Chapter XI: Section III

_The fast of LENT rigidly enforced and strictly observed at Lynn to the very close of this period_, _a further proof of the dark and unreformed state of the town—additional observations_.

That the observance of _Lent_ was rigorously enforced and religiously regarded here as late as the reign of Charles I, admits of no manner of doubt. None, but those whose cases absolutely required it, were allowed here to taste of flesh meat during all that season. In such cases _licences_ were applied for to the parish-minister, and obtained, provided the cases came well attested. But a strict charge was given not to exceed the bounds, or time, specified in the licence, without acquainting the minister, in order to have the licence renewed and continued. Of this we have sufficient evidence in the old parish-book of South Lynn, where, under the date of 1632, there is the following memorandum, in the hand writing of Mr. _Man_, who was then the minister of that parish.

“A Copy of a License for eating flesh in time of childbed, to the
wife of goodman Sowell of South Lynn, blacksmyth, according to law,
during the time of her sickness, granted the 14. of March 1633, and
now eight dayes after, her sicknes still continuing, registered
hereunder as followeth”—

“Forasmuch as the wife of goodman Sowell of South Lynn (being a
member of the Borough of King’s Lynn) in the county of Norfolk,
blacksmith, now lying in childbed, is by the testimony of the midwife
and her said husband and others, testified to me to be very weak and
sick; these are therefore, upon her and friends very earnest request,
so far as in me is, and according to the statute in that behalf
provided, for the better recovery of her former health and strength
again, to signify that by me the minister of the said parish, she is
licensed, the time of Lent notwithstanding, to eat flesh: Always
provided that the said license continue no longer in force than only
for the time of this her present sicknes: And if this her present
sicknes shall continue above the space of eight days next after the
date hereof, that then I be certified thereof further to perform and
do therein as law requireth. In witness whereof the day and year
above written I have hereunto sett my hand and seale

By me John Man cler. minister ibid: {702a}
In the presence of me Tho. Lilly churchwarden.” {702b}

The duty of the Lynn Clergy must have been much greater then, especially during the time of Lent, than it is at present; for it may be supposed that these applications for licences were not few or unfrequent: and if they were obliged to do this work for nothing, it must have been still harder upon them. However that was, this practice seems to have continued till the civil wars broke out, or till the town was besieged and taken by the Earl of Manchester, when it was strongly garrisoned by the parliament, and made to undergo a civil as well as religious reformation. This appears to have been the greatest and most thorough reformation this town ever underwent, or experienced; at least, since the days of Henry VIII: for the long parliament, like his majesty, seldom did things by halves, but generally carried on with energy and effect whatever they took earnestly in hand.

It may very safely be concluded that the religious observance of Lent was discontinued at Lynn from the time referred to till the _restoration_, when it seems to have been again revived, both here and throughout the kingdom, among all true churchmen. For it appears to have been one of those choice and invaluable blessings which Charles II, (that _most sacred_, and _most religious_ sovereign, as his bishops and clergy used to call him,) restored to us at his return from exile. Accordingly, we find, by the public prints and records of that period, that his majesty from the beginning of his reign, or first arrival, was attentive to this point. Among other plain indications of this is a striking passage in the _Mercurius Publicus_, of February 21, 1661, (a flaming weekly court paper of that time,) which is worded as follows.

“London Feb. 16.—We are commanded to give Notice of a malicious
Slander against the good government of the city of London for
observation of Lent according to law and his MAJESTIES
_Proclamation_: some malecontents suggesting that the company of
_Fishmongers_ have confessed they are not able to supply the market
with fish sufficient for this occasion; (and therefore that the late
proclamation will be recalled) which is so false and bottomles a
fiction that the most vigilant Lord Maior hath assured the Lords of
his MAJESTIES Privy Council how the company of fishmongers do not
only undertake to furnish the market with plenty and variety of good
and wholesome fish, but to sell fish cheaper by twopence in a
shilling; which is more than sufficient to stop the mouths of all
that are averse to our good and wholesome laws (made upon so long
experience, and so necessary for the common good and safety of this
Island) which yet deprive none of the benefit of dispensation, whose
condition really requires other dyet, such as are aged, or infants,
women with child, sick persons, and such whose health and
constitution is known to be prejudiced by continuall eating fish; for
all whom the Law hath provided Licences and Dispensations to eat
Flesh.” {704}

Here Charles appears in the character of a _religious king_, to which he, of all men living, had, perhaps, the least pretension. Yet his bishops and clergy unblushingly gave him that title, and would frequently mention him, even in their addresses to the Deity himself, under the same appellation, and under one still stronger—“Our _most_ religious king!” So much for the bishops and clergy of those days. But it was in _Scotland_ that his majesty’s _religious_ and _reforming_ character, at least in respect to the strict observance of Lent, was exhibited in the most striking light. This may be inferred from the following curious document in the above mentioned Court-newspaper of Feb. 26. 1662, which, though somewhat extraneous and out of place, the author hopes the reader will excuse his introducing it here, as he knew of no fitter place for its insertion.

