towards the building or
restoration of churches, their marks were placed in the windows, in
honour of their liberality. Similar marks are to this day used by some
of the merchants of Oporto and Lisbon, stamped upon their pipes of wine.
Their forms seemed to depend on fancy, but a certain geometrical
precision pervaded all; sometimes they were composed of a circle with a
cross, or a shield with crosses laid over each other, of angles of every
possible direction grouped into a figure, now and then the figure of a
bird or animal added, but each differing essentially from every other,
that it may retain its distinctive characteristics. Printing, however,
though introduced into this country by Caxton, was for some centuries
seldom, if ever, practised, save in London and the two universities. To
the Dutch and Walloons, who came over at the invitation of Elizabeth, is
ascribed its first introduction in this city. In 1568, a Dutch metrical
version of the Psalms was issued from the press. No great progress,
however, would seem to have been made during the next century, but in
1736 was printed anonymously the "Records of Norwich," containing the
monuments of the cathedral, the bishops, the plagues, friars, martyrs,
hospitals, &c., in two parts, price three halfpence each; and in 1738, an
"Authentic History of the Ancient City of Norwich, from its Foundation to
its Present State, &c. (the like not extant), by Thomas Eldridge, T.C.N.,
printed for the author in St. Gregory's ch. yd., where may be had neat
Jamaica rum, fine brandy, Geneva and cordial waters, all sorts of
superfine snuffs and tobaccos at the lowest price!!!" This work, the
author presumes, from its bulk (thirty-two pages), to be the "_completest
work ever yet published_." Alas for the literature of the day! From
this period, however, Norwich kept pace with other places; a newspaper
had been established even earlier, a quarto foolscap, at a penny a
number. Among the advertisements from this "_Gazette_" bearing date July
16, 1709, are these--

"This is to give notice to all persons in the city, that right over
against the three Feathers in St. Peter's of Hungate, there is one
lately come from London, who teacheth all sorts of Pastry and
Cookery, all sorts of jellies, creams, and pickles, also all sorts of
Collering and Potting, and to make rich cakes of all sorts, and
everything of that nature. She teaches for a crown down, and a crown