as cast into prison, and the Bishop of Norwich wrote a
letter of thanks to the bailiffs for their activity in this matter, which
is preserved to this day. But, nevertheless, people still continued to
worship God according to the dictates of conscience; we find the Earl of
Dorset in his reply to the town of Yarmouth, as to the way in which the
town should be governed, adds: 'I should want in my care of you if I
should not let you know that his Majesty is not only informed, but
incensed against you for conniving at and tolerating a company of
Brownists among you. I pray you remember there was no seam in the
Saviour's garment.' Bridge was the founder of the Yarmouth
Congregational Church, somewhere about the time of the commencement of
the Civil War. The people declared for the Parliament. Colonel Goffe
was one of its representatives in the House of Commons. All along, the
town seems to have been puritanically inclined, and to have been in this
matter more independent than neighbouring towns. At one time they were
so tolerant that the Independents seem to have worshipped in one end of
the church while the regular clergyman performed the service in the
other; but that did not last long, and when the Independents had a place
of worship of their own, they were not a little troubled by Friends and
Papists claiming for themselves the liberty the Independents had sought
and won. In 1655 the peace of the Church was disturbed by Quaker
doctrines. It appears two females, members of the Church, had joined
them, and refused to return. We read: 'The messenger appointed to visit
May Rouse, brought in an account of her disowning and despising the
Church; she would not come at all unless she had a message from the
Spirit moving her.' She came, however, a week after (December 11), but
by reason of the cold weather was desired to come in again the next
Tuesday. She did so, and gave in these two reasons why she forsook the
Church: 1. Because the doctrine of the Gospel of Faith was not holden
forth; 2. Because there wanted the right administration of baptism.

In 1659 the Church at Yarmouth, feeling the times to be full of trouble
and of peril, said:

'1. We judge a Parliament to be expedient for the preservation of the
peace of these nations; and withal, we do desire that all due care be
taken that the Parliament be such as may preserve the interests of Christ
and His people in these nations.

'2. As touching the magistrat