The present altar, designed by Sir A.W. Blomfield, occupies probably the position of the original altar. The question where the high altar stood has provoked much speculation. Professor Willis placed it more to the westward, thinking that a quatrefoiled opening or hagioscope in the screen wall of the last bay on the north side of the Presbytery (marked 9 on plan) was made to afford a view of it from the aisle. Harrod points out that there is a small hole in the vault above, from which probably hung down the light of the sacrament. The position of this hole, and the fact that such a light would necessarily be placed before the altar, and not over or behind it, is evidence that the altar was about where it is now. Blomfield, again, averred that the people stood in the aisle and confessed to the priest standing in the sanctuary, the "voice coming through a hole made in the wall for that purpose," the hole being the hagioscope referred to. But, as Harrod observes, to do this the priest must have assumed a recumbent position, which is neither convenient nor usual.

The real use, no doubt, of this bay of the arcade, was for the Easter sepulchre; its usual position is on the north side of the sanctuary. It will be noticed also that in the aisle immediately behind is a raised gallery of Decorated character, access to which was gained from the sanctuary by steps on the left side of the bay of the arcade, in which occurs the hagioscope. This gallery formed the ante-chapel to the Reliquary Chapel, which projected northwards from the aisle of the cathedral; the roof line of this chapel can be seen plainly from the outside. From the reliquary chapel on Good Friday the crucifix and pyx were taken out and deposited in the Easter sepulchre below; and from the vault above, through the hole before referred to, was hung the great sepulchre light. More probably the hagioscope was intended to be used by the watcher at the sepulchre.



The arrangement of the presbytery, as we have already noted when referring to the plates here reproduced from Britton, has undergone many changes; in the beginning of the century the level of the floor of the choir was continued until between the third and fourth bay from the tower in the presbytery, where it rose by five steps to the level of the sanctuary floor. Harrod speaks of two steps up at the third pier past the tower, and three at the fourth or point of the junction of the apse. In Dean Goulburn's time, the sanctuary space was enlarged by being brought forward one bay. The present floor, designed by Sir A.W. Blomfield in glass mosaic and porphyry, was executed by Powell Brothers. Then also was added the somewhat elaborate communicants' rail, executed in bronze and spars. In enlarging the sanctuary, Dean Goulburn moved the three steps from the fourth pier past the tower to the third, and at the same time the two steps at the third pier were moved forward to the first past the tower. And now again, during the recent works of reparation, the presbytery floor has been brought forward at one level to the tower arch, where it descends to the level of the choir floor by five steps: screens which filled the first bays on either side were removed, and similar flights of steps now descend from the presbytery and the north and south aisles. The cumbrous stalls were also removed, and in part refixed in the nave.

The stained glass which fills the clerestory windows of the apse dates from 1846, and was made by Yarrington. The window in the triforium just above the altar contains modern stained-glass, dedicated to the memory of Canon Thurlow.

Monuments in the Presbytery.—The monument of Herbert, the first bishop of Norwich, and the founder of the cathedral, was raised in the centre of presbytery, before the high altar. It was so much injured during the time of the Rebellion that a new one was erected in 1682; this again was levelled, and a slab placed in the floor at the same place now remains.

In the second bay eastward from the tower (south side), marked 10 on plan—Bishop Goldwell's (1472-99) chantry, and the altar tomb, remarkable for the effigy in full pontificals (see illustration). Bloxam remarks that it is "the only instance of the monumental effigy of a bishop, prior to the Reformation, in which the cappa pluvialis, or processional cope, is represented as the outward vestment instead of the casula or chesible." The tomb is placed to the south of the recess; in the space east was an altar.

In the third bay eastward was Bishop Wakering's (1416-25) tomb, the only part of which now remaining is visible from the south aisle, and consists of a series of panels with plain shields and figures two by two, with the several instruments of the Passion. There were formerly steps down into the south aisle from this bay. In the same place is a monument to Bishop Overall (d. 1619).



In the fourth bay (marked 11 on plan) the altar tomb of Sir William Boleyn of Blickling (d. 1505).

Of the fourth bay eastward from tower on the south side (marked 9 on plan), Sir Thomas Browne says: "On the north of the choir—the presbytery is meant—between the two arches, next to Queen Elizabeth's seat, were buried Sir Thomas Erpingham and his wives, the Lady Joan, etc., whose pictures were in the painted glass windows next to this place, with the arms of the Erpinghams. The insides of both the pillars were painted in red colours, with divers figures and inscriptions from the top almost to the bottom, which are now washed out by the late whiting of the pillars.... There was a long brass inscription about the tombstone, which was torn away in the late times, the name of Erpingham only remaining."

During the recent works, under this same spot was found a leaden coffin enclosing human bones, which were possibly the remains of Sir Thomas Erpingham.

An amusing tale is told by Harrod of Roger Bigod's burial in the cathedral. He was the founder of Thetford Priory, and died in 1107, leaving directions that his body should be buried in his own monastery. The prior of Thetford was much perplexed to hear that Bishop Herbert had taken possession of the body, and had determined that it should be interred with all the due solemnities at Norwich. Herbert was anxious to secure for his own foundation so valuable a source of income as the offerings and celebrations at the tomb of a pious man like Bigod; and no doubt the prior was not actuated alone by love for his departed abbot. The bishop won, and Roger Bigod was buried in the cathedral, possibly in the same crypt which is supposed to contain the bones of Herbert himself.

