jusons History of 
 The Borough of Sudbury 
 
7 
 
 4 
 
 » 
 
E. K. WATEBHOUSE. 
 
 HISTORY OF SUDBURY. 
 
 I 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2015 
 
 https://archive.org/details/shorthistoryofboOOsper 
 
OLD VIEW OF GREGORY STREET. SUDBURY, SUFFOLK. 
 {From a Photograph of aft Oil Painting by Draper, in the possession of Mr. G. Lancelot Andreives.) 
 
A 
 
 SHORT HISTORY OF 
 
 THE BOROUGH OF 
 
 IN THE COUNTY OF 
 
 SUFFOLK. 
 
 Compiled from materials collected by W. W. Hodsoii^ 
 
 BY 
 
 C. F. D. SPERLING, M.A. 
 
 SUDBURY : 
 
 PRINTED BY B. R. MARTEN, AT THE EXCELSIOR WORKS, 
 
 17, MARKET HILL. 
 
 1896;' 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The object of this little book is to save from oblivion, 
 and to preserve for all lovers of East Anglian history, the 
 notes relating to the ancient borough of Sudbury which were 
 collected by the late Mr. William Walter Hodson, but 
 which he himself unfortunately was prev.ented from editing 
 by a long continuance of ill-health, terminating in his death 
 January 19th, 1894. 
 
 No history of Sudbury has yet appeared in print, and 
 the notices referring to this town to be found in The Suffolk 
 Traveller (Ipswich, 1735 and 2nd Edition London, 1764) 
 are of the most unsatisfactory nature, so that a history of the 
 borough has long been required. To supply this need the 
 information herein contained has been collected from the 
 Borough Records, and from the various manuscript collec- 
 tions in the British Museum, &c. 
 
 In 1852, the Rev. Charles Badham, Vicar of All Saints, 
 Sudbury, published the History and Antiquities of All 
 Saints Chitrch^ and intended (as he says in the Preface to 
 
vi. 
 
 Preface, 
 
 that work) to write a second volume as a sequel to it, em- 
 bracing the general history of the borough, but never carried 
 out his intention. At his death in April, 1874, i^^^st of his 
 papers were burnt in ignorance of their value, but a few 
 came into the possession of Mr. W. W. Hodson, a native of 
 Sudbury and an indefatigable antiquary, who never missed 
 an opportunity of collecting any scrap of local information 
 that might come in his way. 
 
 Mr. Hodson was a most graphic writer, and read several 
 papers on the Antiquities of the borough before the members 
 of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, which were published 
 from time to time in their Proceedings. He also delivered 
 a course of lectures on Old Sudbury and its Churches, and 
 published in 1893 a short account of the rise of Noncon- 
 formity in Sudbury. 
 
 His lectures were so much appreciated by his audiences 
 that a desire was manifested to preserve his notes in a more 
 permanent form, and with this object in view, at the request 
 of C. E. Mauldon, Esq. (then Mayor of the borough) and of 
 Colonel G. Lancelot Andrewes, who had taken much interest 
 in the matter, Mr. Hodson agreed to arrange and condense 
 his notes in the form of a short history of the borough, which, 
 alas, he was prevented from doing. 
 
 His collections were then placed in my hands, and form 
 the basis of this little work, whose many imperfections I am 
 wxll aware of, but I trust it will serve, in some measure, to 
 illustrate the early history of this ancient Borough* 
 
Preface. 
 
 vii. 
 
 In conclusion I desire to express my grateful acknow- 
 ledgments to Colonel G. Lancelot Andrewes for much 
 courteous advice and assistance. It is, indeed, due to his 
 active co-operation that this book was undertaken. To Mr. 
 W. Bayly Ransom, together with Colonel Andrewes, I 
 tender my thanks for the loan of the pictures of Old Sud- 
 bury, from which the plates have been prepared. 
 
 C. F. D. SPERLING. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Early History of the Borough 
 
 Lords of the Manor 
 
 The Old Moot Hall 
 
 The Election of Mayor 
 
 The Mayor's Robes • 
 
 The Municipal Insignia 
 
 List of Mayors . 
 
 Members of Parliament 
 
 St. Gregory's Church 
 
 St. Peter's Church 
 
 All Saints Church 
 
 Sudbury College 
 
 The Grammar School 
 
 The Dominican Friary 
 
 St. Bartholomew's Priory 
 
 St. vSepulchre's Chapel 
 
 Colney's Hospital 
 
 The Ancient Houses 
 
 Eminent Natives 
 
 Sudbury Tokens 
 
 The Bellfounders 
 
 Ballingdon and Brundon , 
 
I. 
 
 EARLY HISTORY. 
 
 HE early history of the ancient borough of Sudbury 
 is veiled in the mists of antiquity, and historical 
 records are silent as to this town prior to the 
 eighth century when it was already a place of 
 some importance. But considering its favour- 
 able situation, on a gravelly eminence in the 
 fertile valley of the Stour, which commands the means of 
 communication both by road and river, in all probability it 
 was occupied, in the days of the Romans, by a settlement 
 of the Iceni, the powerful British tribe in whose territory it 
 lay. For close by in the adjoining parish of Long Melford 
 many Romano-British relics, in the form of sepulchral urns 
 and coins, have been discovered. 
 
 The name however is Saxon, and tells its own story, 
 Sudbury* — the fortified town in the south (of East Anglia) — 
 and this was its name when it first appears in history (in the 
 
 * Sudbury=suth-burh. The English burh was originally the fortified house {aula) of 
 the owner of the surrounding estate, or manor, which the tenants were bound to defend, but 
 in course of time the term burh was extended to the cluster of surrounding huts gathered for 
 protection within the ditch or hedge which encircled the lord's house. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 Saxon Chronicle) under the year 797 A.D., when we are 
 informed that ^Ifhiin, Bishop of Suffolk, died at Sudbury 
 whence his body was carried for burial to Dunwich, where 
 the episcopal see was then fixed. 
 
 During the next two centuries East Anglia was the 
 scene of perpetual warfare between the Danes and the 
 English, and Sudbury, situated on the river by which those 
 northern pirates advanced into the heart of the country, must 
 often have been visited by the war-bands of the one or the 
 other. It forms indeed a connecting link, on the Stour, 
 between the fortresses of Clare and Bures, where the moated 
 mounds still exist to testify to the warlike character of 
 the early inhabitants. At the latter (Bures) the youthful 
 Edmund was crowned King of the East Angles, on Christ- 
 mas day, 856, if we may believe the words of Geoffrey de 
 Fontibus, a writer of the 12th century, who thus describes 
 the coronation — 
 
 "Edmund, being unanimously approved, they brought him to Suffolk, 
 and in the town called Burum, made him king; the venerable Hunibert 
 (Bishop of Elrnham) assisting, anointing and consecrating Edmund to be 
 King. Now Burum is an ancient Royal town, the known bound between 
 East Sexe and Suffolk, and situated upon the Stour, a river most rapid 
 both in summer and winter." 
 
 Thirteen years later, in 869, occurred the great storm of 
 invasion, during w^hich the Danes, breaking southward from 
 the Humber, plundered all the great monasteries of the 
 Fens, and took Thetford, one of the strongest fastnesses of 
 the East Anglian kingdom. Poor Edmund, being forced to 
 fly, was captured by the Danes at Egglesdune (now Hoxne). 
 
The History of Sudbury. 3 
 
 Having taken the king, they beat him with '^bats," bound 
 him to a tree, and made him a mark for their arrows until 
 his body bristled like that of a porcupine. Then severing his 
 head from his body, they threw it contemptuously into a neigh- 
 bouring thicket, where it was afterwards miraculously dis- 
 covered by his friends, having been guarded by a wolf. 
 Representations of the severed head, and the crown with 
 two arrows in saltire, are frequently found in glass or stone 
 throughout Suffolk and Norfolk. His body, after having 
 been buried at Hoxne for thirty-three years, was removed to 
 Bedericksworth (now Bury St. Edmunds) where the great 
 Benedictine Abbey, one of the richest and noblest in 
 England, was afterwards raised over his relics. 
 
 With Edmund ended the line of East Anglian under- 
 kings, and in 878, by the solemn peace of Wedmore, all East 
 Anglia, Northumbria, and half central England, were ceded 
 to the Danes, and became known by the name of ''The 
 Danelaw." In accordance with this treaty, Guthrum the 
 Danish leader, was baptised by the name of ^thelstan, and 
 adopted the Christian religion, holding the lands between 
 the Thames and the Ouse as a vassal of the English king. 
 He observed the peace with all fidelity, making the Suffolk 
 town of Hadleigh his headquarters until his death in 889, 
 when he was buried in the church there. 
 
 In 905, Mercia, East Anglia, and Essex, were rescued 
 from the Danish yoke by king Edward, with the assistance 
 of his sister ^thelfled. Lady of the Mercians, and for some 
 years the Danish incursions were not repeated. But in 991, 
 
4 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 the Danes having plundered Ipswich, advanced into Essex, 
 where the brave ^Idorman Brithnoth met them in battle at 
 Maldon, and was himself slain in his efforts to drive them 
 back. The battle however does not appear to have been 
 decisive, so that the English were able to carry off the body 
 of their fallen leader, and bury him w^orthily at Ely, to which 
 abbey he had been a great benefactor. His widow rifled, 
 daughter of ^Ifgar the first ^Idorman of the East Saxons, 
 in 993, presented to the abbey an elaborate tapestry, on 
 which she had wrouo:ht the cflorious deeds of the hero of 
 Maldon, and devised her lands at Waldingfield to St. 
 Gregory's in Sudbury, as her royal sister ^thelfled erst 
 foreordained it." 
 
 This, however, is not the first mention of the Sudbury 
 church, for some twenty years earlier, in 970, ^thelric gave 
 a moiety of his estate at North-hoo to St. Gregory's, Sudbury, 
 from which it appears that nearly 1,000 years ago, a church 
 of that name was standing in Sudbury. Apparently it was a 
 minster-church, served by a monastic establishment in con- 
 nection with it, to which these gifts of land were made. 
 
 In the reign of ^thelred II. (979 — 1016) Sudbury was 
 possessed of a royal mint, and many coins struck here by the 
 moneyers ^Ifnoth, ^Ifric, Brihtlaf, and Godw^ne, marked 
 SUDBY on the reverse side, have been discovered. Coins 
 continued to be minted here for Edward the Confessor 
 (1042 — 1066) by Folcwine, the moneyer ; and after the Nor- 
 man Conquest, for William the Conqueror, William Rufus, 
 and Henry L, by Wulfric, the moneyer ; they are marked 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 5 
 
 SUTHBY, on the reverse. A piece of land in King Street, 
 called in its title deeds "the Mint" is said to be the site of 
 the old Saxon mint, and is now known as Belle vue," the 
 residence of Mr. H. C. Canham. 
 
 In the reign of Edward the Confessor, Sudbury formed 
 part of the estate of the noble lady yElgifu (whose name 
 appears in the Domesday Survey under the Latin form of 
 yElveva Comitissd), She is said to have been of Norman 
 descent and sister to William Malet, but held this town as 
 widow of the Saxon Earl ^Ifgar, whom she survived, but 
 died before the date of the Domesday Survey (1086), when 
 the town was in the king's hands. 
 
 The following is the account of Sudbury that appears in 
 the Domesday Book. — 
 
 '* Terra Matris Morchari quam Willelmus Camerarius et Otho Aurifex 
 servant in manu Regis. 
 Tinghou Hundred. 
 
 Sutberiam tenuit mater Morchari Comitis, tempore Regis Edwardi, modo 
 Rex Willelmus. 
 
 In dominio iij carucatae terrae. 
 
 Tunc i villanus, modo ij et Ixiij burgenses hallae manentes. 
 Tunc vi servi, modo ij. 
 
 Semper iij carucae in dominio ct Iv burgenses in dominio et ij carucatae 
 terrae. Inter omnes iiij carucae. 
 
 Ecclesia Sancti Gregorii de 1 acris libere terrae, teste Hundredo, et 
 xxxvi acris prati. 
 
 Et j molinus et ij equi in dominio hallae, et xvii animalia, et xxiiij porci, 
 et c oves, et viij acrae prati burgensium. 
 Et j mercatum. Et ibi sunt monetarii. 
 Tunc valuit xviij^*, postea et modo xxviij. 
 
 Ad numerum habet iiij quarentenas in longitudilie et iij in latitudine. 
 Et de gelto v solidos. 
 Soca in eadem villa." 
 
6 
 
 TJic History of Sudbury. 
 
 On another page of the Domesday Book, under the 
 
 account of the Manor of Hedingham (Castle) Essex, there is 
 
 this reference to Sudbury — 
 
 *' Huic mancrio jaccnt xv burgenscs in Sudbcria ct apprcciantur in illis 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 "The land of the motlier of (Earl) IMorcar which William the chamber- 
 lain and Otto the goldsmith manage for the King. Thinghoe Hundred. 
 
 Sudbury was held in the time of King Pldward the Confessor by the 
 mother of Earl Morchar, now it is held by the King himself. 
 
 There are three ploughlands [carucates) in demesne. 
 
 Then there was one villein-tenant, now two, and sixty-three burghers 
 dwellino: at the manor-house. Then there were six serfs, now two. 
 
 There were always three j)lough-teams on the demesne lands, and fifty- 
 five burghers in demesne, and two i)loughlands ; between them all four 
 plough-teams. 
 
 The church of St. Gregory holds fifty acres of land in free tenure, as the 
 men of the Hundred say, and thirty-six acres of meadow. 
 
 And there is a mill, and two horses in demesne at the manor house, and 
 seventeen plough-oxen and twenty-four swine, and one hundred sheep, and 
 eight acres of meadow for the burghers. 
 
 And there is a market. And there are moneyers there. 
 
 Then it was worth eighteen pounds, afterwards and now twenty-eight. 
 
 In number it has four furlongs in length and three in breadth. 
 
 And it pays five shillings to the taxation. 
 
 There is a right of independent jurisdiction {soke) in this town." 
 
 " Fifteen burghers in Sudbury belong to the manor of Hedingham 
 (Castle), and their value is included in the sum of twenty pounds at which 
 that manor is valued." 
 
 This last paragraph is an interesting illustration of the 
 
 customs of the period, shewing the mixed jurisdiction under 
 
 which the townsmen lived, some governed according to the 
 
 customs of the manor of Sudbury, others according to those 
 
 of the manor of Hedingham. Perhaps the latter had migrated 
 
 * 
 
 into the town to work, just as at the present day in Russia, 
 members of the Mir frequently go to a neighbouring town 
 to w^ork, while retaining and ultimately returning to claim 
 the privileges of their ancestral village. In this survey it is 
 noteworthv that Sudburv, thouc^h surrounded on all sides 
 
 / 
 
The History of Sudbury. 7 
 
 by Babergh Hundred, is set down under the Hundred of 
 Thingoe. That this is correct, is proved by an extract from 
 a MS. entitled Liber de consiietiidinibiis Monasterii S. 
 Edmiindi (written c 1184), which informs us that Thingoe 
 Hundred was divided for purposes of criminal jurisdiction 
 into twelve sub-districts called Leets,* and that Sudbury was 
 reckoned as three leets. The Hundreds of Thingoe and 
 Babergh were two of " the eight and a half hundreds," 
 granted by King Edward the Confessor to the Abbot of 
 Bury. They were known as the Franchise or Liberty of St. 
 Edmund, and now form the administrative county of West 
 Suffolk. 
 
 About the year 1259, Richard de Clare, Earl of Glou- 
 cester and lord of this town, acquired from Simon de Lutton, 
 Abbot of Bury, the privilege known as " Return of Writs " 
 within the bounds of the borough of Sudbury. This right 
 was of value to the lord of the town, as it enabled him to 
 prevent the sheriff from meddling with his tenants. 
 
 By the Charter of Queen Mary (if not earlier) this 
 privilege was transferred, with others, to the Mayor, Alder- 
 men and Burgesses of Sudbury. But not without dispute, 
 for in 1558 Robert Thorpe, as under-sheriff of the county, 
 laid claim to the ''Return of Writs" in this borough; and 
 in 1597, Robert Forthe, high sheriff of Suffolk, and Robert 
 Mawe, his deputy, commenced an action in the Court of the 
 Duchy of Lancaster to prove their right to the same, but 
 
 * A leet, apparently, was the district over which a leet-court had jurisdiction. This right 
 of jurisdiction belonged originally to the king, but in many instances he had conferred it 
 (Anglo-Saxon laetan=to let, allow) on the lord of the manor, whence the name of the court, 
 and eventually of the district which looked to that court as its judicial centre. 
 
8 TJie History of Sudbury. 
 
 judgment was given in favour of the Corporation, and the 
 plaintiffs were condemned in costs. 
 
 A borough such as this, at the end of the eleventh 
 century, differed very little from the ordinary villages round 
 about, except that its inhabitants happened to cluster to- 
 gether more thickly than elsewhere, and it was probably a 
 more defensible place, being surrounded by a ditch and 
 mound instead of the usual quickset hedge (///;/) from which 
 the township took its name. The striking contrast that we 
 now find between town and country life was then unknown, 
 and the inhabitants of both alike were engaged in agriculture. 
 There were few, if any, shops stored with goods ready for 
 sale in the towns, whilst the villages contained a larger 
 number of craftsmen than we should find amongst the rural 
 population at the present time. The borough, like the 
 villages round about, was completely controlled by the 
 manorial lord. He appointed the bailiffs, received the fines 
 and forfeitures of the burgesses, and the fees and tolls of the 
 markets and fairs. The burgesses held their little tenements 
 from him, and were bound in return to reap his corn crops, 
 grind at his mill, and redeem their strayed cattle from his 
 pound. It was only by his grace that they could drive their 
 swine into the neighbouring woods, and pasture their cattle 
 on the surrounding waste. 
 
 The history of constitutional progress in the town is 
 simply the history of the particular steps by which the in- 
 habitants secured immunities from the various disabilities 
 under which thev laboured, at the hands of their manorial 
 lord. 
 
The History of Sudbury . g 
 
 The earliest evidence that we have of the acquisition of 
 privileges by the burgesses of Sudbury is contained in a 
 charter of Richard de Clare, which still remains amongst the 
 borough archives. It is undated, but must have been granted 
 between the year 1230, when he succeeded to the lordship 
 of Sudbury, and 1262, when he died. By this charter he 
 conveyed to the burgesses, in return for the sum of one 
 hundred shillings paid down and an annual rent of forty 
 shillings, the pastures of Portmanscroft and King's Marsh, 
 two meadows lying on the banks of the Stour. The King's 
 Marsh, containing 21 acres, 36 poles, is now included within 
 the bounds of Ballingdon ; but Portman's Croft, containing 
 17 acres, 3 roods, 12 poles, adjoining the Mill-house, lies in 
 the parishes of St. Gregory's and All Saints', and is now 
 known as The Freemen's Great Common." 
 
 This little document, measuring only 9 inches by 3J, is 
 a beautiful specimen of the writing of the time. The ink 
 being as black as when it was first penned, and the letters 
 perfectly clear and distinct. Appended to it, is a circular 
 seal of green wax, having on one side the representation of a 
 knight in mail armour mounted on his horse, and bearing a 
 shield ornamented, like the trappings of the horse, with the 
 chevrons of the de Clares. Round the seal is a mutilated 
 legend, of which the words RICARDI . DE . CLARE 
 COMITIS . can still be distinguished. On the reverse of 
 this seal are the de Clare arms on a shield supported by two 
 lions rampant addorsed, and encircled by a similar mutilated 
 legend, of which the words •••RDI . DE . CLARE . COML 
 TIS , GLOU , are alone decipherable. 
 
lO 
 
 The History of Siidhnry. 
 
 It runs as follows, 
 
 Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Ricardus de Clare Comes Gloucestrie 
 et Hertfordie dedi concessi et hac presente carta mea confirmavi Burgensibus 
 meis et toti communi de Sudbir' totam pastiiram meam de Portmannecroft 
 et de Kingsmers in suburbio de Sudbyr' versus boream. Habendam et tenen- 
 dam dictis burgensibus et successoribus suis libere quiete integre bene et in 
 pace et hereditarie. Reddend' inde annuatim mihi et heredibus meis dicti 
 burgenses et successores sui quadraginta solidos argenti ad Festum Sancti 
 Michaelis pro omnibus serviciis consuetudinibus et demandis. Et ego et 
 heredes mei totam dictam pasturam cum pertinentiis dictis burgensibus et 
 successoribus suis ct toti communi in perpetuum warantizabimus contra 
 omnes gentes. Pro hac autem donatione mea concessione et carte mee 
 confirmatione dederunt mihi predicti burgenses centum solidos in gersumam. 
 Et ut hec mea donatio concessio et confirmatio robur perpetue firmitatis 
 optineant presentem cartam sigilli mei impressione roboravi. 
 
 Hiis testibus Domino Rogero de Saccario tunc senescallo de Clare. 
 Domino Galfrido de Fanencourt. Domino Thoma de Ebroico. Magistro 
 Roberto de Ebroico. Domino Thoma de Baiuse. Rogero Ostricer'. Johanna 
 de Suber'. Radolfo de Grendone. Willelmo de Ponte. Romero de Barlav. 
 Henrico Pointel. Johannc de Grey. Radulpho de Cressy, et multis aliis." 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Let all, both those who are now living and those who shall hereafter 
 live, know that I Richard de Clare Earl of Gloucester and Hertford have 
 given, granted, and by this my present charter confirmed to my Burgesses 
 and to the whole commonalty of Sudbury all my pasture of Portmannecroft 
 and of Kingsmarsh in the outskirts of Sudbury towards the North. To have 
 and to hold to the said burgesses and their successors freely and peacefully 
 &c. The said burgesses and their successors paying thence annually to me 
 and mv heirs fortv silver shillinofs on the Feast of St. Michael for all services 
 customs and demands And I and my heirs will warrant all the said pasture 
 with its appurtenances to the said burgesses and their successors and to all 
 the commonalty for ever against all men. And for this my grant, gift, and 
 charter of confirmation the aforesaid burgesses have given me one hundred 
 shillings as an earnest. And that this my gift, grant and confirmation may 
 have strength to stand good for ever I have strengthened this present 
 charter with the impression of my seal. 
 
 In the presence of these witnesses. Sir Roger of the Exchequer then 
 Steward of Clare. Sir Geoffry de Fanencourt. Sir Thomas of York. Master 
 Robert of York. Sir Thomas of Baiuse. Roger Ostricer. John of Sudbury. 
 Ralph of Grendon. William de Ponte. Roger of Barlay. Henry Pointel. 
 John de Grey. Ralph de Cressy, and many others. 
 
 This charter of Richard de Clare was confirmed in 1330 
 
 by Elizabeth de Burgh, his grand-daughter, who had sue- 
 
The History of Sudhiu^y. ii 
 
 ceeded to the lordship of Sudbury. But the confirmation 
 differs from the original grant in that Elizabeth de Burgh 
 reserves to herself and her heirs the right to dig the soil 
 from Portmanscroft to repair the mill-dam at Sudbury, as her 
 ancestors had been accustomed to do in the past. 
 
 This deed (which is still preserved amongst the Borough 
 Records) measures lo inches by 5, and has a beautiful and 
 artistic armorial seal attached. The seal is a circular one of 
 red wax, having a quatrefoil enclosing a large shield in the 
 centre, charged with the arms of Roger D'amorie, the third 
 and last husband of Elizabeth de Burgh ( Barry nehuly of 
 six argent and gules over all a bend sable J. Round this 
 central shield are three lions passant giiardant which are 
 introduced to shew the royal descent of Elizabeth de Burgh, 
 her mother being Joan of Acres, daughter of Edward I. 
 The mother of Joan of Acres was Eleanor, daughter of 
 Ferdinand III., King of Castile and Leon, in allusion to 
 whom castles and lio7is rampant .^cc^ placed around the 
 quatrefoil. In the four leaves of the quatrefoil are shields, the 
 two side ones displaying the hereditary coat of the de Clares 
 ( or^ three chevrons gules J ; the upper shield bears the arms 
 of John de Burgh, the first husband of Elizabeth de Burgh, 
 for a cross gules over all a label of three points J ; and the 
 lower one, or a fret giiles^ for Theobald de Verdon, her 
 second husband. 
 
 The charter runs thus — 
 
 Sciant presentes et futuri quod nos Elizabeth de Burgo Domina de 
 Clare inspeximus chartam domini Ricardi de Clare quondam comitis 
 Gloucestrie et Hertfordie antecessoris nostri Burgensibus suis et toti com- 
 
12 
 
 TJie History of Sudlmry, 
 
 muni de Sudbiir' factam dc tota pastura sua de Portmannecroft ct de Kingcs- 
 mersh in saburbio de Sudbur' in liec verba \_Here the charier of Richard de 
 Clare is recited ivord for ivord, as far as the ivor ds ivarantizahimtis contra omnes 
 gentes'"']. Nos volentes predictam cartam in omnibus in cadem contentis 
 forma juris vim habere et effectum predictam cartam Ratificamus et confir- 
 mamus pro nobis et heredibus nostris in perpetuum per presentes, salvo 
 tamen nobis ct heredibus nostris jure nostro ad fodiendam terram in pastura 
 predicta pro reparacionc stagni molendini nostri ibidem prout necesse fuerit, 
 sicut nos ct antecessores nostri hactcnus usi fuerunt. Datum apud Clare die 
 veneris proxima post festum sancti Johannis Baptistc anno regni regis 
 Edwardi tertii a conquestu tertio. Hiis tcstibus Domino Williclmo Dei 
 gratia Norwyccnci I^piscopo. Domino Johannc de Beck. Roberto dc 
 Bures. Johannc Sturmy. Radulpho de Bokkynge. Johanne de Whelncdham, 
 et Egidio dc Wachesham militibus. Johannc de Lutone. Ricardo dc 
 Wymbish. Roberto dc Abethorp. Andrea le forester, ct Roberto Roke- 
 wode ct aliis. 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Let all both those \vho arc now living and those who shall hereafter 
 live know that we, Elizabeth de Burgh, Lady of Clare, have seen the charter 
 of Sir Richard de Clare formerly Earl of Cjlouccster and Hertford and our 
 ancestor to the burgesses and all the commonalty of Sudbury concerning all 
 his pasture of Portmanscroft and Kingsmarsh in the suburbs of Sudbury in 
 these words — {Here the charier is recited). We, desirous that the aforesaid 
 charter may have force and effect in law as to everything contained in it, 
 ratify and confirm for ourselves and our heirs for ever, saving only for our- 
 selves and our heirs our right to dig earth in the aforesaid pasture to repair 
 our mill-pool there whenever it may be necessary, as we and our ancestors 
 were accustomed to do. 
 
 Dated at Clare on the Eriday after the feast of St. John the Baptist in 
 the third year of the reign of King Edward the third after the conquest. In 
 the presence of these witnesses Sir William by the grace of God Bishop of 
 Norwich. Sir John de I>eck. Robert dc Bures. John Sturmy. Ralph 
 de Bocking. John de Whclnetham and Giles dc Wachesham, knights. 
 John de Luton. Richard dc Wymbish. Robert dc Abethorp. Andrew 
 the forester, and Robert Rookwood, and others. 
 
 The charter of Richard de Clare, although it is the 
 earliest now remaining amongst the town muniments, is 
 probably by no means the first that the burgesses had obtain- 
 ed from their manorial lord, for in 1272 Gilbert de Clare, 
 Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, confirmed to the burgesses 
 and commonalty of Sudbury all the liberties and good cus- 
 
71ie History of Sudbury. 
 
 13 
 
 toms wliich they had obtained and enjoyed in the days of his 
 ancestors. This deed measures 7J inches by 3|- and is 
 beautifully clear and distinct. It runs thus — 
 
 *' Omnibus ad quos presens scriptum pervenerit Gilbertus de Clare Comes 
 Gloucestrie et Hertfordie solutem in Domino sempiterno. Noveritis univer- 
 sitas vestra nos concessisse et presente carta nostra confirmasse Burgensibus 
 nostris de Subbyre et ejusdem ville communitati omnes libertates et bonas 
 consuetudines temporibus antecessorum nostrorum optentas et usitatas. 
 Habendas et tenendas de nobis et heredibus nostris illis et successoribus 
 suis adeo libere et integre sine aliqua diminutione sicut ipsi et eorum 
 predecessores de nobis et antecessoribus nostris optinuerunt. In cujus rei 
 testimonium presenti scripto sigillum nostrum fecimus apponi. Datum apud 
 Merton vicesimo tertio die Januarii anno regni Regis Plenrici filii Regis 
 Johannis quinquagesimo quinto." 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 To all to whom this present writing shall come Gilbert do Clare Earl of 
 Gloucester and Hertford (sends) greeting in the Lord everlasting. Know 
 all of you that we have granted and by this our present charter confirmed to 
 our Burgesses of Sudbury and to the commonalty of that town all the liber- 
 ties and good customs that were obtained and prevailed in the days of our 
 ancestors To have and to hold of us and our heirs by them and their 
 successors as freely and completely without any diminution as they and their 
 predecessors obtained them from us and our ancestors. In testimony of 
 which we have caused our seal to be set to this present writing. 
 
 Dated at IMerton on the twenty-third day of January in the fifty-fifth 
 year of the reign of King Henry the son of King John. 
 
 Another interesting charter, from the town muniment 
 chest, is a license from Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March, 
 to the Mayor and Bailiffs of Sudbury, empowering them to 
 elect annually two Sergeants-at-mace to carry before the 
 Mayor maces adorned with the Mortimer arms. This deed is 
 written in Norman-French and dated from Clare Castle on 
 June 17th, 1397 (20 Richard 11.) ; attached to it is a beauti- 
 ful armorial seal, having the coat of Mortimer and de Burgh 
 quartered, the shield being supported by two lions (the white 
 lions of Mortimer). The license is as follows — ^ 
 
14 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 " Roger de Mortemer, Conte de la March & Dulvester, Seignur de 
 Wiggemore, Clare, Trim, & Connaght, A touz ceux qi cestes I'res verront 
 ou orront saluz. Sachez nous auoir done licence pour nous & nos heirs as 
 Meir & baillifs de n're ville de Sudbury, & a lours successors a toutz jours, 
 qils puissent eslire & faire chescun an deux Sergeantz de porter deuant eux 
 maces de noz armes deins la franchise de n're d'te ville. En tesmoignance 
 de quele chose nous auoms fait faire cestes noz I'res patentes. Don a n're 
 chastell de Clare le xvij jour de Juyn I'an de regne le Roy Richard second 
 vyntisme." 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Roger de Mortimer, Earl of IMarch and of Ulster, Lord of Wigmore, 
 Clare, Trym, and Connaught, to all those who shall see or hear this writing, 
 greeting. Know yc that we have given license for us and our heirs to the 
 INIayor and Bailiffs of our town of Sudbury and to their successors for ever 
 that they may elect and appoint every year two sergeants to carry before 
 them maces of our arms within the franchise of our said town. In testimony 
 of which Ave have caused these our letters patent to be made. Dated at our 
 castle of Clare the 17th day of June in the 20th year of the reign of King 
 Richard the second. 
 
 Amongst the privileges possessed by the men of Sud- 
 bury from time out of mind, was freedom from tolls, both 
 for themselves and their goods, throughout the whole of 
 England. 
 
 This immunity was confirmed to them by Letters Patent, 
 19 Henry VI. (Nov. 22, 1440), and again in 1455 ; the two 
 documents being preserved amongst the Borough archives. 
 The following is a translation of the later one — 
 
 HENRY, by the grace of God King of England, 
 France, and lord of Ireland, to all and singular Sheriffs, 
 Mayors, Bailiffs, Ministers and other his faithful people to 
 whom these letters patent shall come (sends) greeting. 
 
 Whereas the men and tenants of the town of Sudbury, 
 of the honour of Gloucester, as is said, ought to be free, and 
 from the time from which memory runneth not to the con- 
 trary, have been accustomed to be free from tolls, pontage, 
 
The History of Sudbury. 15 
 
 passage, piccage, pannage, and murage throughout our whole 
 reahn of England. We command you that the men and 
 tenants of the town aforesaid shall be free of the same tolls, 
 pontage, passage, piccage, pannage, and murage, and that 
 you admit the same to be free as heretofore. 
 
 ''Witness myself at Westminster the 24th November in 
 the 34th year of our reign." 
 
 In 1 568, the Corporation of Sudbury had to assert and 
 prove this right, in the court of the Duchy of Lancaster, 
 against the Corporation of Cambridge, who claimed dues on 
 the goods of the burgesses of Sudbury, at Sturbridge Fair. 
 
 Early in the reign of Henry VI. {i.e. 1425), we have a 
 valuable survev of the town of Sudburv, in the return of the 
 jury at the inquisition held at Clare, on the Tuesday after 
 the Feast of the Translation of St. Thomas, in the 3rd year 
 of Henry VI. 's reign, when the jury found that Edmund 
 Mortimer, 5th Earl of March, had died possessed of [inter 
 alia) — 
 
 The town of Sudbury and Manor of Wood Hall, held of the King i7t 
 capiti. That on this manor there was a capital messuage but it was of no 
 value after the annual outgoings were paid. 
 That he also possessed, in Sudbury, 
 800 acres of arable, worth £10, per ann., at 3d., per acre. 
 21 ,, meadow, ,, 52s. 6d., ,, , ,, 2s. 6d., „ „ . 
 
 32 ,, ,, pasture, ,, i6s., ,, ,, , ,, 6d., ,, ,, . 
 and 31 ,, >> underwood, of which seven acres three roods and a half 
 may be cut every six years, and it was worth i2d. per acre when it was cut. 
 
 Two water-mills, one windmill and a fulling-mill, worth £i\ per arm., 
 after all outgoings were paid. 
 
 The fee-farm of a certain pasture called Portman's Croft worth 40s. per 
 ann. 
 
 The rent from 62 ancient booths, worth 15s. 6d., at 3d. each. 
 
1 6 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 The fee-farm of the tolls of the market and fairs held on St. Bartholo- 
 mew's day and on St. Gregory's day, worth ^lo, per ann. 
 
 The rent of two permanent stalls in the market place, formerly Henry 
 Fitz Nigel's, worth los. per ann. 
 
 Three pounds of pepper received as annual rent, worth 3s. 6d. per ann. 
 
 One pound of cummin received as annual rent, worth 4d. per ann. 
 
 The rent of the fishery up to the bridge of Sudbury, worth 6s. 8d. per 
 ann. 
 
 Twelve shops for weavers of woollen cloth, worth 3s. 4d. per ann. 
 The rent of Picard's tenement worth i6s. 8d. per ann. 
 The rents of assize, worth £-1 7s. 8d. per ann. 
 
 And the pleas and profits of the court, with the Icet, worth £ \ per ann. 
 
 The right to hold a fair, and to receive tolls from those 
 who carried on the merchandise, was very lucrative, so that 
 the owner of the fair was tempted to hold it for a longer 
 period than that which his grant assigned, and for this reason 
 the duration of a fair was always specified. Merchants from 
 distant towns would meet at these fairs, and there was to be 
 no open market in the town during the time the fair lasted. 
 
 There were formerly three annual fairs in this borough, 
 originating no doubt in the ancient gatherings at the feasts of 
 the patron saints of the churches in the town — (Feria = Saints 
 days). One was held on the Market Hill on St. Gregory's 
 day, March 12th, another on St. Bartholomew's day, August 
 24th, and the third originally on the fifth Sunday in Lent, 
 then on the 29th of June, the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, 
 and afterwards on July loth, in the Croft. Each of these 
 was limited to three days, viz., the Saints day itself and the 
 vigil and morrow of that feast, but all three were abolished 
 about the year 1862, since they had deteriorated into mere 
 pleasure fairs to the hindrance of the trade of the town. 
 
The History of Sudbury. I'j 
 
 A weekly market has existed at Sudbury since Saxon 
 times, the profits arising from it belonging originally, like 
 those of the fairs, to the lord of the manor. It was held on 
 Saturday until 1829, when the day for holding the corn 
 market was changed to Thursday, as the former day was 
 found to be inconvenient, clashing with other markets in the 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 The Domesday survey tells us that Sudbury was a soke, 
 i.e.^ that the lord of the town was possessed of the power of 
 exercising an independent criminal jurisdiction within the 
 bounds of the borough. Consequently the men of Sudbury 
 were exempt from attendance at the Sheriff's ////';/ or Hun- 
 dred Court, although they still had to appear by twelve of 
 their own burgesses before the King's Justices in eyre when 
 the assizes for the liberty of St. Edmund were held at Cattes- 
 hill or Henhowe, on Shire-house Heath, near Bury St. 
 Edmunds, where they had been accustomed to attend from 
 time out of mind. 
 
 In later times, viz., the thirteenth century, it appears 
 that the franchise enjoyed by the lord of this town included 
 a view of frankpledge, and the police jurisdiction that was 
 incident to it, together with infangthief (or the power of 
 hanging criminals caught in the act within the borough 
 bounds, a privilege which gave its name to the Gallows 
 Hill), the assize of bread and ale, the return of writs, &c. 
 
 The assize of bread and ale^ was the power of enforcing 
 the general ordinances by which the prices w^ere fixed from 
 time to time at which bread or ale might be sold. Pillory 
 
i8 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 and tumbrell (or stocks) were the outward and visible signs 
 of this jurisdiction, just as gallows were of infangtJiicf^ and 
 the lord who did not keep proper instruments of justice was 
 liable to lose his franchise. 
 
 The right to exercise a view of frankpledgx comprised 
 not merely the right to execute the law of frankpledge and 
 to take the profits thence arising, and thereby to prevent the 
 Sheriff from meddling with the tenants, but also to hold 
 twice a year a court for the presentment and punishment of 
 offences that fell short of felonv, which towards the end of 
 the 13th century became known as the court lect^ the amerce- 
 ments, or fines, exacted therein going to swell the lord's 
 revenue. 
 
 At this court the freemen of the town, under the presi- 
 dency first of the bailiffs nominated by the lord, and after- 
 wards of their own elected Mayor, duly presented all offences 
 against the law. The lect jury forming the nucleus of the 
 future corporation. In this court affrays and bloodshed 
 could be dealt with, as well as failure to follow the hue and 
 cry against robbers, nuisances arising from the blocking of 
 highways, the stopping of water courses or the breaking of 
 bridges. Besides this the court had jurisdiction in all matters 
 of trade ; forestallers, regraters and engrossers ; butchers who 
 sold diseased meat ; shoemakers, tanners and glovers who 
 sold bad goods or dear ; bakers and brewers who broke the 
 assize, as well as those who used false weights and measures, 
 were all liable to have their cases taken and investigated in 
 this court, and might be punished by fines or imprisonment. 
 
llie History of Sudbury. 19 
 
 There was also a civil court, holding frequent sessions, prob- 
 ably once a week, known as the curia burgi or portmote, 
 also under the presidency of the mayor or bailiffs. In after 
 times this was called the court of orders and decrees. 
 
 The fines and profits arising from any matters within the 
 jurisdiction of this court, formed a source of income to the 
 lord of the town, until one by one they passed to the burgesses, 
 by purchase or grant from the lord, and, in the time of Queen 
 Mary, were all confirmed to the Mayor, Aldermen and Bur- 
 gesses of Sudbury by Royal Charter. 
 
 The growth of the Municipal organization of the borough 
 is of great interest, as it appears to have grown up from a 
 purely agricultural community, without the influence of any 
 merchant-guild to complicate its history, until it attained the 
 full powers of a Corporation in the sixteenth century. 
 
 In the Public Record Office, where many of the records 
 belonging to the Duchy of Lancaster are stored, there is a 
 series of parchment rolls relating to the Manor of Sudbury, 
 many of them, unfortunately, now almost illegible from the 
 effects of age and damp. These rolls are the annual accounts 
 for the borough of Sudbury which were drawn up by the 
 Chamberlains, and the surplus receipts paid over by them to 
 the treasurer of the Honour of Clare. 
 
 The earliest account is that of the year 1322 when 
 Richard de Panetria was the borough Chamberlain, and the 
 series is continued down to the year 1403, but there is no 
 mention of a Mayor in any of them. 
 
 The following is a transcript of the account (or balance 
 sheet) of John Ryveshall, Chamberlain, for the year 1353, 
 
20 
 
 TJic History of Sudbury. 
 
 shewing that the sum total of the receipts for tliat year was 
 £j\o ICS. 9id., whilst ;£/26 is. 2d. was expended in payments 
 and allowances. 
 
 The Account of the Chanihcrhiin of the 
 Borough of Sudbury, 
 for the year commencing Michaelmas, 26 Edward III. (1353). 
 
 [Ministers Accounts. Public Record Oflicc. 'Vh'".] 
 
 SUDBIRV. 
 
 Compotus Johannis Ryvcsliale Camcrarii Burgi Subiry a fcsto 
 Sancti Michaclis anno regni regis Kdwardi tertii i)ost conqiiestum 
 xxvi'" usque in craslinum Sancti ^lichaeHs proximum scquentem 
 anno predicti regis xxvii"""- 
 
 ARRKRAGIA. 
 
 Idem oneratur de xxi'^ dc arrcragio Sinionis dc Bertone niii)er 
 ballivi ibidem. 
 
 Et de cv" v'^ de arreragio Johannis Knyvet, Johannis Prentys el 
 
 aliorum ballivorum ante ipsos. 
 Kt de iij^ de arreragio Walteri \v Deyere nuper ballivi ibidem. 
 Yx de xxi" vi<^ de arreragio Saier Ic Smyth nuper ballivi ibidem. 
 Et de xxix"" iij'^ ob de arrcragio Thome Barbor ultima ballivi 
 
 ibidem. 
 
 Summa viij'' xi*i- 
 
 RKDDITUS ASSISE. 
 
 P2t de vi^ ob qa de redditu termino Sancti Andree Apostoli. 
 Et de xxix^ iiij*^ ob qa de redditu Medie-()uadragesimc et Paschc. 
 Et de xxxij^ iiij'^ ob dc redditu termino Nativitatis Sancti Johannis 
 Baptiste. 
 
 Et de iiij'' xvi^ v*^ ob de redditu termino Sancti Michaclis. 
 
 Et de de redditu molendini et alionim tencmentorum quon- 
 dam Domini Thome Dcverous per annum. 
 
 Et de vi^ de redditu januarum quondam Petri Elys. 
 
 Et de de redditu hostii celarii* quondam Johannis Knyvct quod 
 quondam fuit Thome de Sparham. 
 
 Et de vi'i de redditu Nicholai Barbour pro quadam placia in foro 
 quondam Walteri Sddelere. 
 
 Et dc j'^ de redditu hostii celarii quondam Ricardi dc Panctra. 
 • AnglicCy Door of the cellar. 
 
The History of Sudhiiry. 
 
 21 
 
 Et de jd de redditu Johannis Gray pro pariete domus sue. 
 
 Et de ij^ de redditu Johannis de Eye pro quodam stallo in foro 
 
 quondam Alani Polkat. 
 Et de ]^ de redditu hostii celarii quondam Thome Coyteman. 
 Et de iiij*i de redditu de traves* quondam Thome de INIaldone. 
 Et de j'^ redditu hostii celarii Johannis Grond. 
 Summa viii^' xi^ Vyf- 
 
 FIRMA CUM \ 
 REDDITUS MOBILIS. ) 
 
 Et de x'' de firma toloniorum, mercati, et nundinarum per annum. 
 Et de x^ hoc anno de firma ij seldarum in foro, quondam Henrici 
 
 Fitz Nigell, existentium in manibus domine. 
 Et de vijs vid de iij^b piperis de redditu vendita hoc anno. 
 Et de iij^ de j^^ et dimidia cumini de redditu vendita hoc anno. 
 Et de vijs iiijti de xxii grossis laniis textorum hoc anno proquolibet 
 
 iiij ad festum Sancti Andree Apostoli. 
 Et de xviij'i de ix parvis laniis textorum hoc anno pro quolibct ijd. 
 Et de xiiij^ receptis de Ivi antiquis stallagiis hoc anno, viz pro 
 
 quolibet iij'^. 
 
 Summa xii'' vii'l 
 
 ITEM FIRMA. 
 
 Et de xls de firma pasture in Portmancroft per annum, tcrminis 
 
 Pasche et Sancti Michaclis. 
 Et de vis viij^i de firma piscarie ad pontem Subire per annum. 
 Summa xlvi^ viii^. 
 
 PERQUISITA CURIE. 
 
 Et dc ix^' xi^ receptis de finibus et perquisitis xvi curiarum cum 
 Letis tentarum ibidem hoc anno. 
 
 Summa ix^' xi^. 
 
 SUMxMA TOTALIS RECEPTORUM CUM ARRERAGIIS. 
 
 xP' x^ ix^ ob. 
 
 DEFECTUS REDDITUS. 
 
 In defectu redditus quondam Milonis Poyntel, nunc in dominio 
 
 domine, ad festo Pasche et Sancti Michaelis xii'^. 
 Item in defectu redditus quondam Bartholomei de Liketone, nunc 
 
 in dominio domine, ad festum Sancti JMichaelis iiij^ 
 In defectu redditus iij acrarum ct j rode terre quondam Warini 
 
 de Subbosco, que in dominio domine in fjstum Sancti Michaelis 
 
 vi^. 
 
 * Anglice, beams. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 In defectu redditus j selde et iij acrarum terre quondam Henrici 
 Fitz Nigell que in dominio domine terminis Pasche et Sancti 
 Michaelis xii^. 
 
 In defectu redditus molendini aquatici quondam Thome Deverous, 
 sicut invenitur per extentum, viz per i^^ piperis, unde supra 
 ijs vid hoc anno. 
 
 In defectu redditus pasture quondam Simonis Wigayn que in 
 dominio domine ad festum Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptiste 
 iiijd. 
 
 In defectu redditus iij acrarum et j rode terre quondam Johannis 
 Capellani que in dominio domine termino Michaelis iij^. 
 
 In defectu redditus unius pecie prati quondam Roberti Darre, ubi 
 exclusa'"* domine situantur, nunc in dominio domine, viii^ per 
 annum. 
 
 Summa xiiis. 
 
 \^At the back of the roll the payments and allowances are entered^ thus^ 
 
 DENARII SOLUTI. 
 
 Soluti Priori de Stoke ex antiqua elemosina per annum Ixvi^ viij^. 
 Summa Ixvig viij<^. 
 
 LIBERATIO DENARIORUM. 
 
 Liberatio Humfrido de Walden Receptori dc Clare dc arreragiis 
 
 Saieri le Smith xxi^ vid pro j tallagio. 
 Liberatio eidem Humfrido pre manibus Johannis de Reveshale 
 nunc ballivi, xxi^' pro v tallagiis. 
 
 Summa xxii^' xviij^. 
 
 SUMMA OMNIUM EXPENSARUM ET LIBERATIONUM. 
 
 xxvi'i xiiijd. 
 Et debet xiiiju ixs vijd ob. 
 Unde supra Simonem de Berton nuper ballivum ibidem, xxi^. 
 Et supra Johannem Knyvet, Johannem Prentis et allios ballivos 
 
 ante ipsos cv^ v^. 
 Et supra Walterum Deyer nuper ballivum ibidem iij^. 
 Et supra Thomam Barbor nuper ballivum ibidem xxix^ iijd ob. 
 Et supra Johannem Reveshale nunc ballivum ibidem vii^' x^. 
 E quibus allocati eidem precepto Domine ex gratia sua speciale 
 xiiis iiijd pro roba sua hoc anno unde prius non habent alloca- 
 tiones. 
 
 Et liberatio Humfrido de Walden Receptori de Clare super com- 
 
 potum Ixs sine tallagio. 
 Et sic supradictum Johannem Reveshale nunc ballivum ibidem 
 
 Ixxvis xd. 
 
 * Anglice, the sluice or floodgates at the mill. 
 
The History of Sudbury, 23 
 
 The Mayor is mentioned in the Patent Rolls as early as 
 1 33 1, but apparently he was not incorporated with the bur- 
 gesses into one governing body until the time of Queen Mary. 
 
 Amongst the borough records is a copy of the admission 
 of a burgess in 1506, which took place before the Steward, 
 and the fine on admission was paid to the King, as lord of 
 Manor. 
 
