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Matthew Parker was born in Norwich on August 6th
1504. Apparently he came from a well-to-do family however little
is known of his origins and early life. He was educated at St. Mary's
Hostel and at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in 1521 he took
his B.A. degree in about 1524-5. He was ordained in 1527 and that
year elected Fellow of the College, having refused an offer to migrate
to Wolsey's new foundation of Cardinal College, Oxford. Matthew
Parker was Chaplain to Anne Boleyn and later to Henry V111. Matthew
Parker married Margaret Harlestone on June 24th 1547. Margaret was
the daughter of Robert Harlestone of Mattishall (1490). They had
been betrothed for seven years, but as long as the law forbade the
marriage of clergy Parker was doomed to celibacy. However in anticipation
that the law would be amended by the Lower House of Convocarían,
Matthew married. It was claimed he lived near the church for a while
and was a spy for Queen Elizabeth 1 and so it was from him that
we get the expression "nosey parker"! Matthew Parker was
enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1558, during the reign
of Elizabeth 1.
Margaret became mistress of Lambeth Palace for
eleven years until her death in 1570. Margaret never forgot Mattishall
and in her will she left to the Parish land to the value of fifty
shillings per annum. She also directed that a fellow of Corpus Christi
College, Cambridge (of which Parker had been Master) should preach
each year in Norwich, Thetford and Mattishall at Rogationtide. The
Parker Sermon continues to this day. During Rogation Week the ceremony
of beating of the Bounds' took place, and this together with the
arrival of an eminent preacher caused much celebration and a Fair
began with the traditional hiring of workers taking place. The Fair
became known as 'The Gant. Rogation Week is also known as 'Gang
Week’ and it is believed that Gant is a corruption of the
word 'Gang'. Gants were held regularly in the village until the
1950s when they died out. In recent years a weekend Gant was held
in 1977 to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. In 1997 a Gant
week was held with a 'Millennium.
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