE SOCIETY, 
 
 For the recovery of persons apparently drown- 
 ed, was instituted in the year 1774, and is sup- 
 ported by voluntary contributions, which are ap- 
 plied to the expence of using the means recom- 
 mended by the society for that purpose, and in 
 paying suitable rewards to persons who have 
 saved the lives of others that have had the misfor- 
 tune to fall into the water, and to be in great 
 danger of being drowned. The Mayor of Noir- 
 SH 2
 
 428 
 
 \vich, for the time being, is always treasurer to 
 this institution. 
 
 THE FRIENDLY SOCIETY, 
 
 For the benefit of women in the times of 
 sickness and old age, was instituted in April, 
 1803, and consists of subscribing and recommend- 
 ed members. A subscribing member pays, on 
 admsssion, 5s. 6d. and 7s. 6d. annually, and has 
 the power of recommending one poor woman, un- 
 der the age of 45, to partake of the benefits of 
 the institution. A benefactor of five guineas at 
 ene time has the same privilege. A recommend- 
 ed member pays, on admission, 2s. 9d. and 6^-d. 
 on the first Monday in every calendar month ; 
 and at the expiration of a year after her -admis- 
 sion, is entitled to the following relief: During 
 confinement in child-bed, 5s. per week for the 
 first month, and 2s. 6d. per week, if confined by 
 consequent illness. During any other sickness 
 or misfortune, which prevents her pursuing her 
 usual employment, 3s. 6d. per week for the first 
 month of her confinement, and 2s. 6d. per week 
 afterwards, unless such allowance amounts in all 
 to more than 30s within one year, which is the 
 greatest sum allowed to be paid within that space 
 of time ; and no more can be allowed, unless by a 
 special order of the committee, upon receiving a 
 recommendation for that purpose, signed by five 
 of the stewards. The stewards receive of the
 
 429 
 
 recommended members their monthly payments, 
 visit them during their illness, and pay them 
 their respective allowance. They meet quarter- 
 ly, to report the condition of the sick members, to 
 state an account of their receipts and disburse- 
 ments, and to pay the balance of the money in 
 their hands to the treasurer. 
 
 The stewards are ladies of Norwich, of the 
 first distinction, and are sixteen in number; there 
 is likewise a treasurer and a secretary. Although 
 this institution is but of eleven years' standing, 
 the sum of 1207J. 5s. 6d. has been paid to the 
 recommended members in their sickness, &c. 
 during that time. 
 
 The Committee appointed by act of parliament 
 for preventing frauds and abuses in the manufac- 
 ture of wool and worsted yarn, consists of twelve 
 members, with a treasurer and secretary or 
 clerk. 
 
 THE FRIARS' SOCIETY, 
 
 For the participation of useful knowledge, 
 was instituted October 18, 1785, and now meet in 
 rooms, hired and fitted up by them, in Crown- 
 court, Elm-hill. Their assembly represents the 
 meeting of a convent, and consists of the abbot, 
 prior, brethren, and their proper officers; and 
 what is greatly to their honour, their speculative 
 researches are crowned by active benevolence,
 
 430 
 
 and the industrious poor are relieved by them 
 with bread and soup every winter. 
 
 THE CHARITY FOR CLERGYMEN'S WIDOWS, &C. 
 IN NORWICH AND NORFOLK, 
 
 Meet in the library-room of the dean and chap- 
 ter, in the upper close ; the lord bishop of Nor- 
 wich is always the president,, and the dean and 
 chancellor, with the archdeacons and prebenda- 
 ries, vice-presidents; the annual subscribers are 
 governors, and there are also three auditors and 
 a treasurer. 
 
 BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, 
 
 For the relief of decayed tradesmen, their 
 widows and orphans, instituted November the 
 16th, 1790. This association is under the direc- 
 tion of a patron, president, secretary, five vice- 
 presidents, twenty-two directors, and two treasur- 
 ers, and has a clerk or beadle to attend on them. 
 The quarterly meetings of the directors are held at 
 guildhall on the second Tuesday in January, 
 April, July, and October ; and the general year- 
 ly meeting on the second Tuesday in March. 
 This institution justly deserves the name it has as- 
 sumed, and has answered the purpose for which 
 it was designed, nearly 800 objects having, since 
 its first institution, participated in the benefits 
 afforded by it.
 
 THE NORFOLK BENEVOLENT MEDICAL SOCIETY, 
 
 For relieving the widows and children of sur- 
 geons and apothecaries in this city and county, 
 and indigent members of the profession, was in- 
 stituted in the year 1786, and is under the direc- 
 tion of a patron, president, two vice-presidents, 
 treasurer, secretary, and three trustees. The 
 yearly meeting is held on the Wednesday nearest 
 the full moon in May, at Norwich and S waff ham 
 alternately. 
 
 THE SOCIETY OF UNIVERSAL GOOD WILL, 
 
 For the relief of poor foreigners, who, as such, 
 are not entitled to any relief from the parish law* 
 of this country. The number of persons who 
 have been relieved by this society amounts to up- 
 wards of 2605 at the present time. The direc- 
 tors of this society are a governor, deputy -gover- 
 nor, president, vice president, secretary, and 
 tevvard. 
 
 AMICABLE SOCIETY OF ATTORNEYS, 
 
 Instituted in January, 1784, for the relief and 
 benefit of the widows and children of attorneys, 
 resident in Norwich and Norfolk, being sub- 
 gcribers to the fund. A treasurer and secretary 
 are appointed to the society, and the meetings are 
 held at the White Swan, on the first Monday in 
 April and October. The subscription is one 
 guinea per annum.
 
 432 
 
 Regular Lodges of Free and Accepted Masoiis, 
 with the dates of their Constitution. 
 
 No. 16. White Swan, opposite St. Peter's 
 church first Wednesday in the month. May 
 II, 1724. 
 
 41. King's Head, Market-place second Fri- 
 day. Do not meet. May 11, 1736. 
 
 78. Angel, Market-place second Friday. Do 
 not meet. Jan. 5, 1748. 
 
 80. Bull, Magdalen -street first Tuesday, Jan. 
 5, 1749. 
 
 99. Faithful Lodge, Moon and Stars, St. Mi- 
 chael's Coslany third Tuesday. Nov. 20, 1 753. 
 
 105. Castle, Castle Ditches second Thursday. 
 Do not meet. May 13, 1757. 
 
 120. Wounded Heart, Upper Market fourth 
 Tuesday. Sept. 16, 1766. 
 
 133. Lodge of Friendship, Rose, St. Augus- 
 tine's second Wednesday. 
 
 166. King'sHead, Magdalen- street first Mon- 
 day. A. M. 
 
 192. Union Lodge, Gate-house tavern, Tomb- 
 landlast Friday. Feb. 11, 1766. 
 
 194. Lodge of Union, Angel, St. Stephen's 
 second Sunday and fourth Monday. A. M. 
 
 563. Norwich Theatrical Lodge, green room, 
 at the theatre-royal second Friday. June 26, 
 1797. 
 
 Royal Arch Mason Templars, Knight Tem- 
 plars, and Grand Chapter of Harodim, is kept at
 
 433 
 
 the Gate house tavern, Tombland. The times of 
 holding the chapters are uncertain, being fixed by 
 the principals. 
 
 N. B. For correct lists of the names of all the 
 members of the corporation, of the church, and 
 of the several last -mentioned societies, see the 
 Norwich and Norfolk Annual Memorandum 
 Bovlc t printed and sold by Burks and Kinne- 
 brook, Norwich. 
 
 A Calendar of Public Remarkable Days ob~ 
 served in the City of Norwich. 
 
 FIXED DAYS. 
 
 Jan. 1. New year's day, Alderman Fawcett's 
 commemoration sermon., at St. Michaels Coslany 
 the corporation attend. 
 
 6. The epiphany, AldermanThomas Anguish's 
 commemoration sermon at St. Edmund's the cor- 
 poration and children of both hospitals attend : if 
 not on a Sunday, generally observed the Sunday 
 following. 
 
 18. The queen's birth-day observed ringing 
 of bells, &c. 
 
 30. King Charles I. martyrdom. 
 
 Feb. 24. St. Matthias, quarterly assembly of 
 the corporation, freemen admitted and sworn. 
 
 May 1. St. Philip and James, mayor of Nor- 
 wich elected. 
 
 3. Invention of the cross, quarterly assembly of 
 the corporation^ common council sworn. 
 3i
 
 434 
 
 29. King Charles II. restoration, corporation 
 attend divine service at the cathedral, the mayor 
 and one of the sheriffs give public dinners. 
 
 June 4. The king's birth-day, the corporation 
 go in procession to the cathedral,, public dinners 
 given by the mayor and one of the sheriffs. 
 
 Aug. 2. Magdalen fair. 
 
 12. The Prince of Wales's birth-day. 
 
 Sept. 21. St. Matthew, quarterly assembly of 
 the corporation. 
 
 22. The king's coronation. 
 
 29. Michaelmas day, sheriffs of Norwich sworn, 
 
 Oct. 17. St. Faith's fair. 
 
 25. The king's accession, the corporation at- 
 tend divine service at the cathedral, public dinners 
 given by the mayor and one of the sheriffs. 
 
 Nov. 5. Gunpowder treason, the corporation 
 attend divine service at the cathedral, public din- 
 ners given by the mayor and one of the sheriffs. 
 
 Dec. 25. Christmas day, the corporation attend 
 divine service at St. Peter's Mancroft the church 
 elegantly illuminated. 
 
 MOVEABLE DAYS, 
 
 First Tuesday in every month, the court of 
 guardians sit. 
 
 Every fourth Wednesday, Norfolk county 
 court. 
 
 Friday before the first Sunday in every month, 
 Mr. Hall's sacramental lecture at the four prin- 
 cipal parish churches.
 
 435 
 
 Tuesday in Session's week, Norwich sessions, 
 Wednesday in ditto, Norfolk sessions, balls at the 
 assembly -house. 
 
 General fast days by proclamation, observed by 
 shutting shops, &c. the corporation attend divine 
 service at the cathedral. 
 
 Quinquagesima Sunday, charity sermon at the 
 cathedral. 
 
 The six Sundays in Lent and the five Sundays 
 after Easter, charity sermons at the principal 
 parish churches. 
 
 The fifth week in Lent, Monday, common- 
 council in Conisford ward elected ; Tuesday > 
 common council of Man croft ward elected ; Wed- 
 nesday, common council in Wymer ward elected; 
 Thursday, common council in the Northern ward 
 elected. 
 
 Thursday before Easter, Tombland fair. 
 
 Good Friday, observed by shutting shops, &c. 
 charity sermon at St. Peter's Mancroft. 
 
 Monday and Tuesday in Easter week, church- 
 wardens, overseers and commissioners of the pave- 
 ment elected, Bishopgate fair. 
 
 Wednesday in Easter week, Spital sermon at 
 St. Helen's the corporation, with the hospital' 
 men, women, girls, and boys attend. 
 
 Rogation week, parishes perambulate their 
 boundaries ; the corporation sometimes perambu- 
 late the boundary of the city and liberty. 
 
 Ascension day, Archbishop Parker*? comme-
 
 436 
 
 moration sermon at St. Clement's the corpora- 
 tion attend. 
 
 Monday and Tuesday in Whitsun week, Bi- 
 shopgate fair. 
 
 Monday before the 22d of June, quarterly as- 
 sembly of the corporation, officers of the corpora- 
 tion elected. 
 
 Tuesday before the 22d of June,, (guild day) 
 a grand procession of the corporation to the ca- 
 thedral, where the guild sermon is preached and a 
 Latin oration delivered ; the mayor sworn at 
 guildhall, the mayor's feast at St. Andrew's hall; 
 in the evening a ball at the assembly-house. 
 
 Day next the guild, officers of the corporation 
 and constables sworn. 
 
 The first Sunday in August, Sir John Pettus's 
 commemoration sermon at St. Simon and Jude 
 the corporation attend. 
 
 Assize week. First day, (Monday or Tuesday) 
 the judges on the circuit, met and attended by the 
 high sheriff of the county and the sheriffs of the 
 cfty, open the several commissions. 
 
 The second day, (Tuesday or Wednesday) the 
 assize sermon preached at the cathedral; after 
 which the business of the assize commences. 
 
 Thursday, the anniversary sermon at the cathe- 
 dral for the support of the Norfolk and Norwich 
 hospital a grand performance of sacred music ; 
 there is a ball at the assembly-house, and the the- 
 atre royal is open; public breakfasting at the
 
 437 
 
 gardens in the morning, with concerts and fire- 
 works in the evening. 
 
 Last Tuesday in August, sheriff of Norwich 
 elected. 
 
 Friday after St. Simon and Jude, Lady Suck- 
 ling's commemoration sermon at St. Andrew's 
 the corporation attend. 
 
 The Sunday next following, Sir John Suck- 
 ling's commemoration sermon at St. Andrew's 
 the corporation attend. 
 
 The Sunday before St. Thomas, Alderman 
 Thomas Codd's commemoration sermon at St. 
 Peter Permountergate the corporation attend.
 
 / N D E X. 
 
 A. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 ALFRED the Great .................. . ..... . 6 
 
 Air Balloons first let off ........... '.. , ....... .. 72 
 
 Aldermen, their office and dignity . . . M , ...... ... 113 
 
 All-Saint's Church .............. ............ ... 151 
 
 Assembly House.. .... ................ ...... . 156 
 
 Abraham's Hall .................... ..... ..... 185 
 
 Anabaptists' Meeting-house, Pottergate-street ..... 207 
 
 Andrew's St. Church ........ . ............... '.. 220 
 
 Anabaptists' Meeting-house, St. Mary's .......... 270 
 
 Anabaptists' Meeting-house, Colegate ........... 279 
 
 Augustine's St. Church ...................... .. 280 
 
 Augustine's St. Gate .............. ............ 282 
 
 Anabaptist's Meeting-house, Rotten-row ......... 293 
 
 Asylum for the Indigent Blind ... ........ ...... 295 
 
 All-Saints' Church ......................... ... 296 
 
 Anabaptists' Meeting-house, White Friars ........ 303 
 
 Ayermine William de, bishop ..... .... ....... ... 335 
 
 Alnewyk William, ditto ....... ................. 338 
 
 Astley Herbert, dean ...... . ..... ............. 357 
 
 Anguish Thomas, esq ..... . ........ . ........... 405 
 
 Assemblies Quarterly .......... . .......... . ... . 424 
 
 Assizes ....... . ........ . ............ . ........ 425 
 
 Amicable Society of Attornies ..... ....... ...... 431 
 
 B. 
 
 Bigot Roger, lieutenant to William the Conqueror .7 16 
 
 Bingay Thomas burnt ..... . .................. . 25 
 
 Ber-street Ward ............... .............. 141 
 
 Ber.street Gate . ....................... ...... 146
 
 J.\DEX. 
 
 Bracondale (hamlet of) ........... ...... ....... 148 
 
 Bethel Hospital .............................. 191 
 
 Benedict's St. Church ................... . ..... 198 
 
 Baptist Meetiug-house ...... . ..... ...... ...... 207 
 
 Black Friars' Bridge .......................... 222 
 
 Bridewell ........ . ..................... ..... 236 
 
 Buttolph's St. Church ......................... 288 
 
 Bishop's Gate and Bridge ...................... 265 
 
 Boys' Hospital ............................... 29ft 
 
 Bishop's Palace ............................. 321 
 
 Biographical Account of the Bishops ........ ...... 327 
 
 Blundville Thomas de, bishop ................. ... 333 
 
 Baldoc Robert de, ditto ....................... 335 
 
 Beck Anthony de, ditto ................ . ...... 335 
 
 Bateman William, ditto .................. j.... 335 
 
 Browne Thomas, ditto ................... .... 339 
 
 Baker William, ditto .............. ...... ..... 348 
 
 Bagot Lewis, ditto ............ .. ............. 35O 
 
 Bishop of Norwich, his jurisdiction and dignity .... 35^ 
 
 Boxhall John, dean ........................... 355 
 
 Bullock Thomas, ditto ..................... ... 358 
 
 Bilney Thomas, an eminent martyr .............. 395 
 
 Benevolent Association ................... .. .. 401 
 
 Briggs Augustine, esq ......................... 402 
 
 Browne Sir Thomas, knt ....................... 403 
 
 Browne Edward, M. D ........... ............ 404 
 
 Blomfield Francis, A. M ....................... 406 
 
 Barrett Giles Linnett, comedian ... . ............. 408 
 
 C. 
 
 City Wall built ............................. 18 
 
 Common Council first chosen ................... 20 
 
 Cross in the .market built ................. ..... 25 
 
 - - taken down ........ ........ 5.9 
 
 Committee House blown up ..... . .............. 47 
 
 Charles II. visited Norwich ..... ... ............ 52 
 
 Cumberland Wm. (duke of) ditto ........ . ....... 63
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGfi. 
 
 ConSsford Ward 127 
 
 Carrow (hamlet of) .......* 130 
 
 Cooke's Hospital 138 
 
 Chapel Field House I . -.. ... 155 
 
 Coslany Bridge 211 
 
 Church of the Holy Cross k 219 
 
 City Library 234 
 
 Christopher's St. Church 236 
 
 Coslany Ward >.... 266 
 
 Colegate ditto ....... 273 
 
 Clement's St. Church 283 
 
 Catherine's St. Chapel . 306 
 
 Church and Priory of St. Leonard 308 
 
 Close 311 
 
 Courtrey Richard, bishop .... ,..,.. 337 
 
 Corbet Richard, ditto '.. 343 
 
 Castleton William, dean 354 
 
 Christopherson John, bishop of Chichester 355 
 
 Crofts John, dean 356; 
 
 Cole Thomas, ditto 358 
 
 Castle of Norwich 375 
 
 . -* , extract from Air. Wilkin's essay on 383 
 
 , description of it 390 
 
 Caius John, an eminent physician 400 
 
 Cozen John, bishop of Durham 401 
 
 Cunningham William, M. D 402 
 
 Clarke Samuel, D. D. an eminent divine 405 
 
 Charity Schools ." 417 
 
 , Clergymen's Widows' Charity 430 
 
 Calendar of remarkable days 433 
 
 D. 
 
 Deeker Mr. James ascended in an air balloon .... 7 73 
 
 Duke's Palace 217 
 
 Dutch Church ..,.~ 235 
 
 Doughty 's Hospital 288 
 
 Deanry * , 322 
 
 Doughty William, gent 405 

 
 AA75E.Y. 
 
 I>. PAGE. 
 
 East Anglos subdued by Claudius Czcsar . .. 3 
 
 Edward I. visited this city 17 
 
 Elizabeth queen, ditto .... 39 
 
 Etheldred St. Church 132 
 
 Eaton Church ami Hamlet 163 
 
 East Wymer "Ward 241 
 
 Edmund's St. Church 298 
 
 Erpingham Gate ; 326 
 
 Eborard, bishop 331 
 
 Erpingham Sir Thomas, knt ' 401 
 
 F. 
 
 Fire, great part of the city destroyed by 22 
 
 at the Cathedral 24 
 
 , two in one year 25 
 
 at the Cathedral 25 
 
 Flemings and Walloons settled here 37 
 
 Fire at Bridewell fl 
 
 in Ber-street 64 
 
 in the County Gaol 67 
 
 in the Cathedral .....' 93 - 
 
 Foundery Bridge 1 39 
 
 French Church 239 
 
 Fyebridge 247 
 
 Fyebridge Ward.. 283 
 
 Felix Sf. .I....:. 328 
 
 ,-, . _,-. . .V, ... , oj, 
 
 F reek Edmund, oisnop 341 
 
 Fairfax Henry, dean . ; 357 
 
 Fellowes William, esq. 407 
 
 Friendly Society ; 428 
 
 Friars' ditto 429 
 
 Free and Accepted Masons (lodges of) 432 
 
 G. 
 
 Gloucester Humphry (duke of) visitdd this city .... 23 
 
 Gloucester William (duke of) ditto 83 
 
 Government of the City 113 
 
 Gaildhair. 175
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Gaol City 180 
 
 Giles's S). Church 192 
 
 Giles's St. Gate 195 
 
 Gregory's St. Church 211 
 
 George St. at Tombland ditto 242 
 
 Giles's St. Hospital , 253 
 
 George's St. at Colegate Church 274 
 
 Gilden Croft 281 
 
 Girls' Hospital 291 
 
 Goldwell James, bishop . ' 339 
 
 Gooch Thomas, ditto ....... 348 
 
 Gardiner George, dean 3o6 
 
 George's St. Company 418 
 
 Guild Feast 421 
 
 II. 
 
