The Works of Sir Thomas Browne Volume III Part 39

Or, of Bishop WILLIAM RUGGE, in whose last Year happen'd _Kett's_ Rebellion, in the Reign of _Edward_ VI. I find his Name, _Guil.

Norwicensis_, among the Bishops, who subscribed unto a Declaration against the Pope's Supremacy, in the Time of _Henry_ VIII.

Or, of Bishop JOHN HOPTON, who was Bishop in the Time of Queen _Mary_, and died the same Year with her. He is often mentioned, together with his Chancellor _Dunning_, by _John Fox_ in his Martyrology.

Or lastly, of Bishop WILLIAM REDMAN, of _Trinity College_ in _Cambridge_, who was Archdeacon of _Canterbury_. His Arms are upon a Board on the North-side of the Choir, near to the Pulpit.

Of the four Bishops in Queen _Elizabeth's_ Reign, _Parkhurst_, _Freake_, _Scamler_ and _Redman_, Sir _John Harrington_, in his _History of the Bishops_ in her Time, writeth thus; _For the four Bishops in the Queen's Days, they liv'd as Bishops should do, and were not Warriours like Bishop_ Spencer, _their Predecessor_.

Some Bishops were buried neither in the Body of the Church, nor in the Choir; but in our Ladies Chappel, at the East End of the Church, built by Bishop WALTER _de_ SUTHFEILD, (in the Reign of _Henry_ III.) wherein he was buried, and Miracles said to be wrought at his Tomb, he being a Person of great Charity and Piety.

Wherein also was buried Bishop SIMON _de_ WANTON, _vel_ WALTON, and Bishop _Alexander_, who had been Prior of the Convent; and also, as some think, Bishop _Roger Skerewyng_, and probably other Bishops, and Persons of Quality, whose Tombs and Monuments we now in vain enquire after in the Church.

This was a handsom Chappel; and there was a fair Entrance into it out of the Church, of a considerable Height also, as may be seen by the out-side, where it adjoined unto the Wall of the Church. But being ruinous, it was, as I have heard, demolished in the Time of Dean _Gardiner_: But what became of the Tombs, Monuments, and Grave-stones, we have no Account: In this Chappel, the Bishop's Consistory, or Court, might be kept in old Time, for we find in _Fox's Martyrology_, that divers Persons accused of Heresy were examined by the Bishop, or his Chancellor, in St. _Mary's_ Chappel. This famous Bishop, _Walter de Suthfeild_, who built this Chappel, is also said to have built the Hospital not far off.

Again, divers Bishops sat in this _See_, who left not their Bones in this Church; for some died not here, but at distant Places; some were translated to other Bishop.r.i.c.ks; and some, tho' they lived and died here, were not buried in this Church.

Some died at distant Places; as Bishop Richard Courtney, Chancellor of _Oxford_, and in great Favour with King _Henry_ V. by whom he was sent unto the King of _France_, to challenge his Right unto that Crown; but he dying in _France_, his Body was brought into _England_, and interr'd in _Westminster-Abbey_ among the Kings.

Bishop WILLIAM BATEMAN, LL.D. born in _Norwich_, who founded _Trinity-Hall_, in _Cambridge_, and persuaded _Gonvil_ to build _Gonvil-College_, died at _Avignon_ in _France_, being sent by the King to _Rome_, and was buried in that City.

Bishop WILLIAM AYERMIN died near _London_.

Bishop THOMAS THIRLBY, Doctor of Law, died in Archbishop _Matthew Parker's_ House, and was buried at _Lambeth_, with this inscription:

[_Hic jacet_ Thomas Thirlby, _olim Episcopus Eliensis, qui obiit 26 die Augusti, Anno Domini, 1570_.]

Bishop THOMAS JANN, who was Prior of _Ely_, died at _Folkston-Abbey_, near _Dover_ in _Kent_.

Some were translated unto other Bishop.r.i.c.ks; as Bishop WILLIAM RALEGH was remov'd unto _Winchester_, by King _Henry_ III.

Bishop RALPH _de_ WALPOLE was translated to _Ely_, in the time of _Edward_ I. He is said to have begun the building of the Cloister, which is esteemed the fairest in _England_.

