Walter Lyhart (1446-72) was nominated by the Pope, and consecrated February 1446, at Lambeth, by the Archbishop Stafford. He had been confessor to Henry VI.'s wife, Margaret of Anjou. He died May 17, 1472.
James Goldwell (1472-99) had been ambassador of Edward IV. at Rome. He was nominated by the Pope, and consecrated at Rome, October 4, 1472. He died February 15, 1499.
Thomas Jane (1499-1500) had been Canon of Windsor and Dean of Chapel Royal in 1497; was consecrated on October 20, 1499. He died in September 1500.
Richard Nykke was consecrated in 1501. He was of infamous character, and no doubt stimulated the zeal of the reformers, who may well have contended that the Church which had such prelates surely needed reformation. He persecuted those opposed to him, and burned many at the stake. He was imprisoned in 1535, for appealing to Rome touching the king's prerogative. He died January 14, 1536.
William Rugg (1536-50) was the last Bishop of Norwich before the dissolution of the monasteries. Wolsey's downfall had occurred in 1529, and in 1536 the smaller monasteries were dissolved, and in 1538 the larger ones shared the same fate, Norwich being among the number, the last prior, William Castleton, becoming dean. William Rugg resigned the see in 1550.
On the foundation of the cathedral after the Dissolution the establishment was as follows:—
| One dean. | Six poor men or bedesmen. |
| Six prebendaries. | One sacrist. |
| Six minor canons. | Two sub-sacrists. |
| One deacon reader of the Gospel. | One beadle of the poor men. |
| One deacon reader of the Epistle. | One high steward. |
| Eight lay clerks to be expert in singing. | And clerks, porters, auditors, and a coroner. |
| One organist, eight choristers. | |
| One precentor. |
And such constitution, with but few changes, has held down to this day, the prebendaries have become resident canons, and the precentor is also a minor canon.