Part 3 — FOOTNOTES.

In Memory of

WILLIAM COWPER, Esquire,

Born in Hertfordshire, 1732: Buried in this Church, 1800.

Ye who with warmth the public triumph feel Of talents dignified by sacred zeal, Here, to Devotion’s Bard devoutly just, Pay your fond Tribute due to COWPER’s dust. England, exulting in his spotless fame, Ranks with her dearest sons’ his fav’rite name. Sense, fancy, wit, suffice not all to raise So clear a title to affection’s praise: His highest honours to the heart belong: His virtues form’d the magic of his Song.

“about the year 1490 John Morton, bishop of Ely, and Lord Chancellor of England, [afterward Archbishop of Canterbury and a Roman Cardinal] for the better obtaining that end, and for the more effectual recovery of the outfall at Wisbeach, cut a new river, or drain 14 miles in length, 14 feet wide, and about 4 feet deep, beginning at the high grounds, within a mile of Peterborough, and continuing it down to Guyhorn, an hamlet in Wisbeach parish; and setting down a sluice across the old river Nene at Standground, turned the waters of that river down this new cut. This (he adds) with some other works, said to have been done by him, did for a time make some improvement in the fens about Wisbeach, so as to make them good sheep pasture, &c. But this (he further adds) continued not long, being cut too shallow, and not sufficiently embanked, or kept clear and free from impediments and obstructions.”

Elstobb’s Observations, p. 25, 26.

“That it was entered into by the Earl, at the earnest request and importunities of the country in general, who at a numerous sessions of sewers held at Lynn, January 13, 1630, became humble suitors to him to undertake the business, which he condescended to comply with, and accordingly contracted with the commissioners and the country, and engaged that he would use his best endeavours to drain the said marsh, fenny, waste and surrounded grounds, in such a manner as that they should be fit for meadow, pasture, or arable; and the work to be completed within the compass of six years. To the end the Earl might the more confidently undertake and effect the said work, and be assured of enjoying the 95,000 acres, as the fruit and recompence of his labours and charge; and that the country might be more assured of obtaining a benefit proportionable to the very great quantity of land they were to part with, it was agreed that 12,000 acres, part of the 95,000, should be presented to the king, in lieu of all and every benefit he might claim by a certain law of sewers, made in the 19th year of king James, or by any other law or decree of sewers, and for his royal approbation and confirmation of the contract, &c.”—Having described the work in its commencement and progress, he adds, that having expended about £100,000 these lands were so benefited that, in about seven years time, from the first undertaking, viz. in 1637, at a session of sewers held at Peterborough, October 12, the Level was adjudged to be drained, and the 95,000 acres were, by six or more commissioners set out for the Earl, his heirs and assigns.—But it being soon after discovered that these lands, though benefited, were not perfectly recovered, but in winter were still subject to inundations, the very next year, 1638, at a sessions of sewers held at Huntingdon, April 12, the Earl’s undertaking was adjudged defective. The King then taking the business into his princely consideration, and understanding by an estimate made by Sir C. Vermuiden, that if this Level of near 400,000 acres were made winter-lands, it would be of extraordinary advantage, viz. of about £600,000 to the common wealth, his Majesty determined to become himself the undertaker; and accordingly on July 18, the same year, he was actually declared undertaker; and was to have, not only those 95,000 acres, which had been set out for the Earl of Bedford, but also 57,000 acres more, from the country, it being his Majesty’s design to make the land good winter-ground. The Earl, in consideration of the costs he had been at, was to have 40,000 acres out of the 95,000 before granted him.—The King to manifest his real and earnest purpose of speedily effecting the business, caused the following works to be done: a bank on the south side of Morton’s Leam, and another begun on the north side: a navigable sass at Standground: a new river cut between the stone sluice, at the Horse-Shoe, and the sea below Wisbeach, sixty feet broad, and two miles long, with banks on both sides: also a sluice in the marshes below Tydd, upon the outfall of the Shire Drain. But the King being embroiled in a civil war, the Level lay neglected; and the country complaining that they had received no benefit by the draining, they entered upon the 93,000 acres again, which had been taken from them.”

