XVIII. ARCHBISHOP LAUD'S LETTER TO THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF NORWICH, 1634, CONCERNING THE INCREASE AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THEIR CHOIR AND PETTY CANONS. (fn. 1)
After my harty Commendacions &c.
S. in Xp[ist]o.
I doe very well remember ye late alteration of yor Statutes and ye settlement of them in
Bp Harsnett and Deane Sucklings time, my Predecessor and my selfe amonge others beinge
imployed in that service. Att that tyme it troubled me very much (as itt hath since done vpon
the Considerac[i]on of other Churches,) to see ye weaknes of that Queere, and ye small meanes yt
was left to make itt better; consideringe that neyther the Queere, nor any thinge else mor about
the Church, can florish without some proportionable reward to service. The good old Deane, to
helpe thinges on as farre as he might, projected twoe thinges. The one was some proportion of
Corne to bee allowed them, which I thincke was then setled, and I hope continued. The other,
I doe not well remember yt itt was setled by Statute (ye more e pitty), but itt was generally
thought fitt, and approued by all of vs to whom the considerac[i]on of the Statutes was then
recomended, yt is, yt such small Benefices, or Cures, within the Cittie or Suburbs, as are in the
Churches guifte, should, as they fell voyd, bee given to the Petty Canons respectiuely and to noe
other. And that the Church should bee very carefull from tyme to tyme to chuse such Petty
Canons into vacant places, as might bee fitt and able to discharge both dutyes: both to singe in
the Quire, and to Catechize or Preach in the parish. This custome of givinge these small Cures
to the Petty Canons is vsuall with other Churches, where the Quire is as meane as yours, and it
beinge great helpe to them; and fitt and able men will never bee wantinge, if this course for theyr
preferment be held constant.
I write this unto yee, because I am informed, that there are divers very sufficient men already
in expectation of those places whensoever itt shall please God to make any voyd; soe yt you neede
not bee to seeke to furnish yourselves. But I heare withall, there is a purpose amongst some of
you, without any regard of ye honor and good of ye Church, to bestowe these livinges, when they
fall, vpon their private freindes, without any respect had to ye Quire, which if itt bee, will
vtterly overthrowe ye Quire Service, and you will not be able to reteine either voyces or skill
amongst you. I would bee glad to hope this informa[i]oon were not true, but itt is soe constantly
affirmed to mee, that I cannot distrust itt altogeather. These are therefore to pray and require
yee to bee carefull in this busines, as you have any care of the Churches good, or of any good
opinion that I shall hold of you. And this I assure yee, that if I shall find yt you doe att any
tyme putt other men into these Cures, and leaue the Petty Canons destitute to ye vtter preiudicinge
of ye Quire, I shall take all the wayes that wisely I can to make you see your error. Butt I hope
you will doe your dutyes, and soe preserve my loue and my care for you, which I shalbee glad
to extend to ye utmost, if you shall make yourselves capable of itt.
Thus, not doubtinge of your obedience to this direc[i]oon, I leaue you to the grace of God, and
rest
Your very lovinge freind
Lambeth, December 3, 1634. W. Cant. (fn. 2)
To my very lovinge ffreindes ye Deane and Chapter
of ye Church of Norwich, these.
The Answere of the Deane and Chapter of Norwich concerninge their Pettie Canons.
Most Reverend ffather and our Gracious Lord,
As wee haue many wayes liberally tasted of your noble favours, soe doe wee most humbly
thancke you for your last gracious Letter expressinge your ffatherly vigilancie for the good of
our poore Queere. To the advancement whereof, as (accordinge to our duty) wee bend our
vttermost care and endeavour, soe, by God's helpe, wee shalbee thereto the more styrred vpp by
your Gracious admonition. And withall we most humbly beseech your Grace to bee perswaded
that, though some overture hath beene made amonge vs to some suche purpose as to your Grace
hath beene suggested, yett wee haue not hitherto aliened any Cure from any of our Canons, and
soe farre wee are from any such intention that for the future wee are resolued by God's grace att
our next grand Chapter (the Actes whereof, by the Statutes, bind as the Statutes themselves,) to
settle a particular and perpetuall provision for every one of our Canons. And thus humbly
desiringe in this and all other your Grace his fatherly directions soe to demeane ourselues as
may both gayne and continue your Grace his good opinion of vs and gracious support to our
poore Church, wee blesse God for you and beseech Him longe to continue you to His glorie, the
Churches good, and your owne comfort: And rest most humbly
Your Grace his most ready to be commaunded
Jo. Hassall (fn. 3)
ffoulke Roberts
Jo. Spendloue
Nicho. Howlett
Samuell Garey
Edmund Porter
Edward Younge.
To the most Reverend ffather in God the Lord
Archbishopp of Canterbury his Grace
our very Gracious Lord.