 Henry L visited this city 14 
 
 Henry J V. ditto 22 
 
 Henry V. ditto 'i\ 
 
 Henry VII. ditto ^4 
 
 Herring Pies 44 
 
 Jleigham Gate 20O 
 
 Heigham Church and Hamlet 201 
 
 Ilellesdon (hamletof) 202 
 
 Helen's St. (parish of) 2 o2 
 
 Horse Barracks V.V.V. : : 305 
 
 Holy Trinity Cathe'chai 'CJiurVh . :.'.'.', 312 
 
 Herbert de Lozinga, bishop 329 
 
 Hart Walter, ditto 339 
 
 Hopton John, ditto .... * 340 
 
 Jiarsnett Samuel, ditto - 343 
 
 Hall Joseph, ditto 344 
 
 Hayter Thomas, ditto 349 
 
 Home George, ditto 350 
 
 Ilarpsfield John, dean 35.> 
 
 Hassal John, ditto . ; 356 
 
 Hiuington Henry, D. D. an eminent divine 40$ 
 
 lloburt John. Earl of Buckinghamshire . .. .
 
 JMDJRT. 
 
 PAG'E. 
 
 Humane Society .............................. 427 
 
 I. 
 
 Iceui, the original inhabitants of this country ...... 3 
 
 Inhabitants numbered .................. . . ..... 01 
 
 Julian's St. Church ...... , .................... 134 
 
 John's St. Timberhill ditto ..................... 142 
 
 John's Sf. Sepulchre ditto .. ............... .... 145 
 
 John's St. Maddermarket ditto ............ . ---- 215 
 
 John's St. Baptist ditto ........................ 277 
 
 Independent Meeting-house ....... ........... . . 286 
 
 Infirmary . .., ....... . .............. , ........ 286 
 
 James's St. Church .,..., ................... ,. 301 
 
 John's St. Chapel ............................ 325 
 
 Jau Thomas, bishop .......................... 339 
 
 Jegon John, bishop ............ ... . . .......... 342 
 
 K, 
 
 Kett's Rebellion , ...... , ....... , ............. 27 
 
 -- Robert and William executed ............. 34 
 
 King's School ... ....... ,, ......... . ......... 326 
 
 L, 
 
 Lakenham Church and Parish ...... . ...... ...... 149 
 
 Laurence St. Church .......................... 208 
 
 Lloyd William, bishop ......................... 316 
 
 Leng John, ditto .............. ............... 348 
 
 Lisle Samuel, ditto ............ . ....... . ....... 349 
 
 Lloyd Philip, dean ........................... 359 
 
 Lubbook Dr. Richard.. ... ..................... 415 
 
 M. 
 
 Mayor first appointed ......... ...... .......... 22 
 
 Martyrs (several) burnt ..................... . . 36 
 
 Money major general ascended in an air balloon .... 73 
 
 Mayor, his office and dignity ................... 114 
 
 Michael's St. at Thorn Church .... ....... ,, ..... 141 
 
 Methodist Chapel ............................. 151 
 
 Mancroft Ward . 133
 
 JKDEX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Market-place 174 
 
 Margaret's St. Church 206 
 
 Mulille Wymer Ward 2l4 
 
 Michael's St. at Plea Church 237 
 
 . Martin's St. at Palace ditto 248 
 
 Matthew's St. ditto . 25O 
 
 Methodists' Meeting-house or Tabernacle 251 
 
 Michael's St. Coslany Church 266 
 
 Mary's St. ditto 269 
 
 Martin's St. at Oak ditto 271 
 
 Martin's St. at Oak Gate 272 
 
 Margaret's St. Church at New Bridge 28O 
 
 Methodists' Meeting-house, Cal vert-street 289 
 
 Mary's St. Uubrent Church 291 
 
 Margaret's St. Church, in Fyebridge Gate 294 
 
 Magdalen Gate 296 
 
 Magdalen Chapel 297 
 
 I Michael's St. ditto 307 
 
 Monastery Gate 324 
 
 Middleton William de, bishop .. 334 
 
 Moore John, ditto 347 
 
 N. 
 
 Norwich first founded ..... 5 
 
 destroyed and rebuilt by the Danes 8 
 
 New Mills built 23 
 
 Norris Thomas burnt 25 
 
 Norfolk and Norwich Hospital built 66 
 
 North Conisford Ward 136 
 
 Norfolk and Norwich Hospital described.. 160 
 
 New Mills described 205 
 
 Norwich Dispensary 207 
 
 Northern Ward 266 
 
 Hix Richard, biehop 339 
 
 Nelson Horatio, lord 410 
 
 Norfolk Benevolent Medical Society 431 , 
 
 O. 
 
 Glare's St. Church , , 276
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Octagon Chapel ...... ..... ................... 27 
 
 Oxford John of, bishop .................... .... 332 
 
 Overall John, ditto ...... . ..................... 342 
 
 P. 
 
 Peter's St. Maucroft Cliurcb built ................ 13 
 
 Printing introduced here ................. ...... 38 
 
 Peter's, St. at Southgate Church ..... ... . ....... . 12 
 
 Peter's St. Permcuii-iergate ditto ................ 135 
 
 Peter's St. Mancroft Cburcli described .. ........ ^ 16f 
 
 Public Library .................. . ............ 2IS 
 
 Pictures in St. Andrew's liall .................. 193 
 
 Peter St. at Hungate Church .................... 241 
 
 Paul's St. ditto .............................. 292 
 
 Pockthorp Gate .................... ----- ..... 303 
 
 Pockthorp Hamlet ....... . ................... 304 
 
 Paudulph Masca, bishop ............. ...... ...., .332 
 
 Percy Thomas, ditto .......................... 336 
 
 Park hurst John, ditto ......................... 341 
 
 Priors of Norwich ..... ................. .. ... 353 
 
 Prideaux Humphrey, dean ...... ................ 338 
 
 Parker Matthew, archbishop of Canterbury ........ 399 
 
 Pettus Sir John, knt ........................ ;. 402 
 
 Parr Samuel, LL. D. an eminent divine .......... . . 407 
 
 Peele John, A. M. ditto ...... , . . . ......... ..... 41 S 
 
 i 
 
 Q. 
 
 Quakers' Meeting-house, Lower Goat-lane ..... ... 21 i 
 
 ------ C ilden Croft ............ 2S2 
 
 Richard IT.' visited this city' 
 
 Reformation' took place .................. ...... 23 
 
 Riot ........................................ '->:i 
 
 Ditto ...................................... CO 
 
 Ditto ........... Cl 
 
 " 
 
 Regalia of tfie city ........................... 119 
 
 Romnn Catholic Chapel, St. 'Swithin's.lane ...... .. 204 
 
 --- St. John's Church-yurd. ... 21U
 
 VAGE. 
 
 Rah-igh William de, bishop . 333 
 
 Rodman William, ditto 342 
 
 Reynolds Edward, ditto 343 
 
 S. 
 
 Sunday Schools established .. 77 
 
 Siddons Mrs. performed here 78 
 
 Sheriffs, their office and dignity 115 
 
 South Conisford Ward 128 
 
 Stephen's St. Church . 153 
 
 Stephen's St. Gate 158 
 
 Swithin's St. Church 203 
 
 Simon and Jude St. ditto .... 245 
 
 Saviour's St. ditto '.. 287 
 
 Sandlin's Ferry . 322 
 
 Suffield Walter de, bishop 333 
 
 Seaming Rogfr de, ditto .. 333 
 
 Salmon John, ditto 334 
 
 Spencer Henry, ditto ;. 336 
 
 Seamier Edmund, ditto 342 
 
 Sparrow Anthony, ditto . . 346 
 
 Sutton Charles Manners, archbishop of Canterbury . 351 
 
 Salisbury John, dean , 355 
 
 Suckling Edmund, ditto ., 356 
 
 Sharpe John, archbishop of York 357 
 
 Sandby George, D. D. chancellor 414 
 
 Snap Dragon 421 
 
 T. 
 
 Theatre Royal built ' 65 
 
 Trowse Millgate (hamlet of) . . . . ,-. 128 
 
 Theatre Royal described, 1 87 
 
 Turbus William, bishop 331 
 
 Tottington Alexander de, ditto 337 
 
 Trimnel Charles, ditto 347 
 
 Townshend Edward, dean 359 
 
 Turner Joseph, ditto 360 
 
 Tenuison Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury 405
 
 PAGE, 
 
 Thurlow Thomas, bishop of Durham ttt 4og 
 
 Thurlow Edward, lord chancellor ,...... 414 
 
 Towushend George 3 marquis .... 415' 
 
 V, 
 
 
 
 Uflfa, first king of the East Angles ................ 
 
 Volunteer corps established , 90 
 
 Universal Good Will Society .431 
 
 W. 
 
 Wales Edward (prince of) visited this city 20 
 
 Wool- Combers' Jubilee 70 
 
 Wymer Ward ........... t 193 
 
 West Wymer Ward 198 
 
 We9t\vick,or St. Benedict's Gate 199 
 
 Work-house ...;....... 235 
 
 White Friars' Bridge ..< 249 
 
 White Friars 302 
 
 Waltone Simon de, bishop ., . 333 
 
 Walpole Radulph de, ditto ,......;.. 334 
 
 Wakeryng John, ditto .. 338 
 
 White Francis, ditto 343 
 
 Wren Matthew, ditto - 344 
 
 White William, a martyr 394 
 
 Walpole George, earl of Orford 40S 
 
 Y. 
 
 York James (duke of) visited this city ........ < . . 55 
 
 York Frederick, ditto 9O 
 
 Yonge Philip, bishop 34 
 
 Yarn-makers' Committee . . , . 351 
 
 Burks and Kinnebroolt, 
 Printers, Norwich.
 
 THE HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 KETT'S REBELLION 
 
 In the Reign of Edward the Sixth ; 
 
 BEGAN ABOUT THE 20th OF JUNE, 
 
 1549, 
 And Ended the Twenty -Seventh of August, 
 
 ON WHICH 
 
 Pag toas Ivtllcfc, 
 
 UPWARDS OF 
 THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REBELS. 
 
 TAKEN FROM THE BEST ACCOUNT THAT WAS EVER 
 PRINTED. 
 
 NORWICH: 
 
 PRINTED BY LANE AND WALKER, AND SOLD BY 
 AND FOR W. CHIPPERFIELD. 
 
 Price Is. &f. Stiched t or in Boards 2$.
 
 THE HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 KETT'S REBELLION. 
 
 
 occasion of this rebellion was, because 
 divers lords and gentlemen, who were pos- 
 sessed of abbey lands, and other large commons 
 and waste grounds, had caused many of those 
 commons and wastes to be enclosed, whereby 
 the poor and indigent people were much of- 
 fended, being thereby abridged of the liberty 
 that they formerly had, to common cattle, &c. 
 on the said grounds to their own advantage, 
 the Lord Protector had at that time lost him- 
 self in the love of the vulgar, by his severe, if 
 not unnatural, proceeding against his brother: 
 and in order to regain their love, he caused a 
 proclamation to be published in the beginning 
 of May, that all persons who had enclosed 
 any lands that used to be common, should lay 
 them open again, before a fixed day, on a cer- 
 tain penalty for not doing so. This so much 
 encouraged the commons in many parts of the 
 realm, that not staying the time limited in the 
 proclamation, they gathered together in a tu- 
 multuous manner, pulled up the pales, flung; 
 down the banks, filled up the ditches, laying 
 
 9 A A
 
 all such new enclosed lands open as they were 
 before; for which, some of them had been 
 attacked and slain in Wiltshire, by Sir Will. 
 Herbert; others suppressed by force of arms, 
 conducted by the Lord Gray of Wilton, as 
 were those in Oxfordshire, and some reduced 
 to more moderate and sober courses, by the 
 persuasion of the lords and gentlemen, as in 
 Kent and Sussex: but the most dangerous 
 commotions which held so long as to entitle 
 them to the name of REBELLIONS, were those 
 of Devonshire and NORFOLK, places remote 
 from one another, but such as seem to have 
 communicated counsels for carrying on their 
 design. ( For divers seditious persons and busy 
 fellows began to complain, that the like was 
 not done in Norfolk, as report said was done 
 by the commons of Kent, who had laid open all 
 such new enclosed lands; and from thenceforth 
 they determined to do the .same here, designing 
 not only to lay open parks and new enclosures, 
 but to attempt other reformations, as they 
 termed them, to the great danger of overthrow- 
 ing the commonwealth. They openly declared 
 great hatred against all gentlemen, whom they 
 maliciously accused of covetousness, pride, 
 extortion, and oppression, practised against 
 their tenants and the common people, and 
 having thoroughly imbibed the wicked notions 
 of the ancient levellevs, they begin to put in
 
 execution their vile designs, and first of all, 
 the inhabitants of Attleburgh, Eccles, Wilby t 
 and other neighbouring towns, being enraged 
 with Mr. John Green lord of the manor of 
 Wilby, for enclosing that part of the common 
 belonging to his manor, which before laid 
 open to the adjoining commons of Harfham 
 and Attleburgh^ on which they had all rights 
 of intercommoning with each other, the tenants 
 of the three towns, and others, assembled 
 together, and threw down the nevr ditches, 
 and laid the whole open as heretofore. Which 
 being done, they all went home, and continued 
 quiet till the 6th of July, at which time taking 
 the opportunity of the feast or fair which was 
 yearly kept at Windham on the day following, 
 being the Translation of Bishop Becket, to 
 whom the chapel standing in the midst of the 
 town, was dedicated, at which time were grand 
 processions and interludes for a night and a day 
 at least, which brought thither great numbers 
 of country people to see the show, they then 
 consulted further upon their wicked enterprise, 
 and going thither, entered into conference 
 with great numbers of the country people 
 there, and went to Morley, a mile from Wind- 
 ham, and cast down certain ditches of Master 
 Hobart's on the Tuesday, and returned that 
 night to Windham again, where they practised 
 the like feats; but as yet they took no man's 
 goods by violence.
 
 Upon this, one John Floiverdetv ofHethersef, 
 Gent, finding himself grieved by their casting 
 down some of his ditches, came to some of 
 the rebels, and gave them 40 pence to cast 
 down the fences of an enclosure belonging to 
 Robert Kelt, alias Knight* a tanner of Wind- 
 ham, which pasture laid near the fair-sled in 
 Windham, which they did, and the next morn- 
 ing took their journey again to Hetherset, at 
 Ketfs desire, and laid open Master Flowerdew*s 
 enclosures there; upon which was much ado, 
 for Flowerdew did what he could to cause 
 them to desist, insomuch that many sharp 
 words passed between him and Kett; but 
 Kelt being a n,an hardy and fit for any despe- 
 rate attempt, pushed forwards so much, that 
 they executed his will, and so he revenged 
 himself upon Flowerdew, whose hedges and 
 ditches were all thrown down and made plain. 
 The rebels seeing Kett to be a resolute, stout- 
 hearted fellow, unanimously chose him their 
 CAPTAIN and RINGLEADER, who thereupon 
 willed them to be of good comfort, assuring 
 them he was resolutely determined to stand 
 by them, and spend both his goods and life to 
 revenge their liberty, which he pretended was 
 much injured; to him was joined WILLIAM 
 
 * There was always an animosity subsisting between the two 
 families of the Kelts and the Floveerdewt. See the Hist, of Nori', 
 vol. ii. fo. 521.
 
 KETT, his brother, a butcher of Windham, who 
 by reason of his desperate hardiness, was 
 much valued by them; arid now being fur- 
 nished with such commanders, and forming 
 themselves into a camp, at the report thereof 
 numbers of lewd and desperate persons, great 
 routs of servants and runagates, came flocking 
 from all parts to Kelt's camp, so that being 
 now guarded with sufficient power as he 
 thought, and having wasted Httherset, Wind- 
 ham, and most of the adjacent villages, on the 
 10th day of July, they passed the river between 
 Cringleford and Eaton: the CITY hearing what 
 route they intended shortly to take, had sent 
 messengers the day before to the King's coun- 
 sel at Windsor, to inform them of it, and others 
 to Sir Roger Townesend and William Paslon, 
 to desire them to come to their assistance. 
 The rebels having passed the river, came to 
 Bowthorp, and cast down certain hedges and 
 ditches there, and their number being now 
 vastly increased, they incamped there that 
 night: here Sir 12dm. IVindliam, Knt. high- 
 sheriff' of Norfolk and Suffolk, came and pro- 
 claimed them REBELS, and commanded them 
 in the King's name, to depart peaceably to 
 their own homes, but had not his horsemanship 
 been better than his rhetoric, himself had not 
 departed the place, for being greatly offended 
 at the proclamation, they attempted to have
 
 8 
 
 got him into their hands, but being- well horsed, 
 he valiantly brake through those that had 
 compassed him in, and escaping from them, 
 hasted with all speed to Norwich, which is 
 about two miles distant; the same night, great 
 numbers of loose people, both from the city 
 and country, came to them, with weapons, 
 armour, and artillery: and now the rebels 
 began to play their pranks, threatening to 
 burn the house, and deface the dove-coat, 
 (formerly a chapel, before it was turned from 
 a house of prayer to a den of thieves,) of 
 Master Corbet's ofSprowston, committing many 
 other outrages wherever they came. 
 
 The day before they came hither, some of 
 the city had thrown down the quickset hedge, 
 and filled up the ditches, that enclosed the 
 common-pasture of the city, called the Town- 
 Close, to keep in the citizens cattle going there, 
 before their common neatherd, in which place 
 the neat cattle of the poor freemen of the city 
 were pastured, and looked after by the neat- 
 herd, who received of every owner by custom, 
 a halfpenny for every beast kept there, and so 
 that fence which by good and provident ad- 
 vice of their fore-fathers, had been raised for 
 the common profit of the city, was thus cast 
 down by the very persons whose interest it 
 was made for; and scarce had they thrown 
 down the ditch in the upper part of the close,
 
 .9 
 
 before a company of ill disposed person* 
 escaped secretly out of the city and joined Kelt 
 and his comrades. THOMAS CODD, then mayor, 
 fearing the ill consequence of this rebellion, 
 summoned an assembly of the aldermen and 
 principal citizens, and goes with them to the 
 camp, to try if he could persuade the rebels to 
 desist from their traiterous enterprise: when 
 he came there, he found them giving themselves 
 to all manner of riot and excess; first he 
 tempted them with money and fair promises 
 to depart home, using what persuasions he 
 could to reduce them to dutiful obedience, but 
 finding all things ineffectual, and seeing that 
 neither entreaty nor reward would avail, he 
 returned to the city. After his departure, the 
 rebels began to perceive, and were further 
 convinced of it, by certain men coming to 
 them from the city, with small boughs in their 
 hands, which was the sign agreed upon, that if 
 they remained any longer scattered one from 
 another, they would without difficulty be van- 
 quished; whereupon they went directly to 
 Eaton wood, which having thoroughly viewed, 
 and found inconvenient to pitch their camp 
 on, they unanimously agreed to go immedi- 
 ately to Jlloushold, and presently sent to the 
 mayor, to request him to permit them to pass 
 through the city to that place, it being their 
 nearest way, promising to do injury to no man,
 
 10 
 
 but quietly to march through to the place 
 appointed; but the mayor absolutely refused, 
 threatening them, and telling them to what 
 end such attempts would bring them, which 
 instead of terrifying them, made them the more 
 obstinate, and so they continued that night in 
 JSaton wood; the next day, Sir Roger Wood- 
 house, with seven or eight of his household 
 servants, came to them, bringing with him two 
 carts laden with beer, and one laden with 
 victuals: for recompense whereof, he was 
 stripped of his apparel, had his horses taken 
 from him, and whatever else he had, the rebels 
 accounting the same a good prey; he himself 
 was cruelly tugged and cast into a ditch of 
 Mores 's of Nether-Erlliam by Hellesden-bridge* 
 and was kept by them as a prisoner; thence 
 passing the river by the said bridge, they came 
 to Master Corbet's house at Sproivston, which 
 they intended to have burned, but being per- 
 suaded from it, they spoiled his goods; and 
 lodging that night at Draiton, the next day 
 went directly to Moushold, and coming to St. 
 Leonard's Hill,f seized on the noble palace of 
 Mount- Surrey, and spoiled whatever they found 
 in it, converting it into a prison, where they 
 
 * The bridge being too strait for the drift of the cattle, they 
 filled up the river with wood, trees, &c. so that horses and carts 
 might pass over it. 
 
 f So called because the priory of S^ Leonard stood upon it, 
 on the site of which, the Earl of Surrey built a stately house, 
 and named it MOUNT-SURREY,
 
 11 
 
 confined Sir Rog. Woodhouse, Sergeant Catlyn, 
 Sergeant Gawdy, and other gentlemen, whom 
 they caught. Here they incamped, having the 
 main river running between the hill and the 
 city, on the east and south part Thorp village 
 and wood,* and on the north and north-east, 
 JMousltold heath, which is in length and breadth 
 at least three or four miles, and here lurking 
 in the woods, as dogs in their kennels, they 
 riolated all laws of God and man; and now 
 having got a fixed station, the vilest and basest 
 of the people from Norfolk, and the city, joined 
 them daily, being called together by firing of 
 beacons^ and ringing of bells. The mayor and 
 aldermen in the mean time took counsel toge- 
 ther how to proceed in so dangerous a case, 
 and opinions were very different, some thought 
 they were to be attacked immediately, arguing 
 that if they were not repressed at the begin- 
 ning, the destruction of the whole ciiy must 
 necessarily follow, others thought it best not 
 to hazard such a doubtful push, without urgent 
 necessity, it being only hastening their destruc- 
 tion if the rebels should get the advantage; in 
 short the result was, to fortify the city, set 
 watch and ward carefully, place the citizens 
 upon the walls, and other convenient places 
 
 " This wood was now destroyed, the rebels cutting it down 
 to make tents and huts, and for fuel, and quite c>cared it, least 
 any should conceal themselves therein to their hurt. Norw. Roll.
 