Elstobb’s Observations, p. 9 to 12.

“Six hours in sleep, in Law’s grave study Six, Four spend in prayer, the rest on nature fix.”

For which Sir William Jones is said to have substituted the following,

“Six hours to law, to soothing slumber seven, Ten to the world allot, and all to heaven.”

We have often heard Druidism represented as a monstrous and shocking system: but if it was so, it must have been in its corrupt, and not in its original state. Even christianity itself, in a corrupt state, becomes an object equally monstrous and shocking; but that can furnish no argument against genuine christianity, or the religion of the New Testament. As to the human victims which the Druids are said to have offered, they were, it seems, chiefly malefactors: in that view we may be said to have our human victims too, and that in far greater numbers probably, than those of the Druids. Our executions are very frequent, and the victims we thus offer up are more numerous than in any other country we know of. These victims we offer up to law and justice, but they are very few compared with the myriads upon myriads we have offered on the altar of injustice, persecution, ambition, and folly.

“Query. 1. Are cousin germans allowed to marry? Answer. This indulgence was formerly granted by the Roman law; but experience having shewn that no posterity can come from such marriages, they are prohibited. Query. 2. Is it lawful to baptize a woman with child? Answer. No inconvenience can arise from the practice. Query. 3. How soon after the birth may a child be baptized? Answer. Immediately if necessary. Query. 4. How soon may the husband return to the wife after her delivery? Answer. Not till after the child is weaned. Query. 5. How soon after sexual intercourse, is it lawful for a husband to enter the church? Answer. Not till he has purged himself by prayer and ablution.”

These nice and delicate queries, with more of the same sort, were accompanied by others concerning episcopal duties.—With the solution of these problems, the pope sent Austin the pall, (a piece of white woollen cloth, to be thrown over the shoulders, as a badge of archiepiscopal dignity;) sundry other ecclesiastical vestments and utensils, and instructions to erect twelve sees within his province, and particularly to appoint one at York, which, if the country should become christian, he was to convert into a province, with its suffragan bishops.—Thus did Austin become the first archbishop of Canterbury, and thus originated our ecclesiastical establishment, the renowned Church of England. [Aikin’s Biogr. vol. 1.]—Among other counsels which Austin received from the pontiff on the above occasion, was an exhortation “not to be elated with vanity on account of the miracles which he had been enabled to perform in confirmation of his ministry, but to remember that this power was given, not for his own sake, but for the sake of those whose salvation he was appointed to procure.”—Thus we have it from very high authority, that the first archbishop of Canterbury was a worker of miracles.

If the devil himself should get there, Although he be full of all evil, Yet such is the virtue in Peter’s old chair, He would be an infallible devil.

This prayer following is to be said secretly, after the sick persons be departed from the king, at his pleasure.—“Almighty God, Ruler and Lord, by whose goodness the blind see, the deaf hear, the dumb speak, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and all sick persons are healed of their infirmities: By whom also alone the gift of healing is given to mankind and so great a grace, through thine unspeakable goodness toward this realm, is granted unto the kings thereof, that by the sole imposition of their hands, a most grievous and filthy disease should be cured: Mercifully grant that we may give thee thanks therefore, and for this thy singular benefit conferred on us, not to ourselves, but to thy name let us daily give glory; and let us always so exercise ourselves in piety, that we may labour not only diligently to conserve, but every day more and more to encrease thy grace bestowed upon us: And grant that on whose bodies soever we have imposed hands in thy name, through this thy virtue working in them, and through our ministry, may be restored to their former health, and being confirmed therein, may perpetually with us give thanks to thee the chief physician and healer of all diseases; and that henceforth they may so lead their lives, as not their bodies only from sickness, but their souls also from sin may be perfectly purged and cured: through our Lord Jesus Christ thy son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.”

