A Comprehensive History of Norwich

by A. D. Bayne

At that time the hamlets of Thorpe, Lakenham, and Heigham, were all fields or cultivated grounds and gardens, and the city was interspersed with gardens.

Dr. Samuel Clarke.

Samuel Clarke, D.D., was the son of Edward Clarke, one of the Aldermen of Norwich, where he was born in 1675, and where he was educated at the Grammar School, his father being at that time one of the representatives of the city in parliament. In 1691, he was entered as a student in Caius College, Cambridge, where his great capacity for learning was soon developed, and where he became distinguished as a metaphysician, mathematician, and divine. He was the author of many works, the chief of which was a “Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God.” Upon his entering into holy orders, he became Chaplain to the learned Dr. Moore, Bishop of Norwich, with whom he lived in great esteem, having the advantage of the fine library of that prelate. In 1704, he was called to an office worthy of all his learning, namely, that of lecturer on Mr. Boyle’s foundation. He preached sermons concerning the Evidences of Natural and Revealed Religion, which will always be highly esteemed. Soon afterwards, he was presented to the living of St. Bennet’s, near Paul’s Wharf, London, and where he constantly preached without notes. In the same year he translated the Optics of Sir Isaac Newton into elegant Latin, which was so acceptable to that great philosopher, that he presented £500 to the divine, being £100 for each of his children. He was soon after made one of the Chaplains in Ordinary, and in 1709, Queen Anne presented him to the Rectory of St. James’, Westminster, when he went to Cambridge and took his degree of Doctor of Divinity. He died on May 17th, 1729, aged 54 years.

Robert, Viscount of Yarmouth.

In 1683 died the Rt. Hon. Robert, Viscount of Yarmouth, Baron of Paston, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk and Norwich. He was buried at Oxnead. His funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. John Hildeyard, LL.D., then rector of Cawston, and it was afterwards published. At page 27 there is the following passage, referring to the deceased viscount:

“Great was his love to the ancient, loyal, and honourable corporation of Norwich, because the members of that body, generally speaking, loved the king; they found him their friend and, maugre the blast of calumny, the new charter shall remain a token of it. He spared no cost nor pains, as themselves can witness, to make the world believe that he loved them. Most of the tables of his house were spread together for their entertainment, and all his friends employed to bid them welcome; nay, his very sleep was ofttimes broken to find out ways how best to serve them, and he commended the care of the city with his last breath, to all his best friends, and the blessing of God.”

Happy corporation, that had such a friend; but Blomefield says,

“Whatever the Dr. (Hildeyard) might think of it, the effects of the new charter now began to be too visible, for Mr. Nic Helwys was chosen mayor, and eleven common council in room of those eleven of the sixty common council appointed by the charter, which were not qualified; but such choice was of no force till confirmed by the king, who sent a letter under the privy seal, dated at Windsor, May 17th, signifying by the Earl of Arundel that he approved of them, and the names of the two elected sheriffs were signified to the Lord Lieutenant, and that they were persons of loyalty, and therefore they desired his lordship to give his gracious Majesty information thereof in order to his approbation.”

Dr. John Cosin.

John Cosin, D.D., was born in this city in 1594, and finished his studies in Caius College, Cambridge, where he took his last degrees. When he entered into holy orders he was presented to a Prebendary in the Cathedral Church of Durham, and appointed Archdeacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire. But the civil wars breaking out, and he being an active Papist, he was obliged to seek refuge abroad till the Restoration in 1660, when he returned, and was promoted first to the Deanery of Peterborough, and then to the Bishopric of Durham. He died at Durham, aged 78, in 1672.