The North Transept, like the south, is without aisles or triforium, the wall space up to the clerestory level being decorated with wall arcading, varying considerably in position and detail in each compartment. The clerestory follows round from the nave, and overhead is the later lierne vault. It was, together with the eastern arm of the cathedral, closed for two and a half years, during which period the whole of the lime-white and paint encrusting the stonework was flaked off. The work, so far as we can understand, was really a restoration, inasmuch as the original stonework was restored to view. The level of the floor was made to correspond with that of the choir, and a raised wooden floor with the benches thereon removed. The transepts were built by Herbert, the first bishop and founder. Both originally had an apsidal chapel on the eastern wall, but only that on the north arm remains, and access to this now is not possible from the transept. Dedicated at one time to St. Anne, it is now used as a store-house.



The vault was added by Bishop Nykke, and was necessitated by a fire in 1509, which consumed the wooden roofs of both transepts. During the recent works the small arcading immediately under the line of the vault was discovered walled up, the builders of the later vault in all probability having done this, as in many cases the line of the vault cuts over the arcading. This was opened up, and is distinctively interesting in helping to reconstruct the original finish to the Norman work under the roof.

The Tower and Triforium Walks, to which access is gained by a staircase in the east wall of north transept, are of much interest. In the triforium the imposition of the later work on the Norman is clearly noticeable, and the original Norman triple windows walled up with the wall shafts which once supported the semi-arches of the triforium roof. Some of the best views of the interior are to be gained from the triforium and clerestory paths.

Interior of Tower.—A continuation of the same staircase leads to the clerestory, and from thence access is gained to the tower galleries. Above the arches of the crossing there is a vaulted passage in the thickness of the tower walls, with six arches pierced in the inner wall, so that the parts of the interior can be seen from this walk. Above occurs a smaller wall arcade, stopped before reaching the angle to admit of large circular holes being deeply recessed in the walls; and above this again another vaulted gallery, with three windows on either side, pierced through the tower. In the lower of these walks openings occur through the thickness of the walls into the presbytery, the nave, and transepts, just under the vaults, and interestingly quaint peeps can be gained through them.

The Processional Path, or aisles to the presbytery, consists of four bays to the north and south, with quadri-partite vaulting, with a similar five following round the line of the apse. A door in the north aisle leads out into the gardens of the bishop's palace, and from thence the exterior of this part of the cathedral is best seen.

Crossing the north aisle to the presbytery, at the fourth bay eastward past the tower, marked F on plan, there occurs a curious bridge chapel spanning the aisle, access thereto being gained by a newel staircase on the north side. In our notes on the Presbytery, we have referred to the uses assigned to this structure and its connection with the Easter sepulchre. It formed the ante-chapel to the reliquary chapel projecting northward from the outer wall of the cathedral; it probably was built as a bridge so that relics and symbols might be exhibited thereon to processions passing along underneath. It is decorated in character, and the vault is constructed of chalk. The chapel above is decorated with frescoes, the subjects of which are as follow:—In the western quarter of the four-part vault, The Blessed Virgin between SS. Margaret and Catherine; in the eastern, SS. Andrew, Peter, and Paul; in the northern, SS. Martin, Nicholas, Richard; in the southern, SS. Edmund, Lawrence, and a bishop; a figure of Christ occurs centrally. Copies of these frescoes have been made in facsimile, and hang in the aisle and consistory court. Passing through the small door in the north wall of the north aisle before mentioned to the outside, the lines of the reliquary chapel can be plainly seen, and also of another to the west; the position of both these chapels is shown by dotted lines on the plan.



A coped coffin lid of Purbeck marble, now in the aisle of presbytery, should be noticed; an inscribed brass once occupied the bevelled edge.



The Chapels.—In the Norman cathedral, grouped round the east end of the presbytery, was a trefoil of chapels; the one on the north, the Jesus Chapel, yet remains, and as well its fellow on the south. The Lady Chapel, or easternmost of the three (shown on plan by dotted lines) was succeeded by an Early English building, which, in its turn, was destroyed; the entrance arches, of beautiful proportion, alone remaining.



The Jesus Chapel formerly belonged to the bishop. On plan its shape is that of segments of circles joined, the altar placed in the smaller part. A simple wall arcade runs round the lower half, the whole being covered by a plain quadri-partite vault. The windows are insertions of Perpendicular work, varied in character from the Norman work of the chapel itself. The mural colouring is a restoration; it may be something like the original, but the general effect is somewhat garish.



The altar consists of a slab of grey Barnack-stone, with Purbeck inlaid, the whole being supported on shafts.

The tomb of Sir Thomas Wyndham, now in the north of nave, at one time stood here, as also the pelican lectern now in the choir.

In Britton, the chapel is shown divided off from the aisle by a stone screen of Perpendicular character; this was removed, and used to form in part the present screens dividing the ante-choir from the aisles.

A room over the Jesus Chapel, once the plumbery, is now used as a museum.