 It runs thus, 
 
 Sudbury. At a court there held on Monday next before the 
 feast of St. Michael the Archangel in the twenty 
 first year of the reign of King Henry the Vllth 
 after the conquest of England, comes William 
 Salter, of the same, wever, before Sir James Ho- 
 bart Kt., steward there, and gives to our lord the 
 king for a fine to be a burgess of the town of 
 Sudbury aforesaid, and thereupon swears to keep 
 all the laws and liberties of the same town whole 
 and sacred as is the custom. 
 Witness, John Dister and many others. 
 In 15 15 the government of the town was vested in the 
 Mayor, his "brethren," and the twenty-four burgesses. The 
 Mayor's "brethren" were, apparently, five of the ex-mayors 
 called in to his assistance. They afterwards, in 1554, 
 ceived the name of aldermen. The various municipal officers, 
 named in the Town Constitutions of that date, are, the two 
 great (chief) constables, the chamberlain (or Borough Trea- 
 surer), the sergeants, the bailiff", and the neetherd who looked 
 after the cattle of the townsmen. Their social precedence 
 
24 TJic History of Sudbury. 
 
 may be gathered from the fines paid by them for absence 
 from the common-hall. 
 
 The fines exacted were, 
 
 From the Mavor's brethren . . xxd. 
 
 ' From a Burgess, a Constable or Chamberlain \\\\^' 
 From a Headboroiigh, who had not yet held 
 
 office .... iii^^- 
 
 From any other inhabitant . ii<-^- 
 
 Unfortunately, ''for lack of good and safe custody of 
 the same," as the preamble of Queen Mary's Charter says, 
 there are no "Town Books" of earlier date than of Queen 
 Elizabeth's reign, and the only evidence we have, of the 
 early customs of the borough, is contained in a long roll of 
 parchment, which has once had some thirty seals attached, 
 and is still in the safe custody of the Town Clerk. 
 
 It runs as follows — 
 
 SUDBURY IN SUFFOLK. 
 
 To all true and feithfull people of crist these present letters 
 made ther the xv dav of November in the veer of our lord 
 ml vcxv And in the viitH veer of the reign of King Herry the 
 viii seyng or heryng, William Heron the kings lieftenant and 
 Maier of the seid toun of Sudbury, John Scalder, John 
 Guvbelon, Thomas Man, Robert Hevnes, and William Park, 
 late Mayers ther, John Wyn & John Baker gret constables 
 there & late chamberlavnes, William Dalton now chamber- 
 layn of the same toun, John Hervy, Thomas Reynolds, 
 Thomas Haukyn, John Robert, William Manwode, Thomas 
 
The History of Sudbury, 25 
 
 Mist, Thomas Potier, late chamberleynes within the seid 
 toune, William Lovelich, John Peanny, Thomas Elyce, 
 Edward Strachy, William Barbor, John Banker, Thomas 
 Kerver, Thomas Fullour, Richard Smyth horsleach, William 
 Page draper, John Oxbiirgh, Thomas Loveday, John Jegon, 
 
 and , Burgeyses, send gretyng in our lord god 
 
 everlastyng. 
 
 Know ye us, as well the seid Mayer & his predecessours 
 that have be Mayers beyng furst sworn separabely biforn the 
 seid xxiiii Burgesses unto dewe performation of all the con- 
 stitutions & everyth of them hirafter specified, as we the same 
 burgeyses being admittyd & sworn unto the same upon the 
 Oothes of everyth of us taken biforn the seid Mayer and his 
 brethren bi our full consent & agrement unto the laude & 
 honor of almighty God and for the peas of our soveraigne 
 lord the kyng with a good and a dewe ordre convenyently bi 
 the grace of God from hensforth withyn the seid toun to be 
 used & observed And more specially for the comon weale, 
 good rule & governance of all the comons & inhabitants of 
 the same, have made constituted & ordeyned at our comon 
 advise and full agrement divers constitutions & ordynncs 
 hirafter particularly ensuyng. 
 
 FUST that if and as often as any maner persoone 
 Of Sauts or persoones as well straungers as inhabitants within 
 and Frays, the seid toun violenty ayenst the Kyng's peas within 
 the same toun or the bounds thereof make any assaut 
 or fray upon any other person or persoones, or ellis 
 with swird, dagger, or knyff drawyn, orells with bill, 
 
26 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 staff, or any other weapyn, smyte any persoon or 
 persoons, or drawe blode upon them or upon any of 
 them, except he or they be themselfs defendant that 
 than and soo often every such persoone soo offendyng 
 to be arested & comytted to prison there to abide 
 unto tyme he or they soo offendyng fynde sufficient 
 suerte within the same toun dwellyng to be bounde 
 by reconisance made & recordid in writyng biforn the 
 Mayer or his depute with ii such witnesses then beyng 
 present as have be chamberlayns to be good of beryng 
 from hensforth, and on that to forfete & pay xx^. unto 
 the comon chist. 
 
 FURDII'^MORE that at every such tyme resonable 
 Fordefaulte ^ convenyent to the Mayer for the tyme being or his 
 
 ° depute {when lie shall) sende his officer to dewe monv- 
 appearance. r v / j 
 
 cyon to his brethren which have be Mayers there be- 
 foretyme, constables, chamberlaynes, heedborwes or 
 other inhabitants within the seid toun or to any of 
 them to appear biforn him or his depute atte comon 
 halle, orells at any convenyent place within the same 
 toun att a certayn tyme or hour to them soo assigned 
 for any matiers or causes concernyng our sovereign 
 lord the Kyng, or the election of any ofhcer or officers, 
 or ellis for any other matier or cause leeful to be doon 
 for the comon weale, good governance & rule of the 
 seid toun, that they which make defaulte of their 
 apparence atte seid tyme unto them or to any of them 
 soo limited ; except cause of resonable excuse had 
 
lite History of Sudbury. 27 
 
 biforn the hour or tyme assigneed, shall forfeite & 
 pay such fynes and penyalltees as hiraftur be assigned. 
 Fust everyth of them that have be Mayers to forfate 
 xxd- Every Constable, Burgeys, & Chamberleyn as 
 well for tymes past as for the tyme beyng to forfaite 
 iih<J- Every heedborwe in like wise nat admitted to 
 any of the seid offices to forfete iii, And every other 
 inhabitant to forfete ii^- 
 
 ALSO THAT at every generall procession and at 
 buryell of every Mayer or of any officer abovenamed 
 
 processions 
 
 p - within the seid toun as well every persoon that hath 
 
 & buryells. ■' ^ 
 
 be Mayer as all othir as be or have be chamberlayns 
 constabls or burgeises upon dewe monycion from the 
 Mayer or his depute unto them bi the sergeaunts 
 alweyes to be made at an hour to them assigned 
 ^except excuse resonably be had and shewed biforn 
 the same hour shall attende goo & wayte upon the 
 Mayer or his depute in dewe wise unto the tyme the 
 seid Buryells be doon, principally unto the honor of 
 almighti God, and secundaryly for the honeste & good 
 ordur of the seid toun, under peyne to forfete unto 
 the seid comon chist, everyth of them which have be 
 Mayer to forfete for his defaulte xx<^, and every other 
 persone for the tyme beyng, orells hath been biforn 
 that, chamberlayns or constabells to forfete iiijd and 
 every other Burgeis to forfete iiid. And that the 
 sergeants for ther warnyng in this bihalf shall have 
 
28 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 of the executors or administrators of the persoone soo 
 deceasid viiid.'* 
 
 MOREOVER it is constituted & ordeyned bi the 
 
 forseid Mayer, his brethirn, & the xxiiii burgeises, if 
 
 ^ Of Sur- any manner persoone or persons surcharge the comon 
 cli3.r2fyno* 
 
 the Comon P^^^^^^^^ ^ fedyngs or any part of them within the 
 pastur. seid toun with moo bests or horses then he ought to 
 do, that is to wete, above iiii for every Mayer, for 
 every Burgeys iii, every othir substanciall inhabitant 
 ii, and every other pour inhabitant i, than every such 
 persone soo doyng to forfete & pay a peynlyalte for 
 every tyme soo taken moore, for every horse i]^^ for 
 every best i<^, or ells to be enpounded the same catell 
 unto the tyme all such forfeitures be duly paid and 
 content. 
 
 ALSO THAT noo persoon kepe any froyted horses, 
 farsy horses, or mangy horses, swyn, or gees in the 
 horses, same comon, undir a penyalte to forfeyte and pay, for 
 every hors iiii<^, for every swyn ii<^, and for every gose 
 id. and for every xx sheep iiii<J, alweyes for the furst 
 defaulte, and for every othir defaulte iiis iiiid. 
 ALSO THAT noo manner persoone inhabityng in 
 
 Of Swyn. - 1 11 rr 
 
 the same toun shall suner any manner swyn to goo m 
 
 * This public funeral accorded to members of the ("orporation led to much abuse in 
 the next century, when it appears that the relations of the deceased were accustomed to 
 distribute cakes and ale amongst all who attended at the burial. Accordingly the Corpora- 
 tion ordered, Sept. 5, 1658, " that whereas much disorder and confusion hath byn at 
 ffunerals, by unruly and other people in expectation of and for wine, beer, and cakes, that 
 the Corporation do order (it being the tyme for solemnity) that there shall be for ye future, 
 from and after ye first of November next, when any of the wives or relations of any of the 
 Corporation dye. that there be an order forthwyth from Mr. Mayor to the relations of the 
 deceased that there be no provision provided in cake and wine and beer as fformerly, And if 
 they will provide notwithstandynge such notice, then to let such relations know that the 
 Corporation (as exemplary) will not partake thereof." 
 
llie History of Sudbury. 29 
 
 the stret there without they be sufficiently rynged, 
 nor suffer them to goo abrood on any Sunday nor on 
 any othir procession day, nor in any feir tyme, nor on 
 any market day, nor to lye abrood in the stret on 
 night tyme for the noyance of their neighburs undir 
 peyne to forfete for every swyn, as often as it is soo 
 taken, iid, whereof id alweyes to the taker of them and 
 the othir penny unto the comon chist. 
 ALSO THAT THE NEETHIRDE shal be al- 
 The weyes chargid with kepyng of every mannys bests 
 Neethirde. inhabited within the precynt of the lete of the seid 
 toun, from the fest of Annunciacion of our lady unto 
 the tyme that hervest there be all doon, like as the 
 Mayer and the Bayly for the tyme beyng shall assigne 
 him to do. The which Neethirde, for his attendance 
 & labor in this bihalf, shall have for every heed of 
 bests iid, over and beside. 
 
 ALSO IF ANY DISTRESSE be taken and put 
 in pound bi an officer or bi the parti to whom any 
 
 distresses 
 
 takyno- trespasse hap to be doon, that he or they which breke 
 the pounde, or ells without license of the Mayer or 
 his depute, or ells of the seid othir officer, or of the 
 parti greved, takyth awey the same catell, or causeth 
 to be taken out bi any other, than every persoone soo 
 doyng shall forfete and pay for every heed soo en- 
 pounded & taken awey iis, and beside that every 
 persoone soo offendyng & duly proved gilti to be 
 atte Mayers commaundement by ij dayes enprisoned. 
 
30 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 FURDIRMORE that noo tenant or inhabitant with- 
 Of siiyng . . 
 
 out of ye ^^^^ ^^^^ town without license of the Mayer alweyes 
 toun court, for the tyme beyng shall enplete or pursue bi tempo- 
 rail action any othir tenant or inhabitant of the same 
 toun out of the lord or ladyes court there, if it may 
 soo laufully be tried there, undir peyne to forfete for 
 every such defaulte xld, and be atte Mayers com- 
 maun dement. 
 
 Of bakers ALSO THAT all comon Bakers which bake to sale 
 & brewers, j niake unholsom past for mannys boody, and kepe 
 not the assize accordyng to the forme of the Kyngs 
 statute. And thirupon be proved gilti bi the Mayer or 
 his deputees on that bihalf, every Baker proved gilti 
 in soo offendvn^T shall forfete to the use of the comon 
 chist for everv defaulte xx<^. And all Bruers to sale 
 in like wise that kepe not the assize or sell their ale 
 unholsom for mannvs bodv, it shall be forfetable and 
 over that, if they sell a galon of the best above j<^^- ob. 
 unto the tyme a quarter of malt be atte price of viijs- 
 than everyth of them beyng founde and proved gilti 
 in any poynt thereof to forfete for every such offence 
 to the same use viiid. 
 
 ALSO THAT noo Bocher, Fisher, nor any othir 
 
 Ofbochers vetailler shall selle within the seid toun any corupt 
 & fishers. 
 
 vetaill nat holsom to mannys boody nor shall selle to 
 excessiflv And if & as often as the Maver or his de- 
 putees fynde defaulte in this bihalf than & soo often 
 everyth persoone of them soo proved gilti shall for 
 
The History of Sudbury. 31 
 
 every offence forfete to the seid use iiiid., And over 
 that all the corupt vetaill to be brent in the market 
 place unto example of othir. 
 
 ALSO THAT that the Mayer of the seid toun 
 
 Ofapparell alweyes for the tyme beyng shall have at his proper 
 in gownes 
 
 & tippetts. ^^^^ ^ scarlet gowne with his tippet of velvet, And 
 all othir persoons that have be Mayers, or in tyme 
 comyng shal be out of their Mayeralte, shall, at their 
 proper costs, have a scarlet gowne with a tippet of 
 velvet, upon peyne to forfete to the comon chist xxs. 
 And that every othir Burgeise of the same toun now 
 beyng or hirafter to be shall purvey himself a gowne 
 of Murrey like unto his company of burgeises within 
 a quarter of a yeer next ensuyng aftir the time he be 
 admitted and sworn, undir ye peyne to forfete to the 
 seid use xs. Furdermore that the Bayly and all othir 
 that have be baylyes shall have a tippet of sarsynet, 
 undir peyne to forfete to the seid use xii^. 
 
 Also that every persoone or persoones inhabityng 
 Of fremen within the seid toun beyng an occupyer or a beyer or 
 makyng. ^ seller havyng a shoppe openyng into the strete shall 
 from hensforth bicom freman if he be nat a freman 
 alredy, and resorte unto the Mote halle at a conveny- 
 ent tyme, to be assigned, to be made freman, at which 
 time he shall pay i^- to the said use, and yeerely aftir 
 to pay to Baily alweyes for his tyme beyng iii^., And 
 if he or they refuse thus to do, it shall be laufull to 
 the seid Baily alweyes for his tyme beyng to levy for 
 
32 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 every woke that he openeth his shoppe or othirwise 
 bey or sell q^- 
 
 AND IF it be duly proved upon credible monycion 
 The Mayers ^ ^ r i • 
 
 Peynyalte honest persoons that the Meyer alweyes for his 
 
 tyme beyng provide & execute nat the premisses 
 
 accordyng to his charge than he to forfete to the seid 
 
 use vis- viii^^- 
 
 ALL WHICH sumes of money & everyth parcell of 
 Of levyeng ^^^^ \\\\\^ forfetid alweyes to be leviable bi the Mayer 
 forfcturys officers for the tyme beyng as bi wey of dis- 
 
 tresse of the goodes & catells of him or them soo 
 offendvnor contrarv to the seid constitutions as often 
 tymes as any such offences bi the forseid persoon or 
 any of them be soo doon, 
 
 AND EVERYTH distresse thus token to be brought 
 
 Undo the ^^^^^^ g^jj h^^e ther to be appreysed by iiii in- 
 Comon 
 
 chist with different persoons bi the Mayer assigned atte next 
 ill keyes Court ther to be holdyn, and all such money soo 
 levyed to be alweyes put and kept in the comon chist 
 with iii lookes and iii divers keys ther unto, within 
 the forseid halle to the use & bihafth of such charge 
 as in tyme comyng shall growe to the seid toun. And 
 the forseid iii keyes, oon shall alweyes be remaynyng 
 in the custody of the Mayer, Another in the custody 
 of his predecessour, and the iiide in the custody of the 
 chambirlayn alweyes for the tyme there beyng, to be 
 delivered unto him at his charge takyng, soo that the 
 seid chist shall nat be openyd without thise iii per- 
 soons being present togiders. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 33 
 
 Provided alweyes that the forseid Ordynaimes & Constitu- 
 tions or any of them be in noo wise prejudicial! unto any 
 manner presentement hirafter to be made & presentid in the 
 lete or in the cort to be holdyn within the seid toun. Into 
 witnesse wherof unto thise present letters we have put our 
 seals. Yoven the day & the yeeres of our lord God and of 
 
 the King aboveseid. 
 
 William Heron 
 John Scalder 
 John Guybelon 
 Thomas Man 
 Robert Heynes 
 William Park 
 John Wyn 
 John Baker 
 William Dalton 
 
 John Hervy 
 Thomas Reynolds 
 Thomas Haukyn 
 John Robert 
 William Manwode 
 Thomas Mist 
 Thomas Potier 
 William Loveday 
 John Peney 
 
 Thomas Ellice 
 Edward Strachy 
 William Barbor 
 John Banks 
 Thomas Carver 
 Thomas Fulour 
 
 Thomas Loveday 
 John Jegon 
 Wiston. 
 
 On the death of Edward VI., the men of Sudburv under 
 the leadership of Sir Edward Waldegrave, an officer of the 
 Princess Mary's household, took a prominent part in her 
 support against the usurper Northumberland, for which ser- 
 vices, when she was safelv seated on the throne, the Queen 
 granted them a Charter, dated May 30, 1554, recognizing 
 and confirminof to the loval and ancient borouo^h, all the 
 
 O ^ O 7 
 
 rights and privileges of a corporate town. 
 
 The preamble to this charter, runs thus — 
 
 " Our town of Sudbury is an old and ancient town, 
 
 having in it from time out of mind iox the better ruling and 
 
34 The History of Sudbu7'y. 
 
 government of the same one mayor, six aldermen, four and 
 twenty burgesses, two sergeants, one bailiff, two constables, 
 and other common officers, by the which the men and inhabi- 
 tants thereof from time out of mind have been ruled and 
 
 governed Nevertheless by the report of credible 
 
 persons, the deeds writings and letters patent of our progeni- 
 tors of the gifts and grants of the liberties and privileges 
 aforesaid, for lack of good and safe custody of the same have 
 been embezzled and conveyed away, from the want whereof 
 some doubt may hereafter arise whether our town of Sudbury 
 be sufficiently incorporated of one Mayor," &c. 
 
 This charter was confirmed to the boroucfh bv Oueen 
 Elizabeth Nov. 7, 1559, Oliver Cromwell July i, 1658, and 
 Charles II. July 27, 1664. This last charter (confirmed by 
 James II. March 6, 1686) governed the Corporation until 
 the Municipal Corporations Act of 1832. Under this charter, 
 the borough was ruled by a Mayor, six aldermen and twenty- 
 four capital-burgesses. This court filled up all vacancies 
 amongst the capital-burgesses by nominating one of the 
 ''best, most approved, and discreet" of the burgesses resi- 
 dent in the town to fill the place. 
 
 Aldermen were selected, as vacancies occurred, by the 
 mayor and remaining aldermen, from amongst the capital- 
 burgesses. 
 
 The Mayor was chosen annually on the Monday after 
 the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sept. 
 8th) from amongst the aldermen, by the twenty-four capital- 
 burgesses, with the assent of twenty-four freemen of the 
 
The History of Sudbury. 35 
 
 borough (nominated for that purpose by the Mayor and 
 aldermen), and he was sworn in before the Steward of the 
 borough on the Monday after the feast of St. Denis (October 
 9th). 
 
 Under this charter the corporation became a close body 
 who admitted none but their friends into the council chamber, 
 and the elective rights of the freemen were reduced to a 
 minimum, until they were restored by the Municipal Corpo- 
 rations Act of 1832. 
 
 The Mayor and his immediate predecessor were justices 
 of the peace, the former holding courts of quarter session ; 
 and a court of record every Monday for the recovery of debts 
 or damage to the amount of £20^ the jurisdiction of which 
 was co-extensive with the borough. The old court-leet and 
 view of frankpledge was held annually on Hock Monday 
 until 1832. 
 
 The freemen of the borough were 
 
 (1) The sons of freemen born after their fathers had been 
 
 made free. 
 
 (2) Those who had served a seven years apprenticeship in 
 
 the borough. 
 
 (3) Those who had purchased their freedom by paying a 
 
 sum of money (varying from in 1658, to £^ in 
 1662, and £'-] in 1703) to the corporation chest. 
 In 1720 there were about eight hundred freemen. 
 Sudbury proper, that is the ancient municipal borough 
 of Sudbury, lies on the left bank of the river Stour (which 
 here forms the boundary between Essex and Suffolk), and is 
 
36 Tlic History of Sudbury. 
 
 divided into three parishes St. Gregory's, St. Peter's, and All 
 Saints, and there is also some extra-parochial land, formerly 
 the estate of St. Bartholomew's Priory, included within the 
 lunits ol the ancient boroui^h. But since the beuinnin^' of 
 this century, in order to constitute the Parliamentary boroudi, 
 the two adjoining hamlets of Ballingdon and Brundon in 
 Essex haye been added to Sudbury proper. And by the 
 ]Municipal Corporations Act of 1S32 the bounds of the muni- 
 cipal and of the parliamentary borough were made the same, 
 so that the modern borough of Sudbury virtually lies partly 
 in Essex and parti v in Suffolk. 
 
 The population of vSudbury was returned as 3,283 in 
 1801, and in 1891 had risen to 7,135. 
 
 The parish of St. Gregory's is bv far the largest in area, 
 containing 812 acres on the noith and east of the borough. 
 
 The parish of vSt. I^^ter's, in the centre of the town, 
 comprises 29 acres immechatel\- round the market place. 
 
 1 li' i^iii'ish ()( All Saints on ilu soiilli and west coiuains 
 O4 acres HI Siidbuiy propyl", and acres m i'!ssc\, w hich 
 once formed the hamlets of I^allinndon and Brundon. There 
 IS no boundary shewn on the Ordnance map between these 
 two hamlets, but it appears from the Tithe award of 1845, 
 that the area of Ballingdon is 345 acres. 
 
 Thomas Baskerville, in his MS. Remarks on a Journey 
 in Essex, written in 1662, and now preserved amongst the 
 MSS. of the JJuke of Portland at Welbeck Abbev, gives the 
 following viyid picture of Sudburv — 
 
 ''On the edge of vSufiolk, lies vSudburv a fair market- 
 town, situate upon the river Stour, a part of it called Balling- 
 
TJie History of Sudbury. 37 
 
 don being in Essex. It is beautiful with three fair churches, 
 whose towers and steeples, at some distance as you come out 
 of Essex through Ballingdon, seem to stand in the form of 
 an equilateral triangle. The churches names are St. Gre- 
 gory's, St. Peter's, and Allhallows. In the last the family of 
 the Edens, who live now at Ballingdon, hath a faire monu- 
 ment. By this Church there was a Priory, now the house of 
 Mr. How. Here was likewise an Abbev, the residence, or 
 else this town was his birthplace, of the learned man Simon 
 of Sudbury, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury." 
 
 The learned Camden, in his Britannia, savs — 
 
 " Sudbury, the south burgh, men suppose to have been 
 the chief town of this shire, and to have taken its name in 
 regard of Norwich, which is the Northern town. Neither 
 would it take it well at this dav (1586) to be counted much 
 inferior to the towns adjoining, for it is populous and \vealthy 
 bv reason of the clothing there.'' 
 
 riif Woo] lr;i(lc iiuU cd \\;is ihc Citiist ol Siulhiirv s 
 tarly prosperity. Li was the Flemings wlio gave the start to 
 the woollen manufactures. Thev were a clever industrious 
 people well skilled in the making of cloth and England pro- 
 duced better wool than could be got elsewhere, so that our 
 export trade was very large. 
 
 Duties were paid to the King on all exported wool which 
 brought in quite a revenue to Ed^vard I., the heaviness of 
 the impost arousing some complaint, 
 
 Non est lex sana quod regi sit mea lana. ' 
 
 In 1304, Edward L, at the request of the King of 
 France whose friendship he was anxious to gam, agreed to 
 
38 llie History of Sudbury. 
 
 banish all Flemings from England, but the Flemings, well 
 aware of the advantages of English trade, (notwithstanding 
 the sentence of banishment,) settled and married here. For 
 which reason the St. Quintons and other foreiraers are found 
 settled in Sudbury at this date. 
 
 In 1315, Edward II., again at the request of the French 
 King repeated the sentence, excepting however those who 
 had taken to themselves English w4ves. 
 
 The marriage of Edward III. with Philippa of Hainault 
 naturally increased the intimacy and intercourse between 
 England and Flanders, and in 1331 Edward III. sent emis- 
 saries over to Flanders to induce Flemish weavers to settle 
 in this country ; he was successful in his efforts, and the 
 weavers settled principally in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex ; 
 Sudbury being the headquarters of one contingent. 
 
 From that time until the beginning of this century wool- 
 combing and spinning, together with the weaving of bays 
 and says, crapes, serges, and buntings, were the chief trades 
 of this town and neighbourhood. But the invention of steam 
 caused the trade to leave Suffolk for the north of England, 
 where cheap coal enabled the Yorkshire manufacturers to 
 defy all other competitors. The fine old timbered houses, 
 once the wool-halls and residences of the wealthy Suffolk 
 clothiers may still be seen in Sudbury and Lavenham, and it 
 is to the munificence of these men that we are indebted for 
 the magnificent Perpendicular churches of Sudbury and 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 In 1 38 1, Sudbury was visited by a mob of peasants who 
 had taken part in the general outbreak of villans^ which 
 
The History of Sudbury. 39 
 
 culminated in the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 When the young king Richard II. had promised at Mile-end 
 to redress their grievances, and their leader, Wat Tyler, was 
 slain, a number of them retreated into Essex, and entrenched 
 themselves in a strong position, defended by ditches and 
 carts, in the woods near Billericay. There they were 
 attacked by the Earl of Buckingham and Sir Thomas Piercy, 
 and defeated after a hard fought battle, in which the Peasants 
 are said to have lost 500 men and 800 horses. The remnant 
 then fled towards Colchester, but finding none there to join 
 them, continued their flight to Sudbury, and proceeded to 
 make a proclamation in the market place, when Lord Fitz- 
 walter and Sir John Harleston with a few followers came up 
 with them, and a great slaughter took place, the majority 
 of them being slain and the rest taken prisoners, so that in 
 Sudbury the last spark of this great rebellion was extin- 
 guished. It does not appear that many of the burgesses of 
 Sudbury joined in this revolt, but John Wraw, one of the 
 leaders, is reputed to have been a native of the neighbouring 
 parish of Pentlow, and he, together with Geoffry Parfray, 
 Vicar of All Saints, Sudbury, was (amongst others) excepted 
 out of the general pardon granted by the King to the rest of 
 the rebels. 
 
 The Borough Arms were granted by Robert Cook, 
 Clarencieux King of Arms, Sept. 20, 1576 (18 Elizabeth). 
 The original grant on thick vellum, with an illuminated 
 blazon of the arms in the left hand upper corner, is preserved 
 amongst the Borough records. The blazon is, Arms^ sable a 
 
40 Tlic History of Sudbury. 
 
 talbot sejant argent, on a chief gules a lion passant gardant 
 between two fleur-de-lys or. Crest, a talbots head erased or 
 between two ostrich feathers erect argent. 
 
 The talbot (or hound) is from the paternal coat of the 
 Archbishop Simon of Sudbury. The chief is a very honour- 
 able one, being part of the Royal arms, and the crest has the 
 Prince of Wales' plumes. In the Corporation accounts for 
 1577 there is the following entry, ^' Item payd to the Kinge 
 of Armes, for the arms of the town five marks, and to the 
 Clarke 4s. 2d. Total amount £^ los. lod." 
 
 And in 1585, 
 
 " Paide Mr. Yorke Harould at armes bv consent, the vi of 
 Aufjust, for taking: vewe of our armes for the towne, and 
 in some parte amending them, and for drawing the coate 
 in silver and goulde vs-"" 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 
 
 The Boroudi of Sudburv is included in the Deanerv of 
 Sudburv, in the Archdeaconrv of Sudburv in the Diocese of 
 Ely, but it was not always so. For when Christianity was 
 first preached to the East Angles by Felix the Burgundian, 
 the episcopal see was fixed, c 636, at Dunwich in Suffolk, and 
 the diocese was co-extensive with the ancient kingdom of 
 East AnHia. But, about fiftv vears later, this diocese was 
 divided and two bishops were appointed, one for Norfolk 
 with a see at Elmham, and one for Suffolk with a see at 
 Dunwich. In 870 the two portions were again united under 
 Wibred as Bishop at Elmham. After a brief interregnum, 
 
The History of Sudbury. 41 
 
 caused by the incursions of the Danes, the see was moved to 
 Thetford, where it remained until the time of William Rufus 
 (1094) when it was again moved to Norwich, in which 
 diocese this borough was included until about the year 1835, 
 when the archdeaconry of Sudbury was transferred to Ely, 
 where it now remains. 
 
 The Archdeaconry of Suffolk embraced the whole 
 county until 1126, when the western portion (together with 
 certain parishes in Cambridgeshire which had originally 
 formed part of the ancient kingdom of East Anglia) was 
 placed under the Archdeacon of Sudbury, who had the 
 ecclesiastical supervision of eight rural deaneries, viz., those 
 of Blackburn, Clare, Hartismere, Fordham (partly in Cam- 
 bridgeshire), Stow, Sudbury, Thedwastre, and Thingoe. 
 
 Prior to the Reformation, the old borough contained a 
 full complement of churches and other religious edifices, for 
 within the municipal boundaries were three large and hand- 
 some churches ; the college founded by Archbishop Sud- 
 bury ; the famed Dominican Priory ; the Benedictine Priory 
 of St. Bartholomew ; the Hospital and Chapel of St. Sepul- 
 chre ; Colney's Hospital ; and the Grammar School. In the 
 outskirts of the Borough, within the hamlets of Ballingdon 
 and Brundon (which have now been included within the 
 municipal bounds) were three chapels or churches, one for 
 Ballingdon, one for Brundon, and a third at a place called 
 Sidolvesmere in Ballingdon maintained by the brethren of 
 St. Thomas of Canterbury" ; this last is supposed to have 
 been a wayside chapel for the use of pilgrims journeying to 
 
42 
 
 The History of Sndlmry. 
 
 the shrine of St. Edmund at Bury. For Sudbury lay on the 
 direct route from London to Bury St. Edmunds, and must 
 have been constantly visited by wealthy pilgrims on their 
 way to that famous shrine, whither, it is recorded, that no 
 less than sixteen of our sovereigns journeyed to offer in 
 person, before the dissolution of the Abbey there. 
 
 King John, we know, stayed a night at Sudbury, March 
 20, 1203, on his way from Bury to Chelmsford ; and King 
 Edward III. also passed a night here, May 25, 1331, on his 
 way to Bury. 
 
II. 
 
 THE LORDS OF THE MANOR. 
 
 N the Domesday Book we see that the lordship of 
 Sudbury was then in the King's hands ; when we 
 next hear of it, temp. Henry II., the lordship had 
 ^-'-^^^^^^^ passed from the King, and was held by William 
 FitzRobert, Earl of Gloucester. Now as this earl 
 was a son of Robert, Earl of Gloucester, who was 
 a natural son of King Henry I., it seems probable that that 
 monarch had given this town to his son as a part of his 
 patrimony. 
 
 William, Earl of Gloucester, sometime before his death 
 which occurred in 1183, gave the church of St. Gregory in 
 Sudbury to the nuns of Eaton in Warwickshire. Amicia, his 
 daughter and heiress, succeeded to the lordship of this town, 
 and married Richard de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford, one of 
 the guardians of the Magna Charta. This noble lady was a 
 great benefactress of the religious orders, and founded in 
 Sudbury a hospital for the poor, which she endowed with 
 part of her land in this town. She also gave to the monks 
 of Stoke by Clare the messuage of St. Sepulchre and certain 
 lands in Sudburv. 
 
44 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 In 1207, she claimed the advowson of St. Gregory's 
 church from the Prioress of Nunneton, but did not succeed 
 in obtaining it, as the Prioress produced the original grant 
 by which the church and advowson had been conveyed, by 
 William Earl of Gloucester, to the nuns of Eaton, and various 
 other documents confirming the gift. 
 
 In the reign of Henry III., Richard de Clare, Earl of 
 Gloucester and Hertford, the grandson of Amicia above 
 mentioned, held Sudbury in capite of the King and died 
 possessed of it in 1262. This Earl granted Portmanscroft to 
 the burgesses, founded Clare Priory, and is renowned in 
 history for his share in the Barons war. 
 
 It appears that the de Clares acquired the manor of 
 Sudbury by descent, with the possessions of the Earldom of 
 Gloucester, about 1226, when Gilbert de Clare (father of the 
 above-named Richard) succeeded to the estates and titles of 
 his mother Amicia, daughter and heiress of William Earl of 
 Gloucester. This is shewn by a return made to a commission 
 issued by Edward L, on his return from Palestine in 1273, 
 to enquire into the recent disorders and abuses in the state. 
 In which the jurors, in answer to one of the enquiries, said — 
 
 "That the manor of Sudbury with the town was in the 
 hands of the King's predecessors, but which king it was, or 
 how it was alienated by the king, or how long the Earl of 
 Gloucester held it from the king, they knew not, it was so 
 long ago." 
 
 And in reply to another enquiry, they said' — ' 
 
 " That the town was held of the King, and that Gilbert 
 
Tlic History of Sudbury. 45 
 
 de Clare then held it of him iJi cupite without any mesne 
 lord, and it was (part) of the fee of Gloucester." 
 
 {Htuidred Rolls. II. 
 
 The de Clares continued to hold the lordship of Sud- 
 bury, until the family became extinct in the male line in 
 1 3 14, when Elizabeth de Burgh, sister and co-heir of Gilbert 
 de Clare the last Earl of Gloucester, inherited the Suffolk 
 estates. Her grand-daughter, another Elizabeth de Burgh, 
 carried them on her marriage to Lionel Plantagenet, son of 
 King Edward III., who in 1362 was created Duke of Clar-, 
 ence, a title derived from the neighbouring lordship of Clare. 
 
 Philippa Plantagenet, the only daughter and heir of this 
 marriage, became the wife of Edmund de Mortimer, Earl of 
 March, sprung from a long line of Norman ancestors, who 
 from the Conquest had been settled at Wigmore in the 
 Welsh Marches and been distinguished in various ways in 
 the annals of their times. Anne Mortimer, the grand-daughter 
 and heir, married Richard Plantagenet, Earl of Cambridge, 
 and their son Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, was 
 entitled to the crown of England, but being slain at the 
 Battle of Wakefield in 1460, the right passed to his son 
 Edward Duke of York, who ascended the throne as Edward 
 IV. on March 4, 146 1. Thus the lordship of Sudbury passed 
 to the Crown, and remained there until King Edward VI. 
 granted it in 1551 to his Tutor, the learned Sir John Cheke. 
 But after his royal pupil's death Sir John was forced to 
 surrender it to Queen Mary, and it was afterwards in 1558 
 annexed to the Royal Duchy of Lancaster. 
 
46 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 The sum of £21 3s. ijd. is still paid annually by the 
 Corporation to the Feodary of the Honour of Clare, as an 
 acknowledgment of its tenancy. 
 
 DESCENT OF THE LORDSHIP OF SUDBURY. 
 
 ROBERT FITZROY: 
 called Rufus," or " Consul " 
 [natural son of King Henry L] 
 created Earl of Gloucester. 
 Died Oct. 31, 1147. Buried at St. 
 
 James, Bristol, where his effigy 
 (said to be the earliest in England) 
 may still be seen. 
 
 Mabel 
 
 dau. and heir 
 of Robert FitzHamon, 
 Lord of Gloucester, &c. 
 
 WILLIAM FITZ ROBERT.: 
 
 Earl of Gloucester 
 died 1 183. 
 
 Hawise 
 
 dau. of Robert Beaumont 
 2nd Earl of Leicester. 
 
 AMICIA= 
 
 2nd dau. and 
 eventually sole heir. 
 Died Jan. i, 1225. 
 
 Richard de Clare 
 
 3rd Earl of Hertford, 
 one of the 25 Barons, 12 15, 
 Guardian of the Magna Charter. 
 Died November, 12 17. 
 
 GILBERT DE CLARE: 
 
 Earl of Gloucester and Hertford. 
 Died Oct. 25, 1230. 
 Buried at Tewkesbury. 
 
 Isabel, dau. of 
 
 William Marshall 
 Earl of Pembroke. 
 
 RICHARD DE CLARE: 
 
 Earl of Gloucester and Hertford. 
 Died July 1 5, 1262. 
 Buried at Tewkesbury. 
 
 GILBERT DE CLARE: 
 
 Earl of Gloucester and Hertford 
 (called the Red). 
 Died Dec. 7, 1 295. 
 Buried at Tewkesburv. 
 
 Maude, dau. of 
 
 John de Lacy, Earl 
 of Lincoln. 
 
 Joan Plantagenet 
 
 (called "Joan of Acres") 
 daughter of King Edward I. 
 Died 1307, and was buried at 
 Clare Priory, Suffolk. 
 
The History of Siidlniry. 
 
 47 
 
 GILBERT DE CLARE=Joax Plantagenet. 
 
 Gilbert de Clare. 
 
 Died unmarried. 
 Slain at Bannockburn 
 24 June, 1 3 14, 
 aged 22. 
 
 ELIZABETH^ 
 
 Foundress of 
 Clare Hall, 
 Cambridge. 
 Died Nov. 4, 
 1360. 
 
 I 2 3 
 
 =:JoHN DE Burgh. =Theobald=Roger 
 
 son and heir of de Verdon D'amoric 
 
 Lord 
 Verdon 
 Died 
 1316. 
 
 Richard 
 Earl of Ulster. 
 Died V. p. 
 
 1313- 
 
 Lord 
 D'amorie 
 Died 
 1322. 
 
 William de Burgh: 
 
 Earl of Ulster 
 Died June 6, 1333. 
 
 = Maude, sister to 
 
 Henry, 
 Duke of Lancaster. 
 
 ELIZABETH DE BURGH= Lionel PlantagexNet 
 
 suo jure Countess of Ulster, 
 Lady of Clare, &c. 
 Died 1363 ; 
 buried at Clare Priory. 
 
 3rd son of King Edward III. 
 
 created Duke of Clarence, 
 Nov. 13, 1362; married 1352. 
 Died Oct. 13, 1368 ; buried at 
 Clare Priory. 
 
 PHILIPPA PLANTAGENET: 
 suo jure Countess of Ulster, 
 Lady of Clare, &:c. 
 Died Jan. 5, 1381/2. 
 Buried at Cork. 
 
 Edmond Mortimer 
 3rd Earl of March. 
 Died Dec. 27, 1 381 
 Buried at Cork. 
 
 ROGER MORTIMER= Eleanor 
 
 Earl of March and Ulster, 
 Lord of Clare, e^c. 
 Died July 20, 1398. 
 Buried at Wigmore, co. Hereford. 
 [Acknowledged in 1385 by Parliament 
 as heir to the throne of England.] 
 
 dau. of Thomas Holland 
 Earl of Kent. 
 Died Oct. 23, 1405. 
 
 EDMOND MORTIMER 
 
 Earl of March and Ulster, 
 Lord of Clare, &:c. 
 Died unm. in prison, at 
 Trim Castle, Ireland, 
 Jan. 19, 1424/5, and was 
 buried at^Clare^Priory. 
 
 ANNE MORTIMER^ 
 heir to her brother. 
 
 : Richard Plantagenet 
 
 Earl of Cambridge. 
 Beheaded Aug. 6, 141 5. 
 
48 
 
 The History of Siidhiiry, 
 
 ANNE MORTIMER=RiCHARD Plantagenet. 
 
 RICHARD PLANTAGENET: 
 
 3rd Duke of York; Earl of 
 Ulster, Lord of Clare. 
 Slain at the Battle of 
 
 Wakefield, Dec. 31, 1460. 
 Buried at Fotheringay. 
 
 Cicely, dau. of 
 
 Ralph Nevil 
 Earl of Westmorland, 
 died May 31, 1495. 
 
 EDWARD PLANTAGENET 
 
 Duke of York, Earl of Ulster, 
 Lord of Clare, &c. 
 Born 1442. 
 
 On March 4, 1 460/1, ascended the throne as 
 EDWARD IV.^^ 
 
 * The Dukes of York were so proud of their descent from the families of De Clare and 
 Mortimer that Edward IV. took for the supporters of his royal arms, the black bull of 
 Clare and the white lion of March. 
 
III. 
 
 THE OLD MOOT HALL. 
 
 RIGINALLY, no doubt, the men of Sudbury met 
 in the open air to make the few bye-laws re- 
 quired by the primitive community, but in course 
 of time, as the business of the local court, or 
 port-mote, grew more complicated, and the meet- 
 ings more frequent, it was found more convenient to assemble 
 in a covered building, and a Moot Hall was erected. 
 
 It stood from time immemorial, near the west end of St. 
 Peter's churchyard, on the centre of the Market Hill, pro- 
 bably on the spot where the townsmen had previously been 
 accustomed to gather in open air moots. 
 
 It w^as a picturesque gabled building of timber, with an 
 overhanging upper-storey, and high-pitched roof surmounted 
 by a little bell cupola. On the gable facing St. Peter's church 
 was a painting of the Royal Arms, locally famed as the 
 handiwork of the eccentric Scheming Jack " Gainsborough, 
 brother to the celebrated landscape and portrait painter 
 Thomas Gainsboroucfh, who used to sav that this was the 
 only thing his versatile brother ever finished. 
 
50 TJic History of SiLcibttry. 
 
 The ground-floor of this building formed the borough 
 lock-up where prisoners were detained for the sessions, and 
 a part was used for storage purposes, the remainder being 
 leased out in butcher's stalls. 
 
 The upper-storey was the council-chamber and sessions 
 court of the borough. In it, opposite the entrance door, was 
 a raised dais or platform, on which were placed a table and 
 seats for the Mayor and Aldermen. At the back, over the 
 Mayor's chair, hung the Royal Arms, renewed in 1661, at 
 the cost of the Corporation. 
 
 In this room, on Sept. 25, 1556, one Alexander Straghan 
 was examined before Sir Edward Waldegrave, Sir Jervis 
 Doyle, Sir William Cordell, and Thomas Willett, the Bishop's 
 Assessors, on a charge of heresy. He refused to recant or 
 to acknowledge the Pope's supremacy in the English Church. 
 This trial is fully reported in Harleian MSS. 421. 
 
 In this hall, too, were performed numerous stage-plays 
 to amuse the worthy burgesses, many entries relating to 
 which are to be found in the borough accounts, viz., 1585, 
 
 " Paide to the Lorde of Oxenfordes Players 
 
 ye 17 Aprill v-^ 
 
 Geven to the Earle of Leicester's Players, 
 
 ye 2 of June vis- viii'^1-" 
 
 In 1607, the Moot hall was thoroughly repaired and 
 beautified, in consequence of the damage done by the towns- 
 people who seem to have been somewhat uproarious when 
 they flocked thither to see the plays which were acted 
 therein. To prevent the Moot-hall from suffering again 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 51 
 
 from this cause, an order was made, ^'ytye Maior and his 
 Successors permytting anie playes to be acted in the hall " 
 shall forfeit five pounds to the Corporation for each offence. 
 
 On Oct. 16, 1607, the following decree was issued by 
 the Mayor and Corporation — 
 
 "Whereas the Hall commonlye called the Moote-hall 
 of this towne of Sudburye hath byn broughte in much ruyn 
 and decaye by meanes of divers disordered and unrulie 
 persons resortinge thither to playes of enterludes & other 
 playes heretofore usually suffred to be acted within the same 
 Hall And forasmuch as the said Hall by the consent of the 
 Maior Alderman and Burgesses of the sayd towne have byn 
 more lately repaired and bewtified by the nowe Maier as 
 well at the greate charges of the Corporation of this towne 
 as also at the proper charges of the saide Maior as upon his 
 accompte nowe shewed forth unto us, it doth & maye appear. 
 For the avoyding of which inconvenience & to the ende 
 that no more playes may be hereafter acted within the same 
 Hall, It is ordered consented and decreed by the full consent 
 and agreament of the Maior Aldermen and Burgesses of this 
 towne. That if any person or persons whatever, shall suc- 
 ceede in the place or office of the Maior of this towne or his 
 or their deputy or deputies shall at any tyme hereafter give 
 licence unto or willingly permit & sufter any playes of enter- 
 ludes or other playes to be acted or kepte within the same 
 hall, the same person or persons therein so offending shall 
 forfeit & pay to & for the use of the Corporation of the said 
 towne, the sum of five pounds of good and lawfull money of 
 
52 TJic Historv of Sudbury. 
 
 England for any tynie in that behalffe offendinge. To be 
 leveyd of the goodes & chattells of such offender by way of 
 distress." 
 
 Notwithstanding the above prohibitory order, it is evident 
 phiys continued to be acted somewhere in the borough, and the 
 Corporation contributed towards the expenses of the players, 
 as appears from the following entries in the Mayor's accounts, 
 1619/20. "To the Princes and the Lady Elizabeth servents 
 and to the children of the Revells, to every of 
 them six shiUings, in all xviij^- 
 1 62 1/2. Given to the Oueens Players . The Lady Elizabeth 
 lier plavcrs and the children of the Revells xxviij^-" 
 Perhaps these performances took place in a booth in the 
 Croft at St. Peter's Fair, for there is a charge at that date in 
 the ^Layor's account for 
 
 1619. "Cloth for the Booth in the Croft at vSt. Peter's Fair 
 iijs. iiijd.'' 
 
 1 62 1. " for making the Boothe at the Fayr iij^- iiij*-^-" 
 
 \\\ 1622, a new Cucking or Dipping Stoole was ordered 
 for the too loquacious ladies of the town, in the place of one 
 that was "broken" in 1620. 
 
 In 1739 there was a severe epidemic of small pox in 
 Sudbury, so severe was it that the Corporation adjourned, on 
 February 5th in that year, from the Moot Hall to the Priory 
 in Friars Street, then the residence of the Mayor, Mr. Dansie 
 Carter, who was "afraid to attend at the Hall on account of 
 the small pox." 
 
 In 1 77 1 there were disgraceful riots in the town, and 
 the Corporation were imprisoned by the mob in the Moot 
 
The History of Sudbwy. 53 
 
 Hall for ten hours. These riots originated in an attempt to 
 procure the admission of certain persons to the freedom of 
 the Borough. 
 
 The Ipswich Journal of November 2nd, 1771, says, 
 
 ''We are credibly informed that a very great riot hap- 
 pened on Tuesday last (Oct. 29th) at Sudbury, when the 
 Corporation were assembled in their Town Hall ; and that 
 the Corporate body, after having dissolved their assembly 
 about noon, were forcibly detained in their town hall till 
 after nine at night, totally denied the access of their friends, 
 deprived of all sustenance, and when night came their lights 
 put out by the populace, and their lives not only repeatedly 
 threatened for a long time together, but by stones and other 
 mischievous implements, put into continual imminent dan- 
 ger, till in the end the Corporation were forced into a com- 
 pliance with such terms as the populace thought proper to 
 impose upon them, in order to preserve their lives and 
 recover their libertv." 
 
 The riot was deemed so serious that a party of dragoons 
 was sent into the borough on November 3rd to maintain the 
 public peace. With the arrival of the military the courage 
 of the Corporation waxed stronger, and at their meeting in 
 the January following they took the opportunity to enter a 
 protest against such illegal acts as they had been forced to 
 assent to by the rioters. 
 
 About 1828 a wave of Municipal improvement swept 
 over the town, and it was decided by the Corporation that 
 the Market Hill must be opened out, and more space pro- 
 
54 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 vided there for the weekly market. To effect this, the 
 removal of the old Moot Hall became necessary, together 
 with the houses adjoining it, and those surrounding the West 
 end of St. Peter's Church. 
 
 Accordingly the Corporation were compelled to provide 
 themselves with a new and spacious Town Hall, which was 
 built, at a cost of over £2^00, on a central site on the Soiith 
 side of the Market Hill. The builder was Mr. Thomas Ginn, 
 of Sudburv, who began the work in June, 1828. 
 
 On December 9th, 1830, the old Moot Hall was sold to 
 the leaving and Lighting Commissioners for the sum of ^.300, 
 that it might be pulled down and the site laid into the public 
 road'. 
 
 In 1831, it was ordered "that the bell of the old Town 
 Hall be given for the purpose of increasing the fund of the 
 subscriptions entered into for the reparation of the church 
 clock of St. Peter's, for the purchase of a new bell for the 
 clock." A small clock-bell still hangs in St. Peter's spire, 
 but is unused, the clock striking the hours on the tenor bell. 
 
 When the new Town Hall, with the Borough Arms on 
 the pediment, was linished, the old Moot Hall was pulled 
 down, and the materials sold by Public Auction : the total 
 sum realised being -^'74 is. 6d. 
 