The reader will readily perceive that the above office, or formulary was entirely of popish manufacture; the king and whole nation being then papists; but it probably differed not much, if at all, from those used afterwards by our protestant princes, except in the article of invoking the Virgin Mary and the Saints; in which also consists, seemingly, the chief difference between the Romish and English Liturgies: in other respects the resemblance is great and striking; which is not much to be wondered at, as the model of the latter is pretty well known to have been taken from the former.

For the sake of those readers who live at a distance from Lynn, the affair here last alluded to may require some explanation. Be it known therefore, that the empirical Adventurer, called the Dumb Doctor, made his appearance at Lynn about four and twenty years ago; and for a good while after spent most of his time between this town and Wisbeach. It was given out that he had been deaf and dumb from his birth, and that he was a native of New England, or some part of North America, where he had, somehow, (miraculously, or at least in some very extraordinary and wonderful manner no doubt) acquired very deep knowledge and skill in the healing art; and after having performed great and astonishing cures in his own country, had actually crossed the wide Atlantic out of pure kindness and compassion to the sick and infirm folk of this kingdom, most of whose complaints he might be expected capable of removing.—The tale very generally took with our good townsmen, and numbers of ailing people, gentle and simple, well-bred and ill-bred, from all quarters, flocked to the impostor for relief. Not a few of them also declared that they had actually derived great benefit from his prescriptions.—Thus he went on very prosperously, till an old acquaintance of his unluckily came to town, blew him up, and blasted all his hopes. He then suddenly decamped, and was never since seen or heard of in these parts.—It seems he had belonged so a company of strolling players, from which honourable fraternity he had been on some occasion expelled: upon which he took up the medical profession, pretending to be deaf and dumb, and a native of North America, as was before stated.—This may serve to shew that with all our skepticism and infidelity, and our large stock of fancied light and discernment, learning and refinement, we are by no means so far removed from the easy faith and blind credulity of our ancestors, or become such complete proofs against the wiles of imposture, or the specious arts of daring deceivers, as might be supposed, from our confident, loud, and boisterous boastings.

It is most disgusting to men of sound and liberal minds to hear with what complacency, selfgratulation, as well as selfimportance, the magistrates, at the convivial meetings of the gentry, will be sometimes expatiating on the rigour of their proceedings against the transgressors of the game laws, and describing how effectually they curb and keep in awe the farmers, and trounce to their utter undoing some of the most active among the lower order of poachers. Such a conduct is nothing less than a publishing of their own shame, and a boasting of their own misdoings; and had they expanded and reflecting minds, or any minds at all, they would blush for such a conduct, and carefully and studiously refrain from it, as well as from all manner of excess in their proceedings against poachers, many of whom with their luckless families have been utterly ruined by them. Some of those ill-fated culprits have perished in prison, after long and rigorous confinement: one of whom, named Saunders, died miserably in goal, after a six years incarceration, who probably was as well bred as some of his relentless judges; on which occasion the following lines were composed:

“Epitaph on Nathaniel Saunders, gentleman:

“Nat! thou’st escap’d just in the nick of time! Thine was a barbarous and a bloody crime! How long confin’d?—six years—that’s only fair; What was his crime? the scoundrel kill’d a hare!”

“By the authority apostolical, to me in this behalf committed, We absolve thee A. B. from all thy sins confessed with thy mouth, and being contrite with thy heart, and whereof thou wouldst be confessed, if they came into thy memory: and we grant unto thee plenary remission of all manner of sins, and we promise unto thee thy part of the reward of all just men, and of everlasting salvation. And as many privileges as are granted unto them that go to fight for the Holy Land, we grant onto thee; and of all the prayers and benefits of the church, the universal synod, as also the holy catholic church we make thee partaker.”—(See Fox, Vol. 1.)