The Entrance which led to the Lady Chapel is immediately behind the apse, and takes the form of a double arch with clustered columns to the jambs and central pier; the archivolt is deeply moulded and enriched with the typical Early English "dog-tooth" ornament. In the spandrel over the pier, and between the archivolts, is a quatrefoiled opening fitting just under the line of the semi-circular Norman vault. The arches, walled-in up to the impost level, are now filled with glass, as well as the opening. The original circular Norman Lady Chapel was destroyed in part by the fire of 1169; it was repaired by Bishop De Turbe (1146-74), but it was not until the time of Walter de Suffield (1245-57) that it was decided to pull it down and rebuild a chapel in the style of the period—viz. Early English; it was this later building that Dean Gardiner (1573-89) destroyed.

Dean Goulburn, in his work on the cathedral, points out that it was the cultus of the Blessed Virgin, which gathered strength all over Europe during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, that led to the erection of such sumptuous chapels as this thirteenth-century Lady Chapel of Norwich must have been. When the theological reaction followed, they fell into disuse and neglect, and their final ruin followed when it was found cheaper to pull them down than keep them in repair.

The beautiful proportion of the entrance arches still remaining, the archivolt enriched with the "dog-tooth" moulding—the only example of this particular ornament at Norwich—gives one an idea of what the chapel may have been like. During the recent works of reparation in the choir, pieces of stone were found with the "dog-tooth" built inwards: evidently the stone from the pulled down chapel had been used by the masons for the repair of the fabric.

St. Luke's Chapel, on the south side of the apse corresponding with the Jesus Chapel on the north, was formerly the chapel of the prior. It is now used as the parish church of St. Mary in the Marsh. It has been much restored, and the Decorated windows shown in Britton's view of the east end of the cathedral were replaced early in the sixties, by what the restorer would no doubt have called Norman.

The coloured glass was inserted to the east window in 1868, the south window in 1870, the west window in 1881. That in the east and south is by Hardman, in the west by Clayton & Bell. The glass in the south window forms a memorial to Adam Sedgwick, Professor of Geology at Cambridge, and canon of the cathedral for many years.

The room over the St. Luke's Chapel is used as the Treasury and Muniment Room.

The Bauchon Chapel—corrupted to Beauchamp—dedicated to St. Mary-the-Less, projects to the south of the third bay of the presbytery aisle past the tower, (marked B on plan). It was founded in the fourteenth century and the vault added in the fifteenth century. Its bosses represent the Life, Death, and Assumption of the Virgin. The chapel is now used as the consistory court. The bishop's throne, erected by Dean Lloyd late in the eighteenth century in the choir, has found a resting-place here.

A chapel, founded by Bishop Wakering, and which is said to have been used as the chapter-house after the demolition of that structure, came between the Bauchon Chapel and the east wall of the south transept. Its exact position is, however, doubtful. Harrod, quoting Blomfield, speaks of another chapel that was dedicated to St. Osyth, and which was paved in 1398.



The South Transept.—The screen and doorway filling the Norman arch between the south aisle of presbytery and the south transept should be noticed; it is an interesting piece of work of late Perpendicular design. There is a tradition that the Puritans disliked especially any tracery that took the form of this piece of screen work, calling windows in which it occurred "wicked windows." The intersection of the lines of the tracery made the monogram of the Blessed Virgin; and the fanatics destroyed such work wherever noticed. The tale is interesting, though we cannot vouch for its truth.



At the time the whitewash and paint covering the south transept was cleaned off a range of small arcading was discovered immediately under the line of the vault, as in the north transept, walled-up evidently when the vault was added.

The south transept had in Norman times a circular chapel projecting eastward similar to that remaining to the north transept. This was replaced by a later sacristy during the fifteenth century, and the line of this roof can be seen from the outside.

Across the south end there was formerly a stone screen built by Bishop Lyhart (1446-72) communicating with the vestry on the east side, and on the west with the staircase to rooms above the east walk of cloisters. These rooms, as we have before noted, were in all probability the dormitories of the monks, placed that they might so conveniently gain access to the cathedral for the services.

On the top of Lyhart's screen came a clock; there are records in the sacrists' rolls of materials used in the construction of an earlier clock that was made between 1322-25—of two hundred pieces of Caen stone and ten of "Gobetz" used to make a base, and that for making thirty images to represent the days of the month, no less than 47s. 4d. was paid.

The vault was added by Bishop Nykke at the same time as that to the north transept; the carved bosses representing the early history of Christ—the Presentation, Baptism, etc. The painted glass window on the east side, the subject of which is the Ascension (after Raphael), was erected by the widow of Dean Lloyd about a century since. Speaking of its original position in the triforium of the presbytery, Britton says "it disfigures, rather than ornaments, its station"; it can safely be added that it fulfils the same purpose still.

Monuments.—Chantrey's statue of Bishop Bathhurst (d. 1837), originally in the presbytery, has been placed here in the south transept. The west wall has a memorial to the men and officers of the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot who fell in China and Japan.

The east wall has a similar tablet to those of the same regiment who fell in Afghanistan, 1842. A monument, originally on the west wall, to Bishop Scambler (1585-95), has been removed to the south aisle of nave.

The county of Norfolk is peculiarly rich in painted screens of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; and it would have been strange indeed if no specimen of their work had been preserved in the cathedral. Fortunately, a superb retable in five panels, representing scenes in the Passion of our Lord was discovered by Professor Willis in 1847, and is now preserved in the aisle outside the Jesus Chapel.