 The weather-cock from the cupola of the old Moot Hall 
 may still be seen, with the original hammered iron-work of 
 the vane, on the gable end of a granary behind the " Maldon 
 Grey" public house on the Ipswich Road, and is the sole 
 remnant of the old Town Hall of the boroui^h. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 55 
 
 The Ceremony osserved at the Installation of 
 THE Mayor and other Officials. 
 
 The following extracts from the Town Clark's Book " 
 relating to the Ceremonie to he performed at ye Court at y^ 
 Election of Maior and swearyng in of Officers^ with y^ 
 Oathes taken by the saine^ zd<55," are interesting, after the 
 lapse of some two centuries, in giving us a picture of the 
 quaint ceremonial then observed. Many of the official 
 oaths are evidently of earlier origin than the 17th century, 
 but were collected together and entered for future guidance 
 in the Town Clerk's book at the date given. 
 
 The oath for the Steward, which he was required to 
 take when first appointed, is entered in the Town Book 
 under the year 1563, and runs as follows — 
 
 " I do truly swear to maintain the privileges and grants of this town of 
 Sudbury and to be in all lawful things assistant to the IMayor and Aldermen 
 for the time being for the maintenance of the lawful rights and liberties of 
 this town. The Queen's counsel and the Town's counsel to keep secret, and 
 all other things pertaining or belonging to the office of the Stewardship of 
 the same town in my power to observe and keep. So God me help and 
 Holydame and by the whole contents of this book." 
 
 A very similar oath was administered to every Alder- 
 man on his first election, except that the Alderman was also 
 required to swear '^to be obedient in all things to the Mayor 
 for the time being." 
 
 To make this account more attractive the various 
 extracts have been here united in the form of a contempo- 
 raneous narrative. 
 
 It is the second week in the month of October, in the 
 year of Grace one thousand six hundred and sixty-five, and 
 
56 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of 
 Sudburv have been summoned to assemble at the Moot Hall 
 on the Market Hill, to swear in the new Mayor, and the 
 several officials of the Corporation. 
 
 We will enter the picturesque old Moot Hall, and 
 ascend the solid oak steps into the Council Chamber above, 
 with its leaded casements and panelled walls, and seat our- 
 selves on the oaken benches, below the dais, where the 
 twentv-four Capital-Burgesses are accustomed to sit. At the 
 end of the room, over the dais or raised platform, on which 
 is set the Mayor's chair and an oaken table, the Royal Arms 
 of King Charles H. have just been painted up, and in the 
 Mayor's chair is seated Mr. Nathaniel King, the Mayor who 
 has served that office during the past year. He wears his 
 scarlet gown and velvet tippet, and on the table before him 
 are the two silver maces belonging to the Corporation. On 
 either side are the Aldermen, seated according to precedence, 
 and clad in black gowns faced with scarlet. 
 
 Below the dais, ranged along the walls, are the twenty- 
 four Capital-Burgesses wearing their murrey" gowns, and 
 all the numerous officers of the Court are also in attendance, 
 sitting or standing in their accustomed places according to 
 their office and rank. 
 
 Then the Town Crier, dressed in the liverv of the Cor- 
 poration, with the bell in his hand, steps forward, and in 
 stentorian tones makes proclamation, and opens the Court as 
 follows : — 
 
 '* Oyez ! Oyez ! Oyez ! All manner of persons that have anything to 
 do at this Court, holdcn here this day for y^ Borough of Sudbury, before 
 
WEST VIEW OF OLD MOOT HALL AND ST. PETER'S CHURCH. SUDBURY, SUFFOLK. 
 (From an Old Water Colour Drawing in t lie possession of Mr. G. Lancelot Andrewes.) 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 57 
 
 Nathaniel King, Mayor of the same Borough, and the Aldermen and Steward 
 thereof, now draw near and give your attendance, every man at the first call, 
 upon pain and penalty of the refusal thereof." 
 
 The loud-tongued bell then gives forth a second triple 
 
 peal, and the Bedell's voice is again heard : — 
 
 Oh yez ! All manner of persons that have anything to doo at y® 
 Court of Orders and Decrees for the swareingne of Officers, houlden on this 
 day, drawe near ! " 
 
 The Sergeants respond by advancing to the dais, and to 
 the chair on which the Mayor is seated, reverently bowing, 
 to deliver up their Maces, with the ceremony of kissing the 
 same, as they have done heretofore, time out of mind. And 
 the old Mayor now rises, and accepts the said Maces, taking 
 them in his hands and kissing them. He next comes down 
 from his seat, with the Maces in his two hands, to the accus- 
 tomed place where the Oaths are taken, and stands there in 
 front of the Court. And the Steward of the Court rises, and 
 bowing to His Worship and to the Aldermen and Court, 
 addresses the Mayor as follows : — 
 
 " Sir, you have supplied the place and roome of a Alaior of this towne 
 \ ^during one whole yeare, now past, wherein, as you have behaved yourselfe 
 wisely, discreetlie, and like a good Justice in punishing of Offenders, and 
 Protecting of the Good, so accordynge to your Desert the whole Corpora- 
 tion doe thankfully accept of the same. And, whereas at this p'sent Mr. 
 Christopher Pettit, now elected Maior for this yeare following, is now to 
 take upon him his Office and Chardge of the mayoralitye, I question not, 
 but that you will willingly surrender upp the Maces to bee comitted unto 
 him, and consent that hee shall take his Oath nowe, and place as heretofore 
 hath been used and accustomed." 
 
 Whereunto the said old Mayor solemnly answers ''Yea ! " 
 And this done he reverently delivers up the Maces into 
 the hands of the Steward, who receives them with the like 
 
58 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 ceremony of kissing them severally and lays them on the 
 table before him. The which being done the said Steward 
 thus addresses the newly-elected Mayor (who has been 
 previously chosen) : — 
 
 " Sir, you arc now to come down and to take your Oath and Chardge." 
 
 Whereupon the new Mayor, having come down from 
 the dais, the old Mayor takes and holds the book (the New 
 Testament or Ciospels), upon \vhich the new Mayor is to 
 take his oath. And then the said new Mayor having laid his 
 hand on the book, the Steward gives his oath, either abso- 
 lutely or with exception in the end thereof, if the cause shall 
 so require, saying as followeth : — 
 
 " Sir, it is not unknown unto you, that at the last Court Day for Elec- 
 tion of ncwc oflicers for the Government of this Towne of Sudbury, you 
 were then, according to tlie purport and eflcct of y^ Charters and Liberties 
 graunted to the said Towne, duly elected and chosen to bee the INIayor to 
 the same Towne for this year following, and therefore inasmuch as you are 
 here p'sent, I am nowe to administer unto you an Oath for y^ trewe p'form- 
 ance of your oflicc and dutie in that bidialf ; and therefore, I pray, lay your 
 hand on the Booke." 
 
 The newlv-electcd Mavor havino: laid his hand on the 
 
 Book, which is held by the Steward, the latter proceeds to 
 
 administer the oath as follows : — 
 
 "You shall swear that you shall well and truly serve His Soveraignc 
 Lord the King (in the time of the Commonwealth the words ran — His 
 Highness the Lord Protector") ; the People of this Town, and this Corpo- 
 ration in the Place and Office of the IMaior of this Towne of Sudbury : And 
 in the Offices of Justice of the Peace, Escheator, and Clarke of the Market, 
 within the P'cincts and Liberties of this Towne : And accordynge to y 
 power, will, and knowledge, you shall maintayne and defend the Lawfull 
 Rights, Liberties, Priviledges, Charters and Hereditaments, graunted or 
 belonginge unto the same Towne ; And shall doo Legall Right and Justice 
 unto the Rich and the Poore accordynge to y cunning, will and power, and 
 
llie History of Sudbury. 
 
 59 
 
 after the Laws and Customes of this Kingdom (or Commonwealth) and of 
 the Statutes thereof made. You shall not be lett or hindered by any guift, 
 reward, dreade, favour, affection, mallice or evill will. Butt well and truly, 
 you shall doo and execute your said Offices, and every of them, and all 
 things to them, and every of them belonginge, duringe the time that you 
 shall continue or remayne His Majestie's (or His Highnesse's) Officer on 
 that behalf. So helpe you, God." 
 
 " Saving and Allwayes excepting the Service, Dutye and Faith which 
 you owe and ought to beare unto other His Majestie's Courts, and to your 
 Clients, accordynge to your former oathe, for y* p'pose made, and y"^ voca- 
 tion and duty otherwise in their behalfe. Soe helpe you, God." 
 
 The Oath of Supremacy of the ist year of Elizabeth, 
 and the Oath of Allegiance of the 3rd of James the First are 
 then taken. 
 
 The newly-made Mayor then exchanges seats with the 
 Ex- Mayor, whom he appoints his Deputy, and who takes the 
 same oath the Mayor has taken. 
 
 The chief officers are then sworn ; the minor officials 
 will take the oaths on a following day before the Deputy- 
 Mayor and Steward. They come up one by one to the table. 
 Here we see quite a levee of functionaries, viz. : the Bailiff 
 or Collector of Rents of Assize, the Chamberlain, Chief 
 Constable, Sergeants at Mace, Crier or Bedell, the Coroner, 
 and Deputy of the Coroner, Surveyors of Weaving, Over- 
 seers of the Corn, Flesh, Fish, and Poultry Markets, the 
 Leather Sealers, and Overseers of the Commons, the Sizars 
 and Sealers of Weights and Measures, the Ale Tasters and 
 Bread Weighers, the Constables and Night and Day Wards- 
 men, and the Hogwarden ; and the two wardens or overseers 
 for each of the three parishes of All Saints, St. Gregory, and 
 St. Peter. 
 
6o 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 The two Attorneys are addressed as follows : — 
 
 "You shall swear that you shall not do any falsehood, nor consent to 
 any to be done within this Court ; And if you shall Know of any to be done, 
 you shall give Knowledge thereof to the Mayor and Aldermen of this 
 Town, or to the Steward, or to the Deputy Steward of the same, or to some 
 of them, being Judges of this Court, how, that it may be reformed. You 
 shall delay no man for Lucre or Malice ; you shall increase no fees, but you 
 shall be content with the old fees accustomed. You shall plead no foreign 
 plea, nor sue no foreign suits unlawfully to hurt any man, but shall stand 
 with the order of the Court and your conscience. You shall seal or cause 
 to be sealed all such Process as you shall sue out of this Court with the seal 
 thereof, or see the Mayor of this Town satisfied for the same. And further 
 you shall use your self in the Office of Attorney within this Court, according 
 to your learning and discretion. So help, &c." 
 
 Then follows the oath : — 
 
 I, A B, do swear that I will truly and honestly demean myself in the 
 Practice of an Attorney, according to the best of my Knowledge and ability. 
 So help me, God." 
 
 The Bailiff is sworn to collect all Rents of Assize of all 
 free tenants of lands of the Manor of Sudbury, and of all and 
 singular ^' p'quissites and p'fitts of Tolles, Marketts, Ffayres, 
 Stalls, Comon Ffynes, Escheats, Waiffes, Strayes, and all 
 other Casualities and hereditaments within the same Towne," 
 as by the ancient Bailiffs have been usually heretofore re- 
 ceived and gathered and accounted for to the Mayor. 
 
 The Chief Constable now steps forward and swears that 
 the peace shall be well and truly kept ; that he will arrest 
 such as he shall see making riots, debates, or breaking the 
 peace ; that the statutes for watching and punishment of 
 rogues shall be observed and put into execution, and that 
 presentment shall be made ''of all blood sheddes, affrayes, 
 leasings (lyings)." 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 6i 
 
 The Chamberlain takes oath to gather all Rentes, ffines 
 for admission of ffredomes, revenues, and comonages, fforeine 
 ffines and all other ffines, amerciaments and giffts." 
 
 The Sergeants at Mace are to execute processes and 
 warrants. The Bedell to impound stray'd cattell." 
 
 An important and ancient officer, the Coroner, is thus 
 reminded of his powers and duties, and swears that he will 
 
 discharge them faithfully : — 
 
 "You shall goe to suche place within this Towne and the Liberties 
 thereof, where anie man is slayn, strangled, drownded or otherwise suddenly 
 dead to bee found, and make inquiry ; And also by whom treasure is found 
 by Oath of Men according to the Lawes and Statutes in this case provided. 
 You shall not take anie ffee or rewarde for the execution of your office, but 
 in case where the Law alloweth it." 
 
 The Petty Constables take their Aunciente Oath," 
 
 which consists of the several express particulars following : — 
 
 " Barratours to apprehend. Night walkers to punish. 
 
 Blood Shed to prevent. Peace to Keep. 
 
 Felons to apprehend. Rescuers to present. 
 Gaming-houses and ) . Riot to be suppressed and \ 
 
 Gamesters to present. ] Rioters apprehended. ) 
 
 Hue and Crye to be made. Rogues to punish. 
 
 Idle persons to punish. Vagabonds to arrest. 
 
 Men arm'd to arrest. Warrants to execute." 
 
 They have also to swear that they will use their best 
 endeavours that the Watch in and about the Town shall be 
 duly kept for the apprehending of rogues, vagabonds, night 
 walkers, &c., and that Hue and Crye " be duly raised 
 against Murtherers, Thieves, and other Felons ; also to pre- 
 sent Unlawful Houses, apprehend ^'typplers," &c. 
 
 The Surveyors of Weavers are important functionaries, 
 and have onerous duties in connection with the Guild 
 
62 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 statutes and Borough ordinances and bye-laws respecting 
 the Weaving Craft and Cloth Trade. The nature of their 
 duties is partially shown by the terms used by the Borough 
 Steward in administering their oath : — 
 
 You shall swarc that you will make diligent search for the findeing 
 out of all such Clothiers or Saymakers as shall use more than twoe broad 
 Loonies or three Say Loomes or narrow Loomcs w^^Mn this towne, and of 
 all such weavers as shall use above y^ number of Twoe Broad Looms or Five 
 Say looms or narrow looms, and of all such Clothiers or Weavers or other 
 Artificer Inhabitant as shall take and retayne as an Apprentice the Sonne of 
 any Husbandman or Labourer, inhabiting within the town or else where, 
 unlesse such Apprentice shall be bound by y^ Churchwardens or Overseers 
 of y^ Poore with y<^ consent of the Mayor for seavcn yeares. And y^ no 
 Clothier shall take three apprenticeses except he keep one Journeyman." 
 
 According to a resolution passed a few years previously, 
 no inhabiting Saymaker or tradesman is to employ Country 
 Spinners or Weavers, or send them yarn, wool or \veb to be 
 spun or woven by " Foreigners," but to employ townspeople 
 only, under a penalty of Five Pounds. 
 
 The Overseers of the Poultry Market are to present 
 persons for selling poultry, butter, cheese, bacon, oatmeal, 
 or any other commodity with false balances, 'Svayts," or 
 measures. 
 
 Those of the Flesh Market are to see that butchers do 
 not " sell rotten mutton, measled pork, morryn flesh, or 
 unwholesome meate of any sorte." They are to p'sent all 
 such p'sons as shall kill, or allow to be killed, or offer to selle 
 any bull's flesh Avhich hath not before been well and suffi- 
 ciently bayted accordynge to the auncient orders, decrees, 
 and customs of this Kingdom." They are also to "p'sent all 
 such fforravne butchers sellin^^e fflesh within this markett as 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 shall not brynge w^l^ them their hides and tallow, or com- 
 pound w^h Mr. Maior, of this towne, for ye dispensing there- 
 with." 
 
 Corn is to be sold by true measure, and bakers are to be 
 presented who buy corn before market hours, or who buy 
 corn for seed without bringing it to the market, also sellers 
 of corn or grain not fit for man's body. 
 
 The Overseers of Fish are to present fishmongers selling 
 any unwholesome or corrupt fish not fitting for man's body ; 
 also those selling sprats, oysters, &c., by pecks, half-pecks, 
 &c., not lawful measure ; also those who shall regrate and 
 ingrosse any fish contrary to the statutes.* 
 
 The Ale Tasters and Bread Weighers are next sworn to 
 use their best cunning, wit, and knowledge to search and see 
 that all victuallers, beer sellers, &c., shall sell only such 
 victuals and drink as be ''sweet and wholesome for man's 
 body," and to present offenders. The Assize of Bread, 
 Wine, Beer, and other Victual, and the amending and cor- 
 recting of all weights and measures were privileges granted 
 by our gracious King in his Charter. 
 
 The next oath taken is an important and responsible 
 one, especially in this dread year of the Great Plague, when 
 our authorities have wisely ordered the erection of a Pest 
 House in the old clay pits, on Gallows Hill, "for the recovery 
 
 * Anything in the nature of a ring or combination to raise the prices of the neces- 
 saries of life was formerly held to be contrary to the public good. Consequently, if a man 
 bought victuals or growing corn to sell again, he was guilty of i7tgro3sing. If he bought 
 victuals in a market to sell again within tour miles, or if he bought cattle and sold them 
 again alive within five weeks, he was guilty of regrating. Any such offender was liable, on 
 conviction, to be ' grievously amerced' for the first offence, to be put in the pillory for the 
 second, to be imprisoned and fined for the third, and to be banished thgjown for the fourth. 
 
64 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 of infectious p'sons that by ye providence of Almighty God 
 shall happen to fall out of ye sicknesse of yc plague or pesti- 
 lence " : — 
 
 An oath for Searchers of Infected P'sons" : — 
 
 You and either of you shall swear that you shall and will justly and 
 truly execute the place and office of searchers and examiners of all P'sons 
 whatsoever in this town of Sudbury, as either of themselves, or otherwise 
 can inform you of touching and concerning the Infectious Sickness or 
 Disease, which at present is, or shall happen to be within this Town. You 
 shall go to the Houses and Dwellings of the sick and also of Dead P'sons 
 and carefully view their bodies, whether they are infected with the Plague 
 or any other infectious disease. And if you shall upon such search and view 
 of the body or bodies find such of such P'sons' bodies to be infected as 
 aforesaid, you shall forthwith disclose and make the same known, the truth 
 thereof unto I\Ir. Mayor of this town. You shall not take any reward of any 
 P'son infected as aforesaid to conceal the same, but well and truly according 
 to the law in this behalf made, and according to the best of your wit and 
 knowledge, you, and either of you shall do and perform during the time Mr. 
 IMayor shall appoint for you to continue this office. So help, &c." 
 
 The Hayward, or Hogwarden, has to swear that he will 
 keep the common herd of the Town in common field and 
 pasture, and take care that they neither break nor crop the 
 hedges of Inclosures,* and that he will keep the grass from 
 hurt or destruction, and also that he will impound cattle 
 that stray and do trespass, and present all Pound-breaches 
 at the next Leet Court. 
 
 The following oath is taken by all Freemen depasturing 
 cattle on the Common Lands : — 
 
 You do swear that the Gelding, Mare, or Cow, which you now offer 
 and mean to depasture on the Common Lands is your own sole property, 
 that you have fairly bought it and that you have entered into no collusive 
 agreement to return the same. And that you have an absolute right to 
 
 * The cattle of the freemen were allowed to be turned on to the Half-year meadow 
 land on the 15th August, and to continue there until the 5th April following. To be 
 turned on to the Half-year arable land on the 5th September, and to continue there until 
 the 14th February. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 65 
 
 dispose thereof to whom and when you may think proper, without being- 
 accountable to any person wliomsoever." 
 
 And now the Court is closed in ancient form, and the 
 members depart in due order, each walking in his allotted 
 place, agreeably with the special minute made several years 
 ago, when a dispute arose respecting precedence : — 
 
 Ordered that y^ newe elected Maior 'ymediately after his election ffor 
 ye ffuture shall take y*^ place and head of y*^ Aldermen. And that y^ Bayliffe 
 shall take y*^ head of all y^ Chiefe Burgesses and walk next after the Alder- 
 men." 
 
 As the party break up near ''The Bushell " (where are 
 the stocks, whipping post, and dipping stool), largess, in the 
 shape of tradesmen's ''tokens," pennies and half-pennies 
 minted for the principal traders, is distributed among the 
 small boys by the newe Mayor and others. In the afternoon 
 there will be bull baiting on the Croft according to the Bye- 
 Laws, as the sport not only amuses the people and pleases 
 the hounds, but it is considered that it improves the flesh of 
 the beast. There will, too, be plenty of sport in the cockpits 
 at "The Black Boy," "The Exchequer," and other inns on 
 and near the Cattle Market. The day will end with fireworks, 
 the firing of small cannon, and a bon-fire in the centre of the 
 Hill, which will shed its ruddy light on the noisy crowd and 
 on the grey St. Peter's steeple, the cupola and pargeted front 
 of the timbered Moot hall, and the houses and shops built in 
 such picturesque irregularity and disorder round the old 
 Market Place and new Market Hill. "The Mayor's Day" 
 will doubtless close with lusty cheers for their Worships, the 
 new and the old Mayors, and the loyal burghers will retire 
 
66 The History of Sudhury, 
 
 to their rest with satisfied consciences, forgetting the troubles 
 of the past without anticipating those of the future. 
 
 THE MAYOR'S ROBES. 
 
 As early as the commencement of the i6th century there 
 are orders in the Town records for Mayor and ex-Mayors to 
 wear scarlet gowns with velvet tippets or to forfeit xx^- each. 
 The Councillors or capital Burgesses were to have murrey " 
 gowns or to forfeit x'^- These gowns were provided at the 
 wearers' own cost. 
 
 On May 26, 1720, an order was made 
 That for the future every person belonging to this Cor- 
 poration shall be decently habitted with gowns as usuall and 
 appear in Court with them as usuall upon the Mayor's 
 summons, and for default of any one of the same appearing 
 habitted as aforesaid, we do hereby order him to pay for 
 every neglect of the same to the Mayor the sum of five 
 shillings." 
 
 On the 4th Sept., 1721, the Court ordered the Mayor to 
 w^ear a scarlet gown. The Aldermen, at their own costs, 
 were to have decent black gowns with different facing from 
 those of the Capital Burgesses, viz., scarlet velvet or fur. 
 The Capital Burgesses, at their own costs, were to find 
 decent black gowns, faced w^ith black velvet, all of one 
 fashion and material. The Aldermen were to forfeit for non- 
 compliance with this order ten guineas, and the Capital 
 Burgesses five guineas. 
 
 On May 17th, 1726, twenty-four black gowns at two 
 guineas apiece were ordered to be purchased and paid for 
 
The History of Sudbury. 67 
 
 by the Court, and to be kept in a wardrobe in the Hall. 
 They were to be of black '^say" faced with black velvet. 
 Each member of the Corporation, on being sworn, was to 
 pay a guinea towards his gown, the other guinea being paid 
 out of the common chest. At the same court, it was ordered 
 that a copper plate should be affixed to each seat in the 
 Hall, with the name of the occupant engraved thereon. 
 
 But this civic grandeur came to a most undignified end. 
 On Sept. 18, 1 8 13, as the result of a successful action at law 
 against the Corporation, an execution was levied on the Cor- 
 poration property, and their goods and chattels were sold by 
 public auction on the Market Hill. These included an 
 elegant Scarlet Robe faced with black velvet," which, it is 
 said, was purchased by a well-known jovial fox-hunting 
 miller, who rode to hounds, having over his usual attire the 
 scarlet Mayor's gown, which fluttered in the breeze as the 
 sarcastic nimrod followed the pack, amid the laughter and 
 cheers of the delighted spectators ! 
 
 At the same auction were sold 260 fire buckets, which 
 had been removed from the Moot Hall, it having been a 
 custom from time immemorial that every person on taking 
 up his freedom should present a bucket to the Hall. 
 
 THE MUNICIPAL INSIGNIA. 
 
 The Mayor and Corporation of Sudbury possess some 
 handsome plate, although the articles are not very numerous. 
 The chief objects of interest being two large silver maces, a 
 town seal, and a loving cup. The beautiful gold chain with 
 enamelled badges and armorial bearings is modern. 
 
68 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 Sergeants' maces have been in use in the borough for 
 some five hundred years, for in 1397 Roger Mortimer, Earl 
 of March, by a charter which we have already printed, 
 allowed the Mayor and Bailiffs of Sudbury to appoint annu- 
 ally two sergeants to bear maces before the Mayors of the 
 borough. And in 1671 John Deering and Thomas Brackett, 
 then sergeants at mace "renewed and new made" at their 
 own cost of ^3 5s. od. two small silver maces, to pass to, 
 and be preserved by, their successors in office. 
 
 In 1585, however, the "Town goods" handed over by 
 the outgoing to the incoming Mayor were not very valuable, 
 but consisted of — 
 
 "Three seals, viz., the Courte seale, the Towne scale, 
 and the seal for the Colnes (Hospital). 
 
 a pile of weights of xvi^^' avoir de pois. 
 
 a pile of Troy weights. 
 
 a seale for the leather. A stamp for the currier. A yard 
 of iron. Four scales for measures. 
 
 Two old Town Books, and one new Town Book." 
 
 The present Mayor's maces have an inscription round 
 the handles, stating that they were presented in 16 14, by 
 Richard Firmyn late Mayor of Sudbury. The heads are 
 even later apparently temp. Commonwealth, with altera- 
 tions at the Restoration. But it is a moot point whether 
 these maces may not be of earlier date than 1614, and 
 Firmyn's legacy was merely employed in restoring and 
 adding to the maces already in use. 
 
 By that worthy Alderman's will, dated Nov. 15, 16 14, 
 and witnessed by Charles Abbot, Mayor ; William Byatt, 
 
The History of Sudbury. 69 
 
 ex-Mayor ; Thomas Smythe, and John Willitt Aldermen ; 
 a legacy of ten pounds was given to the Mayor and Alder- 
 men of Suthburie for the tyme beinge, to be by them 
 imployed and laid out towards the newe-making, bettering, 
 and inlargynge of the twoo maces used to be carryed by the 
 Sergeants there before the Maior of the towne of Suthburie 
 aforesaid for ye tyme being." 
 
 This sum appears to be hardly sufficient to purchase 
 two large silver maces, and the words used seem to imply 
 that the testator desired merely to enlarge the old ones. 
 
 They were subsequently restored by Thomas Robinson, 
 Mayor, in 1718 ; and, in 1861, by Samuel Higgs, Mayor, but 
 these restorations must have been trifling. 
 
 The inscriptions on the handles run thus — 
 Richard Firmyn, deceased, late Mayor, Donor . X^"- 
 Anno Dom : 16 14." 
 
 ^'Thomas Robinson, Gent, Mayor, 1718." 
 Samuel Higgs, Mayor, 1861." 
 
 They are of silver gilt, 29! inches long, the heads crest- 
 ed with alternate crosses and fleur-de-lis, and surmounted by 
 open crowns with orbs and crosses. The heads are embossed 
 with the Royal arms {temp. Charles II.) on the top, and have 
 the sides divided into four compartments by vertical lines of 
 conventional foliage and charged with the Borough Arms, 
 the Rose, the Thistle, and the Fleur-de-lis. The stems are 
 i6|- inches long with a semi-globular moulding in the centre 
 and a smaller ovolo at the lower end, terminating in a pear- 
 shaped knob or handle, round which the above-mentioned 
 
70 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 inscriptions are cut. The shafts are certainly older than the 
 heads, and the mouldings are somewhat bruised and dented 
 in places. Judging from these, and from the different quality 
 of the metal, and also from the marked simplicity of design, 
 it seems possible that portions of these maces may have be- 
 longed to earlier ones. The handles of the present maces 
 having been the heads of the ancient ones, which were 
 reversed at the '^nlargynge" in 1614 and so converted into 
 handles. There are no hall-marks distinguishable to support 
 this conjecture, but the process of turning the maces upside 
 down, and adding new heads to make them more magnificent 
 is known to have taken place in many other ancient boroughs. 
 Originally the mace w^as a w^eapon of war, but when it was 
 no longer required for defensive purposes the handle was 
 first fashioned into a knob or boss to receive the Royal 
 arms ; then the mace was turned upside down, the head 
 became the handle, the flanges were converted into mere 
 ornaments, and in course of time disappeared and were re- 
 placed by a heavy boss to counter-balance the weight of the 
 head, which had meanwhile been growing in size, and to 
 which a crown had been added. Thus the mace as a symbol 
 of office was evolved. 
 
 . The Lovixg Cup, or Godfrey Tankard, is of silver and 
 weighs 38 J ozs. It is of the ordinary ' drum ' pattern, with 
 lip, handle and hinged cover. In front are the Royal arms 
 of Charles II. within the garter and crowned ; and below 
 between characteristic palm branches are the arms of Sir 
 Edmund Berry Godfrey, Knt. {sable a chevron between three 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 71 
 
 pelicans heads erased or^ viilning themselves proper^ on the 
 
 chevron a crescent snrmonnted by a mullet for difference). 
 
 At the sides are Latin inscriptions recording the eminent 
 
 services of Sir E. B. Godfrey, and below these are rude 
 
 engravings representing scenes in London during the Great 
 
 Plague of 1665, and the Great Fire of 1666. 
 
 On the right side of the handle, around the picture of 
 
 the Plague, is this inscription — 
 
 "Ex dono E: B: G: Militis, 
 Irenarchae seduli, Integerimi, 
 Quern 
 
 Post Egregiam in fuganda peste preestitam operam, 
 Carolus secundus semper Augustus 
 Assensu Procerum a secretis Concilijs 
 In perpetuam tantae Pietatis Memoriam 
 Argento donavit Oenophoro, et vere Regio, 
 Hoc Ampliore modo Insignito. 
 Gratia Dei et Regis Caroli Secundi, 
 Pestis Alijs, sibi salus. 
 E. B. G:i665." 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 " The gift of E. B. G., Knight, an active and most upright Magistrate, 
 whom, after having rendered invaluable services in checking the progress of 
 the Plague, the ever august Monarch, Charles the Second, with the consent 
 of his Privy Council, to perpetuate the memory of his patriotic efforts, pre- 
 sented with a silver cup, a right royal present, bearing this inscription at 
 greater length. — By the grace of God and the favor of King Charles the 
 Second. Others' woe was his weal. E. B. G. 1665." 
 
 On the other side is this inscription, which is accom- 
 panied by an engraving of the Great Fire of London in the 
 
 year 1666 (old " Powles " is seen in the centre). 
 
 *' Vir reuera Reipublicae natus ! 
 Cum vrbem Imanis vastabat Ignis 
 
 Dei Providentia et virtute sua 
 Flamarum medio, Tutus et lUustris 
 
72 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 Deinde, Cogcntc Rege. 
 (At Merito) Emicuit Equcs Auratus 
 E: B: G: 7 hrs. 1666. 
 Caetera Loqiientiir Paiiperes ct Trivia." 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 "A man truly born for his country! When a terrible fire devastated 
 the city, by the providence of God, and his own merit, he was safe and 
 distinguished himself in the midst of the flames. Afterwards at the express 
 desire of the King (but deservedly so) E. B. G. was created a Knight in 
 September, 1666. The poor and the highways will tell the rest." 
 
 There is a rather romantic history attached to this cup. 
 It was for a long time supposed that it was the original, 
 presented to Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey (whose initials and 
 arms it bears) by King Charles II., for his eminent services 
 in the awful times of the Great Plague. The story of Sir 
 Edmund's assassination and its terrible consequences may be 
 read in Macaulay and elsewhere. Suffice it to say that he 
 gave great off'ence to the Roman Catholics by taking the 
 evidence of the infamous Titus Gates, and by his dogged 
 perseverance in endeavouring to unravel the alleged mys- 
 terious popish plots, by which it was said the life of the King 
 was threatened. In October, 1678, the unfortunate Knight 
 was missed from his home for some davs, and after much 
 search was found Ivinor dead in a ditch on Primrose Hill, on 
 the way to Hampstead. The cry arose that he had been 
 murdered by the Papists, and the whole populace was in- 
 flamed with rage. His funeral was conducted with great 
 pomp and medals were struck to commemorate the murder. 
 Three persons were executed for it, but they all denied their 
 guilt on the scaff"old. 
 
 But it has now been clearly proved that this cup is not 
 the original one given to Sir Edmund Godfrey by the King 
 
The History of Sudbury, 73 
 
 in 1665, for it bears the London hall-marks for 1675/6, and 
 the inscription states that this cup was the gift of Sir Edmund 
 (to someone who is not named, but most probably to Sir 
 Gervase Elwes of Stoke College). 
 
 It would appear that this tankard is one of several that 
 were made to perpetuate the fame of Sir Edmund Godfrey's 
 public services. It must be noted that King Charles II., in 
 addition to presenting a cup to Sir Edmund in 1665, gave 
 800 ozs. of plate to him in 1666, and it has been suggested 
 that Sir Edmund, with pardonable pride, had several of these 
 tankards manufactured out of the 800 ozs. of plate, and dis- 
 tributed them amongst his friends and relations. 
 
 Mr. R. J. Harrison possesses an identical cup, which has 
 descended to him from his ancestor. Sir Edmund Harrison, 
 uncle and godfather of Sir E. B. Godfrey. 
 
 Another family holds one direct from an ancestor, 
 Thomas Lamplugh, Archbishop of York about 1688 ; whilst 
 a third tankard was recently in the possession of Mrs. W. H. 
 Dutton, having descended to her with part of the estate of 
 the Godfreys, at Sellinge, in Kent : this last cup was sold at 
 a Public Auction in London, in October, 1895, for 500 
 guineas, or £\\ los. per oz. 
 
 Until recently it was not known how the Sudbury Cup 
 came into the possession of the Corporation, but in 1886 a 
 paper was discovered amongst the Borough muniments con- 
 taining the draft of certain allegations made in 1684 against 
 the Mayor, Mr. John Catesby, an eminent attorney in the 
 borough, who was unpopular with some of the burgesses on 
 account of his strong political opinions. 
 
74 The History of Siidlmry. 
 
 One of these allegations runs thus — 
 '^Sir Robert Cordell had been for a long time Member 
 for the Borough (i 661-1679) and ye Corporation had de- 
 clared that they would vote for him but were overpowered 
 by ye continued intreaties and wheadles of Mr. Catesby, and 
 Sir Jervasse Elwes to gratify the Corporation did present 
 them with a tankard with some inscription thereon ingraven 
 in Latine relatimr to Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey, which ve 
 now said Mr. Catesby keeps and brings forth at all Corpora- 
 tion Feasts, and in most solemn mannere drinks Sir Jervasse 
 his health, and ye said John Catesby hath declared he had 
 made such an interest for Sir Jervasse Elwes in Sudbury as 
 all ye Gentlemen in ye country could never destroy it." 
 
 The Corporation was not ungrateful, and at the election 
 in 1679 Sir Gervase Elwes, Bart., of Stoke College, and his 
 son were returned together as Members for Sudbury. 
 
 The Seal is of Silver, mounted on ivory, and bears the 
 
 Borough Shield, beautifully cut, with the inscription : — 
 
 "Ex dono Ricardi Skynncr, 161 6. 
 Sigill Oflic. Burgi de Sudbury in com Suffolk." 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 *'Thc gift of Richard Skinner, 16 16. The oflicial seal of the Borough 
 of Sudbury in the county of Suffolk." 
 
 This donor minted, for the purposes of his trade, one of 
 the many Sudbury Tokens" that were extensively used in 
 the town and district from 1650 down to about 1800. On 
 the obverse was his name, spelt ''Skinner," and arms, ''three 
 cross-bows, 2 and i "; and on the reverse, the words "in 
 Sudbury." In the account of the town expenses of Wm. 
 
The History of Siidhury, 75 
 
 Nicholl, Mayor, 1635, is the item Payd for mendeinge the 
 Towne Seale, vjd." 
 
 Old gossips tell how the seal was mysteriously lost 
 about a century and a quarter back, and how, after an interval 
 of several years, it was found among the reeds and rushes 
 when cleaning out one of the fish stews" or ponds belong- 
 ing to Chilton Hall, once the seat of the Crane family. 
 Whether this tradition be true or not there is no document- 
 ary evidence to show. 
 
 The Seal is in good preservation, as are also the Maces 
 and Loving Cup, and all are much prized by the Corporation, 
 and by the free and independent burgesses of the borough. 
 
 MAYORS OF SUDBURY. 
 
 The office of Mayor of the borough of Sudbury is a very 
 ancient one, having its origin in the dim and distant past, 
 when the memory of man runneth not to the contrary." 
 
 In 1215 King John granted to the men of London the 
 privilege of electing a Mayor annually, and this is the earliest 
 instance of the kind that we have in England. 
 
 The first mention of the Mayor of Sudbury, that has 
 been discovered, occurs in the Patent Rolls for the year 
 1 33 1, when Robert Darry, Mayor of Sudbury, with others, 
 is ordered to aid in arresting certain persons indicted for 
 felonies, who were still at large in Suffolk. 
 
 In 1372, the Mayor of Sudbury for the time being was 
 one of those nominated under the founder's statutes to act as 
 visitor of Colney's Hospital in Sudbury. 
 
76 
 
 Tlic History of Sudbury. 
 
 In 1397, the Mayor and Bailiffs of Sudbury were author- 
 ised by Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, to elect two Ser- 
 geants-at-mace for the borough. In the same year the 
 Mayor and Bailiffs of Sudbury contributed forty marks 
 (/'26 13s. 4d.) towards the Royal loan. 
 
 In 1433. [oliii lliint. .M:i\<>i- Sndhiirx'. to^ctlu-i* with 
 cci'inin piii ishh >iir i"s ol Si. ( i i\m >i \' s. ix iiiioin J liisliop 
 to allow a Certain hciinit to dwell in St. Gregory's church- 
 yard. 
 
 In 1463, King Edward I\^. directed a writ to the Mayor 
 and Constables of Sudbury for the arrest of one William 
 Fishlake on the charge of assaulting and mutilating one John 
 Levyng. This little document is still preserved amongst the 
 Town Records, but has been endorsed erroneously 1274 
 (2 Edward I.), instead of 1463 (2 Edward IV.) as it should 
 be. 
 
 Many other early references to the Mayors of Sudbury 
 could be produced, and from 1563, when the Borough 
 Minute Books commence, the names of most of the Mayors 
 have been recovered. 
 
 Names of the Mayors. 
 
 H33- 
 1435- 
 
 H54- 
 1468. 
 
 1+78. 
 
 1510. 
 
 1511. 
 
 Robert Darry. 
 John Hunt. 
 Thomas West. 
 Thomas West. 
 John Tille. 
 William Gebclon. 
 William Gebelon. 
 John Scaldcr. 
 John Guybclon. 
 
 1512. 
 1513. 
 
 1553- 
 
 1558. 
 
 1559. 
 1560. 
 
 Thomas Man. 
 Robert Heyncs. 
 William Park. 
 AVilliam Heron. 
 Thomas Rusham alias 
 
 Barbor. 
 Thomas IMason. 
 
71 le History of Sudhiiry. 
 
 NAMES OF MAYORS— Continued. 
 
 561. 
 
 George Elyston. 
 
 1599- 
 
 Robert Jervis. 
 
 562. 
 
 Richard Barker. 
 
 1 600. 
 
 John Curde. 
 
 563- 
 
 Andrew Byat. 
 
 1 60 1 . 
 
 John Skinner. 
 
 564. 
 
 George Elyston. 
 
 1602. 
 
 John Hedge. 
 
 565. 
 
 John Crosse. 
 
 1603. 
 
 John Willet. 
 
 566. 
 
 Thomas Willet. 
 
 1 604. 
 
 John Curde. 
 
 5^7: 
 
 f Richard Barker. 
 
 1 605. 
 
 John Hedge. 
 
 1 Andrew I)\al, 
 
 1 606. 
 
 lobn ITnwc. 
 
 
 Marliii < "< Ac 
 
 1 007. 
 
 b ilm 1 f< »]ton. 
 
 
 
 lOoS. 
 
 John Will.'!. 
 
 570. 
 
 Thomas Rusham alias 
 
 1 609. 
 
 John Curde. 
 
 
 B arbor. 
 
 I 610. 
 
 Thomas Smyth. 
 
 
 ( John Crosse. 
 
 161 1. 
 
 j John Howe. 
 
 ( John Godfry. 
 
 1 John Willet. 
 
 572. 
 
 John Elyston. 
 
 1 6 1 2. 
 
 Richard Firmin. 
 
 573- 
 
 
 1613. 
 
 William Byat. 
 
 574- 
 
 William Cole. 
 
 1 614. 
 
 Charles Abbot. 
 
 575- 
 
 William Adams. 
 
 1615. 
 
 John Holton. 
 
 57^- 
 
 John Godfry. 
 
 1616. 
 
 Ezechiel Adams. 
 
 577- 
 
 Thomas Oldfield. 
 
 1617. 
 
 William Nicholl. 
 
 578. 
 
 William Funstone. 
 
 1618. 
 
 Thomas Smith. 
 
 579. 
 
 Martin Cole. 
 
 1 6 1 9. 
 
 John Willett. 
 
 580. 
 
 John Skinner. 
 
 1620. 
 
 William Byat. 
 
 581. 
 
 John Elyston. 
 
 1 62 I . 
 
 Robert Howe. 
 
 582. 
 
 William Cole. 
 
 1622. 
 
 Charles Abbot. 
 
 583. 
 
 Thomas Robinson. 
 
 1623. 
 
 John Holton. 
 
 584. 
 
 William Byatt. 
 
 1624. 
 
 Robert Howe. 
 
 585. 
 
 John Godfrey. 
 
 1625. 
 
 William Nicholl. 
 
 586. 
 
 Martin Cole. 
 
 1626. 
 
 John Willet. 
 
 587. 
 
 Robert Jervis. 
 
 1627. 
 
 Richard Skinner. 
 
 588. 
 
 John Elliston. 
 
 1628. 
 
 Thomas Smith. 
 
 589. 
 
 Thomas Smith. 
 
 1629. 
 
 Benjamin Fisher. 
 
 590. 
 
 Thomas Robinson. 
 
 1630. 
 
 William Hasell. 
 
 591. 
 
 Thomas Pilgrim. 
 
 1631. 
 
 Thomas Baron. 
 
 592. 
 
 John Godfrey. 
 
 1632. 
 
 Daniel Byat. 
 
 593. 
 
 John Howe. 
 
 1633. 
 
 John Andrews. 
 
 594- 
 
 John Turke. 
 
 1634. 
 
 William Nicholl. 
 
 595. 
 
 Robert Jervis. 
 
 1635- 
 
 Thomas Baron. 
 
 596. 
 
 William Buckstone. 
 
 1636. 
 
 John Golding. 
 
 597- 
 
 Peter Green. 
 
 1637. 
 
 
 598. 
 
 John Hedge. 
 
 1638. 
 
 
/ 
 
 78 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 NAMES OF MAYORS— Continued. 
 
 1639. 
 
 
 
 1676. 
 
 Richard Hobbart. 
 
 1 640. 
 
 
 
 1 677. 
 
 Joseph Wood. 
 
 I64I . 
 
 
 
 1678. 
 
 John Catesby. 
 
 1642. 
 
 
 
 1679. 
 
 Daniel Cooke. 
 
 1643. 
 
 
 
 1680. 
 
 John Gibbon. 
 
 1644. 
 
 
 
 1681. 
 
 William King. 
 
 1645. 
 
 
 
 1682. 
 
 John Catesby. 
 
 1 646. 
 
 
 
 1683. 
 
 William Fothergill. 
 
 1647. 
 
 
 
 1684. 
 
 John Catesby. 
 
 1648. 
 
 
 
 1685. 
 
 
 1649. 
 
 
 
 1686. 
 
 
 1650. 
 
 John Cooke. 
 
 
 1687. 
 
 
 I65I. 
 
 
 
 1688. 
 
 
 1652. 
 
 
 
 1689. 
 
 
 
 William Byatt. 
 
 
 1690. 
 
 
 1654. 
 
 John Cooke. 
 
 
 1 69 1 . 
 
 
 1655. 
 
 John Death. 
 
 
 1 692. 
 
 John Gibbon. 
 
 1656. 
 
 John Warner. 
 
 
 1693. 
 
 
 1657. 
 
 
 
 1694. 
 
 Samuel Abbot. 
 
 1658. 
 
 Toseph jMann. 
 
 
 1695. 
 
 
 1659. 
 
 Samuel Hasell. 
 
 
 1696. 
 
 
 1660. 
 
 Nathaniel King. 
 
 
 1697. 
 
 
 I66I. 
 
 William Byatt. 
 
 
 1698. 
 
 
 I 002. 
 
 John Cooke. 
 
 
 1699. 
 
 
 1663. 
 
 John Death. 
 
 
 1700. 
 
 
 1664. 
 
 Barnard Carter. 
 
 
 I70I. 
 
 
 1665. 
 
 Nathaniel King. 
 
 
 1 702. 
 
 Benjamin Carter. 
 
 1666. 
 
 Christopher Pettit. 
 
 
 1703- 
 
 
 1667. 
 
 Thomas Kin^ (on his 
 
 1704. 
 
 
 death, Dec. 11, 
 
 John 
 
 1705- 
 1706. 
 
 
 
 Cooke elected). 
 
 
 1668. 
 
 ]\Iark Salter. 
 
 
 
 1669. 
 
 Henry Robinson (on his 
 
 1707. 
 
 
 death, Nov. 15, J 
 
 oseph 
 
 1708. 
 
 
 
 Wood elected). 
 
 1709. 
 
 
 1670. 
 
 William Gibson. 
 
 
 1710. 
 
 
 167I. 
 
 Francis King. 
 
 
 1711. 
 
 
 I 672. 
 
 Daniel Cooke. 
 
 
 1712. 
 
 
 1673. 
 
 John Cooke. 
 
 
 1713- 
 
 
 1674. 
 
 John Catesby. 
 
 
 I7I4. 
 
 — Sparrow. 
 
 1675. 
 
 John Gibbon. 
 
 
 I7I5. 
 
 
The History of Sudbviry, 
 
 79 
 
 NAMES OF MAYORS— Continued. 
 
 716. 
 
 
 1755. 
 
 Peter Delande. 
 
 7^7- 
 
 
 1756. 
 
 Peter Delande. 
 
 718. 
 
 Thomas Robinson. 
 
 1757- 
 
 Thomas Addeson. 
 
 719. 
 
 
 1758. 
 
 Samuel Scarlyn. 
 
 720. 
 
 
 1759. 
 
 William Voyce. 
 
 72 1 . 
 
 
 1760. 
 
 Samuel Scarlyn. 
 
 722. 
 
 - 
 
 1761. 
 
 Benjamin Carter. 
 
 723- 
 
 
 1762. 
 
 Peter Delande. 
 
 724. 
 
 
 1763. 
 
 Henry Kedington. 
 
 725. 
 
 Thomas Robinson. 
 
 1764. 
 
 William Humphry. 
 
 726. 
 
 Thomas Smith. 
 
 1765- 
 
 Peter Delande. 
 
 727- 
 
 Thomas Newman. 
 
 1766. 
 
 John Oliver. 
 
 728. 
 
 John Grent. 
 
 1767. 
 
 Peter Delande. 
 
 729. 
 
 Robert Sparrow. 
 
 1768. 
 
 Henry Kedington. 
 
 730. 
 
 ( Laurence Gibbon. 
 ( Thomas Robinson. 
 
 1769. 
 1770. 
 
 Dansie Carter. 
 Peter Delande. 
 
 731. 
 
 Richard Scariin. 
 
 1771. 
 
 William Humphry. 
 
 732. 
 
 Ihomas bmith. 
 
 1772. 
 
 John Oliver. 
 
 733- 
 
 John Gent. 
 
 1773- 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 734- 
 
 John Gent. 
 
 1774. 
 
 TTT*11» XT 1 
 
 William Humphry. 
 
 735. 
 
 Robert Sparrow. 
 
 1775. 
 
 William btrutt. 
 
 736. 
 
 John Debnam. 
 
 1776. 
 
 William Humphry. 
 
 737- 
 
 John Debnam. 
 
 1777. 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 738. 
 
 Robert Sparrow. 
 
 1778. 
 
 William Humphry. 
 
 739. 
 
 John Voyce. 
 
 1779. 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 740. 
 
 John Gent. 
 
 1780. 
 
 William Humphry. 
 
 741. 
 
 Thomas Newman. 
 
 1781. 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 742. 
 
 John Voyce. 
 
 1782. 
 
 Stephen Oliver. 
 
 743- 
 
 John Voyce. 
 
 1783. 
 
 Thomas Hawes. 
 
 744- 
 
 Benjamin Carter. 
 
 1784. 
 
 William Humphry. 
 
 745. 
 
 Samuel Scarlyn. 
 
 1785- 
 
 Edward Piper. 
 
 746. 
 
 
 1786. 
 
 Samuel Carter. 
 
 747- 
 
 John Gent. 
 
 1787. 
 
 Joseph Humphry. 
 
 748. 
 
 John Voyce. 
 
 1788. 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 749. 
 
 Richard Gardiner. 
 
 1789. 
 