Bishop WILLIAM ALNWICK built the Church Gates at the West End of the Church, and the great Window, and was translated to _Lincoln_, in the Reign of _Henry_ VI.

And of later time, Bishop EDMUND FREAKE, who succeeded Bishop _Parkhurst_, was removed unto _Worcester_, and there lieth entomb'd.

Bishop SAMUEL HARSNET, Master of _Pembroke-Hall_, in _Cambridge_, and Bishop of _Chichester_, was thence translated to _York_.

Bishop FRANCIS WHITE, Almoner unto the King, formerly Bishop of _Carlisle_, translated unto _Ely_.

Bishop MATTHEW WREN, Dean of the Chappel, translated also to _Ely_, and was not buried here.

Bishop JOHN JEGON, who died 1617, was buried at _Aylesham_, near _Norwich_. He was Master of _Bennet College_, and Dean of _Norwich_, whose Arms, _Two Chevrons with an Eagle on a Canton_, are yet to be seen on the West Side of the Bishop's Throne.

My honour'd Friend Bishop JOSEPH HALL, Dean of _Worcester_, and Bishop of _Exon_, translated to _Norwich_, was buried at _Heigham_, near _Norwich_, where he hath a Monument. When the Revenues of the Church were alienated, he retired unto that Suburbian Parish, and there ended his Days, being above 80 Years of Age. A Person of singular Humility, Patience, and Piety; his own Works are the best Monument and Character of himself, which was also very lively drawn in his excellent Funeral Sermon, preach'd by my learned and faithful old Friend, _John Whitefoot_, Rector of _Heigham_, a very deserving Clerk of the Convocation of _Norwich_. His Arms in the Register Office of _Norwich_ are, _Sable three Talbots Heads erased Argent_.

My honour'd Friend also, Bishop EDWARD REYNOLDS, was not buried in the Church but in the Bishop's Chappel; which was built by himself. He was born at _Southampton_, brought up at _Merton Colledge_ in _Oxford_, and the first Bishop of _Norwich_ after the King's Restauration: A Person much of the Temper of his Predecessor, Dr. _Joseph Hall_, of singular Affability, Meekness and Humility; of great Learning; a frequent Preacher, and constant Resident: He sat in this _See_ about 17 Years; and though buried in his private Chappel, yet his Funeral Sermon was preached in the Cathedral, by Mr. _Benedict Rively_, now Minister of S.

_Andrews_: He was succeeded by Dr. _Anthony Sparrow_, our worthy and honoured Diocesan.

It is thought that some Bishops were buried in the old Bishops Chappel, said to be built by Bishop _John Salmon_ [demolish'd in the Time of the late War] for therein were many Gravestones, and some plain Monuments.

This old Chappel was higher, broader, and much larger than the said new Chappel built by Bishop _Reynolds_; but being covered with Lead, the Lead was sold, and taken away in the late rebellious Times; and the Fabrick growing ruinous and useless, it was taken down, and some of the Stones partly made use of in the building of the new Chappel.

Now, whereas there have been so many n.o.ble and ancient Families in these Parts, yet we find not more of them to have been buried in this the Mother Church. It may be consider'd, that no small numbers of them were interred in the Churches and Chappels of the Monasteries and religious Houses of this City, especially in three thereof; the _Austin-Fryars_, the _Black-Fryars_, the _Carmelite,_ or _White Fryars_; for therein were buried many Persons of both s.e.xes, of great and good Families, whereof there are few or no Memorials in the Cathedral. And in the best preserved Registers of such Interments of old, from Monuments and Inscriptions, we find the Names of Men and Women of many ancient Families; as of _Ufford_, _Hastings_, _Radcliffe_, _Morley_, _Windham_, _Geney_, _Clifton_, _Pigot_, _Hengrave_, _Garney_, _Howell_, _Ferris_, _Bacon_, _Boys_, _Wichingham_, _Soterley_; of _Falstolph_, _Ingham_, _Felbrigge_, _Talbot_, _Harsick_, _Pagrave_, _Berney_, _Woodhowse_, _Howldich_; of _Argenton_, _Somerton_, _Gros_, _Benhall_, _Banyard_, _Paston_, _Crunthorpe_, _Withe_, _Colet_, _Gerbrigge_, _Berry_, _Calthorpe_, _Everard_, _Hetherset_, _Wachesham_: All Lords, Knights, and Esquires, with divers others. Beside the great and n.o.ble Families of the _Bigots_, _Mowbrays_, _Howards_, were the most part interr'd at _Thetford_, in the Religious Houses of which they were Founders, or Benefactors. The _Mortimers_ were buried at _Attleburgh_; the _Aubeneys_ at _Windham_, in the Priory or Abbey founded by them. And _Camden_ says, _That a great part of the n.o.bility and Gentry of those Parts were buried at Pentney_ Abbey: Many others were buried dispersedly in Churches, or Religious Houses, founded or endowed by themselves; and therefore it is the less to be wonder'd at, that so many great and considerable Persons of this Country were not interr'd in this Church.