This was formerly an altar-piece to the Jesus Chapel, and was preserved by the happy accident of its admirable carpentry having saved it for the purposes of a table. It appears to have been the work of an Italian artist of about 1370 A.D., and is executed in a kind of gesso work. The size is now 7 ft. 51/2 ins. x 2 ft. 4 ins.; but it was formerly surrounded by an ornamented frame, of which portions remain on three sides. The subjects represented are—from the left—The Scourging, Bearing the Cross, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension.[1]

[Footnote 1: Royal Arch. Institute: Norwich volume, p. 198.]

Traces of other decorative painting have also been discovered in the Sacrist's Room, St. Luke's and the Jesus Chapels, the choir aisles, and other places.



CHAPTER IV

THE SEES OF THE EAST ANGLIAN BISHOPS

Herbert, surnamed de Losinga, transferred the see from Thetford to Norwich in 1094, and it is from this period that the history of the cathedral may be said to commence; but, to understand rightly the history of the diocese, we must go back some four centuries and a half to that earlier period when Redwald, king of the East Angles, was first converted to Christianity while paying a visit to the court of Ethelbert in Kent. He, however, proved but a weak disciple, and on being urged by his wife to be true to the old gods, he tried to effect a compromise and worship Jehovah and Baal.

He was succeeded by his son Eorpwald, who was converted by missionaries sent by Edwin king of Northumbria. His reign, however, was short, and at his death the people again relapsed into heathenism.

Christianity was finally established among the East Angles by Sigeberht, Eorpwald's brother, and it was due to him and through his influence that Felix, a missionary from Burgundy, was enabled to fix his see at Dunwich, A.D. 630.

Felix (630-47) must needs have been a man strong in his Faith; he christianised the whole of that district which now includes Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. He died on the 8th of March, and was canonized after death. Felixstowe, where he is said to have founded schools, keeps his memory green in the East Country; but Dunwich, where he fixed his see, has long since been covered by the encroaching waves.

Sigeberht resigned the crown to his kinsman Egric, and had entered a monastery to finish his days in peace. But the kingdom was invaded by the Mercians under Penda, and the peaceful old king was compelled to appear in the field to give heart and courage to the East Angles. He, however, declined to employ carnal weapons, and went out against his enemies armed with nothing more formidable than a wand. He was killed in the ensuing engagement, and his successor, Egric, shared the same fate.

The administration of the two successors to Felix lasted twenty-two years, from A.D. 647-69. The East Anglian see was then divided by Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, into two separate administrations, Acci, the fourth successor to Felix, taking Dunwich, while Beadwin was consecrated to the see of Elham.

From this date there were two lines of East Anglian Bishops; ten diocesans followed after Acci at Dunwich, and nine after Beadwin at Elmham.

St. Humbert (828-78) was the last of the Bishops of Elmham; he crowned St. Edmund king of the East Angles, and both were murdered by the Danes under Hinguar in 870.

After Humbert's death the two sees were again united under Wildred, who at this time was Bishop of Dunwich; he, however, preferred Humbert's see at Elham, and removed there, and so the bishopric of Dunwich became extinct.

During the next two hundred years (870-1070), there were thirteen bishops of Elmham, and then Elmham shared a similar fate to Dunwich, and the see was moved to Thetford by Herfast, a chaplain of William the Conqueror. William of Malmesbury records that Herfast had decided to go down to posterity as a man who had done something, and fixed on this removal as an easy solution of the difficulty.

William Galsagus (1086-91) or de Beaufeu succeeded Herfast, and he in turn was succeeded by Herbert de Losinga, who became first Bishop of Norwich.

The history of Herbert's episcopate (1091-1119) is the history of the causes which effected the building of Norwich Cathedral, and, although given previously in the history of the fabric, must needs be briefly recapitulated here. Herbert, if not of Norman birth, had received his education in Normandy and was Prior of Fecamp—where he had first taken his vows—when offered by William Rufus the appointment of Abbot of Ramsey. The see of Thetford fell vacant, and Herbert procured his own appointment from the Red King in consideration of a sum of L1900 which he paid into the royal treasury. The remorse which followed on this sin of simony compelled him to go to Rome and seek the consolation and forgiveness of Pope Urban. This was in 1094. He returned, and as expiation for his sin founded the Priory of Norwich, the first stone of which was laid in 1096, the see being removed from Thetford in accordance with the decree of Lanfranc's Synod, held in 1075, that all bishops should fix their sees in the principal town in their dioceses.

In cathedral monasteries the bishop, who was elected by the monks, appears to have represented the abbot and took precedence of the prior. Before Herbert's time, the chapter was composed of secular canons and not monks.

Herbert, in 1101, placed sixty monks at Norwich, and it may be of interest to quote from Taylor's "Index Monasticus" the establishment of the monastery from Herbert's time up to the dissolution in 1538—

The Bishop representing the Chaplains. Abbot. Precentor or chanter. The Lord Prior. Sub-chanter. The Sub-Prior. Infirmarer. 60 Monks. Choristers. Sacrist. Keeper of the Shrines. Sub-sacrist. Lay Officers. Cellarer or bursar. Butlers. Camerarius or chamberlain. Granarii. Almoner. Hostilarii. Refectorer. Carcerarius or gaoler. Pittancier.