 12 
 
 of defence, and for other things, because by 
 the law of raising force and arms, it was pro- 
 vided that no bands be mustered, or forces 
 raised without the King's command, they re- 
 solved to wait the return of the messenger, to 
 know his will and pleasure. 
 
 Besides this great camp, (as they termed it,) 
 there was a second formed, called the lesser 
 camp, at Rising Chase, but by the diligence 
 and policy of the justices and gentlemen of those 
 parts, they were speedily driven from thence, 
 notwithstanding which, they reassembled at 
 Walton, and there remained about a fortnight, 
 stopping the passages over the river at Brandon- 
 Ferry and Thetford; but at length, by Kelt's 
 order, they came and joined him at Moushold. 
 
 As soon as the report of this great camp 
 being fixed on Moushold reached Suffolk, the 
 commons there got together in a great multitude, 
 entered the island called Lovingland, with in- 
 tent to seize the town of Yarmouth, but by the 
 diligence of the magistrates and the courage of 
 the townsmen, they were disappointed of their 
 expectation; and taking another route, they 
 joined their chief captain (as they called him) 
 on Moushold. 
 
 The city, immediately upon this resolution, 
 surveyed the gates, got new locks and bars, 
 and repaired all that wanted. 
 
 And on the 13th of July, Pursevant Grove
 
 13 
 
 came from the King, and brought a commis* 
 sion directed to Mr. Watson, for reformation 
 of divers things. 
 
 The rebels in the mean time, to cloak their 
 malicious purposes with a counterfeit show of 
 holiness, were so religiously rebellious, that 
 they caused Tito. Corners, minister of St. Mar- 
 tins at the Plain, in Norwich, to say service 
 morning and evening, forcing him to pray to 
 God for prosperous speed in this their ungodly 
 enterprise : moreover they went about to join 
 to their cause divers honest men, who were 
 commendable for religion, doctrine, virtue, and 
 innocency of life; among whom, were, Robert 
 Watson an excellent preacher,* Thomas Codd^ 
 MAYOR, and Tho. Aldrich of Mangreene-liall, 
 a man, while he lived, beloved of all men; 
 these three, though sore against their wills, 
 they constrained* to be present at all their 
 consultations, and to take upon them the ad- 
 ministration of all things, with Kelt the chief 
 rebel-, which indeed happened well for many, 
 for when the principal conspirators stirred up 
 the mad multitude to any wicked undertaking, 
 which tended either to the spoiling of the city, 
 
 * A nwee PREACHER, one in great estimation with all men, whose 
 persuasions they somewhat liked, and therefore chose him to give 
 them spiritual counsel, and to be a* an umpere in all consultations, 
 by whose counsel and advice a minister (Corners) was procured, 
 who both morn' and even' called them to prayer, and the preacher 
 gave them many good admonitions, hoping by this means to recat 
 them, whom .afterwards they imprisoned, &c. Now. Roll.
 
 u 
 
 fields, or adjacent villages, the wise and careful 
 diligence of these men often hindered the ex- 
 ecution of it. And now Kelt growing bolder 
 by meeting with no opposition, began to direct 
 warrants to fetch victuals into the camp, in 
 the following form: 
 
 " WE the King's friends and deputies, do grant 
 " license to all men, to provide and bring into 
 " the camp at Mousehold, all manner of catlel 
 " and provision of vittels, in what place soever 
 " they may find the same, so that no violence or 
 " injurie be done to any honest or poore man, 
 " commanding all persons as they tender the 
 " King's honour, and roiall Majestie, and the 
 " releefe of the common welth, to be obedient to 
 " us the Governors, and to those whose names 
 " ensue, Signed ROBERT KET," &c. 
 
 And noxv he, with two assistants chosen out 
 of every hundred, kept his King's Bench, Chan- 
 cery, and all other courts, under a tree, termed 
 the OAK of REFORMATION, where he pretended 
 to do justice (whether wrong or right) to all 
 such as were summoned before him. 
 
 By virtue of commissions from these assistants, 
 many of the principal gentlemen of the county 
 were fetched from their houses, brought to the 
 camp, and there imprisoned, as though they 
 had been guilty of great crimes: moreover, the
 
 hedges and ditches of commons enclosed were 
 demolished, and many were charged and forced 
 to assist in these things: the mayor, Mr. IVal- 
 son, and Mr. Aldrich, were not only obliged 
 to wink thereat, but sometimes to seem to 
 consent thereto; for to have resisted them, 
 .had been but folly, and the way to have put 
 themselves in danger of destruction, and their 
 country too. The city took what care they 
 could to guard themselves, hoping daily for 
 relief from the Council, without which they 
 dared attempt nothing; now the reason why 
 the Council were so slack in sending succours 
 was, because they were not only troubled with 
 these rebels, but were busied about quieting 
 the like troubles in the inner part of the realm, 
 about London, Surrey, ESSZJ, Devonshire, Kent, 
 Cambridgeshire, &c. 
 
 In the mean time the sedition increased 
 daily, so much that there were now no less 
 than sixteen thousand of these rebels in the camp, 
 who by the advice of their captain, fortified 
 themselves, providing powder, ball, and all 
 manner of weapons, which they fetched out of 
 ships, gentlemen's houses, shops, and other 
 places where any was to be found; and withal} 
 spoiled the country of all the cattle, riches and 
 coin, that they could lay their hands on. 
 
 Now because many of them hid what they 
 got, hoping hereafter to convert it to their own
 
 16 
 
 private use, Kett and the other governors (for 
 so they would he called) by common consent 
 decreed, that some place should he fixed upon 
 where they might do justice; now the OAK of 
 REFORMATION being an old tree with large 
 spreadings boughs, they fixed on it cross balks 
 and rafts, and roofed it ovgr with boards, and 
 from thence, Kett, the Mayor, Master Aldrich, 
 and other gentlemen., detained prisoners in the 
 camp, (whom against their wills, they had 
 chosen into the numberof their^overwors,) heard 
 and determined all complaints and disorders 
 done among themselves, and if those who had 
 concealed any goods, gotten by virtue of Keifs 
 pretended commissions, were discovered, and 
 the fact proved here, they were committed to 
 prison. 
 
 The Mayor, Master Aldrich, and others, would 
 often go up into this tree, and endeavoured 
 by all the persuasive and mild arguments they 
 could think of, to make them desist from this 
 course, and leave off" committing such outrages. 
 There were also divers grave and learned 
 divines, that tried all ways possible to withdraw 
 them from these wicked attempts and to reduce 
 them to peace and quietness, though at the 
 same time they hazarded their lives by so 
 doing; for the Mayor and other of \ke gentry, 
 though they were admitted to the counsels of 
 the rebels, for the better credit thereof, yet if
 
 17 
 
 Kelt was present, were no better than herbe 
 JOHN in the pottage, having no influence on 
 their consultations; but if he happily chanced 
 to be absent, then they were like St. Johns 
 wort, (so sovereign for sores, and against the 
 plague itself,) that they much mitigated the 
 fury of their mischievous decrees. ' Mean time 
 great plenty was in the camp, where a fat sheep 
 was sold for a groat, but penury and misery 
 in all other places. 
 
 In this great calamity, (notwithstanding the 
 upbraiding of Sir John Clieke, who knew little 
 of the matter but by hearsay only,) the mayor, 
 aldermen, and principal citizens, with the city 
 clergy, behaved with the utmost allegiance to 
 the King, and- the greatest prudence, for the 
 safeguard of their city and country, the former 
 by consulting daily what was best to be done, 
 and the latter by preaching by day in the 
 camp and churches, and by watching in the 
 night with armour on their backs, so that no- 
 thing that belonged to them as faithful subjects 
 and worthy ministers, was at any time omitted; 
 so far were they from deserving that unjust 
 censure of Sir Johns, that it was not the prin- 
 cipal part of the city that were for the rebels, 
 but only the scum of it, there being not one 
 (that 1 have met with) of any figure or character, 
 that sided with them, though indeed there was 
 a great number of the populace that favoured
 
 18 
 
 them; and the state of the city was such, that 
 it was not in the power of the magistrates to 
 keep the city against them, as Exccster did, 
 with whose conduct Sir John upbraids this 
 place: but it is evident that had they been 
 able to have done it before, they would have 
 done, for upon succours coining, they imme- 
 diately put themselves in a posture of offence, 
 till which time it was impossible to do more 
 than they did, which was to stand upon the 
 point of defence. 
 
 And though the aforesaid author exclaims 
 against Norwich in relation to the affair of the 
 Marquis's miscarriage, and justly extols Ex- 
 Chester for her prowess, yet if we come to 
 examine things, as we shall find the one 
 deservedly praised, so shall we see the other 
 as undeservedly and unjustly upbraided; Ex- 
 center is a city (if 1 may credit the accounts 
 we have of it) placed on a hill, having a castle, 
 11 the site of which is eminent and above both 
 " the citie and countrie adjoining, for they do 
 " all lie, as under the lee thereof," the city is 
 strongly ditched and walled round, and is 
 " not easily to be gotten by force," and was 
 well provided with cannon and other weapons 
 of defence; on the contrary " Norwich is like 
 " a great volume with a bad cover, having at 
 " best but parchment walls about it. Nor can 
 " it with much cost and lime be effectually
 
 " ifortified, because under the frowning brow 
 " of Moushold-hill, hanging over it, the river 
 " Yare* so wanton, that it knoweth not its 
 " own mind which way to go, such the in- 
 " volved flexures thereof within a mile of this 
 " city, runneth partly by, partly through if, 
 " but contributeth very little to the strength- 
 " ning thereof." Now what could a weak city 
 do in opposition to so great a multitude, pos- 
 sessed of such a hill, as gave them not only a 
 large prospect, but a full command over it, 
 and being neither strong by art or nature, and 
 quite destitute of any number of cannons, and 
 other weapons of defence, could be in no capa- 
 city to make any resistance; and therefore it 
 had been as imprudent in the magistrates here, 
 to have pretended to act as they did at Excester, 
 as it was prudent in them; and as to the mis- 
 carriage of the Marquis of Northampton, it 
 was so far from being occasioned by any mis- 
 conduct of the citizens, that it was only their 
 misfortune, that so unfit a man was sent to 
 their rescue, " he being more acquainted with 
 " the witty than the warlike part of Pallas, 
 " (as complete in music, poetry, and courtship") 
 and so few succours, and many of them Italians, 
 that it gave the rebels further pretence to fill 
 the country with complaints, that these were 
 
 * He follows the common mistake as to the river's name, it being 
 Wensum, sot Yar*.
 
 to 
 
 only an handful of an armful to follow, driving 
 on the design to subject England to the inso- 
 lence of foreigners, for though neither wisdom 
 nor valour was wanting in the King's soldiers, 
 yet success failed them, being too few to de- 
 fend Norwich and oppose the rebels: what was 
 fifteen hundred soldiers (for there were no more 
 of the English troops) to twenty thousand rebels? 
 when on the other hand, Sir John JR.msel Lord 
 Privy Seal, a person of a stout spirit, proper 
 for such a service, and a man of great interest, 
 in that country, as well as estate, was sent 
 down to Excester, " with a convenient power 
 " of men of war, both on horseback and foot, 
 " and two bands of strangers," a power suffi- 
 cient to engage those rebels, which were only 
 about 10,000. And as to the damage the Mar- 
 quis's forces suffered out of the houses, it is- 
 plain this author was not acquainted properly 
 with the affair, for it did not proceed from the 
 citizens, (as he says,) but from the rebels them- 
 selves, who having stormed Bishop-gates, en- 
 tered the houses in Holme-street, and so almost 
 up to St. Martin's church; and it was those 
 that did the great damage to the Marquis's 
 men: so that I believe if the thing be rightly 
 considered and duly compared, Nonvich was 
 as free frOm any disloyalty as Eqcester, not- 
 withstanding the accusations Sir John hath 
 laid upon it.
 
 21 
 
 At this time, the wisdom, faithfulness, cou- 
 rage, and integrity, of Dr. Mat. Parker, then 
 professor of divinity, and afterwards Archbishop 
 of Canterbury, a native of this city, was very 
 remarkable for minding to do the office and 
 duty of a good pastor; in rebuking of wicked- 
 ness, he showed himself stout and valiant, 
 and in wary avoiding of dangers, witty and 
 careful, so that he performed the faith he owed 
 to GOD and the King, and by diligently pro- 
 viding for himself, showed that Providence, 
 that is principally in wise men: one day going 
 into the camp, he found Kett and his associates 
 standing under the oak, communing of matters 
 between themselves: at which time, the noble 
 courage of the MAYOR appeared, and his worthy 
 voice was plainly heard like a brave man; for 
 upon KetCs being earnest with him to deliver 
 up the keys of the city, and all his authority, 
 and to resign the government of it into his 
 hands, CODD stoutly answered, " He would 
 " give Ms blood and life out of his body, before 
 " he would by villainy treacherously forsake the 
 " city, or through fear or cowardice wickedly 
 " cast off" his allegiance to the KING:" the 
 matter being thus debated, and night coming 
 on, the Doctor seeing the people overcharged 
 with eating and drinking, and the heat of the 
 sun, thought that good counsel and wholesome 
 advice would be cast away upon such swine,
 
 22 
 
 and therefore wisely omitted saying any thing: 
 to them that day; so that leaving all things as 
 he found them, full of fury and tumults, he 
 returned to the city; the next day, which was 
 Friday. He and his brother, Mr. I 1 ho. Parker, 
 who was afterwards mayor of Norwich, came 
 early to the camp, where he found them all 
 tinder the oak, hearing prayers, said by Mr, 
 Coniers their chaplain, who was then reading 
 the Litany; Dr. Parker thinking that time fit 
 for his purpose, stepped up on the oak, and 
 there made an excellent sermon, full of wisdom, 
 modesty, and gravity, dividing his discourse 
 into three parts. 
 
 First, He exhorted them to use with mode- 
 ration the victuals they had brought into the 
 camp, and not riotously and lavishly waste 
 and consume it. 
 
 Secondly, He advised them by no means to 
 seek revenge of private displeasures, and not 
 to chain or keep in irons those they held in 
 ward, nor to defile their hands with blood, by 
 taking away any man's life wickedly and cruelly. 
 
 Lastly, He w r ished them to have regard to 
 themselves, and the commonwealth, and leave 
 of)' their rash enterprise, not distrusting the 
 King's herald and messenger, but to show such 
 honour to his majesty, now in his tender years, 
 as they might enjoy him hereafter, in his more 
 ripe and flourishing state, being grown np in 
 virtue to their great comfort.
 
 23 
 
 But the oak, as soon as the auditory, would 
 embrace his doctrine, his life being like to be 
 ended before his sermon; for as the company 
 heard him attentively and willingly, standing 
 round about him, a lewd fellow among them 
 cried out, " How long shall we suffer this hire- 
 tf ling DOCTOR, who being tvaged by GEWTLEMEX, 
 " is come hither with his tongue , ivhich is sold, 
 " and tied to serve their appetite? But for all 
 *' his prating, let us bridle them, and bring them 
 " under the orders of OUR law." Upon this, 
 the people began to threaten the preacher, and 
 say he should be brought down with arrows 
 and javelins, and some were shot at him, which 
 put him in great fear, and that was increased 
 by the noise and clattering of weapons under 
 him ; but he was happily deceived in that 
 point, for there was not a man that stood next 
 him under the compass of the tree, but what 
 valued him exceedingly, and were glact of his 
 coming hither, hoping his oratory might have 
 some good effect; during this uproar Kelt's 
 chaplain seasonably and wisely, though very 
 abruptly, set the Te Deum, and with the help 
 of some singing men there present, performed 
 it so elegantly, that the multitude taken with 
 the sweetness of the music (which was a no- 
 velty to them) began by degrees to be appeased : 
 and during the singing, the Doctor withdrew 
 to sing his part at home, and praise God for
 
 24 
 
 his great deliverance; for coming down from 
 the oak, and taking his brother with him, he 
 made what haste he could to the city. But as 
 they were going down St. Leonard's hill 
 towards Poc/^Aorjo-gates, some of the rebels 
 overtook him, and began to question him about 
 his licence, desiring him to show them what 
 authority he had to preach? but he knowing 
 it in vain to reason with them, slipt away, and 
 left his brother to argue out the matter. How- 
 ever, the very next day, the Doctor going into 
 St. Clement's church, took occasion from one 
 of the Lessons appointed to be read for the 
 day,* to expound somewhat concerning these 
 wicked tumults, many of the rebels being pre- 
 sent, who heard the end of his exhortation 
 without interrupting him, though they seemed 
 greatly offended at it; but staying for his 
 coming out, they immediately followed him, 
 and told him that they understood he had three 
 
 * The women resorted twice a day to prayer, and the servants 
 (except what needs must stay at home) did the same ; when Kelt's 
 ambassadors were sent to any private house, they were fain to 
 bake or brew, or do any work for the CAMP, else they were car- 
 ried as traitors, to the Oak; as for trading, there was none in 
 the city, people being forced to hide up their choicest goods, and 
 happy were they that had the faithfullest servants. They that did 
 keep open their shops were robbed and spoiled, and their goods 
 were measured by the arms length, and dispersed among the rebels, 
 their children they sent away for fear of fire; I the writer (who 
 was then above 22 years of age, and an eye witness of thrse things) 
 was present after prayer, during this dolorous state, when people 
 met both of the miserable estate they were in, and like to be in, 
 holding up their hands to heaven praying with tears that God 
 would deal so mercifully with them, that they might live to talk 
 of it, thinking it impossible at that time, they were so devoid of 
 hope. Norw. Roll.
 
 25 
 
 or four able geldings, which might serve the 
 King, and therefore they charged him that 
 immediately after dinner they might be ready 
 for them to make use of. To which the Doctor 
 said but little; but went home, and forthwith 
 ordered some of their shoes to be pulled off, 
 and their hoofs to be pared to the quick, and 
 then put on again, and others to be anointed 
 with green ointment, as though they had been 
 lame with travelling, and dressed with medi- 
 cines. Then leading them to pasture, the 
 rebels seeing some of their feet swaddled and 
 anointed, and others lamish, laid aside that 
 design ; and not long after, the Doctor seeming 
 to take a walk out of the gates towards Cringle* 
 ford bridge, met with his horses and servants 
 there, as he had ordered, and mounting, took 
 his journey towards Cambridge with all possible 
 speed, and luckily escaped thither out of all 
 danger, though by the way he met with and 
 saw divers of the rebels playing their pranks 
 in their usual outrageous manner. 
 