There are Twenty-four Escocheons, _viz._ six on a Side on the inside of the Steeple over the Choir, with several Coats of Arms, most whereof are Memorials of Things, Persons, and Families, Well-wishers, Patrons, Benefactors, or such as were in special Veneration, Honour, and Respect, from the Church. As particularly the Arms of _England_, of _Edward_ the Confessor; an Hieroglyphical Escocheon of the Trinity, unto which this Church was dedicated. _Three Cups within a Wreath of Thorns_, the Arms of _Ely_, the Arms of the _See_ of _Canterbury_, quartered with the Coat of the famous and magnified _John Morton_, Archbishop of _Canterbury_, who was Bishop of _Ely_ before; of Bishop _James Goldwell_, that honoured Bishop of _Norwich_. _The three Lions of_ England, S.

_George's_ Cross, the Arms of the Church impaled with Prior _Bosviles_ Coat, the Arms of the Church impaled with the private Coats of three Priors, the Arms of the City of _Norwich_.

There are here likewise the Coats of some great and worthy Families; as of _Vere_, _Stanley_, _De la Pole_, _Wingfield_, _Heyden_, _Townshend_, _Bedingfield_, _Bruce_, _Clere_; which being little taken notice of, and Time being still like to obscure, and make them past Knowledge, I would not omit to have a Draught thereof set down, which I keep by me.

There are also many Coats of Arms on the Walls, and in the Windows of the East End of the Church; but none so often as those of the _Boleyns_, _viz._ in a Field _Arg. a Chev. Gul. between three Bulls Heads couped sab. armed or_; whereof some are quartered with the Arms of n.o.ble Families. As also about the Church, the Arms of _Hastings_, _De la Pole_, _Heyden_, _Stapleton_, _Windham_, _Wichingham_, _Clifton_, _Heveningham_, _Bokenham_, _Inglos_.

In the North Window of _Jesus_ Chappel are the Arms of _Radcliff_ and _Cecil_; and in the East Window of the same Chappel the Coats of _Branch_, and of _Beale_.

There are several Escocheon Boards fastened to the upper Seats of the Choir: Upon the three lowest on the South-side are the Arms of Bishop _Jegon_, of the _Pastons_, and of the _Hobarts_; and in one above the Arms of the _Howards_. On the Board on the North-side are the Arms of Bishop _Redmayn_; and of the _Howards_.

Upon the outside of the Gate, next to the School, are the Escocheons and Arms of _Erpingham_, being an Escocheon within an _Orle of Martlets_; impaled with the Coats of _Clopton_ and _Bavent_, or such Families who married with the _Erpinghams_ who built the Gates. The Word, _Pna_, often upon the Gates, shews it to have been built upon Pennance.

At the West End of the Church are chiefly observable the Figure of King _William Rufus_, or King _Henry_ I. and a Bishop on his Knees receiving the Charter from him: Or else of King _Henry_ VI. in whose Reign this Gate and fair Window was built. Also the maimed Statues of Bishops, whose Copes are garnished and charged with a Cross _Moline_: And at their Feet, Escocheons, with the Arms of the Church; and also Escocheons with Crosses _Molines_. That these, or some of them, were the Statues of Bishop _William Alnwyck_, seems more than probable; for he built the three Gates, and the great Window at the West End of the Church; and where the Arms of the _See_ are in a Roundele, are these Words,--_Orate pro anima Domini Willelmi Alnwyk_.--Also in another Escocheon, charged with Cross _Molines_, there is the same Motto round about it.

