Norwich in the Fifteenth Century.
AT the commencement of this century (in 1402) the grand affair of
obtaining a new charter occupied the greater part of the time of the
citizens, but as nothing could be done without the concurrence of Bishop
Spencer, they at last found means to soften him, and to obtain his
promise that he would not oppose them in this their favourite object.
All obstacles being now removed, they offered to lend Henry 1000 marks,
which so far obliged the king that he was willing to give them as full a
charter as they could desire. This was accordingly done, and the new
charter was granted on January 28th, 1403. By this charter the city
obtained a full power of local self-government.
Henry V. began his reign on March 20th, 1412, in which year the city was
in great disorder, occasioned by the disputes between the Mayor and the
Commons, respecting the election of mayors, sheriffs, and other officers
of the corporation, and the powers granted by the charter, concerning
which they could not agree. These contentions exhausted the city
treasury, and at length they were settled by the mediation of Sir Robert
Berney, John Lancaster, William Paston, and others. The burgesses who
served in Parliament in this reign were R. Brasier, R. Dunston, W.
Sedman, J. Biskelee, H. Rufman, W. Eton, J. Alderfold, W. Appleyard, R.
Baxter, and Henry Peking.
In 1422 the doctrines of the Reformation were introduced into the city,
and several persons were executed as Wickliffites or Lollards. A large
chalk pit, in Thorpe Hamlet, on the outskirts of the city, is to this day
called “Lollards’ Pit.”
Henry VI., when only nine months old, was proclaimed king on August 31st,
1422, and in his reign a general persecution of the Lollards broke out in
this diocese. The Lollards were men who earnestly desired the
reformation of the church, and they were followers of that great and good
man John Wickliffe, but they were called Lollards as a name of infamy.
They were so zealous for the truth that they chose rather to suffer
grievous torments and death than forsake their faith. On this account
about 120 persons were persecuted for their profession of the pure gospel
of Christ.
On June 6th, 1448, the king paid a royal visit to the city, and among
other preparations the gates were decorated, and the King’s arms, and the
arms of St. George, were painted and raised on six of the gates. In
1449, his Majesty paid another visit, after a sojourn with the Earl of
Suffolk at Costessey. The king entered Norwich by St. Benedict’s Gate,
which was especially ornamented for the occasion. These peaceable
entries, with the picturesque pomp of a royal procession, always pleased
the loyal citizens.
In 1452, it being rumoured that Edward earl of March, son to the duke of
York, was advancing towards London, the queen, much terrified thereat,
tried to make as many friends as she could, and for that purpose came to
this city, when, in full assembly, the Commons resolved to advance 100
marks as a loan to the king; and the aldermen at the same time presented
the queen with 60 marks, to which the Commons added 40 more, so that the
king had now 200 marks of the city. The citizens then obtained a new
charter, dated March 17th, and consented to in full parliament. It
contained a restitution of all liberties, a general pardon of all past
offences, and a confirmation of all former charters.
In 1460, during the contest between the houses of York and Lancaster, the
mayor and aldermen raised forty armed men and the Commons eighty, and
appointed Wm. Rookwood, Esq., their captain, with whom they agreed for
six weeks’ pay, at six-pence a day for each soldier, and sent them to the
assistance of the king, who wrote them a letter of thanks, with a request
that they would maintain the soldiers for one month longer, which was
readily complied with. In 1474, the king visited the city, and was
presented with a sum of money by way of benevolence; but in the following
year the city had to pay £80 6s. 11d. for the forces employed in France.
In July 1469, Elizabeth Woodville, the queen of Edward IV., visited
Norwich and remained here several days. Her majesty, with a great
retinue, entered the city through “Westwyk Gate,” which was decorated for
the occasion. John Parnell was brought from Ipswich to exercise his
skill in ornamentation; and under his superintendence, a stage covered
with red-and-green worsted was erected, adorned with figures of angels,
escutcheons, and banners of the royal lady and the king, with a profusion
of crowns, roses, fleur-de-lys, &c. Gilbert Spurling exhibited a
fragment of the salutation of Mary and Elizabeth, which required from him
a speech in explanation.
In 1486, being the 1st Henry VII., on the rebellion of Lambert Simnel,
who assumed the name of Edward Plantagenet, the king, expecting an
invasion of the eastern parts of his kingdom, made a progress through
Norfolk and Suffolk to confirm the inhabitants in their loyalty, and
spent his Christmas at Norwich, when the city made him a handsome
present. Hence he went a pilgrimage to Walsingham, so famous for its
pretended miracles, where he made his vows; and after he returned
victorious, he sent his banner to be offered there as an acknowledgment
of his prayers having been heard.
The monastic institutions of this city might claim the honour of having
some learned men connected with them in the 15th century. Thomas
Brinton, or Brampton, a monk of Norwich, attained to such an eminence in
the schools of England that his fame was spread abroad, and he was sent
for by the pope to Rome. He often preached before the pope in Latin, and
being first made his penitentiary was afterwards raised to the see of
Rochester. His sermons preached before the pope were published, with
some others. John Stow, who flourished in 1440, was a Benedictine monk
of the monastery of St. Saviour, in Norwich, and doctor of divinity of
Oxford. It appears, by his works, that he was at the council of Basil.
His works were _The Acts of the Council_ at Basil; various _Collections_;
and _Solemn Disputations_, &c. John Mear, a monk of Norwich, and D.D. of
Oxford, was a person of subtle art for explaining difficulties. He was
divinity reader at several monasteries, and the author of several works,
which have all been lost.