"Inchurching," as it is quaintly termed, created much solicitude, and the Yarmouth people wrote to Rotterdam for sanction and advice before taking any decided step. In 1642, a formal document of dismissal was sent; after which it became an enquiry, whether the Church should choose Yarmouth or Norwich as the place of assembly. Unable to settle this question, they deferred it for a time, and simply resolved upon "inchurching, judging ten or twelve to be a competent number." Soon afterwards, an answer came "that Yarmouth was safer for the present," and a Church covenant having been adopted and ratified at Norwich, the people unitedly chose Mr. Bridge as their pastor. The Independents of Norwich held religious worship by themselves in some private house, and joined with the townspeople of Yarmouth only in the celebration of the Lord's supper. But at length, becoming tired of their journeys in passing to and fro, the former constituted themselves a distinct community.[464] [Sidenote: _Presbyterians and Independents._] The Presbyterians at Yarmouth betrayed some jealousy of their Independent neighbours; for Sir Edward Owner, an alderman and justice of the peace, who represented the town in the Long Parliament, waited, in company with the Presbyterian Incumbent of the parish of St. Nicholas, upon Mr. Bridge, to express displeasure at his having gathered a Church in what was called the "Congregational way." After this occurrence, the Church resolved "that for a time they would forbear to receive any into their fellowship, until they gave notice to the town that they could forbear no longer." Mr. Bridge, when elected to the pastorate of this new community, held the office of town preacher in Yarmouth, and was also a member of the Assembly of Divines. He had preached before the House of Commons in February, 1643; and it was in the May of the same year, whilst at home, during a temporary suspension of his Westminster duties, that his brethren called him to be their Bishop. Notwithstanding his position at Westminster and his Congregational office at Yarmouth, the Corporation retained him in his municipal chaplaincy and allowed him fifty pounds a year during his absence. The continuance of this connection no doubt led to the interference of the bailiffs with his pastoral relations, and explains the effect produced by the interview; but the Church, notwithstanding this circumstance, speedily asserted its independence, and by doing so did not at all affect the public position of their pastor, or diminish the influence which he exercised over his fellow-townsmen. [Illustration] CHAPTER XV. [Sidenote: _The Royalist Army._]