 Stephen Oliver. 
 
 750. 
 
 John Baker. 
 
 1790. 
 
 Joseph Humphry. 
 
 751. 
 
 Benjamin Carter. 
 
 1791. 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 752. 
 
 Thomas Addeson. 
 
 1792. 
 
 Stephen Oliver. 
 
 753. 
 
 Thomas Newman. 
 
 1793- 
 
 Edward Piper. 
 
 754. 
 
 Collin Hossack, 
 
 1794. 
 
 William Oliver. 
 
80 'The History of Sudbury, 
 
 NAMES OF IMAYORS— Continued. 
 
 1795. 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 1835. 
 
 Thomas Musgrave. 
 
 1796. 
 
 Joseph Humphry. 
 
 1836. 
 
 Robert Ransom. 
 
 1797. 
 
 Stephen Oliver. 
 
 1837. 
 
 George William 
 
 1798. 
 
 William Oliver. 
 
 
 Andrewes. 
 
 [799. 
 
 William Strutt.. 
 
 1838. 
 
 William Hurrell. 
 
 t8oo. 
 
 Branwhite Oliver. 
 
 1839. 
 
 Robert Ransom. 
 
 1801. 
 
 Joseph Humphry. 
 
 1840. 
 
 William Spooner 
 
 [802. 
 
 Stephen Oliver. 
 
 1841. 
 
 Thomas Jones. 
 
 [803. 
 
 William Oliver. 
 
 1842. 
 
 John James. 
 
 804. 
 
 Lachlan IMaclean. 
 
 1843. 
 
 William Bestoe Smith. 
 
 805. 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 1844. 
 
 Thomas Jones. 
 
 806. 
 
 Branwhite Oliver. 
 
 1845. 
 
 George William 
 
 807. 
 
 Joseph Humphry. 
 
 
 Andrewes. 
 
 808. 
 
 Lachlan ?klaclean. 
 
 1846. 
 
 George Williams Fulcher. 
 
 809. 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 1847. 
 
 Thomas IMeeking. 
 
 810. 
 
 Branwhite Oliver. 
 
 1848. 
 
 George Williams FuIchcr. 
 
 811. 
 
 Lachlan Maclean. 
 
 1849. 
 
 George William 
 
 812. 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 
 Andrewes. 
 
 813. 
 
 Branwhite Oliver. 
 
 1850. 
 
 Arthur J. Skrimshire. 
 
 814. 
 
 Lachlan ]\raclean. 
 
 1851. 
 
 Thomas Meeking. 
 
 815. 
 
 William Strutt. 
 
 1852. 
 
 George Williams Fulcher. 
 
 816. 
 
 Branwhite Oliver. 
 
 1853- 
 
 Thomas Jones. 
 
 817. 
 
 Thomas IMusgrave. 
 
 1854. 
 
 George Williams Fulcher. 
 
 818. 
 
 Thomas Jones. 
 
 1855. 
 
 William Robert Bevan. 
 
 819. 
 
 Thomas Goldsmith, jun. 
 
 1856. 
 
 Walter Weller Foley. 
 
 820. 
 
 Branwhite Oliver. 
 
 1857- 
 
 William Robert Bevan. 
 
 821. 
 
 Thomas IMusgrave. 
 
 1858. 
 
 George William 
 
 822. 
 
 Thomas Jones. 
 
 
 Andrewes. 
 
 823. 
 
 Thomas Goldsmith. 
 
 1859. 
 
 William Sparrow. 
 
 824. 
 
 Branwhite Oliver. 
 
 i860. 
 
 William Sparrow. 
 
 825. 
 
 Thomas Goldsmith. 
 
 1861. 
 
 Samuel Higgs. 
 
 826. 
 
 Thomas IMusgrave. 
 
 1862. 
 
 Samuel Higgs. 
 
 827. 
 
 Thomas Goldsmith. 
 
 1863. 
 
 Samuel Higgs. 
 
 828. 
 
 Branwhite Oliver. 
 
 1864. 
 
 Job Grover. 
 
 829. 
 
 Thomas Goldsmith. 
 
 1865. 
 
 Samuel Higgs. 
 
 830. 
 
 Thomas IMusgrave. 
 
 1866. 
 
 Samuel Higgs. 
 
 831. 
 
 Branwhite Oliver. 
 
 1867. 
 
 Samuel Higgs. 
 
 832. 
 
 Thomas Jones. 
 
 1868. 
 
 Samuel Higgs. 
 
 833. 
 
 Thomas Goldsmith. 
 
 1869. 
 
 Samuel Higgs. 
 
 834. 
 
 Abraham Stephen Syer. 
 
 1870. 
 
 Job Grover. 
 
The History of Siidhury. 
 
 8i 
 
 NAMES OF MAYORS— Continued. 
 
 1871. 
 
 Job Grover. 
 
 1885. 
 
 Robert Mattingly. 
 
 1872. 
 
 George William 
 
 1886. 
 
 George William 
 
 
 Andrewes. 
 
 
 Andrewes. 
 
 1873- 
 
 Henry Sparrow Pratt. 
 
 1887. 
 
 George William 
 
 1874. 
 
 Edgar Mann. 
 
 
 Andrewes. 
 
 1875. 
 
 Henry Sparrow Pratt. 
 
 1888. 
 
 Robert Sizer Joy. 
 
 1876. 
 
 Thomas Smith. 
 
 1889. 
 
 Robert Sizer Joy. 
 
 1877. 
 
 Thomas Smith. 
 
 I 8qo. 
 
 Robert Mattingly. 
 
 1878. 
 
 John Salter. 
 
 1891. 
 
 George Henry Grimwodd. 
 
 1879. 
 
 John Salter. 
 
 1892. 
 
 George Henry Grimwood. 
 
 1880. 
 
 Job Grover. 
 
 1893. 
 
 Christie Edwin Mauldon. 
 
 I88I. 
 
 George Giles Whorlow. 
 
 1894. 
 
 Christie Edwin IMauldon. 
 
 1882. 
 
 George Giles Whorlow. 
 
 1895. 
 
 Robert Mattingly. 
 
 1883. 
 
 John Bird Westoby. 
 
 1896. 
 
 Benjamin Robert Marten. 
 
 1884. 
 
 Robert Mattingly. 
 
 
 
V. 
 
 PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION. 
 
 HE borough of Sudbury did not send representa- 
 tives to Parliament before the year 1559, when 
 it first returned two members, and continued to 
 do so until the borough was disfranchised in 
 1842. 
 
 The honour of returning burgesses to Parliament was 
 not much sought after by the freemen of a mediaeval borough, 
 for it was accompanied by the obligation of raising a sum of 
 money to pay wages to their members, fixed at two shillings 
 per day for borough members during the time that the House 
 sat. 
 
 In Sudbury the right of election was open to all freemen 
 w^ho had not received alms, and this right they managed to 
 assert and maintain when, in 1702, the Corporation (then a 
 close body) claimed the exclusive right for themselves, on 
 the ground that they alone had chosen the members since 
 they were first returned in 1559. 
 
 Very few of the merchants of Sudbury appear to have 
 aspired to represent their native town, and the majority of 
 the members w^ere chosen from the wealthy families living in 
 the neighbourhood, 
 
The History of Sudbury. 83 
 
 The portrait of Henry Fortescue, of Faulkbourn Hall, 
 Essex, who was one of the first members, returned in 1559, 
 may be seen, engraved in brass, on his tomb in Faulkbourn 
 Church, where he was buried, Oct. 6th, 1576. He appears 
 at that time to have held a lease of the manor of Caxtons, in 
 Little Cornard. 
 
 Early in the seventeenth century political corruption 
 was rife in Suffolk, and petitions for bribery were not un- 
 known in Sudbury. In 1703 it was reported that '^for thirty 
 years back the unsuccessful candidate had always petitioned." 
 In 1698, a vacancy occurred in the representation of the 
 borough, caused by the death of Sir Thomas Barnardiston, 
 and the candidates were John Gurdon, of Assington, and Sir 
 Gervase Elwes, of Stoke College. On Dec. 17, 1698, Sir 
 William Cooke, Bart., (who at that time represented the 
 county of Norfolk,) wrote thus to his son-in-law, Thornhagh 
 Gurdon, of Letton, " The High Sheriffe of Suffolk (John 
 Cornwallis) being dead will put a stop to the Sudbury elec- 
 tion for some time, the King not pricking Sheriffs till ye next 
 week and tis possible the person prickt may endeavour to 
 get off and that will still give Sir J. Elwes time to debauch 
 the electors and I am told he is very free of his money that 
 way and has drawne over divers in Colchester from my son," 
 (John Gurdon of Assington having married his other daughter) 
 ''nor are the Sudburians, a beggarly and mercenary sort of 
 people, to be relied on : for as if my son have not a great 
 majority Sir Jer: Elwes will certainly petition, wch will be a 
 bloody charge to my son : I have laid all this before him and 
 I could wish he could make an honourable retreat." 
 
84 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 On the 19th Jan., 1698/9, Sir W. Cooke again writes — 
 "The long want of a Sheriffe in SufF : has given Sir J. 
 Elwes great opportimityes to bribe at Sudbury, wch I heard 
 from all hands he has aboundantly done. If it should happen 
 Sir J: Elwes should be returned, the wch all the bribery in 
 the world my son shall not petition, if I can prevayle. I am 
 told in the house money, nay guineas, have drawne over 
 many from my son, but from Ason (Assington) I am told no 
 great matter has been done that way : but I fear we are too 
 apt to flatter ourselves." 
 
 The father-in-law's apprehensions were, however, ground- 
 less, as on the 7th February, 1698/9, the new member for 
 Sudburv announces his election : — 
 
 Dear Brother, 
 
 At last our troublesome election is over, they 
 have had soe long time that abundance of our loose men 
 were drawne of by his mony which they did not spare to 
 throw about even yc election morning, just att y^ latter end 
 of ye time when they found we bore hard upon them they 
 proffered people what they would have if they would but 
 come over. Sir Jervys polld 446, and I, 498. I think to 
 stay till ye latter end of next week before I go up. If in 
 anything I can be serviseable to you yt you want to have 
 brought or done, you know you may at all times freely com- 
 mand him 
 
 who is your most affectionate Bro: 
 
 & humble servant 
 
 J. GURDON." 
 
 Feb. ye 7th, 1698. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 8s 
 
 Three weeks later a petition is threatened, and John 
 Gurdon writes to his brother-in-law on the 28th of February — 
 
 Sir Jervys EUwys is ashamed to appear in a Petition 
 against me but yesterday Catesby, Cook, and four more, put 
 a petition in as you will see by the votes. Tis impossible it 
 should ever be heard and for yt reason I believe they put it 
 in to try to boy up an interest for him in ye towne, there are 
 about four score petition entered and not above fourteen 
 decided. The Committee of Elections sit thre times a week 
 and till twelve a clock at night or one in ye morning. I have 
 got such a cold comeing out at night out of ye hot house as 
 never had in my life before. I hope tis now leaving of me." 
 
 The petition was probably abandoned, as a year later 
 another vacancy occurred at Sudbury, on the death of Samuel 
 Kekewich, the other member for the borough, and Sir Ger- 
 vase Elwes was returned. 
 
 The two rivals thus represented the borough for the 
 remainder of the Parliament. 
 
 The election of 1703 disclosed a great deal of bribery, 
 and the Mayor, Benjamin Carter, was ordered into the cus- 
 tody of the Sergeant-at- Arms for undue partiality and violence. 
 
 In 1774, a petition was lodged, on behalf of Sir Walden 
 Hanmer and Sir Patrick Blake, against the return of P. C. 
 Crespigny and Thomas Fonnereau, on the ground that 
 William Strutt, the mayor and returning officer, had acted 
 partially and corruptly during the poll, and that money had 
 been distributed by the successful candidates amongst their 
 supporters. 
 
86 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 On hearing the petition, the Committee decided that Sir 
 Walden Hanmer and Sir Patrick Blake were duly elected 
 and ought to be returned. 
 
 In 1780, when Sir Patrick Blake, Philip C. Crespigny, 
 Sir James Marriott, and John Henniker jun., were the candi- 
 dates, the election was a memorable one, in that the polling 
 was proceeded with throughout the night. The election 
 began on Friday morning, Sept. 8th, 1780, about 10 o'clock, 
 and was continued until it was dark, when the Mayor (Mr. 
 W. Humphrey) refused to adjourn, and proceeded all night 
 by candle light, the poll closing about 6.30 a.m. on the 
 Saturday morning. A scrutiny was then demanded on be- 
 half of Mr. Crespigny, on the ground that tumult and disorder 
 had been frequently occasioned by the friends of Sir James 
 Marriott and Mr. Henniker. The declaration of the poll 
 was accordingly adjourned until the following Friday, when 
 a scrutiny took place, and twenty-two votes having been dis- 
 allowed, the result was declared as follows — 
 
 Sir Patrick Blake ... 416 
 
 Philip C. Crespigny ... 344 
 
 Sir James Marriott ... 334 
 
 John Henniker, jun. ... 262 
 
 However, Mr. Crespigny was afterwards unseated on 
 petition, and Sir James Marriott returned in his place. Mr. 
 Crespigny, of Hintlesham Hall, Suffolk, was at one time 
 regarded as the "patron" of the borough {i.e. he possessed 
 the Parliamentary interest for many years), but the borough 
 was not deemed by any means secure, for he w^as defeated 
 
The History of Sit d bury. 87 
 
 in 1774, and again in 1784. He afterwards resigned the 
 patronage to Sir John C. Hippesley. 
 
 In 1826, the notorious John Wilks, jun. (commonly 
 known in Sudbury as "Plum Pudding" Wilks, from his 
 generosity in providing dinners for the freemen), was returned 
 by a large majority at the head of the poll. 
 
 As an instance of the undue influence then brought to 
 bear on the freemen, the following placard is given verbatim — 
 
 SUDBURY SCHOOLS. 
 
 The Parents and Friends of those Children who attend at The National 
 School, Charity or Sunday Schools, in Sudbury, are informed, that 
 
 John Wilks, Esq. 
 
 The Candidate for representing this borough in Parliament, 
 
 has directed 
 
 A DINNER 
 
 to be given to all such children, 
 
 On Thursday, 5th January instant 
 at One o'clock precisely. 
 
 The parents or friends of the children attending at the Schools, are 
 informed, that they must apply for Tickets of admission for the 
 Children, on Tuesday the 3rd instant at the St. Christopher 
 Public-House, at 4 o'clock precisely. 
 
 Sudbury, 2nd January, 1826. 
 In 1834, at a bye-election, caused by the death of the 
 Right Hon. M. A. Taylor, one of the members, the two 
 candidates, Sir Edward Barnes (Tory) and Mr. Bagshaw 
 (Whig) polled an even number of votes (253 each), but the 
 difficulty was overcome by the Mayor giving a casting vote 
 for Sir Edward Barnes, and returning him as duly elected. 
 The general election, however, took place a few months 
 
88 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 later, when Sir Edward Barnes and his colleague were 
 defeated by the two Reform candidates, Messrs. Bagshaw 
 and Smith. This election, and that of 1837, were very 
 closely contested, and called forth a vast quantity of election 
 literature in the form of squibs " or broadsides, of which the 
 following is a specimen — 
 
 JIM CROW 
 
 a new song, now singing with unbounded applause by all the 
 true Yellow Electors of Sudbury and Ballingdon. 
 
 When Barnes came from the Indies, 
 
 From Slaughter and from Woe ; 
 From flogging the poor Soldiers, 
 To make them jump Jim Crow. 
 Turn him out, and turn him out. 
 
 Flog him just so ; 
 And every time he wheels about 
 Cry, jump Jim Crow. 
 
 In his Regimental Cloak, 
 
 Old Barnes himself we'll wrap ; 
 And Hamilton poor fellow, 
 May soundly take his nap. 
 
 Turn' em out and Turn'em out. 
 
 Out they shall go ; 
 And every time they wheel about, 
 Cry, jump Jim Crow." 
 
 The Tories replied by issuing a huge placard, with these 
 words, 
 
 Caution. 
 
 Freemen Beware of 
 REFORM. 
 
 Who voted to disfranchise all the poor Freemen's unoffending children ? 
 
The History of Sudbury. 89 
 
 BAGSHAW & SMITH, 
 The Reformers. 
 
 Who voted against all enquiry when the Child was separated from the 
 Parent, the Wife from the Husband ; shut up in the new Bastiles,"^' and 
 fed with water-gruel ? 
 
 BAGSHAW & SMITH, 
 The Reformers. 
 Freemen these are a few of the blessings of Reform. 
 
 The result of this contest (1837) was the return of the 
 two Tory candidates at the head of the Poll, with these 
 figures, 
 
 Sir E. Barnes . 372. 
 
 Sir J. J. Hamilton 342. 
 
 W. A. Smith . 151. 
 
 T. E. M. Turton 19. 
 
 The election of 1841 will long be memorable in Sudbury 
 for the lavish expenditure of funds by the opposing parties 
 and for the disastrous consequences which resulted to the 
 borough. The parties were so evenly divided that only some 
 ten votes divided the successful from the unsuccessful candi- 
 dates. 
 
 The history of David Ochterlony Dyce-Sombre, one 
 of the successful radical candidates, reads like a modern 
 romance. 
 
 By descent he was a Eurasian. It appears that his 
 ancestor, a certain Walter Reinhardt, known as Somru or 
 Sombre, a butcher by profession, went out to India in the 
 last century in the French army, deserted to the English, 
 
 * This was an allusion to the new Workhouses of the Poor law Union. 
 
go 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 then rejoined the French, and after sundry vicissitudes 
 entered the service of Mirza Najf Khan, a general of the 
 Emperor of Delhi, and received from the Emperor, about the 
 year 1777, the Pergunna of Sardhana as a fief. He married 
 the Begum Sumru, the illegitimate daughter of a Muhamma- 
 dan of Arab descent, who after her husband's death ruled in 
 Sardhana and kept up a little army of her own. Reinhardt 
 had a son known as Zafaryab Khan who died in the Begum's 
 lifetime (about 1802) leaving one daughter whom the Begum 
 caused to be married to a Mr. (or Captain) Dyce, an officer 
 in her service. The issue of this marriage was David Ochter- 
 lony Dyce-Sombre, who was heir to the Begum's wealth, 
 came to England, married the daughter of Lord St. Vincent 
 (Hon. Mary Ann Jervis) and arrived at the height of his 
 success in 1841, when he was returned to Parliament as 
 one of the Members for Sudbury. The borough at that time 
 had acquired a bad name for bribery, and when this man of 
 dark colour (for such he was) was elected, a local paper had 
 the following epigram upon him — 
 
 Most gracious mistress, we have done our best 
 And send a man no blacker than the rest." 
 
 In 1843, he was pronounced to be of unsound mind by a 
 commission of Lunacy, and died in Paris July ist, 1851. 
 
 In consequence of the corrupt practices which prevailed 
 at this election (1841) a petition was lodged against the 
 return of the two members, and they were unseated, but the 
 unsuccessful candidates could not claim the seat, for they too 
 had resorted to unfair means to bring the freemen to the poll. 
 
The History of Sitdhury. 
 
 91 
 
 It appears from the evidence, which was given somewhat 
 reluctantly before the Commissioners who were eventually 
 sent to enquire into the matter, that large sums of gold had 
 been brought into the borough by the agents of the respec- 
 tive candidates, (as much as ^3,000 by one side, and ^^1,500 
 by the other,) and had been distributed amongst the free and 
 independent electors merely to induce them to vote. These 
 payments were quite unconnected with the ordinary expenses 
 of an election, which also were exceptionally heavy. In 
 consequence of these disclosures, an act was passed July 
 29th, 1844, by which the borough was disfranchised. 
 
 Since 1844 Sudbury has had no special representative 
 in the House of Commons, but is now included in the county 
 division, known as the Sudbury Division of Suffolk, which 
 returns Mr. William Cuthbert Quilter as its member. 
 
 Charles Dickens in the Pickwick Papers is said to have 
 satirized this borough in his description of the memorable 
 election at ^' Eatanswill." 
 
 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. 
 
 
 ( Clement Throkmerton. 
 
 7 Jan. 
 
 ) Henry Fortescu. 
 
 1562-3, 
 
 ( John Higham. 
 
 8 Jan. 
 
 \ Thomas Andrewes. 
 
 1572. 
 
 j Richard Eden. 
 
 
 ) Martin Cole, Gent., Alderman of Sudbury. 
 
 1584. 
 
 ( Edward Waldegrave. 
 
 7 Nov. 
 
 ( Henry Blagge. 
 
 1586. 
 
 ( Henry Blage. 
 
 \ Geoffrey Rusham. 
 
92 
 
 The History of Sudhury. 
 
 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT—Continued. 
 
 1588-9, j Thomas Eden. 
 6 Nov. j Thomas Jermyn. 
 
 ^ 592-3- ( William Fortescue. 
 
 \ Dudley Fortescue. 
 ^597» ( George Waldegrave. 
 14 Oct. ( John Clapham. 
 
 1 60 1, ( Philip Gawdye. 
 16 Oct. ( Edward Glascocke. 
 
 1603. [No return given in the official lists; but the Borough Records 
 give Sir Thomas Beckingham. 
 Thomas Eden, junr.] 
 
 1 614. [No return given in the official list ; Kirby, probably erroneously, 
 gives the following, 
 
 Charles Cibborne. 
 William Towse. 
 
 In a list found among the Duke of Manchester's Papers the fol- 
 lowing are given. 
 
 Sir Robert Crane, Knt. 
 Henry Binge, Esq.] 
 
 There appears to be no mention of this election in the Borough 
 Records, but Henry Binge was chosen Steward of the 
 Borough in 1614.] 
 
 1620, ( Edward Osborne, Esq., of Sudbury. 
 
 29 Nov. \ Brampton Gurdon, Esq. 
 
 1623-4, j Sir Robert Crane, Knt. 
 26 Jan. ( Sir William Foley, Knt. 
 
 1625, ( Sir Robert Crane, Knt., of Chilton, Suffolk. 
 6 May. ) Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston, Knt., of Ketton, Suffolk. 
 
 1625-6, ( Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston, Knt. 
 
 30 Jan. ( Thomas Smith, Alderman of Sudbury, 
 
 1627-8. ( Sir Robert Crane, Knt. and Bart. 
 I Sir William Pooley, Knt. 
 
 1639-40, ( Sir Robert Crane, Knt. and Bart. 
 16 March ( Richard Pepys. 
 
 1640, ( Sir Simonds D'Ewes, Knt., Sheriff of Suffolk. 
 26 Oct. ( Sir Robert Crane, Knt. and Bart. 
 
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE BOROUGH OF SUDBURY, 1625. 
 
> 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 93 
 
 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT— Continued. 
 
 1 643. Brampton Gurdon, jun. (probably elected vice Crane, deceased), 
 
 i&54» John Fotherffill. 
 10 July. 
 
 1656. John Fothergill. ' '. . 
 
 1658-9, ( Samuel Hasell. 
 
 14 Jan. I John Fothergill. 
 
 1660, ( John Gurdon. 
 3 April I Joseph Brand. 
 
 1 66 1, ( Thomas Wald grave. 
 22 April ( Isaac Appleton. 
 
 [There were two returns, the first returning the above-named 
 representatives; the second, Sir Robert Cordell, Bart., and 
 Sir Thomas Barnardiston, Knt., of Ketton, Suffolk. By order 
 of the House, dated 7th February, 166 1-2, the first return was 
 declared valid.] 
 
 24^Mar^ch Robert Cordell, Bart, {vice Appleton, deceased). 
 
 28 May ^'^^ Gervase Elwes, Bart, {vice Thomas Waldgrave, deceased). 
 1678-9, ( Sir Robert Cordell, Bart. 
 
 24 Feb. ( Gervase Elwes. 
 
 1679, ( Sir Gervase Elwes, Bart. 
 6 Sept. ( Gervase Elwes. 
 
 1 680- 1, ( Sir Gervase Elwes, Bart. 
 
 15 Feb. ( Gervase Elwes. 
 
 1685, ( Sir John Cordell, Bart. 
 15 April. ( Sir George Weneive, Knt. 
 
 1688. ^ Sir John Foley, Knt. 
 . ■ ( Philip Gurdon. 
 
 1689-90, I Philip Gurdon. 
 27 Feb. ( John Robinson. 
 
 Sir Thomas Barnardiston, Bart, {vice Gurdon, deceased). 
 14 Oct. ^ ^ 
 
 1695, ( Sir Thomas Barnardiston, Bart. 
 
 30 Oct. I John Robinson. 
 
 1698, I Sir Thomas Barnardiston, Bart. 
 
 25 July. \ Samuel Kekewich. 
 
 1698-9, John Gurdon {vice Barnardiston, deceased). 
 6 Feb. 
 
94 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT— Continued. 
 
 1 699- 1 700, gj^ Gervase Elwes, Bart, {vice Kekewich deceased). 
 16 Feb. ^ 
 
 1 700- 1, I Sir Gervase Elwes, Bart. 
 
 8 Jan. \ Sir John Cordell, Bart. 
 
 1 70 1, (Sir Gervase Ehves, Bart. 
 
 I Dec. ( Joseph Haskin Styles, Esq. 
 
 1702, ( Sir Gervase Elwes, Bart. 
 28 July. I Joseph Haskin Styles, Esq. 
 
 1702-3, George Dashwood, Esq. {vice J. H. Styles, whose election was 
 8 Feb. declared void. Oh a second election, J. H. Styles was 
 
 again returned, but his name was erased by order of the 
 House, 6th December, 1703, and that of G. Dashwood 
 substituted). 
 
 1705, f Sir Gervase Elwes, Bart. 
 ID May. I Philip Skippon. 
 
 i6^Dec Harvey Elwes, Bart, {vice Sir G. Elwes, deceased). 
 
 1708, ^ Philip Skippon. 
 7 IMay. ( Sir Harvey Elwes, Bart. 
 
 1 7 10, ) John IMead. 
 
 jjo 
 t R( 
 
 1 1 Oct. t Robert Echlin. 
 
 { 
 
 1713, I Sir Harvey Elwcs, Bart. 
 4 Sept. 1 Robert Echlin. 
 
 1 7 14- 15, (Sir Harvey Elwcs, Bart. 
 
 2 Feb. ( Thomas Western. 
 
 1721-2, f John Knight. 
 
 SI March. I Col. William Wyndham. 
 
 1726, Colonel William Wyndham, Esq. {sic) (re-elected after appoint- 
 6 May. ment to an office of profit by the Crown). 
 
 ^727, ( John Knight. 
 
 1 6 Aug. I Carteret Leathes. 
 
 ^733-4* Richard Jackson {vice Kni^^ht deceased). 
 31 Jan. J V o / 
 
 1734, j Richard Price. 
 
 27 April. ( Edward Stephenson. 
 
 1 741, { Carteret Leathes. 
 
 4 May. i Thomas Fonnereau. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 95 
 
 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT— Continued. 
 
 1747, ( Thomas Fonnereau. 
 I July. ( Richard Rigby. 
 
 1754, I Thomas Fonnereau. 
 
 16 April. ^ Thomas Walpole. 
 
 1 76 1, i Thomas Fonnereau. 
 
 25 March. ( John Henniker. 
 
 1768, / Patrick Blake, of Langham, Suffolk. 
 
 17 March. ( Walden Hanmer, of Simpson, Bucks. 
 
 1774, j Sir Walden Hanmer, Bart. 
 12 Oct. ( Sir Patrick Blake, Bart. 
 
 [This return was the result of an order of the House, 22nd 
 March, 1775, erasing the names of T. Fonnereau and P. C. 
 Crespigny, who were first returned, and substituting those of 
 the two above-named.] 
 
 1780, r Sir Patrick Blake, Bart. 
 
 15 Sept. ( Philip Champion Crespigny. 
 
 1781, Sir James Marriott, Knt. (by order of the House vice Cres- 
 
 26 April. pigriy> unseated on petition). 
 
 1784, i James Langston. 
 2 April. I William Smith. 
 
 1790, L Thomas C. Crespigny, L.L.D. 
 19 June. ( John Cox Hippisley, D.C.L., Barrister-at-Law and Recorder 
 of Sudbury. 
 
 1796, I Sir James Marriott. 
 25 May. (William Smith. 
 
 1802, I Sir John Cox Hippisley, Bart. 
 5 July. ( John Pytches. 
 
 1806, ( Sir John Cox Hippisley, Bart. 
 30 Oct. I John Pytches. 
 
 1807, j Sir John Cox Hippisley, Bart. 
 
 5 May. \ Emanuel Felix Agar. 
 
 1 8 12, J Sir John Cox Hippisley, Bart. 
 
 6 Oct. t Charles Wyatt. 
 
 181 8, f William Heygate. 
 19 June. ( John Broadhurst. 
 
 1820, j William Heygate. 
 7 March. ( Charles Augustus Tulk. 
 
96 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT— Continued. 
 
 1826, I John Wilks, jun., of Mill Hill, Hendon. 
 
 13 June, \ Bethel Walrond, of Montrath, Devon. 
 
 1828, John Norman Macleod, of Dunvegan Castle, Inverness {vice 
 
 9 April. Wilks resigned). 
 
 1830, J Bethel Walrond. 
 
 30 July. (Sir John Benn Walsh, Bart., of Narfield Park, Berks. 
 
 1831, ( Sir John Walsh, Bart. 
 
 30 April. ( Digby Cayley Wrangham, of Wilton Crescent, Middlesex. 
 
 1832, I Sir John Benn Walsh, Bart. 
 
 11 Dec. ( Michael Angelo Taylor, of Whitehall yard, Middlesex. 
 
 1834, Lieut. -General Sir Edward Barnes, G.C.B. {vice Taylor de- 
 
 25 July. ceased). 
 
 ^835. f John Bagshaw, of IMuswell Hill, Hornsey. 
 
 6 Jan. 1 Benjamin Smith, of Hastings, Sussex. 
 
 1837, / Lieut. -General Sir Edward Barnes, G.C.B., of Beech Hill 
 
 25 July. I Park, Middlesex. 
 
 ' Sir James John Hamilton, Bart., of Gloucester Place, W. 
 
 J g ^ y 
 
 12 Dec. Joseph Bailey, jun., {vice Hamilton, resigned). 
 
 l^^^'. Sir John Benn Walsh, Bart, {vice Barnes, deceased). 
 27 March. 
 
 1840, George Tomline, of Riby, Lincolnshire, and of Bacton, Suffolk 
 5 June. {vice Walsh, resigned). 
 
 1841, / Frederick Villiers, of Bury Street, St. James. 
 
 29 June. I David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre, of the Burlington Hotel, St. 
 V James. 
 
VI. 
 
 ST. Gregory's church. 
 
 HE Church of St. Gregory is probably the mother- 
 church of Sudbury ; it is dedicated in the name 
 of St. Gregory the Great (Pope Gregory 1.) 
 whose festival is celebrated on March 12th. 
 
 When the original Saxon Church was first 
 erected here we do not know, but probably it 
 was standing before Bishop yElfhun visited Sudbury in the 
 year 797. In 970 ^thelric left, by will, to St. Gregory's, 
 Sudbury, part of his estate at North-hoo ; and in 993 this 
 church is again mentioned, when rifled, widow of the brave 
 Brithnoth, devised her land at Waldingfield to St. Gregory's, 
 Sudbury. It was apparently a minster-church, served from 
 a monastic establishment in connection with it and endowed 
 with lands, as it is recorded in the Domesday Book that the 
 church of St. Gregory in Sudbury held by free tenure fifty 
 acres of arable land and thirty-six acres of meadow. 
 
 In the reign of Henry II., William FitzRobert, Earl of 
 Gloucester, the lord of Sudbury, gave the church of St. 
 Gregory with the chapel of St. Peter to the nuns of Eaton 
 
98 Tlic History of Sudbury, 
 
 in Warwickshire, and the nuns continued to hold the advow- 
 son of these churches until 1374, when Simon of Sudbury 
 (then Bishop of London) and John his brother exchanged 
 four shops in Old Fish Street, London, with the Prioress of 
 Eaton Nunnery, for this advowson, which he then gave 
 to the Warden of the College he was founding, on the 
 site of his father's house adjoining the west end of St. 
 Gregory's churchyard. \\\ this college he placed a warden 
 {cusios) and eight priests in order that the services in St. 
 Gregory's church, and in the chapel of St. Peter, might be 
 more efficiently performed. At the same time he is said to 
 have built a chapel at the east end of the north aisle of the 
 church. Very little work, however, of his time remains, the 
 greater part of the structure having been altered and re-built 
 in the middle of the 15th century. 
 
 The church is a very fine one, and consists of a nave 
 with north and south aisles, a south porch with a chapel 
 attached to the east side of it, a western embattled tower, 
 and an unusually long chancel (measuring 62 feet in length 
 by 21 in breadth) with a north vestry. 
 
 The north arcade is of early Perpendicular date, ^1370, 
 whilst the south arcade is perhaps a copy of it, made about 
 a century later. 
 
 The chancel is of the late Perpendicular period, with 
 large windows divided by a transom, the lower part being 
 now blocked with masonry. There appears to be a crypt or 
 charnel-chapel beneath the chancel floor, the heads of the 
 windows, now blocked up, appearing just above the ground 
 outside. 
 
The History of Sudbury, 9g 
 
 The vestry is of brick of Tudor workmanship. In the 
 walls of the church are many fragments of Roman brick, and 
 worked stone from an earlier building. 
 
 The south door, like those at All Saints, is an original 
 15th century door, with carved oak panels, and a handsome 
 floriated border. 
 
 There is an unusually deep and roomy south porch, a 
 not uncommon feature in churches of the 15th century, when 
 large porches were often added to churches to be used by 
 the parishioners, like our modern vestries,- as meeting places 
 in which to transact the parish business. In them doles and 
 legacies were paid, and feoffments were made and signed 
 there, because the attendance of neighbours as witnesses to 
 the transaction was easily procured after the Church service 
 was concluded. For the same reason, it was in the south 
 porches of churches that ecclesiastical plaints were heard 
 and determined, and here also an innocent person, against 
 whom a charge had been brought, could purge himself by 
 taking an oath of his innocency in the presence of witnesses. 
 
 The south porch was also anciently used for a variety of 
 religious rites, for considerable portions of the marriage and 
 baptismal services, and also much that related to the church- 
 ing of women, were performed, or rather commenced, at the 
 door of the church, and concluded inside the church itself. 
 
 Henry VI., in his will, relating to the foundation of 
 Eton College directed that there should be made ^^in the 
 south of the body of the church a fair large door with a 
 porch for the christening of children and weddings." 
 
lOO The History of Sudbury. 
 
 Adjoining this porch, and opening into the south aisle 
 of the nave, is a side chapel, now known as St. Anne's 
 chapel, and used as a burial place by the Carter family, 
 formerly of Sudbury, whose benefactions to the Sudbury 
 poor are duly recorded on a mural tablet. In the S.E. 
 corner of this chapel is a piscina, and over it, on the S. wall, 
 an original consecration-cross, painted in a dull red colour, 
 may be seen. 
 
 In the centre of this chapel stands the altar-tomb of 
 Thomas Carter, of Sudbury, who died May 12, 1706, aged 
 68. He bestowed upon the poor of Sudbury a gift of bread 
 and clothing, to be distributed annually on St. Thomas' Day. 
 His tomb is marked by a long Latin inscription, the quaint 
 ending of which has often been quoted, and may thus be 
 rendered into English — 
 
 " Traveller, I will relate a wondrous thing, on the day 
 on which the aforesaid Thomas Carter, breathed his last, a 
 Sudbury camel passed through the eye of a needle. If thou 
 hast wealth, go and do likewise. Farewell." 
 
 Thomas Sybton, chaplain, in his will dated 1456, desired 
 to be buried at the entrance of the chapel of St. Mary " in 
 this church. In another will this chapel is described as 
 "near the font," so that, supposing the font to have stood in 
 the S.W. corner of the nave, the usual position in pre-Refor- 
 mation times, this chapel appears to have been identical with 
 that now called St. Anne's Chapel. 
 
 In this chapel probably stood the famous image of " Our 
 Lady of Sudbury," to which the Queen of Henry VII., in 
 
ANCIENT FONT COVER, ST. GREGORY'S CHURCH, SUDBURY, SUFFOLK. 
 
 {From an Old Print dated 1792.) 
 
The History of Siidhiiry. loi 
 
 March, 1502, sent a special offering of 2s. yd. by the hands 
 of Sir William Barton, priest, who received also lod. per 
 day for his expenses during this pilgrimage. ( Dart' s History 
 of Westminster . ) This Queen was Elizabeth Plantagenet, 
 daughter and co-heir of Edward IV., a descendant and 
 representative of the de Clares and Mortimers, lords of 
 Sudbury, and on that account she probably took a special 
 interest in this particular image. 
 
 There were other images in St. Gregory's Church, and 
 amongst them one of St. Mary Magdalene, before which Sir 
 Andrew Boteler, Knight, in his will dated Dec. 12, 1429, 
 desired to be buried. 
 
 At the Reformation, in 1532, the image of St. Christopher 
 in Sudbury was one of those thrown down and destroyed, 
 but where it stood we know not, though the Christopher Inn 
 in Sepulchre Street still preserves the name. 
 
 At the west end of the nave stands the font, which is 
 remarkable for its ancient and highly ornamented cover of 
 the time of Henry VI. This cover is in the form of a lofty 
 spire of beautiful tabernacle-work rising in successive stages 
 to the height of about twelve feet, and coloured with gold 
 and red paint. The lowest stage of this canopy is now made 
 to push up in a telescopic fashion, so that the font can be 
 used without the upper part being disturbed, but remaining 
 suspended by an iron rod from above. 
 
 In the chancel there are twenty original carved-oak 
 choir stalls, which formerly served for the choir of good 
 Simon Sudbury's college. Under the miserere-seat of the 
 
102 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 return-stall on the south side is carved the head of an 
 animal, perhaps intended for a talbot or hound, which was 
 borne in the arms of Simon of Sudbury. 
 
 There was formerly a rood-screen in this church, but 
 only the lower panels now remain, on which the figures of 
 saints have been re-painted. One loose panel, said to have 
 come from this screen, has been preserved in the town, 
 although removed from the church and, at one time, in the 
 possession of Mr. Gainsborough Dupont. 
 
 The painting represents a nimbused figure, habited in 
 the costume of a Doctor of Divinity, and holding in the left 
 hand a boot, from which an imp or devil appears to be rising, 
 the right hand of the saint is extended, and the thumb and 
 two first fingers of his hand are raised towards the boot. 
 Over his head is a scroll on which the only remaining word 
 is " Schorn." 
 
 Master (or Sir) John Schorn was one of our native 
 mediaeval saints, whose figure is not uncommonly met with 
 on the rood-screens of East Anglia. He was rector of North 
 Marston, Bucks, in 1290, whither many persons resorted to 
 a well which he had blessed, whose waters were a sure cure 
 for the ague. He is popularly reputed to have conjured the 
 devil into a boot, his real merit being that he was the dis- 
 coverer of a spring whose waters gave ease to many a gouty 
 toe. 
 
 Beneath the figure of Schorn on the same panel remains 
 part of the crowned head of a female under a very rich 
 tabernacled canopy, with the words S. Audree'' inscribed 
 
The History of Sudbury. 103 
 
 over it, referring to St. Audry of Ely, who was born at 
 Ixning in Suffolk, and was a favourite East Anglian Saint. 
 Her name has given rise to our modern appellation " tawdry " 
 meaning ''showy without taste," from the cheap and gaudy 
 toys and laces which were sold at St. Audry's Fair, in Cam- 
 bridge. 
 
 A large slab formerly lay near the chancel step, a very 
 appropriate position considering its inscription, but it is now 
 removed to the south door and nearly hidden, so that the 
 pious admonition of the writer of the epitaph can scarcely 
 be read — 
 
 '' In memory of the late Rev. William Maleham, LL.B., 
 
 who was curate of these Parishes above four-and-forty years, 
 
 and died upon his knees in the congregation. May 16, 1779, 
 
 in the 71st year of his age. 
 
 " Unused his speech or strength of life to spare, 
 All of them spent in the good pastor's care : 
 He's gone to reap a glorious reward 
 For long and patient labour for the Lord. 
 Copy his life. Record his praises due, 
 Until these churches shall his equal shew." 
 
 At the west end of the north aisle are several stones 
 from which the brasses have been torn. On one of them 
 were the figures of a knight and lady, with an inscription on 
 a narrow border-fillet around, (C1400) but all are gone. 
 
 On one stone are incised the arms of Fothergill, (vert) 
 a stag's head couped within a bordure engrailed (or), with 
 this inscription — '' Here lieth ye body of William Fothergill, 
 Gent, who departed this life August ye i8th, 17 13." 
 
I04 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 The following monuments have also been noted in this 
 church, but have now disappeared — 
 
 I. A stone for George Mannock, Arm, who deceased ye 
 
 xxii day of August Anno Dni MCCCCCXLI. 
 Arms (i) Mannock^ Sable a cross moline argent, im- 
 paling Brakely^ chequy ermine and gules. 
 
 (2) Mannock (as before) impaling Waldegrave^ 
 
 Per pale argent and gules. 
 
 (3) Mannock and Brakely quartered. 
 
 II. Felton^ gules two lions passant in pale ermine crowned 
 
 or, impaling Lucy^ gules crusily or three lucies 
 
 hauriant argent. 
 At the east end of the south aisle is an incised slab hav- 
 ing in outline the full length figure of a w^oman ; the hands 
 and face were originally of white marble let into the slab, 
 but this has gone leaving a hollow in its place. Around this 
 stone is an Anglo-Norman inscription in Lombardic capitals, 
 now scarcely legible : — 
 
 *'|n gtst ^ti\st ^nnt Ouintuf jabia la itxm\t Eotoi 
 Seint OJutntin Ifu ir^spaasa t\\ Ian ©raa tnrrr . . Le 
 7'our %tvxi CSr^gnriJ. Pries pour sa/mt. 
 This may be translated. 
 
 Here lies Seive de St. Quintin formerly the wife of 
 Robert de St. Quintin who died in the year of Grace 1300 
 on the day of St. Gregory. Pray for her soul. 
 
 The St. Quintons were a family of French extraction, 
 probably from the town of that name in the department of 
 
 • The words in italics are supplied conjecturally ; the originals having quite worn away. 
 
The History of Sudbury, 105 
 
 Aisne, long celebrated for the manufacture of fine linens. 
 It appears from an enquiry held at Sudbury in 1276, [3 Ed- 
 ward L], that Robert and John de St. Quintin and seven 
 others, all described as merchants of Amiens, in France, 
 were then engaged in the export of wool from Sudbury to 
 the continent through the port of Ipswich, contrary to the 
 inhibition and forbiddance of the late and present Kings," 
 and after that date the name of St. Quintin is frequently 
 found in Suffolk deeds. It is recorded too that Henry, the 
 father of Robert and Philip St. Quintin, was buried in the 
 church of the Black Friars in Sudbury. 
 
 Alongside the St. Quintin memorial is a monumental 
 slab having the matrix of the brass of an ecclesiastic with a 
 prayer-scroll issuing from his mouth. This probably marked 
 the tomb of William Wood, warden of the College and 
 founder of the Grammar School, who was buried in this 
 church in 1491. 
 
 Bishop Jane, of Norwich, who died in 1501, was buried 
 in this church, as we learn from the will of Richard Eden, 
 last warden of the College and Archdeacon of Middlesex, 
 dated in 1549, which he desired his ''wretched bodye to 
 be buried on the south side of the quere of St. Gregory's 
 Church in Sudbury, near unto the sumtyme lorde bishop 
 ane. 
 
 At the east end of the north aisle, overlapping the 
 chancel, is a small chapel now used as an organ chamber, 
 but formerly known as All Souls chapel, where Nigel and 
 Sarah Thebaud (or Theobald) the parents of Archbishop 
 
io6 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 Sudbury, lie buried. Their tomb is marked by a large black 
 marble stone, some twelve feet long by six feet wide, from 
 which the brasses have long ago been removed. 
 
 Their names were formerly recorded, together with the 
 Archbishop's, in the windows of this chapel, in stained glass, 
 thus — 
 
 (^xeAt pro anxntftlins iStgrilt ©Ij^baub ^araj xxxms t\\\% 
 
 ®xait pr0 anxma ^gmnnis Slj^lbautr Eontrimnsis v^r/' 
 
 These inscriptions apparently escaped the vigilant and 
 suspicious eyes of William Dowsing, the visitor commissioned 
 by Parliament in 1643, to remove all objects of superstitious 
 veneration from the Suffolk churches, and they are recorded 
 in Sir John Blois' church notes taken some years later, but 
 were probably allowed to fall into decay by the church- 
 wardens of a later date. Thomas Martin the Suffolk anti- 
 quary WTiting in 1727, relates that all the remaining stained 
 glass was ''removed by a glazieV, in the memory of some yet 
 living." 
 
 In 1630, Weaver noticed the following inscription in 
 the East window of this chapel — 
 
 ©rat^ pr0 3B0min0 .§iJm0nB i;ij^p0ltr alias ^ublntrp, tjut 
 tstam cap^Uam funtrabit ^nu0 Il0mint tnarlxli, tn Ij0n- 
 0r^m ®mnium ^ntmarum b^&irat, 5at, r0ns^rrat/' 
 
 Shewing that Simon Sudbury built this chapel in 1365, when 
 he was Bishop of London. 
 
 The arms of Archbishop Sudbury, azure a talhot sejant 
 within a bordure engrailed argent^ were formerly to be seen 
 
The History of Sudbury. 107 
 
 in the second window from the east end of the north aisle, 
 and are still visible, carved in wood, on the central boss of 
 the roof. This was probably his paternal coat, for when he 
 was archbishop he is said to have adopted these arms — argent 
 on a cross azure the letter HT, crowned or. 
 
 The large Perpendicular windows of this church were 
 formerly filled with beautiful painted glass, but the fanatical 
 William Dowsing wrought great havoc.k here, which he 
 thus records in his diary, ''January 9th 1643. Gregory 
 Parish, Sudbury ; we brake down ten mighty great angels in 
 glass, in all eighty." 
 
 Simon Theobald, or Simon of Sudbury, Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, the founder of St. Gregory's College, was born 
 in this town, and being intended for the clerical profession 
 assumed the name of his native place, a custom which was 
 then prevalent among the clergy. He was the son of Nigel 
 Theobald, or Thebaud, and Sarah his wife. It is said that 
 his father's house adjoined St. Gregory's churchyard, where 
 the Union work-house now stands. The name of Nigel 
 Theobald occurs several times as a witness to various Sud- 
 bury charters, and as one of those chosen to make a return 
 of the value of the ninth of corn, wool, and lambs granted to 
 King Edward III. in 1342 {Nonoe Rolls). He was probably 
 a wealthy burgess engaged in. the wool trade. It is note- 
 worthy that the surname of Theobald, often pronounced and 
 written Tebbald or Tibbie, is still a common one in this 
 town and neighbourhood, though comparatively rare in many 
 parts of East Anglia. 
 
io8 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 Young Simon Theobald was sent, whilst still a youth, to 
 the great University of France, at Paris, to study law, and 
 there took the degree of a Doctor of Civil Laws. He was 
 appointed Auditor of his palace by Pope Innocent VI., and 
 he is so designated July 3, 1358, in a mandate of King 
 Edward III. By the Pope's influence, he was made Chan- 
 cellor of Salisbury in 1360, and Bishop of London in 1361. 
 During the fourteen years that he held this see, his services 
 were frequently required by the King in the arrangement of 
 treaties and truces of peace, which duties he continued to 
 perform for the rest of the reign, until he became Archbishop 
 of Canterbury. His elevation to the primacy taking place 
 May 26, 1375. 
 
 On July 4, 1379, the beginning of the third year of 
 Richard II. 's reign, the Great Seal was placed in his hands 
 as Lord Chancellor. He had held the office less than two 
 years when the peasants rose in insurrection in many parts of 
 England, instigated in the'^first instance by the seditious 
 harangues of a discontented Kentish priest, named John 
 Ball, who preached the common absurdity of a community 
 of goods, ''for the which folysshe words," says Froissart, "he 
 had ben thre tymes in the bysshop of Canterburie's prison." 
 John Ball was soon joined by Wat Tyler and a man called 
 Jack Straw, with a rabble of nearly 60,000 men, who at once 
 set out for London (where the King was at that time) stop- 
 ping on their way at Canterbury to dismantle the palace of 
 the Archbishop, against whom it was natural that Ball should 
 entertain hostile feelings as the cause of his former imprison- 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 Tient, and to whom as the King's Chancellor and Minister, 
 the people would not fail to attribute all the ills of which 
 they complained. They at last reached Blackheath, and on 
 their arrival there on Wednesday, June 12th, 1381, they sent 
 Sir John Newton, the governor of Rochester Castle, whom 
 they had forced to accompany them, to the King, then in 
 the Tower of London, to represent how ill-governed the 
 kingdom had been ''and specially by the archebysshop of 
 Caunterberie his chaunseller, whereof they wolde have ac- 
 compt ; " and to desire that he himself would come and hear 
 their complaints. The Knight took back the royal promise 
 that the King would speak to them. On that same day the 
 Archbishop resigned the Great Seal into the King's hands ; 
 the record saying that he did so "for certain causes." It is 
 probable, however, that the unpopular minister was removed, 
 or allowed to resign, to pacify the insurgents. 
 
