The Works of Sir Thomas Browne Volume III Part 40

There was formerly a fair and large, but plain Organ in the Church, and in the same Place with this at present. (It was agreed in a Chapter by the Dean and Prebends, that a new Organ be made, and Timber fitted to make a Loft for it, _June 6. Ann. 1607_. repaired 1626. and 10_l._ which _Abel Colls_ gave to the Church, was bestowed upon it.) That in the late tumultuous Time was pulled down, broken, sold, and made away. But since his Majesty's Restauration, another fair, well-tuned, plain Organ, was set up by Dean _Crofts_ and the Chapter, and afterwards painted, and beautifully adorned, by the Care and Cost of my honoured Friend Dr.

_Herbert Astley_, the present worthy Dean. There were also five or six Copes belonging to the Church; which, tho' they look'd somewhat old, were richly embroider'd. These were formerly carried into the Market-Place; some blowing the Organ-pipes before them, and were cast into a Fire provided for that purpose, with shouting and rejoicing: So that, at present, there is but one Cope belonging to the Church, which was presented thereunto by _Philip Harbord_, Esq. the present High Sheriff of _Norfolk_, my honoured Friend.

Before the late Times, the Combination Sermons were preached in the Summer Time at the Cross in the Green-Yard, where there was a good Accommodation for the Auditors. The Mayor, Aldermen, with their Wives and Officers, had a well-contriv'd Place built against the Wall of the Bishop's Palace, cover'd with Lead; so that they were not offended by Rain. Upon the North-side of the Church, Places were built Gallery-wise, one above another; where the Dean, Prebends, and their Wives, Gentlemen, and the better Sort, very well heard the Sermon: The rest either stood, or sat in the Green, upon long Forms provided for them, paying a Penny, or Halfpenny apiece, as they did at S. _Paul's_ Cross in _London_. The Bishop and Chancellor heard the Sermons at the Windows of the Bishop's Palace: The Pulpit had a large Covering of Lead over it, and a Cross upon it; and there were eight or ten Stairs of Stone about it, upon which the Hospital-Boys and others stood. The Preacher had his Face to the South, and there was a painted Board, of a Foot and a half broad, and about a Yard and a half long, hanging over his Head before, upon which were painted the Arms of the Benefactors towards the Combination Sermon, which he particularly commemorated in his Prayer, and they were these; Sir _John Suckling_, Sir _John Pettus_, _Edward Nuttel_, _Henry Fa.s.set_, _John Myngay_. But when the Church was sequester'd, and the Service put down, this Pulpit was taken down, and placed in _New-Hall_ Green, which had been the Artillery-Yard, and the Public Sermon was there preached. But the Heirs of the Benefactors denying to pay the wonted Beneficence for any Sermon out of _Christ_-Church, (the Cathedral being now commonly so call'd) some other Ways were found to provide a Minister, at a yearly Sallary, to preach every Sunday, either in that Pulpit in the Summer, or elsewhere in the Winter.

I must not omit to say something of the Shaft, or Spire of this Church, commonly called the Pinacle, as being a handsom and well proportioned Fabrick, and one of the highest in _England_, higher than the noted Spires of _Litchfield_, _Chichester_, or _Grantham_, but lower than that at _Salisbury_, [at a general Chapter, holden _June 4. 1633_, it was agreed that the Steeple should be mended] for that Spire being raised upon a very high Tower, becomes higher from the Ground; but this Spire, considered by itself, seems, at least, to equal that. It is an Hundred and five Yards and two Foot from the Top of the Pinacle unto the Pavement of the Choir under it. The Spire is very strongly built, tho'

the Inside be of Brick. The upper Aperture, or Window, is the highest Ascent inwardly; out of which, sometimes a long Streamer hath been hanged, upon the Guild, or Mayor's Day. But at His Majesty's Restauration, when the Top was to be mended, and a new gilded Weather-c.o.c.k was to be placed upon it, there were Stayings made at the upper Window, and divers Persons went up to the Top of the Pinacle. They first went up into the Belfry, and then by eight Ladders, on the Inside of the Spire, till they came to the upper Hole, or Window; then went out unto the Outside, where a Staying was set, and so ascended up unto the Top-Stone, on which the Weather-c.o.c.k standeth.

