Francis Blomefield

“ In April 1630, the plague brake out again in St. Gregory's parish, one child dying of it, upon which the court met, and swore a woman searcher of the infected, nailed up the door of the house, and by the common cryer ordered, all dogs, cats, tame doves, rabbits, and swine, to be put out of the city, or killed; and in May, the tower next Brasen Door was appointed for the buryers, and for a prison for such infected poor as would not be ruled; and the distemper being much in Cambridge, the carriers thither were prohibited ”

“ Alderman Blosse, by will dated March 1, 1633, gave 10l. to the poor, and to the mayor, sheriff's, and commonalty, and their successours, her houses in St. Saviour's parish, to the intent that they may place widows therein, to dwell rent free, they producing security to keep the houses in sufficient reparation during their lives respectively, viz. every widow for the house she dwells in; and so to continue for ever, provided the widows dwelling in St. Saviour's parish, if there be any such, shall have their dwelling in the said houses before others. ”

“ Martin at the Oak-gates, and Magdalen-gates, were rampired up, so to remain till the present dangers be over," all boats whatsoever from Conisford towers to the New-mills, and thence to Hellesden bridge, were taken away, and laid in a secure place in the city, there to remain during the time of the present troubles; Sandlin's fernboat, and all wherrys were chained up at the common slath, and not let loose till their passengers or commodities went immediately for Yarmouth. ”

“ There were above 100 persons slain and wounded on both sides, as well troopers as citizens, and several that were no ways concerned, as they walked in the field at a great distance, were lamed, bruised, or killed, by the fall of the stones and timber blown up.
The day following, the mayor, of his own accord, accompanied with some of his officers and other friends, rode to the parliament, and was confined to his house in Brandon, May 19, to the 1st of July ensuing, when he and John Tooly, late mayor, were fined, and then discharged; Christ. Baret acting as deputy in his absence. ”

“ John Warner of Norwich, by will dated June 5, 1648, ordered his executors to buy a piece of ground of 40s. per annum, and settle it on the city, and the rent of the first nine years after his wife's decease, to be disposed to divers parishes as stocks for their poor, viz. three years rent to St. Andrew's, to be lent to any honest tradesmen in the parish for three years, by the church-wardens and chief parishioners, on security given them ”

“ And therefore he advised them to keep the city gates, considering what a dishonour it would be to the city, to have two mayors carried away, when Lyn would not suffer their mayor to be carried away, nor Yarmouth their bailiffs. Mr. Spurgyn also went to them, and said, he hoped they were ail for the King, and that they would not let the mayor go, who was told that it was so, and that on a shout given at eight in the morning there would be 500 armed men together at once ”

“ In 1627, 400 Irish soldiers came to Norwich, 200 of which were billetted there, 100 sent to Yarmouth, and 100 to Lyn; and in July, an order came for the county and city to levy 250 footmen, of which the deputy lieutenants sent for 25 men out of the city; but the city refused to levy so many; 17 only being their proportion, which were sent to Lyn, to be conducted from thence to Hull. ”

“ Suggate to Bury, to give speedy notice to the city of the approach of any cavileers, or others that shall come in an hostile manner towards the city or county, there being now a number of worthy gentlemen that belonged to the county, that had declared for their Sovereign against the Parliament ”

“ Austin's parish, all carriages, &c. from London to Norwich were stopped, the houses shut up, bearers and searchers appointed, two pest-houses ordered on Butter-hills where they were built before, all communication stopped to Windham, which was infected, the gates of the city shut, and watched day and night on Windham fair day, and all precaution taken as before, which had such good effect the second time, that the contagion ceased, and not above 20 or 30 persons died of it.
The same year Sir Peter Gleane, Knt. gave 10l. to the poor ”

“ There were large sums paid to the committee at Cambridge, to the Earl of Manchester, Col. Cromwell, to divers scouts, and to several aldermen, for often attending the committee at Cambridge; to the Committee of association at Thetford, &c. to the city cannoneers for 6 months pay 54l.; and on the 4th of April there were 70 good horses valued at 725l. delivered to Lieutenant Strely by order from Col. Cromwell, which were chiefly taken from the malignants here by open, force. ”

“ Augustine Scottow, gave 50l. to be continually lent unto five worsted weavers by 10l. a man, for seven years together, provided every borrower thereof give security, to be approved of by the mayor, sheriffs, and aldermen, before they have the money, and renew the securities as often as the court of majoralty shall require. ”