 The next day the King, though he proceeded down the 
 river, was not allowed by his advisers to land, whereupon 
 the infuriated concourse entered London and, early on the 
 14th of June, appeared before the Tower and demanded 
 access to the King. He promised to meet them at Mile-End, 
 whither the greater part of the assembly flocked, but the 
 leaders, not satisfied with this promise, remained near the 
 Tower with a large body of their followers, and when the 
 King had passed out of the gates, on his way to Mile-End, 
 they burst into the Tower, and seizing the Archbishop, and 
 Robert de Hales, the Treasurer, (and on that account 
 peculiarly obnoxious to them,) they dragged them to the 
 
no The Histo ry of Siidhu ry . 
 
 common place of execution on Tower Hill, and there bar- 
 barously murdered them. The Archbishop they discovered 
 in the chapel where, after Masse had beene sayd, and 
 having received the Communion (says Stow) the Arch- 
 bishoppe was busie in his prayers, for not unknowing of 
 their commiug and purpose, hee had passed the last night 
 in confessing of his sinnes and in devout prayers. When 
 therefore he heard they were come, with great constancy, 
 hee said to his men, ' let us now goe, surely it is best to dye 
 when it is no pleasure to live ; ' and with that the tormentors 
 entring, cried, ' Where is the traitor ? ' The Archbishop 
 answered, * Behold, I am the Archbishop whom you seeke, 
 not a traitor.' They therefore layd hands on him and drew 
 him out of the Chappell, they drew him out of the Tower 
 gates, to the Tower-hill, where being compassed about with 
 many thousands, and seeing swords about his head drawne in 
 excessive nmnber, threatning to him death, hee said unto 
 them thus : ' What is it, deere brethren, you purpose to do ; 
 w4iat is mine offence committed against you, for which yee 
 will kill me ? You were best to take heede, that if I be killed, 
 who am vour Pastor, there come not on vou the indiofnation 
 of the just revenger ; or at the least, for such a fact, all Eng- 
 land bee put under interdiction.' He could unneath pro- 
 nounce these words, before they cryed out with an horrible 
 noyse, that they neither feared the interdiction nor the Pope 
 to be above them. The Archbishop, seeing death at hand, 
 spake with comfortable words, as hee was an eloquent man, 
 and w^ise beyond all wise men of the Realme ; Lastly, after 
 
The History of Sudbury. 1 1 1 
 
 forgiveness granted to the executioner, that should behead 
 him, hee kneeling down, offered his necke to him that should 
 strike it off, being stricken in the necke, but not deadly, hee 
 putting his hand to his necke said thus ' Aha ! it is the hand 
 of God.' Hee had not removed his hand from the place 
 where the paine was, but that beeinge suddenly stricken, his 
 fingers ends being cut off, and part of the arteries, hee fell 
 downe, but yet he dyed not, till being mangled with 8 
 strokes in the necke, and in the head, hee fulfilled most 
 worthy martyrdome. There lay his body unburied all that 
 Friday, and the morrow till afternoone, none daring to de- 
 liver his body to the sepulture, his head these wicked tooke, 
 and nayling thereon his hoode, they fix it on a pole, and set 
 it on London Bridge in place where before stood the head of 
 Sir John Minsterworth. * * * * There dyed with him 
 Sir Robert Hales, a most valiant Knight, Lord of S. Johns, 
 and treasurer of England and John Legge one of the Kinnges 
 Serjeants at armes, and a Franciscan Frier, William Aple- 
 dore, the Kings Confessor." 
 
 Thomas Walsingham (Kistoria Anglicana II. ) adds, 
 that one John Starling of Essex, who from his behaviour 
 appears to have been a madman, afterwards went about with 
 a naked sword hanging from his neck, boasting that he was 
 the executioner, and was, a few days later, seized and be- 
 headed for that crime. 
 
 After the Archbishop's head had remained fixed on 
 London Bridge for six days, it was taken down by Sir Wil- 
 liam Walworth, Lord Mayor, and reverently wrapped in a pall; 
 Wat Tyler's head being afterwards substituted in its place. 
 
112 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 How the head was brought to Sudbury is not known, 
 but it seems probable that the Warden and brethren of St. 
 Gregory's College caused the head of their benefactor and 
 founder to be conveyed to Sudbury and there deposited it in 
 the church which he loved, as a valuable relic that would 
 bring a share of the fame of the martyred Archbishop upon 
 his foundation in Sudbury. 
 
 However that may be, the head is still to be seen, pre- 
 served in a grated recess in the west wall of the vestry of 
 this church, a solitary witness to the atrocities committed in 
 the Peasant Revolt of 138 1. 
 
 It is a head, and not a skull, although it is so dried up 
 and brown that it might easily be mistaken for the latter. 
 The forehead is broad and massive and the skull well pre- 
 served. A great part of the skin still remains, with part of 
 the nose, ears, and muscles at the back of the neck. There 
 is no fracture at the top or sides of the skull, nor any trace 
 of nail marks, so that if the Archbishop's hood was ever 
 nailed to his head, as the chronicler relates, it must have 
 been fixed on by nails round the neck, which did not damage 
 the skull. The jaws are toothless, a fact which may be ac- 
 counted for by the story told by Honest Tom Martin," of 
 Palgrave, who visited this church Dec. 7, 1727, and says 
 ( Church Notes^ II. g^J that the then sexton was in the habit 
 of putting into the jaws fictitious teeth, w^hich he afterwards 
 sold to visitors as relics of the martyred Archbishop.* 
 
 * It appears too that Archbishop Sudbury's head is not the only head of a decapitated 
 person that has been preserved, for that of Sir Thomas More, who was executed on Tower 
 Hill in 1535, is said to be preserved in a grated niche, in the Roper vault, in St. Dunstan's 
 Church, Canterbury ; and in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Minories, is also preserved a 
 head, which the tradition of the place affirms to be that of Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, 
 (father of Lady Jane Grey,) who was beheaded February 23rd, 1554. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 113 
 
 The head is now protected by a door which is securely 
 locked. On the inside of the falling door is nailed an old 
 sheet of parchment, having a brief biography of the Arch- 
 bishop engrossed upon it. It is as follows : — 
 
 *'The Head of Simon Theobald, who was born at Sud- 
 bury, and thence called Simon of Sudbury. He was sent 
 when but a youth into fforeign parts to study the Civil Law. 
 Whereof he was made Doctor. He visited most of the 
 Universities of ffrance, was made Chaplain to Pope Innocent, 
 and Auditor Rotae or Judge of the Roman Court. By the 
 interest of this Pope, he was made Chancellor of Salisbury. 
 In the year 1361 he was consecrated Bishop of London and 
 in the year 1375 was translated to the See of Canterbury, 
 and was made Chancellor of England. While he was Bishop 
 of London he built the upper part of St. Gregory's in Sud- 
 bury, and where his ffathers house stood he erected a College 
 of Secular Priests and endowed it with the Yearly Revenue 
 of One Hundred and Twenty-two pounds eighteen shillings 
 and was at length barbarously beheaded upon Tower Hill in 
 London by the rabble in Wat Tyler's rebellion, in the reign 
 
 of Richard the 2nd, 1382." 
 
 It appears probable that this account of the Archbishop 
 was drawn up in the early part of the 1 7th century, and the 
 statement that he built ''the upper part" of the church, is 
 perhaps an exaggeration of the fact that he built a chapel 
 {i.e. All Souls) at the upper (or East) end of the North 
 Aisle of this church. 
 
 Although the head was brought to Sudbury, there can 
 be no reasonable doubt that the body of the Archbishop was 
 
114 '^^^^ History of Sudbury. 
 
 conveyed to Canterbury, and there a position of the highest 
 honour in the Choir of the Cathedral, upon the South side of 
 the altar of Saint Dunstan, was accorded to him. Thither 
 came the Mayor and Corporation of Canterbury to pray for 
 his soul upon the anniversary of his death in every year, in 
 memory of his good deed to their city (viz., the building of 
 the West gate and part of the walls). There is no effigy of 
 him, but his altar tomb is surmounted by an elaborate canopy 
 of tabernacle work. In the year 1833, when alterations in 
 the steps and floor caused this tomb to be accidentally 
 opened, it was seen that the Archbishop's head was not 
 there, but in its place was a ball of lead. The body was 
 wrapped (apparently) in sere-cloth. 
 
 The unpopularity of the Archbishop with the mob was 
 caused by the fact that he was the Chancellor, at a time of 
 great political discontent, when the people desired reform, 
 and endeavoured to bring it about, by destroying the old 
 order of things and taking the government into their own 
 hands. 
 
 The character of the Archbishop, as represented by the 
 historians, should have saved him from the popular hatred, 
 for he was of a liberal and generous disposition, and noted 
 for his culture and magnanimity. Wicliff, then Chaplain to 
 the King, was in high favour at Court, and the Archbishop 
 seems to have shared some of his opinions. There is indeed 
 one instance of his ordering the imprisonment of a heretic 
 priest, one Nicholas de Drayton, but not until after repeated 
 warnings did he resort to that measure. 
 
The History of Siidhury, 115 
 
 Outside the church, against the south wall of the tower, 
 is placed a canopied altar-tomb of late Perpendicular date, 
 having the arms of Drury ( on a chiefs a cross tau between 
 two mullets of Jive points) carved on a shield on its west end. 
 From the panel at the back, some small brass effigies have 
 been torn away, and it is generally supposed that this tomb 
 has been moved at some time from the inside of the church 
 to its present position. 
 
 At the west end of the churchyard, leading to the 
 grounds of the former college was a large Tudor gateway of 
 brick, through which the priests used daily to pass on their 
 way to the services in the church. This gateway has now 
 been re-built in the original style and still bears the arms of 
 Archbishop Sudbury carved in stone over the archway. 
 
 In the tower hang eight musical bells. There was 
 originally a ring of six. The two trebles were cast from the 
 metal of the old bell from the Priory in 1785. The peal 
 was rehung in 1794. In 1821 all the bells were taken down 
 except the tenor, and seven new bells were cast by Mr. 
 Mears of London. 
 
 The treble, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th bells have each 
 of them this inscription, T. Mears, of London Fecit 
 1821." 
 
 The 7th Bell is inscribed T. Mears of London, Fecit 
 1 82 1. Rev. H. W. Wilkinson, Minister. 
 
 ^' I Churchwardens." 
 Wm. Jones, ) 
 
 The tenor (8th) has this couplet, 
 
Ii6 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 Pack and Chapman of London Fecit 1774 
 Ye Ringers all that Prize, your Health and Happiness 
 Be merry sober wise, and you'll the same Possess." 
 Return of 1553. Great Bells v. Sancts Bell j." 
 
 After the dissolution of St. Gregory's College in 1538, 
 the advowson of St. Gregory's church, with St. Peter's, was 
 granted by King Henry VHL, on Feb. 3, 1544, to Sir 
 Thomas Paston of Paston in Norfolk, who afterwards allow- 
 ed to the incumbent of these churches a stipend of eighty 
 pounds a year. Edward Paston his heir being a papist was 
 disqualified from presenting, and in his stead the Bishop 
 nominated the minister who at first officiated in both cures, 
 though eventually two curates were appointed. 
 
 On I St May, 1634, the advowson was purchased of 
 William Paston and others, by John Andrews, and Oliver 
 his brother, merchants of Sudbury. And on Feb. 18, 1635/6 
 a petition was presented to the Court of High Commission, 
 on behalf of Robert Smith, Curate of St. Gregory's and of 
 John Harrison, Curate of St. Peter's. From this petition it 
 appears, that there were then in Sudbury three large congre- 
 gations, of which those of St. Gregory and St. Peter con- 
 tained twelve hundred communicants, and that the said two 
 curates had long officiated in their respective cures, but the 
 new proprietors of the Rectory (John and Oliver Andrews) 
 had allowed them "so small a recompense that they are in 
 no sort able to maintain themselves, which his Grace's Vicar 
 General seeking by all fair means to redress, found the pro- 
 prietaries so averse and refractory that he has complained to 
 
The History of Sudbury. 117 
 
 this Court for assistance for settling the Curates' wages." 
 The Court accordingly ordered that both curates be con- 
 tinued in their places without molestation, and that the 
 proprietors should pay according to the former ancient 
 allowance, to Robert Smyth £a^(^ per annum, and to John 
 Harrison ;^35 per annum, with all arrears according to that 
 proportion from Michaelmas 1634 to Christmas 1635. 
 
 On April 26, 1638, a fresh petition was presented to the 
 Court, stating that John and Oliver Andrews had omitted to 
 pay the curates' allowances, and had endeavoured to bring 
 another curate into St. Gregory's church without the sanc- 
 tion of the Bishop. It was also declared that the Andrews 
 brothers had taken upon themselves unlawfully to exercise 
 ecclesiastical jurisdiction and had contemned the orders 
 of the High Court. Accordingly they were ordered to pay 
 jointly a fine of ^500, and to make public submission con- 
 ceptis verbis in this Court, which submission together with 
 this sentence was to be published at Norwich and Sudbury. 
 They were also condemned in costs of suit. 
 
 Thomas Eden, LL.D., Chancellor of the Diocese of Ely, 
 was connected with this Court, which may perhaps account 
 for the display of sacrilegious violence which was manifested 
 in Sudbury in October, 1640, {yide^ letter to Archbishop 
 Laud, Oct. 24, 1640, D.S.P. Charles I. CCCCLXX.). It 
 appears that the Generals were kept at Sudbury last Thurs- 
 day (says the writer) when Mr. Eden of Trinity Hall Cam- 
 bridge, visited for Dr. Eden, commissary. They lay at the 
 house of one Hodskins who keeps the Crown, an especial 
 
ii8 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 favourite, if not more, of Dr. Eden's, but a known rogue. 
 Overnight, upon some distaste, he told them, if he held up 
 his finger he could have 200 to back him against them. In 
 the morning a libel was set up on the church gate against 
 them, yet they proceeded, and in the midst of the sermon 
 Hodskins came in with a club and a route of apprentices, 
 sayweavers and other rascalls. So soon as the sermon was 
 done they tore up the rails, and armed themselves with the 
 pieces. Thence they go to the visitors and got possession of 
 some of their papers and presentments ; and an apparitor 
 endeavouring to recover a book, Hodskins felled him in the 
 chancel. At length they escaped from the church to his 
 house, for their horses which stood there, whither most of 
 the clergy followed to compose the difference. One a grave 
 man, detesting the heinous deed, and deprecating it from 
 their country, was rewarded by Hodskins with the names 
 knave, fool, jacksauce, and at last kicked down the stairs and 
 a cudgel broken over his head." 
 
 Apparently the order of the High Commission Court* 
 was never carried out by the Andrews brothers, for in 1642, 
 the inhabitants of the parishes of St. Gregory and St. Peter 
 presented a petition to the House of Lords, setting out that 
 " there anciently belonged and were paid to the Church of St. 
 Gregory and Chapel of St. Peter, great and small tithes and 
 oblations to the value of £^0 per annum at the least from the 
 impropriate Rectory, though the owner was a papist, and 
 though one minister officiated both cures, but of late two 
 ministers Mr. Smith and Mn Harrison have officiated. In 
 
 * This unpopular Court was abolished by Act of Parliament July 5, 1641. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 119 
 
 1634, Oliver Andrews and John his brother since deceased, 
 became owners of the impropriation, and have since withheld 
 a great part of the ministers stipends, besides torturing Mr. 
 Smith in the High Commission Court. They have also 
 enhanced the great and small tithes, troubled the inhabitants 
 in several courts, have taken church dues and injured the 
 free-school and hospital for lazars, and all this has gone on 
 for near nine years." The petitioners then prayed that a day 
 might be assigned for hearing the cause, and compensation 
 given to the oppressed. 
 
 Justice, however, was no more swift in the 17th century 
 than it is in the 19th, and it was not until June 21st, 1641, 
 when another petition from the inhabitants was presented to 
 the Lords, that a day was fixed for hearing the cause, and 
 Daniel Beattie and other witnesses ordered to attend. From 
 this last petition it appears that the Andrews brothers had 
 forced the worthy ministers out of their places, and appoint- 
 ed one Nash, a very poor weak man and full of absurdities in 
 his doctrine to execute the cure of the parishes." 
 
 Whether the Lords ever heard this cause, and delivered 
 judgment in it, is unknown. Perhaps the death of the Rev. 
 John Harrison, which occurred in 1641, solved the difficulty. 
 
 Ten years later, in 1651, the Rev. Faithful Tate was 
 minister at St. Peter's Church, which he held, together with 
 vSt. Gregory's, at a stipend of £100 a year (j^fso for each 
 Church), paid by the Trustees for the Maintenance of Minis- 
 ters. His pay was shortly afterwards reduced to £^0 a year 
 for the two Churches, and on June 25, 1653, he was licensed 
 
120 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 to preach every Friday in the week at Rattlesden, Suffolk, in 
 turn with other ministers. In 1655, the trustees again raised 
 his salary to j^ioo a year " on account of his diligence in the 
 ministry." It appears that ^54, part of this stipend, was 
 raised from Acton, where the Rector, Mr. Daniel, had been 
 sequestered. 
 
 This Dr. Faithful Tate was the father of the famous 
 Nahum Tate, who, in conjunction with Brady, translated the 
 Psalms into metre. Several of the sermons that he preached 
 in St. Peter's church have been published, and, like his son, 
 he was accounted a poet, for he produced a long poem in 
 irregular metre, and following the literary conceits of his 
 day, introduced into it the following anagram of his name — 
 
 " God's armour-bearer was 
 Fidelis Tatus 
 who was fidelis always 
 in that status." 
 
 In the times of the Commonwealth, a number of lec- 
 tureships were founded all over the country ; the funds being 
 subscribed by the Puritan merchants of London and others. 
 Many Corporations having Puritanical views engaged these 
 lecturers, whose usual duties consisted of preaching (or lec- 
 turing, as it was then called) in various places, often on a 
 Market-day or Sunday afternoon, as an assistant to the 
 regular minister. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Wilkinson, D.D., formerly principal 
 of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, was one of the lecturers in Sud- 
 bury at this time. He died at Great Cornard May 13, 1690. 
 
The History of Sit d bury. 
 
 121 
 
 In 1669, it is recorded that there was no settled minister 
 in Sudbury, and it was probably some time before the next 
 incumbent was duly appointed. 
 
 Fortnightly lectures continued to be delivered in St. 
 Peter's church, on Thursdays, by order of the Corpora- 
 tion and with the approval of the Bishop, until the time of 
 Queen Anne, as the following printed bill, discovered in 
 pulling down an old house in Sudbury in 1878, shews — 
 
 The names of the Ministers requested to preach the 
 Thursday Lecture in the Parish Church of St. Peter, in 
 Sudbury, in the County of Suffolk, in the Year of our Lord 
 1701. 
 
 April the 24th. Mr. Clagett, Archdeacon ) ^ ^ „ 
 
 , ; T. ?, of Sudbury. 
 
 May the 8th. Dr. Burrell, ) ^ 
 
 May the 22nd. Mr. Smith, of Horringer. 
 
 June the 5th. Dr. Hutchinson, of Bury St. Edmund's. 
 
 June the 19th. Mr. Darby, of Ketton. 
 
 July the 3rd. Mr. Burkitt, of Milden. 
 
 July the 17th. Mr. Thomas, of Denham. 
 
 July the 31st. Mr. Cooper, of Great Bradley. 
 
 August the 14th. Mr. Newcomin, of Ipswich. 
 
 August the 28th. Mr. Stewkly, of Preston. 
 
 September the nth. Mr. Farr, of Stowmarket. 
 
 September the 25th. Mr. Denten, of Ofton. 
 
 October the 9th. Mr. Brundish, of Bildeston. 
 
 October the 23rd. Mr. Chilvers, of Wickhambrook. 
 
 November the 6th. Mr. Warren, of Boxford. 
 
 November the 20th. Mr. Shearman, of Milden. 
 
 December the 4th. Mr. Watkinson, of Glemsford. 
 
 December the i8th. Mr. Powell, of Great Waldingfield. 
 
 January the ist. Mr. Heckford, of Great Cornard. 
 
 January the 15th. Mr. Goffe, of Edwardstone. 
 
 January the 29th. Mr. Stewkley, of Melford. 
 
 February the 12th. Mr. Peachie, of Bures. 
 
 February the 26th. Mr. Pinkney, of Lavenham, 
 
.„ > Mayors, 
 -gill, J 
 
 ) 
 
 122 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 March the 12th. Mr. Luck, of Nedging. 
 March the 26th. Mr. Smith, of Alpheton. 
 April the 9th. Mr. Howlet, of Ouseden. 
 
 Samuel Abbot, 
 William Fotherc 
 
 John Gibbon, 
 
 William Cocks, > Aldermen. 
 Lawrence Gibbon, ' 
 
 T. Norwich." 
 
 The Church Plate consists of a handsome modern set. 
 The Cup measures inches in height by 4|- inches in dia- 
 meter. It stands on a sexfoiled base on which are the letters 
 of the word ^ I. E. S. V. S. It has the Year-mark ^'o." 
 for 1891, and this inscription: — " ij* St. Gregorys Churchy 
 Sudbury^ a Thank-offering from M.S.S. Whitsun Day. 
 A.D. i8g2r The donor being Mrs. Sikes. 
 
 There are two Patens, (i) measuring 6f inches in dia- 
 meter, and having in the centre the Agnus Dei in an octofoil 
 within a circle. On the rim is inscribed in Lombardic 
 capitals : — ^ Lamb . of . God . have . mercy . upon . us." 
 (2) Measures 5 inches in diameter, and has a cross flory on 
 the rim. Year-mark '^s." for 1873. 
 
 The Flagon is of glass, silver-mounted, standing ii\ 
 inches in height. 
 
 There is also a spoon for straining purposes, 3J inches 
 in length. Year-mark ''t." for 1874. 
 
 VICARS OR CURATES OF ST. GREGORY'S, 
 (with the Chapel of St. Peter,) Sudbury. 
 
 Patron. 
 
 1308. John Cleyband. 
 
 1 3 15. Thomas de Foxton, Jur. Civil. Prof. 
 
 1 3 17. Simon de Ely. The Prioress and Convent of Eaton. 
 
 1319. Warine de Fuldone, Jur. Civil. Prof. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 123 
 
 >» 
 
 Vicars or Curates of St. Gregory's — continued. 
 
 Patron. 
 
 1333. Ivo de Glynton. The Prioress and Convent of Eaton. 
 
 1340. John de Martham. 
 1343. Henry de Campden. 
 1349. William de Norwich. 
 1355. Roger. 
 
 ^75- John Cordebef (first custos or warden of 
 
 Sudbury College. The Bishop of Norwich. 
 
 1383. John Stansfield (custos). 
 1387. Thomas Grocer (custos). 
 1411. Geoffry Brice (custos). 
 
 Rector of Brundon, Essex, 1431-1446. 
 1446. Thomas Betts, LL.D. (custos) 
 1452. Henry Sething, LL.B. '^custos) 
 1464. Robert Spilman, LL.B. (custos) 
 1467. William Wood (custos) 
 1491. Thomas Kerver, A.M. (custos) 
 
 Vicar of Hillingdon, Middlesex, 1481-1483. 
 
 Rector of St. Mary's, Colchester, 1483- 1503. 
 1493. Thomas Aleyn (custos) 
 
 John Fineux (custos). 
 15 13. John Aleyn, alias Kerver, D.D. (custos) 
 
 Archdeacon of Middlesex 1476-15 16. A Prebendary 
 of St. Paul's. 
 
 1516. Richard Eden, LL.B. (last custos of Sudbury 
 
 College) 
 
 Archdeacon of Middlesex 1516-1551. Rector of 
 Gestingthorpe, Essex, 1514-1516. Rector of Great 
 Waldingfield 1508- 1545. 
 
 1555. Robert Goodall. 
 
 1583. John Falkthorp. 
 
 1596. John Newman. 
 
 1605. John Harrison, Minister of St. Peter's. 
 
 He died in 1641. 
 
 Robert Smith, Minister of St. Gregory's, 1634. 
 
 Afterwards Minister at Great Cressingham, Norfolk, 
 
 and died 1654. 
 
 John Cradock. 
 1714. Humphry Burrough. 
 
 >» 
 
 Sir Thos. Fasten. 
 
 The Bishop, by lapse 
 
 Mr. Sands. 
 
 * John Harrison married Judith, daughter of Isaac Wincoll of Little Waldingfield, and 
 at his death in 1641, left issue, (i) John Harrison, " Minister of God's Word " at Waltham, 
 Essex, in 1659, and (2) Isaac Harrison, D.D., Rector of Hadleigh, Suffolk, (3) Thomas 
 Harrison, of Cooling, Suffolk, (4) Judith, who married, first, Robert Howe, Mayor of 
 Sudbury, and secondly, Matthew Laurence, preacher, of Ipswich. 
 
124 ^^^^ History of Sudbury, 
 
 Vicars or Curates of St. Gregory's — continued. 
 
 
 
 Patron. 
 
 1766. 
 
 Abbot Upcher, B.A. 
 
 Robert Uocher. 
 
 J 77U. 
 
 William Mnleham TJ. "R 
 
 * v lillCiili If JL CLl l^li CllXJ J 1 it J , Iff 
 
 1? ohiPrf" T TripV» pr 
 
 I 77Q. 
 
 William Aldington. 
 
 Peter Upcher. 
 
 178=; 
 
 W illi.'im Kinlpv 
 
 Petor Unrher 
 
 1807. 
 
 Henry Watts Wilkinson, M.A. 
 
 Sir Lachlan INIaclean, ]\I.D. 
 
 
 He died May 12th, 1851. 
 
 
 1851. 
 
 John Ilenly, B.A. 
 
 Hector IMaclean. 
 
 1855- 
 
 Sir John W. H. IMolyneux, M.A. 
 
 The Bishop of Ely. 
 
 1879. 
 
 Thomas Lingard Green, INI. A. 
 
 >> 
 
 1893. 
 
 Benjamin Stannard Fryer, M.A. 
 
 it 
 
 THE ANCHORITES. 
 
 An Hermit is such an ancient institution in the Christian 
 Church that it is uncertain who was the first to adopt this 
 soHtary mode of life, although one Paul of Thebes, who 
 lived, about the year 260, in a cave at the foot of a rock, has 
 the credit of being the first to do so. 
 
 They were called Hermits or Anchorites because they 
 dwelt in solitary places or immured themselves in little cells, 
 called "Anchor-holds," attached to the outside wall of some 
 Abbey or Parish church, in which, by their rule, they were 
 to live, die, and be buried. Their advice was much sought 
 for by the laity, and many bequests were made to them by 
 pious testators. Many of them, no doubt, lived in rooms 
 over church porches, such as may still be seen in St. Peter's 
 church. 
 
 At an early date the Church assumed jurisdiction over 
 hermits, and persons were not allowed to enter on this mode 
 of life, except by permission of their ecclesiastical superiors, 
 and after an appointed ceremony had been performed, at 
 
The History of Sudbury. 125 
 
 which the Bishop presided. Hence the petitions of the 
 Mayor and others of Sudbury to the Bishop of Norwich to 
 allow Richard Appelby to live as an hermit together with 
 John Levynton immured in a cell in St. Gregory's church- 
 yard. Tradition points out the North West side of St. 
 Gregory's church as the site of this hermitage, but no traces 
 of it remain at the present time. 
 
 ''A Supplicacon of the Maior and Tonsmen of Sudbury 
 to the B. of Norwich, for the Admissione of one to be an 
 heremite." 
 
 " To youre ryght Reverent lordshepe and faderhod in 
 
 God. 
 
 We, John Hunte, Meyr of the toun of Sudbery, Henry 
 Roberd, John Turnor, William Jacob, Robert Morell, Wil- 
 liam Hereward, Wateer Oldhalle, John Cowelle, John Vyns, 
 John Bakere, and Thomas Prentys, p'sshien's to ye Cherche 
 of Seynt Gregory of ye same town, in humble wyse comaund 
 us, as it befalleth us to your worshipful astate to do. And 
 for as moche as we ben enformed yat on Richard Appelby of 
 Sudbery, conu'saunt with John Levynton of the same town 
 heremyte, wheche Richard is a man as to oure conscience 
 knowen, a trewe membr of holy cherche and gode gostly 
 levere as your meke chi'd and diocesan at the reu'ence of 
 God, hathe he sought unto your lordshepe to be admitted in 
 to ye ordere of an heremyte, and ye be your gracious and 
 sp'ciell counsell wuld not admitte hym lesse yanne he wer 
 sekyr to be inh'ited in an solytary place wher vertues myght 
 increce and vices to be exiled. We, consederyng your sayd 
 
126 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 pat'nell ordynaunce and his holy desyr sadly set as we truste 
 to God it shall eu' in hym bett' and bett' be founde, haue 
 graunted hym be the assent of all the sayd parysh and 
 Cherchereves to be inh'ited with ye sayd John Levynton in 
 his solitary place and heremytage, wheche yat is maad at ye 
 cost of ye parissh in the Cherche yerd of Seynt Gregory, 
 ther to dwellyn to gedyr as long as yey leven or wheche of 
 them lengest levith. Wherefore oure rygt reu'ent Lord and 
 fader in God we enteerly beseke your gracious benyngnyte 
 to admitte hym in to that order there to abyde your bedeman, 
 the lordes of the toun and the parsshien's, as we trust to God 
 he will be p'seu'aunt, wheche God graunt hym grace to. 
 More over rygt reu'ent lord and fader in God for as moche 
 as we will yat yis oure lett' and graunte be not annulled but 
 be us confermed we have in wytnesse put to our scales yoven 
 and g'unt at Sudbery the xxviij day of Janyver In the yer of 
 Oure Lord MCCCCXXXIIJ." 
 
 Richard Appelby took the following oath on his admis- 
 sion. 
 
 I, Richard Appelby, not maridd, promyt and avowe to 
 God, our Lady Sent Mary, and to all the seynts in heuen, in 
 the presence of you reuerend fadyr in God William, Bisshop 
 of Norwich, the vowe of Chastite after the rule of Sent Paule 
 the heremite. In the name of the Fadre Sone and Holy 
 Gost." ( Norwich Lib, Institute I. lo.J 
 
 THE CROFT. 
 
 This is an unenclosed piece of grass land on the north- 
 east side of St. Gregory's churchyard, which has belonged to 
 
The History of Sudbury. 127 
 
 the burgesses of Sudbury from time immemorial. Amongst 
 the borough records are two charters relating to it, the 
 earliest one is a conveyance by feoffment from John Arundel, 
 of Peyton, and John Bromlegh, to John Baker, of Sudbury, 
 and Isabella his wife, of this croft, therein described as one 
 piece of land with its appurtenances called Leketonecroft in 
 Sudbury lying between the churchyard of St. Gregory on one 
 side and the road leading from the market place to the Stour 
 on the other side." This charter is dated at Sudbury on the 
 20th of September, 1357, and witnessed by Nigel Thebaud 
 (probably the father of Archbishop Sudbury) and others. 
 
 The second charter, dated at Sudbury April loth, 1436, 
 is a conveyance of the same croft from Thomas Dobbys, of 
 Sudbury, (as the survivor of the twenty burgesses to whom 
 it had been conveyed by William Barbour, of Sudbury, on 
 the Thursday in the vigil of All Saints, 1393,) to twenty-four 
 burgesses of Sudbury, who were probably the town-council- 
 lors at that time. In 1820, a portion of this croft was pur- 
 chased of the Corporation, and added to St. Gregory's 
 churchyard. 
 
 A fair, known as Croft fair, was held here annually, on 
 the Monday after St. Peter and St. Paul's day, until it was 
 abolished about the year i860, owing to its having degene- 
 rated into a mere pleasure fair. 
 
VII. 
 
 ST. PETER'S CHURCH. 
 
 HIS church stands in an imposing position on the 
 Market Hill, close to the site of the old Moot 
 Hall, though apparently it was not originally a 
 parish church, but merely a chapel of ease to St. 
 Gregory's. 
 
 We first hear of it, in the time of Henry H., when 
 William FitzRobert, Earl of Gloucester, granted ^'the church 
 of St. Gregory witli the chapel of St. Peter'' to the nuns of 
 Eaton in Warwickshire. The date of this grant is unknown, 
 but it was between the years 1147 and 1183, when the Earl 
 died. 
 
 St. Peter's is named in the Taxation of Pope Nicholas 
 (an ecclesiastical survey drawn up in 1288), in which the 
 three Sudbury churches are entered. This church continued 
 to serve as a chapel of ease to St. Gregory's until the i6th 
 century, when in course of time (and for the sake of con- 
 venience,) a portion of St. Gregory's parish was assigned to 
 it, and it acquired the reputation of being a parish church. 
 
 No burials however appear to have taken place in this 
 
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 H 
 
 13 
 
 W 
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 W 
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 n 
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 pi 
 
 n 
 
 C/) 
 
 a 
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 o 
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The History of Sudbury, 129 
 
 church from the time that it was rebuilt at the end of the 
 15th century, until late in the 17th century; T. Martin, the 
 Suffolk antiquary, writing in 1723 says that the Rev. John 
 Cradock, the Minister, was the first person known to have 
 been buried in this church, in the memory of man. 
 
 In 1667, an important point was raised, as to whether 
 the reputed parish of St. Peter's was distinct from that of 
 St. Gregory's for rating purposes. A case was eventually 
 brought before the Recorder and Justices, and their decision 
 is entered on the Borough Records. It recites, that the 
 chapel of St. Peter had been, time out of mind, annexed to 
 the parish of St. Gregory, but, at that time, had acquired the 
 reputation of being a distinct parish. Some of the inhabi- 
 tants of St. Gregory's were in the habit of attending at St. 
 Peter's Chapel, and, by consent among themselves, had 
 elected officers, who had assigned some part of the lands 
 and limits of St. Gregory's to the said reputed parish of St. 
 Peter's, to be rated for the relief of the poor of St. Peter s, 
 but a dispute having arisen between the overseers and church- 
 wardens of the two parishes, the Court now decided that — 
 
 of common right all the lands lying and being within St. 
 Gregory's parish are and ought to be rateable as well to the 
 maintenance of the poor within the limits of the said chapel 
 or accounted church of St. Peter as of the rest of the parish 
 of St. Gregory, the said chapel and lands thereunto apper- 
 taining being unquestionably within the parish of St. Gre- 
 gory." 
 
 The present church of St. Peter's was apparently erected 
 early in the reign of Henry VII., about the year 1485, and 
 
130 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 with the exception of the nave roof (which was added in 
 1685) is entirely of one date. 
 
 It is a large and curious church, consisting of a west 
 tower, nave, chancel, and aisles. The aisles include the 
 tower, and extend nearly to the east end of the chancel. 
 The chancel has a distinct orientation from that of the nave, 
 and beneath the north chancel aisle is a curious underground 
 crypt, probably originally intended for a charnel-chapel, to 
 receive the bones which were disturbed at the rebuilding of 
 the church in 1484 ; this has recently been cleaned out and 
 is now used as a vestry. 
 
 The chancel contains some very good carved oak par- 
 close screens ; but only the lower panels of the rood-screen 
 remain, with painted figures of saints, repainted by Mr. 
 Gainsborough Dupont of Sudbury. The rood-loft formerly 
 spanned the church from North to South, the rood-stairs 
 remain in the north wall, and there are openings in the side 
 of the chancel arch, but now blocked up. 
 
 During the restoration of this church, in 1884, a large 
 distemper painting of the Last Judgment, or ^' Doom," was 
 discovered -on the wall over the chancel arch. In the centre 
 was the figure of our Lord, as Judge, with His right hand 
 extended in benediction ; He appeared to be clothed in a 
 robe, with embroidered "apparel" at the neck. On the left 
 were traces of a black-letter inscription, whilst on the right 
 the figure of an angel, with hands clasped in adoration, and 
 looking towards the Judge, could be distinguished. Lower 
 down, on each side of the arch, traces of colour could be 
 
The History of Sudbury. 131 
 
 discerned, but too faint to admit of the identification of the 
 design. 
 
 The corbel of the end king-post of the nave roof (of 
 Jacobean date), obUterates the body of the central figure, and 
 the rood-canopy cuts transversely through the painting. 
 
 This rood-canopy is an unusual adjunct ; it was placed 
 over the central part of the loft, above the rood itself. At 
 the restoration of the church, it was repainted by Mr. Gains- 
 borough Dupont, in accordance with the original decoration, 
 as shewn by the traces of colour which remained. 
 
 On either side of the chancel are beautiful carved oak 
 parclose-screens of middle-Perpendicular work, abounding 
 with ornamental details ; the cornices being adorned with 
 running vine foliage, gracefully designed and boldly executed. 
 
 There is a room, or parvise, over the South porch, 
 which was, perhaps, originally used as a record room, where 
 valuable documents belonging to the church, or to the parish- 
 ioners, might be stored. 
 
 Over the North and South doors, inside, are two painted 
 panels of Moses and Aaron ; these are the two end panels 
 from the old classical reredos, (with fluted pillars, enclosing 
 panels on which were painted the Creed, Lord's Prayer, and 
 X Commandments,) which was removed at the recent restor- 
 ation. The two figures of Moses and Aaron were painted, 
 about 1730, by Robert Cardinall, a Suff"olk artist of some 
 repute, and a pupil of Sir Godfrey Kneller. 
 
 In ancient wills, altars of St. Mary and St. John in this 
 church are mentioned, and in 1456 a bequest was made 
 
132 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 towards a new baptismal font ; in 1376, a pious testator pro- 
 vided for the hanging of a great bell in St. Peter's chapel. 
 
 f Tanner s Collection at Norwich.) 
 
 The basin of the font is original, but it has been set on a 
 modern pedestal. Martin, the Suffolk Antiquary, relates this 
 strange tradition about it, that about the year 1654, during 
 the Commonwealth period, one John Cooke, then Mayor of 
 Sudbury, in his fanatical zeal, took this font out of the church 
 and placed it under his pump, for his horses to drink from, 
 but they all snorted at the unusual object, and refused to 
 drink from it. He then set it in his yard as a hog-trough ; 
 but it was afterwards restored to the church. 
 
 The Parliamentary Visitor, William Dowsing, appointed 
 under a warrant from the Earl of Manchester, to demolish 
 all ''superstitious" pictures and ornaments in the Suffolk 
 churches, visited Sudbury in January, 1643, and committed 
 great havoc in the three churches. He records in his diary, 
 
 ''January 9, 1643. Peters church, we brake down a^ 
 picture of God the Father, two crucifixes, and pictures of 
 Christ, about an hundred in all ; and gave orders to take 
 down a cross off the steeple, and divers angels, twenty at 
 least, on the roof of the church." 
 
 There is a fine west tower, in the western face of which 
 are to be seen several stones taken from some older building, 
 ornamented with zigzag and other Norman mouldings, most 
 probably from the earlier chapel of St. Peter. The copper 
 spire which surmounts the tower is a modern addition, set up 
 in 1 8 10, at a cost of ^380. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 133 
 
 In 1 701, a new clock was made and fixed in the tower 
 by Henry Pleasant, the Sudbury bell-founder, who was re- 
 lieved from all parish offices, duties, rates, and assessments, 
 on condition that he regulated the clock and kept it wound 
 up. After his death this clock frequently got out of order, 
 and was replaced in 1820 by another, at a cost of £^2^ for 
 the clock, and for fitting it up ; but this was even worse than 
 its predecessor, and the Corporation accordingly, a few years 
 ago, provided a new clock by Messrs. Gillett and Bland, 
 with a chiming apparatus. 
 
 Until the early part of this century, the west end of the 
 church was completely hidden from view by a row of old 
 buildings that stood close round the church, in a semi-circle 
 from the North door to the South, leaving only a narrow 
 passage past the West door of the church. These buildings 
 obstructed the Market place, and were, in the period between 
 the years 1829 and 1844, as opportunity offered, purchased 
 and removed, at a cost to the town at large of not less than 
 ;^4,ooo. 
 
 The earliest Parish Registers of St. Peter's commence 
 in 1639, whilst St. Gregory's go back to 1590, but the first 
 volume is much damaged, some leaves having been cut out 
 altogether and others damaged. 
 
 In 1503, Thomas Easton of Sudbury bequeathed a silver 
 ship for frankincense and a cope to this church ; the will is 
 curious and worth recording as a typical will of that period. 
 
 In the name of God, Amen. The xxv day of July the 
 yer of our Lord MDiij and in the xviij yer of the regne of 
 
134 ^^^^ History of Sudbury, 
 
 Kyng Herry the vijth. I Thomas Tru'poo' other wise called 
 Easton of Sudbur' in the dioc' of Norwich beyng jn good 
 and holl mynde, Thankyd be Almyghty God, make & or- 
 deyne thys my p'sent testament and last wyll jn this wyse. 
 Fyrst I beqwethe my sowle to Almyghtie God, my Maker 
 and Saviour, to our Blessyd Lady Seynt Mary, and to all the 
 Hooly co'pany of Heuyn. My body to be buryed in the 
 chyrche of Fryer P'choo's in Sudbur' next the buryell of 
 Alys my fyrst wyff wherfor I beqweth to the p'ioo' fryer 
 beyng a pryst and acting my Dyryge with Messe and othyr 
 obs'ua'ces att my burywell shall have iiijd. and every othyr 
 fryer w'in the habyte ij<^^- Weche doon I wyll that all my 
 dettes to every p'sone or p'sonys of rygth jn ony man' wyse 
 dewe be holly and feythfully payd jn to dyscharge of my 
 sowle. i\lso I beqwethe to the Hye Autar of the chyrche of 
 Seynt Petyr jn the same towne in to reco'pense for tythes and 
 offerynggs by me n'gligently w'holden or forgotyn iijs. iiijd- 
 Also I wyll jmmedyatly aftyr my decease my executoo's fynd 
 a honest pryst and a secular to synge by halfe a yer jn 
 Neylonde Chyrche for the sowlys of me, Alice and Kateryn 
 that were my wyffs, our faders and moders with all our frends 
 to the weche stypendy I beqwethe iijli- Weche doon I wyll 
 that a pryst in lykewise to synge in the sayd cherche of St. 
 Peter by a holl yer, for the sowles before sayd, and shall 
 have for hys stip'nde vjli- Also I beqwethe to the same 
 chyrche of Seynt Petyr a good and s'bstaunncyall shypp of 
 sylu' and gylt convenyently for frankensence to s'ue ther'on 
 to the honoo' and lawde of our Blyssyd Sauioo' for eu'. 
 
The History of Sudbury, 135 
 
 Also on to the same chyrche I beqwethe a cope with thys 
 scriptur jn a rolle sett upon the same. ^ Orate pro aiahz 
 Thome Estoon Alicie ^ Katrine uxor^ suar ' on to the 
 value of iij^^-" 
 
 The testator then goes on to bequeath shnilar copes to 
 the Friers church in Sudbury and to the church of Newport, 
 Essex. He wills that an anniversary for the souls above 
 mentioned be kept for two years in this town. He also 
 remembers his servants and others, and appoints William 
 Park, William Ive, and Alexander French his executors, who 
 are to have '^for ther trewe feythfull and dyligent laboo' and 
 attendau'ce in thys byhalf accordyng to ther des'uynggs." 
 
 The following inventory of the church goods in 1675 
 has been preserved : — 
 
 ^'Inventory of the goods of St. Peter's Church in 1675 
 
 delivered by the retiring Churchwarden Henry Lawrence to 
 
 the new Wardens Daniel Spurgin and William Mannering. 
 
 Imprimis. One silver Communion Cup and cover. 
 A silver Plate to put the Bread on. 
 Six great Bells with six ropes. 
 A Clock. 
 
 Green velvet Cushions for the Pulpit. 
 One green covering of says. 
 One Surplisse. 
 
 One large green cloth for the Communion Table. 
 One Burying Cloth embroidered with gold and 
 silver. 
 
 One linen cloth to lay over the Communion 
 Table, with one napkin for the Communion 
 Table. 
 
136 
 
 The History of Sudhiiry. 
 
 One iron-guarded Chest with three locks in the 
 
 chancell. 
 One great chest in the seller.* 
 Three pewter Flaggons, one holding about five 
 
 pints, the other two about three pints apiece. 
 One hour Glass. 
 A pewter Patin. 
 Two money boxes. 
 
 A turning stand to lay books on to read. 
 
 A large pewter Christening basin. 
 
 A large Bible and two Common Prayer Books. 
 
 Erasmus, his paraphrase upon the New Testament. 
 
 Book of Dr. Jewells Works. t 
 
 One register Book. 
 
 One Book of the Church Wardens Accounts. 
 One Book treating of the Right of Kings. 
 A prayer Book of the Fire of London. 
 
 With a Thanksgiving for the Kings Return 
 
 into his kingdom. 
 A prayer Book for the late Wars. 
 A prayer Book and a Thanksgiving for a Victory 
 
 of his Majesty's Naval Forces in 1665.:]: 
 Two Books for Prayer and Fasting in the time 
 
 of the Plagues. 
 
 * The room, or upper chamber, over the porch. 
 
 f This was the celebrated "Apologia Ecclesiae Anglicanoe," first published in Latin in 
 1562, but translated into English the same year, and accepted as a representative book of 
 its time. Its author was Dr. John Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury. 
 
 % The victory over the Dutch for which this Thanksgiving Service was issued, was gained 
 off Lowestoft by the English Fleet under the Duke of York, Prince Rupert, and Lord 
 Sandwich, on June 3rd, 1665. 
 
The History of Sudbury, lyj 
 
 All of which I hand to the new Churchwardens. 
 I say delivered by me 
 
 Henry Lawrence." 
 The Burying Cloth" referred to in this inventory, is 
 now known as the ''Alderman's Pall," and is still in the 
 possession of the Churchwardens of St. Peter's Church. 
 
 It is made of maroon silk-velvet, richly embroidered 
 with representations of vases of flowers wrought in gold and 
 silver. There are also embroidered on it four kneeling 
 figures robed in white with their hands clasped in the attitude 
 of prayer, round their heads are little scrolls on which the 
 following prayers are worked in black-letter characters, and 
 in abbreviated Latin, which may be translated thus, Heal 
 Thou my soul O Lord for I have sinned against Thee." 
 '' I trust in Thy Light to Lighten my Darkness." '' Though 
 I have sinned I hope to see the Goodness of the Lord." 
 Haste Thee to help me O Lord." 
 
 The whole is surrounded by a fringe of green, yellow 
 and amber coloured silks. 
 
 On the back is this, '' The Alderman's Pall repaired 
 1784." It is a remarkably fine piece of work, and one of the 
 few relics of Church embroidery of the 1 5th century now 
 remaining in England. 
 
 There is also a pulpit-cloth, made during the reign of 
 one of the Stuart kings, with the Royal Arms embroidered 
 upon it. 
 
 There are eight good bells in this tower, inscribed — 
 I, Cast by John Warner & Sons, London, 1874. 
 
138 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 2. Cast by John Warner & Sons, London, 1874. 
 
 3. John Darbie made me 1662. 
 
 4. I James Edburie 1605. 
 
 ( RB IS RS IW RE RB TB RB WB IC EC 
 
 5. ij^ . Sit nomen Domini benedictum. 
 
 6. ij^ . In multis annis resonet campana Johannis. 
 
 7. Miles Graye made me 1641. 
 
 8. ^ . Intonat e celis vox campane Michaelis. 
 
 The 5th, 6th, and 8th bells are supposed to be the 
 handiwork of the Kebyll family of London, whose arms 
 ( a chevron between three mullets in chief and a crescent in 
 base ) are on them. 
 
 There is a small clock bell inscribed, T. Mears of 
 Londo fecit 1831." 
 
 The return of 1553 says, ''Great bells V." 
 
 In 1724 John Lilly, the sexton, was allowed two guineas 
 a year for ringing the bell at 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. 
 
 There is a fine service of modern plate, consisting of a 
 pair of cups of mediaeval shape, having the year-mark "b," 
 for 1857. They stand 9 inches in height, and measure 4I 
 inches in diameter. In a compartment on the sexfoiled base 
 are the letters "i.lj.r.", and this inscription, Presented by 
 Edmund Stedman^ Bellevue^ Sudbury!' 
 