“Worschipfull Lord and reverent fader in God, we commaund us unto yow, humble thankant yow wt alle oure hertes, of good & graciouse lordschip yt. yo han schewed to us before yis tyme prayand to yow of good continunace & revrent fader, for as meche as we han conteyned be John Thornham yor. servt. yt ye are & will be graciouse lord to us, therefor as unknowen men, we wryten to yow in our symple manr. preying yow yt Barth. Petypas, Will Hallyate, Thomas Middleton taylor, Thomas Barrington goldsmyth, Thomas Monethe, Thomas Beckham, John Balders, Thomas Littleport, Thomas Hardell, John Blome, Rich. Baxter, Andrew Fourbe, abide out of yor. towne of lenne unto the tyme of yor. stalling at Norwich, the whiche schalle not be longe be the grace of God, atte which tyme we shalle mete with yow & fulliche declare to yow all manr. of hevynesse ye whiche yay han wroght to us, & yt. to yor. worschipfull person disclosed & fulliche in hye & in lowe, put it in govnance of yow & of yor counsayll, & for truly sire sithen ye. tyme yt. yay wenten out of ye town of Lenne, of whiche ye shun sone be lord of, be ye grace of God stode never in beter reste & pees than it hath done sithen that tyme, & yet dothe atte this day, & be yor. good governance, these persons above wretyn sett an syde, we tryste in God to have reste & pees for ever more in yor. towne & in our persons ye shal fynd us as lowly tenants as any that longs to yow within yor. lordshippes, & wt. our bodyes & our goodes, be as lowly to yow worschipful and revrend fader in God we preye, ye. holy trinite: keep yow body and soule, & fullfill your desires as ye can yor. self devise. Written at Lenne ye IX day of Marche under ye seall of the office of Mayralty.

Your owen humblest tenants and devout Bedesmen, Mayre and good men of your towne of Lenne Bishopp.”

In this lowly and abject manner did these humblest tenants and devout beadesmen, the mayor and corporation of Lynn, of that day, approach their high and mighty lord, bishop Wakeryng. They were indeed his subjects and vassals, as their predecessors had long been; and they might think that such cringing conduct became them: but some of them would occasionally shew a disposition to kick and resist, as had been the ease in bishop Spencer’s time, and also now, it seems, in the case of Patipas, as well as of Miller afterwards, who is said to have gone to law with the bishop and cast him. But, in general, corporations, while they are some of the most unfeeling, relentless, and tyrannical towards their inferiors, are at the same time some of that most abject and obsequious of all men towards their superiors and masters: hardly presuming at any time to have a will of their own. They are as ready to erect statues to bad as to good kings; and the premier, however corrupt or flagitious, is pretty surf of being always their lord chancellor, or keeper of their conscience.

s. d.

The Alderman’s ffee 3. 4.

Mess [Mass] Pence 6. 8.

For sowing [sewing] blankets & Sheets 0. 8.

A Bucket for the Almeshouse 0. 5.

Straw to the Beds 0. 3.

To Wm. Lister Almes 0. 4.

To Nicholas . . . Almes 0. 8.

To a Mason for a daies work 0. 7.

His man 0. 4.

Shinks 0. 1.

For 3 pair sheets 7. 6.

2 pair ditto 4. 8.

3 Mattrisses 8. 0.

For Mass pence at Oferings 4. 0.

For the Hearth making in ye Kitchen 1. 8.

For a Lanthorn in the middle of the house 0. 7.

For the Bed bottoms 1. 1.

Paid for the souls of Nicholas Bardeny Prior of Lynn, Wm. Wattlett, John Dean, and many more, each of them 2s. 6d.

Robt. Soame gave a Load of Oatstraw for repairing their Beds.

Ordered that the Keeper ring the Bell at 6 o’clock at night, & there be prayers daily, & that the Alderman visit the Almeshouse once a month to see that nothing be amiss.

“In Thetford, a Mayor town in Norfolk, there was a parish church, now destroyed, called St. Audrise. In this church among other reliques, was a smock of St. Audrise, which was there kept as a great Jewel and precious Relique. The virtue of that smock was mighty and manifold, but specially in putting away the toothach and swelling of the throte: so that the paciente was first of all shriven and hard masse, and did such oblations as the priest of the church enjoyned.”

