The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 3Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 3
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
Many other Chappels there were within the Walls and Circuit of the
Priory; as of S. _Mary_ of the _Marsh_; of S. _Ethelbert_, and others.
But a strong and handsom Fabrick of one is still remaining, which is the
Chappel of St. _John_ the Evangelist, said to have been founded by
Bishop _John Salmon_, who died _Ann._ 1325, and four Priests were
entertained for the daily Service therein: That which was properly the
Chappel, is now the Free-School: The adjoining Buildings made up the
Refectory, Chambers, and Offices of the Society.
Under the Chappel, there was a Charnell-House, which was a remarkable
one in former Times, and the Name is still retained. In an old
Manuscript of a Sacrist of the Church, communicated to me by my worthy
Friend Mr. _John Burton_, the Learned, and very deserving Master of the
Free-School, I find that the Priests had a Provisional Allowance from
the Rectory of _Westhall_ in _Suffolk_. And of the Charnell-House it is
delivered, that with the Leave of the Sacrist, the Bones of such as were
buried in _Norwich_ might be brought into it. _In carnario subtus dictam
capellam sancti Johannis constituto, ossa humana in civitate_ Norwici
_humata, de licentia sacristæ, qui dicti carnarii clavem et custodiam
habebit specialem utusque ad resurrectionem generalem honeste
conserventur a carnibus integre demulata reponi volumus et obsignari._
Probably the Bones were piled in good Order, the Sculls, Arms, and
Leg-Bones, in their distinct Rows and Courses, as in many
Charnell-Houses. How these Bones were afterwards disposed of, we have no
Account; or whether they had not the like Removal with those in the
Charnell-House of S. _Paul_ kept under a Chappel on the North-side of S.
_Paul's_ Church-yard: For when the Chappel was demolish'd, the Bones
which lay in the Vault, amounting to more than a Thousand Cart-Loads,
were conveyed into _Finnesbury_ Fields, and there laid in a moorish
Place, with so much Soil to cover them, as raised the Ground for three
Wind-mills to stand on, which have since been built there, according as
_John Stow_ hath delivered, in his Survey of _London_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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