The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 3

by Sir Thomas Browne

Upon the outside of the End of the North Cross Isle, there is a Statue of an old Person; which, being formerly covered and obscured by Plaister and Mortar over it, was discovered upon the late Reparation, or whitening of that End of the Isle. This may probably be the Statue of Bishop Richard Nicks, or the blind Bishop; for he built the Isle, or that Part thereof; and also the Roof, where his Arms are to be seen, A Chevron between three Leopards Heads Gules.

The Roof of the Church is noble, and adorn’d with Figures. In the Roof of the Body of the Church there are no Coats of Arms, but Representations from Scripture Story, as the Story of Pharaoh; of Sampson towards the East End. Figures of the last Supper, and of our Saviour on the Cross, towards the West End; besides others of Foliage, and the like ornamental Figures.

The North Wall of the Cloister was handsomly beautified, with the Arms of some of the Nobility in their proper Colours, with their Crests, Mantlings, Supporters, and the whole Atchivement quartered with the several Coats of their Matches, drawn very large from the upper Part of the Wall, and took up about half of the Wall. They are Eleven in Number; particularly these. 1. An empty Escocheon. 2. The Atchievement of Howard, Duke of Norfolk. 3. Of Clinton. 4. Russel. 5. Cheyney. 6. The Queen's Atchievement. 7. Hastings. 8. Dudley. 9. Cecill. 10. Carey. 11. Hatton.

They were made soon after Queen Elizabeth came to Norwich, Ann. 1578, where she remained a Week, and lodged at the Bishop's Palace in the Time of Bishop Freake, attended by many of the Nobility; and particularly by those, whose Arms are here set down.

They made a very handsome Show, especially at that Time, when the Cloister Windows were painted unto the Cross-Bars. The Figures of those Coats, in their distinguishable and discernable Colours, are not beyond my Remembrance. But in the late Times, when the Lead was faulty, and the Stone-work decayed, the Rain falling upon the Wall, washed them away.

The Pavement also of the Cloister on the same Side was broken, and the Stones taken away, a Floor of Dust remaining: But that Side is now handsomly paved by the Beneficence of my worthy Friend William Burleigh, Esq.

At the Stone Cistern in the Cloister, there yet perceivable a Lyon Rampant, Argent, in a field Sable, which Coat is now quartered in the Arms of the Howards.

In the Painted Glass in the Cloister, which hath been above the Cross-Bars, there are several Coats. And I find by an Account taken thereof, and set down in their proper Colours, that here were these following, viz. the Arms of Morley, Shelton, Scales, Erpingham, Gournay, Mowbray, Savage, now Rivers, three Coats of Thorpe’s, and one of a Lyon Rampant, Gules in a Field Or, not well known to what Family it belongeth.

Between the lately demolish’d Chapter-House and S. Luke’s Chappel, there is an handsom Chappel, wherein the Consistory, or Bishop's Court is kept, with a noble Gilded Roof. This goeth under no Name, but may well be call’d Beauchampe’s Chappel, or the Chappel of our Lady and All-Saints, as being built by William Beauchampe, according to this Inscription. In honore Beate Marie Virginis, et omnium sanctorum Willelmus Beauchampe capellam hanc ordinavit, et ex propriis sumptibus construxit. This Inscription is in old Letters on the outside of the Wall, at the South-side of the Chappel, and almost obliterated; He was buried under an Arch in the Wall, which was richly gilded; and some part of the Gilding is yet to be perceived, tho' obscured and blinded by the Bench on the inside. I have heard there is a Vault below gilded like the Roof of the Chappel. The Founder of this Chappel, William Beauchampe, or de Bello Campo, might be one of the Beauchampe’s, who were Lords of Abergevenny; for William Lord Abergevenny had Lands and Mannors in this Country. And in the Register of Institutions it is to be seen, that William Beauchampe, Lord of Abergevenny was Lord Patron of Berg cum Apton, five Miles distant from Norwich, and presented Clerks to that Living, 1406, and afterward: So that, if he lived a few Years after, he might be buried in the latter End of Henry IV. or in the Reign of Henry V. or in the Beginning of Henry VI. Where to find Heydon’s Chappel is more obscure, if not altogether unknown; for such a Place there was, and known by the Name of Heydon’s Chappel, as I find in a Manuscript concerning some ancient Families of Norfolk, in these Words, John Heydon of Baconsthorpe, Esq.; died in the Reign of Edward IV. Ann. 1479. He built a Chappel on the South side of the Cathedral Church of Norwich, where he was buried. He was in great Favour with King Henry VI. and took part with the House of Lancaster against that of York.