The Vulgar supposed this relique to be so full of sacred virtue, that they ordered, in their Wills, certain persons to go in pilgrimage to it for the salvation of their souls. Margaret Whoop, of East Harling, had the following clause in her Will, which was dated 1501: “I will that another man go in pilgrimage for me to Thetford, and offer for me to St. Audrey’s Smock.” See Martin’s Thetford, p. 79.—Nothing is more probable than that this same smock, in those days, drew many a pilgrim from Lynn to Thetford.

Of the blessed Virgin’s appearances to divers persons at Thetford, one was to a woman who had lost the use of her tongue, but whom she cured the same time. The person who asserted and recorded this was a monk. The same monk has prefaced his account of another of the Virgin’s miracles at Thetford in the following notable and curious manner.

“I have thought proper to relate a most remarkable miracle, because of its tendency to exemplify the mercy of God, and to exhibit the praise of his mother, and is most worthy of public attention; for whatever tends to the Glory of God, and relates to his mother, is not to be concealed or denied, but to be received as matter of fact.”—[Then comes the marvellous tale—] “William Heddrich, junr. carpenter, and Isabell his wife, lived in a town of Norfolk, called Hockham. They had a child 3 years old, who in harvest time was carried with them into the field, as was customary with peasants who went to their day labour. On a certain day about sun setting, the child happened to be sleep, and actually fell into a sound sleep on the edge of the field where his parents were reaping. In the dusk of the evening, a man driving his cart along that side of the field where the child lay, unfortunately the wheel went over the child’s head, unknown to the driver, and killed him on the spot. The father of the child was following the cart when the accident happened. He took the child up in his arms, and finding him dead and besmeared with his own blood, he made bitter lamentations. He then ran to an eminent surgeon in the same town, who had healed many who had laboured under various infirmities, by the sovereign efficacy of his medicines. After the surgeon had minutely examined the child, he found no symptoms of life; but he advised the father to carry it home, and the next day prepare for its funeral. When the father had heard the opinion of the surgeon, and was convinced that he was deprived of his child, with heart full of grief he look up the corpse and went to his house, and delivered it to his wife, that she might lay it on the bed. Then he assembled his friends and neighbours together, in order to watch that night, as was customary before a funeral. Being thus met they devoted themselves to watching, and with the greatest ardour of devotion prayed to the blessed mother of God, vowing that, if by her intercession the child should be restored to life, they would go on a pilgrimage naked to the image of the blessed virgin, in the church of the monks in Thetford, and there make the usual offering. When they had made an end of their prayers and vows, about midnight, the child revived. Those that were present, when they beheld the happy effect of their prayers, praised and blessed God. And, to perform their vows, they took the child, and carried it before the image of the blessed virgin, and fulfilled the obligation they had put themselves under.”—see Appendix to Martin’s Thetford, p. 83.

Such were some of the pious and popular tales of other times, in the parts about Lynn: but before we affect to pity the credulous weakness and miserable stupidity of our ancestors, who could receive them, let us be careful that we ourselves are free from similar failings, or from other failings equally inexcusable and disgraceful.

“And that the said skivins are to take keyage of merchandizes lying on the key in manner and form following. viz. For every pipe (dolium) of wine lying on the kay beyond one day 1d. and no more for a week, and so for every week.—Also, for every pipe of Wad. [465a] lying on the kay beyond a day 1d. and no more for a week, and so for every week.—Also, for every fardwell called gybe [465b] of the weight of one pipe or above lying on the kay beyond a day 1d. and no more for a week, and so for every week—And in the same manner for any other goods or ware of the weight of one pipe of wine or more lying, &c—Of every ship bringing in goods, or carrying out, 4d. or less according to the discretion of the skivins—Also for three stones, called Slipstones, lying on the kay beyond a day, a farthing, and not more for a week, and so for every week.—Also, for two pieces of Lead [465c] lying on the kay above one day a farthing, and not more for a week, and so for every week—Also, for sand, chalk, clay, stone, tiles, and other things, of the weight of one load, lying on the kay above a day, an halfpenny, &c.—Also, for the load of one boat of sand, chalk, &c. lying, &c. a farthing.—Also, for any wares or goods not herein named, according to the custom the skivins have used.—Also, tor every millstone, lying above a day, an halfpenny, &c.—Also, for every last of Quernstones. [465d] lying on the kay above a day, one penny &c.—Also, for every last of pitch and brimstone lying one day, 1d. and so for every day.—Also, for every hawser tyed to the kay, one penny.—Also, The sd. [qu. said] day it is ordered that no bad persons, nor any spiritual [465e] person, should work upon the kay.”