 By this time, having spoiled the country 
 gentlemen of their goods, they now began to 
 attack their bodies, and bring them as prisoners 
 into the camp, which caused such a genera) 
 fear, that many forsook their houses and estates, 
 and changing apparel least they should be 
 known in the flight, escaped by obscure paths, 
 and hid themselves in caves of the earth, and
 
 26 
 
 thick woods; many, who had horses and carts/ 
 they forced to carry provision to the camp, and 
 others, that had none of their own, were com- 
 pelled to procure them elsewhere; gentlemen 
 were now daily taken and brought into the 
 campj bound fast with cords like so many vil- 
 lains, some were kept in Nonvich castle, some 
 in the Guild-hall prison, and others were shut 
 up in the Earl of Surrey's house, as felons and 
 thieves: whenever they wanted money (which 
 was often) if the mayor did not immediately 
 supply them out of the common treasury* they 
 threatened to burn and rifle the city: which 
 they had certainly done, if the diligence of the 
 mayor had not prevented it. 
 
 Furthermore, to cloak their wicked actions 
 under the King's authority, having seized se- 
 veral commissions sent from the King, directed 
 to divers gentlemen in the country, authorising 
 them to do their utmost endeavours to repress 
 
 * They often demanded help out of the city treasury, which occa- 
 sioned the citizens to take away thence what remained, and conceal 
 the things of value, for fear of their taking them away by force, 
 which they after attempted, and broke open the treasury, &c. for 
 after the rebellion I find this: ' Paid for pecyng of the dore staile 
 and dore loope of the tresyi howse wrh'ych was sort 1 bevvy n and 
 mankyld by traitor Ket, and hys Kytlyngs. ITEM, fornewmendyng 
 and makyng of jj lockes of the said tresur howse dore, iiij lockes 
 and hespjs on the yron chest within the said howse. iij other 
 lockes in the same howse. ij lockes on the chekyr in the sembly 
 chambyr, and iij gret lockes and keys on the dore" to the tower 
 over the tresyr howse. All which lockes, keys, and hespys, war 
 brokyn by the forsaid traitor Kette and his rebels. ITEM, to a 
 mason for pinnyng in the dore staile and window in the said tresyr 
 howse, and all the tower on the said howse and arching within the 
 same, all which wallys were shaken and sore brusyd with rappiujf 
 and breking up the dores there," Comp. Camcr.
 
 27 
 
 these commotions: in some of them they erased 
 the names of the gentlemen, and inserted their 
 own, and from others they took the seals, and 
 placed them to forged commissions of their own 
 making, and fixing them up in public places, 
 deceived many ignorant people thereby, and 
 drew them to their party. 
 
 By this time their number being increased 
 to above 20,000, they grew so disorderly, that 
 Kett, the arch-rebel, could not restrain them: 
 and now they threaten all such citizens as were 
 fled with their families, and all such as would 
 not declare on their side, as open enemies, so 
 that nothing but fire and sword was hourly 
 expected: whatever was brought into the camp 
 was spent in a most gluttonous manner, inso- 
 much that it seems almost incredible how so 
 much could be devoured in so short a time, 
 for besides swans, geese, hens, ducks, and all 
 sorts of fowls without number, about 3000 
 bullocks and 20,000 sheep were spent in few 
 days. The gentlemen s parks were laid open, 
 and what deer they could get, killed and brought 
 hither, and such as they had a particular spleen 
 against, they destroyed their woods and groves, 
 by cutting down the trees therein. Sometimes 
 they would bring the gentlemen out of prison, 
 chained two and two together, as it were to 
 judgment, before the tree of reformation, there 
 to be tried by these governors, as if they had 
 
 D
 
 28 
 
 been guilty of heinous crimes; and when it 
 was asked the commons what should be done 
 with the prisoners? they would cry out with 
 one voice Hang them! hang them! and if they 
 were asked, Why they gave such rash judgment 
 on those they never Icneiv? they would roundly 
 answer that others cried the same, and that 
 they did it to give their assent with them, 
 though they could give no other reason, but 
 that they were gentlemen, and therefore (they 
 said) not worthy to live. 
 
 Porters also were placed by them at all the 
 city gatcs^ and companies of the rebels to watch 
 and ward at certain places, and constables 
 were made to provide and furnish them with 
 what meat and drink they would have, at their 
 own expense, even to the ruin of them. 
 
 And now one Wharton, a man of great coti- 
 ivage, but not favoured by the people, was led 
 to the castle, bound like a thief, and had there 
 not been a great company of the rebels ordered 
 by their captain to defend him, he had been 
 slain by the unruly multitude: but neither his 
 good behaviour to them, nor promises, nor the 
 diligent care of the rebels that guarded him, 
 could keep him from being stabbed in many 
 places of his body with spears and pikes. 
 
 A lawyer also, who dwelt at Melton, was 
 betrayed by a woman, and drawn out of a 
 wood, where he had hid himself a little before,
 
 29 
 
 among the thorns and briars, and brought pri- 
 soner to the city, being hated by the commons, 
 who esteemed him a subtile fellow; as they 
 haled him along, the heavens thundered hor- 
 ribly, to the astonishment of them that heard 
 it, and such mighty showers fell, mixed with 
 hail, that the earth was covered very deep, 
 not far from the tree of reformation; but this 
 fearful tempest did not in the least appal or 
 terrify them. 
 
 Many days had passed from the beginning of 
 this rebellion, and nothing the whole time was 
 done, but burning, wasting, robbing, and con- 
 suming of all things; and so great grief had 
 now possessed all good men, and especially 
 the citizens, that at the sight of the lamentable 
 fate of their country, they \vere almost dis- 
 tracted, and all hopes of success by resisting 
 was taken away, so that they remained within 
 their walls, fearing daily destruction, and 
 destitute of all counsel, not having as yet heard 
 from that of the King. 
 
 While the rebels thus raged abroad in the 
 country, at JHingham, about eleven miles from 
 Norwich, Sir Edmund Knevet, Knt. with a 
 small company of his own menial servants, set 
 upon the night watch of the rebels that were 
 placed there, and brake through, overthrowing 
 divers of them, and had some of his own ;nen 
 also unhorsed, and in danger to be hewn in
 
 30 
 
 pieces among them, yet he recovered them, 
 and escaped their hands through great manhood; 
 after which good night's service, as they would 
 have it esteemed, they repaired to their great 
 captain Kelt, to show their hurts, and to com- 
 plain, of their griefs. It was talked among 
 them, that they would go to Sir Edmund's 
 house at Buckenham castle, to assault it ,and 
 fetch him out of it by force. But some doubted 
 it was too strong for them, (it being a place of 
 great strength at that time,) and others feared 
 sharp stripes if they should attempt that 
 exploit, being at least twelve miles from their 
 main camp, and so that enterprise dropt, the 
 most part thinking it best to sleep in a whole 
 skin. 
 
 It happened, that Mr. Leonard Sotherton, 
 a citizen of Norwich, fled to London for safety 
 of his life, the rebels having threatened him if 
 they could get him; him the Council sent for, 
 and by him were informed of all their pro- 
 ceedings, and how they daily increased, and 
 hourly threatened destruction to the city, anil 
 all gentlemen they could meet with; at the 
 same time he told them, that he had heard 
 say, that there were many in the camp, who if 
 they had any hope of the King's favour, and 
 that they might escape unpunished, would 
 willingly lay down their weapons, and embrace 
 his Majesty's pardon. And therefore he was
 
 31 
 
 in hope, that if the King sent down his pardon, 
 and proclaimed it in the camp, that most of 
 them would disperse. This advice being ap- 
 proved of by the Council, who had their hands 
 fully engaged other ways, a herald was sent 
 with Sotherton directly to Norwich, and 
 entering the camp apparelled in his coat of 
 arms, standing before the tree of reformation, 
 he there declared with a loud voice, so that 
 all about him might hear, " That the KINO 
 " had granted his free pardon to all that would 
 " depart to their homes, and laying aside their 
 " armour ) give over their traitorous begun enter- 
 '' prise." Upon which, almost all the multitude 
 cried God save the KING'S Majesty; and at the 
 renewing of that cry, many kneeled down, and 
 with tears in their eyes commended the King's 
 mercy, which all would have embraced imme- 
 diately, had not the wicked speeches of some 
 of the rascally sort, and the traitorous persuar 
 sions of that caitiff Kelt himself turned them 
 from peace, and stayed them from their dutiful 
 inclinations. For Kelt very fiercely and stoutly 
 answered, so that all might hear him: " That 
 ' ' KINGS and PRINCES were accustomed to gran t 
 " pardons to such as are offenders, and not to 
 " others; and that he trusted he needed not any 
 " pardon, sith he had done nothing but w/iaf 
 " belonged to the duty of a true subject; and 
 * herewith he besought them not to forsake him,
 
 " but to remember his promise, sith he was ready 
 " to spend his life in the quarrel.*' The herald 
 hereupon called him TRAITOR, and commanded 
 John Pelibone, sword-bearer of Norwich, to 
 arrest him for treason, as a traitor to his Ma- 
 jesty; upon which, so great a confusion fol- 
 lowed among the multitude, that the herald 
 saw Kett had so far enraged them, that they 
 would accept of no pardon, so that he departed 
 from them, crying out with a loud voice, ' All 
 * ye that be the KING'S FRIENDS, come away 
 4 with me,' then the Mayor, and Master Aldrich, 
 with a great number of other gentlemen that 
 had been confined there, (among which were 
 the two brothers, the Appleyerds,) and other 
 honest yeomen, Jhat were ready to obey the 
 King, followed him:* and entering the city by 
 JEto/top-gates, the mayor commanded them to 
 be shut, because otherwise the rebels might 
 have forthwith entered the city. Holinshed 
 says, this was on the last day of July, but it is 
 a mistake, as the Chamberlains accounts show 
 us, for it was on the 2lst of that month, it 
 being the very day they made a present to the 
 herald for his good service, at their return into 
 the city, which is entered in these words, 
 4 Gaf in- reward on Mary Magdalen evyn, to 
 
 * This was of some present service, , for Norwich Roll saj's, 
 ' yet grcate nombrc accepted the pardon, departed without 
 ' retorninge.'
 
 33 
 
 * Mr. YORK herald at arms, 8 peces of gold 
 4 called soveraigns, 47, ' 
 
 As soon as was possible, the mayor caused 
 all the gates to be shut, and the gentlemen im- 
 prisoned in the castle and elsewhere to be set 
 at liberty, who were all summoned to consult 
 with him and his brethren, how they might de- 
 fend the city from the rebels, and keep them 
 from entering it by assault. And at last they 
 determined to set watch and ward, day and 
 night, on the walls and gates, and keep the 
 city so close, that the means of transporting 
 victuals from the camp being thereby cut off 
 from that side of the river, the rebels might be 
 wearied out, and obliged to decamp. 
 
 During this time, certain of the citizens that 
 favoured the rebels ,had let a great number of 
 them into the city, which raised such conster- 
 nation, that it was thought safest for the gen- 
 tlemen that had been let out of prison to be 
 shut up again, least the rebels finding them 
 abroad, should murder them; but soon after, 
 it was perceived that they were returned to 
 their camp the same way they came; upon 
 which, the mayor and aldermen immediately 
 began to rampire up Eis/top-gates, to plant 
 what ordnance they had, and make all neces- 
 sary provision for the defence of the city that 
 was possible; placing 10 of the greatest pieces 
 of ordnance against the enemv in the castle-
 
 34 
 
 ditches, appointing watch and ward in all those 
 places where the walls were decayed; then 
 they proceeded to make bullets, &c, for their 
 defence, as we learn from the accounts of the 
 city cfiamberlains, in these words, " paid to ij 
 " men that made that night cxx pyllets of 
 " gonshotie, xv\d. for cc and xiv/. lede, xs. 
 " vnjd. and a bundell of large brown paper, 
 " and xvZ. matchis dyvyded amongst all the 
 " gonners that night. 
 
 " Byshops Gates rampired with erth that 
 " nyght. 
 
 " A pece of ordinaunce carried to the old 
 " common stathe yarde, the ij brothern of the 
 *' Appleyerds watchyd that place that nyght. 
 
 " Sir Wytliam Pastons* ij gret gonnys caryed 
 " from the common stathe to the castyl. 
 
 " A bondell of small brown paper and match 
 " sent to the castyl and common stathe to shote 
 " certen yron gonnys ther, that came from 
 " Caster Hall. 
 
 " Mr. Tho. Godsalve and a gret company of 
 " others, kept Sir IV ill. Pastons gret peces 
 *' that night in the castyl yarde." 
 
 The rest of the city forces were ordered to 
 be ready at all times of the night, in the market 
 place and cross streets of the city, for every 
 occasion. 
 
 * This Sir William Paston was a brave man, stood by the city, 
 and was with them almost always ; his seat was at Castor by 
 Yarmouth, then a strong place, and in some measure fortified; 
 he bad a house also in the city, where he resided much.
 
 35 
 
 At length, having ordered things in this 
 manner, they began to shoot off their artillery 
 both from the city and camp, to annoy each 
 other; but when the rebels saw that they did 
 little hurt to the city with their ordnance lying 
 upon the hill, they moved them down to the 
 foot of it, and thence began to play against 
 the walls, which being perceived, at the mayors 
 command, the ordnance was brought down from 
 the castle ditches, and placed speedily in the 
 meadows* which lie in the lowest part of the 
 city, and so the greatest part of the night was 
 spent in fearful shot on both sides. 
 
 But the worst evil the magistrates had to over- 
 come, was the scum of the city that were in it, and 
 were of the rebels side, in so great number that 
 their force was not sufficient to rule them, for 
 they would go and come from the camp, in 
 spite of the mayor and governors, and bewray 
 whatever was done against their comrades, for 
 " here ys to be notyd, that the next day beyng 
 " Mary Magdalen day, the chamberlayns servyse 
 
 * At a gate between BishopVgate and the Hospital tower, were 
 placed six pieces of ordnance, charged with more than two hundred 
 weight shot, and other furniture, of bows, bills, and arrows, against 
 the which came great numbers of boys to take the water, but they 
 were with the arrows and shot letted of their purpose. And this 
 wrighter till noon was in ayde of them, and being sent for a barrel 
 of beer for the drye armye, was met by a great number which 
 came through the riverj and so scared the gunners away, and others, 
 that some ran to raise up the city for more help, for the rebels 
 had broken up the rampirc?, opened the gates and carried up 6 
 pieces of ordnance to the hyl, and the rest in such nombre as the 
 citizens could not deal with them, ran crying about the streets 
 Traitors, Traitors! and great nombre enter'd houses, robbed shops, 
 and did nrach violence, &c. Norwich Roll. 
 
 E *
 
 36 
 
 " don the night before, and specyally for making 
 
 " of the gonshot, was bewrayed by John Fysh- 
 
 " man to traytor Ket, so that he sent to hys 
 
 " howse about Ixxx men, of which number 
 
 " Robert Ysod, tanner, John Barker^ bocherj 
 
 " JZchard, my Her of Hey ham, were cheffe 
 
 *' messengers, which persons caryed the cham- 
 
 " berlain to the Guyldhall, and ther took away 
 
 " oon hole barrell of gunpowder, and a remnant 
 
 " of another barrell, that was left the night 
 
 " before, and certen yron pyllets and lede 
 
 " pyllets, that servyd for the yronsling, and 
 
 " certen mores pykes that lay over the senibly 
 
 " chambyr, and compellyd him to pay for lyne 
 
 " and a maunde* to carry the sayd pelfer, vid. 
 
 " Item, they came ageyn to the chainberlayns 
 
 *' howse, and tooke from thense cxx pyllets 
 
 " of lede, that war made the nyght before, and 
 
 " also they tooke from him in corn, paper, 
 
 " and serpentyn powder of his own goods, to 
 
 " them sum of \jl. odd money, and besydes 
 
 " that, compellyd hym to pay for a new ferkyn 
 
 " to put in the gunshote \d. and for lyne to 
 
 " truss and carry the pelfer with, iijcf. 
 
 " And the next day being xxiij July a gret 
 " sorte of the same company with others to 
 " the nombyr of C persons at the leste, came 
 " ageyn to the chamberlayns howse, and tooke 
 
 * Or basket, whence we now call a basket commonly used by 
 the co\mtry people to carry their batter to market in, a butler mawui.
 
 37 
 
 " away of his own goods, ij bows, iij shefts of 
 " arrows, with cases and gyrdylls, iiij alman 
 " halberds, ij black bylls, certen clubbys and 
 " stavys, ii almayn ryvetts* as fayer as any 
 " war in Norwych, and a jack\ of fustyan, 
 " and also carryd hym away wyth thern to 
 " Mushold, to have hym to the tre for inakyng 
 " of the forsayd gunshote: and by the way, he 
 " intretyd them so that they caryed hym to 
 " Norwiche bothe, wher he gaf them for re- 
 " myssyon from goying to the tre, \\']s. iiijrf." 
 By this time, as the mayor and citizens ima- 
 gined, the camp began to be distressed for want 
 of victuals, and in order the more commodi- 
 ously to bring provision from the other side of 
 the city, they sued for truce, for a certain time, 
 sending James Williams, and Ralph Sutton, 
 two of the vilest that the city produced, as 
 their ambassadors from the camp to the city- 
 gates, with a banner of truce in their hands, 
 who were brought to the mayor and aldermen, 
 of whom they demanded, in Captain Kelt's 
 name, * ' Peace and truce for a few days whereby 
 " they might fiave liberty (as they lately had) to 
 " carry victuals through the city to the camp, 
 " which if they would not grant, they threatened 
 
 * ALMAIN rivets, a certain light kind of armour, with plates of 
 iron for the defence of the arms. 
 
 f A Jacket 
 
 j To try him at the Oak of REFORM ATIOH, on which he was likely 
 to swing, if they had got him thither, as he foresaw. 
 
 $ This is verbatim out of the Chamberlains accounts.
 
 38 
 
 " to break into the city and destroy it with fire 
 " and sword.'' The mayor and aldermen flatly 
 denied their request, " Protesting they would 
 " not permit traitors to have any passage through 
 " /A> ci/y." Upon this refusal, the rebels were 
 so enraged, that running down the hill, they 
 made a violent assault upon Bishop-gates, but 
 were as bravely repulsed, and forced to retire. 
 Yea such rage appeared among them, that the 
 boys and young lads showed themselves so 
 desperate in gathering up the arrows, that 
 when they felt them sticking in their bodies, 
 they would pluck them out and give them to 
 their bowmen to shoot again at the citizens; 
 all this time the ordnance in the meadows did 
 but little damage to the rebels, for want of suf- 
 ficient powder, and skill in the gunners, though 
 many of them were wounded with the arrows, 
 which flew very thick from the city; but yet 
 so great was their fury, that the very boys 
 naked and unarmed, ran about provoking the 
 citizens with reproachful speeches. 
 
 In the mean season, the rebels in the city, 
 and those that favoured them, began a fearful 
 uproar on the other side of the city, crying 
 " to your weapons, to your weapons, for the 
 " enemies are entered the city," which wicked 
 stratagem answered the design, for all the 
 citizens left that side of the city and ran to the 
 other, so that the part where the assault first
 
 39 
 
 began, was left without defence; which the 
 rebels seeing, renewed their assault, and the 
 boys and country clowns, without fear, threw 
 themselves into the river that runs before 
 His/top* s-g&te, and swimming cross, with swords, 
 clubs, spears, staves, and javelins, made what 
 few citizens were left there, retreat, and then 
 pulling off the bars of the gates, let in the 
 rebels, upon which, the citizens withdrew to 
 their houses, and other secret places, where 
 they hoped best to hide themselves from the 
 fury of their enemies, which they imagined 
 would now be executed to the total subversion 
 of the city. 
 
 The first thing they did after they had thus 
 entered by force was, to convey all the guns 
 and artillery, and all other furniture of war 
 whatever out of the city, to the camp, which 
 was soon done; the boys and clowns mocking 
 such citizens as they saw grieved, calling them 
 traitors, cursing and reviling them. 
 