Archbishop Anselm had refused to acknowledge that the king had the right to exercise a suzerainty over the Church, and declined to consent to lay investitures. An embassy was sent to Rome, and Herbert, who went there a second time about 1116, represented the king. It, however, was in no way satisfactory; the Pope did not want to offend the king, and he wished to retain to himself the right of investiture, so, while congratulating the Archbishop's representatives, he sympathised also with those of the king. The exertion told on Herbert, and at Placentia, on the return journey, he fell sick, and stopped there until he became sufficiently convalescent to journey by short and easy stages to his own cathedral city. He lived to complete much important business, but his days of administration were drawing to a close. He had been Prior of Fecamp, Abbot of Ramsey, Sewer to William Rufus, had governed the East Anglian bishopric first from the episcopal see at Thetford, had transferred it to Norwich, and founded the Cathedral Priory, and if this were not sufficient, he founded and endowed many other churches and monasteries in the East Country. His repentance had been sincere, and in one of his letters he refers to "my past life, which, alas! is darkened by many foul sins." Dean Goulburn credits him with a third journey to Rome, and says that it was at Placentia, on the outward journey, that he contracted so grievous a sickness that he "lay ten successive days without taking food and without uttering a word"; in fact, never reaching Rome, but waiting for and rejoining his brother ambassadors on their return. This journey was undertaken with the view of adjusting the differences that had arisen between the new Primates, Ralph and Thurston. The embassy was not successful, the Pope declining to commit himself to any but the most general statements.

One of the last public acts of Herbert's life was to attend the funeral of Queen Matilda on May-day, 1118. He died on the 22nd of July 1119 in the twenty-seventh year of his episcopate, and was buried before the high altar of his cathedral church.

Eborard (1121-1145), who succeeded Herbert, a son by second marriage of Roger de Montgomery, first Earl of Arundel, was consecrated in 1121.

During his episcopate Eborard had parted with the towns of Blickling and Cressingham, which pertained to his see, to two of the more powerful barons, in the hope of securing the rest of the episcopal property, and possibly with the idea of regaining possession of the same when the troubled times should have passed.

He was deposed in 1145, and it may possibly be that he had favoured the cause of Maude in the civil wars of the period, and that it was Stephen who compelled him to relinquish his see and spend the rest of his life in exile. He had in 1139 laid the foundation of an abbey at Fontenay, in the south of France, and thither he repaired. He died in 1149.

His successor, William de Turbe (1146-1174), was elected to the see, and in the year 1146 was consecrated at Canterbury by Archbishop Theobald.

In 1168, Becket had written to De Turbe from Vezelay, a town on the borders of Burgundy and Nivernois, and ordered him, by the Pope's authority, to publicly excommunicate Hugh Bigot, Earl of Norfolk. He had robbed the Priory of Pentnay, in Norfolk, of some of its possessions. De Turbe obeyed, notwithstanding the fact that the king had sent officers to prohibit him from so doing. An absolution was obtained from the Pope, but the king was so far incensed that De Turbe considered it advisable to rest in sanctuary at Norwich until the following year, 1169, when he received the royal pardon.



Bishop William de Turbe died 17th January 1174, and was buried in the cathedral choir, on the left side of the founder.

John of Oxford (1175-1200) was consecrated at Lambeth by Richard, Archbishop of Canterbury, December 14, 1175; he was clerk or royal chaplain to the king. He had presided over the council of Clarendon, the constitutions of which defined the king's prerogatives in regard to the Church, and chiefly with regard to the question of trying clerks charged with crimes in the civil courts. He was despatched to Rome on an embassy to the Pope, Alexander III., and on its failure was sent by Henry to the Diet at Wurzburg; the king, not having been supported by Alexander, determined to uphold his opponent, and as well he, in direct opposition to the Pope, made John of Oxford Dean of Salisbury, with the result that the future Bishop of Norwich incurred the penalty of excommunication by Becket from Vezelay, "for having fallen into a damnable heresy in taking a sacrilegious oath to the emperor, for having communicated with the schismatic of Cologne, and for having usurped to himself the deanery of the church of Salisbury."

The dispute was referred to the Pope at Sens, where John of Oxford, with his fellow-ambassador, Gilbert Foliot, Bishop of London, repaired; John of Oxford was rebuked by the Pontiff for his misconduct, but diplomatically managed to effect his end and retain his deanery. Henry had met Becket at Chaumont, through the mediation of the Archbishop of Sens, and, the quarrel being patched up, John of Oxford was sent to escort him to England. He landed, December 1, at Sandwich, in the year 1170, and within the month was murdered at Canterbury.

In 1175, the incursion of William of Scotland was checked, and the king himself taken prisoner by Ranulph de Glanville. John of Oxford and others were commissioned to settle terms of peace; and they executed the treaty of Falaice, afterwards ratified by King Henry at York, by which the Scottish king and his barons were under the necessity of doing homage for their possessions. John of Oxford, who had rendered good service to his sovereign, was rewarded by promotion to the vacant see of Norwich; and during his episcopate sent by the king on an embassy to William, King of Sicily, to convey his majesty's consent to the marriage of his daughter Joan with that monarch.

An important step in the administration of justice was taken during this reign—the king divided the country into six circuits, to which certain prelates and nobles were to be sent at certain times to hear suits and save litigants the trouble of attending the king's court at Westminster. John of Oxford was one of a company of five to whom was given jurisdiction over a portion of the country, from Norwich down to Sussex, and from Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire eastward to the coast.