[These notes are Parkin’s.]

Richard Lambert occurs Alderm. 1272. 56. Henry 3.

Robert de London alderm. occurs 15. Edward I. and 18. Edward I. Wm de Lyndesey was his deputy. Peter de Thrundeyn chos. ald. on Friday after the assumpt. of the Virg. M. 18. Ed. I. and occurs also in the 34. of the said king.

Simon Fitz Simon occ. ald. 15. § Ed. 2. John de Morton then Mayor 3rd. time.

Robt. de Derby, Q. if not ald. 3. Ed. 3. seems to occ.

Jeff. Drew ald. occ. 27. and 31. Ed. 3.

Tho. Bottesham occ. ald. 44. Ed. 3. and in 1379.

Wm. Franceys ald. 14. Ed. 3.

Hen. Betely occ. ald. tem. Rich. 2.

Roger Galyon occ. Mayor and Ald. 13. Hen. 4. 25 July.

John Brunham occ. ald. 7. Hen. 4. 5. and in 3.

Tho. Hunt occ. ald. 20 June 1 Hen. 6.

Hen. Thoresby occ. ald. 25. Hen. 6. and 21 Hen. 6.

Walter Cony ald. 1464. above 14 years, dy’d 29 Sept. 1479.

“I remember the time, before the monks went hence, That a bushel of wheat sold for fourteen pence, And forty eggs a penny—”

We are also told that about the time when those changes took place, beef sold at a half penny a pound, and mutton at three farthings, and that butchers then sold penny pieces of beef to the poor, which weighed 2lb. & half, and often 3lb. and moreover, that 14 such pieces were sold for shilling.—When the price advanced soon after, it is no wonder that many would impute it to the late religious changes, or previous ecclesiastical revolution.

s. d.

Imprimis, Of Mr. Thoresby, for Sayer’s Marsh xx. 0.

Item, Of Nich. Newgate of Holkham, for 5 acres of meadow in the same town, for a year ii. 6.

Item, Of Wm. Clarke of Wotten, for one acre of pasture nigh Holme’s dale in Gaywood: pay by the year 0. i.

Item, Of Winter and Goodwin, of Rouncton, for 11 acres pasture in Sechie; who pay by the year x. 0.

Item, Of Robt. Jerviss, for a ffish bale, lying in the north marsh; who payeth by the year x. 0.

Item, Of Sir Nicholas L’estrange knt. for two sheep courses and other lands, lying in West Lexham, East Lexham, and Dunham; who payeth by the year xxiii. iiij.

Item, Of Thomas Brown of Lynn, for a meadow lying in Gaywood; who payeth every half year, xs. xx. 0.

Item, Of Philip Bailie, for 4 acres of meadow, lying on the west side of Mawdlin, and pays by the half year, xxs. [qu. xiis.] xxiiij. 0.

Item, Of Robt. Hobbs, now in the tenure of Mr. Graves, for a meadow lying in Gaywood, paying quarterly, vs. xx. 0.

Item, Of Thomas Miller, of Lynn, for a meadow lying on the side of the high way, who payeth quarterly iis. vid. x. 0.

Item, In the compass of Congham, 7 roods of Hebbe land, lying in Congham: pay by the year one bushel of malt. mod. brasii.

Item, Of Mr. Fr Bastard, for a close lying without Gannock gate, payeth every half year xvis. viijd. xxxiii. iiij.

Item, Of Robt. Jarvis of Lynn, for a meadow next the Lord’s close in Gaywood, paying by the year xii. iiij.