 The herald, who was still in the city, to see 
 if the rebels would, before the day fixed for 
 their pardons, (which was not yet expired,) 
 give over their enterprise, came with the mayor 
 and a great number of the principal citizens 
 into the market-place, and there declared to 
 the populace in the King's name, " That all 
 " such as ivould lay aside their arms, and go 
 ' home to their houses -, should have a general
 
 " PARDON, but all the rest should be punished 
 " with death." 
 
 The rebels that stood by and heard him, bad 
 him depart with a mischief, for neither his fair 
 offers nor his sweet flattering words should 
 beguile them; for they detested such mercy, 
 that under pretence of pardon, would cut oft 
 all their hope of safety and self-preservation. 
 Upon which the herald departed, seeing no- 
 thing was to be done either through fear 01 
 punishment, or hope of pardon, and returned 
 to court. Upon this Kelt immediately ordered 
 Leonard Sotherton (or Sutterton) to be brought 
 before him, because h6 had accompanied the 
 herald in his journey, but he fearing the matter, 
 and being warned of it, was forced to hide 
 himself in the city, among his friends and 
 kindred, as many other good men did. 
 
 And now Kett took the mayor, Robert Wat- 
 son, William Rogers, John Humberston, William 
 JSrampton, and many others of the wisest and 
 best men of the city, and imprisoned them in 
 Surrey-house, where some of them remained 
 laden with irons till the last day of this 
 conspiracy. 
 
 Kett perceiving that things were grown so 
 desperate, that he must have either a bloody 
 victory over his country, or else soon come to 
 the shameful end he deserved, endeavoured all 
 he could to draw a huge multitude together to
 
 41 
 
 encrease his army, so that what by rewards 
 and fair promises, it is almost inconceivable to 
 tell the numbers of rascally people that flocked 
 to him from all parts on a sudden. 
 
 By this time, the citizens began to be sore 
 displeased that their mayor (who was a man 
 of remarkable honesty, and exceedingly be- 
 loved, not only by the belter sort, but even by 
 those that had joined the camp) should be so 
 scandalously imprisoned, and remain in danger 
 of his life, among the rebels, who began to 
 threaten him sorely, and jesting at his name, 
 would say one to another, " Let us come toge- 
 " ther to-morrow, for we shall see a CODD'S- 
 " HEAD sold in t/ie camp for a penny," alluding 
 to the mayor's name. Whereupon, the citizens 
 fearing least he should be made away among 
 them, came and complained unto Thomas 
 Aldrich,* (whose authority was great among 
 the rebels, he being a man they also loved,) 
 that they did not like such usage; and he im- 
 mediately went to Kelt, and being backed by 
 a number of the citizens that were exceedingly 
 angry at the usage of their mayor, he sharply 
 reproved him for his cruel dealing, in impri- 
 soning so honest a man as the mayor was, and 
 
 * Tho. Aldrich was so beloved of all men, for his wisdom, 
 gravity, modesty, and fine wit, that his name was even reverenced 
 among; these villainous rebels, over whom he soon got such command ? 
 that it was very seldom they neglected his advice, by which means, 
 he did the greatest good tbat could be at that time to his country.
 
 42 
 
 withal commanded him to release him; when, 
 either for shame, or fear of disobliging these 
 citizens, he instantly set him at liberty, and 
 permitted him to go all over the city; so that 
 by his care and diligence, many of the citizens 
 were much comforted. But because he could 
 not abide in it, being constrained to be the 
 most part of his time in the camp, he made 
 Augustine Steward his DEPUTY, commanding 
 him to take the charge of governing and de- 
 fending the city in his absence; and he with 
 the assistance of Henry Sacon, and John 
 Atkins, then sheriffs, ruled the city right care- 
 fully to their great credit, and kept all the 
 citizens in order, except those unruly ones, 
 whom no good order could command. 
 
 During this time, Kett and his companions 
 used to make scorn and mock at such prisoners 
 as they kept, and sometimes delivered them 
 to the multitude, for that purpose, and a day 
 was appointed, when all the prisoners were to 
 be brought out to the oak, there to be tried, 
 as they called it; and at the time, Kett him- 
 self went up on the oak, and setting down 
 there, had the prisoners in order, one by one, 
 called by their names, and then he enquired of 
 his companions, what they thought of them? 
 these varlets being made inquisitors, and judges 
 of the lives of those innocent gentlemen; if they 
 found nothing against the man in question,
 
 43 
 
 they called out A good man, he is a good man, 
 and therefore ought to be set at liberty; but if 
 any small crime or dislike was but once named 
 by any of them, they called out, Let him be 
 hanged, let him be hanged, though at the same 
 time they did not so much as know the man. 
 
 The Council being ascertained by the herald's 
 return, that nothing but force would quiet the 
 Norfolk rebels, appointed William Parr Mar- 
 quis of Northampton, an excellent courtier, and 
 one more skilled in leading a measure than a 
 march, with 1500 horsemen of the King's forces, 
 to go down to Norwich to attack the rebels and 
 defend the city; with him went the Lord 
 Sheffield, and the Lord Wentivorth, Sir Anthony 
 Denny, Sir Henry Parker, Sir Richard South- 
 well, Sir Rolf Sadler, Sir John Clere, Sir Ralf 
 Powlet, Sir Richard Lee, Sir John Gates, Sir 
 Tho. Paston, Sir Henry Bedingjield, Sir John 
 Suliard, Sir William Walgrave, Sir John Cults, 
 Sir Thomas Cornwalleis, Knts. with a good 
 number of other knights, squires, and gentlemen, 
 and a small band of Italians under the command 
 of Mala-testa, an experienced soldier: which 
 the rebels took advantage of, and filled the 
 country with complaints that these were part 
 of the numberless foreigners to which England 
 was going forthwith to be subjected, which 
 made some of them more resolute than before. 
 
 The Marquis being now come within a mile 
 
 F
 
 of Norwich, sent Sir Gilbert Dethick, Knt. 
 who was then Norroy, and afterwards Garter 
 King at Arms, to summon them within 
 the city, to yield it into his hands, or upon 
 refusal, to proclaim war against it. Augustine 
 Sletuard, the deputy mayor, sent to the mayor, 
 who was now detained in the camp, to let 
 him know what message he h:t 1 received 
 from the Marquis, who returned answer, 
 that all these confusions much grieved him, 
 and more so because he could not wait on him 
 to deliver the city into his hands himself, being 
 detained by a guard of the rebels, in danger of 
 his life; but having given his authority to 
 Mr. Augustine Steward, a wise and careful man, 
 least in his absence the people should fall away 
 from their duty, he had ordered him to be 
 ready to surrender it into his bands, and to 
 submit all things wholly to his Lordship's order 
 and disposition. This message being soon 
 carried by Norroy, the deputy mayor, sheriffs, 
 and a great number of the chief citizens, went 
 to the Marquis's army, and delivered the sword 
 to his Lordship, declaring that the mayor him- 
 self would have gladly come if he could have 
 got from the rebels, and that although a great 
 number of the scum and populace of the city 
 were partakers with the rebels, yet the substan- 
 tial and principal citizens never did, nor never 
 would consent to their doings, but were ready at
 
 45 
 
 all times to receive him into their city, and obey 
 him as the representative of the King himself. 
 
 Upon which, the Marquis comforted them 
 with good words, telling them he hoped he 
 should appease these troubles shortly. Then 
 he delivered the sword to Sir Richard South- 
 well, who carried it bare headed before the 
 Marquis into the city, which honour, by solemn 
 and ancient custom, is always given to the 
 King's lieutenants: he made his entry at St. 
 Stephen s-gaies, and forthwith gave command- 
 ment that all the citizens should meet him in 
 the market-place, where they consulted long, 
 and many things were resolved upon, as well 
 for the defence of the city as for restraining 
 the assault of the enemy. Immediately watch 
 and ward were appointed for the tvalls and 
 gates, and the weak places of the old walls 
 were guarded by armed men day and night. 
 
 Things being thus ordered, the Marquis, 
 with the nobles and gentlemen, supped at the 
 deputy mayor's, and lodged there, but kept their 
 armour on their backs all night, (though they 
 were wearied with a troublesome journey of 
 three days, and the heat of the weather,) for 
 fear of a sudden assault. 
 
 It happened (but whether by chance or ap- 
 pointment is not known) that the strangers went 
 out and offered skirmish to the rebels upon 
 Magdalen- hill; the rebels first came forth with
 
 46 
 
 their horsemen, who better understood plunder- 
 ing the country, than fighting, for they were no 
 match for the strangers; which their fellows 
 seeing, they put their archers before their 
 horsemen, designing to surround the strangers, 
 but they perceiving their drift, cast themselves 
 into a ring, and retired into the cily, leaving an 
 Italian gentleman behind them, who had ven- 
 tured too far, and being unfortunately thrown 
 from his horse, was taken, spoiled of his armour, 
 and as a specimen how they would use others, 
 hanged over the walls of Surrey -house. 
 
 The watch being set, the MARQUIS ordered 
 the rest of the soldiers to be armed all night, 
 and to make a huge fire in the market-place, 
 which was appointed their general rendezvous, 
 so that the streets might be light, least by 
 darkness and ignorance of the place they should 
 be enclosed in the night by their enemies. 
 
 Sir Edivard Warner, Marshal of the Field, 
 gave the watch-word, Sir Thomas Paslon, Sir 
 John Clere, Sir William Walgrave, Sir Thomas 
 Cormvaleis, and Sir Henry Beding field, men of 
 approved valour and wisdom, were dispersed 
 in divers parts of the city, for defence thereof, 
 who performed their parts nobly, going conti- 
 nually from place to place encouraging arid 
 animating their men by their countenance, 
 words, and their own travel and labour. Every 
 thing being thus settled, the Marquis and others
 
 47 
 
 at rest, about midnight, the rebels, as if they 
 designed to assault the city, discharged their 
 artillery as thick as possible, but whether it 
 was by the unskilfulness of the gunners, or 
 whether they had taken money, (as some 
 thought,) they did little damage, the bullets 
 passing over the city. The Marshal, by rea- 
 son of the continual alarms given by the 
 watchmen, and the continuance of the discharge 
 of the cannons, called up the JMarquis, as h 
 had ordered him to do, if any thing happened, 
 who came presently into the market-place with 
 his nobles and gentlemen, and entered into con- 
 sultation how to provide better for the defence 
 of the city, finding by the slow return of his 
 soldiers, (which he began to perceive,) that 
 they were not sufficient for the guard of so 
 large a place; and by general advice it was 
 agreed, that all the gates on the other side of 
 the city from the enemy, and all 'the ruinous 
 places of the walls, should be rampired up, 
 concluding that there would not be wanting so 
 many soldiers to defend the walls, but that 
 the citizens might only watch them, and give 
 notice in case of any danger that way; this 
 was immediately put in execution, and near 
 finished, when the whole rout of rebels came 
 running with hideous shrieks and yells to the 
 city, endeavouring to hew in pieces, and fire, 
 the gates; some swimming over the river,
 
 climbed up the lowest places of the walls, 
 others got in at the breaches, and so entered. 
 The Marquis's men did all that was possible 
 to repel them; the fight lasted above three 
 hours continually, in which the noble courage 
 of Bedingfieldi Cornwaleis, Paslon, &c. was 
 very apparent, the rebels pushing forward to 
 the utmost of their power, and being courage- 
 ously resisted, were so desperate, that when 
 they were thrust through their bodies or thighs, 
 or their hamstrings cut asunder, though they 
 were fallen down deadly wounded, would not 
 give over, but half dead, drowned in their own 
 and other men's blood, would till the last gasp 
 strike at their adversaries, when their hands 
 could scarce hold their weapons; but such 
 was the bravery of the gentlemen and soldiers, 
 that they were forced to retreat to their camp, 
 having lost 300 of their fellows, who were 
 killed in the city in this engagement; and 
 now at last, being secure from any farther 
 practices of the enemy, they went to rest for 
 that little time that remained, proper for that 
 purpose. 
 
 In the morning it was told the Marquis, that 
 the courage and resolution of many of the rebels 
 was much abated, and that they might be easily 
 persuaded to lay down their arms if they were 
 assured of pardon, there being no less than 
 4 or 5000 then waiting at Pockthorp-gztes, who
 
 49 
 
 on such promise would return home, and sub- 
 mit to the King's mercy; which information 
 made him exceeding glad, but Norroy and a 
 trumpeter being sent to the gate, not a person, 
 was found there; however, upon the sound of 
 the trumpet, a great number came running 
 down the hill; one Flotman being their prin- 
 cipal, whom the trumpeter commanded to 
 stand; Flotman demanded what the matter 
 was, and why they drew them to parley by 
 sound of trumpet, to whom Norroy replied, 
 " Go thy waies, and tell thy company, from 
 my Lord Marquess of Northampton, the King's 
 Majesties lieutenant, that he commandeth them 
 to cease from any further outrage, and if they 
 will obey his commandment, all that is past 
 shall be forgiven and pardoued." To which, 
 Flotmtm, who was an outrageous busy fellow, 
 of a voluble tongue ready for reproaches and 
 arrogant speeches, presumptuously answered, 
 ' that he cared not a pin's point for my Lord 
 Marquess,' and like a traitor railed upon his 
 Lordship, maintaining that he and the rest of 
 the rebels were earnest defenders of the King's 
 royal Majesty, and that they had not taken 
 up arms against the King, but in his defence, 
 and that time would make it appear, that they 
 sought nothing more than to maintain his royal 
 estate, the liberty of their country, and the 
 safety of the commonwealth : and then utterly
 
 50 
 
 refusing the pardon, told Norroy positively, 
 that they would either restore the common- 
 wealth from the decay into which it was fallen, 
 being oppressed through the tyranny and covet- 
 ousness of the^gentlemen, or else would die like 
 men in the quarrel. 
 
 Scarce had he made an end, but an alarm 
 was raised through the whole city, the general 
 cry being, To arms! to arms! for at the instant 
 these things were doing at PocJcthorp-gSites, 
 the rebels brake in at the hospital meadows, 
 and coming up Holme or Bishopgate-street, 
 attacked the Marquis's ordnance, that was 
 placed on St. Martins plain, at the mouth or 
 entrance thereof, in which place there ensued 
 a sharp conflict between the rebels and the 
 Marquis's men; there were slain of the rebels 
 about 140, and great numbers wounded, and 
 of the King's soldiers and city forces, about 
 50, or somewhat more, besides a great number 
 wounded. This skirmish continued from about 
 nine o'clock on Lammas day morn, being the 
 first of August, till noon the same day; in 
 which the miserable death of the Lord Sheffield 
 was lamented and pitied of all men,* who more 
 mindful of his birth and honour than of his 
 own safety, desirous to show proof of his noble 
 
 * Upon Lammes day was the Lord Scheffeld sclayne by the 
 rebeles, in the paryche of St. Martyne at the Pallas-gate, a 
 lyttyl from the old skolliows (or school-bouse) that yer, (1549.) 
 E Lib. Civ.
 
 51 
 
 courage, entering among the thickest of his 
 enemies, and fighting too boldly, though not 
 so warily as was expedient, fell into a ditch or 
 hole as he was turning his horse, and being 
 compassed about with a great number of these 
 horrible traitors, was there slain, although he 
 declared who he was, and offered largely to 
 the villains if they would have saved his life; 
 and as he pulled off his helmet that it might 
 appear who he was, a butcherly knave, one 
 Fulke, who by occupation was both a car- 
 penter and butcher, knocked him on the head 
 with a club, and so killed him, of which he 
 much vaunted afterwards, and so it came to 
 be known who it was committed this barbarity, 
 for which, afterwards, by the just judgment of 
 God, the villain had his deserved reward; 
 the place where he fell is distinguished by a 
 large freestone laid there.* 
 
 Jn relation to this affair, the aforesaid Sir 
 John Clieke expostulates with the rebels thus, 
 
 " How was the Lord Sheffield handled among 
 " you, a noble gentlemen and of good service, 
 " both fit for counsel in peace, and conduct 
 " in war, considering either the gravity of his 
 " wisdom, or the authority of his person, or 
 
 * The stone lies under the sign of Cupid, which is on the left-hand 
 of the street leading from the Plain to Bishopgate-street, a little 
 before the turn into that street, at which turn St. MATTHEW'I 
 diurch stood on the right-hu&d, and the old GRAMMAR schools 
 opposite to it.
 
 52 
 
 " his service to the commonwealth, or the 
 " hope that all men had in him, or the need 
 " that England had of such, or among manie 
 " notablie good, his singular excellencie, or 
 " the favour that all men bare toward him, 
 " being loved of every man, and hated of 
 " no man? 
 
 " Ye slew him cruelly, who offered himself 
 " manfully, and would not so much as spare 
 lt him for ransome, who was worthie for noble- 
 " nesse, to have had honour, and hewed him 
 ' bare, whom ye could not hurt, armed, and 
 " by slaverie, slew nobilitie, in deed, miserablie, 
 " in fashion, cruellie, in cause, develishlie. Oh ! 
 " with what cruel spite was sundred, so noble 
 " a bodie, from so godlie a mind? whose death 
 " must rather be revenged than lamented, whose 
 " death was no lacke to himselfe, but his 
 " conn trie, whose death might every way been 
 " better born than at a rebels hands. Violence 
 " is in all things hurtfull, but in life, horrible." 
 
 With him died divers other gentlemen and 
 worthy soldiers, who were buried the same day 
 with him, at St. Martin's on the Plain, which 
 church is just by the place they fell, as I find 
 by the parish register in these words, " 1549, 
 'J'heLord SHEFFIELD* with THIRTY FIVE others* 
 icere here buried 1st Aug." and among others 
 
 * EDWARD first Lord SHEFFIELD of Bollerwick, was slain at 
 Norukh in the insurrection. Coll. P. L. N.
 
 53 
 
 Robert Wollvaston or Wolverston, who was ap- 
 pointed to keep the entrance into the cathedral, 
 was killed by the same Fulke, who took him 
 for Sir Edmund Knevet, against whom they 
 bare great malice, because he gave them all 
 the disturbance he possibly could. 
 
 The rebels, puffed up with the death of the 
 Lord Sheffield, who was a person they greatly 
 feared, by reason of the character he had for 
 his great courage, making an alarm on every 
 side, got into the city every way they could, 
 and so overcharged the forces with numbers, 
 being above twenty thousand to fifteen hundred, 
 that they caused the Marquis and his people 
 to give way, and forsake the city; every man 
 making the best shift he could to save himself, 
 either by speedy flight, or by hiding themselves 
 in private places, as woods, groves, caves, and 
 such like. But yet divers gentlemen of good 
 account, as Beding field, Cormvaleis, and others, 
 who remained behind, abiding the brunt, were 
 taken prisoners, and kept in strict durance till 
 the day of the rebels overthrow by the Earl 
 of Warwick. 
 
 The Marquis being thus beaten out of Nor- 
 wich, with the residue that escaped, hasted to 
 London, leaving the city in the rebel's power: 
 many of the chief citizens fled, leaving their 
 wives, children, and all their possessions in, 
 their enemies hands, having hid their gold,
 
 54 
 
 jewels, silver, and good household stuff, ia 
 privies, wells, and pits digged in the ground. 
 
 A fter the Earl's departure the same day, they 
 threw fire upon the tops cf the houses, which 
 flew from house to house with fearful flames, 
 and in a small time consumed great part of 
 the city; for all the houses in Holmesireet were 
 consumed with fire on both sides thereof, with 
 St. Giles's hospital, which was dedicated to 
 the relief and maintenance of the diseased poor; 
 Jfrs/top-gates, Magdalen, Pockihorp, Berstreet- 
 gates, and divers other buildings in many places 
 were burnt; and had not the clouds by God's 
 special providence commiserated the city's 
 calamity, and melting into tears quenched the 
 flames, the whole city had been laid in ashes, 
 for the plenty of rain that fell then, in a great 
 measure quenched the fire. The rebels entered 
 the houses of such as were known to be wealthy, 
 and thoroughly rifled them; in short, the state 
 of the city was as miserable as can be expressed. 
 
