Page:VCH Norfolk 2.djvu/304

 A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 22 Auo-ust, 1578,*. . . Ruckwood and Robert Downes were ordered to remain in the gaol of the county, they having been formerly communicated with, and stood obstinate ; Humphrey Bedingfield of Quidenham, Robert de Grey of Martin, John Downes of Bowghton, esqres., and John Drury of Godwitt, gent., who had already previously been dealt with by the bishop, had to enter into bonds of 200 ii apiece, not to leave their lodgings in Nor- wich ; and Thomas Lovell, Robert Lovell, and Ferdinando Paris were also committed to remain in their lodgings and to find bonds. So many impor- tant Norfolk families furnished members of the recusant party that the county came to be looked on as a stronghold of popery, and attracted particular notice from the central government. In the same month two justices of the peace in Norfolk were instructed to take order for displacing and putting out of service of such servants of Sir Henry Bedingfield as do not conform and come to church.- In September, the bishop was congratulated on his diligent travail, by which he had reclaimed Thomas Lovell and others, and was in- structed to send up Dr. Wyndham to their lordships, since he remained obstinate and no mild course would reform him ;' and he was required in another letter to give orders for the apprehension of one Derham, a priest, attendant for the most part about the Lady Jerningham, for that he was sus- pected to be one that useth bad practices to the disturbance of the common quiet of this kingdom.* Bishop Parkhurst had died 2 February, 1575, his last days being much disturbed by disputes with the archbishop about the suppression of prophesy- ings, which he would have liked to encourage, as well as the use of the wafer, to which he strongly objected. His successor Bishop Freake, as far as he dared, dealt tenderly with the recusants, and in a certificate he had to send in 29 October, 1577,^ said that many would probably conform, and that Lady Jerningham, being often troubled with certain melancholy passions, had service in English said in her own house. Bishop Parkhurst had previously written of her ' she is noted to be a great enemy to religion." The political aspect assumed by recusancy led to the promulgation of severer law^s against it, and their enforcement meant ruin to some of the Nor- folk gentry, terrible impoverishment by fines, and continuous imprisonment for others. However leniently the bishop might try to apply the laws, the laws were stern, and he had no choice but to administer them. In January, 1578-9, he was informed that as Sir Henry Bedingfield could not conveniently repair to the city of Norwich to be conferred with on matters of religion, by reason of a disease in his leg. Sir Henry was to remain in his house, and the bishop and commissioners were to repair to him.'^ The following month he received orders to return to the Privy Council the names of those persons, ' of whom their lordships have heard that in Thetford and other places in his diocese have been seen, not long since, in some men's houses, certain images, which either are reserved to the private use of them that keep them for idoli- trie, or for other dangerous purpose of sorcerie or witchcraft.' ' In January, I 579-80, orders were issued concerning the arrest of Edward Jackson, a priest, 'Vol. X, 310. ' Ac(s P.C.x, ii6. 'Ibid. 333. ' Public Library, Cambridge, EE. 2, 34, fol. 1 10 r. ' Acts P.C.xi, 15. ' IbiJ. xi, 36.
 * Ibid. 325. " Ca/. S. P. Dom. 1547-S0, p. 562.