“_Edinburgh_ 12. Febr. 1662.—Forasmuch as the not keeping of Lent and
Fish days, conform to several Acts of Parliament and late Act of
Council of the sixth of _February_ 1662, hath been occasioned by not
exacting the penalties therein contained from the contraveeners, who,
upon hopes of impunity, may still continue disobey the saids Acts, to
the great prejudice of the kingdom: Therefore the Lords of his
Majesties Privy Council have thought fit to cause intimat publickly
at the Mercat Cross of _Edinburgh_, that none presume nor take upon
hand to contraveen the saids Acts; with certification if they
failize, the pains and penalties therein contained shall be exacted
with all rigour: and that they will crave an account of all
Magistrates and other Ministers of Justice, who are intrusted to
procure obedience to the saids Acts, and give notice of the offendors
within their respective bounds, as they will be answerable; and for
that effect to cause, of new again, intimat the aforesaid Act;
whereof the tenor follows—The Lords of His Majesties Privy Councill
taking to their consideration the greatest advantage and profit will
redound to all the Leiges of this kingdome, by keeping the time of
Lent and the weekly Fish dayes, _viz. Wednesday_, _Friday_, and
_Saturday_, and discharging of all persons to eat any flesh, during
that time and upon the saids dayes; or to kill or sell in the Marcats
any sort of Fleshes which are usually brought at other times, whereby
the young brood and store will be preserved; so that hereafter the
hazard of scarcity and dearth may be prevented, and the fishes, which
by the mercy of God, abound in the salt and fresh waters of this
kingdome, may be made use of for the food and entertainment of the
Lieges, to the profit and encouragment of many poor families who live
by fishing; the improvement whereof hath not been looked to these
many years by gone, which hath been occasioned by the universal
allowance of eating flesh and keeping of Mercats at all ordinary
times without any restraint, against which many laudable Laws and
Acts of Parliament have been made, prohibiting the eating flesh
during the said time of Lent or upon the saids Fishdays, under the
pains therein contained. Therefore, Ordains and Commands, that the
time of Lent, for this year, and yearly hereafter, shall begin and be
kept as before the year of God 1640, and that the saids weekly
Fishdays be strictly observed in all time coming. And that no
subject of whatsoever rank, quality or degree (except they have a
special Licence) presume to eat any flesh during the said time of
Lent, or upon the saids three weekly Fishdayes; and that no Butchers,
Cooks, or Hostlers, kill, make ready or sell any flesh, either
publickly in Mercats or privately in their own houses, during the
said time or upon the saids dayes, under the penalties following, to
be exacted with all rigour, _viz._ For the first fault 10_l_; for the
second 20_l_; and for the third fault 40_l_; and so to be multiplied
according to the oft contraveening of the said Act, to be exacted and
payed, the one half to the king’s Majesty, and the other half to the
delators. Likeas, for the surer exacting of the said pains, they
give power and warrand to all Magistrates within Burghs, and all
Sheriffs, Stewards, and Bailies within their several Jurisdictions,
to enquire after the contraveeners and to pursue them before the
Lords of Privy Council, or such others as shall be appointed or
delegat for that effect. And ordains Heraulds, Macers, or Messengers
at Arms, to make publication hereof at the Mercat Cross of
_Edinburgh_, and other places needful, and that these presents be
printed that none pretend ignorance.

_Pet. Wedderburne Cl. Sti. Concillii_.”

The above may serve as a sample of the manner in which that father of his people, king Charles II, managed, disciplined, and educated his Caledonian children. It was severe enough; but he sometimes far exceeded this specimen of his paternal attention; especially when he had some of the most obstreperous of those children of his _hunted with bloodhounds_, like wild beasts. This, as we learn from Laing’s excellent History of Scotland, was sometimes actually the case in that memorable reign. Having been naturally led to these digressions by the circumstance of the strict and religious observance of Lent in this town till near the middle of the 17th century, (which shews the small progress protestantism had made here down to that period,) we shall now resume the thread of our history.