ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY That a reaction was beginning to set in is suggested by the action of the apprentices, who on i December, 1647, assembled at Norwich in the castle yard and subscribed a petition for the observation of Christmas Day, and presented it to the mayor. Apprehension of the spread of a froward spirit was evidently responsible for the — Attestation of the ministers of the county of Norfolk and city of Norwich, in vindication of the Ancient Truths of Jesus Christ, and Prosecution of the Solemn Covenant, against the spreading errors and prodigious blasphemies that are scattered abroad in these licentious dayes, as it was Represented to the Ministers of the Province of London, 9 June, 1648. Concur- ing with them in their Publick Testimony.^ About the beginning of April in the same year a petition had also been presented to John Utting, the mayor, and the court ^ by about 150 persons, praying for a more speedy and thorough reformation. They complained that faithful ministers were discouraged and slighted and the ejected ministers preferred and encouraged ; old ceremonies and service book constantly used, and the directory for worship not observed; and petitioned that ejected ministers might be suspended preaching till they have given satisfaction to the assembly of divines, according to the ordinance of Parhament of 22 January, 1644, then 'shall not Mr. Lock and Cadime with others be tolerated nor promoted to popular auditories, to the discouragement of all well affected persons.' They insisted also that all the ordinances against superstition and idolatry, and for defacing of images, might have a particular order for their more speedy execution, and that the remaining pictures in several churches might be demolished or taken away — * so shall the crucifix on the cathedrall gate be defaced, and another in the roofe of the cathedrall neere the west door in the inside, and one upon the free school, and the imadg of Christ upon the parish house of St. George's of Tombland be taken down, and many parish churches more decently made for the congregation to meet in. molested more than once and another put in his place for neglecting the booke of Common Prayer and other ceremonies, and if in some things he hath conformed it is no more than some of the five apologists have done, who have been seen in Norwich to reade the Litany in the surplice and use the Crosse in Baptisme ; that Mr. Fletcher was suspended in Bishop Wren's time for the omission of some ceremonies ; that Mr. Toft settled in a Pastorall charge some five years ago, his living not being worth more than 22 ii. per annum, never wore the surplice since he was a minister in Norwich, nor observed other ceremonies, but hath often preached and appeared against them ; and that Mr. Mitchell left off the wearing of the surplice before he left the college in Cambridge. It uses one of the favourite puritan methods of controversy in printing on the title-page a text of scripture beginning 'Thou art a liar ' and concluding with other unquotable words ; and it is curious to see how giving the chapter and verse for the quotation attaches an air of guilt to the persons aimed at, as if in the first place it had been written in reference to their case. ' B.M. Pamphlets, E. 447 (6). This is subscribed by Robert Peck, minister at Hingham ; Wm. Stinnet, minister of John's of Maddermarket, in Norwich ; Richard Johnson, minister at Ketringham ; Joh. Martin, minister at Edgefield ; Elias Crabtree, minister at Dickleborough ; John Carter, pastor of Peter's of Mancroft, Norwich ; John Brinsley and John Swainc, ministers at Great Yarmouth ; Isaack Rose, minister at Hadskow ; Hugh More, rector of Burston ; John Boyes, pastor of Tivesdale ; Richard More, minister at Diss; Nathaniel Jocelyn, minister at Hardingham ; Rice Allison, minister at Cley-juxta-Mare ; Ed. Brome, minister at South- reppes ; William Hall, minister at Hevingham ; Nicholas Pit, minister at Bunwell ; Thos. Sap, minister at Larlingford ; Robert Daliel, minister at Roughton-cum-Stanworth ; Tho. Jackson, minister at Itteringham ; John Bond, pastor of Holt ; John Collings, minister in Saviour's Parish in Norwich ; Tho. Henant, minister at Smalborough ; Tho. Theoderick, minister at Rockland-tofts ; Rich. Asteley, minister of Melton ; William Lambe, minister at Merston ; Edward Dawney, minister at Salthouse ; Robert Watson, minister at Bakingstroppe ; John Harmer, minister of Saxlingham ; Will. Younge, minister of Kettlestone ; John Yates, rector of Stifkey ; Samuel Smith, miniiter at Sydestern ; Richard Wels, minister at Fakenham ; Tho. Toss, minister at Michaels of the Plea, in Norwich ; John Butler, minister at Oldton ; Edward Worseley, minister at Runton-cum-Beeston Regis ; Nathaniel Michel, minister at Edenthorpe ; John Smith, minister at Aylmerton ; Richard Breviter, minister at Walcot.
- Blomefield, iii, 393. • Ibid. 394.