The c.o.c.k is three quarters of a Yard high, and one Yard and two Inches long; as is also the Cross-Bar, and Top-Stone of the Spire, which is not flat, but consists of a half Globe, and Channel about it; and from thence are eight Leaves of Stone spreading outward, under which begin the eight Rows of Crockets, which go down the Spire at five Foot distance.

From the Top there is a Prospect all about the Country. _Mourshold-Hill_ seems low, and flat Ground. The _Castle-Hill_, and high Buildings, do very much diminish. The River looks like a Ditch. The City, with the Streets, make a pleasant Show, like a Garden with several Walks in it.

Tho' this Church, for its Spire, may compare, in a manner, with any in _England_, yet in its Tombs and Monuments it is exceeded by many.

No Kings have honour'd the same with their Ashes, and but few with their Presence. And it is not without some Wonder, that _Norwich_ having been for a long Time so considerable a Place, so few Kings have visited it: Of which Number, among so many Monarchs since the Conquest, we find but Four, _viz._ King _Henry_ III. _Edward_ I. Queen _Elizabeth_, and our Gracious Sovereign now reigning; King _Charles_ II. of which I had particular Reason to take Notice.[321]

[321] Sir _Thomas_ being then Knighted.

The Castle was taken by the Forces of King _William_ the Conqueror; but we find not, that he was here. King _Henry_ VII. by the Way of _Cambridge_, made a Pilgrimage unto _Walsingham_; but Records tell us not, that he was at _Norwich_. King _James_ I. came sometimes to _Thetford_ for his Hunting Recreation, but never vouchsafed to advance twenty Miles farther.

Not long after the writing of these Papers, Dean _Herbert Astley_ died, a civil, generous, and public-minded Person, who had travell'd in _France_, _Italy_, and _Turkey_, and was interr'd near the Monument of Sir _James Hobart_: Unto whom succeeded my honoured Friend Dr. _John Sharpe_, a Prebend of this Church, and Rector of St. _Giles's_ in the Fields, _London_; a Person of singular Worth, and deserv'd Estimation, the Honour and Love of all Men; in the first Year of whose Deanery, 1681, the Prebends were these:

Mr. _Joseph Loveland_, } { Dr. _William Smith_, Dr. _Hezekiah Burton_, } { Mr. _Nathaniel Hodges_, Dr. _William Hawkins_, } { Mr. _Humphrey Prideaux_.

(But Dr. _Burton_ dying in that Year, Mr. _Richard Kidder_ succeeded,) worthy Persons, learned Men, and very good Preachers.

_ADDENDA_

I have by me the Picture of Chancellor SPENCER, drawn when he was Ninety Years old, as the Inscription doth declare, which was sent unto me from _Colney_.

Tho' Bishop NIX sat long in the _See_ of _Norwich_, yet is not there much deliver'd of him: _Fox_ in his _Martyrology_ hath said something of him in the Story of THOMAS BILNEY, who was burnt in _Lollard's_ Pit without _Bishopgate_, in his Time.

Bishop SPENCER lived in the Reign of RICHARD II. and HENRY IV. sat in the _See_ of _Norwich_ 37 Years: Of a Soldier made a Bishop, and sometimes exercising the Life of a Soldier in his Episcopacy; for he led an Army into _Flanders_ on the Behalf of Pope _Urban_ VI. in Opposition to _Clement_ the Anti-Pope; and also over-came the Rebellious Forces of _Litster_ the _Dyer_, in _Norfolk_, by _North-Walsham_, in the Reign of King RICHARD II.

Those that would know the Names of the Citizens who were chief Actors in the Tumult in Bishop SKEREWYNG'S Time, may find 'em set down in the Bull of Pope _Gregory_ XI.