The following statement from a paper published by Parkin, and written, as he took it, in the reign of Elizabeth, may be here subjoined, as it may cast some further light on the state of the possessions of this Hospital at that period—

“Robert Wylson master of this house, married Isabel, late wife of Thomas Hesket late master—hath six acres joining to the said house now in their hands, which is all that they have in occupation in their own hands.—Also Mr. Thorisbye occupies one marsh lying in Geywode and Myntlyn, the old rent thereof was 20s. per annum, at least, and he is to have of the house for rents belonging to the manor of Geywode 42s. 3d. per annum.—Mr. Spence occupies one close lying in Gannock, which is called 10 acres, but in truth is 14 acres at the least, and he pays but 33s. and 4d. per annum.—Park of Holme holdeth 11 acres in Sechyth, and pays but 33s. 4d. per annum, well worth 4l. 13s. 4d. per annum.—Also Mr. Strange hath a fold course and lands in Lexham, which wont to pay to the said house 23s. per annum, and by the space of 80 years hath [remained] unpaid, and by the report of them that know it, it is well worth 4l. per annum.—Other lands in Congham and Creake Abbey, the value whereof is not yet made.—Also Wrothes of Gaywode holdeth one pigthtle worth 6s. per annum, and pays nothing.—Item, one close or pigthle lying in Geywode by South Wotton, hath been let for 8s. per annum, but now none will give above 3s. or 2s. 3d. per annum.—Item, One rede dole in Geywode containing 8 acres, the old rent is 8s.—Item, Mr. Pell occupieth 3 acres by the house; the old rent was 10s. and now 20s.—Item, Thomas Gybson of Lynne occupies one close of 3 acres by the house; the old lent was 20s. now 40s.—Item, He occupies . . . acres lying by Maudelyn Bank, and pays 24s. per annum, and it is worth 50s.—Item, two acres by Dersingham Lane, worth 20s. per annum, the old rent 10s.—Item, In Geywode fen 3 acres, the old rent 6s. now 15s. per annum. Roger Lauson has an acre and a half, old rent 10s. now 26s. 8d. per annum.—Six acres lying by Salters Load; the old rent 10s. now 20s. per annum.—Item, A whole piece there, and pays 4s. 6d. per annum.—Item, 5 acres in Narford, old rent 9d. now 3s.—Item, 5 acres in Hockold, let for 2s. per annum, worth 5s.”—[See Parkin 148.]

l. s. d.

To the Master of the Hospital, per week 0. 4 6.

To eleven poor widows per week, at 2s. 6d. each 1. 7. 6.

To the Master yearly, one Chalder and half of coals 1. 10. 0.

To eleven widows yearly, one Chalder of coals each 11. 0. 0.

For 15 Sheaves of Sedges to the Master for kindling 0. 2. 6.

For 10 Sheaves to each of the Sisters (in all 110) 0. 18. 4.

Total. £96. 14. 10.

Besides repairs and other contingencies. [See Mr. King’s MS. and Mackerell.]

From the above period to the present time, the weekly allowance to the master and sisters has been gradually advancing, but not in proportion to the advance in the price of the necessaries of life; at least not so during the present reign, and especially this latter part of it. For the last fifty years the weekly allowance of the sisters, has been from 3s. 6d. of 4s. to 5s. till the commencement of the present year [1810] when it was advanced from 5s. to 7s. and the master’s allowance from 7s. to 10s.—This pleasing change in the situation of these pensioners has been ascribed to the laudable and humane exertions of the present acting governor and treasurer, Edmund Rolfe Elsden Esq., who is supposed to have acquitted himself, in this situation, more respectably and commendably than any of his predecessors, for the last fifty years at least. Besides advancing the weekly allowance of the pensioners, he has also put the hospital itself and premises in a state of thorough repair, at the expence of 400l. or more. All this he has been enabled to accomplish by advancing the rent of the lands according to their present value: and it is expected that he will be able soon to make an additional augmentation to the weekly allowance and comforts of the poor pensioners, whose concerns he so laudably superintends. Till he was appointed to this situation their condition was very miserable, and every year getting worse and worse, with little or no hope of amendment. In short, Alderman Elsden, in the character of acting governor and treasurer of our Magdalen Hospital, has deserved well, not only of the pensioners of that home, but also of the public at large. His successors it is hoped will not fail to profit by his praiseworthy examples and it is to be wished that the managers of all similar charities would make a point of acting in like manner. Very different, indeed, by all accounts, has been the conduct of too many, if not of most of those entrusted with the superintendence and management of our charitable institutions throughout the kingdom, by which they have proved themselves utterly unworthy of the confidence reposed in them, and rendered their very names and memories detestable in the eyes of all honest men.