 Two Patens, 7J inches in diameter, year-mark "b" for 
 1857, with inscriptions in Lombardic capitals on the rims, 
 and a sunk sexfoil in the centre. On one is : — " ^ Dne 
 Dnus noster quam admirabile est Nomen Tuum in universa 
 terra." On the other: — "Sit Nomen Ejus benedictum in 
 secula ante solem permanet Nomen Ejus." 
 
The History of Sudbury, 139 
 
 There is a third Paten, 7 inches in diameter, with plain 
 circular depression. Year-mark "b," for 1857. 
 
 The Ahns-dish is particularly handsome, and in the 
 centre on a band surrounded by ornamental work, is inscrib- 
 ed in Lombardic capitals :— Svs PETRUS AP." Over all 
 are the cross-keys in saltire, and round the rim this inscrip- 
 tion : — ^ Introibo in Domum Tuam in holocaustis, reddam 
 Tibi vota mea." At the bottom is this : — ^ " This Offertory 
 Basin^ together with other altar plate^ and the stained glass 
 of the principal East window^ was given to the Church of 
 St. Peter ^ Sudbury^ by E. and E. G. Stedman^ of Bellevue^ 
 A.D. iSs?:' 
 
 There is also a fine Flagon, of the same set, ewer-shaped, 
 14 inches high, and ornamented with engraved foliage. 
 
 The straining Spoon is 6 inches long, with corded stem 
 and twisted handle. 
 
 The older silver cup and paten belonging to this church 
 was exchanged, in 1862, for a set of similar design to the 
 above, but smaller : to be used for private celebrations. 
 
VIII. 
 
 ALL SAINTS CHURCH. 
 
 She third church in Sudbury is that of All Saints, 
 
 which has been a distinct parish church from time 
 
 immemorial. 
 
 (1154) confirming to the Abbey of St. Albans 
 all the acquisitions which Adam the monk, cellarer of the 
 same Abbey, had obtained for that Abbey by the gift of Elias 
 
 the chapel of Belidune (Ballingdon) and all the land of 
 Middleton, of the fee of the Earl of Gloucester. 
 
 In the taxation of Pope Nicholas, made in 1288, the 
 three Sudbury churches are set down, All Saints being 
 valued at £10 13s. ^d. 
 
 This church continued to belong to the Abbey of St. 
 Albans until that Abbey, and its possessions, were surrend- 
 ered to the Crown Dec. 5, 1 539. 
 
 Shortly after this (1547) the advowson of All Saints was 
 sold by the Crown to William Harris, who soon parted with 
 
 de Sumery," viz., t/ie Church of All Saints in Sudbury with 
 
The History of Sudbury. 141 
 
 it to Thomas Eden of Sudbury, who was then living close by 
 in the old house of the Black Friars. The Edens and their 
 heirs, the Littles, continued to be patrons of this living until 
 1747, when it was purchased, together with Ballingdon Hall, 
 by John Piper of Ashen. 
 
 This church is a fine large building chiefly of the Per- 
 pendicular period, consisting of chancel with north and south 
 chapels ; north vestry with an upper chamber or room over 
 it, probably intended as a dwelling place for a priest or 
 anchorite ; nave with aisles, and west tower. The arches at 
 the sides of the chancel are Decorated, but partly blocked up 
 by later work. The rest of the building is Perpendicular, 
 ^450.* 
 
 There are four handsome carved oak parclose screens 
 which enclose the chancel chapels on two sides, but the rood 
 screen has been removed. Beneath the tower was a ringers' 
 gallery of the Perpendicular period with panelled front, but 
 this too has now been removed. 
 
 The N. and W. doors of this church are remarkable for 
 the fine carved oak panelling of the Perpendicular period, 
 but perhaps the most interesting feature in the church is the 
 very handsome 15th century pulpit, one of the few of that 
 
 * The approximate date of the north aisle of this church is fixed by the will of Thomas 
 Schorthose, of Sudbury, weaver, dated Dec. 30, 1459, in which the following bequest is 
 made — "I will that, when the parishioners of the aforesaid church of All Saints shall have 
 built anew the old aisle on the north side of the said church, that then my executors shall 
 pay out of my goods twenty marks for a low bench in the same north aisle so to be built 
 anew, to be made according to the form of the benches now in the south part of the said 
 church. Also I bequeath to the fabric of the same north aisle forty shillings " (Lib. 
 Baldwin, 235). 
 
 Joan Dennys, of Sudbury, widow, by her will dated June 6, 1460, bequeathed *' twenty 
 shillings to make an arch between the church and the chapel on the north side of the same 
 church." 
 
 (Lib. Baldwin, 389). 
 
142 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 early period that now remain in England. It is octagonal, 
 carved in the upper part of the panels with Perpendicular 
 tracery, and supported on a beautifully proportioned wooden 
 stem which rests upon an octagonal stone plinth. Its good 
 preservation is due to its having been for a long time covered 
 over with painted deal boards so that its true character was 
 unknown until 1850, when the vicar accidentally discovered 
 what was beneath them, and had it cleaned and restored. 
 
 The reading desk is modern ; having been constructed 
 in 1850 out of five carved oak panels, which had formed part 
 of the old rood screen. 
 
 In 1643, this church was visited by William Dowsing, 
 the Parliamentary Visitor, in his search for superstitious " 
 objects, who thus records his visit — 
 
 ''All Hallows, Sudbury, January 9, 1643. We brake 
 about twenty superstitious inscriptions : Ova pro nobis and 
 Pray for the soul^ ^c." 
 
 In the spandrels of the old south doorway were formerly 
 carved two coats of arms, those of Bourchier f Argent a cross 
 engrailed gu/es between four water-bougets sab/e) and 
 Reymes (chequy or and gules a canton ermine^ shewing 
 probably that these families were contributors to the rebuild- 
 ing of the church. On the battlements of the nave, on both 
 the north and south sides, various coats of arms may still 
 be seen, but they are rapidly wearing away under the influ- 
 ence of sun and rain. 
 
 Early in the i8th century a wretched little porch of 
 brick was set up outside the south door, but this was removed 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 143 
 
 when the church was restored, about the year 1850. 
 On this porch was a sundial, upon which the words Time 
 flieth as a shadow" were inscribed. In the frontispiece of 
 Mr. Badham's History of All Saints, an engraving of this 
 church is given, shewing a large and lofty stone porch out- 
 side the south door, but Mr. Badham does not sav where he 
 got this drawing from, or whether it is merely a conjectural 
 restoration by the artist. No such porch has existed since 
 the year 17 14, and it seems doubtful if there ever was one of 
 that style. 
 
 A chantry was founded in this church by one John 
 Felton, and endowed with lands that a chaplain might say 
 masses therein for the repose of his soul. The endowment 
 consisted of lands and tenements lying in the parishes of Bal- 
 lingdon, Bulmer, Henny, Borley, and Liston, of the annual 
 value of £^ los. in 1520. But the following outgoings were 
 yearly paid from the Chantry lands — 
 
 s. 
 
 To the College of Sudbury ... ... 9 2 
 
 ,, Goldingham Hall... ... ... 4 ^ 
 
 Smeton Hall ... ... ... ... 3 9 
 
 the Nuns of Castle Hedingham ... 38 
 
 ,, Sir Edward Chamberlain 3 ' 6 
 
 For Expenses of the Sheriff's Court... i 10 
 
 For tithes ... ... ... ... ... i i\ 
 
 27 2\ 
 
144 
 
 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 In 1520, Thomas Ewarte was chaplain of this chantry, 
 and Henry Boorham was a chaplain in this church, presum- 
 ably of this chantry, in 1460. 
 
 It is said that the chapel on the south side of the chancel 
 of this church was Felton's Chantry Chapel, whilst the north 
 chapel was the burial place, first of the Waldegraves, and 
 afterwards of their descendants, the Edens of Ballingdon 
 Hall. 
 
 The Waldegraves were a very ancient Suffolk family, 
 whose chief seat was at Smallbridge, in the neighbouring 
 parish of Bures St. Mary. But Edward Waldegrave, a 
 younger son of the Smallbridge family, migrated to Sudbury, 
 and settled in a house in this parish, near the church, which 
 has since been demolished to make room for the National 
 Schools. His daughter Griseld married Thomas Eden, who 
 afterwards lived at the Priory, and his eldest son, John 
 Waldegrave, was buried in the south aisle of this church in 
 
 1543. 
 
 In the north aisle is a black marble stone having the 
 indents of the brass effigies of a man between his two wives, 
 which from the style of the dress of the figures may reason- 
 ably be set down as a memorial of this Edward Waldegrave, 
 who died in 1500, and of his two wives, Mabel, daughter and 
 heir of John Cheney, and Mary, daughter of John Mannock, 
 who died June 7th, 1505. Unfortunately Mr. Badham 
 caused an inscription to vSir Thomas Eden, who died in 161 5, 
 to be cut on this stone under the idea that the stone marked 
 Sir Thomas Eden's tomb. 
 
The History of Sudbury, 145 
 
 The monument to John Waldegrave has also disap- 
 peared, but the inscription has been preserved in Weever's 
 Funeral Monuments ; it ran thus — 
 
 ^trtoarbt Maltr^grato ti fsaMte u^nrts su^. fl^ui qut&m 
 
 ^nim^ prnpimiur Bats, ^m^n/' 
 
 This John Waldegrave married Lora, daughter of John 
 Rochester of Terling, Essex, and left a son and heir, Sir 
 Edward Waldegrave, who was born in this parish in 15 18, 
 and rose to great eminence in the reign of Queen Mary. 
 From Henry VIII. he obtained a grant of the manor and 
 rectory of Borley, Essex. In the reign of Edward VI., he, 
 with his uncle. Sir Robert Rochester, was employed in the 
 household of the Princess Mary, and was committed to prison 
 for allowing the mass to be celebrated in her private chapel, 
 when she was living at Copt Hall, near Epping. Upon the 
 death of Edward VI., he mustered the men of Sudbury and 
 marched them to Framlingham to support her claim to the 
 throne against the usurper Northumberland. He rapidly 
 rose to the highest degree of favour with Queen Mary, was 
 admitted to her privy council, and constituted Master of the 
 Great Wardrobe. In 1554, through his intercession, the 
 Borough of Sudbury obtained its charter of incorporation. 
 In 1557, he was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lan- 
 caster, and in January of the same year was returned to 
 Parliament as one of the members for the county of Essex. 
 Upon the accession of Queen Elizabeth he was divested of 
 
146 The History of Sudhiiry. 
 
 all his employments and again committed to the Tower, 
 where he remained until his death Sept. i, 1561. He was 
 buried in the church of the neighbouring parish of Borley, 
 where he had resided for the greater part of his life. His 
 effigy, and that of his wife Frances, daughter of Sir Edward 
 Nevill, may still be seen on the north side of that church. 
 
 His grandson, another Sir Edward Waldegrave, was 
 returned to Parliament in 1 584, as one of the members for 
 Sudbury, and in 1643 was created a Baronet by King Charles 
 1. From him is descended the present Earl Waldegrave. 
 
 One of the most noteworthy objects in this church is 
 the pedigree of the Edens of Ballingdon Hall, which is 
 painted on the east wall of the north chapel. It is now 
 nearly defaced, the names having completely faded away, 
 but most of the coats of arms displaying the marriage 
 alliances of the Edens can still be distinguished, though the 
 tinctures in some instances have entirely changed colour. 
 
 The arms that remain are 
 
 1. Eden. Argent on a fess gules between two chevrons 
 
 azure each charged with three escallops of the field 
 as many garbs or. 
 
 Crest. A demi-dragon rampant vert holding a slip 
 of rose-bush in flower proper, 
 
 2. Waldegrave. Per pale argent and gules (a crescent 
 
 for difference). 
 
 3. Steward. Sable a lion rampant gules debruised by a 
 
 bend raguly or. 
 
 4. Peyton. Sable a cross engrailed or^ 171 the first quarter 
 
 a 7nullet of the last. 
 
The History of Sudbury, 1 47 
 
 5. Worthington. Argent three worthing tines ( or forks) 
 
 sahle^ on a canton ermine a dexter-hand coiiped 
 gules (a mullet of the last for difference). 
 
 6. St. Clere. Azure the sun in splendour or. 
 
 Crest. A saracens head in profile proper^ bound 
 round the temples with a fillet or. 
 
 7. Foljambe. Sable a bend between six escallops or. 
 
 8. Harris. Or on a bend engrailed azure three cinque- 
 
 foils argent. 
 
 9. Berners. Quarterly or and vert. 
 
 10. Sulyard. Argent a chevron gules between three pheons 
 
 reversed sable. 
 
 11. Grey. Sable two bars argent in chief three torteaux. 
 
 12. Stoddart. Sable within a bordure argent three estoiles 
 
 or. 
 
 13. Darcy. Argent three cinquef oils pierced gules. 
 
 Crest. A demi-virgin with golden tresses holding in 
 her right hand a slip of cinquef oil all proper^ on her 
 breast a crescent sable for difference. 
 
 14. Baker. Azure on a fess argent between three swans 
 
 heads erased or as many cinquefoils gules. 
 Originally this pedigree was protected by a handsome 
 canopied monument which stood immediately before it ; the 
 canopy forming a sort of frame to the pedigree. The monu- 
 ment was composed of a narrow shelf of marble, projecting 
 from the wall about two feet from the ground, and supporting 
 pilasters at each end, which held an entablature above. The 
 whole was enclosed by iron palisades with a gate at the north 
 
148 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 end. On the architrave this inscription was painted in letters 
 of gold — 
 
 This Tombe was finished at ye coste and charge of 
 Sir Thomas Eden, Knight, Maie 16, 161 5." 
 
 About the year 1850, this monument, being in a ruinous 
 condition, was removed by the Rev. Charles Badham, then 
 Vicar, and a large black marble slab affixed to the wall close 
 by, on which the names of several members of the Eden 
 family, who had been buried in this church, were inscribed. 
 
 During the 17th century the town of Sudbury was one 
 of the strongholds of Puritanism in the Eastern Counties. 
 From this neighbourhood proceeded many of the pilgrim 
 bands, who crossed the seas to find a new home in America, 
 and, in loving remembrance of their Fatherland, called their 
 new settlements by the names of their old village homes in 
 England. Thus we find Sudbury, Acton, Assington, New- 
 ton, Boxford, Groton, Haverhill, Toppesfield, Wethersfield, 
 Braintree, and many other well-known names, amongst the 
 New England towns of to-day. 
 
 As may be imagined, during this period. Church affairs 
 were in a very disturbed state, the Puritans being practically 
 masters of the situation. Unfortunately ecclesiastical records 
 for this period (1643- 1653) are very scanty. 
 
 Many places being considered by the popular party to 
 be insufficiently supplied with preachers, a fund was raised, 
 and vested in feoffees, for supporting good ministers in desti- 
 tute places, and persons were hired as lecturers, either as 
 supplemental to the regular incumbent, (preaching on market 
 
The History of Siidhiiry, 149 
 
 day and Sunday afternoons,) or as travelling lecturers over a 
 certain district. 
 
 Early in the reign of James I., we find the Rev. William 
 Jenkyn, (father of William Jenkyn, who died in Newgate 
 from the effects of his rigorous imprisonment in 1685,) des- 
 cribed as Preacher of this Parish," apparently as assistant 
 to William Strutt, the aged vicar of All Saints. 'He (Jenkyn) 
 was buried here November 15th, 1616. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, in 1624, the Rev. John Wilson is 
 described in the Parish Register as ''Lecturer" here; per- 
 haps he delivered the afternoon or week-day lecture. But 
 having been twice suspended, he resigned this office, and 
 joined the band of " Pilgrim Fathers," who sailed March 
 29th, 1630, under the leadership of John Winthrop of Gro- 
 ton, for New England, where he became one of the leading 
 Directors of the colony at Charleston. During the voyage 
 out a number of this band were lost through sickness and 
 privation, amongst them '' Jeff Ruggle of Sudbury and divers 
 others of that town," as old John Winthrop himself noted 
 down. 
 
 At this time the Rev. James Allen was Vicar of All 
 Saints and Rector of Little Henny, but apparently he did 
 not move fast enough with the times, and was consequently 
 dispossessed in 1629, and one Samuel Jemmat nominated in 
 his place by the King. Allen, however, not content to be 
 thus deprived of his living, filed a bill in the Court of Star 
 Chamber (Harl : MS. 4130) against Jemmat and others, 
 charging them with riot, and (Nov. 16, 1631) moved the 
 
150 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 Court that he might prosecute in forma pauperis ''in regard 
 that he was poore and had but ijH a year." 
 
 It appears that Allen charged the defendants with 
 endeavouring to dispossess him because he would not suffer 
 them to receive the Sacrament sitting ; he also charged them 
 with refusing to kneel at the Sacrament, and with throwing 
 the Holy Sacrament most contemptuously and irreligiously 
 under their feet. 
 
 The defendants replied that Allen was deprived of his 
 living because he, being unqualified to hold more than one, 
 had accepted a second living : that the riot charged against 
 the defendants consisted — 
 
 (1) Of entering the church for the purpose of inducting 
 
 Jemmat, at 5 a.m. when no one was about. 
 
 (2) Of going into the church in the afternoon of the same 
 
 day, with about 30 others, to conduct a burial service, 
 when Allen had locked the doors. 
 
 Apparently Jemmat gained the day, and remained in 
 possession of the Hying, but no record of the judgment in 
 this case remains. 
 
 Next we find that Timothy Rogers was presented to 
 this vicarage in 1636 by the patron John Eden, of Ballingdon 
 Hall, but it is uncertain how long he acted as vicar. 
 
 In 1649 baptism of James ''the sonne of Samuel 
 Grossman minister of the gospel in this parish" is entered in 
 the parish register. From this date until 1660 the name of 
 Samuel Grossman is frequently found in the parish registers 
 with various titles, viz., 1652 "Minister of this Parish"; 
 
The Histoi'y of Sudbury. 151 
 
 1655 '^Minister of the Gospel"; 1657 ''Preacher of the 
 Gospel " ; and the last marriage performed here, according 
 to the Parliamentary Act for civil marriages, on Feb. 7th, 
 1659, has this addendum, ''The parties were married by Mr. 
 Samuel Grossman, Minister of All Saints." These entries 
 shew that the Rev. Samuel Grossman was vicar of All Saints 
 from 1 649- 1 660. This Samuel Grossman, B.D., was a son 
 of the Rector of Monk Bradfield in Suffolk. He was a 
 pluralist and held, together with All Saints Vicarage, the 
 sine-cure rectory of Little Henny in Essex, but there was no 
 church in that little parish, and he apparently lived in All 
 Saints vicarage-house. He was ejected from Little Henny 
 in 1662, but shortly afterwards conformed, and in 1667 was 
 appointed a Prebendary of Bristol, and became Dean of 
 Bristol in 1683. He was the author of the beautiful hymn 
 "Jerusalem on high," which he is said to have written in 
 1664. He died Feb. 4, 1684, aged 79, and was buried in 
 the south aisle of Bristol Gathedral, having published, a few 
 weeks before his death, " His last Testimony and Declara- 
 tion, setting forth his dutiful and true affection to the Ghurch 
 of England as by law established." 
 
 Galamy says that William Folkes was ejected from All 
 Saints in 1662. If this be correct, Folkes must have succeed- 
 ed Grossman in 1660, and perhaps officiated for two years 
 here. 
 
 It is recorded in the Lambeth Records that this church 
 was used as a prison during the first Dutch War in 1666, 
 and that it was "ruinated" by the Dutch prisoners confined 
 
152 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 in it. But this is apparently an exaggerated expression, for, 
 judging from the present appearance of the church, no very 
 great damage could have been done. The parclose screens 
 are still in exceptionally good order and the original oak 
 benches, with which the church was furnished in the 15th 
 century, were standing in the reign of Queen Anne, and 
 probably later. It is known however that some eight hun- 
 dred Dutch prisoners having been put on shore at Harwich, 
 were marched up here under the escort of Capt. Darell's 
 company of foot-soldiers and confined in this town in Nov- 
 ember, 1666, and it is probable that many of them were 
 temporarily provided with quarters in this church, which, 
 owing to the unfortunate religious dissensions of that period, 
 was without a vicar, and was made use of by ^'nonconformist 
 and unlicensed preachers." 
 
 Even in 1669 things were very little better, as may be 
 gathered from the following extract from the Corporation 
 Books, 
 
 *'Oct. 5, 1669. Whereas within this Towne of Sudbury 
 at this day, there is no settled Minister, but depends only 
 upon the goodwill and benevolence of the people, who, 
 being a divided people and the greater part of them averse 
 from the Liturgy of the Church of England, doe not only 
 meet in Conventicles and absent themselves from the Pub- 
 lique Worship of God in their own Parish Churches against 
 ye known Law of England, but doe also refuse to pay and 
 contribute towards a conforming Minister as formerly they 
 have done, for remedie of which great evill it is thought fit 
 
The History of Sudbury, 153 
 
 and this day agreed upon, that an Act of Parliament be 
 endeavoured to be had for settling of a Maintenance upon an 
 orthodox and conforming Minister for this Towne by such 
 way as that the Parliament shall find most fitt." 
 
 But it does not appear that there was any practical 
 outcome from this resolution of the Corporation, and in a 
 document preserved amongst the Borough Archives, entitled 
 ''Allegations against Mr. John Catesby " (then Mayor of 
 Sudbury) dated 1684, it is stated that 
 
 '' Mr. Petto, a Nonconformist and settled preacher to 
 one of the conventicles, constantly lived within the Corpora- 
 tion for ten years last past, in no more private place than the 
 vicarage house belonging to All Saints Church." 
 
 When Mr. Petto departed from All Saints Vicarage 
 does not appear, but from about 1690 to 17 10, the Rev. 
 Nathaniel Burrell, D.D., of Caius College, Cambridge, was 
 vicar here, and in 171 1 a vicar, the Rev. Edward Pritty, 
 was duly presented by the Queen, from which time we 
 have a complete list of the successive vicars. 
 
 The Parish Registers commence in 1564, twenty-six 
 years after their first institution in England. They contain 
 many curious and interesting entries, particularly during the 
 Commonwealth period, when the civil marriages of many 
 persons from neighbouring parishes, performed by a Justice 
 of the Peace, are entered ; the banns having been first pub- 
 lished on three separate market days, in the Market Place. 
 
 This church, like the other two Sudbury churches, 
 contains a complete octave of bells which bear the following 
 inscriptions — - 
 
154 -^^^^ History of Sudhury, 
 
 1. Cast by John Warner & Sons, London, 1876. In memory 
 
 of Chas. Badham, M.A., 27 years vicar of this parish. 
 Died 15th April, 1874. 
 
 2. Cast by John Warner & Sons, London, 1876. Presented 
 
 by Elliston Allen. 
 
 3. George Dashwood, Esq., John Crysell, wardens, H.P. 
 
 1701. 
 
 4. Miles Graye made me, 1671. 
 
 5. ^ . Sancta Katerina ora pro nobis. 
 
 6. ^ . Smn Rosa pulsata mundi Maria vocata. 
 
 7. ^ . Stella Maria Maris succurre piissiiha nobis. 
 
 8. [This bell was formerly inscribed ^ W.L. Filius Vir- 
 
 ginis Marie dat nobis gaudia vite de Buri Sancti 
 Edmundi Stephanus Tonni me fecit 1576," but being 
 cracked was broken up in 1875 recast, and now 
 bears the following inscription]. Cast by John War- 
 ner & Sons, London. I toll the funeral knell. I ring 
 the Festal day. I mark the fleeting hours, and chime 
 the Church to pray. Cast 1576. Recast 1875. Rev. 
 A. H. Arden, Vicar. H. S. Pratt, A. Archer, Church- 
 wardens." 
 
 In 1553, the return was Great bells iij. Sancts bell j." 
 
 This Church possesses some fine specimens of ancient 
 Plate in its beautiful Communion Cup with Paten-shaped 
 cover, and its ornate Flagon. 
 
 The Communion Cup is Elizabethan, although the exact 
 year of its manufacture is unknown, for neither Cup nor 
 Cover appear to have any Hall-marks, 
 
The History of Sudbury. 1 55 
 
 This Cup is 6| inches in height, by 3I in diameter ; 
 round the bowl are two ornamental bands of foliated strap- 
 work, characteristic of the period. The Paten-shaped cover, 
 ornamented with a similar band, has a foot formed of four 
 S-shaped bearers, and is inscribed ALL SANTES." 
 
 There are also exact copies of this cup and cover made 
 in 1844. 
 
 The Flagon is ewer-shaped, richly embossed with floral 
 devices. It has the year-mark (the letter %) of 1757, and 
 this inscription The Gift of Mrs. Eliz^^. Theobald to y^ 
 Parish of All Saints^ Sudbury^ Suffolk^ ^757-" The arms 
 of the donor are engraved within a lozenge-shaped shield on 
 the side, viz., Sable a fess crenelly between three owls argent 
 (Theobald, of Barking Hall), impaling. Gules on a chief 
 argent a lion passant of the field (Brooke, of Kersey Priory). 
 
 There are also two handsome Patens, 9 inches in diam- 
 eter, with rims ornamented with raised foliage an inch in 
 width, bearing the year-mark Jf, for 1761. 
 
 VICARS OF ALL SAINTS CHURCH, SUDBURY. 
 
 Patron. 
 
 1307. Hugh de Linton. Abbot and Convent of St, Albans. 
 
 1317. Sayer de Boxford. 
 1327. John Gerard. 
 1358. Geoffry Myrival. 
 
 1360. Geoffry Parfrey. „ 
 He was executed as a malefactor in 1382, for 
 taking part in the Peasants Revolt. 
 
 1382. John Occle. „ 
 
 1383. Roger Scateroim. „ 
 1400. John Olyer 
 
 1424. John Brooks. 
 
 1424. Robert Scherman. „ 
 
156 
 
 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 1426. 
 1429. 
 1442. 
 1447. 
 1449. 
 
 H54- 
 1465. 
 
 1511. 
 '517- 
 
 1536. 
 »547- 
 
 1570. 
 
 J57I- 
 1584- 
 
 1620. 
 1629. 
 1636. 
 
 Vicars of All Saints Church — continued. 
 
 Patron. 
 
 Robert Derham, alias Braunch. Abbot and Convent of St. Albans. 
 William Peckham. 
 
 1647. 
 
 John Talgarth. 
 
 William Hammond. 
 
 John Spirling. 
 
 Thomas Tyler. 
 
 Robert Hindcrwellc. 
 
 John Morell (1505). 
 
 Willm. Grene. 
 
 John Ethell. 
 
 Rector ofMiddleton 1527-1549. 
 Thomas IMarshe. 
 
 Robert Sale. 
 
 Nicholas Hancock (1555). 
 John Brown. 
 
 William Puttock (died Jan. 7, 1573). 
 
 Willi am Strutt. 
 
 Rector of Little Henny 1577-1620. He died 
 Oct. 20tb, 1620. 
 
 James Allen. 
 
 B.A. Trinity College, Oxford, 1598. Rector 
 of Little Henny, 1620. 
 Samuel Jemmat, M.A. 
 
 B.A. Magdalen Hall, Oxford, 1624. M.A. 1627. 
 Rector of Eastling, Kent, 1652. 
 Timothy Rogers. 
 
 Son of the Rev. Vincent Rogers of Stratford, Essex, and 
 grandson of John Rogers, " the proto-martyr." We first 
 hear of him at Steeple, Essex, where he published the 
 Roman Catharist (London, 1621). Vicar of Great Tay, 
 Essex, 1 623- 1 63 7, and minister of Chappel, Essex, 1644- 
 1 654. He was succeeded at Great Tay by his son, Samuel 
 Rogers, in 1637. 
 
 Samuel Crossman, B.D. 
 
 Rector of Little Henny. Dean of Bristol, 1683. He 
 died Feb. 4, 1684. Held this living until 1660 or later. 
 Ejected from Little Henny in 1662 for nonconformity, 
 but afterwards conformed. 
 
 5> 
 
 »> 
 
 Thomas Eden. 
 
 The Bishop, by lapse. 
 
 Thomas Eden. 
 The Queen, by lapse. 
 
 St. Clere Eden. 
 
 The King, by lapse. 
 
 John Eden. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 157 
 
 Vicars of All Saints Church — continued. 
 
 171 r 
 
 1719. 
 
 Patron. 
 
 Nathaniel Burrell, D.D. (^1690-1710). 
 
 Eldest son of Rev. Christopher Burrell, of Great Wrat- 
 
 ting, B.A. Caius College, Cambridge, 1654. M.A. 1658. 
 
 D.D. 1683. His daughter Elizabeth married Rev. 
 
 Samuel Rye, and had issue Nathaniel Rye, born at 
 
 Sudbury, Sept. 2nd, 1696. 
 Edward Pritty. The Queen, by lapse. 
 
 Rector of Little Cornard. He died Nov. 
 19th, 1 7 19. 
 
 Richard Godbold, M.A. John Little. 
 
 Rector of Margaret Roding, Essex, 1733. 
 
 . . 1747. 
 
 He died 
 1747. Walter Hacket. 
 
 He died June 22nd, 1751. 
 1751. John Piper, M.A. 
 
 He died March 27th, 1807. 
 1807. Matthew Slack. 
 
 He died June 19th, 181 1. 
 181 1. Thorpe William Fowke, M.A. 
 
 He died Nov. loth, 1846. 
 1847. Charles Badham, M.A. 
 
 He died April 15th, 1874. 
 1874. Albert Henry Arden, M.A. 
 1876. Charles John Stower, M A. 
 
 Sarah Tyssen. 
 (Executrix of John Eden Little.) 
 The Bishop, by lapse. 
 
 Henry Sperling. 
 
 Henry Sperling. 
 
 David Badham. 
 
 Simeon's Trustees. 
 Simeon's Trustees. 
 
IX. 
 
 SUDBURY COLLEGE. 
 
 ^^^^^HIS institution (which we should now call a 
 ''clergy-house") was founded, in 1374, by Simon 
 of Sudbury and his brother, John of Chertsey, to 
 form a residence for the priests who officiated in 
 the churches of St. Gregory and St. Peter. It 
 stood, where the Union Workhouse is now 
 placed, in a field adjoining St. Gregory's churchyard, which 
 is said to have been the site of the house of Nigel Theobald. 
 
 The Head of the College was called the Warden (or 
 custos) and under him were placed five secular canons, and 
 three chaplains, whose duties were to perform the Divine 
 office daily in the two churches. 
 
 Simon of Sudbury (whose brief biography we have 
 already given) was consecrated Bishop of London in 1361, 
 and seems to have commenced the foundation and endow- 
 ment of Sudbury College a few years later. In the Norwich 
 Registry there is a MS. agreement between him and Henry 
 Spencer, Bishop of Norwich, for the foundation of this 
 
The History of Sudhiiry. 159 
 
 College in connection with the parish church of St. Gregory. 
 This agreement is dated November ist, 1374. Another 
 deed dated Aug. 9th, 1375, is an agreement between Simon 
 ^' late Bishop of London and now Archbishop of Canterbury," 
 and John of Sudbury, of the one part ; and Henry, Bishop of 
 Norwich, of the other part, for the erection of the College, 
 with the licence and authority of the latter prelate, who 
 covenanted for himself and his successors to give two marks 
 annually, and for the Prior and Convent of the cathedral to 
 give five shillings per annum. The Charter of King Edward 
 III. for the foundation of this College was obtained on Feb. 
 2ist, 1375. It appears from this that the founders had ob- 
 tained leave to make an exchange with the Prioress of Eaton 
 Nunnery of four shops in Old Fish Street, London, for the 
 advowson of St. Gregory's Church, previously held by the 
 nuns, in order that it might be given to the College. 
 
 In 1382, Richard 11. granted his licence to these two 
 brothers, to confer on the Warden and Chaplains of this 
 college, lands and tenements of the yearly value of 40 marks, 
 together with the manors of Ballingdon and Middleton with 
 their appurtenances, and various lands and tenements held of 
 the crown, of the total value of ^170 9s. ojd. per annum. 
 
 In 1386, this charter was confirmed and enlarged by 
 another, which confirmed to the College the manor of Neales 
 in Sudbury, three messuages in Birchin Lane, London, the 
 Rectory and Church of St. Gregory, the Rectory and Chapel 
 of St. Peter, the Rectory and Church of Brundon, and other 
 property. 
 
i6o The History of Sudbury, 
 
 Amongst the Borough Records is a beautifully executed 
 grant of land near the Croft in Sudbury, to Simon of Sudbury 
 (who is therein described as son of Nigel Thebauld and 
 Sarah his wife), from one Hugh de Dedham. This deed is 
 dated on the Thursday after the Feast of St. Gregory (14 
 Edward III.) 1339. This land apparently formed part of the 
 endowment of the College, the site of which occupied three 
 acres of land. 
 
 As a hitherto unprinted document relating to the mar- 
 tyred archbishop we print it here in full — 
 
 Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Hugo de Dedham de 
 Sudbyrie concessi dedi et hac presenti carta mea confirmavi 
 Simoni filio Nigelli Thebaud et Sarre uxori dicti Nigelli 
 unum cotagium unam grangiam cum curtilagio adjacente et 
 duas placeas terre jacentes in villa Sudbyrie queque cota- 
 gium grangeam cum curtilagio adjacente jacent juxta terram 
 Johannis de Chilton et unum caput abuttat super stratam 
 vocatam Rotouris strete et una placea terre jacet juxta terram 
 Johannis de Wynesle et altera placea terre jacet inter terram 
 Nigelli Thebaud ex utraque parte Habendum et tenendum 
 de capitalibus dominis feodi illius predictum cotagium gran- 
 giam cum curtilagio supradicto et predictas duas placeas cum 
 omnibus suis pertinentiis predictis Simoni et Sarre et heredi- 
 bus suis et assignatis cuicunque et quondocunque ilia dare 
 vendere legare vel assignare voluerint libere bene et in pace 
 in feodo jure hereditarie in perpetuum per servitia inde debita 
 et de jure consueta. Et ego predictus Hugo heredes mei et 
 assignati predictum cotagium grangiam cum curtilagio adja- 
 
The History of Sudbury. i6i 
 
 cente et predictas diias placeas terre cum omnibus suis 
 pertinentiis predictis Simoni et Sarre heredibus suis et assig- 
 natis contra omnes gentes warantizabimus in perpetuum. In 
 cujus rei testimonium huic presenti carte sigillum meum 
 apposui. Hiis testibus Johanne de Berton. Roberto de 
 Revishal. Roberto Bantyng. Johanne Bren. Johanne de 
 Eye. Johanne de Wynesle. Johanne Waryn, et aliis. Da- 
 tum apud Sudbyre die Jovis proxima post festum Sancti 
 Gregorii pape anno regni Regis Edwardi tertii post con- 
 questum quarto-decimo. 
 
 This college was subsequently endowed by other bene- 
 factors ; in 1415, one John Roughered gave to the college 
 one messuage and lands in Sudbury, Great Cornard, &c., and 
 amongst other benefactors were John Guyn and John Reeves- 
 hall in 1391 ; Robert Middleton 1410 ; John Brown, clerk, 
 141 1. 
 
 William Wood, Warden of the college, and founder of 
 the Sudbury Grammar School, by will dated 1491, after the 
 customary pious bequests of money for oblations perchance 
 due and unpaid to the Altar," and for a trental of masses, 
 bequeathed several valuable Service and other books, for the 
 use of the brethren at the College, amongst others, The 
 Book of Martyrs" (not John Foxe's), which contained ''a 
 Treatise on the Ladder of Heaven and the Advance of 
 Virtue," which the Warden, Chaplain, and brethren, should 
 cause solemnly to be read during the time they should con- 
 tinue in the choir, as was done in the church of Salisbury. 
 If the legatees refused to carry out this injunction, the book 
 
1 62 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 was to pass to the Collegiate Church of the Blessed Mary de 
 Pratis in Norwich, and in default of the brethren there, to 
 the College at Mettingham. He also bequeathed to this 
 College (St. Gregory's) his high silver cup, having this 
 inscription ''God be with us," and a cover to the same having 
 a dove at the top, and his best plain porcelain dish without 
 feet, and three silver spoons, partly inlaid with gold in the 
 handles. To the College Library, '' a Bible in two volumes" ; 
 '' S Nicholas of Lycias on the Bible " in three volumes ; and 
 ''the Great Concordance," all printed (a very rare thing in 
 those days); a copy of "the Holy Martyrs," a "pair of 
 Decretals," a "Text-book with the Right Doctrines im- 
 mediately following," an " Elementary Book of Doctrine," 
 "Abbot Nicholas on the Decretals" in five volumes, " Du- 
 randus " with pictures in two volumes, and "the Provincial 
 Constitutions with Notes." There were also legacies to the 
 brethren, choristers, and servants of Sudbury College. He 
 desired his body to be buried in the Parish Church, "in a 
 certain part of the Sanctuary of the Collegiate Church of St. 
 Gregory aforesaid, being in the daily view of the Master or 
 Warden and co-brethren of the present and all future times." 
 
 Good William Wood appears to have been a man of 
 wealth, and also a model Warden of the College which he 
 left in a most flourishing condition, but a few years later, 
 things were not going on so well, and at the Bishop's Visita- 
 tions a very unsatisfactory state of aff"airs was disclosed. 
 
 Several records of the Bishop's Visitations of this Col- 
 lege have been preserved. In 1493 one Thomas Aleyn was 
 
The History of Sudbury. 163 
 
 Warden, and the Bishop's Commissary reported that all was 
 going on well. In 15 14 John Carver D.D. was the Warden, 
 and all was again reported to be satisfactory, but an inven- 
 tory of the Jewels and moveable goods belonging to the 
 College was ordered to be taken. [An inventory of the 
 Jewels and other goods of the College taken in 1391 is 
 amongst the Davy MSS. in the British Museum. It shews 
 that the College was even then most bountifully supplied 
 with books, plate and vestments.] 
 
 In 1520, when the Bishop's Commissary visited the 
 College, Richard Eden was Warden, but he found it con- 
 venient to absent himself, leaving a letter of apology for his 
 absence to be given to the Commissary. The brethren of 
 the College made several complaints. The senior brother 
 said that he was over 80 years of age ; that he had been 
 living in the College for 50 years ; that three brothers more 
 were required to make up their full numbers. Another one 
 complained that the statutes with regard to their dress were 
 not observed. 
 
 In 1526, a still worse picture of the College was pre- 
 sented to the Bishop. Richard Eden, the Warden, was still 
 absent ; the College was in debt, and no accounts had been 
 made up for some fourteen years past. The brethren too 
 were quarrelling daily amongst themselves, and could not 
 be appeased in the absence of the Warden. Their annual 
 allowances were unpaid, and the necessary repairs to their 
 farms and manors were neglected. The chaplains complain- 
 ed that their fare was very scanty, and that a bequest of 
 
164 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 feather beds and linen, made by brother Thomas Carver to 
 the infirmary, had never been carried out. 
 
 In 1532, similar complaints were made to the Bishop. 
 There were no accounts made up. No inventory of the 
 jewels had ever been seen. There had been only three 
 brethren for the last three years, and sometimes only two 
 chaplains were present in the Choir at Service time. There 
 were no choristers, and a lad of eighteen was acting as 
 stew^ard. 
 
 It was obvious that such a state of things could not con- 
 tinue. The Bishop accordingly severely reprimanded the 
 Warden for his neglect of his duties, and for holding other 
 benefices, and ordered him at once to make up the number 
 of brethren to eight (the full number). The Warden (Richard 
 Eden) however, pleaded that he had received the necessary 
 faculties to hold his various benefices, but that he could not 
 produce them then as he had left them securely locked up in 
 his London house, where he alone could get them. 
 
 After this things appear to have gone on in much the 
 same way for a few years longer, and then, in 1538, came the 
 general dissolution of religious houses by Henry VIII., when 
 this college was surrendered to the King by Richard Eden, 
 who was still Warden, Rector of Great Waldingfield, and 
 Archdeacon of Middlesex. 
 
 On February 3rd, 1544, King Henry VIII. granted the 
 site of the dissolved College of Sudbury with its appurten- 
 ances to Sir Thomas Paston, of Paston in Norfolk, one of 
 the Gentlemen of the King's Privy Chamber, in considera- 
 tion of the sum of ^1280. 
 
The History of Sudhiry. 165 
 
 The Pastons do not appear to have lived in the College, 
 but it was occupied by George Clopton, third son of John 
 Clopton of Melford, who died in 1565, and was buried in St. 
 Gregory's Church. In the windows of the college there 
 were many coats of arms in stained glass, amongst others 
 those of Clopton impaling Peacock^ Simon Sudbury^ Pyken- 
 ham^ Waldgrave^ Cressener^ Crane^ Heigham^ Broiighton^ 
 and others. 
 
 On May i, 1634, College was sold by William 
 Paston and others to John and Oliver Andrews for ;^3,468, 
 and, after passing through the hands of several different 
 owners, it was eventually purchased by the Court of Guar- 
 dians, appointed under the local Act temp. Queen Anne, to be 
 converted into a Work-house for the poor of the borough ! 
 In 1836 the last remains of the old building were pulled down, 
 and the present Union Work-house erected on the site. 
 
 One fragment however of Archbishop Simon's ^'goodly 
 college " escaped destruction, and may still be seen. It is 
 the old brick gateway, opposite the West end of St, Gre- 
 gory's church, through which the secular canons," of Arch- 
 bishop Simon's foundation, used to pass on their way to the 
 Parish Church. This gateway was originally erected in the 
 late Perpendicular period, and over the archway is an 
 escutcheon bearing the arms of the Archbishop. 
 
1 
 
 X. 
 
 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. 
 
 ^HIS School can boast of a greater antiquity than 
 most of the Public Schools of England, for it was 
 
 6 
 
 founded by the Rev. William Wood, Warden of 
 ^1 St. Gregory's College in Sudbury, by his will, 
 
 'YWV\ dated April 6th, 1491, in which he devised to 
 certain feoffees, (viz., William Felton ; John 
 Wayte, chaplain of the College ; William Warren alias 
 Baker, grocer of Sudbury ; and John Brooke,) a Messuage 
 with a croft of land adjoining situated near the lane leading 
 from the house of the Mendicant Friars to St. Gregory's 
 church, to be used as a School house. 
 
 He further directed that the Warden of St. Gregory's 
 for the time being, should hire and nominate a good and 
 honest man to live in the School-house and there ''continu- 
 ally and daily" teach grammar, and otherwise instruct the 
 boys who attended the School. 
 
 By way of a salary the Master was allotted the rent of 
 the messuage, less ten shillings which was to be paid to the 
 
o 
 
 s ^ 
 
 a > 
 
 IX? o 
 
The History of Sudbury. 167 
 
 Warden of St. Gregory's as a fund to defray the cost of the 
 necessary repairs to the School property, and if the Warden 
 did not expend this money on repairs, then this sum was 
 forfeited to the feoffees who were themselves to do the 
 necessary work to the premises. 
 The testator then proceeded, 
 
 ''Also I will and bequeath that howsoever whensoever 
 and as often as the said grammar-master shall not be of good 
 and honest conversation, and it shall happen that the same 
 place be void, then the Warden and his successors shall 
 provide and appoint another good honest and fit man as 
 grammar-master within a year next after such vacancy." 
 
 If the vacancy were not filled up and the grammar- 
 mastership remained void for six years '' without fraud or 
 covin," or the master refused to teach, then the property 
 was to be sold, and the money arising from the sale to be 
 disposed, says the testator, ''for the salvation of my soul and 
 the souls of my benefactors, in works of charity and in the 
 performance of masses as shall seem best expedient to my 
 feoffees and most acceptable to God." 
 
 This Will, as was usual in the 15th century, was written 
 in Latin, and it is noteworthy that the term used for the 
 Warden of St. Gregory's throughout this document is 
 " CEconomist or Warden," the word " oeconomist " being 
 used in its Greek sense of "one who carries out an arrange- 
 ment or system," an unusual use of the word. 
 
 In addition to the original endowment of William 
 Wood, the School-master also received the rent of a farm 
 
1 68 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 of 95 acres, now known as School Farm, at Little Maplestead, 
 in Essex, but how this estate was acquired by the School is 
 unknown.* 
 
 Before the School had been founded for half a century 
 it suffered a severe shock in the loss of its guardian and pro- 
 tector, the Warden of St. Gregory's, that College having 
 been swept away m the general dissolution of religious 
 houses by Henry VIII., though, happily, the School was 
 permitted to remain, and the patronage of the School passed 
 to the purchaser of the dissolved College, the patron of St. 
 Gregory's church. 
 
 When we next hear of the School, in 17 14, the curate of 
 St. Gregory's church was holding the mastership of the school 
 in conjunction with his curacy, and from that period until 
 1 81 7, these two offices continued to be held by the one 
 man ; possibly this had been the custom from the time of 
 the dissolution of St. Gregory's college. 
 
 It appears probable that the curates of St. Gregory's did 
 not perform their duties as masters of the School in person, 
 but employed an assistant to teach the boys, some of whom 
 were boarders and others day-boys, amongst the latter being 
 six free-scholars. 
 
 In 181 7 Sir Lachlan Maclean, patron of the living, 
 appointed the Rev. H. W. Wilkinson to the curacy of St. 
 
 * The earliest reference to this land that we have discovered occurs in the Borough 
 Chamberlain's Account for 1569, and runs thus • — 
 
 " Ressayvid ye 1 1 day of April 1569 of Thomas Gosslynge Farmer of the Lande calyd 
 Freburnes in Parva Mapylsted the whiche do belonge unto the Scholle hows in Sudbury, 
 and is for ye half yeres Rente of ye sayd Lande dewe at ye Ladey daye laste paste by nie 
 in money ye sum of Vli. I seye in money feve pownds. 
 
 The 1 7 day of Aprill 1 569 I payd to Richard Masson Scholemaster this VH. in money 
 as is above received and he contentyd to do reprasions upon ye same SkoUe hows in Sud- 
 bury to the sum of xxis. of the said money." 
 
The History of Sudbury. 169 
 
 Gregory's alone, and made no nomination of a Master to the 
 School ; he also claimed the School farm at Little Maple- 
 stead as his private property, and it was only recovered for 
 the School by the Charity Commissioners after a long and 
 tedious lawsuit, which commenced in 1830, and only termi- 
 nated in 1858. 
 
 In consequence of the commencement of this action, 
 which was entitled ''The Attorney-General v. Maclean," 
 the boarding school was broken up, the Charity-boys were 
 dismissed, the Master left the School-House, and the pre- 
 mises were suffered to fall into a dilapidated state. 
 
 In 1858, a new scheme for the management of the 
 School, and the application of the income, was approved by 
 the Court of Chancery. A mortgage was effected on the 
 Maplestead property, and the present school buildings erected 
 at a cost of over £2^^oo. In August, 1891, the Maplestead 
 farm was sold by Public Auction for £1^^"]^. 
 
 The old school-house was demolished in 1858 ; it was 
 an old building of brick with stone mullioned windows 
 below, whilst the upper storey was of timber and plaster, 
 grey and mellowed with age. The Tudor doorway, and the 
 clustered chimney stack above, pointed to a date of erection 
 coeval with the founder. 
 
 It was here that Thomas Gainsborough, the great land- 
 scape and portrait painter, as a boy received his education. 
 
 The bench on which he sat, while deep employed, 
 Though mangled, hacked, and hewed, not yet destroyed ; 
 The wall on which he tried his graving skill, 
 The very name he carved, existing still," 
 
170 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 Thus wrote Fulcher, the Sudbury poet, some fifty years 
 ago, of Gainsborough, the Sudbury painter. But bench and 
 wall, initials and hackings, are all gone with the venerable, 
 but sadly dilapidated building, where they were to be seen 
 when Fulcher wrote. 
 
 Again, in Fulcher's Life of Gainsborough," published 
 two years before the old school-house was demolished, he 
 says, ''Near his initials is a deep cut figure in the moulder- 
 ing wall, an evident caricature of the Schoolmaster, which it 
 requires no great stretch of imagination to attribute to the 
 penknife of Master Gainsborough." The Schoolmaster in 
 question was Thomas Gainsborough's uncle, the Rev. Hum- 
 phrey Burroughs, who was also perpetual curate of St. 
 Gregory's. 
 