“ The ordinance being discharged on the guild day, the cathedral was filled with muskateers, drinking and tobacconing, as freely as if it had turned alehouse." This parade was on March the 9th, at which time the court was then sitting in the Gild-hall in the market, and "ordered, that seaven Popish pictures that were taken from St. Swithin's the angel and four Evangelists taken at St. Peter's, and Moses and Aaron and four Evangelists that came from the cathedrall, and some other superstitious pictures, shall be burnt in the open market this day." ”

“ At this time, John Burridge, Gent, for refusing to pay 5l. assessed upon him towards the ship, was committed to prison, but on payment was discharged; this ship-money was the beginning of trouble: at a court held Nov. 19, it was agreed that the mayor of Lyn, and bailiffs of Yarmouth, who appointed to be at Norwich the day following, about the business of the ship, should be entertained at the mayor's house, at the publick cost, and the justices, sheriffs, and aldermen were desired to attend the business; the sum of 10l. being allowed for that purpose, and 15l. ”

“ On the 13th, 50 dragoons more were raised, and money to pay the two new companies of volunteers under Major Sherwood and Capt. Ashwell.
March 15, the aldermen of every ward had particular charge to look to their gates.
March 18, Henry Lane, John Daniel, and John Osborn, three of the aldermen who favoured the King, were put out of their offices, and afterwards Ric. Rosse, and Alex. Anguish, for the same cause; and Will. Symonds, Sam. Puckle, Mat. Linsey, John Greenwood, and Tho. Toft, were placed in their rooms.
Coals were now 50s. ”

“ The said alderman gave also 75l. to be lent by 12l. 10s, a man, for three years, interest free, and if continued, the bonds to be renewed every three years, to six grocers, freemen of the city, and the "money to be appointed the next court day after St. Andrew yearly for ever, by the mayor, and justices, as other moneys be appointed;" ”

“ Thomas Blomefield for the charge of a dinner on the 22d of November, for to treat them again for the businees of the third ship, and 15l. in 1637, for the fourth ship, and in 1640, 13l. 6s. 8d. at the assessing of the ship-money; which caused many debates between the city and counties of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, and the burghs of Castle-rising, Lyn, Thetford, Yarmouth, and Wisbitch, concerning the separate proportions that each should bear towards the charge of each ship, which was estimated at 5500l. ”

“ Norwich 1601l. Lyn 1192l. Yarmouth 940l and Wisbitch 340l. which was levied accordingly, by a tax of 12d. in the pound, on all lands, houses, gardens, stocks, &c in the city; but upon the return made, the privy council were not satisfied with the sum, but ordered 1235l. to be raised more, and ordered that Norwich should pay 330l. of it. This made the city more exact in examining into the due proportion it ought to pay, which produced great animosities between them and the counties, and other burghs, who had procured the council's letters to tax the city at 1100l. ”

“ George's company, to set poor people at work in the stone mines or pits; the bellman being ordered to warn all such as wanted work and dwelt not in infected houses, to repair thither with their tools to dig stones, for which they should have reasonable wages, on purpose their families might not want bread. ”

“ January 10, the 100l. taken of the Bishop for sequestration was dicharged, and 200l. more assessed on him for proposition money; to supply Capt. Ashwell's company their pay, and in the 24th of the same month, the day watch was to cease, and the night watch to be performed by all citizens under the degree of aldermen; the keys of every gate to be delivered to the constable of the ward every night at 9 o'clock ”

“ On the 27th following, two proclamations were brought by a messenger from the King, requiring aid from his subjects to repress the rebels coming against him, and to forbid all Papists which would not take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, from serving him; both which the mayor delivered to the sheriffs, who were on the Parliament's side. At a court held Oct. 22d, there was a general muster of the trained bands and volunteers, and Mr. Livewell Sherwood was appointed captain of that company, and fearing an attack from the King's party, Mr. ”

“ Mayor, and Mr. Sheriff Ashwell shall not keep their feasts at next sessions, but shall pay 15l. apiece to the poor of the city."
Die Martis September 5, 1648, ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, that all such persons as have been in any of the late insurrections, be not returned to be upon, nor serve on, any jury in any county. ”

“ Andrew's, &c. during the time of service, and to deliver the keys of the gates at night to Hamond Crask, lieutenant of the volunteers: this great caution was taken least such persons as they knew favoured the King, should make their escape ”

“ The troubles now increasing in the church, by means of many schismatical and factious persons that were for innovations both in church and state, many of them who could not push on their designs to a crisis so early as they wished, as Mr. ”