 The mayor's deputy would not leave the city, 
 but kept in his house, not daring to stir out, 
 or attempt to stay them; and now another 
 band brake in at St. Martins-gates, and armed 
 with clubs and such weapons as they could 
 get, attempted to break open the deputy's 
 house, and at last began to fire the door; upon 
 which, being alone, his servants having fled 
 from him, he opened it, and they immediately
 
 55 
 
 seized him, plucked off his gown, (which he 
 used at that time,) calling him REBEL, threat- 
 ening him with a most shameful death, if he 
 did not tell them where the Marquis of North- 
 ampton was hid; and though he positively 
 assured them that he and all his company 
 were gone, they ransacked every hole in the 
 house, and taking what they found, went their 
 way, laden with the spoil : but yet many of 
 them, partly pacified for a piece of money and 
 other things which they received of the deputy, 
 and partly reproved for these wrongs, by some 
 of credit among them, brought again such 
 packs and burthens, as they had trussed up, 
 and threw them into the shops of those houses 
 out of which they had taken them before. 
 Nevertheless, many were spoiled of all they 
 had, by the rebels entering their houses, under 
 pretence of seeking for the Marquis's men. 
 But the houses of those that fled were quite 
 ransacked, for they called them traitors^ and 
 enemies to their King and country, that had 
 thus forsaken their houses in such time of 
 necessity. Now somje of the citizens ordering 
 the furious multitude bread and drink, and all 
 kind of victuals, the hungry wretches were 
 somewhat appeased : but yet many sustained 
 such injury, and were overcharged with such 
 great expences, that as long as they lived, 
 they were forced to fare the worse for it in 
 their household affairs.
 
 56 
 
 The rebels by this time reduced from such 
 extreme violence, began to think of their own 
 safety, and commanded the deputy and chief 
 of the city that were left in it, that watch and 
 ward should be hourly kept at the gates and 
 vails by the citizens themselves, threatening 
 them with death if they omitted it. Moreover, 
 whenever it rained, they would kennel up 
 themselves in the churches, abusing those holy 
 places appointed for God's service and worship, 
 with all manner of vile profanations. 
 
 And thus things continued till the 24/7* of 
 August, being St. Bartholomew's day, when 
 JOHN DUDLEY Earl of WARWICK, by the King's 
 command, with a good force of soldiers raised 
 in Lincolnshire and other shires of the kingdom, 
 and also a good number of Switzers, which 
 had been purposely provided for the Scotch 
 war, entered Norwich* 
 
 For his Majesty perceived, they were got to 
 such a head, that without a main army, guided 
 by a general of experience and conduct, it 
 would be very hard to subdue them: and there- 
 fore this Earl, who was, just appointed to go 
 into Scotland against the French and Scots, 
 was sent hither, whose manhood, courage and 
 experience in all warlike enterprises had been 
 
 * In die Sci. BartMomei Apostoli, the noble Erele of WARWYK 
 entryd Nortaiche, by force against the retels, and specially that 
 tray tor Kelt, and so lie kept the said cyte under the King, 1549. 
 E Libro Albo in Calendario, Ibidem.
 
 57 
 
 sufficiently tried and known, it being thought, 
 if he could not suppress them, nobody could. 
 
 The Earl then, his army being ready, marched 
 to Cambridge, where the Marquis of Northamp- 
 ton, desirous to be revenged for his late repulse, 
 met him, being resolved to attend him, and 
 try whether he could be more fortunate in 
 following, than he had been in leading, and 
 with him were many other gentlemen, with divers 
 of the principal citizens of Norwich, the Lords 
 Willoughby, Poives, and Stay, Ambrose Dudley, 
 then son to, and afterward Earl of Warwick, 
 and Rob. Dudley his brother, afterwards Earl 
 of Leicester, Henry Willoughby, Esq. Sir Tho. 
 Gresham, Sir Marmaduke Constable, Will. De- 
 vereux, son to the Lord Ferrers of Cherlsey, 
 Sir Edm. Knevet, Sir Tho. Palmer, Sir Andrew 
 Flammock, and many other knights, squires, and 
 gentlemen, who all tried their manhood, and 
 behaved gallantly when time and occasion was 
 given them. 
 
 The citizens meeting the Earl at the entrance 
 of Cambridge, fell upon their knees at his feet, 
 and weeping, earnestly entreated him to lay 
 nothing to their charge, for they and all the 
 chief of the city, were innocent, and guilty of 
 no crime; yet. they besought his favour aud 
 mercy, for they had verily conceived incredible 
 grief for this miserable destruction and spoil 
 of their city and country, and had further en-
 
 58 
 
 dured all extremity at the rebels hands, being 
 obliged, for safely of their lives to fly the city, 
 out of which they were forced by fire arid 
 sword, from their wives, children, and all their 
 friends; and in this so great misery, they had 
 this only to crave, that if in this common and 
 exceeding fear, through ignorance or folly, they 
 had unknowingly committed any offence, the 
 same might not be imputed to them, but upon 
 this their humble petition and repentance, it 
 might be pardoned. 
 
 The Earl answered that he perceived how 
 great peril they were in, and that without 
 doubt great was the strength of those desperate 
 men, who had driven them from all things as 
 dear to them as life itself: affirming they had 
 done nothing amiss to his knowledge, for in 
 that they left the city, compelled by fear and 
 such imminent danger, it was only an infirmity 
 easily excusable. Notwithstanding, in one 
 thing, he said, he imagined they were some- 
 what overseen, that they did not withstand 
 resolutely those evils at the very beginning, 
 for he supposed a few valiant and wise men 
 might have dispatched those companies in a 
 moment, if they had attacked them resolutely 
 at the first rise. 
 
 And now granting them all pardon, and as- 
 suring them of the King's favour, he commanded 
 them to furni&h themselves with armour and
 
 59 
 
 Weapons, and march forth with the army, 
 wearing certain laces or ribands about their 
 necks, to distinguish them from others. 
 
 The Earl marched directly from hence to 
 Windham, and got thither on the 22nd day of 
 August, and as he came along, the most part 
 of the Norfolk gentlemen, that were not impri- 
 soned by the rebels, came to him, with which 
 he was exceedingly pleased. 
 
 On the 23rd day of August, he showed him- 
 self upon the plain between Noriuich and 
 Eaton wood, and lodged that night at Sir Tho. 
 Gres ham's seat at Intwood, about two miles 
 from Morwich: on this plain the army rested 
 that day and night, the men being all the while 
 ready armed for battle, least the enemy should 
 raise any sudden tumult, for they plainly per- 
 ceived them in the walls and towers, endea- 
 vouring to make what defence they could. 
 
 While the army laid here, the Earl sent the 
 aforesaid Norroy to summon the city, either 
 to open the gates that he might quietly enter, 
 or else look for war and a forcible assault, and 
 such a reward as rebels deserve. 
 
 All this time Kelt had been getting what 
 power he could together, and consulting how 
 to defend himself and his rascally crew; and 
 when he was informed the herald was at the 
 gates, he obliged Augustine Steward^ the mayor's 
 deputy, and Robert Rugg, who was mayor the 
 
 H
 
 60 
 
 next year, as two of the chiefest citizens, to go 
 to him and know his errand; these being let 
 out at Brazen-Door, and hearing his message, 
 answered, " that they believed they were the 
 " miserablest men then living, having suffered 
 " such calamities as they could not but trem- 
 " ble at the remembrance of, and that now 
 " they could not fulfill their loialty to their 
 " prince, which brought them into the unhappy 
 * 6 dilemma of either loosing their lives, or their 
 " good name, but hoped his Majesty would 
 " pardon them, as they had not consented to 
 " any thing of this rebellion; but with loss of 
 " goods, and peril of life, as far as it was in 
 84 their power, had done their utmost to keep 
 " the citizens in good order and dutiful obe- 
 " dience. But one thing more they humbly 
 " requested of my Lord Warwick, that whereas 
 " there were great numbers of Kett's army poor 
 " and naked, running about the city without 
 " armour or weapon, which seemed as if they 
 " were weary of their doings, that it would 
 " please him once more to offer them the 
 " King's pardon, and they hoped it would be 
 " gladly accepted, that so any more bloodshed 
 " might be avoided." Norroy returned to the 
 Earl, who fearing least the rebels should murder 
 the gentlemen they had in prison, if they came 
 to a battle, resolved to try this way, and sent 
 Norroy again, with a trumpet, to offer them a
 
 61 
 
 general pardoti, who entering the city, met with 
 about 40 of the rebels on horseback, and riding 
 two and two together very pleasant and merry, 
 they passed from St. Stephens-gate, where he 
 entered, unto Uis/iop-gate: the trumpeter there 
 sounded, upon which the rebels flocked down 
 the hill, and the horsemen ran swiftly to them, 
 commanding them to divide themselves, and 
 stand in order on either side of the way, and 
 as Norroy and the trumpeter, with two of the 
 chief citizens, entered between them, they were 
 received on every side with great shouts and 
 outcries, for every one uncovering their heads as 
 it were with one mouth and consent, cried out, 
 * GOD save King EDWARD, GOD save King 
 ' EDWARD I' Norroy and the two citizens highly 
 commended them for so doing, desiring them 
 to keep place and order, as they were com- 
 manded by their own men, which they did for 
 a while: Norroy having got to the top of the 
 hill, with his coat of arms on, as solemn ensigns 
 of his office, stayed awhile for Ketl, who was 
 not yet come ; and at last he began to remind 
 them of the King's gracious goodness, who had 
 several times by heralds and others promised 
 them pardon, if they would return to their 
 obedience, all which they had refused, and 
 despised his messengers; he willed them to 
 consider into what misery and decay they had 
 brought that commonwealth, the good of which
 
 62 
 
 was so often in their mouths, and then discours- 
 ing of their horrible murders, riots, burnings, 
 and other crimes, he desired them to consider 
 into what abundant mischiefs they had brought 
 themselves, and what they must expect from 
 the vrrath of GOD, and the King's army, now 
 ready to execute it, and which they could not 
 withstand, if they did not now accept of the 
 King's gracious pardon, which he then by him 
 offered to them all, assuring them that he had 
 sent the Right Honourable the Earl of War- 
 wick, a man of noble fame and approved valiancy, 
 as his Lieutenant General, to persecute them 
 with fire and sword, and not to desist till he 
 had utterly subdued them, and revenged him 
 on them for all their treasons and wickednesses, 
 and he also told them, that the Earl designed 
 to offer them pardon no more, if they now re- 
 fused it. 
 
 Many of them were now touched with re- 
 morse, and began to fear the event of things, 
 but the greater part were much offended at 
 Uorroy's speech, and began to prate that he 
 was not the King's herald, but one set out by 
 the gentlemen in such a gay cpat, made of church 
 vestments* and things taken thence, to deceive 
 them, under notion of pardon, and therefore it 
 would be well done either to thrust him through 
 
 * This shows that the havock made of the chnrcb ornamnt 
 was one thing that offended greatly the populace.
 
 63 
 
 with an arrow, or hang him up; others at the 
 same time seemed to reverence him, and divers 
 that had served in Scotland, and at Uulloign, 
 assured their fellows that he was the King's 
 herald indeed ; upon whicb they pretended no 
 more to offer him any injury, though they then 
 said, instead of pardon, there was nothing pre- 
 pared for them but a barrel full of halters. 
 Norroy departing thence, and Kelt with him, 
 came to another place, and because the multi- 
 tude was so great that he could not be heard 
 by all from one place, he again made the same 
 proclamation; before the end of which, a vile 
 boy turned up his bare buttocks to him, with 
 words as unseemly as his gesture was filthy, 
 in reproach of his Majesty and his officer; 
 which so moved one of the King's friends, (for 
 some were come over the water to view things,) 
 that he directly shot the boy through the body, 
 upon the spot. Which when the rebels saw, a 
 dozen of them came riding furiously out of the 
 wood, crying, " Wee are betraied friends! wee 
 " are betraied; if you look not about you: doo 
 " you not see how our fellows are slaine with 
 " guns before our faces? this Jierald goeth about 
 ** nothing else but to bring us in danger of 
 " some ambush, that the gentlemen may kill 
 " and beat us all down at his pleasure." And 
 thereupon they all shrank away and fled as if 
 they had been out of their wits. Nevertheless
 
 64 
 
 the chief leader, Robert Kett, accompanied 
 JVorroy, designing, as was said, to have gone 
 himself to the Earl of Warwick, and to have 
 talked with him; but now when they were 
 come almost to the bottom of the hill, a multi- 
 tude of the rebels came running, and crying to 
 him, asking him whither he went, " we are 
 " ready (said they) to take such part as you 
 *' do, be it never so bad," assuring him they 
 would stand by him both in life and death, and 
 that if he went any further, they would surely 
 follow him. Upon which Norroy desired Kelt 
 to return with them into the camp, which he 
 did, and they went back with him much 
 appeased. 
 
 In the mean time, as the army laid before 
 the city towards the south, came down certain 
 to view it, and with them came both the mayor 
 and Thomas Aldrich, (who by policy were let 
 out of the gate,) repairing to the Earl, and 
 craving pardon, which they obtained, and were 
 appointed to remain with them ; now the Earl 
 seeing nothing would avail but force, brought 
 his army to St. Stephen Vgates, which the rebels 
 had stopped up, and let down the portcullis, 
 wherefore he commanded the master gunner to 
 plant the ordnance, and beat down the gate for 
 the soldiers to enter by; which while thej 
 were doing, the deputy informed the Earl, that 
 not far off was a postern-gate, called the Brazen-
 
 65 
 
 /)oor, which though the enemy had fastened 
 with great beams, and pieces of timber, and 
 rampired up with earth and stones, might very 
 easily be broke open ; upon which the pioneers 
 are sent for, who immediately opened it, and 
 there the Earl's forces first entered, and slew 
 those rebels that stood to defend it, and made 
 the enemy retreat from thence; and in the 
 interim, the master gunner had broken the 
 portcullis of St. Stephen Vgates, and battered 
 them half down, and the soldiers had made 
 several breaches in the walls, between St. Ste- 
 plien's and St. Giles' s-gutes, to enter by;* at 
 these places the Marquis of Northampton, and 
 Captain Drury, alias Poignard, a man of great 
 valour, entered with their bands, and slew and 
 wounded so many of their enemies, that the 
 rest retired hastily to their camp; and by this 
 time, by the good management of the deputy, 
 St. Bennet or Westtvick-gates were set wide 
 open, through which the Earl of Warwick him- 
 self and his main army entered, and came into 
 
 the market-place, without any resistance; here 
 they took sixty of the rebels, and erecting a 
 gallows by the Cross, hung them up; then the 
 Earl presently commanded proclamation to be 
 made through the whole city, that all the inha- 
 bitants should keep within, having their shops 
 
 * To a matin stoppyng in certain holes in the walls between 
 St. Stephen's and St. Gylys's-gates, which ware broken open at 
 my Lord of WARWICK* coinyng &c. Conip. Camerar.
 
 and doors fast barred, on pain of death : which 
 was obeyed by all, except the son of one \Vasey, 
 a cobbler, who with two or three more, were 
 found in the market-place, and hanged up for 
 their folly: this was wisely done, for thus the 
 Earl knew who were concerned in the rebellion, 
 and who not. Upon this many came and ob- 
 tained pardon, and as they were commanded, 
 barred np themselves, and thought they were 
 well off. The Earl finding the market-place 
 very spacious, made it his head quarters.* 
 
 All this while, the carriages belonging to the 
 army were entering at St. Sennet Vgates, and 
 for want of order being given to the drivers 
 where to stop, they ignorantly went through 
 the whole city out at Bishop-g&tes, directly 
 toward the enemy's camp at Moushold, which 
 the rebels seeing, came down, seized on them, 
 and carried them laden with guns, powder, and 
 other ammunition, into their camp, greatly re-^ 
 joicing, because they had no store of such 
 things among them. However, Captain Drury 
 corning up with his band, in good time, fortu- 
 
 * Payd in the tyme of my Lord of WARWICK'S being in the cite. 
 For 2 C iij qrs. and ij li, of lede, deliver'd the 1st night to the 
 master of the ordenance to make gunshotte, for so raoche as the 
 ahoUe of dyverse peces ware taken by the rebels, that first night, 
 xv*. iijrf. 
 
 For free-stone to make moulds and shot, and for wood and a 
 styll to melt their lede. iij*. 
 
 For a peee of tymbyr and makyng a payer of gallows at the 
 CROSSE, viijr/. 
 
 For xvj li. candle brente about the cross in tlie market the 
 iiij fyrst nyghts, ijs. iiijd. Comp. Cam.
 
 67 
 
 nately recovered some of the carts, not without 
 slaughter on either side.* 
 
 The rebels being not yet fully driven out of 
 the city; began to form a sort of camp on 
 Tombland, and to lay wait in the lanes and 
 cross streets, with intent to kill the Earl's men 
 unawares, who by reason of the spaciousness 
 of the city, were ignorant of the ways; some 
 of them stood at St. Michael's at Plea, others 
 at St. Simon's, others at St. Peter's of Hungate, 
 and others in Winier's-street by St. Andrew's 
 church, ready for battle ; and setting upon some 
 of the Earl's men, slew three or four gentlemen, 
 before any help could come; news being car- 
 ried of it to the Earl in the maiket-place, he 
 passed forward out of the market by St. John's 
 of Maddermarket church, and turned into Wimer 
 or St. Andrew 1 s-street, with the main body of 
 his forces, and when they were got to St. An- 
 drew's church, the enemy let fly a cloud of 
 arrows, but Captain Drury came a second time 
 very opportunely with his band of harqite- 
 busiers,^ young men of excellent courage and 
 skill, who paid them so home with such a 
 terrible volley of shot, that they fled in a 
 moment, leaving 130 of their companions dead 
 on the spot, and divers of them being found 
 
 * Paid to a surgeon for helyng of certen ef Capt. Drury's men, 
 which ware hurt at Bishops-gate, the same night that my Lord 
 f Warwyk enter'd the cyte, xxxiijt. iiijrf. 
 
 t IJareytcbmts is a musket or lir.nd gun. 
 
 I
 
 68 
 
 creeping in the churchyards, were taken and 
 executed; all the rest fled to their camp, and 
 the city was quite rid of them, to the great 
 comfort of the inhabitants. 
 
 The Earl now began to give order to fortify 
 the city, furnished the walls with soldiers and 
 other munition, fit to repulse an enemy, placed 
 a guard of armed soldiers in every street, blocked 
 and rampired up all the gates, decayed walls, &c. 
 except those next the enemy,* and out of 
 .BzVjop-gate he placed great ordnance readj 
 charged, to be conveyed next day to Moushold. 
 
 But the rebels understanding the Earl wanted 
 powder and other things belonging to the great 
 ordnance, and seeing the Welchmen who were 
 appointed to guard the artillery were few in 
 number, and not able to resist any sudden 
 force that should come down the hill upon 
 them, they rushed altogether from the hill, 
 attacked the guards, who, astonished at such 
 an onset, were compelled by force to flee and 
 leave the artillery a prey to the enemies, all 
 which they carried into their camp; one Miles, 
 a skilful gunner and bold rebel, watching his 
 opportunity, shot the King's master gunner 
 through the head, in this skirmish; this was a 
 matter of great importance, for now the rebels 
 were furnished with those very instruments of 
 war that the Earl wanted, and Ketl's gunners 
 
 * Viz. Riihop, Pockthorp, and Magdalen-gatei.
 
 were continually discharging the cannons upon 
 the city, and those iron balls, which they had 
 taken, battered it most grievously, many being 
 slain with the shot, great part of the wall and 
 the tower on Bishop-gates were beat down; 
 and bad it not been (by God's providence) that 
 t\\egunners were rash and ignorant, and levelled 
 their ordnance too high, considering the hill 
 they stood on, the city had been beating down 
 to the ground in a short time; but greater had 
 this day's loss been, if Captain Drury by his 
 valour, and slaughter of his men, had not put 
 the rebels to flight, and by chasing them, re- 
 covered the greatest part of the provision they 
 drove away. After this, Warwick rampired 
 up all the gates,* placed armed guards at every 
 corner and passage in the streets, brake down 
 White Friars bridge to stop all communication 
 that way,-j- appointed the Lord Willougbby, 
 with a great number of soldiers, to defend 
 J3*sA0j9-gate and that part of the city, and so 
 provided against any sudden assault, and cut 
 off all communication with the enemy. But 
 notwithstanding this, 
 
 The next day, being the 25<A of August, the 
 rebels passed the river at Consford, burnt the 
 
 * Payd for ramparyng of gates, streets, and lanes, dycki, and 
 about stanching the fyr in Conyford, &c. Comp. Cam. 
 
 t Least the rebels should attempt to enter ou the north side of 
 the city, this bridge was broke down, to stop their going any 
 further it they entered, and the other bridges were veil guarded. 
 Norw. Roll.
 