 In 1878 the Charity Commissioners prepared a new 
 scheme, which provides for a commercial as well as a 
 classical curriculum, and allows the Governors, if they think 
 it desirable, to appoint a layman as Master. The School of 
 late years has been gradually increasing in numbers, both of 
 day scholars and boarders. From the funds of Girling's and 
 Upcher's charities, two boys are sent up yearly from the 
 Charity (or National) Schools. There is a meadow used as 
 a playground attached to the school, and arrangements have 
 been made with the Trustees of the Public Recreation 
 Ground for the boys to have the use of that ground on 
 certain easv terms, for cricket and football. 
 
 The Governors are a representative body, partly elective. 
 Both civil and ecclesiastical authorities are represented ; the 
 Mayor and the beneficed clergy of the town having seats on 
 the Board of Management, " Floreat Schola Sudburiensis!' 
 
XI. 
 
 THE DOMINICAN FRIARY. 
 
 HE house of the Friar- Preachers of the order of 
 St. Dominic in Sudbury, otherwise known as 
 Sudbury Priory, must not be confused with the 
 Benedictine Priory of St. Bartholomew in Sud- 
 bury, which stood on the other side of the town. 
 The Dominican or Black Friars were introduced into 
 England about the year 1224, and, notwithstanding the 
 jealousy of the older orders and the opposition of the paro- 
 chial clergy, were everywhere received with the greatest 
 favour. In Sudbury they gained a footing in 1272, when 
 Baldwin de Shimperling and Mabilla his wife founded and 
 endowed a house for their reception. Their popularity here 
 is attested by the long list of eminent and wealthy persons 
 (given in Weaver's Funeral Monuments) who were buried 
 in their church, most of them, no doubt, having adopted the 
 Friars habit in order to avail themselves of the benefits 
 promised to them by Pope Clement V. (^1305), ix.^ the re- 
 
172 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 mission of the fourth part of the sins of all those buried in 
 this dress.* 
 
 Even the heart of Sir Thomas Weyland was brought 
 from abroad to be buried within the walls of this Priory. 
 His history is curious and interesting, for being Chief Justice 
 of the Common Pleas in 1289, he was himself charged with 
 felony, and imprisoned. But, effecting his escape, he took 
 refuge as a novice amongst the Franciscan Friars of Bab- 
 well, in Fornham All Saints, Suffolk. However, his retreat 
 was discovered, but as he was in Sanctuary, forty days of 
 grace were given him according to law. After which, as the 
 Friars would not surrender the refugee, no provisions were 
 allowed to be brought into the Friary, and the inmates being 
 forced by privation to come out of the buildings. Sir Thomas 
 Weyland was captured. He was then given the choice of 
 three alternatives, viz., imprisonment for life, standing his 
 trial, or abjuring the realm. He chose the latter, and having 
 walked bare-headed and bare-footed, with a crucifix in his 
 hand, to the sea-shore, was allowed to embark for a foreign 
 country. Some years later, when he was on the point of 
 death, he desired that his heart at least might be buried in 
 England. His desires, we are told, were carried out, and 
 his heart found a resting place in the church of the Friars at 
 Sudburv. 
 
 In 1 38 1, Simon, Archbishop of Canterbury, and his 
 brother, John of Chertsey, granted permission to the Prior 
 
 ""Vide Milton's Paradise Lost, Book III.— 
 " They who, to be sure of Paradise, 
 Dying put on the weeds of Dominic, 
 Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised." 
 
The History of Sudbury. 173 
 
 of the Friars of Sudbury, to obtain a freshwater supply for 
 the Priory from a spring on a piece of land in the parish of 
 Ballingdon, and to construct an underground channel (or 
 conduit) to convey the water from the spring, across the 
 high-road, the meadows and the river, to the Priory-house ; 
 no mean feat of engineering in those days. No trace of this 
 conduit, however, can now be discovered, nor has the spring 
 itself been identified, but it is supposed to have been in a 
 field on the slope of the hill above Ballingdon Hall, which 
 is still known as Conduit field. 
 
 At the dissolution of religious houses in the reign of 
 Henry VHI., this Priory was surrendered, October 31, 1539, 
 by John Cotton, the last Prior. Its annual value was then 
 estimated at £222 i8s. od. 
 
 On October 19th, 1540, the King, under the seal of his 
 Court of Augmentations, granted to Thomas Eden, Clerk of 
 the Council, and Grisell his wife, all the site, circuit, 
 ground, and ambit, of the late House or Priory now dis- 
 solved of the Friars-Preachers in our town of Sudbury in 
 our county of Suffolk, and all the church, belfry, and burial 
 ground of the same late House or Priory " &c. 
 
 Thomas Eden, and his son Sir Thomas Eden the elder, 
 lived at the Priory, but Sir Thomas Eden the younger, on 
 his marriage in 1592, built Ballingdon Hall, and made that 
 his residence. In 1621, the Priory was purchased by Robert 
 How, and in 171 2 it came into the Cole family. It was 
 afterwards purchased by Sir James Marriott of Twinstead, 
 and has since been divided and passed to other owners. 
 
174 
 
 77/6' History of Sudbury. 
 
 The original Priory stood on the south side of Friars 
 Street, behind the rough stone wall with its two Tudor 
 doorways, which may still be seen beside the street, but the 
 church and house of the Friars have long since passed away. 
 Apparently they were pulled down by Thomas Eden when 
 he acquired the estate in 1 540, and a new house set up 
 in their place, which was better adapted for his residence. 
 Fortunately a drawing of this house, as it appeared in 1750, 
 was made by Kirby (and has since been engraved), from 
 which it appears that it was in the domestic-gothic style of 
 the Tudor period, having a battlemented front, flanked by 
 two short projecting wings with crow-stepped gables.* It 
 stood about fifty yards back from the street, and was ap- 
 proached, through a gateway with folding doors of oak, down 
 an avenue of limes. Around the house were yards, orchards 
 and vineyards ; and behind, the lime-avenue was continued 
 with meadows on either side down to the banks of the river. 
 The whole estate included about eighteen acres. 
 
 This house was pulled down, about the year 1820, by 
 Sir James Marriott of Twinstead, and the materials employed 
 by him in the commencement of a new church at Twinstead, 
 which was never completed, as the design was of such an 
 unecclesiastical character that the Bishop of the diocese 
 intimated that he should refuse to consecrate it. Sir James, 
 however, was not disposed to alter his plans, so the work was 
 stopped, and the part which had been erected, after standing 
 
 * In the windows of the hall were several coats of arms in stained glass, viz. the Royal 
 arms (England and France quartered) \ the Eden arms; and this coat — nebulee of six 
 pieces argent and sable, on a chief gules a lion passant guardant. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 175 
 
 for a time, was ultimately removed. Some of the wood-work 
 of the old Priory was also mov^ed to Twinstead and used in 
 the house of Mr. Manning Cook, whilst the doors were set 
 up in the house of Mrs. Sikes, in the Old Market Place, 
 Sudbury. 
 
 Upon the breaking up of the foundations of the Priory 
 several stone coffins, and graves of ffint-work, were dis- 
 covered ; on one the name Edmvnd could be deciphered 
 but the rest of the inscription was illegible. 
 
 A stone coffin, said to have been dug up on this site, 
 stood for many years in the yard of the Maldon Grey public- 
 house, where it was used as a horse trough to receive the 
 drippings of a pump, but even this has now disappeared, 
 probably to be broken up to mend the roads ! 
 
ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S PRIORY. 
 
 The traveller to or from Sudbury by the high road to Bury 
 St. Edmund's will probably notice on the North side, on 
 rising ground about a quarter of a mile from the highway, a 
 picturesque ivy-clad grey building of an ecclesiastical char- 
 acter, and near by, a gabled farm-house with extensive 
 outbuildings. This is the site of an ancient Priory of 
 Benedictine monks, and the buttressed stone building was 
 their chapel, which for many years has been diverted from 
 religious purposes and used as a granary or barn. 
 
 In the reign of Henry I. (<^ii3o) Wulfric, Master or 
 Moneyer of the royal mint at Sudbury, gave to the Abbey 
 of Westminster, the Church of St. Bartholomew in Sudbury, 
 which gift was confirmed to that Abbey by King Henry I., 
 and the Charter of Confirmation was witnessed by Roger 
 Bishop of Salisbury, who died in 1139. Nothing is known 
 of Wulfric, the founder of this Priory, except that his name 
 occurs on coins of the time of Henry I. and his immediate 
 predecessors. It is said that at the time of this foundation, 
 he had taken the vow, and become a monk of the Abbey of 
 
The History of Sudbury. 177 
 
 Westminster. Many coins bearing the name of Wulfric, 
 Moneyer," were struck at Sudbury, Norwich, Colchester, 
 and Canterbury, during the reigns of William L, William 
 II., and Henry I., but none of Wulfric's coins have been 
 discovered of later date than of Henry I.'s reign. 
 
 In consequence of this gift, a Priory of Benedictine 
 monks, a cell to the Abbey of Westminster, was fixed at 
 Sudbury early in the 12th century. 
 
 In 1 157 Pope Adrian IV. confirmed to the Abbey of 
 Westminster the cell of St. Bartholomew of Sudbury, with 
 all obedience and subjection to the Church of St. Gregory in 
 the same town, and with all things thereto belonging." 
 
 This Priory possessed lands, &c., at Chelvington, Clare, 
 Kedington, Melford, Thorpe, Wratting, Sudbury and Acton. 
 
 In the Taxation of Pope Nicholas (1291) this Priory 
 
 is entered as holding the following property in Sudbury, 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 Rents in St. Peter's Parish ... 042 
 Lands, Rents and Tithes in St. 
 
 Gregory's Parish ... 3 3 4 
 
 In the General Ecclesiastical Survey, 26 Henry VIII., 
 the value of the Priory of St. Bartholomew juxta Sudbury " 
 is set down at £10. 
 
 In the 31st year of Henry VIII. this Priory, as part 
 of the Monastery of Westminster, was surrendered to the 
 Crown, but three years later was re-granted to the Dean and 
 Chapter of Westminster as part of their endowment. 
 
 The last remains of the Priory house were pulled down 
 in 1779, but the Chapel is still in good preservation, and 
 
178 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 could at a comparatively small cost be again made available 
 for Divine service. It is a small building of the Perpen- 
 dicular period, without chancel, aisles, or tower. The roof 
 is high-pitched, with the timbers framed in cants, and the 
 eastern part lined with boarding. It measures 53 feet in 
 length by 19 feet in breadth. Height to wall-plate 17 feet, 
 to ridge 30 feet. There was formerly a side chapel, or 
 sacristy, attached to the south wall, towards the east end of 
 it, but it has long been demolished. 
 
 Until about sixty years ago a service was held here 
 once a year by direction of the Dean and Chapter of West- 
 minster ; it was usually conducted by the Vicar of All 
 Saints, Sudbury. 
 
 Simon de Henlegh was Prior of St. Bartholomew's in 
 Sudbury in 1323. 
 
 St. Bartholomew's Farm of 246 acres forms a parish by 
 itself, and returns a Guardian to the Sudbury Union. It is 
 now the property of G. P. Weybrew, Esq., who resides 
 there and returns himself as Guardian for his household, 
 who are the only parishioners. About 145 acres of this 
 farm are extra-parochial land belonging to Melford ; the 
 remaining loi acres lie within the Borough boundaries. 
 
 In an old survey of this estate made in 1656, several 
 cottages and gardens are shewn, which now no longer exist, 
 and the site of the house, with the yards and gardens, is 
 stated to contain 14 acres i rood. Several fields belonging 
 to St. Bartholomew's, lying near St. Leonard's Hospital, are 
 locally known as Half-year lands," the free burgesses hav- 
 
The History of Sudbury. 179 
 
 ing the right of shackage, or depasturing cattle on them, 
 immediately after harvest, from Old Bartholomew's day 
 (September 5th) to Old Candlemas day (February 14th). 
 An annual sum is now paid by Mr. Weybrew as commuta- 
 tion in lieu of the right being exercised. A large quantity 
 of land in the suburbs of the town was subject to this right 
 prior to 1863, when the redemption of the shackage by the 
 several owners took place. 
 
 In 1832 there w^as a lengthy dispute between the 
 Borough Rating Authority and the owners of the ^' Barte- 
 mus," as the place is sometimes called by the natives, as 
 to the liability of the messuage and farm to be assessed to 
 the Poors Rate. The case was eventually tried (Burton 
 Underwood, complt. v. Anthony Sparrow, deft-) in the 
 Court of Exchequer, and judgment given in favour of the 
 Borough. 
 
ST. sepulchre's chapel. 
 
 Although this chapel is several times mentioned in the 
 ancient records of the town, very little is known of its origin 
 or history. 
 
 It is said to have been founded by William, Earl of 
 Gloucester, and given by him to the Benedictine Monks of 
 Stoke by Clare, but the first charter we can discover relating 
 to it, is a grant and confirmation made, <^i2o6, by Amicia, 
 his daughter. Countess of Clare, whereby she gives to the 
 church of St. John the Baptist at Stoke and to the Monks 
 there, ''the Messuage of St. Sepulchre" in Sudbury and its 
 endowments (viz. 12 acres of land and i acre of meadow, 
 together with 20s. gd. annual rent arising from certain tene- 
 ments in Sudbury, and five marks annual rent arising from 
 the bridge-tolls of Sudbury). This charter is without date, 
 and witnessed by Sir Stephen and Sir Silvester, chaplains. 
 
 Amongst the MSS. in the British Museum (Add. MSS. 
 6041 fo. 66) is an old parchment book, written in a 14th 
 century hand, containing a list of the muniments belonging 
 to Philippa, w^ife of Edmond Mortimer, Earl of March. One 
 of these deeds was entitled ''La Chartre Roger Wymarkes, 
 faite a Richard de Clare Comte de Gloucestre, de certeins 
 reliques d'estre en la chapele de Seint Sepulcre de Subbiry, 
 donne en la fest d' appostoles Philipe et Jacob I'an de Grace 
 MCCLXII." 
 
71ie History of Sudbury. i8i 
 
 This must have related to the chapel, and, if the deed 
 itself should ever be discovered, would no doubt supply 
 much interesting information. 
 
 In the Inquisition post mortem, held on the death of 
 Gilbert, Earl of Gloucester, in 13 14, the chapel of St. 
 Sepulchre is named amongst his possessions. And on the 
 death of Roger Mortimer, Earl of Majrch, in 1398, ''the 
 church or chapel of St. Sepulchre " is again recorded as one 
 of his possessions. 
 
 In 1424, the annual value of this chapel was returned at 
 thirty shillings, and in the Ecclesiastical Survey of 26th 
 Henry VIII. (1534) its annual value was computed at forty 
 shillings. 
 
 The Institution Books of the diocese record the names 
 of the following three chaplains, as having been instituted to 
 the Chapel of St. Sepulchre — 
 
 1383. John de Burton, on the presentation of the trustee 
 
 of Edward, Earl of March. 
 — John Stacey. 
 1403. John Brokhall. 
 In 1 55 1, the chapel, messuage, and land of St. Sepulchre 
 were granted to Sir John Cheke, but after that date no 
 mention of this chapel can be found, and beyond these 
 scanty facts nothing is known of this ancient edifice. It was 
 probably pulled down, and the materials used for other 
 buildings. 
 
 The name, however, has been preserved in '' Sepulchre " 
 Street where it is said to have stood, at the intersection of 
 St. Gregory's and School Streets with Stour Street. 
 
1 82 TJic History of Sudbury, 
 
 In proof of this, remains of the foundations of an ancient 
 building have been discovered, and skeletons have been dug 
 up on that spot. In 1800, when a cellar was being dug in 
 one of the corner houses in School Street, abutting on Stour 
 Street, many perfect skeletons and bones were unearthed, 
 and in 1826, at the opposite corner in Sepulchre Street, eight 
 skeletons were discovered, and others in digging the founda- 
 tions of Trinity Chapel. 
 
 A portion of what was supposed to have been one of the 
 northern buttresses of St. Sepulchre's Chapel was exposed, 
 and the core of another buttress is still to be seen, in the 
 cellar of a house on the South side of Sepulchre Street. 
 
 In 1850, the remains of thirty skeletons were uncovered 
 not far from the surface of the ground, and a silver coin of 
 Henry IV. was picked up, close to this spot. 
 
 Besides this chapel, Amicia, Countess of Clare, ^1200, 
 founded a Hospital or Almshouse in Sudbury for the sup- 
 port of the poor, dedicated in honour of our Lord and the 
 Virgin Mary, and endowed it with the tithe of her mills in 
 Sudbury, five acres of arable, one acre of meadow and one 
 of pasture in Kings Marsh, and the right of pasturage for 4 
 cows and 20 sheep in Kings Marsh and Portmans Croft 
 (now known as the Common). She stipulated that neither 
 she nor her heirs would put any person into this hospital 
 ^' sine consensu et communi consilio proborum hominum de 
 Sudberia," ix.^ without permission of the Town Council, 
 
 This hospital is supposed to have stood on a piece of 
 land, now known as Hospital Yard," close to Ballingdon 
 Bridge, but nothing further can be learnt concerning it. 
 
COLNEY'S HOSPITAL, OR 
 
 THE HOSPITAL OF ST. LEONARD. 
 
 Owing to the unclean mode of living in the middle ages, 
 and to men eating salt meat for nearly half the year and 
 having next to no vegetables, leprosy, scurvy and like 
 diseases were very rife, and we hear of leper-houses every- 
 where. 
 
 Sudbury was no exception to the general rule, and here, 
 during the reign of Edward III., one John Colney or Colnes, 
 a man of substance in the town, founded a Leper Hospital. 
 He was himself a sufferer from that loathsome disease, and 
 being compelled to retire from the world and live apart, 
 associating only with his fellow-sufferers, founded and en- 
 dowed a little house of three tenements on the outskirts of 
 the town, as a hospital for lepers, and retiring there himself 
 became the first Governor of the Hospital. 
 
 The situation of this Sudbury Lazar-house was in every 
 way suitable for its purpose, for whilst it was outside the 
 town and isolated from it, having no other dwellings around, 
 yet it was close to the road leading from Sudbury, through 
 Melford, to Bury St. Edmunds, along which a constant suc- 
 cession of wealthy pilgrims were continually passing (on 
 
184 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 their way to the famous shrine of St. Edmund), and they 
 would be likely to contribute, of their charity, to the support 
 of the poor sufferers in the leper-house close by. 
 
 The endowment of the hospital consisted of the house 
 and garden, together with two fields, containing about five 
 acres of land, lying in close proximity to the hospital. 
 
 In 1372, John Colnes, the founder, applied to that great 
 benefactor of Sudbury, Simon Theobald, then Bishop of 
 London, w^ho drew up certain Statutes and Regulations for 
 the due governance of the Hospital under his episcopal seal, 
 w^hereby it was provided that ''the Hospital of St. Leonard 
 in Holgate near Sudbury" should consist of three leprous 
 persons, one of whom was to be elected " Governor" (John 
 Colnes being the first) by the inmates, the other two swear- 
 ing obedience to him. Whenever a vacancy should occur 
 through the death, expulsion, or voluntary departure of a 
 leper, the remaining two should elect another in his place ; 
 failing that the Mayor and the Spiritual father of St. Gre- 
 gory's should nominate one to fill the vacancy. 
 
 The annual income of the Hospital was to be divided 
 into five portions or shares, two-fifths to go to the Governor, 
 one-fifth to each of the fellows ; the remaining one-fifth to 
 be set aside for the necessary repairs to the premises, and be 
 kept, together with their title-deeds, &c., in a common chest 
 in some church or safe place in Sudbury. 
 
 The Mayor of Sudbury and the vSpiritual father of vSt. 
 Gregory's were constituted Visitors of the Hospital to enquire 
 into the conduct of the same, with power to remove or dis- 
 
The History of Sudbury. 185 
 
 place the members for misbehaviour or nonconformity with 
 the Statutes. 
 
 It was also ordained that if it should happen that the 
 Statutes should not be kept in due form, after the decease of 
 the founder and his wife, the Hospital should remain to the 
 Church of St. Gregory in Sudbury, to be divided between 
 the said Church and the Chapel of St. Anne in the same, 
 by equal proportions, for the safety of the souls of the said 
 founder, John Colney, of Nigel Theobald and Sarah his wife, 
 progenitors of the said Simon Theobald, and for the souls of 
 all the faithful departed. 
 
 The hospital seems to have worked well under these • 
 Statutes, for it was regularly occupied by lepers, and after- 
 wards (when fortunately no lepers could be found in Sud- 
 bury) by poor persons, who were generally such as w^ere 
 suffering from some cutaneous disorder, which was considered 
 by the patrons to be the nearest approach to leprosy to be 
 found. The Mayor and the perpetual Curate of St. Gregory's 
 regularly nominated to this hospital as vacancies occurred, 
 until the beginning of this century when, from neglect or 
 otherwise, the vacancies were not filled up, and Loveday, 
 the last person regularly appointed (who appears to have 
 borne the name or office of Master of the Hospital) died in 
 
 1813. 
 
 Loveday some years before his death let the land to 
 one Norden, who continued in possession until the year 
 1822. At the time of Loveday's death, or soon afterwards, 
 the Rev. W, Finley, perpetual Curate of St. Gregory's 
 
1 86 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 Church, set up a claim to receive the rents of the hospital 
 land on the ground that (the statutes not having been duly 
 observed) under the last clause in the statutes, the hospital 
 lapsed to the Church of St. Gregory. He succeeded, more- 
 over, in getting the rent paid to him until his death in 1816. 
 
 After that time, Norden, the tenant, refused to pay the 
 rent to the succeeding curate, and retained the land, almost 
 rent free, paying only a small acknowledgment to one Ray- 
 ner, who was then living in the hospital ; but by what right 
 Rayner occupied the hospital is not known. However, in 
 1822 Rayner having been driven to apply for parochial 
 relief, the Governors and Guardians of the Sudbury Work- 
 house intervened, for the purpose (as they said) of rendering 
 this charity of some use to the poor, and prevailed on Rayner 
 and Norden to convey the Hospital property by feoffment to 
 the Guardians. The building and the land were then leased 
 out to different persons, bringing in a total rent of ^18 14s. 
 per annum, which went into the general fund for the relief 
 of the poor of Sudbury. 
 
 The matter was then investigated by the Charity Com- 
 missioners, and in 1858 St. Leonard's Hospital (or John 
 Colney's Charity) was put under the control of the Municipal 
 Charity Trustees, who erected two detached double tene- 
 ments, near the site of the old buildings, at a cost of ^376. 
 
 In 1867, the- Charity Commissioners established a new 
 scheme by which the nett income of Colney's Charity was 
 devoted to the support of St. Leonard's Cottage Hospital, 
 which had been erected a short time before, close to the 
 
The History of Sudbury, 187 
 
 town, on the Ipswich Road, where the poor sick and injured 
 of the town and neighbourhood are freely admitted, and 
 carefully tended under the best medical advice. 
 
 Thus the generous stream of charity, and care for the 
 afflicted, has flowed steadily on for some five centuries, and 
 the endowment left by John Colneys is still devoted, if not 
 exactly to its original purpose, to an end of which it is cer- 
 tain the original founder, under the altered circumstances of 
 the 19th century, would have approved. 
 
THE ANCIENT HOUSES. 
 
 Sudbury, like most of the old clothing towns of East Anglia, 
 possesses many fine specimens of the ancient timbered houses, 
 in which the opulent clothiers and wool-merchants used to 
 live. 
 
 Unfortunately many of these quaint old gabled houses, 
 with their overhanging upper-storeys, their high pitched roofs, 
 and carved oak barge-boards, have been swept away to make 
 room for others better adapted for the commerce of the 19th 
 century, whilst some have been so much transformed and 
 modernised, by the addition of new fronts and new chimney- 
 stacks, that very little of the original design can be identified. 
 
 Stour Street perhaps possesses more of these old houses 
 than any other street in Sudbury, the finest of them, known 
 as Salter's Hall, stands on the south side of the street. It 
 was apparently erected about the year 1450, and shews a 
 great deal of careful workmanship in its moulded timbers. 
 It has the usual high-pitched gable with projecting bay 
 windovy, but has lost its original ornamental barge-board, 
 and heavy oaken door. On the bowing-lintel of the central 
 window, over the door, are carved some grotesque figures, 
 perhaps heraldic. In the centre stands an erect human 
 
SALTERS HALL, SUDBURY, SUFFOLK. 
 {From an Old Water Colour Drawing in the possession of Mr. W. Bayly Ransom.) 
 
The History of Sudbury. 189 
 
 figure, with an animal on each side of him, on his right 
 an elephant, and on his left a lion passant. 
 
 The corner house, at the entrance to Plough Lane, has 
 a fine carved oak corner-post, ornamented with an angel 
 bearing a shield, and above it, on the bracket which supports 
 the overhanging upper-storey, is carved the Tudor Rose. 
 
 In Cross Street, many of the houses have picturesque 
 gables and overhanging upper-storeys. On the east side of 
 it is a particularly well-preserved timber house, which retains 
 the most characteristic features of the houses of that period. 
 It is now erroneously called ''the old Moot hall," and said 
 to have been the official residence of the Mayor, but there 
 appear to be little or no grounds for this statement. It has 
 the well known high-pitched roof with projecting eaves, the 
 projecting upper-storey supported by bold brackets and 
 trusses, and the heavy oak planked door. In the upper 
 apartments is some good panelling, and over the large open 
 fireplace in one of the lower rooms were traces of a painting 
 of the Royal Arms. 
 
 The adjoining house is a simpler specimen of the same 
 type. 
 
 In the house of Mr. Ransom, the late Town Clerk, are 
 two handsome old oak doors, with carved panels ornamented 
 with quaint floriated scrolls, of about the year 1520, but the 
 doors are apparently of an earlier date than the doorways 
 wherein they now hang. There is some carved panelling 
 with almost identical designs in St. Osyth's Priory, Essex, 
 which was put up, in 1527, by Abbot Vyntoner. 
 
190 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 In Friars Street, opposite the entrance to Station Road, 
 stands an old house now known as TJic Anchor^ but formerly 
 a noted hostelry under the sign of The White Hart. Here 
 Doctor Rowland Taylor, the Marian martyr, stayed a night, 
 in custody of the sheriff, on his way from London to Had- 
 leigh, where he suffered at the stake, on Aldham Common, 
 Feb. 9th, 1555. Fuller describes Dr. Taylor as ^'a great 
 scholar, a painful preacher, charitable to the poor, of a 
 comely countenance, a proper person, but inclined to cor- 
 pulency and cheerful behaviour." 
 
 At the commencement of Sepulchre Street, adjoining 
 Burkitts Lane, is a good red-brick house with a front of the 
 Georgian period. In the fan-light over the door may be 
 seen the initials, ''E. B.," of Edward Burkitt, a former 
 owner, and representative of a family who resided in this 
 town for some two hundred years. The founder of the Sud- 
 bury family of Burkitt was the Rev. Miles (Michael) Burkitt, 
 son of a Northamptonshire miller, who was educated at St. 
 Edmund Hall, Oxford, and began life as a strict churchman, 
 but afterwards became a bitter Puritan, and was intruded by 
 the Parliamentary party into the Rectory of Hitcham, Suf- 
 folk, but was displaced at the Restoration, when the former 
 Royalist rector returned to his benefice. He purchased an 
 estate at Monks Eleigh in this county, and is said to have 
 been the first person to introduce the cultivation of clover 
 into Suffolk. William Burkitt, his second son by his wife 
 Rebecca, one of the Sparrows of Reed, was Rector of Mil- 
 den, 1 679- 1 703, Vicar of Dedham, Essex, 1692- 1703, and 
 
ANCIENT HOUSE, CROSS STREET, SUDBURY, SUFFOLK. 
 {From an Old Water Colour Drawing in the possession of Mr. W. Bayly Ransom.) 
 
The History of Sudbury. 191 
 
 wrote the once popular Commentary on the New Testa- 
 ment.* 
 
 The Burkitts of Sudbury had in their possession a hand- 
 some inlaid ebony cabinet, formerly the property of Bridget, 
 daughter of Oliver Cromwell (wife first of General Ireton, and 
 afterwards of General Charles Fleetwood), who left it to her 
 relative, Sarah Neville of Ridgewell, Essex, wife of Thomas 
 Burkitt of Sudbury. An excellent description of this cabinet 
 was given in the Gentleman s Magazine^ October, 1841. 
 Tradition relates that John Bunyan once visited Sudbury, 
 and stayed here with his friends the Burkitts. 
 
 A short distance further down the same street, on the 
 same side of it, was the birth-place of the great landscape 
 and portrait painter, Thomas Gainsborough. 
 
 The title-deeds shew that the estate was called Gibblins 
 in 1645, and that it came into the possession of the Gains- 
 borough family in 1725. The old external features of the 
 painter's birth-place are now hidden by a red-brick front. 
 Next door was the Black Horse Inn. 
 
 In North Street, nearly opposite the Horn Inn, is an 
 old timber house, with the arms of Cavendish moulded in the 
 plaster of its overhanging upper-storey, thus, quarterly — 
 
 1 & 4. Sable three stags heads cabossed argent. (Ca- 
 
 vendish). 
 
 2 & 3. Argent a chevron between three crosses cross let 
 
 gules. (Smith). 
 
 * Myles Burkitt, Gent., was buried in St. Gregory's Churchyard, November 14, 1690, 
 and Mary, his wife, June 24, 1699. On the tombstone were these arms, {sable) a chevron 
 {argent) between three garbs {or), impaling, a saltire between twelve crosses botonnees. 
 Other members of this family were buried in All Saints Church, 1666—1841. 
 
192 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 This is the coat of the Cavendish family, descended 
 from Thomas Cavendish and Alice his wife, daughter of 
 John Smith, of Podbrook Hall in Cavendish. One George 
 Cavendish of this family, who died in 1562, was gentleman- 
 usher to Cardinal Wolsey, and a true and faithful friend 
 (as well as the biographer) of his unfortunate patron. 
 
 A similar quartered coat is over the porch at Pentlow 
 Hall, and Horace Walpole had at Strawberry Hill the same 
 arms, in old painted glass, which he had probably picked up 
 in this part of the country. 
 
 All Saints Vicarage contains some handsome panelling 
 and a fine oak staircase. Some of the carved oak panels are 
 said to have come from the old house of the Waldegraves, 
 which stood where the National Schools have since been 
 erected. 
 
 The Rose and Crown Hotel is an ancient hostelry with 
 a courtyard in the centre, still partly surrounded by the 
 original galleries. It appears under the name of The Crown 
 in the Borough Accounts for 1585, thus 
 
 Paide for a gallon of wine sent to Sir John Heigham 
 and Mr. Blage at the Crowne xx^^. 
 
 Paide at the Crowne the i8th of September for Mr. 
 William Waldegrave and Mr. Thomas Higham and my 
 owne dinner and ther menes coming to the towne to take 
 vewe of our men and armer iiij^." 
 
XII. 
 
 EMINENT NATIVES. 
 
 HE Borough of Sudbury can boast of having been 
 the birthplace of many distinguished men ; the 
 two best known being Simon Theobald, Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury (d. 1382), whose biography 
 we have already given in the description of St. 
 Gregory's Church ; and Thomas Gainsborough 
 the eminent painter (d. 1788). The Gainsboroughs were 
 connected with Sudbury for some two centuries, but as the 
 life of Thomas Gainsborough has already been written by 
 Fulcher, Allan Coningham, and others, it will be unnecessary 
 to do more than recount the chief events in it. 
 
 Thomas Gainsborough, the painter, was born in 1727 
 in a picturesque old house in Sepulchre Street next door to 
 the Black Horse Inn. The day of his birth is unknown, but 
 he was baptized at the Independent Meeting House May 
 14, 1727. His father, John Gainsborough, was a Dissenter 
 engaged in the woollen manufactures of the town. He is said 
 to have been a fine man, careful of his personal appearance. 
 
194 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 an adroit fencer, kind to his spinners, and also to his debtors, 
 of good reputation, but not rigid in the matter of smuggling, 
 enterprising and active in business, ''travelling" in France 
 and Holland, and the introducer into Sudbury of the Shroud 
 Trade from Coventry. Mrs. John Gainsborough, whose 
 maiden name was Burroughs, was sister to the Rev. Hum- 
 phry Burroughs, Vicar of St. Gregory's and Master of the 
 Grammar School. They had nine children, five sons and 
 four daughters ; the daughters were all married, (see sheet 
 pedigree,) and the sons were John, Humphry, Matthias, and 
 Robert. 
 
 Matthias died of an accident in his youth, and of Robert 
 little is known except that he married and lived in Lanca- 
 shire, but both John and Humphry were remarkable for 
 their mechanical ingenuity. 
 
 John was well known in Sudbury as '' Scheming Jack," 
 he made a pair of copper wings and essayed in vain to fly ; 
 amongst his other inventions were a cradle which rocked 
 itself, a cuckoo which would sing all the year round, and a 
 wheel that turned in a still bucket of water. He too was 
 a painter, but want of perseverance prevented him from 
 rising to the eminence of his brother Thomas, who used to 
 say that painting of the King's Arms outside the old Moot 
 Hall was the only thing that his eccentric brother ever 
 finished. About 1785, he was about to sail for the East 
 Indies to prove an invention for the discovery of longitude, 
 w^hen he died. 
 
 Humphry the second brother was a Dissenting Minister 
 at Henley-on-Thames, who declined to take orders, though 
 
The History of Sudbury. 195 
 
 offered preferment in the Church of England. His leisure 
 hours were given to mechanics and experiments upon the 
 steam engine. His friends declared that Watt borrowed 
 from him the plan of condensing steam in a separate vessel. 
 A curious sun-dial of his contrivance is in the British 
 Museum. 
 
 Thomas, alone of all the sons, cost his parents little. 
 His mother was a woman of well-cultured mind who, amongst 
 other accomplishments, excelled in flower painting. He was 
 sent to his uncle's grammar school, at 12 he was a confirmed 
 painter, at 15 he was apprenticed to a silversmith in London. 
 Then for some years he studied under Gravelot, the French 
 engraver, in James Street, Covent Garden, who employed 
 him to design ornamental borders for Houbraken's portraits. 
 He afterwards left Gravelot's studio for Frank Hayman, 
 with whom he stayed for three years, and then set up on his 
 own account. In 1754 returned to Sudbury, having been 
 married, at the age of 19, to Miss Margaret Burr, with £200 
 a year, and established himself in Friars Street. He soon 
 removed to Ipswich, where he remained until 1760, remov- 
 ing thence to Bath, and eventually to London. He died 
 August 2, 1788, and was buried in Kew Churchyard. 
 
 Of him. Sir Joshua Reynolds, in his Academic Dis- 
 courses, said If ever this nation should produce genius 
 sufficient to acquire us the honourable distinction of an 
 English School, the name of Gainsborough will be trans- 
 mitted to posterity, in the history of art, among the very 
 first of that rising name." 
 
196 
 
 The History of 
 
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The History of Sudbury. 197 
 
 Richard Sibbs, D.D. This worthy divine was born at 
 Sudbury in the year 1 577, and educated at St. John's College, 
 Cambridge, where he was first chosen a scholar and after- 
 wards elected a fellow of his college. He was led to devote 
 himself to the work of the ministry by the preaching of Mr. 
 Paul Baynes, then lecturer at St. Andrew's Church. He 
 was shortly afterwards appointed lecturer at Trinity Church, 
 where his preaching was numerously attended by the scholars 
 and townsmen. He appears to have been Vicar of Trinity 
 Church during only the last two years of his life, Mr. (after- 
 wards Dr.) Thomas Goodwin having resigned in his favour. 
 In 161 8 he was chosen preacher at Grays Inn Chapel, Lon- 
 don, which office he held until his death. About the year 
 1625 he was elected Master of Katherine Hall, Cambridge. 
 He died July 5, 1635, aged 57 years. He is described as a 
 
 grave and solid divine, famous for piety, learning, devotion 
 and politeness." He was an intimate friend of the celebrated 
 Archbishop Ussher, whom he often visited in London. He 
 was several times convened before the High Commission, 
 and deprived of his fellowship and lecture on account of 
 nonconformity. Dr. Sibbs rendered himself famous by his 
 numerous evangelical w^orks, of which over twenty volumes 
 were published between 1631 and 1658, the best known 
 being The Bruised Reed," published in 1631, which Baxter 
 informs us was chiefly instrumental in his conversion. 
 
 William Jenkyn (161 3 — 1685). This eminent divine 
 was the son of a Puritan Minister of the same name who was 
 
 preacher" of All Saints parish, Sudbury, where the son was 
 
1 98 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 born and baptized Dec. 3rd, 1613. His father dying when 
 he was but three years old, and his mother (a daughter of 
 Richard Rogers of Wethersfield) marrying again, he was 
 taken charge of by his grandfather at Folkestone, and at an 
 early age was sent to St. John's College, Cambridge, where 
 he graduated with distinction, B.A. 1632. Whilst still very 
 young, he was chosen Lecturer at St. Nicholas Aeons, Lon- 
 don, and soon afterwards (Jan. 27, 1641,) was presented by 
 the Crown to the Rectory of St. Leonards, Hythe, near 
 Colchester, where he married his hrst wife. 
 
 In Feb., 1643, he resigned St. Leonards, it is said on 
 account of his health, and became Vicar of Christ Church, 
 Newgate Street, London. Soon afterwards he was appointed 
 Lecturer of St. Ann's, Blackfriars. On the overthrow of the 
 Monarchy he declared himself a Royalist, and refusing to 
 observe the "Thanksgiving," ordered by the Parliament 
 after the trial of Charles L, his living was sequestered. He 
 then retired to Billericav where he lived for six months. On 
 his return to London he became involved, with his brother- 
 in-law, Thomas Cawton, and others, in ''Love's Plot" for 
 restoring the Prince, for which he was sent to the Tower, 
 but afterwards liberated. 
 
 On the subsequent deprivation of Feake (a Fifth-Mon- 
 archist), who had succeeded him at Christ Church, he was 
 reinstated, but ejected under the Act of Uniformity. Ulti- 
 mately he was arrested, Sept. 2, 1684, whilst holding a 
 *' Conventicle," and being committed to Newgate, died there 
 January 19th, 1684/5, after suffering four months in prison, 
 
The History of Sudhiiry. 199 
 
 ''where," as he said shortly before his death, ''a man might 
 be as effectually murdered as at Tyburn." 
 
 He was buried at Bunhill Fields, where a monument, 
 which was erected to his memory in 1715, is still visible, 
 bearing this inscription — 
 
 Sacred 
 
 To the remains of William Jenkyn, 
 
 Minister of the Gospell, who during 
 
 the heavy storms of the Church was 
 
 imprisoned in Newgate. Died a 
 
 Martyr in the 72nd year of his age 
 
 and 52 of his ministry, in 1684. 
 He is best known for his '' Exposition of Jude " (1652-4, 
 two volumes) which exhibits his diligence and learning. He 
 also published a number of sermons. 
 
 William Enfield (1741 — 1797), a divine and author, 
 was born of poor parents at Sudbury, Suffolk, on 29th March, 
 1 74 1. His earliest instructor was Rev. William Hextall, a 
 dissenting minister, by whose advice he was prepared for the 
 ministry and sent in his seventeenth year to the Daventry 
 Academy then conducted by Dr. Caleb Ashworth. He was 
 there prepared as one of the alumni of the Presbyterian fund. 
 In November, 1763, he was ordained minister of the congre- 
 gation of protestant dissenters at Benns Garden, Liverpool. 
 In 1770 he succeeded the Rev. John Seddon as tutor in 
 belles lettres and rector of the Academy at Warrington. 
 That institution was in a declining condition and was dis- 
 solved in 1783. In the meantime he established a sound 
 
200 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 reputation as a divine and author, and the degree of LL.D. 
 was conferred on him by the University of Edinburgh, March 
 8, 1774. He was pastor of the Cairo Street Presbyterian 
 Congregation in Warrington 1770--1785, when he was invited 
 to the Octagon Chapel at Norwich. Amongst his private 
 pupils at Norwich were Denman, afterwards Lord Chief 
 Justice, and Maltby subsequently Bishop of Durham. Enfield 
 was an amiable and estimable man, an influential writer and 
 persuasive preacher, and a leading figure in the literary 
 society of both Warrington and Norwich. He died at 
 Norwich Nov. 3, 1797, aged 56. His wife whom he married 
 in 1767 was the daughter of Richard Holland, draper, of 
 Liverpool. His sons Richard and Henry were successively 
 appointed to the office of town clerk of Nottingham. He 
 published some twenty works, chiefly sermons. 
 
 John Masox Good (1764 — 1827) Physician and Mis- 
 cellaneous Writer, is generally looked upon as a Sudburian, 
 although he was not born here, but he settled in Sudbury 
 when he was twenty years of age, and married in All Saints 
 Church, June 12th, 1788, Susanna, eldest daughter of Thomas 
 Fenn of Ballingdon. 
 
 Dr. Good was the second son of Rev. Peter Good, a 
 congregational minister at Epping, where he was born May 
 25, 1764. In 1784, aged 20, he settled in Sudbury in part- 
 nership with Mr. Deekes, who shortly retired. 
 
 He married in 1785 a Miss Godfrey, who died six 
 months later, and in 1788 Miss Fenn, already referred to; 
 by his second wife who survived him he had six children. 
 
The History of Sudbury. 
 
 201 
 
 He wrote plays, translations, poems and essays. In 1793 he 
 removed to London, entering into partnership with a medical 
 man. He died January 2nd, 1827, and was buried at Shep- 
 perton. As his connection with Sudbury lasted for ten years 
 only, it is unnecessary to say more of him here, but the story 
 of his life, by Gregory, has been published, which gives a 
 full account of his career. 
 
XIII. 
 
 SUDBURY TOKENS. 
 
 ALFPENNY coins or tokens were issued in the 
 17th century by the tradesmen of Sudbury bear- 
 ing the following words and devices — 
 
 I. Obverse. William Abbot, in centre. The grocers arms. 
 Reverse, of Sudbury, 1667. W.A. 
 
 N.B. This William Abbot registered his arms (gules, a chevron between three 
 pears slipped or) at the Heralds Collefje in 1664, and died in 1667. 
 
 2. Obverse. Robert Chaplyn. in centre. 
 Reverse, in Sudbury, 1667. ,, 
 
 Chaplyn arms. 
 R.C. 
 
 N.B. The Chaplin arms are Ermine, on a chief indented three griffi,ns 
 
 heads erased. 
 
 3. Obverse. Daniel Cooke. 
 Reverse. In vSudbury. 
 
 4. Obverse. Francis Dyer. 
 Reverse. In Sudbury. 
 
 5. Obverse. John Edwards. 
 Reverse, of Sudbury. 
 
 in centre. 
 
 D.C. 
 D.C. 
 
 1667. 
 F.I.D. 
 
 I.S.E. 
 
 1657. 
 
llie History of Sudbury. 
 
 203 
 
 0. 
 
 Uoverse. 
 
 William Ellery. in centre TJie 
 
 mercers arms. 
 
 
 Reverse. 
 
 In Sudburv 16^'^ 
 
 W S E 
 
 7. 
 
 Obverse. 
 
 William French ye 
 
 1657- 
 
 
 Reverse. 
 
 Elder in Sudbury, 57 
 
 W.I.F. 
 
 Q 
 0. 
 
 Obverse. 
 
 John Hay ward 
 
 i.hL. 
 
 
 Reverse. 
 
 of Sudbury. 
 
 1657. 
 
 
 There is a variety of this coin, in which the Christian 
 
 name 
 
 
 
 reads Jonathn, not John. 
 
 
 9- 
 
 Obverse. 
 
 Edward Ingram in centre a 
 
 rose crowned. 
 
 
 Reverse. 
 
 In Sudbury 1669. n 
 
 E.I. 
 
 He probably lived at the Rose and Crown Inn, which was 
 standing long before this date. 
 
 10. Obverse. John Jones. in centre. 
 Reverse, of Sudbury. 
 
 11. Obverse. Richard Paine at ye 
 Reverse. In Sudbery. 
 
 12. Obverse. John Parish in 
 Reverse. Sudbury 1667 
 
 13. Obverse. John Ray of 
 Reverse. Sudbery 1654 
 
 14. Obverse. Marke Salter in 
 Reverse. Sudbury in SufFolke 
 
 15. Obverse. William Sherman 
 Reverse, in Sudbury 1663 
 
 )) 
 )) 
 
 LA. 
 1657. 
 
 a ha If -moon. 
 1667. 
 
 a mullet of five 
 
 points, 
 a mullet of five 
 
 points. 
 
 the drapers arms. 
 I.R. 
 
 a wool-pack. 
 M.S. 
 
 the haberdashers 
 arms. 
 W.S. 
 
204 1^^^^ History of Sudbury. 
 
 1 6. Obverse. Richard Skinner in centre arms f ^ crossbows^ 
 
 2 and I J. 
 
 JReverse. in Sudbury B.S. conjoined. 
 
 Richard Skinner presented the Corporation with a Seal in i6i6. 
 
 17. Obverse. Richard Waitt in centre. 1664. 
 Beverse. in Sudbury. R.H.W. 
 
 18. Obverse. Richard West of R.W. 
 Beverse. Sudbury 1651. R.W. 
 
 I 8th Century. 
 
 19. Obverse. May the Trade of Sudbury Flourish — the 
 
 Borough arms. 
 
 Beverse. Pro Bono Publico. 1793. 
 
 Bound the edge^ Payable at Goldsmith & Son, 
 
 Sudbury. 
 
XIV. 
 
 THE BELL-FOUNDERS. 
 
 ENRY PLEASANT, John Thornton, and Thomas 
 Gardiner were bell-founders in Sudbury. 
 
 Henry Pleasant worked at Sudbury from 1694 
 to 1707, he was noted for the punning rhymes 
 which he placed on his bells. On a bell which 
 he cast for All Saints Church, Maldon, Essex, he 
 placed this — 
 
 " When three this steeple long did hold 
 They were the emblems of a scold, 
 No music then, but we shall see 
 What Pleasant music six will be." 
 When he recast the 6th bell at St. Nicholas Church, 
 Ipswich, this couplet was placed on it, 
 
 " Henry Pleasant have at last 
 Made me as good as can be cast." 
 Pleasant cast a great number of bells for Essex and 
 Suffolk churches ; his foundry was first situated near the 
 timber yard in King Street, but was afterwards removed 
 to Hospital Yard, and eventually to Curds Lane. In the 
 
2o6 71ie History of Sudbury. 
 
 Parish Register of St. Peter's is this entry, Catrina, the 
 wife of Henry Pleasans was buried March ii, 1673." After 
 Pleasant's death the foundry was carried on by John Thorn- 
 ton (from 1708 to 1720) and Thomas Gardiner (1709 — 1759). 
 Thornton was for a time associated with John Waylett at 
 Sudbury. Gardiner removed to Norwich in 1745, but re- 
 turned to Sudbury in 1754. His earliest efforts were not 
 fully appreciated, and when he cast the second bell at 
 Edwardstone, a local genius, one William Culpeck, other- 
 wise to fame unknown, disagreed with him as a "want-wit," 
 then no uncommon term of reproach, as we know from the 
 Pilgriin s Progress^ and humbled him by compelling him to 
 cast on that bell these words, Tuned by William Culpeck 
 1 7 10." But a quarrel with a founder is like a quarrel with 
 a newspaper editor, and Gardiner had his revenge of the last 
 word on casting the tenor bell for the same church, when he 
 inscribed 
 
 About ty second Culpeck is wrett 
 Because the founder wanted wett 
 Thair judgments ware but bad at last 
 Or elce this bell I never had cast. 
 
 Tho Gardiner." 
 
 This serves to perpetuate both Gardiner's triumph and the 
 
 local Suffolk dialect at the beginning of the i8th century. 
 
 There are 82 of his bells in Suffolk alone, besides a great 
 
 number in Essex. 
 
XV. 
 
 BALLINGDON. 
 
 ^^^^^3HE early history of Ballingdon is involved in some 
 I^Mj I obscurity. It is not mentioned in the Domesday 
 survey, probably because it then formed part of 
 one of the neighbouring manors, but by the 
 middle of the 12th century it had become a 
 separate hamlet or chapelry. Perhaps the chapel of Bal- 
 lingdon was a daughter of the church of Middleton, for when 
 we first hear of it in the reign of Henry II., it had become 
 the property of the Abbey of St. Alban's, Adam the cellarer 
 of that Abbey having purchased it, under the name of the 
 Chapel of Belidon, from one Elias de Sumery, together with 
 the Church of All Saints, Sudbury, and all the land of 
 Middleion^ part of the fee of the Earl of Gloucester. 
 