“When Edw. IV. and his brother, the duke of Gloster, fled before the great earl of Warwick, on passing the Washes in Lincolnshire, at an improper time, they lost their baggage and money; and arriving at Lynn, October 2. 1470, [other accounts say 1469] lodged one night in this building, which the historian erroneously calls a castle.” [But the historian was, perhaps, more correct than his corrector.]

Registrator.

Sealed and delivered, to the use of the Mayor and Burgesses of King’s Lynn, and Robert Jervis and John Towers, in the presence of John Debney of Norwich, David Coytmor, Alexander Auger, and Richard Lasher.” [Mackerell, 217.]

“Imprimis, touching the first and second, [articles] where I said that I would adore rather a temporall prince, and the lively bodies of the saints, than the wooden crosse whereupon the Lord did hang, I do revoke and recant the same, as being therein deceived.—To this I say, that the article is false and erroneous, and by false information I held it; the which I renounce and ask forgiveness thereof, and say, that is a precious relique, and that I shall hold it while I live, and that I sweare here.—I know well that I erred wrongfully by false information: for I wot well, that a deacon or a priest is more bound to say his mattens and houres then to preach; for there he is bounden by right: wherefore I submit me, &c.—Touching that article, I know right well that I erred by false information. Wherefore I ask forgiveness.—As concerning vowes, I say that opinion is false and erroneous, and by false information I held it; for a man is holden to hold his vow, &c.—To the 7. article I say, that I did it by authority of priesthood, wherethrough I knowledge well that I have guilt and trespassed: wherefore I submit me to God and to holy church, and to you father, swearing that I shall never hold it more.—To the 8. (article) I say, that I held it by false and wrong information. But now I know well that it is heresie, and that bread, anon as the word of the sacrament is said, is no longer bread materiall, but that it is turned into very Christ’s body; and that I sweare here.”

Two more articles were then retracted by him, and pronounced to be false and erroneous, &c. but it does not appear what they were, (see Fox, 1. 674.)—This recantation, throughout, exhibits evident symptoms of a man so overcome by his fears, or his sufferings, as to be ready to say or do any that his unfeeling persecutors should prescribe or dictate to him.—He appeared much more fearless and intrepid, afterwards, when he was taken up the last time, tried before the arch-bishop and convocation, condemned and committed to the flames.

“In the Name of God, Amen. We Thomas by the grace of God archbishop of Canterbury, primate of England, and Legate of the See Apostolicall, by the authority of God almighty, and blessed Saint Peter and Paul, and of holy church, and by our own authority, sitting for tribunall or chiefe judge, having God alone before our eyes, by the counsell and consent of the whole clergie, our fellow bretheren and suffragans, assistants to us in this present councell provinciall, by this our sentence definitive do pronounce, decree, and declare by these presents, thee William Sautre, otherwise colled Chawtrey, parish priest pretensed, personally appearing before us, in and upon the crime of heresie, judicially and lawfully convict, as an heretike, and as an heretike be punished.”

“In the Name of God, Amen. Wee Thomas by the grace of God archbishop of Canterbury, Legate of the See Apostolicall, and metropolitan of all England, doe find and declare, that thou William Sautre, otherwise called Chautris, priest, by us with the counsell and assent of all and singular our fellow brethren and whole clergy, by this our sentence definitive declared in writing, hast beene for heresie convict and condemned, and art (being againe fallen into heresie) to be deposed and degraded by these presents.”