 70 
 
 / 
 
 most part of all the houses of two parishes, 
 and many in the neighbouring ones, with all 
 the granaries at the common staithe* which, 
 with the corn and other merchandises, there 
 laid in readiness to send for exportation at 
 Yarmouth^ were quite consumed ; the rebels 
 intending either thus to burn the whole city, 
 or if the Earl's forces had gone to extinguish 
 the fire, then to have cast down (he rampires, 
 and opened the gates, and so to have distressed 
 the scattered forces; but the Earl dreading it, 
 let the fire go on till the citizens extinguished 
 it, after, an incredible damage. 
 
 Things falling thus unfortunately on the 
 JEarrs side, there were some in the EarVs army, 
 who despairing of success, began to persuade 
 him, that since the city was large, the walls 
 and gates broken and burnt down, and their 
 number of soldiers but few, (for as yet the 
 appointed number, neither of English nor 
 foreign forces were come,) that he would leave 
 the city ; the Earl being of a noble courage, 
 and not able to bear the least spot of reproach, 
 or lose the least honour, smartly answered, 
 " Whie! and do your hearts fail you so soon? 
 " or are you so mad withall to think, that so 
 " long as life is in me I will consent to such 
 " dishonour? should I leave the city heaping 
 
 * Payd ij men that ctrryed the cyte crome to the commeo 
 itathe when that was on fyer iiijrf. Comp. Cainr,
 
 71 
 
 " up to myself and likewise to you, such shame 
 " and reproof as worthily might be reputed 
 " to us an infamy for ever? I will rather suffer 
 " whatever fire or sword can work against me; M 
 and drawing his sword, the rest of the nobles 
 with him did the same, then he commanded 
 them to kiss one anothers swords, according 
 to an ancient custom used in war, in time of 
 great danger, and herewiih they made a solemn 
 vow, and bound it with an oath, never to leave 
 the city till they had either vanquished the 
 rebels or died in the fight manfully, for the 
 honour of their King and country. 
 
 While this was doing, the rebels brake into 
 the city on the north side, between Magdalen 
 and P0cAtf/*0rp-gates, where they were not sus- 
 pected, but were repulsed by the soldiers, so 
 that they run headlong back again, many being 
 wounded, and several fell down and were slain, 
 but not without the loss on the JSarl's side of 
 Mr. George Hastyngs, three of Captain Drury's 
 gunners, and another gentleman, who were all 
 buried at St. Martin's on the Plain, as were 
 six others on the same day, in Mr. Spencer's 
 garden, as that parish register informs us, 
 (xxvj. Aug. 1549.) 
 
 The next day, being the 26*7* of Aug. 1400 
 Sivitzers, good and valiant soldiers, came from 
 London and entered Norwich, and were received 
 by the Earl's forces, with many vollies of shot
 
 73 
 
 for joy; they being divided by parishes, were 
 liberally invited, and courteously entertained 
 by the citizens, as the soldiers were, the whole 
 time; the hearts of the people being revived, 
 and the rebels confounded with fear, at this 
 doubtful knowledge of their future overthrow. 
 However, being ascertained that the next day 
 they must fight it out, trusting to certain vain 
 prophecies and superstitious rhymes that they 
 had among them, which were rung in their 
 ars every hour; as, 
 
 The country gnofies, Hob, Dick,&nd Hick, 
 
 With clubs and clowted shoon, 
 
 Shall fill the vale, 
 
 Of Dnssins Dale, 
 
 With slaughter'd bodies soon. 
 
 Aud this, 
 
 The heedless men, within the Dale. 
 Shall there be slain, both great and smale. 
 
 Such was their preposterous stupidity, in 
 applying these equivocating prophecies to their 
 delusion, that believing Dwsin's Dale must 
 make a large and soft pillow for death to rest on, 
 Tainly apprehended themselves the upholsters to 
 make, who proved only the stiffing to fill the 
 same; fed therefore with this vain belief, they
 
 73 
 
 forsook that advantageous hill, that in a great 
 measure had enabled them by its situation to 
 do the damage that they had done, and where 
 the EarVs horsemen would have been of little 
 service: trusting in these follies for success, 
 and resolving to end the matter before famine 
 obliged them to disperse, for the Earl had so 
 stopped up the passages that no victuals could 
 come to their camp, and the want thereof began 
 already to pinch them, they fired all their cabins, 
 huts, and tents, which they had bail! of timber 
 and bushes upon the hills, which almost dark* 
 ened the sky with smoak, and with 20 ancient* 
 and ensigns of war, inarched for the adjacent 
 valley called by that name,* and there presently 
 intrenched themselves, threw a ditch cross the 
 high ways, and cut off all passage, pitching 
 their javelins and stakes in the ground before 
 them. 
 
 The Earl of Warwick perceiving their doings, 
 the next day, being the 27<A of August, setting 
 his army in order, he marched out at Coslany, 
 now St. Martin's at the Oak gates, with the 
 Marquis of Northampton, Willoughby, Powes, 
 Bray, Ambrose Dudley, and the other noble and 
 valiant gentlemen, a very choice company, the 
 Almains, with Captain Drury's band, and all 
 the horsemen, marching directly against the 
 
 * A snake sprang out of a rotten hollow tree directly int 
 KetCs wife'* bosom, which much frightened him, be taking it a* 
 a bad sign. Nevile.
 
 74 
 
 enemy. Yet before the army eame in sight of* 
 the rebels, Sir JEdm. Knevet, and Sir Tho. Palmer > 
 K.nts. were sent to acquaint them, that such 
 was the incredible mercy of the KING, that if 
 they would still repent and lay down arms, he 
 would freely grant his PARDON to all except 
 one or two of them; but all refused it. Upon 
 which, the Earl having given orders to both 
 horse and foot, gave the sign to begin the 
 battle; the rebels perceiving the attack coming, 
 placed all their gentlemen prisoners, bound with 
 fetters, and chained together, in the front of 
 the battle, to the end they might be killed by 
 their own friends, who came to seek their deli- 
 verance ; but now, though it be true as David 
 saith, that The sword devour eth one as well as 
 another* yet so discreetly did Captain Drury 
 charge the van of the rebels, that most of those 
 innocent prisoners escaped. Miles, the rebels 
 master gunner, levelled a cannon, and dis- 
 charging it) struck the King's standard bearer 
 through the thigh with an iron bullet, and the 
 horse he rode on through the shoulder, so that 
 both died, which so vexed the Earl and exas- 
 perated his army, that he caused a whole 
 volley of artillery to be shot off at the rebels; 
 and herewith Captain Drury, with his own 
 band, and the Abnains or lance king/its (call 
 them which you will) being oil foot, getting 
 
 * II. Sam. xi. XT,
 
 75 
 
 near the enemies, saluted them so severely 
 with their harquebut shot, and thrust forward 
 upon them with their pikes so strongly, that 
 they brake their ranks asunder, by which 
 means the gentlemen prisoners shrank on one 
 side, and most escaped their intended danger, 
 though some few were slain by the Almains, 
 and others, that knew not who they were. 
 The Earl's light horsemen by this means came 
 in so roundly, that the rebels, not able to abide 
 their valiant charge, were put to flight, and 
 ran away like a flock of sheep, and with the 
 foremost their grand captain, ROBERT KETT, 
 gallopped away as fast as his horse could carry 
 him; the horsemen that chased, slew them in 
 heaps, as fast as they overtook them, so that 
 the chase continuing for three or four miles, 
 there were slain at least three thousand five 
 hundred, besides a great number that were 
 wounded as they fled, seeking to escape out of 
 danger. Thus, as Fuller says, rage was con- 
 quered by courage, rebellion by loyalty, and 
 number by valour. Yet one part of them, the 
 last litter of Kelt's kennel, that had not been 
 assailed at the first onset, seeing such slaughter 
 made of their fellows, kept their ground by 
 their ordnance, determining, as men desperate, 
 not to die unrevenged, but to fight it out till 
 the last; they were so enclosed with their 
 carts, carriages, and trenches they had cast up, 
 
 I
 
 7<5 
 
 that it had been something dangerous to hare 
 assailed them within their strength. The Karl 
 being merciful, a sure token of true bravery, 
 sent Norroy with promise of PARDON of life, if 
 they would lay down their weapons, if not, he 
 would destroy everyone of them ; they answered, 
 that could they be sure of their lives, they would 
 willingly do it, but took it only as a stratagem 
 to get them into the gentlemen's hands, who, 
 they well knew, would hang them all. Upon 
 which, the Earl gets his army into battle array 
 against them, and just before the onset sent to 
 know whether, if he came himself and assured 
 them of PARDON, they would submit: to which 
 they presently answered, they had such confi- 
 dence in his honour, that if he would promise 
 them the KING'S PARDON, they would in an 
 instant lay down their arms, and rely on his 
 and the King's mercy. Upon which he went 
 directly to them, ordered Norroy to read the 
 King's commission openly on the spot, because 
 therein was pardon promised by the KING, to 
 all that would lay down their weapons: which 
 being heard, they all thankfully cried, " God 
 save King EDWARD ! God save King EDWARD !" 
 And so by the EarVs wisdom and compassion, 
 Were many saved and more bloodshed avoided. 
 The battle being ended, all the prey the same 
 day was given to the soldiers, and openly sold 
 in the market-place.
 
 77 
 
 Thus were the rebels subdued by the valiant 
 Earl of Wanvick, and the other nobles and 
 gentlemen of the country, but not without loss 
 of divers worthy persons, both gentlemen, and 
 some of the chief citizens, in the heat of the 
 fight, besides abundance of the meaner sort, 
 namely, Henry Willoughby, Esq. of \Villoughby 
 in Nottinghamshire, son of Sir Edw. Willoughby 
 of the same, and father of Francis IVilloughby 
 of Wollerton in the said county; a man so well 
 beloved in his country, for his liberal housekeep- 
 ing, great courtesy, upright deal ing, assu red sted- 
 fastness in friendship, and modest behaviour, 
 that the country where he lived lamented his 
 loss exceedingly. There fell also, Master Lucie, 
 Esq. Giles Forster, Esq. and Master Throck- 
 morton, gentlemen of no small worship in their 
 countries, with Henry Wilby, Esq. Thomas 
 Lynsye, Esq. and many others; four of these 
 were buried in the chancel of St. Simon and 
 Jude's church, according to that parish re- 
 gister; in which I read thus, 
 
 " HENRY WYLBY of Middilton-Hatt in the 
 county of Warwick, Esq. 
 
 " GILES FOSTER of Temple- Balsall in the 
 same county, Esq. 
 
 " THOMAS LYNSYE of Charlecot in the same 
 county, Esq. 
 
 " LUSONN (or Lucie} of- besids 
 
 Northampton, Esq.
 
 78 
 
 " Thes 4 esquires were slayne in the King's 
 " army one Mushould-heath the Teicesday being 
 " the xxvij te> daye oi August 1549, An tercio 
 " EDWARDI Sexti, and were all buryed in the 
 " chauncell of this church in one grave." 
 
 The remaining rebels that submitted, and all 
 those that were brought in prisoners, (which 
 were very many,) to keep them from making 
 head again, were confined this night under 
 guards of soldiers in the public buildings, and 
 some churches of the city, by the provident 
 command of the Earl, in order to receive judg- 
 ment, and have their jines and amerciaments set 
 on them for their heinous offences.* 
 
 The next day, being Aug. 28, tidings was 
 brought the Earl, that the arch-rebel KETT, 
 had rode so fast, that his horse tired, and fell 
 down in the flight, and that creeping into a 
 barn of one Mr. Richer s of Swannington, two 
 of his servants seized him, and carried him into 
 their masters house, who kept him there in 
 hold, for his Lordship; upon which, the Earl 
 tsent 20 horsemen immediately and brought 
 him to Norwich: and the same day, the Earl, 
 and others sat in judgment at the Castle, taking 
 
 * Two barrel* of bere drank at the cross in the market, 
 amongst the soldiers as they came home out of the feld after 
 that was one, xijf. 
 
 IxtM, guf in re ward e to Mr. Norroy, Harward at armys with 
 my Lord the Earl of Warwick iij/. vj*. viijrf. 
 
 ITEM, to Mr. Blewiuantyl, Harward xlf. and to two trompeeters 
 the same tyme iiij./i. Comp. Cam.
 
 79 
 
 Examinations to find who were the principal 
 beginners and promoters of this unhappy rebel- 
 lion: and divers being found guilty, nine of 
 the principals (the two KETTS excepted) were 
 executed upon the oak of reformation, whirh 
 never till then deserved that name; among 
 which were two of their prophets, Bishop 
 Hug<r* and Wilse, and Miles the cunning can- 
 noneer, who was much lamented, because re- 
 morse kept him from doing much mischief to 
 the city, which his cunning enabled him to 
 have done, being hanged, drawn, and quartered, 
 (the usual death of traitors,} in this manner, 
 they were first hanged up, then presently cut 
 down, and falling on the earth, their privities 
 -were cut off, then their bowels pulled out 
 alive, and cast into a fire, their heads cut off, 
 and their bodies quartered; their heads being 
 fixed on the tops of the city towers, and their 
 quarters hung on the gates and other public 
 places, for a terror to others; 30 were hanged, 
 drawn, and quartered at the gallon's out of 
 Magdalen-gates in all about 300 were executed, 
 of which 49 suffered in like manner at the gal- 
 lon's by the cross in the market.'}" 
 
 The gentlemen who had been thus misused, 
 
 * They nicknamed him bishop, because he was of the same name 
 with William Kugg, then Bishop of Norwich. 
 
 t Paid for the charges of beryen xlix men that war hanpyd at 
 the cross iu the market] for makyng pytts and caryeng to them 
 iij*. iiijrf. Cornp. Cam.
 
 80 
 
 endeavoured to stir up the Earl to execute a 
 greater number of them, and constrained him 
 to say openly, 
 
 " There must be measure kept in all things, 
 " and especially in punishment with death, 
 " we ought to beware that we do not exceed : 
 " I know well such wicked doings deserve no 
 " small revenge; and that the offenders are 
 " worthy to be most sharply chastised: but 
 " jet how far shall we go? shall we not at last 
 " shew some mercy? is there no place for 
 " pardon? what shall we then do? shall we 
 " hold the plow our selves? and harrow our 
 " own lands?" 
 
 Now when information was laid against 
 some of the chief rebels that surrendered to 
 the Earl, that they were busy ringleaders, and 
 some of the worst of them, and therefore ought 
 to suffer; upon Norroy's telling him, that on 
 the offer of pardon they first submitted, he de- 
 clared, that none to whom he had given his 
 promise of pardon should suffer. And this 
 night the bodies of the slain were buried, least 
 their smell should breed an infection. 
 
 On the day following, being the 29th of Au- 
 gust, the Earl, Lords, and gentlemen, with the 
 citizens, repaired to the church of St. Peter's 
 Mancroft, and gave praises and thanks to God 
 for their late success; and it was resolved that 
 the 21th of August should be annually set
 
 81 
 
 apart as a day of thanksgiving in this city, for 
 their great deliverance; which is entered in 
 their city book in this manner: " Be it remem- 
 " bred, that by the poure of allmightie GOD, 
 " and of our .sovereign Lord the King's Ma- 
 " jestie K. E. VI. In sending down the noble 
 *' Erl of WARWIKE his Graces Lytutenant with 
 " other NOBILLS, and men of worshipp, with, 
 " his majesties poure into this worshipfull cittie, 
 " and by the goodness of GOD upon the 27/* 
 " August, A. D. 1549. The said Erl, &c. 
 " uppon Musholde-Hetlie vanequyshed Rob. 
 " Kette, and all his hool nomber of adherents 
 " of their most wicked rebellion, and ded sup- 
 " presse them, and delivered this cittie from 
 " the great daunger, trouble, and peril it was 
 *' in, like to have been lost for ever. 
 
 " Wherefore by the good advyce of the Lord 
 " Thomas (Thirlby) now Bishop of Norwich* 
 " with the assent of the mayor, shereves, &c. it 
 " is ordeyned and enacted, that from hence- 
 *' forth for ever, upon the 21th of August 
 " yerely,* for the benefyte that we obteyned 
 
 To Mr. Rob. Kent, for preaching a SERMON on the 27M day 
 f Aug. in remembrance of the overthrow of KET and his con- 
 federates, 6s. Kd. 
 
 1655, Mr. Whilefoot preached. 
 
 1658, Mr. Snowden. 
 
 1660, Mr. Geo. Cock. 
 
 1667, Ordered the sword-bearer to acquaint Mr. Cock, minister of 
 St. Peter's of Mancroft, that Tuesday next is the day of election 
 of SHERIFFS, and also the anniversary for a thanksgiving for the 
 deliverance of this city, from Ket's rebellion, and that (if he pleases) 
 there may be mention of it in his sermon, or otherwise. 
 
 Cur. 21 Aug. ordered that the ward officers do give notice to
 
 82 
 
 " for onr delyveraunce that day, the mayor for 
 " the time being, shall commaunde his officers 
 " to gyve warnyng to every inhabitant in ther 
 " ward to sper and shut in their shoppes; and 
 " both man, woman, and child, to repaire to 
 " their parish churches, after they have rong 
 " in, at the houre of seven of the clokke in 
 " the morning, there to remayn in supplication, 
 " &c. and heryng divine service, and to gyve 
 " humble thankes to God, and pray for the 
 " King hartely, for that delivery of this cittie, 
 " &c. And the servyce once doon, that every 
 " parish ring a solempne peall with all there 
 " belles, to the laud and praise of GOD, and 
 " the great rejoycing of the peopull for ever, 
 " and so to departe every man to his occupa- 
 " tion or busynes, &c. GOD SAVE THE KING." 
 The citizens, filled with no less joy than the 
 Jews when they had escaped the sword of 
 wicked Hainan* unanimously extolled War- 
 wick for his great courage, attributing to his 
 wisdom and good conduct the preservation of 
 their lives and families, and all their posses- 
 
 the SHERIFFS and ALDERMEN, and also to the LIVERY of this city, 
 that th-y do wait upon the Stcord at the New-hall, on Friday next 
 in the morn' to perform what their ancestors enacted by common 
 conncil, in repairing to the CATHEDRAL, to give GOD thanks for 
 the deliverance of this city from Ket's rebellion, and Mr. Tho. 
 Bradford to preach there. E. Lib. Cur. and Conap. Cam. 
 
 The last TUESDAY in Aug. is now -the annual ELECTION of 
 IHERIFFS, &c. The MAYOR is that day in tcarlet, the SHERIFFS 
 nd justices in violet, and the aldermen in black. From the table of 
 habits published in 1728. 
 
 * Esther ix. 17.
 
 83 
 
 sions, setting up over the gates of the city, and 
 their own gates and doors, the ragged staff, which 
 was the cognizance or badge of that Earl* 
 
 ROBERT KETT, and WILLIAM KETT his bro- 
 ther, were carried to London, and committed 
 to the Tower, and being shortly after arraigned 
 of their treason, and found guilty, were brought 
 to the Tower again, and there remained till 
 the 29th of November, on which day, they were 
 delivered to Sir Edmund Wind/tarn, high sheriff' 
 of Norfol/c and Suffolk, who brought them 
 down, the one to Windham, and the other to 
 Noucich, where deserved punishment was exe- 
 cuted upon them both; for ROBERT KETT, 
 the captain of these rebels, was carried to the 
 castle, had chains put on him, and a rope being 
 fixed about his neck, was drawn alive from 
 the ground, up to the gibbet, placed upon the 
 top of the castle, and there left hanging, in 
 remembrance of his villany, till his body being 
 consumed, at last fell down; and WILLIAM 
 his brother was executed in the same manner 
 at Windham, on the top of the steeple there, f 
 and was there hanged in chains as his brother 
 
 * To a peynter for peyntyng ij tabylls of the Kyngs arms set 
 up at Westwyk and St. Stephens-gates and for setting np the 
 raggyd staff", in silver paper, at all the gates of the cyttie, &c. 
 Comp. Cam. 
 
 t 1549. This yere the King sent down the noble Erie JOHN of 
 Warwik his levetenaunt, to suppresse the create rebbellion that 
 was in NOKFF. and NORWICH, and Kou. KtT of Wyndham cap- 
 layn of the same (was) hanged uppon the toppe of the castyll, in 
 chains, and his brother Wyitm. Kft, uppon the steple of 
 Lib. Civ. 
 
