like laymen, neither singing nor saying till they came to the grave, and afore she was put in the grave, a collect in English, and then put in the grave, and after, took some earth and cast it on the corse, and red a thyng ... for the sam, and contenent cast the earth into the grave, and contenent read the Epistle of St. Paul to the Stesselonyans the ... chapter, and after they sang Pater noster in English, bothe preachers and other, and ... of a new fashion, and after, one of them went into the pulpit and made a sermon.”  Machyn especially disliked the preacher Veron, rector of St. Martin’s, Ludgate, a French Protestant, who had been ordained by Bishop Ridley, and was “a leader in the change from the old ecclesiastical music for the services to the Psalms in metre, versified by Sternhold and Hopkins[54].”

[Footnote 53:  The notes of the harmony were pricked on the lines of music.]

[Footnote 54:  Some Account of Parish Clerks, by J. Christie, p. 153.]

The clerks indirectly caused the disgrace and suspension of Robert Crowley, vicar of St. Giles, Cripplegate, and prebendary of St. Paul’s Cathedral, a keen Puritan and hater of clerkly ways.  He loathed surplices as “rags of Popery,” and could not bear to see the clerks marching in orderly procession singing and chanting.  A funeral took place at his church on 1 April, 1566.  A few days before, the Archbishop of Canterbury had issued his Advertisements ordering the use of the surplice.  The friends of the deceased had engaged the services of the parish clerks, who, believing that the order with regard to the use of surplices applied to them as well as to the clergy, appeared at the door of the church attired according to their ancient usage.  A scene occurred.  The angry Crowley met them at the door and bade them take off those “porter’s coats.”  The deputy of the ward supported the vicar and threatened to lay them up by the feet if they dared to enter the church in such obnoxious robes.  There was a mighty disturbance.  “Those who took their part according to the queen’s prosedyngs were fain to give over and tarry without the church door.”  The Lord Mayor’s attention was called to this disgraceful scene.  He complained to the archbishop.  The deputy of the ward was bound over to keep the peace, and Crowley was ordered to stay in his house, and for not wearing a surplice was deprived of his living, to which he was again appointed twelve years later[55].  The clerks triumphed, but their services at funerals soon ceased.  Puritan opinions spread; no longer did the clerks lead the singing and processions at funereal pageants, and a few boys from Christ’s Hospital or school children took their places in degenerate days.

[Footnote 55:  Some Account of Parish Clerks, by J. Christie, p. 154.]