Page:VCH Norfolk 2.djvu/282

A HISTORY OF NORFOLK Shelton, Richard Belward of Earsham,' John Goddesel of Dychlingham, parchment-maker, and Sir Hugh Pie, chaplain of Ludney, were all accused of heresy, but these first experiences of persecution seem to have terrified his victims, and they abjured then, only in some cases to be brought up again under his successor. Bishop Alnwick, after a vacancy of a year, was provided to the see 27 February, 1426, and was consecrated 18 August following. He had been a monk of St. Albans, prior of Wymondham, and archdeacon of Salisbury, had held the stall of Knaresburgh-cum-Brickhill in the cathedral of York, and exemplified all the bitterness of the monks against the new doctrine, about 1 60 persons suffering persecution during the ten years of his episcopacy.* In 1428 he took part in a council at St. Paul's, where proposals were made for dealing with Lollardy, and on his return to Norwich, convened a diocesan synod to take action against what seemed an increasing danger.' William White and Thomas, late chaplain of Seething, had already been arrested by the keeper of the castle of Colchester,* and when William White was brought before this synod he was convicted of tliirty articles and condemned to be burnt as a relapsed heretic. The sentence was executed at Norwich, September, 1428. Among other Norfolk Lollards who were brought up in that year were Margery Backster," wife of William Backster, wright, of Northam, whose fate Foxe does not record, but she declared that William White was falsely con- demned, and John Beverley alias Bathild,* labourer, attached by the vicar of South Creyk and the parish priest of Waterden, and sentenced, after abjuration, to submit to various penances, including a beating from the bishop's palace round by Tombland, and thence to St. Michael at Plea Church, through Cutler Row, and round the market, holding in his hand a wax candle to be offered at the image of the Holy Trinity at the high altar of the cathedral, and who was then to quit the diocese for ever. In 1430, John Grigges of Martham, and John Burrel and Thomas Moon of Ludney, were forced to abjure and do penance.' This Thomas Moon was accused because he had con- sorted with heretics, and William White and his wife had had their abode with him. In the previous year * accusations had been made by one William Wright against Anise Moon, wife of Thomas, as well as against his daughter, who could read English ; against William Taylor of Ludney ; William Skirning of Seeth- ing, who had received into his house Joan, widow of William White ; and Nicholas Belward of South Elmham, who, William Wright said, had a New Testament bought at London, out of which he had taught the said Wright and his wife Margery, Thomas Gremner, a turner of Ditchingham, and William Bate, tailor, of Seething, and his wife and son, to read. John Skilling, of Flixton, miller, who abjured, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in the monastery of Langley, with periodical fasting, and to do ' Foxe, ylcts and Monuments, iii, 585. Richard Belward was accused of declaring that ecclesiastical ministers have no power to excommunicate ; that Sir John Oldcastle was a true Catholic and put to death without reasonable cause ; and also of keeping schools of Lollardy in the English tongue in the town of Dychlingham, where a certain parchment-maker brought him the books concerning the doctrine from London. Though he purged himself the bishop commanded him to swear that he would never again teach anything contrary to the church. ' Blomefield, iii, 139. ' Stephens, Hist, of the Engl. Ch. iii, 189. ' Foxe, Acts and Monumtnts, iii, 586 ' Ibid, 592. ' Ibid, 593. ■ Ibid, 597. « Ibid. 248