 L
 
 was at Norwich: and thus by GOD'S rnercy, 
 and the Earl's courage, this fearful rebellion 
 ended; though it appears from the Book of 
 the Court of Mayoralty, by the entries there 
 made, between 1549 and 1554, that the rebel- 
 lious stomachs of the common people here was 
 not so soon brought down as their camp was 
 dispersed. 
 
 For, Zlst Sept. 3d Edward VI. it was de- 
 posed, that Robert Burnam, parish clerk of St. 
 Gregories said, " There are too many GENTLrE- 
 " MEN in England by fyve hundred."" 
 
 30 Sept. Will. Mutton, painter, justified his 
 having pulled down the Penthouses of the 
 shops in Norwich, saying " That there was 
 " much dysceyte to buyers from them." The 
 said Barnam being imprisoned, said to Mr. 
 Mayor and the Aldermen, " Ye SKRYBES and 
 " PHARASIES ye seke innocent bloode, fyc." for 
 which at the following assizes he was adjudged 
 to the pillory, and to have his ears nailed 
 thereto, as a fautor of rebels. 
 
 Edm. Johnson, labourer, being at the late 
 Chapel in the Fields talking with Mr. Chancel- 
 lor's servants, it chanced that one Bosewell 
 should say, " That ROBERT KETTE should be 
 hanged" and the said Johnson said, " That it 
 shulde coste a thousande mens lives firste" 
 
 24th Nov. 3d Edward VI. John Rooke said, 
 " Except the mercy of GOD, before Chrislmass,
 
 " ye shall see as greate a CAMPE upon MUSHOLD, 
 " as ever was, and if it be not (henne, it shall be 
 ' in t/ie spring- of the yere, and they shall come 
 " out of the Lord PROTECTORS* countrithe 
 " (countrey) to strenkith him." 
 
 l<2th Feb. 4th Edward VI. George Redman, 
 servant with Mr. Baton, deposed, " That John 
 " Redhed on Sonday at nyght beyng the xth of 
 " Febr. 1549, said, he wold that Master Bakon 
 " and others, having on there gates the ragged 
 " staff, schidd take them down, for thet icere 
 " that are offendyd thenvythe, to the nombre of 
 4i twentie persons and more: and he said, that 
 " the aforesaid ragged staff shuld be plucked 
 " down: and that afore it were Lamraes daye 
 " next comyng, that Ket shuld be plucked doivne 
 "from the toppe of the castle; saying also, 
 " that it was not mete to have any more KYNGS 
 " than one" 
 
 John Redhed of St. Martin's parish worsted 
 weaver, saith, " that upon a market day not a 
 " month passed, whether it was Wednesday or 
 " Saterday, he certenly knoweth not, being in 
 *' the market uppon his busynes, he sawe ij or 
 " iij persones, men of the contrithe standing 
 '* together, and he harde th' one of them speke 
 " to th' other, loking uppon Norwich castell 
 
 * The Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector to the King, was now 
 in the Tower, which gave great offence to the common*, he 
 being a good man. Hoi. 1059.
 
 86 
 
 " towardes Kette, tlies wordes, viz. Oh! KETTE, 
 " GOD have mercye uppon thy sowle, and 1 trust 
 " in GOD, that the KYNG'S majestye, and his 
 " COUNSAIL shall be informed ones betwixte this 
 " and Mydsomer even, that of their own gen- 
 *' tylnes th owe shal be taken downs, by the grace 
 " of GOD, and buryed, and not hanged uppe for 
 " u-ynter store, and sette a quyetness in the realme, 
 " and the ragged staffe* shal be taken down also 
 " of their owne gentylnes from the gentylmens 
 " gates in this cittie, and to have no more King's 
 " arms but one within this cittie under Christ 
 " but King EDWARD the syxe, GOD save his 
 " grace" which persones he saith, he never 
 knew them nor cannot name them. 
 
 26tf/ Febr. One said, " that 50O of IVTuSHOLD- 
 " MEN were gon to the gret TURKE and the 
 " DOFFYN, and will be her agen by Midsomer.'* 
 
 Holinshed tells us, it was generally thought 
 that Will. Kelt had been sure of his pardon if 
 he had not played the traitorous hypocrite, for 
 upon his submission at first to the Marquis of 
 Northampton, he was sent back to his brother, 
 to persuade him and the rest to yield, who 
 though he promised to do so, upon his coining 
 into the camp, and seeing the great multitude 
 about him, did not only dissuade him from it, 
 
 * The populace bare an inveterate hatred against the Earl, he- 
 cause of his victory, which was augmented by their perceiving: 
 him to be a principal actor against the Protector.
 
 87 
 
 but told him the Marquis had but few soldiers 
 with him, and was nothing able to resist such 
 a force as his: so that had it not been for him, 
 his brother and all the rest had accepted the 
 King's pardon, and saved all the ensuing mis- 
 chief and bloodshed. 
 
 This Kelt was, as Fuller observes, of more 
 wealth than the generality of those of his busi- 
 ness; and could, as Stow says, spend 50/. a 
 year in land, and was worth in goods above a 
 thousand marks, which is true; his family 
 was one of the most ancient and flourishing 
 families in Windham: for in 2-2d Edward IV. 
 John Knyght, alias Kette, was a principal owner 
 there ; after his conviction, at a court held for 
 the King's manor of Windham, it was presented, 
 that Robert Knight, alias Kette, who was hanged 
 upon Norwich castle for treason, died seized 
 of 30 acres of land held of the manor, and that 
 it was escheated to the King as lord, which 
 he by Rob. Rochester, Esq. his supervisor, of 
 his great clemency regranted to William Knight, 
 alias Ketle^ son and heir of the said Robert, 
 and his heirs for ever. And Tho. Kett, son 
 of this William, in 1570, had a grant from 
 Queen Elizabeth of the liberty of fnldage in 
 Worihwood Moore in Windham, for 21 years; 
 and in 1606, Ric. Kett, alias Knightes, surren- 
 dered a messuage, &c. in the said town to John 
 and Samuel Knightes, so that the family still 
 continued and enjoyed their ancient patrimony.
 
 88 
 
 The Earl staid in the city 14 days, and 
 having settled all things as well as could be, 
 commanded them to repair their city, and act 
 by virtue of the King's commission till their 
 charter was renewed, it being voided, and the 
 city in the Kind's hands from the time the 
 sword was delivered to the Marquis; and so 
 taking leave of them, was attended out of the 
 city liberties by the mayor, &c. with great ho- 
 nour and much praise: and on the 7th or 8th 
 day of September, her set out for London, where 
 he was honourably received at court, with thanks 
 from the King and nobles, for his great service. 
 
 And now they began to repair their gates, 
 one of the folding doors of St. Stephen's wag 
 made new, Pockthorp and Bishop-gates were 
 made of the timber which came from White 
 Friars- bridge when it was pulled down: the 
 tower at Bishop-gate, and the stone work at 
 all of them, was repaired; Magdalen-gate was 
 made new : Brazen-Door had the rampart taken 
 from its outside and laid on each side in the 
 ditch, to enlarge the passage; White Friars 
 bridge was rebuilt of timber, to which Mr. 
 Codd the mayor contributed much; the Town* 
 Close ditches, which were cast down by the 
 rebels, were new ditched to 6/. 55. 6d. expense. 
 The boom or chain cross the river at the com- 
 mon staitlie was repaired; the houses and yards 
 there cleared of a great quantity of burnt corn*
 
 rubbish, &c. and the weights that belonged to 
 the crane-house, that was burnt there, got toge* 
 ther; and the iron work of the gates that \vere 
 burnt; the pinfold or pound that stood at 
 Timberhitt, the pales being torn off by the 
 rebels, was now taken up, and the stuff sawn 
 and made into two, one replaced there, and 
 another set in St. Austin's, the most of that 
 charge being borne by Colson, a carpenter, and 
 John Howman, who spoiled the said pinfold 
 in the commotion time; the market place was 
 cleansed, which was so full of dirt and muck, 
 that it took two men twenty-four days each, 
 and another man twelve days, in cleansing and 
 loading of carts, for 248 loads were carried 
 away; and it took another man twelve days 
 to clean the Guild-hall rooms, chambers, leads, 
 and prisons, from which twenty-four loads were 
 carried, and a vast quantity from the Netc-fiall, 
 cloisters, &c. They mended the prison called 
 the Vowte (or vault) under the Pentney, setting 
 fest the window in the entry called Chnpell a 
 Feld, and that door that goes into the Pentney^ 
 and other things there. And having chose 
 Rob. Rugg mayor, who served that office about 
 four years only before, they agreed, that if he 
 served now, he should not be chosen for tea 
 years to come; and in some measure to recom- 
 pence Leonard Sotherton for his great services, 
 and losses that he sustained when he was.
 
 90 
 
 robbed by the way riding for the King's par- 
 don at Magdalen- tide, they present him with a 
 suiri of money: and finding a scarcity of corn, 
 like to ensue, (for famine generally follows war?) 
 they ordered that every alderman should straitly 
 charge each substantial citizen within his ward 
 to provide corn for their own households pre- 
 sently, and not come into the market to buy 
 any bread corn there: and some were appointed 
 to buy in 20, some 30 coombs of wheat, for 
 which ttfey should be repaid by the city at 
 Michaelmas, as the Chamberlains accounts, and 
 other city evidences show us. And in November 
 following, the King granted them a new 
 CHARTER,* dated at Westminster the I2t/i of that 
 month, in the 3d year of his reign; in which 
 every prior charter is recited at length, begin- 
 ning with that of Henry II. all which are hereby 
 confirmed; then it authorizes the citizens to 
 choose two sheriffs within a month after its 
 date, to continue till Michaelmas following, with 
 the same liberties as they formerly had to elect 
 mayors, &c. with a clause to use any liberties 
 contained in any of their charters, notwith- 
 standing any former disuser thereof. And re- 
 mitted and released all and all manner of 
 forfeitures of liberties, and all suits and demands 
 which he or his successors had or might have, 
 
 * It is marked Carla xxxii. a. hath its broad seal still appendant, 
 and contains eight large skins of parchment.
 
 91 
 
 for any thing by them or any of them acted or 
 done. This CHARTER cost 89/. 7*. 6d. the 
 passing, and the expences and journies about 
 it 24/. 15*. Augustine Steward paying at London, 
 to the several officers there, 571. 9s. of the 
 money. And there having been no assembly 
 for regular government of the city since the 
 last of May, on the 202/f day of November, being 
 the day after the charter came down, was a 
 general assembly held at the Guild-hall, " by 
 " vertue of the letters PATENTS of the former 
 " Kings of ENGLAND, now reneived and con- 
 " firmed by Edward VI." the said charter of 
 confirmation being partly read, upon which it 
 was concluded, that all the citizens should be 
 monished by proclamation to be at the Guild- 
 hall at nme o'clock, to elect " twoo worthy 
 " citizens for the office O/"SHERKVES," according 
 to his Majesty's grant, and the court agreed to 
 meet at eight in the morning at St. Peter's of 
 Mancroft church, and hear a sermon preached 
 by Dr. Baret, and the Te Deum there sung, 
 and then to go to the Guild-hall and proceed 
 to the election, where the mayor and aldermen 
 elected Richard Fletcher, and the commons Rob. 
 Farrour, who were sworn immediately. 
 
 It appears that the Norfolk, Devotishire, 
 and Cornwall rebellions, cost the King, 27,330/. 
 7*. 7rf. 
 
 In this manner, 
 
 M
 
 THE REBELLION. 
 
 The Counties of Norfolk, Devonshire, and Cornwall. 
 
 Cotes and Conduct, 6,4,461. 12s. Qd. 
 
 Diet and Wages, 18,82?/. 19s. 6d. 
 
 Emtions of Necessaries, 47 1- Us. 8d. 
 
 Divers and sundry necessary ~\ 
 
 charges and expences, break- f ,, . 07 , 
 
 c , ", > 2.008/. 4s. 3d. 
 
 ing down or bridges, carriage, f 
 
 and reward. / 
 
 And thus you have as exact an account of 
 this rebellion as the evidences which 1 have 
 seen, and the printed authors which I have 
 met with, could furnish out. 
 
 A Brief Chronicle of Memorable Accidents, from 
 the Birth of our Saviour to the Year 172O. 
 
 Saviour born, in the year of 
 the World 3947. 
 33 The Crucifixion & Resurrection of Christ. 
 67 The first Heathen Persecution of the 
 
 Christians. 
 
 92 The second Persecution. 
 10 i The third Persecution. 
 124 The fourth Persecution. 
 168 The Christian Faith received in England. 
 170 The fifth Persecution. 
 280 The sixth Persecution. 
 284 The seventh Persecution. 
 291 The eighth Persecution. 
 304 The ninth Persecution. 
 636 England divided into Parishes. 
 980 Norwich began to be a Borough. 
 1066 Norwich much wasted in the Earl's Rebel- 
 lion against K. William the Conqueror. 
 1096 The Cathedral church of Norwich began 
 to be built by Bishop Herbert, who 
 laid the first stone.
 
 93 
 
 1144 The Jews in Norwich crucified a C f hild in 
 Thorp wood in contempt of ourSaviour. 
 
 1152 King Stephen made Norwich a Corpo- 
 ration. 
 
 1 174 Norwich miserably damaged in a Quarrel 
 between Henry II. and Hugh Bigot Earl 
 of Norfolk, who espousing the cause of 
 Prince Henry against his Father, forti- 
 fied himself in the Castle ; but the King 
 prevailing against him, forced him to 
 buy his Peace for 1000 marks. 
 
 1 189 Norwich made a city by King Richard I. 
 
 1216 Norwich was taken by the French King. 
 
 1252 Norwich enclosed with a Ditch. 
 
 1266 Norwich sacked by the disinherited Barons. 
 
 1269 A Tempest threw down part of the Cathe- 
 dral. A terrible Inundation of Water 
 happened in the City. A furious Quar- 
 rel between the Monks and Citizens, 
 which grew so high, that King Henry 
 III. came in person to quiet these Tu- 
 mults; the Monks in their rage rifled 
 the City, and the citizens in revenge 
 burnt down great part of the church. 
 
 1273 The King took away the Liberties of 
 
 Norwich and sent Governors for three 
 years, on account of the late riots. 
 
 1274 Bishop Middleton repaired the Cathe- 
 
 dral, which the fury of the citizens had 
 
 defaced. 
 
 1278 267 Jews executed for clipping the Coin. 
 1297 Cathedral cloister begun, finished I4.3O. 
 1304 Norwich begun to be walled in, fin. 1319. 
 1348 Plague in Norwich whereof died 57104 
 
 persons. 
 1381 A great rebellion began in Norfolk, by 
 
 J. Linster a dyer of Norwich,who called
 
 94 
 
 himself king of the commons, led 50000 
 soldiers into the field, and forceably car- 
 ried several Lords and Knights to serve 
 him at his table; but at last was over- 
 thrown by H. Spencer, Bishop of Nor- 
 wich, and hanged the same year. 
 
 1413 Great part of Norwich burnt down. 
 
 1430 The New Mills in Norwich built. St. 
 Peter's [Viancroft church begun, fin. 1455. 
 
 1439 Great Famine, Feme roots eaten. 
 
 1449 King Henry VI. came to Norwich. 
 
 1474 King Edward IV. came to Norwich. 
 
 1486 King Henry VII. came to Norwich. 
 
 1498 King, Queen, and King's Mother at 
 Norwich. (for Heresy. 
 
 1506 St. Andrew's church built. Adams burnt 
 
 1509 Great part of the Cathedral burnt down. 
 
 lol 1 St. Mary's Coslany church built. 
 
 1515 Queen of France and Duke of Norfolk 
 came to Norwich. 
 
 1517 Cardinal Woolsey came to Norwich. 
 
 1519 St. Leonard's Flood in Norwich. 
 
 15*20 Queen Catherine came to Norwich. 
 
 1522 Emperor of Germany came to Norwich. 
 
 15^3 King and Queen of Denmark came to 
 Norwich. 
 
 15*29 Queen of France came to Norwich. 
 
 1530 Mr. T. Bilney burnt in Lollard's Pit. 
 
 1544 Mayor's Feast begun at the New- Hall. 
 
 1549 The rebellion of Kett a tanner of Wind- 
 ham, who encamped on Moushold-hill, 
 and did much mischief to Norwich; 
 but was at last taken by the Earl of 
 Warwick, and 5000 of his followers 
 slain; Kett was hanged on the top of 
 Norwich castle, and his brother on 
 Windham steeple.
 
 95 
 
 1553 St. Stephen's church built. 
 1558 Ten Aldermen died in Norwich. 
 
 1568 The west end of the Guild-hall built. 
 
 1569 The Earl's rebellion in Norwich. 
 
 1570 Candlemas Flood broke down Fyebridge. 
 
 1578 Queen Elizabeth came to Norwich Aug. 
 
 16, stayed six days, and Knighted 
 R Wood, mayor. 
 
 1579 A plague in Norwich, whereof died 4918 
 
 persons, 10 of them Aldermen. Ham- 
 mont a Plowright burnt in the Castle 
 Ditches for Heresies. 
 
 1583 G. Shipdam gibbetted for murdering his 
 wife. J. Lewes, abstinate Heretic burnt. 
 
 1588 F. Kett of Windham, M. A. burnt for 
 Heresy. 
 
 1501 Coslany and Fyebride built with stone. 
 
 1 600 Cathedral spire struck down by Lightning. 
 
 1603 3076 Persons died of the plague in Nor- 
 wich. (Tombland. 
 
 1611 31 Persons killed with Fire-works on 
 
 1643 The Cathedral Organs taken down and 
 destroyed, the glass windows and mo- 
 numents broke, copes, vestments, books 
 and ornaments belonging to the same, 
 burnt in the market-place by the mob, 
 directed by Alderman Greenwood and 
 Sheriff Toft. 
 
 1647 The Bishop's Palace and chapel defaced 
 by Parliament. 
 
 -J648 The mayor of Norwich sent for to Lonr 
 don, the poeple rose & had like to have 
 killed the messenger, and after he was 
 gone, blew up the committee-house, and 
 killed 100 persons. The Mutineer* 
 were tried and executed. 
 
 1658 Oliver Cromwell died. A high Wind.
 
 90 
 
 1665 A Plague in Norwich whereof died 2251 
 
 persons. (wich. 
 
 1669 Small-Pox raged in 300 families in iNor- 
 
 1671 King-, Queen, and Nobility came to Nor. 
 
 1681 Duke of York came to Norwich. A 
 
 Blazing Star. 
 
 1682 A Comet. Trained bands protect the 
 
 French in Norwich. 
 
 1684 A great Drought from Feb. till Aug. 
 T. Berney, Esq. executed for the mur- 
 der of Mr. Bedingfield. 
 
 1688 The mob plundered the Papists in Nor- 
 wich. King James II. abdicated. 
 
 1696 Mint in Norw. 7 men executed castle-hill. 
 
 1698 Great Snow. Sir H. Hobart killed by 
 
 Mr. Le Neve. 
 
 1699 Water- works finished. New Hall made 
 
 an Exchange. 
 
 1701 F. Burges began Printing in Norwich. 
 K. Watts hanged at his own door for 
 murdering his wife. 
 
 1705 Weavers Hall broke up, and Books burnt. 
 
 1706 2 great Floods in Norwich, both in Nov. 
 1709 New Mills rebuilt. 
 
 1712 New-hall steeple feil. 20 persons drowned 
 on Braydon. 
 
 1716 Merchant Hall gave a gold chain weigh- 
 
 ing 23 oz. 6 dwts. to be worn by the 
 mayors of Norwich. 
 
 1717 Two mayors died in 4 months time in 
 
 Norwich. 
 
 1720 Mob in Pockthorp, frighted and dispersed 
 by the Artillery. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Lane and Walker, Printer*.
 
 University ot 
 SOUTHERN 
 
 405 HHgard '
 
 DC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 A 000106652 1
 
 
 .i...,... 
 '> 'VVVV 
 
 
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