Some Bishops, tho' they liv'd and died here, might not be buried in this Church, as some Bishops probably of old, more certainly of later Time.

HERE CONCLUDES SIR Thomas Browne's _MS._

MISCELLANIES

An Account of Island, alias Ice-land, In the Year 1662.

Great Store of Drift-wood, or Float-wood, is every Year cast up on their Sh.o.r.es, brought down by the Northern Winds, which serveth them for Fewel, and other Uses, the greatest Part whereof is _Firr_.

Of _Bears_ there are none in the Country, but sometimes they are brought down from the North upon Ice, while they follow _Seales_, and so are carried away. Two in this Manner came over, and landed in the North of _Island_ this last Year, 1662.

No _Conies_, or _Hares_, but of _Foxes_ great Plenty, whose White Skins are much desired, and brought over into this Country.

The last Winter, 1662, so cold, and lasting with us in _England_, was the mildest they have had for many Years in _Island_.

Two new Eruptions with Slime and Smoak, were observed the last Year in some Mountains about Mount _Hecla_.[322]

[322] _A Burning Mountain in_ Island.

Some hot Mineral Springs they have, and very effectual, but they make but rude Use thereof.

The Rivers are large, swift, and rapid, but have many Falls, which render them less Commodious; they chiefly abound with _Salmons_.

They sow no Corn, but receive it from Abroad.

They have a kind of large _Lichen_, which dried, becometh hard and sticky, growing very plentifully in many Places; whereof they make use for Food, either in Decoction, or Powder, some whereof I have by me, different from any with us.

In one Part of the Country, and not near the Sea, there is a large black Rock, which Polished, resembleth Touchstone, as I have seen in Pieces thereof, of various Figures.

There is also a Rock, whereof I received one Fragment, which seems to make it one kind of _Pisolithes_, or rather _Orobites_, as made up of small Pebbles, in the Bigness and Shape of the Seeds of _Eruum_, or _Orobus_.

They have some large Well-grained White Pebbles, and some kind of White _Cornelian_, or _Agath_ Pebbles, on the Sh.o.r.e, which Polish well. Old Sir _Edmund Bacon_, of these Parts, made Use thereof in his peculiar Art of Tinging and Colouring of Stones.

For Sh.e.l.ls found on the Sea-sh.o.r.e, such as have been brought unto me are but coa.r.s.e, nor of many Kinds, as ordinary _Turbines_, _Chamas_, _Aspers_, _Laves_, _etc._

I have received divers Kinds of Teeth, and Bones of Cetaceous Fishes, unto which they could a.s.sign no Name.

An exceeding fine Russet Downe is sometimes brought unto us, which their great Number of Fowls afford, and sometimes store of Feathers, consisting of the Feathers of small Birds.

Beside _Shocks_, and little Hairy _Dogs_, they bring another sort over, Headed like a _Fox_, which they say are bred betwixt _Dogs_ and _Foxes_; these are desired by the Shepherds of this Country.

Green _Plovers_, which are Plentiful here in the Winter, are found to breed there in the beginning of Summer.

Some _Sheep_ have been brought over, but of coa.r.s.e Wooll, and some _Horses_ of mean Stature, but strong and Hardy: one whereof kept in the Pastures by _Yarmouth_, in the Summer, would often take the Sea, swimming a great Way, a Mile or Two, and return the same, when its Provision fail'd in the s.h.i.+p wherein it was brought, for many Days fed upon Hoops and Cask; nor at the Land would, for many Months, be brought to feed upon Oats.

These Accounts I received from a Native of _Island_, who comes Yearly into _England_; and by Reason of my long Acquaintance, and Directions I send unto some of his Friends against the _Elephantiasis_, (_Leprosie_,) constantly visits me before his Return; and is ready to perform for me what I shall desire in his Country; wherein, as in other Ways, I shall be very Ambitious to serve the n.o.ble Society, whose most Honouring Servant I am,

THOMAS BROWNE.

_Norwich, Jan.

15, 1663._

Concerning some Urnes found in Brampton-Field, in Norfolk, Ann. 1667.