Upon the wooden Door on the outside, there are also the _Three Miters_, which are the Arms of the _See_ upon one Leaf, and a Cross _Moline_ on the other.

Upon the outside of the End of the North Cross Isle, there is a Statue of an old Person; which, being formerly covered and obscured by Plaister and Mortar over it, was discovered upon the late Reparation, or whitening of that End of the Isle. This may probably be the Statue of Bishop _Richard Nicks_, or the blind Bishop; for he built the Isle, or that Part thereof; and also the Roof, where his Arms are to be seen, _A Chevron_ between _three Leopards Heads Gules_.

The Roof of the Church is n.o.ble, and adorn'd with Figures. In the Roof of the Body of the Church there are no Coats of Arms, but Representations from Scripture Story, as the Story of _Pharaoh_; of _Sampson_ towards the East End. Figures of the last Supper, and of our Saviour on the Cross, towards the West End; besides others of Foliage, and the like ornamental Figures.

The North Wall of the Cloister was handsomly beautified, with the Arms of some of the n.o.bility in their proper Colours, with their Crests, _Mantlings_, _Supporters_, and the whole Atchivement quartered with the several Coats of their Matches, drawn very large from the upper Part of the Wall, and took up about half of the Wall. They are Eleven in Number; particularly these. 1. An empty Escocheon. 2. The Atchievement of _Howard_, Duke of _Norfolk_. 3. Of _Clinton_. 4. _Russel._ 5. _Cheyney._ 6. The Queen's Atchievement. 7. _Hastings._ 8. _Dudley._ 9. _Cecill._ 10. _Carey._ 11. _Hatton._

They were made soon after Queen _Elizabeth_ came to _Norwich_, _Ann.

1578_, where she remained a Week, and lodged at the Bishop's Palace in the Time of Bishop _Freake_, attended by many of the n.o.bility; and particularly by those, whose Arms are here set down.

They made a very handsome Show, especially at that Time, when the Cloister Windows were painted unto the Cross-Bars. The Figures of those Coats, in their distinguishable and discernable Colours, are not beyond my Remembrance. But in the late Times, when the Lead was faulty, and the Stone-work decayed, the Rain falling upon the Wall, washed them away.

The Pavement also of the Cloister on the same Side was broken, and the Stones taken away, a Floor of Dust remaining: But that Side is now handsomly paved by the Beneficence of my worthy Friend _William Burleigh_, Esq.

At the Stone Cistern in the Cloister, there yet perceivable _a Lyon Rampant, Argent, in a field Sable_, which Coat is now quartered in the Arms of the _Howards_.

In the Painted Gla.s.s in the Cloister, which hath been above the Cross-Bars, there are several Coats. And I find by an Account taken thereof, and set down in their proper Colours, that here were these following, _viz._ the Arms of _Morley_, _Shelton_, _Scales_, _Erpingham_, _Gournay_, _Mowbray_, _Savage_, now _Rivers_, three Coats of _Thorpe's_, and one of _a Lyon Rampant, Gules in a Field Or_, not well known to what Family it belongeth.