 By this gift the Abbey of St. Albans became entitled 
 to the tithes of All Saints and Ballingdon ; and an estate 
 in Bulmer and Brundon, which was afterwards known as 
 Kitchens," because the income was appropriated to the 
 Kitchen of the Abbey. The manor of Ballingdon, however, 
 
2o8 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 was not included in the gift, and in the reign of Edward I. 
 belonged to Edmund Comyns, and afterwards to Sir Giles 
 de Mounpinsoun who died about 1320. In 1377, John de 
 Chertsey and Simon Archbishop of Canterbury gave this 
 manor to the Warden and Chaplains of St. Gregory's College 
 in Sudbury, who held it until the dissolution of the College, 
 when it was granted by Henry VIII. to Sir Thomas Paston, 
 who in the same year (1545) conveyed it to Thomas Eden, 
 Clerk of the Star-chamber. 
 
 Apparently the Chapel of Ballingdon was not kept up, 
 for in 1640 it is recorded that there was no trace of it. A 
 field however on the west side of Ballingdon Hill is still 
 known as Chapel field, and in this field the chapel is sup- 
 posed to have stood. 
 
 The inhabitants of Ballino:don use the Church of All 
 Saints, and have equal rights therein with the parishioners of 
 that church, one churchwarden being annually elected from 
 the hamlet and one from the parish. 
 
 In the Library of Lambeth Palace, the following note, 
 taken from a survey made between 1640 — 1650, is preserved, 
 Within this parish (Ballingdon) there is neither par- 
 sonage nor vicarage house. The parish belongs to the 
 vicarage of All Saints in Sudbury. The small tithes amount 
 to six pounds odd money per annum ; but in Brundon one 
 Mr. Smith, an able man, preacheth quarterly in the chapel, 
 by the appointment of Thomas Windham Esquire, and is 
 allowed by the said Thomas Windham twenty marks 
 {£^3 6s. 8d.) for his pains," 
 
THOMAS EDEN= 
 of the North 
 
 I 
 
 HEXRY EDEN=Mary 
 
 Merchant of 
 London. 
 Died Nov. 1518. 
 
 dau. of 
 John Olney 
 of London. 
 
 Richard Eden 
 LL.B. Rector of 
 Gestingthorpe, Essex, 1514-1516. 
 Warden of St. Gregory's, Sudbury. 
 Archdeacon of Middlesex. 
 Will dated Dec. 6, 1549. 
 Proved May 2, 1551. 
 
 Henry Eden=Elizabeth 
 
 of Barningham, 
 Suffolk. 
 
 dau. of 
 Sir Clement 
 Heigham. 
 [She married 
 2ndly Robt. Kempe 
 of Finchingtield ] 
 
 THOMAS EDEN. 
 [Clerk of the Star 
 Chamber] 
 of the Priory, 
 Sudbury. 
 Died July 25, 1568. 
 Bu. in All .Saints. 
 
 Anne 
 (co-heir) 
 = VVilliam 
 Bradbury. 
 
 Mary 
 : of 
 
 Sir Thos. 
 Foljambe 
 {widow of 
 Vincent 
 Harris of 
 Maldon) 
 Died Oct. 30, 
 1607. 
 
 Elizabeth 
 (co-heir) 
 =Daniel 
 Bettenham. 
 
 =Grisell, 
 dau. of 
 Edward 
 Waldgrave 
 of Sudbury. 
 Died Jan. 12, 
 1573, bu. in 
 All Saints. 
 
 George Eden. 
 
 ANNE=Robert 
 
 Springe 
 of Lavenham. 
 
 2 
 
 =Justinian 
 
 Champnays 
 of Bexley, Kent. 
 
 I ' 
 
 THOMAS EDEN=Elizabeth 
 of the Priory, 
 
 Sudbury, 
 High Sheriff 
 of Suffolk. 1596. 
 M.P. for Sudbury, 
 1589. 
 Knighted 1603. 
 Died June 30, 1614. 
 Bu. All Saints. 
 M.I. 
 
 heir of Sir 
 John St. Clere, 
 of St. Clere's Hall, 
 in St. Osyth's, 
 Essex. 
 Died Dec. 2, 
 ■573- 
 
 I 
 
 Richard Eden= 
 of Durwards Hall, 
 Bocking, Essex, 
 M.P. for Sudbury, 
 1572- 
 
 Margaret 
 dau. of Sir 
 Christopher 
 Peyton, of 
 Bury St. Edmunds, 
 m. Jan. 3, 1574. 
 
 [She married 
 2ndly Sir Wm. 
 Worthington. 
 3rdly, in 1617, 
 Bryan Tuke.] 
 
 I I I 
 William 
 
 I I I 
 Elizabeth 
 =George 
 Chamberlayne. 
 
 Anne 
 = Edward 
 Sulyard. 
 
 Grisell 
 =William 
 Steward. 
 
 Eleanor 
 =Wm. 
 
 I 
 
 THOMAS EDEN=Mary 
 of Ballingdon H.all. 
 Bom April 30, 157 r. 
 Mar. Alay 20, 1593. 
 M.P. for Sudbury 1603 
 Knighted 1604. 
 Died Jan. 12. 1616. 
 
 dau. of 
 Bryan Darcy 
 of Tiptree, Essex. 
 Died Feb. 10, 1656. 
 
 Elizabeth 
 Bapt. March 23, 
 
 '573- 
 = Sir Nicholas 
 Stoddart, 
 of Lcwisham. 
 
 Thomas Eden, 
 LL.D. Master of 
 Trinity Hall, 
 Cambridge. 
 M.P. for Cambridge. 
 
 1625-1645. 
 Died July 18. 1645. 
 
 Philip Eden=Sarah, 
 of Lincolns Inn ( dau. of 
 Francis 
 Jennings. 
 
 I 
 
 St. Clere. 
 Died unm. 
 May 22, 1624. 
 
 I 
 
 JOHN EDEN= 
 of Ballingdon Hall. 
 Bapt. Aug. 4, 1607. 
 Died C1683. 
 J. P. for Essex. 
 
 Anne 
 
 dau. of 
 Richard 
 Harlackendon, 
 of Earls Colne. 
 M. Sept. 2, 1629. 
 Died Nov. 19, 1663. 
 
 I 
 
 Robert Eden, 
 
 d. in youth 
 Dec. 3, 1619. 
 
 I I 
 
 Elizabeth, 
 b. Feb. 2, 1594. 
 =Roger 
 Wentworth, 
 of Bocking, 
 Essex, 
 d. 1649. 
 
 Mary, 
 bapt. Jan. 19, 1595. 
 =Roger 
 Thornton, 
 of Snailswell, 
 Cambs. 
 
 'II I I I I 
 
 Barret=Dorothy Grisell. 
 
 2 b. April 6, d. Feb. 14, 1624. 
 
 Robert= 1601. Bu. at Bocking, 
 
 Barrington, Essex, M.I. 
 
 M.P., =Adrian 
 
 of Essex. Moor. 
 
 Bridget 
 b. C1603. 
 =John Drury. 
 
 Anne, 
 b. Oct. 6, 1608, 
 d. Aug. 20, 1638. 
 
 Penelope, 
 b. Nov. 14, 1613. 
 
 William, 
 b. Dec. 10, 1615. 
 
 John Eden 
 d. s. p 
 
 =Anne 
 
 1 1 
 William Eden 
 
 ANNE= 
 
 =Geoffry 
 
 dau. of 
 
 d. s. p. 
 
 (heir) 
 
 Little, of 
 
 Oliver Raymond, 
 
 
 m. Aug. 2, 
 
 Parlabiens, 
 
 of Belchamp. 
 
 Thomas Eden 
 
 '655- 
 
 Halstead, Essex. 
 
 (Widow of John 
 
 d. s. p. 
 
 
 Laurence.) 
 
 
 
 
 Died April 15, 1675. 
 
 
 
 
 JOHN LITTLE=Rebecca, 
 of Ballingdon Hall, 
 High Sheriff, Essex, 
 
 1694. 
 Died Oct. 30, 1720. 
 
 Geoffry Little=Elizabeth, 
 dau. of d. s. p. dau. of 
 
 George Sawbridge, John Forster. 
 
 of London, 
 m. Sept. 1684. 
 
 Thomas, 
 
 D.D. 
 Minister 
 of Lynn. 
 Prebend, 
 of Norwich. 
 
 Elizabeth 
 = George Pulford. 
 
 Susan 
 -Elliston Barrington. 
 
 Anne 
 = Edward 
 Crane. 
 
 JOHN EDEN LITTLE=Sarah, 
 
 of Ballingdon Hall, 
 d. 5. p. Jan. 24, 1 728. 
 
 dau. of 
 Soloman 
 Hougham. 
 [She md. 2ndly 
 Saml. Tyssen 
 of Hackney, 
 April 21, 1730.] 
 
 George Sawbridge Little, 
 of Ballingdon Hall 
 (which he sold, 1741, 
 to John Piper of 
 Ashen, Essex). 
 
 I I 
 Hannah, 
 d. unm. 
 
 Rebecca, 
 d. s. p. 1 729. 
 =John Croshawe. 
 
The History of Sudbury. '209 
 
 . The Mr. Smith " above referred to was probably the 
 Rev. Robert Smith, at that time incumbent of St. Gregory's, 
 Sudbury ; the patron, Thomas Windham, was the owner of 
 Brundon Hall. 
 
 Thomas Eden, the purchaser of Ballingdon Hall in 
 1 545, was the nephew of Richard Eden, the last Warden of 
 St. Gregory's College (15 16 — 1538). His ancestors are said 
 to have come from the north of England, and to have settled 
 in Suffolk to carry on the wool trade, at which they appear 
 to have prospered exceedingly and to have amassed a con- 
 siderable fortune. Thomas Eden was Clerk of the Council 
 in the time of Henry VHL, and having married Griseld, 
 daughter of Edward Waldegrave of Sudbury, obtained a 
 grant of the old Priory House in 1540, and settled in this 
 town. He rebuilt the old Priory (as it appears in the 
 engraving of it drawn by J. Kirby about the year 1750), and 
 his family continued to reside there until 1 593, when his 
 grandson. Sir Thomas Eden the younger, built Ballingdon 
 Hall and removed there on his marriage. Here, as Fuller says 
 in his Worthies of England^ " his name and family continued 
 in a worshipful degree," and took a leading part in the affairs 
 of both Essex and Suffolk. Thomas Eden was M.P. for 
 Sudbury 1589 — 1593. His son, another Thomas Eden, was 
 Member 1603 — 16 14. Richard Eden was Member for this 
 borough 1572 — 1584, and Thomas, his son, sat for Cambridge 
 University 1625 — 1645. 
 
 This last Thomas Eden (1580 — 1645), distinguished 
 from the others by the addition of his University degree, 
 
2IO Tlie History of Sudbury, 
 
 LL.D., was son of Richard Eden of Durward's Hall, Book- 
 ing, Essex, and grandson of Thomas Eden of Sudbury Priory, 
 and was born (says Fuller) in the south part of the town of 
 Sudbury. From Sudbury School he was sent to Pembroke 
 Hall, Cambridge, whence he migrated to Trinity Hall, of 
 which he was admitted a Scholar 31st December, 1596. He 
 was elected to a fellowship loth July, 1599. On November 
 loth, 1 61 3, being then an LL.B., he was appointed Professor 
 of -Law in Gresham College, London. In 1616 he was 
 created an LL.I). In 1625, he was elected as one of the 
 Burgesses to serve in Parliament for the University of Cam- 
 bridge, and again returned to the Parliaments of 1625, and 
 1640 (the Long Parliament). In 1626 he was chosen Master 
 of Trinity Hall, and in 1630 was appointed Chancellor of 
 the Diocese of Ely and a Master in Chancery. On May 
 3rd, 1 64 1, he joined with those members of the House of 
 Commons who took the protestation. The Speaker informed 
 the House on 7th September, 1642, that he had received 
 commission from Dr. Eden, who had been long sick of ague, 
 to acquaint the House that as formerly he had lent the 
 House ^i,ODO ''in time of streight " and had adventured 
 ;^'500 for Ireland, so he was also willing now to lend £200 
 for the service of the King and Parliament, according to the 
 compositions. 
 
 On 28th February, 1644, he took the Solemn League 
 and Covenant. In April, 1645, he was one of the Committee 
 of Parliament, consisting of six peers and twelve commoners, 
 which was appointed by the two Houses to manage the 
 
71ie History of Sudbury, 2 1 1 
 
 affairs of the Admiralty. He died in London i8th July, 
 1645, and was buried on 2nd August in the chapel of Trinity 
 Hall, Cambridge, where there is a monument to his memory. 
 He left in MSS. (7) Notoe in regulis Juris. (2) Liber 
 Observationum. (j) Liber articulormn. (y) Loci com- 
 munes. 
 
 The Edens of Ballingdon were strict Puritans and strong 
 supporters of the Parliamentary party during the troublous 
 times preceding the Commonwealth. John Eden of Balling- 
 don Hall was a very active magistrate, and his name may be 
 seen in many of the Parish Registers in the neighbourhood 
 of Sudbury, as the most popular performer of civil marriages 
 which were then legalised by Parliament. In 1648, he was 
 one of the ten Essex members of the Parliamentary Associa- 
 tion for the preservation of peace in the Eastern Counties, 
 who having been captured on June loth in that year at 
 Chelmsford by the insurgent Royalists and carried as host- 
 ages to Colchester, were imprisoned, until Lord Fairfax's 
 army procured their release on the 26th of August following. 
 In 1657 he was one of the Commissioners nominated by 
 Parliament to raise the assessment in the county of Essex. 
 It was probably due to his influence that unlicensed preachers 
 continued for so many years to occupy the pulpit of All 
 Saints church in Sudbury, of which he was the patron. 
 His sons died in his life-time, and at his death, Ballingdon 
 Hall passed to his only daughter Anne, wife of Geoffry 
 Little of Halstead. The Littles owned this estate until 
 1 74 1, when George Sawbridge Little sold it to John Piper, 
 
212 The History of Sudbury, 
 
 of Ashen, Essex ; and Mary Piper, his only daughter and 
 heiress, carried it on her marriage to Henry Sperhng, of 
 Dynes Hall, Great Maplestead, whose descendant still pos- 
 sesses this property. 
 
 In the Parish Register of Great Maplestead, Essex, 
 there are two entries relating to couples married in Balling- 
 don Hall by the Rev. Robert Kingsbury, who appears to 
 have been an unbeneficed minister (the son of the former 
 Rector of Middleton), who was willing to aid at the clandes- 
 tine nuptials of those who desired to be married with secrecy 
 or despatch. Like the marriages celebrated in the Fleet 
 prison, they were binding and indissoluble, although the 
 parties were liable to ecclesiastical censure, and the cele- 
 brant incurred legal penalties. The entries are as follows — 
 ''Benjamin Rownalls of this parish widower and Hannah 
 Crabb of the parish of Hedingham Sibyll spinster were 
 maryed Jan. ye 2nd 171 7/8 at Ballington Hall by Mr. Robert 
 Kingsbury without license or certificate of the publication of 
 ye Banns of Marriage. 
 
 Item Joseph Beake of this parish Bachelor and Eliza- 
 beth Brand of the same spinster were marry ed by the same 
 mr. Robert Kingsbury at Ballington without either a license 
 or a certificate of the publication of yc Banns of Marriage, 
 Feb. 20, 1 7 17/8." 
 
BALLINGDON BRIDGE. 
 
 The hamlet of Ballingdon is connected with the town of 
 Sudbury by a timber bridge, at a spot where the river Stour 
 measures 104 feet in width. The present bridge was set up 
 in 1805, in place of one which w^as then becoming ruinous. 
 But when the first bridge between Sudbury and Ballingdon 
 was erected, we have no definite information. We know, 
 however, that Sudbury possessed a bridge in the time of 
 King John, for it is mentioned in a charter of that date, by 
 which Amicia de Clare endowed a hospital in Sudbury. 
 
 On May 25, 1331, King Edward III. stayed a night in 
 Sudbury on his way to Bury St. Edmunds, and apparently 
 found the bridge in a bad state of repair, for five days later 
 (May 30, 133 1,) he granted to the good men of Sudbury the 
 right to levy pontage, a toll, for three years, on all goods 
 passing over their bridge. The money received to be de- 
 voted to the repair of the bridge. 
 
 In 1425, the bridge is again mentioned in the inquisition 
 post mortem of Edmund, Earl of March, when the jury found 
 that he died possessed of the fishery, from the bridge at 
 Sudbury. 
 
 The valley of the Stour above Sudbury is sometimes 
 submerged after heavy rains, and converted into a huge lake, 
 
214 History of Sudbury. 
 
 which rushes down with great force through the Ballingdon 
 Bridge. On Nov. 4, 1520, it is recorded, that the bridge 
 was swept away by this rush of water, and was not rebuilt 
 until tlie following year. It is supposed that this bridge was 
 built of stone, for foundations of that material are plainly 
 visible beneath the water on the north side of the present 
 bridge ; the cement used in its construction is so hard that 
 pick and crowbar seem to make no impression on it. Ap- 
 parently it consisted of eight arches of about 13 feet span. 
 In 1594 there was another great flood in September, 
 breaking" the bridge, and interrupting the traffic. This is 
 gathered from the following entry in the parish register of 
 All Saints Church — 
 
 1594. John the sonne of William Wyvitrce was baptised at 
 Middleton Church bv reason Ballingdon Bridge was 
 broken with a flood, the viij vSepf- 
 This bridc:e was often a source of trouble to the muni- 
 cipal authorities, for we find that at the beginning of the 
 17th century they were indicted and fmed at the Borough 
 Quarter Sessions for not keeping in proper repair the Sud- 
 burv side of the bridge, the other half being repaired by the 
 County of Essex. In 1661, a rate was levied for the repair 
 of Ballingdon Bridge ; and in 1622, in the Borough Cham- 
 berlain's Accounts, there is an entry, Laid out for skouring 
 the river between Ballingdon Bridge and Cocke Mill — 
 ixs. vijd. 
 
 It appears that up to 1661, there were boundary gates 
 at the Sudbury end of the bridge, the survival, probably, of 
 
The History of Sudbury. 215 
 
 those first set up for the defence of the town against sudden 
 attack, and for the collection of tolls. In the Corporation 
 Books, under date, August 26, 1661, there is the following 
 entry — 
 
 Ordered that the Chamberlayne shall take off all the 
 gates belongynge to the towne, standing and being at the 
 ende of ye towne, vpon Ballingdon Bridge, and selle and 
 make money thereof for and towards the reparyng of the 
 sayd bridge." 
 
 These gates are referred to (in a narrative preserved in 
 the Desiderata Ciiriosa) by Mr. Wilson, then agent for the 
 Earl of Warwick, in connection with the plundering of Mel- 
 ford Hall, in August, 1642. He writes, ''When I came to 
 Sudbury, in Suffolk, not a man appeared till wx were within 
 the chain^ and then they began to run to their weapons, and 
 before we could get to the Market-place, the streets swarmed 
 with people." 
 
 In 1757, and again in 1761, orders were made on the 
 Chamberlain for the repair of the bridge, but in July, 1767, 
 it was described as being very ruinous, and ^57 9s. 6d. was 
 laid out in repairs. In 1803 it was again reported that the 
 bridge was much decayed, and that the repairs would cost 
 ^212 4s. 6d. ; these repairs were commenced in June, 1805, 
 and the bridge was not passable until September, the traffic 
 being diverted over the Common all this time. 
 
 The piles of two wooden bridges can clearly be seen 
 just below the water level, as well as the foundations of the 
 stone structure already described. One of them was a three- 
 pile, the other a four-pile bridge. 
 
2i6 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 In the Corporation Minute Book, under date October 
 4, 1658, is an entry to the effect that Mr. Raymond offered 
 on certain conditions to make the river Stour navigable from 
 Manningtree to Sudbury. He was to obtain the consent of 
 the owners of lands adjoining the river for the purchase of 
 the necessary land. The Corporation offered the magnificent 
 sum of £^ towards a Commission of Sewers for the cleansing 
 of the river, and, it is not to be wondered at, that the scheme 
 fell through at that time, but was taken up and carried out 
 some fifty years later, in 1705, when the Stour Navigation 
 Company was incorporated. 
 
 The Corporation possess the right of Fishery, given 
 them by Royal Charter, but in 1585 a dispute arose between 
 them and one George Golding, who also claimed that right. 
 The conflicting claims were submitted to arbitration, and the 
 arbitrators (William Tyffyn and Richard Johnson) decided 
 that George Golding should give up all claim to the fishing 
 in the water lying ''within twelve score" of Ballingdon 
 Bridge, and in return the Corporation should yearly on de- 
 mand, in the month of March, deliver to George Golding on 
 Ballingdon Bridge '' one competent and freindlye dishe of 
 fysh." 
 
 In 1 67 1 it appears that the Corporation granted to one 
 John Blower a lease of their fishery for fifty years from 
 Michaelmas of that year, at an annual rent of xx^., the 
 liberty to extend from Kingsmarsh to the corner of Daniel's 
 meadow, reserving nevertheless the freemen's rights. In the 
 town accounts for 1635, there are entries of various sums 
 
The History of Sudbury. 217 
 
 paid for fyshinge lines," and for helpes to fysh," whatever 
 they may be ! 
 
 Old Michael Drayton, writing in the time of Queen 
 Elizabeth, thus describes the Sudbury river — 
 
 For Stour a daintie flood that duly doth divide 
 Fair Suffolk from this shire, upon her other side ; 
 By Clare first coming in, to Sudbury doth show 
 The even course she keeps, when far she doth not flow. 
 But Orwell coming in from Ipswich, thinkest that she 
 Should stand for it with Stour, and lastly they agree. 
 Besides all other Roads and Harbours of the East, 
 This Harbor where they meet, is reckoned for the best." 
 
 » 
 
13RUND0N. 
 
 At the date of the Domesday Survey Bnindon was a distinct 
 manor, and is thus entered in that survey — 
 
 " Brunduniim tenet Radultns in dominio, quod tcnuit liber liomo tem- 
 pore Regis Kilwardi, ])ro manerio et pro ii liidis et dimidia xv acris minus. 
 Semper ij carucate ct iij carueatc hominum et vii villani, et vii bordarii et 
 iv servi. Silva xx porcis, xxii acre prati, i molinus. Tunc valuit iv libras. 
 Post et modo vi. 
 
 Huic manerio addidit Ilardwinus tempore regis Willielmi xx acras. 
 Semper dimidia carucate. Tunc silva xx porcis, modo vi. Appreciatum est 
 superius. 
 
 In supradicto manerio de Brunduna rece})it Radulfus iij animalia, xv 
 oves, XV porcos, i runcinum ; modo vi animalia xxiv ovcs, xviii porcos, i 
 runcinum." 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Ralph holds Brundon in demesne, which a free man held in the time 
 of King Edward the Confessor, and it is assessed as a manor and two and a 
 half hides less fifteen acres. There was always land for two plough-teams, 
 and three plough-teams of the homagers, and seven villein-tenants, and 
 seven bordars, and four serfs. There is wood for twenty swine, twenty-two 
 acres of meadow land, and one mill. Then it was worth four pounds, after- 
 wards and now six pounds. 
 
 To this manor Hardwin, in the time of King William the Conqueror, 
 added twenty acres. There was always land for half a plough-team. Then 
 wood for twenty swine, now for six. It is valued above. 
 
 In the aforesaid manor of Brundon Ralph received three plough-oxen, 
 fifteen sheep, fifteen swine, and one horse ; now he has six plough-oxen, 
 twenty-four sheep, eighteen swine, and one horse. 
 
Hie History of Sudbury. 219 
 
 This Ralph was a nephev/ of William the Conqueror, and 
 assumed the name of de Limesi, His descendant Hugh de 
 Limesi died without issue in 12 13, when his estate was divided 
 between the descendants of his two aunts, Alianora and 
 Basilia. 
 
 Ecclesiastically Brundon appears to have been an off- 
 shoot of Buhner, for in the 12th century, a dispute having 
 arisen between the Churches of Buhner and Brundon, the 
 Bishop of London intervened, and by a decree dated Dec. 
 2nd, 1 178, decided that the Church of Brundon should enjoy 
 all the rights of a separate Church, subject to the payment 
 of an annual pension of two shillings to the mother Church 
 of Buhner. At that time Sir John Lemarnant was the 
 patron, and Ralph d'Haut'erive (afterwards Archdeacon of 
 Colchester) the Rector of Brundon. 
 
 In 1382, John de Chertsey and John de Revishal 
 obtained license of Richard H. to convey the advowson of 
 this church to the Warden and Chaplains of St. Gregory's 
 College in Sudbury, and this church continued under their 
 patronage until the dissolution of the College in the time of 
 Henry VHI. In 1545 Sir Thomas Paston received a grant 
 of the manor and advowson of the church of Brundon. In 
 1740, however, the church of Brundon (which stood near 
 Brundon Wood, on the ri^^ht hand side of the road leadin"^ 
 thence to Brundon Hall) was in ruins, and the christenings, 
 marriages and burials of its parishioners have taken place 
 from time immemorial in the church of All Saints, Sudbury, 
 although they pay no tithes to the support of the vicar. 
 
220 
 
 The History of Sudbury. 
 
 RECTORS OF BRUNDON. 
 
 1324. 
 
 rienrv de Dedelin^-ton 
 
 
 James Thyrlowc. 
 
 ^383. 
 
 Tohn Bronn 
 
 J 
 
 1428. 
 
 John laylor 
 
 
 John Aleyn 
 
 1428. 
 
 Walter Arnold . 
 
 I 3 I 
 
 Geoffrv Bricc 
 
 1446. 
 
 William Draper 
 
 1475. 
 
 \\'illiam Cooke 
 
 1480. 
 
 John Wayte 
 
 I52I. 
 
 William Nutman 
 
 1528. 
 
 ^^'illiam Fisher . 
 
 
 Edmund Lyster 
 
 I I . 
 
 John riorscnayle 
 
 1587. 
 
 Nicholas Bush 
 
 1 . 
 
 Francis Knight . 
 
 1602. 
 
 John Rishton ^ 
 
 I6IO. 
 
 Richard L^•nton * 
 
 1^35. 
 
 Robert Smyth 
 
 
 Richard Golding. 
 
 Patron. 
 
 Sir William Buttevilleyn, Kt. 
 
 ( John dc Chertsey 
 ^ John Reveshall. 
 
 The Warden and 
 Brethren of 
 St. Gregory's College, 
 Sudbury. 
 
 Edward FitzGarrct, Esq., and 
 Lady Agnes Paston his wife. 
 
 Edward Paston, Esq. 
 Bishop of London, by lapse. 
 
 Edward Paston, Esq. 
 
 King Charles L 
 
ARMSEY. 
 
 The Burgesses of Sudbury formerly owned a wide strip of 
 waste land lying beside the road from Ballingdon hill to 
 Buhner, on which they were accustomed to turn out their 
 cattle to graze. This land was called Armsey, and lay in 
 the parish of Bulmer ; it was formerly part of the estate of 
 St. Gregory's College in Sudbury, but was purchased of it 
 by' Thomas West (Morant, Hist. Essex) ^ and by him given 
 to the Burgesses of Sudbury. In 1832 this land was sold by 
 the Corporation to Mr. Charles Hammersley, of Auberies, 
 and now forms part of the Auberies estate. 
 
 Amongst the borough records is a charter which appears 
 to relate to the Armsey land. It is a feoffment dated March 
 ist, 1 5 13, by which John Scalder, then late mayor of Sud- 
 bury, and William Flegg, chaplain, convey to John Pawson, 
 chaplain of Sudbury, eighteen acres of pasture in Bulmer, 
 formerly belonging to Thomas West. 
 
 Thomas West (son of William West, of Sudbury, who 
 died in 1466) is probably identical w^ith Thomas West, 
 mayor of Sudbury in 1435 and 1444. In 1466 he owned 
 ^' land late Aubrys " in Bulmer. 
 
SUDBURY, SUFFOLK I 
 
 PRINTED J3Y B. R. MARTEN, AT THE EXCELSIOR WORKS, 
 
 17, MARKET HILL. 
 
/ 
 
INDEX. 
 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 
 4 
 
 Arms, of Drury 
 
 1 15 
 
 Aldermen 
 
 34 
 
 ,, Eden 
 
 146 
 
 Alderman's Pall 
 
 • 137 
 
 ,, Felton 
 
 ro4 
 
 All Saints Church 
 
 140 
 
 Foljambe 
 
 H7 
 
 Bells 
 
 • 153 
 
 ,, Fothergill . 
 
 103 
 
 Plate 
 
 153 
 
 ,, Grey 
 
 H7 
 
 „ ,, Vicars of 
 
 • '55 
 
 ,, Harris 
 
 H7 
 
 All Souls Chapel 
 
 105 
 
 Lucy 
 
 104 
 
 Allen, Rev. James 
 
 • H9 
 
 ,, Kebyll 
 
 138 
 
 Anchor Inn 
 
 1 90 
 
 ,, Mannock 
 
 104 
 
 Ancient Houses 
 
 . 188 
 
 ,, Peyton 
 
 146 
 
 Andrews, John and Oliver i 
 
 16, 165 
 
 Reymes 
 
 142 
 
 Armsey 
 
 22 1 
 
 ,, St. Clere 
 
 147 
 
 Arms, of Abbot . 
 
 202 
 
 ,, Skinner 
 
 204 
 
 ,, Baker 
 
 . 147 
 
 ,, Smith 
 
 191 
 
 ,, Berners 
 
 147 
 
 ,, Steward 
 
 ,46 
 
 ,, Bourchier . 
 
 142 
 
 ,, Stoddart 
 
 147 
 
 ,, Brakeley 
 
 1 04 
 
 ,, Sudbury Borough 
 
 39 
 
 ,, Brooke 
 
 • 155 
 
 ,, Sudbury, alias 
 
 
 ,, Burgh . 
 
 1 1 
 
 Theobald 
 
 106 
 
 Burkitt 
 
 . igi 
 
 ,, Sulyard 
 
 '47 
 
 ,, Cavendish 
 
 191 
 
 ,, Theobald of Barking 
 
 '55 
 
 ,, Chaplyn 
 
 202 
 
 ,, Verdon 
 
 1 1 
 
 ,, Clare 
 
 1 1 
 
 ,, VValdegrave 104, 
 
 146 
 
 ,, D'Amorie . 
 
 1 1 
 
 ,, Worthington 
 
 '47 
 
 ,, Darcy 
 
 H7 
 
 Ballingdon 
 
 207 
 
IND 
 
 EX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Ballingdon Hall, Marriages at 212 
 
 jjaiiiiiguun Dnugc 
 
 21 3 
 
 Dell J? UUIlUClb 
 
 205 
 
 
 'J 
 £0 
 
 jane 
 
 105 
 
 
 8ci 
 °3 
 
 Rrn n rl nn 
 
 218 
 
 SjUliyall, J UIlll . 
 
 191 
 
 
 
 RnrcrpQc AHmici'sinn nf ri 
 
 XJUL^K^iJJ^ ITXKl LLlXOOL\J 11 CL 
 
 
 XJULMll, Xlill^ClUCLll VIC . 
 
 1 1 
 
 jjuiKiLL r diimy 
 
 i 90 
 
 JITUllCll, XXCV. IN ctllldlllcl 
 
 
 jjurruugHb, ivcv. o. 
 
 123, 170 
 
 
 24 
 
 
 I 00 
 
 1 J dill 1 idl il o ^ A. w^Vy i> O • 
 
 20 
 
 OViantrv in All 5^?iint<? 
 
 \^ 11 di 1 c 1 y 111 ^A.ii tsjcxiiito 
 
 
 v^iiarier, i\.uyd,i 
 
 33 
 
 V^lJuldl XUlLIlCcs 
 
 99 
 
 V/ldlC, xxllllLld tic . 
 
 4-3 
 
 Gilbert de 
 
 I 2 
 
 IxlClidlvJ UC . 
 
 9 
 
 
 I 05 
 
 
 
 ^oiricys, juiin 
 
 J 04 
 
 
 I C I 
 
 UuK.iIJg"OLUUl 
 
 
 ueundiTj, niign uc 
 
 1 UU 
 
 uonicsuay ourvey 
 
 5 
 
 uorninican r riars 
 
 171 
 
 Dutch Prisoners 
 
 • 152 
 
 Dyce-Sombre, D. 0. 
 
 89 
 
 Easton, Thomas, Will of 
 
 • 133 
 
 Eden Family 
 
 209 
 
 Eden, Richard . 105, 
 
 163, 164 
 
 Eden, Thomas 
 
 • 173 
 
 Eden, Pedigree of 
 
 2 1 0 
 
 Eden, Monument of 
 
 1 46 
 
 PAGE, 
 
 iLcivvara iii. at ouuDury 
 
 * 
 
 42 
 
 iLnneia, w iiiiain 
 
 • 
 
 199 
 
 x-iicuuiuii 111 1 uyy 
 
 
 03 
 
 -LilcCLlUll HI 17oO , 
 
 * 
 
 oO 
 
 Hoi 1"0 
 
 • 
 
 I 0 
 
 r leeiwooQ i^aDinet 
 
 • 
 
 191 
 
 H 1 1 7" pi \A/llll'^ 
 
 roiKes, William 
 
 • 
 
 151 
 
 H rl £ii* rvi 11 \A/illio 
 
 roinergiii, vvniiam 
 
 • 
 
 103 
 
 r reemen 
 
 * 
 
 35 
 
 vjdinbuorougn ramiiy 
 
 
 '93 
 
 , , X liv^iiido 
 
 
 I n •J 
 
 VJiCl. 1 Li 1 11 Cl , X ilUllldo 
 
 
 205 
 
 Gallows Hill 
 
 
 '7 
 
 GlnnppQfpr "Rarl nf 
 
 VJ 1 W U CC 0 LCI , XJdIl \J L 
 
 
 43 
 
 V_HJ\JVJ, \\JllH iVldSUIl . 
 
 
 
 Grpimmar .SpVinnl 
 
 V^ldlllllldl OCllvyU/1 
 
 
 1 66 
 
 VJI Utli i Uili 
 
 
 3 
 
 ndn-ycdr JL<dnci 
 
 
 i7» 
 
 ixubpiLdi, v^uiiiey a 
 
 
 ' ^3 
 
 Hn<?nital r^nttacrp 
 
 1. X \_/ 0 1 Ud 1 V-/wLtd£^C 
 
 
 1 86 
 
 ouhpiLdi 1 dru 
 
 4 
 
 1 8-7 
 
 I 0 2 
 
 jemmdi, rvev. oamuei 
 
 * 
 
 149 
 
 jenKyn, j\ev. vvuiiam 
 
 
 197 
 
 Tonn 1\ 1 n o" nt ^nnKnrv 
 
 JCilll, XVlllt^, CIL OULiL/tiiy 
 
 
 42 
 
 L.eciureb di oi. ircter s, 
 
 1703 
 
 12 1 
 
 J_<CCL 
 
 7 
 
 1 8 
 
 1_.UIUS>I11U Ul OLKlUUiy 
 
 • 
 
 /I 6 
 40 
 
 ivr?i 
 
 IVXdCCo . . 
 
 
 68 
 
 iVidCICdll, Oil J^dCIlldll 
 
 • 
 
 T 68 
 1 u 0 
 
 iVidlclldlll, IVCV. VVUlidlll 
 
 
 103 
 
 ividnnocK, oeorgc 
 
 
 I 04 
 
 Manor, Lords of the 
 
 
 43 
 
 Maplestead, Little . 
 
 
 168 
 
 Market 
 
 
 17 
 
 Marriott, Sir James 
 
 
 '74 
 
 Mavor 
 
 
 34 
 
 Mayors, List of 
 
 • 
 
 75 
 
 ,, Ceremony on I 
 
 nstal- 
 
 
 lation of 
 
 
 55 
 
IND 
 
 EX. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 
 fifS 
 
 vj KJ 
 
 
 I 2 0 
 
 Mint at Sndhnrv 
 
 A 
 
 Bells 
 
 '37 
 
 Moot Hall 
 
 
 r?n Tl 3 1 G in 
 Jjuiictio ill . 
 
 T •> /~V 
 
 1 Ly^ 
 
 npstriiptinn nf 
 
 C A 
 
 54- 
 
 Pnnt 
 
 X \J11L . . 
 
 132 
 
 Mortimpr "PHmnnH 
 
 l*Xl_/l LllllV^l y 1 i \-llll LllX VX • 
 
 ' 5 
 
 jj xiivciiLUi y ui vjrUOQIb 
 
 135 
 
 
 ' 3 
 
 X dintingb in 1 30, 
 
 '3' 
 
 Oath nf Mavnr 
 
 50 
 
 Plat<a 
 Xldlc 
 
 '3«> 
 
 
 ^ T 
 
 U 1 
 
 xdrisn 
 
 1 29 
 
 
 55 
 
 OL. \/uinLin raniiiy 
 
 1 04 
 
 Offirials of tbp Rorono-h 
 
 c 0 
 
 oy 
 
 St .SpT~>n 1 ni'P'' c 
 
 OL. ocu til 1^11 1 c 0 . • 
 
 1 00 
 
 rn p m rv R P'nrpQpn tp t inn 
 
 
 Schorn, Sir John 
 
 102 
 
 Paston, Sir Thomas 
 
 I 64. 
 
 Seal, Corporate . 
 
 74 
 
 Pastiirp dommon 
 
 X CLkj If \A. L \^ y w XXX XXX \J XI • 
 
 6^ 
 ^4 
 
 Sibbs, Richard 
 
 197 
 
 Petto. Mr . 
 
 I ^ 
 
 Sidolvesmere 
 
 41 
 
 Plays at the Moot-Hall . 
 
 J ^ 
 
 Soke 
 
 17 
 
 PI <s?i nt H pn rv i '2 ? 
 
 
 Straghan, Alexander 
 
 50 
 
 Ponnlptinn 
 
 
 Stour, River 
 
 216 
 
 Portmanscroft 
 
 Q 
 
 Sudbury, Baskerville's account of 36 
 
 Puritans 
 
 148 
 
 Sudbury, Archdeaconry of 
 
 41 
 
 Revolt the Peasant 
 
 
 Sudbury, Simon of 
 
 106 
 
 R int^s in I 'T'T I 
 
 XVX\_/LO 111 I J / I • • 
 
 5 3 
 
 Sudbury Priory 
 
 171 
 
 fx ncypTQ P pv 1 imofliA; 
 
 
 Tankard, the Godfrey 
 
 70 
 
 Rn^p Pinrl (^rnvvn T'hp 
 
 XV v/ol_/ CilJ VX \»y IwVvlJj I. IIK^ • 
 
 1 ^ 
 
 Tate, Rev. Faithful 
 
 119 
 
 Salter^ Hall 
 
 I 88 
 J 0 0 
 
 Thornton, John . 
 
 205 
 
 0 U . ii. U Ll I c y . . 
 
 
 Tokens 
 
 202 
 
 OL. i_)a,l Lli VJIU lllC W 0 LlUJly 
 
 170 
 
 Tolls 
 
 14 
 
 Vi vi c i" /~\ t"\ V\ £i 1* Twioo*^^ /^f 
 
 I C I 
 
 Waldegrave Family . 
 
 144 
 
 ^t H Ht>^iTnri 
 
 Ol. J-vUIllUIlU • . 
 
 L 
 
 Waldegrave, Sir Edward 
 
 H5 
 
 
 97 
 
 Weyiand, Sir Thomas 
 
 172 
 
 ,, Advovvson of 
 
 
 Winthrop, John . 
 
 149 
 
 Bells . 
 
 115 
 
 Wilkinson, Rev. Henry 
 
 120 
 
 Font Cover 
 
 lOI 
 
 Wilks, John 
 
 87 
 
 Hermits in 
 
 1 24 
 
 Wilson, Rev. John 
 
 149 
 
 Plate . 
 
 I 22 
 
 Wood, Rev. William 105, 161, 
 
 166 
 
 ,, Riots in 
 
 117 
 
 Wool Trade . 
 
 37 
 
 Vicars of 
 
 122 
 
 Wulfric . 
 
 176 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Adams, Mr. Cole A., 2, Princess Mansions, Westminster, London, 
 S.W. 
 
 Allen, Mr. Elliston, J. P., C.A., The Grove, Ballingdon. 
 
 Allen, Mr. Robt., Greenstead Hall, Halstead. 
 
 Allen, Mr. Thomas, King Street, Sudbury. 
 
 Allen, Mr. Thos. J., North Street, Sudbury. 
 
 Andrewes, Mr. G. L. 
 
 Andrewes, Rev. J. B., Matching. 
 
 Andrewes, Miss, Sudbury. 
 
 Ambrose, Rev. J. C., Little Cornard. 
 
 Austen, Mrs., The Firs, Stratford St. Mary. 
 
 Anderson, Rev. T., Bournemouth. 
 
 Baker, Mr. H. H., King Street, Sudbury. 
 
 Baker, Rev. W, S., Eversholt Rectory, Woburn. 
 
 Balls, Mr. J. M., Castle Hedingham. 
 
 Barnardiston, Col. N., The Ryes, Henny. 
 
 Bates, Mr. Thomas, Sudbury. 
 
 Bell, Mr. Jas., C.C., Girling Street, Sudbury. 
 
 Berry, Mr. A., Ballingdon. 
 
 Berry, Mr. J. A., Southcot House, Widcombe, Bath. 
 
 Beer, Mr. C, Ballingdon. 
 
 Blair, Mrs., Red House, Sudbury. 
 
 Bristol, The Marquis of. 
 
 Bromwich, Rev. T. C, Gestingthorpe. 
 
 Branvvhite, Mrs., Melford. 
 
 Brown, The Misses, Sudbury. 
 
 Brown, Rev. H. Wilson D., Stowlangtoft. 
 
 Burke, Col. W. St. Geo., Auberies. 
 
 Bidden, Mr. W., C.A., Lavenham Hall. 
 
 Burke, Miss, Bulmer Lodge. 
 
List of Subscribers. 
 
 Bruce, Mr. G. F., Wallington, Surrey. 
 Canham, Mr. H. C, Sudbury. 
 Casley, Mr. H. C, Ipswich. 
 
 Challice, Mrs. E., 14, Coverdale Road, Shepherds Bush, London. 
 Chapman, The Ven. Archdeacon, Thurston Grange, Bury St. 
 
 Edmunds. 
 Clayden, Mr. J. Carter, Sudbury. 
 Coleman, Mr. J. J., M.P., Norwich. 
 Coote, Mr. George, Chilton Lodge. 
 Connell, Rev. A. J. C, Monks Eleigh. 
 Courtauld, Mr. Geo., Halstead. 
 Cross, Mr. Fred. G., Sudbury. 
 
 Cullum, Mr. J. Milner-Gibson, F.S.A., Hardwick, Bury St. Edmunds. 
 
 Davies, Mrs., Oriel Lodge, Cornard. 
 
 Deedes, Rev. Cecil, 2, Clifton Terrace, Brighton. 
 
 De Grey, Hon. J. A., Recorder of Sudbury. 
 
 Dunn, Mr. F. E., Ballingdon. 
 
 Edgar, Mr. R., Cockfield. 
 
 Ely, The Lord Bishop of, Palace, Ely. 
 
 Finch, Mr. Wm., Cornard. 
 
 Fricker, Miss, Sudbury. 
 
 Fryer, Rev. B. S., Sudbury. 
 
 Gardiner, Mr. Wm. C, Yeldham Hall. 
 
 George, Mr. Joseph, Rose & Crown Hotel, Sudbury. 
 
 Gill, Dr. John, Clifton. 
 
 Goody, Mr. Isaiah, Belchamp St. Paul. 
 
 Green, Mr. Harry Webster, Station Road, Sudbury. 
 
 Green, Rev. Thos. Lingard, Ampthill. 
 
 Grimwade, Mr. A. J., The Bank, Sudbury. 
 
 Grimwood, Mr. Arthur, Sudbury. 
 
 Grimwood, Mr. Ed., London. 
 
 Grimwood, Mr. Geo. H., J. P., Sudbury. 
 
 Gross, Mr. George M., " Kirkbank," 4, St. Mary's Road, Peckham, 
 S.W. 
 
 Gurteen, Mr. D., J. P., C.A., Haverhill. 
 Gilbert, Mr. Hy. Marsh, Southampton. 
 Halls, Mr. Alfred, Cornard. 
 Herbert, Mr. Chas., Woburn, Beds. 
 Hervey, Lord John, Ipswich. 
 Hills, Mr. J. F., Sudbury. 
 
List of Subscribers. 
 
 Holden, Dr. J. Sinclair, Sudbury. 
 
 Humphry, Sir Geo. M., Grove Lodge, Cambridge. 
 
 Hunt, Mr. R., J.P., Earls Colne. 
 
 Howe, Mr. E. R. J. Gambler, F.S.A., 7, New Square, London. 
 
 Hunt, Mr. R., Inland Revenue Office, Limerick. 
 
 Johnson, Mr. S. E., 28, Ommaney Road, New Cross, S.E. 
 
 Joy, Mr. R. S., J. P., Sudbury. 
 
 Keeling, Mrs., St. Mary's Terrace, Colchester. 
 
 King, Dr. H. Dove, J. P., Sudbury. 
 
 King, Mr. Frank, 69, Paul Street, Finsbury, London, E.C. 
 
 Langdon, Mr. W. J., The Holgate, Sudbury. 
 
 Laver, Dr. Hy., J. P., F.S.A., Colchester. 
 
 Layton, Rev. W. E., F.S.A., Cuddington Vicarage, Surrey. 
 
 Lewis, Mr. W. Lambton, C.C., Editor " Suffolk & Essex Free Press." 
 
 Long, Mr. P. de Lande, 7, Montpelier Square, Rutland Gate, London. 
 
 Long, Mr. A. de Lande, Crosley Cote, Northallerton, Yorks. 
 
 Mattingly, Mr. Robt., J. P., C.A., The Chestnuts, Cornard. 
 
 Mann, Mr. Edgar, J. P., All Saints, Sudbury. 
 
 Marten, Mr. B. R., Sudbury. 
 
 Martyn, Rev. C. J., Daglingworth. 
 
 Mauldon, Mr. C. E., Sudbury. 
 
 Mauldon, Mrs. A. M., Ballingdon. 
 
 Mason, Dr. W. Inglis, J. P., Sudbury. 
 
 Mayor and Corporation of Sudbury. 
 
 Methold, Mr. F., J. P., F.S.A., Thorne Court, Shimpling. 
 
 Mitchell, Mrs. Jas., Holbrook Hall. 
 
 Mills, Mr. John. Melford Road, Sudbury. 
 
 Nice, Mr. J. H., 4, Northampton Place, Swansea. 
 
 Gates, Mr. F. H., Salters Hall, Sudbury. 
 
 Oliver, Mr. H. S., Hill Side, Great Cornard. 
 
 Orbell, Mr. J., Hundon Hall. 
 
 Palmer, Miss, Lyston Hall. 
 
 Parker, Rev. Sir Wm. Hyde, Bart., Melford Hall. 
 Quilter, Mr. W. Cuthbert, M.P , C.A., Bawdsey Manor. 
 Ransom, Mr. W. B., Sudbury. 
 
 Raymond, Mr. S. J. St. Clere, J. P., Belchamp Hall. 
 Round, Mr. Jas., M.P., Colchester. 
 Row, Mr. C. J. N., Melford. 
 Salter, Mr. John, J. P., Ballingdon. 
 Sikes, Mrs., Sudbury. 
 
List of Subscribers. 
 
 Simpson, Mr. B., Bures. 
 
 Smith, Mrs., Red House, Sudbury. 
 
 Smith, Mr. Reginald E., Inward House, Sudbury. 
 
 Smith, Rev. Herbert, Chilton. 
 
 Sperling, Mr. C. F. D., Dynes Hall, Halstead. 
 
 Spooner, The Very Rev. Dean, Hadleigh. 
 
 Spurgin, Miss, Croft Lodge, Sudbury. 
 
 Steed, Mr. J. Owen, Melford. 
 
 Stower, Rev, C. J., F.R.G.S., All Saints Vicarage, Sudbury. 
 
 Temple, Rev. R. C, Thorpe Morieux. 
 
 Wanford, Mr. W., Great Cornard, Sudbury. 
 
 West, Mr. Chas. O., Stour Street, Sudbury. 
 
 Weybrew, Mr. G. P., St. Bartholomews, Sudbury. 
 
 Wheeler, Mr. Fredk., Sudbury. 
 
 White, Mr. Walter J., Churt Farnham, Surrey. 
 
 Wilson, Mr. F. W., M.P., Editor " East Anglian Daily Times," 
 
 Ipswich. 
 Wilson, Mr. P. A., Henny. 
 Wilson, Mr. S. H., Church Street, Sudbury. 
 Wright, Mr. E. I., Sudbury. 
 
 Young, Mr. Ed., 65, Agincourt Road, Hampstead.