On the 9th of July 1189, King Henry died, and was succeeded by his third son, Richard: John of Oxford assisting at the coronation. Richard had no sooner been crowned than he led the crusade to the Holy Land, which had been preparing in Henry's time, and John of Oxford was forced to proceed to the Pope to ask for his absolution of the oath he had taken to follow the Cross, on account of his old age and infirmity. This request being granted, for which he had to pay 10,000 marks, he returned to England.

The last public act of John of Oxford—who was one of the most remarkable men who have held the see of Norwich—was most probably his attendance at the coronation of King John. He died June 2, 1200.

John de Grey (1200-1214) was elected by the monks, and his election being confirmed by King John, he was consecrated by Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury. It was during his episcopate, and through the quarrel between King John and the Pope, that the power of the latter was at length firmly established—a supremacy that was unquestioned until the sixteenth century.

The metropolitan see of Canterbury fell vacant in 1205; the sub-prior, who was surreptitiously elected by the monks, and unknown to the king, travelled to Rome for the Pope's sanction of his appointment. When the king became aware of this he was enraged, and despatched an embassy upholding his nominee, John de Grey. The Pope pleased neither party, and named Stephen Langton as Hubert's successor. The Pope, Innocent, sent two legates, of whom Pandulph was one, in 1211 to England, and on John declining to recognise the Papal claims, he was deposed, and his crown offered to the French king Philip.

The country had been placed under an interdict, and most of the bishops had left the country. John de Grey remained faithful to the king, and actually invaded France with a small force to attack the invading Philip, but soon was forced to retreat. In the end, John submitted, resigned his crown, which was restored to him, and was compelled to pay to the Church as damages 40,000 marks. John de Grey, who had been sent to Rome to arrange this, died on the return journey at S. Jean d'Angelo, near Poictiers, 18th October 1214.

Pandulph Masca (1222-1226) was consecrated Bishop of Norwich by Honorius, 29th May 1222. He is supposed to have been a member of a noble Pisan family, and in 1211 had been sent by Pope Innocent to humble King John, which he successfully did. He was again employed as Papal Legate during the young King Henry II.'s minority, and died in Italy, 16th September 1226, having played a prominent part as politician and mediator.

Thomas de Blunville (1226-1236), the nephew of Hubert de Burgh, Lord Chief-Justice of England, was consecrated in St. Catherine's Chapel at Westminster by Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury. He died in 1236, and was succeeded by Ralph de Norwich, of whom but little is known; and is even supposed to have died before his consecration.

William de Ralegh was consecrated on the 25th September 1239 at St. Paul's by Edmund Rich, Archbishop of Canterbury. He had been a chaplain of King Henry, and having received the education of a lawyer, from 1224-35 he visited various parts of the kingdom as a justiciary. On the death of Peter de Rupibus he was elected to the see at Winchester by the monks, in direct defiance of the king. The Pope's intervention in the end secured him his see. He died at Tours in 1250.

Walter de Suffield (1245-57) was elected bishop by the monks after Ralegh's translation. He chiefly busied himself in building and beautifying the cathedral, and there is no record that he took any prominent part in politics. He superintended a general inquisition (known as the Norwich taxation) into the value of the Church revenues throughout the whole of England. He died May 18, 1257, during a visit to Colchester.

Simon de Walton (1258-66) was consecrated by Boniface, Archbishop of Canterbury, on March 10, 1258. He held (in 1246) the office of justice-itinerant. Of his administration little is known. He was past seventy when he assumed the charge of the diocese. The barons under De Montfort had beaten the king's army at Lewes, in 1264, and in 1266, from their encampment in the Isle of Ely, attacked and sacked the city. Simon de Walton died January 2, 1266.

Roger de Skerming (1266-78) was elected by the monks, and was consecrated by Geoffrey Rages in St. Paul's Cathedral in April 1266. It was during his episcopate that the disturbance occurred between the monks and citizens over the annual fair held on Trinity Sunday, in Tombland. He died January 2, 1278.



William de Middleton (1278-88) was consecrated at Lambeth by the Archbishop of Canterbury on May 29, 1278, and was enthroned, and the Cathedral re-dedicated after the sacrilege and fire, on Advent Sunday, 1278, when Edward I. and his queen were present. He was appointed a guardian of the realm, 1279, during the king's absence in France; Archdeacon of Canterbury in 1276; and also steward of Bordeaux. He died September 1, 1288, at Terling, in Essex, and his remains were carried in state to Norwich, and there buried in the Lady Chapel.

Ralph de Walpole (1289-99) was of Norfolk extraction, and an archdeacon of Ely. He was consecrated to the see on Mid-lent Sunday, 1289, at Canterbury, by John Peckham archbishop. His election, however, was displeasing to the diocese. He was translated to Ely in 1299.

John Salmon (1299-1325), prior of Ely, had been elected bishop by the monks, but was appointed to the see at Norwich at the same time that Walpole was translated to Ely. He was consecrated by Archbishop Winchelsey October 3, at Canterbury, and was one of the envoys sent to the Court of Philip the Fair King of France, to arrange the marriage of the young king Edward II. (1307). He was appointed chancellor of the realm in 1320. He also went to France again in 1325; and it was on his return that he died July 6, 1325.

William de Ayerminne (1325-36) was elected to the see by papal bull in 1325, and this overruled the election by the monks of Robert de Baldock. Ayerminne was consecrated to the see September 15, 1325. He had held a prebendal stall at St. Paul's in 1313 and in the next year at Lincoln. In 1324 he was sent as ambassador to Robert Bruce to treat for peace. He died at Charing, March 27, 1336; and was buried in the cathedral before the high altar. He appears to have been cunning and crafty, and not above changing his political views when occasion demanded.