Between the lately demolish'd Chapter-House and S. _Luke's_ Chappel, there is an handsom Chappel, wherein the Consistory, or Bishop's Court is kept, with a n.o.ble Gilded Roof. This goeth under no Name, but may well be call'd _Beauchampe's_ Chappel, or the Chappel of our _Lady_ and _All-Saints_, as being built by _William Beauchampe_, according to this Inscription. _In honore Beate Marie Virginis, et omnium sanctorum_ Willelmus Beauchampe _capellam hanc ordinavit, et ex propriis sumptibus construxit_. This Inscription is in old Letters on the outside of the Wall, at the South-side of the Chappel, and almost obliterated; He was buried under an Arch in the Wall, which was richly gilded; and some part of the Gilding is yet to be perceived, tho' obscured and blinded by the Bench on the inside. I have heard there is a Vault below gilded like the Roof of the Chappel. The Founder of this Chappel, _William Beauchampe_, or _de Bello Campo_, might be one of the _Beauchampe's_, who were Lords of _Abergevenny_; for _William_ Lord _Abergevenny_ had Lands and Mannors in this Country. And in the Register of Inst.i.tutions it is to be seen, that _William Beauchampe_, Lord of _Abergevenny_ was Lord Patron of _Berg c.u.m Apton_, five Miles distant from _Norwich_, and presented Clerks to that Living, 1406, and afterward: So that, if he lived a few Years after, he might be buried in the latter End of _Henry_ IV. or in the Reign of _Henry_ V. or in the Beginning of _Henry_ VI. Where to find _Heydon's_ Chappel is more obscure, if not altogether unknown; for such a Place there was, and known by the Name of _Heydon's_ Chappel, as I find in a Ma.n.u.script concerning some ancient Families of _Norfolk_, in these Words, _John Heydon of Baconsthorpe, Esq.; died in the Reign of_ Edward IV. _Ann. 1479. He built a Chappel on the South side of the Cathedral Church of_ Norwich, _where he was buried. He was in great Favour with King_ Henry VI. _and took part with the House of_ Lancaster _against that of_ York.

HEN. HEYDON, Kt. his Heir, built the Church of _Salthouse_, and made the Causey between _Thursford_ and _Walsingham_ at his own Charge: He died in the Time of _Henry_ VII. and was buried in _Heydon's_ Chappel, joining to the Cathedral aforesaid. The Arms of the _Heydon's_ are Quarterly _Argent_, and _Gules a Cross engrailed counter-changed_, make the third Escocheon in the North-Row over the Choir, and are in several Places in the Gla.s.s-Windows, especially on the South-side, and once in the Deanry.

There was a Chappel to the South-side of the Goal, or Prison, into which there is one Door out of the Entry of the Cloister; and there was another out of the Cloister itself, which is now made up of Brickwork: The Stone-work which remaineth on the inside is strong and handsom. This seems to have been a much frequented Chappel of the Priory by the wearing of the Steppings unto it, which are on the Cloister Side.

Many other Chappels there were within the Walls and Circuit of the Priory; as of S. _Mary_ of the _Marsh_; of S. _Ethelbert_, and others.

But a strong and handsom Fabrick of one is still remaining, which is the Chappel of St. _John_ the Evangelist, said to have been founded by Bishop _John Salmon_, who died _Ann._ 1325, and four Priests were entertained for the daily Service therein: That which was properly the Chappel, is now the Free-School: The adjoining Buildings made up the Refectory, Chambers, and Offices of the Society.

Under the Chappel, there was a Charnell-House, which was a remarkable one in former Times, and the Name is still retained. In an old Ma.n.u.script of a Sacrist of the Church, communicated to me by my worthy Friend Mr. _John Burton_, the Learned, and very deserving Master of the Free-School, I find that the Priests had a Provisional Allowance from the Rectory of _Westhall_ in _Suffolk_. And of the Charnell-House it is delivered, that with the Leave of the Sacrist, the Bones of such as were buried in _Norwich_ might be brought into it. _In carnario subtus dictam capellam sancti Johannis const.i.tuto, ossa humana in civitate_ Norwici _humata, de licentia sacristae, qui dicti carnarii clavem et custodiam habebit specialem utusque ad resurrectionem generalem honeste conserventur a carnibus integre demulata reponi volumus et obsignari._ Probably the Bones were piled in good Order, the Sculls, Arms, and Leg-Bones, in their distinct Rows and Courses, as in many Charnell-Houses. How these Bones were afterwards disposed of, we have no Account; or whether they had not the like Removal with those in the Charnell-House of S. _Paul_ kept under a Chappel on the North-side of S.

_Paul's_ Church-yard: For when the Chappel was demolish'd, the Bones which lay in the Vault, amounting to more than a Thousand Cart-Loads, were conveyed into _Finnesbury_ Fields, and there laid in a moorish Place, with so much Soil to cover them, as raised the Ground for three Wind-mills to stand on, which have since been built there, according as _John Stow_ hath delivered, in his Survey of _London_.