The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 3

by Sir Thomas Browne

And of later time, Bishop Edmund Freake, who succeeded Bishop Parkhurst, was removed unto Worcester, and there lieth entomb'd.

Bishop Samuel Harsnet, Master of Pembroke-Hall, in Cambridge, and Bishop of Chichester, was thence translated to York.

Bishop Francis White, Almoner unto the King, formerly Bishop of Carlisle, translated unto Ely.

Bishop Matthew Wren, Dean of the Chappel, translated also to Ely, and was not buried here.

Bishop John Jegon, who died 1617, was buried at Aylesham, near Norwich. He was Master of Bennet College, and Dean of Norwich, whose Arms, Two Chevrons with an Eagle on a Canton, are yet to be seen on the West Side of the Bishop's Throne.

My honour’d Friend Bishop Joseph Hall, Dean of Worcester, and Bishop of Exon, translated to Norwich, was buried at Heigham, near Norwich, where he hath a Monument. When the Revenues of the Church were alienated, he retired unto that Suburbian Parish, and there ended his Days, being above 80 Years of Age. A Person of singular Humility, Patience, and Piety; his own Works are the best Monument and Character of himself, which was also very lively drawn in his excellent Funeral Sermon, preach’d by my learned and faithful old Friend, John Whitefoot, Rector of Heigham, a very deserving Clerk of the Convocation of Norwich. His Arms in the Register Office of Norwich are, Sable three Talbots Heads erased Argent.

My honour’d Friend also, Bishop Edward Reynolds, was not buried in the Church but in the Bishop's Chappel; which was built by himself. He was born at Southampton, brought up at Merton Colledge in Oxford, and the first Bishop of Norwich after the King's Restauration: A Person much of the Temper of his Predecessor, Dr. Joseph Hall, of singular Affability, Meekness and Humility; of great Learning; a frequent Preacher, and constant Resident: He sat in this See about 17 Years; and though buried in his private Chappel, yet his Funeral Sermon was preached in the Cathedral, by Mr. Benedict Rively, now Minister of S. Andrews: He was succeeded by Dr. Anthony Sparrow, our worthy and honoured Diocesan.

It is thought that some Bishops were buried in the old Bishops Chappel, said to be built by Bishop John Salmon [demolish’d in the Time of the late War] for therein were many Gravestones, and some plain Monuments. This old Chappel was higher, broader, and much larger than the said new Chappel built by Bishop Reynolds; but being covered with Lead, the Lead was sold, and taken away in the late rebellious Times; and the Fabrick growing ruinous and useless, it was taken down, and some of the Stones partly made use of in the building of the new Chappel.

Now, whereas there have been so many noble and ancient Families in these Parts, yet we find not more of them to have been buried in this the Mother Church. It may be consider’d, that no small numbers of them were interred in the Churches and Chappels of the Monasteries and religious Houses of this City, especially in three thereof; the Austin-Fryars, the Black-Fryars, the Carmelite, or White Fryars; for therein were buried many Persons of both Sexes, of great and good Families, whereof there are few or no Memorials in the Cathedral. And in the best preserved Registers of such Interments of old, from Monuments and Inscriptions, we find the Names of Men and Women of many ancient Families; as of Ufford, Hastings, Radcliffe, Morley, Windham, Geney, Clifton, Pigot, Hengrave, Garney, Howell, Ferris, Bacon, Boys, Wichingham, Soterley; of Falstolph, Ingham, Felbrigge, Talbot, Harsick, Pagrave, Berney, Woodhowse, Howldich; of Argenton, Somerton, Gros, Benhall, Banyard, Paston, Crunthorpe, Withe, Colet, Gerbrigge, Berry, Calthorpe, Everard, Hetherset, Wachesham: All Lords, Knights, and Esquires, with divers others. Beside the great and noble Families of the Bigots, Mowbrays, Howards, were the most part interr’d at Thetford, in the Religious Houses of which they were Founders, or Benefactors. The Mortimers were buried at Attleburgh; the Aubeneys at Windham, in the Priory or Abbey founded by them. And Camden says, That a great part of the Nobility and Gentry of those Parts were buried at Pentney Abbey: Many others were buried dispersedly in Churches, or Religious Houses, founded or endowed by themselves; and therefore it is the less to be wonder’d at, that so many great and considerable Persons of this Country were not interr’d in this Church.