Anthony de Beck (1337-43) was nominated by the Pope, the monks having chosen Thomas de Hemenhale, who however, went to Worcester. Both were consecrated to their respective dioceses by the Pope at Avignon March 30, 1337. He had been Dean of Lincoln. In 1342 he resisted the Archbishop Stratford's visitation; this must have been a foretaste to the monks of his imperious temper. In 1343 he was poisoned by his own servants.

William Bateman (1344-54), of a Norwich family, had been archdeacon of Norwich, chaplain to the Pope, and dean of Lincoln. He was consecrated by the Pope at Avignon, 23rd May 1344. During his episcopate in (Edward III.'s reign) 1349, Norwich was visited by "Black Death"; over 51,000 are supposed to have fallen victims to the dread plague. He founded Trinity Hall at Cambridge, 1350; was sent to Rome on an embassy there. He died January 6, 1354. He was buried at the church of St. Mary of Avignon.

Thomas Percy (1355-69), brother of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, against the wishes of the monks, was elected to the see. He was consecrated January 3, 1355, at Waverly, in Surrey, by the Bishops of Winchester, Sarum, and Chichester. The nobility at this time were securing church preferments for their families to keep pace with the formation of the professions and general advance of learning. He died August 8, 1369, and was buried in the cathedral, before the rood loft.

Henry le Dispencer (1370-1406) was consecrated at Rome, 21st April 1370. He was hated by the monks, who had no share in his election. He was of martial feeling, and took a prominent part in quelling the local disturbance incident on Wat Tyler's rebellion, 1381. He was employed by Urban VI. against his rival, Pope Clement VII.; was arrested for treason in 1399, and pardoned by Henry IV. He died 1406.

Alexander de Totington (1407-13), prior of Norwich, was elected by the monks in September 1406. This election found no favour at the Court, and he was imprisoned at Windsor for nearly a year. He was then released, and consecrated at Gloucester by the Archbishop October 23, 1407. He died April 28, 1413, and was buried in the Lady Chapel.

Richard Courtenay (1412-15) was nominated by Henry V., and consecrated by the Archbishop at Windsor 17th September 1413. He was Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 1407-11-13. He died at Harfleur in 1415, while on attendance to the king during the siege of that town. His body was brought to England, and buried in Westminster Abbey.

John Wakering (1416-25), who was elected by the monks, had become keeper of the privy seal in 1415. He was consecrated at St. Paul's by the Archbishop May 31, 1416. He persecuted the Lollards strongly, and during his episcopate many were burned at the stake. Yet his character apparently was far from being harsh. He died at Thorpe in 1435, and was buried in the presbytery.

Alnwick (1426-36) was confessor to Henry VI., and in 1420 archdeacon of Salisbury. He was appointed by a papal bull, and consecrated August 18, 1426. He was translated by papal bull in 1436 to Lincoln.

Thomas Browne's (1436-45) appointment was contained in the same bull that translated Alnwick. He had been previously Dean of Salisbury in 1431, and Bishop of Rochester in 1435. During his episcopate the citizens again laid the priory under siege over a question of dues due to them, and the liberties of the city were, as a consequence, seized by the king. Browne died in 1445, and was buried in the nave, in the front and to the west side of rood.

Walter Lyhart (1446-72) was nominated by the Pope, and consecrated February 1446, at Lambeth, by the Archbishop Stafford. He had been confessor to Henry VI.'s wife, Margaret of Anjou. He died May 17, 1472.

James Goldwell (1472-99) had been ambassador of Edward IV. at Rome. He was nominated by the Pope, and consecrated at Rome, October 4, 1472. He died February 15, 1499.

Thomas Jane (1499-1500) had been Canon of Windsor and Dean of Chapel Royal in 1497; was consecrated on October 20, 1499. He died in September 1500.

Richard Nykke was consecrated in 1501. He was of infamous character, and no doubt stimulated the zeal of the reformers, who may well have contended that the Church which had such prelates surely needed reformation. He persecuted those opposed to him, and burned many at the stake. He was imprisoned in 1535, for appealing to Rome touching the king's prerogative. He died January 14, 1536.

William Rugg (1536-50) was the last Bishop of Norwich before the dissolution of the monasteries. Wolsey's downfall had occurred in 1529, and in 1536 the smaller monasteries were dissolved, and in 1538 the larger ones shared the same fate, Norwich being among the number, the last prior, William Castleton, becoming dean. William Rugg resigned the see in 1550.



On the foundation of the cathedral after the Dissolution the establishment was as follows:—

One dean. Six poor men or bedesmen. Six prebendaries. One sacrist. Six minor canons. Two sub-sacrists. One deacon reader of the Gospel. One beadle of the poor men. One deacon reader of the Epistle. One high steward. Eight lay clerks to be expert in singing. And clerks, porters, One organist, eight choristers. auditors, and a coroner. One precentor.

And such constitution, with but few changes, has held down to this day, the prebendaries have become resident canons, and the precentor is also a minor canon.

Thomas Thirley (1550-54) owed his preferment to Norwich from Westminster to Edward VI. Queen Mary, in September 1554, promoted him to Ely. He was the first and only bishop Westminster has had.

John Hopton (1554-58) was chaplain to Queen Mary, and aided in the persecution of the Protestants.

John Parkhurst (1560-75) is credited with having "beautified and repaired" the bishop's palace.

Edmund Freke (1575-78) was translated from Rochester, and again to Worcester in 1578.

Edmund Scambler (1585-94) was translated to Norwich from Peterborough.

William Redman (1594-1602).

John Jegon (1602-1617) was master of Benedict College for twelve years.

John Overall (1618-19) was translated from Lichfield and Coventry; he enjoyed the reputation of being the "best scholastic divine in the English nation."

Samuel Harsnet (1619-28); translated to York in 1628.

Francis White (1628-31); translated to Ely in 1631.

Richard Corbet (1632) was translated from Oxford. Of him it was said "he was a distinguished wit in an age of wits, and a liberal man amongst a race of intolerant partisans."

Matthew Wren (1635-38); translated to Ely in 1638.

Richard Montague (1638-41); translated from Chichester.

Joseph Hall (1641-56); translated from Exeter. We have quoted in the notes on nave from his "Hard Measure."

Edward Reynolds (1661-76).

Antony Sparrow (1676-85); translated from Exeter. He was the author of a "Rationale upon the Book of Common Prayer," 1657.

#William Lloyd #(1685-91); translated from Llandaff to Peterborough, and from thence to Norwich. He was deposed in 1690 for refusing to take the oath of allegiance to William III.

John Moore (1691-1707); translated to Ely in 1707.

Charles Trimmell (1708-1721); translated to Winchester in 1721.

Thomas Green (1721-23); translated to Ely 1723.

John Lang (1723-27).

William Baker (1727-32); translated from Bangor.

Robert Butts (1733-38); translated to Ely 1738.

Sir Thomas Gooch, Bart. (1738-48); translated from Bristol.

Samuel Lisle (1748-49); translated from St. Asaph.

Thomas Hayter (1749-61); translated to London in 1761.

Philip Yonge (1761-83); translated from Bristol.

Lewis Bagot (1783-90); translated from Bristol.

George Horne (1791-92).

Charles Manners Sutton (1792-1805); translated to Canterbury in 1805.

Henry Bathurst (1805-37).

Edward Stanley (1837-49), father of the late Dean of Westminster.

Samuel Hinds (1849-57).

John Thomas Pelham (1857-93).

J. Sheepshanks (1893).



CHAPTER V

THE CITY

The visitor to this ancient city will by no means wish to confine his attention to the Cathedral and its precincts; but the space at our disposal will not permit more than a list of other monuments which are worthy of attention. Among these the Castle naturally comes first. Occupying the site of a very ancient—probably British—stronghold, the first building was erected in early Norman times. For many years it was the principal fortress of the Bigods, Earls of Norfolk, and under them experienced many vicissitudes of fortune at the hands of both Flemings and French. The last event of importance connected with it was the hanging of Kett in 1549. The keep is in dimensions 96 x 92 feet, its height being 72 feet (see p. 99).

The Guildhall contains many interesting relics of the civil life of Norwich during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, including those of the famous Guild of S. George, established in 1385 and dissolved in 1731 (see p. 103).

St. Andrew's Hall, a fifteenth-century building, was formerly the nave of the Church of the Blackfriars. It contains some good pictures of the English School.

Among the Churches, that of St. Peter, Mancroft (fifteenth century), is well worth a visit. Its tower, 98 feet in height, contains one of the most famous peals of bells in England, and has always been the headquarters of a notable band of change-ringers. Of the others, St. Gregory, Pottergate, has some interesting antiquities; St. Giles', St. Helen's, and St. John the Baptist are all of importance: the latter has some good mural painting and monumental brasses, which should also be examined. St. Michael's, Coslaney, is a well-known type of the Norfolk flint construction.

At Pull's Ferry the water-gate to the precincts is still standing. It is an interesting piece of flint work. The ferry itself, of which a view is given here, is a favourite sketching place.



THE END

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REFERENCES TO PLAN.

A. Dean's Vestry. B. The Chapel of St. Mary-the-Less. C. The Chapel of St. Luke. D. The Jesus Chapel. E. Bishop Nykke's Chapel. F. The Ante-Reliquary Chapel. G. The High Altar. H. Site of destroyed Chapter-House. J. The Locutory, now used as the Choir School. Y. A Main Pier in Nave. Z. A Subsidiary Pier in Nave.

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1. Altar Tomb of Sir Thomas Wyndham. 2. " " Sir John Hobart. 3. Tomb of Chancellor Spencer. 4. Altar Tomb of Bishop Parkhurst (1560-74). 5. Door in the East Walk of Cloisters. 6. Door once leading to Refectory. 7. The Monks' Lavatories. 8. Door once leading to the Guest Hall. 9. The Easter Sepulchre and Burial-place of Sir Thomas Erpingham. 10. Bishop Goldwell's Chantry. 11. The Altar Tomb of Sir William Boleyn of Blickling (d. 1505).

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Transcriber's Notes:

1. Words and phrases which were italicized in the original have been surrounded by underscores ('_') in this version. Words or phrases which were bolded have been surrounded by pound signs ('#').

2. Obvious printer's errors have been corrected without note.

3. Inconsistencies in hyphenation and the spelling of proper names, dialect, and obsolete word spelling have been maintained as in the original.

THE END